Australia

Cruising the Sights of Sydney Harbor

No trip to Australia would be complete without a visit to Sydney and its surrounding waters. Safely tucked away from the Tasman Sea, the city of Sydney circles Port Jackson, the official name for all of the harbors, coves, and the Parramatta River that flows through the area, including Sydney Harbor. While I was only in Sydney for less than 48 hours, it was imperative to get a view of the harbor and to see the beautiful skyline and coastline from the water. When visiting Sydney, there are numerous cruises that you can choose from to see the harbor. There…

Diving in the Great Barrier Reef – Australia

Previously, I wrote all about Hamilton Island, an island in the Whitsunday Islands chain that is now a vacation destination. While my family and I visited here, we were able to cross a very monumental item off our bucket list – to dive the Great Barrier Reef. Since my entire family is PADI scuba certified, visiting the reef was something we all wanted to experience and we were all very anxious to see the infamous underwater sight. With over 2,900 individual reefs, the Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef. Because it’s built…

Visiting Hamilton Island: Whitsunday Islands, Australia

On the northeastern coast of Australia, there are several islands that lie closest to the Great Barrier Reef. These islands, known as the Whitsunday Islands, consist of around 74 islands with subtropical weather. The largest inhabited Whitsunday Island is Hamilton Island. This island acts as the hub of all the Whitsundays Islands due to its location, amenities, and population of 1200 full-time residents. Hamilton Island has always been a privately owned island, but it’s now currently owned by the family of late Australian winemaker, Bob Oatley. The Oatley family leased the land from the Australian government, developed…

Visiting Brisbane With Kids

It’s that time of year again, when those that have procrastinated over planning a summer vacation can procrastinate no longer. With the summer almost half over, it’s time to think of somewhere – and fast! Why not consider traveling to Brisbane with the kids? While the crowds flock to Sydney, Brisbane tourists can find activities and events for the whole family, without the big crowds. If you’re looking to go someplace new, Brisbane is a great place to visit! There is also a ton of fun activities in Brisbane at night that the kids will…