Australia - Urban Wonders & Wild Heart

About the destination: Sydney is the state capital of New South Wales and the most populous city in Australia. Bordered by the Pacific Ocean and the Hawkesbury River, Sydney is considered one of the world's most beautiful and liveable cities in the world. It has an iconic skyline, some wonderful museums, delicious restaurants, a lively atmosphere and tons of natural beauty. As with any large city there are many attractions, but the most important are the Sydney Opera House, set on the Sydney harbor, it is one of the world's most recognized landmarks, the Sydney Harbor Bridge, Sydney's main catholic cathedral, St Mary's Cathedral, the Royal Botanic Gardens and a vast array of beautiful beaches. Sydney's most famous beach, Bondi Beach has a lively promenade and it is a famous spot amongst surfers. Just outside of Sydney, we have the Blue Mountains, an unspoiled mountain range filled with Eucalyptus trees. Sydney is a city of immense vitality and it is an amazing and fascinating destination. There is something for every visitor, history, art, culture, nature, fashion, gastronomy, architecture and above all, Sydney is a city that knows how to have fun.

About the destination: Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock is a large sandstone rock formation in the southern part of the Northern Territory in central Australia. Kata Tjuta and Uluru are the two major features of the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park. The area around the formation is home to an abundance of springs, waterholes, rock caves, and ancient paintings. Uluru is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS - Uluru. - Kata Tjuta - The Cultural Centre

About the destination: The walls of Kings Canyon are over 100 metres high, with Kings Creek at the bottom. Part of the gorge is a sacred Aboriginal site and visitors are discouraged from leaving the walking tracks. Three walks exist at Kings Canyon. The two km (return) and approximately one-hour Kings Creek Walk traces the bottom of the gorge. At the end of the walk is a platform, with views of the canyon walls above. The six km (loop) Kings Canyon Rim Walk traces the top of the canyon and takes three to four hours to complete. A steep climb at the beginning of the walk, which locals call "Heartbreak Hill" (or "Heart Attack Hill", due to its steepness), takes visitors up to the top, with views of the gorge below and of the surrounding landscape. About half way during the walk, a detour descends to the Garden of Eden, a permanent waterhole surrounded by plant life. The last half of the walk passes through a maze of weathered sandstone domes, reminiscent of the Bungle Bungle. A slow descent brings the visitor back to the starting point. The loop can also be done in reverse (anti-clockwise), but the National Park Rangers encourage visitors to walk in one direction. Access to the walk may be restricted during hot weather. The 22 km Giles Track connects Kings Canyon to Kathleen Springs and is popular with more adventurous hikers. Birds that can be seen on the Kings Canyon Rim walk include spinifex pigeon, zebra finch, grey-headed honeyeater, dusky grasswren, black-breasted buzzard and peregrine falcon. Kings Canyon Solar Power Station was a photovoltaic power station in the Northern Territory, with a generating capacity of 225 kWp and electricity production of 372,000 kWh of electricity per annum. It was the largest single installation of its kind in Australia and began operation in December 2003. It has been shut down since December 2015 due to the local tourist resort installing its own generators.

About the destination: Alice Springs is the third largest town in the Northern Territory, Australia. The site is known as Mparntwe to its original inhabitants, the Arrernte, who have lived in the Central Australian desert in and around what is now Alice Springs for thousands of years. Alice Springs is nearly equidistant from Adelaide and Darwin. MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS • Anzac Hill. Anzac Hill Rd. Low hill with great view on the city and the MacDonnell Ranges. • Stargazing. Alice Springs is in the middle of the largest land area without lights on earth, so the view of the Milky Way is unmatched unless you're on a dark boat in the middle of the ocean. • Alice Springs Desert Park lThey give a number of interesting lectures, such as aboriginal use of local plants for food. The nocturnal exhibit is excellent, a very low-light building with offset day and night schedule to induce the nocturnal critters to come out during the day so people can see them. • Reptile Centre. Examples of the local reptiles and one NT croc specially imported, on display by the guy the locals call when something with fangs is in the kitchen. • Olive Pink Botanical Garden. A desert botanical garden.

About the destination: "Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin is the largest city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory. It is the smallest and most northerly of the Australian capital cities, and acts as the Top End's regional centre. Darwin's proximity to South East Asia makes it an important Australian gateway to countries such as Indonesia and East Timor. The Stuart Highway begins in Darwin, ending at Port Augusta in South Australia. The city itself is built on a low bluff overlooking the harbour. Past Berrimah, the Stuart Highway goes on to Darwin's satellite city, Palmerston, and its suburbs. MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS • Darwin Wharf Precinct. • Fannie Bay Gaol. The building’s grim and oppressive history can be felt as you walk through • Burnett House at Myilly Point. Burnett designed homes adapted to the climatic conditions of the Top End, which included the use of lightweight materials and natural ventilation. • Browns Mart is a stone building that was opened in 1885 as the store ‘Solomon’s Emporium’. • Bicentennial Park. This scenic stretch of parkland along The Esplanade overlooks Darwin Harbour. • George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens. A stone’s throw from the city centre are 42 hectares of gardens that showcase local flora and that of other tropical habitats around the world. • Lake Alexander. An ideal spot for swimming all year round, is popular for picnics and barbecues. • Casuarina Coastal Reserve. The Reserve encompasses 1500 hectares, including 8 km of sandy beaches bordered by dramatic cliffs. • Charles Darwin National Park."

About the destination: Cairns is a regional city, founded in 1876, encompassing smaller townships in the far north of Queensland, Australia. It is a popular travel destination for foreign tourists because of its tropical climate. It serves as a starting point for people wanting to visit the Great Barrier Reef and Far North Queensland. MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS • Centenary Lakes. Collins Ave/Edge Hill, opposite the Botanic Gardens. Rainforest boardwalk that goes directly through the forest and ends at several small lakes and creeks. There is also a little park with picnic areas. Caution: The lakes are crocodile habitat. • City Botanic Gardens. • Lake Placid. • Mount Whitfield Conservation Park. • Northern Beaches There is no beach in Central Cairns, but there are several beaches in the north that can easily be reached by bus. They are all beautiful and tropical, and ideal places to relax and walk. These beaches include Trinity Beach, Yorkeys Knob, Palm Cove, Holloways Beach, Kewarra Beach and Clifton Beach. • Smithfield Conservation Park, McGregor Road, close to James Cook University, north of the city centre. A large area of rainforest with several walking tracks. • Many natural Cairns attractions include the Great Barrier Reef, Copperlode Dam, Atherton Tablelands and Daintree Rainforest • Cairns Regional Gallery. • Cairns Museum.

About the destination: Cairns is a regional city, founded in 1876, encompassing smaller townships in the far north of Queensland, Australia. It is a popular travel destination for foreign tourists because of its tropical climate. It serves as a starting point for people wanting to visit the Great Barrier Reef and Far North Queensland. MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS • Centenary Lakes. Collins Ave/Edge Hill, opposite the Botanic Gardens. Rainforest boardwalk that goes directly through the forest and ends at several small lakes and creeks. There is also a little park with picnic areas. Caution: The lakes are crocodile habitat. • City Botanic Gardens. • Lake Placid. • Mount Whitfield Conservation Park. • Northern Beaches There is no beach in Central Cairns, but there are several beaches in the north that can easily be reached by bus. They are all beautiful and tropical, and ideal places to relax and walk. These beaches include Trinity Beach, Yorkeys Knob, Palm Cove, Holloways Beach, Kewarra Beach and Clifton Beach. • Smithfield Conservation Park, McGregor Road, close to James Cook University, north of the city centre. A large area of rainforest with several walking tracks. • Many natural Cairns attractions include the Great Barrier Reef, Copperlode Dam, Atherton Tablelands and Daintree Rainforest • Cairns Regional Gallery. • Cairns Museum.