Tours in Australia

Aboriginal Tours :

Ballarat Wildlife & Aboriginal Tour

Adventuretours :

Tasmania Tours - Cradle Mountain, Wineglass Bay & Port Arthur
Northern Territory Tours - Kakadu, Uluru (Ayers Rock) & Katherine Gorge
North Queensland Tours - Cape Tribulation, the Tablelands & the Great Barrier Reef
Western Australia - Bungle Bungles, Karijini National Park & Exmouth
South Australia Tours - Kangaroo Island, the Flinders Ranges & Coober Pedy
Victorian Tours - Great Ocean Road, Twelve Apostles & Grampians NP
NSW Tours - Canberra, Mt Kosciuszko, Snowy River High Country, Ninety Mile Beach & Wilsons Promontory

Backpackertours :

Northen Territory Tour
Western Australia

WheelTours :

Wheel Chair Tour

Cycle Tours :

A unique travel experience that caters for adventurers wishing to cycle and four wheel drive through the red heart of Australia.

Cheap accommodation in Australia

Cheap accommodation for Perth
1 star Hotel
2 star Hotel
3 star Hotel

Cheap accommodation for Melbourne
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2 star Hotel
3 star Hotel

Cheap accommodation for Sydney
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2 star Hotel
3 star Hotel

Cheap flights London to Australia

Cheap flights to Sydney Departing from Heathrow
http://www.cheapflights.co.uk/flights/Sydney/Heathrow/


Cheap flights to Melbourne Departing from Heathrow
http://www.cheapflights.co.uk/flights/Melbourne/Heathrow/


Cheap flights to Perth Departing from Heathrow
http://www.cheapflights.co.uk/flights/Perth/Heathrow/

Mystic Uluru

Few visitors to Uluru return unchanged. It’s easy to see why the rock and the surrounding land has such huge spiritual significance for the Anangu Aboriginal people. It lies in Australia’s red centre like an enormous, moody heart.
Uluru is 9.3 kilometres in circumference, and the icy-green and grey vegetation at its massive feet offer a refuge for wildlife. It is immense in size - yet more than two thirds of the rock is actually hidden beneath the ground. Then there’s its sheer beauty: it outshines even the brilliant sunset, arraying itself in a multiplicity of hues from black to purple, blue to brown, orange and red throughout various times of day and weather. It makes a spectacular contrast with the relatively flat sand plain that surrounds it.
Uluru’s cousins, the Olgas, or Kata
Tjuta, make another sacred site just 32 kilometres away: a collection of 36 steep, rounded, russet domes over around 3,500 hectares.
Both these splendours are encompassed by Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. At its entrance you can find all sorts of accommodation for your voyage of discovery, from campsites to luxury resort stays. Then there are so many ways to encounter the land around Uluru. A hike up the rock, or a campfire dinner, where you can savour barramundi, emu or kangaroo underneath an incomparable starlit sky. Drink in the sunset while you sip champagne, or encounter the landscape on a Harley Davidson. Or see it from a grand height - either a light plane or a camel’s back!

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Alice Springs : the Outback City

Alice Springs - It's Australia's Oasis, the capital of the Outback and the most romantic country town in the world.

It's where the Arrernte Aboriginal tribal group have lived for 20,000 years and where pioneer men and women gave "tough" a new meaning. It's where they race camels, hold hilarious holiday regattas in dry river beds and where Peter Finch finally caught up with Virginia McKenna in the 1956 film classic "A Town Like Alice".What's so great about "The Alice"? Well we reckon it's the 5 C's; the Climate, the Colours, the Culture, the Characters and the Closest proximity to every beach in Australia.

So don't forget to check out the Tide Times around the country.So whether you fly, drive or take the train, you might want to set aside 7 days to take in everything there is to see and do in Alice Springs as well as the stunning scenery of the Western and Eastern (Macs) MacDonnell Ranges.

If you think The Alice is hot, flat and dusty then you had better think again, because there are stunning ranges, spectacular gum trees, refreshing waterholes, beautiful palm trees, awesome colours, more waterholes, amazing wildlife, a lush green golf course, and did we mention the waterholes, so check out the photo's in Our Backyard.

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Perth Sunset Coast

Perhaps one of your first stops in Perth will be the city centre. The inner city of Perth bustles with activity and offers a range of choices for souvenir shopping, theatre productions, and of course enjoying water activities on the Perth Swan River such as Jet skiing, surfcatting and river cruises. You will also find a range of dining choices from 5 star restaurants to casual alfresco dining on the foreshore.

Perth Sunset CoastIf you enjoy long relaxing walks along clean sandy beaches, swimming in the surf on a warm sunny day, or perhaps lazing on a beach towel while watching the world go by, then the Sunset Coast in Perth is just the place for you. Being on the West Coast of Australia certainly has its advantages, and the perfect end to a day at the beach would have to be the beautiful evening sunsets.

If you enjoy nature and want to immerse yourself in natural Australian bushland, then a visit or stay in the Perth hills is a must. The Perth hills areas offers rolling hills and valleys of native bushland and orchards, and are perfect if you enjoy bushwalking and hiking, or perhaps some birdwatching, and no where else in Perth has the amazing views over the Perth city below.

Read more on Perth Tourist Center

Discover Darwin

Darwin is set upon one of Australia's prettiest harbours, opening out onto the brilliant, jewel-like waters of the Arafura Sea. This vibrant, tropical city has a free-spirited, open-air lifestyle blessed with a range of waterfront delights.
Beaches, bays and waterholes are there aplenty to explore and enjoy. The beaches are popular places to cool off on a hot day - not surprising as Darwin has an average daily temperature in the low 30s (Celsius).
In the dry season, May to October, visit Casuarina, Fannie Bay, Mindil and Vestys Beaches, all close to the city. However from late October to early May, venomous box jellyfish make beaches and open waterways places to avoid. Luckily Darwin has plenty of popular freshwater swimming spots nearby, to take advantage of these times, such as Howard Springs, Berry Springs and Manton Dam.
The harbour itself offers a host of activities; there is nothing like a sunset cruise, and keen divers will want to explore the many sunken wrecks - there thanks to Darwin's involvement in World War II!
The wharf precincts are perfect for those who like to dine out with a water view. The Darwin Wharf precinct and Cullen Bay are becoming a hot spots for those who want fine dining in a relaxed environment.

Read more about Darwin with Australia.com

Exotic Cairns

Cairns, the prime gateway to Tropical North Queensland is the ideal starting point for travellers wanting to explore the Great Barrier Reef, rainforest, outback and the vast wilderness of Cape York Peninsula.
Despite all these attractions outside Cairns, you’ll be seriously tempted to extend your stay in this sophisticated modern city.
With its tree-lined streets, Cairns boasts great shopping malls, efficient transport, sophisticated hotels, cosmopolitan restaurants, cafes and nightclubs and a lifestyle that is in keeping with contemporary city living.
For retail therapy you’ll be in seventh heaven. Cairns boasts an excellent range of outlets and shopping centres whether you’re after designer sunglasses, hip fashion and jewellery, or souvenirs and gifts from crystals to boomerangs. Don’t miss the
night markets on Cairns Esplanade for a shopping treat.
Dining is a high point in Cairns and local eateries offer an eclectic choice of Australian and international cuisine. The highlight of most menus is the region's fresh seafood and unusual tropical fruits.
As for entertainment there are excellent theatres, galleries, nightclubs and the glass-domed Reef Hotel Casino with four separate gaming areas and a luxury five star hotel.
Another pleasant surprise is how close and accessible everything is in Cairns. The airport is only a few minutes drive from the city centre and visiting cruise liners and yachts moor at a marina and wharves only a block away from the main centre.

read more about Cairns with Australia.com

Discover Brisbane

Known as the City of Sun Days, Brisbane enjoys great weather, a relaxed pace of life and all the cosmopolitan bustle of a major urban hub. It doesn’t seem to matter what time of year it is – there’s always something exciting happening in this vibrant city. You’ll find the best in arts and culture, entertainment and sports events as well as good food, wine and shopping.
For arts and culture, the serious head to South Bank, home of the Queensland Museum, with its hands-on interactive displays, and the Queensland Art Gallery, its walls adorned with a magnificent collection of artworks. Or you can catch a world-class performance at the Performing Arts Centre where international theatre companies and performing artists take the stage along with Australian performing arts companies.
For exciting sports action, find a seat in the stadium to see local rugby league champions, the Brisbane Broncos, take to the field. During winter, rugby union fans head to Ballymore to watch the Wallabies take on the world. Over at the Gabba sports ground, the Brisbane Lions fight off challengers in the Aussie Rules football code. In summer, the Gabba lights up for international cricket tests and one-day matches.
If you want to shop, head for the designer boutiques and department stores of Queens Street Mall and check out the bustling markets around the city.
Music, dancing, partying, live shows, good times – there’s plenty more going on in the City of Sun Days and fun nights.

Read more on Australie.com

Discover Melbourne

A vibrant cosmopolitan city, located on the magnificent Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne is the state capital and cultural heart of Victoria.

The locals’ claim that it is ‘the best city in the world to live in’ may rankle their rivals in Sydney but few would dispute that it is indeed a fascinating place to visit. In fact, the traditional rivalry between Melbourne and Sydney, which covers every sphere of life from business to sport and culture, has resulted in a proud, dynamic city that strives to be the best in all things.

The city is situated on either side of the Yarra River and the area was home to Aborigines for thousands of years. The waterway attracted British settlers, who founded the Port Phillip Settlement of the Colony of New South Wales in 1835. In 1851, a separate colony was carved out of New South Wales and named Victoria, after Queen Victoria, and Melbourne was named after the British Prime Minister, Lord Melbourne.

That same year gold was discovered near Ballarat and Bendigo, to the west of Melbourne, and the ensuing gold rush turned the city into a powerful financial centre, as well as the first political capital, until Canberra was established in 1927. Numerous gardens and parks give a pleasant, open feel to the city, whose skyline mixes elegant spires with dazzling modern skyscrapers, which dwarf the elegant Victorian-era buildings that are dotted along leafy streets.

However, the city is defined more by its diverse population than by its architecture. Immigration at the end of World War II transformed Melbourne into a thriving cultural melting pot, totalling over three million people, with sizeable Italian, Greek and Chinese communities each carving out their own quarter. In fact, large-scale immigration has made Melbourne home to the largest Greek community outside Greece and the influx of Vietnamese and Lebanese has contributed to Melbourne’s claim to be the cultural capital of Australia.

The introduction of European and Asian communities has resulted in an eclectic and energetic blend of theatre, music, art and literature. The international population has also brought a wealth of different cuisine, served up in a wide range of restaurants, from the outdoor cafés along the Crown Promenade overlooking the Yarra River, to the pizzerias in Carlton, the Chinese banquet halls in Chinatown and the fine seafood restaurants in trendy St Kilda Beach, just a half-hour tram ride from the city centre. One topic that is guaranteed to be discussed over dinner is the weather. The city has four distinct seasons and usually enjoys a pleasant, temperate climate. However, winters can get chilly and summers usually see some swelteringly hot days. Sometimes, all four seasons occur in one day.

The ever-optimistic locals joke that if one does not like the weather, one just has to wait 10 minutes and it will change. Another popular topic of conversation in the coming year will be sports, as Melbourne will host the Commonwealth Games in 2006. This will be Australia's biggest event since the Rugby World Cup.

read more with Columbus Travel

Discover Sydney

Sydney is the largest city in Australia with a population of 22,000 in central Sydney and 4 million people in greater Sydney.

The working population in central Sydney is around 10 times the residential population at 235,000. The CBD is quite small in comparison to other cosmopolitan cities occupying an area of less than 6.2 square kilometres, greater Sydney on the other hand, comprises over 600 suburbs and localities and occupies an area of 2,500 square kilometres.

The city is located on the southern coast of New South Wales between the smaller coastal cities of Woolongong and Newcastle. The CBD is situated on the southern bank of Sydney Harbour, 10 kms west from the mouth of Port Jackson.

The temperature averages a warm 23 ° C (72° F) in summer and averages around 13° C (55° F) in winter. Sydney is bathed in sunshine for around 342 days of the year and has an average annual rainfall of approximately 1220 millimetres (48 inches).

Seasonal InformationThe temperature in Sydney, on average, ranges from 23 ° C (72° F) in summer to 13° C (55° F) in winter. The seasons in Australia are :
Spring : September 1 through November 30
Summer : December 1 through February 28 or 29
Autum : March 1 through May 31
Winter : June 1 through August 31

read more and find out about Sydney's Beaches

Health Information for Travelers to Countries in Australia

Routine Vaccinations
Before travel, be sure you and your children are up to date on all routine immunizations according to schedules approved by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice (ACIP). See the schedule for adults and the schedule for infants and children. Some schedules can be accelerated for travel.

See your doctor at least 4–6 weeks before your trip to allow time for shots to take effect. If it is less than 4 weeks before you leave, you should still see your doctor. It might not be too late to get your shots or medications as well as other information about how to protect yourself from illness and injury while traveling.

Recommended Vaccinations and Preventive Medications
The following vaccines may be recommended for your travel to Australia and the South Pacific. Discuss your travel plans and personal health with a health-care provider to determine which vaccines you will need.

Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG). (except for Australia and New Zealand). Transmission of hepatitis A virus can occur through direct person-to-person contact; through exposure to contaminated water, ice, or shellfish harvested in contaminated water; or from fruits, vegetables, or other foods that are eaten uncooked and that were contaminated during harvesting or subsequent handling.

Hepatitis B, especially if you might be exposed to blood or body fluids (for example, health-care workers), have sexual contact with the local population, or be exposed through medical treatment. Hepatitis B vaccine is now recommended for all infants and for children ages 11–12 years who did not receive the series as infants.

Japanese encephalitis, Papua New Guinea or the Islands of Torres Strait in Australia. Local transmission documented but rare.

Malaria: if you are traveling to a malaria-risk area in this region, see your health care provider for a prescription antimalarial drug. For details concerning risk and preventive medications, see Malaria Information for Travelers to Australia and the South Pacific.

Rabies, if you might have extensive unprotected outdoor exposure in rural areas, such as might occur during camping, hiking, or bicycling, or engaging in certain occupational activities.

Typhoid, (except for Australia and New Zealand), particularly if you are visiting developing countries in this region. Typhoid fever can be contracted through contaminated drinking water or food, or by eating food or drinking beverages that have been handled by a person who is infected. Large outbreaks are most often related to fecal contamination of water supplies or foods sold by street vendors.

As needed, booster doses for tetanus-diphtheria and measles.

Required Vaccinations
None.


Diseases found in Australia and the South Pacific (risk can vary by country and region within a country; quality of in-country surveillance also varies)

The preventive measures you need to take while traveling in this region depend on the areas you visit and the length of time you stay. You should observe the precautions listed in this document in most areas of this region. However, in highly developed areas of Australia and New Zealand, you should observe health precautions similar to those that would apply while traveling in the United States.

Malaria
Malaria is always a serious disease and may be a deadly illness.

Humans get malaria from the bite of a mosquito infected with the parasite. Prevent this serious disease by seeing your health care provider for a prescription antimalarial drug and by protecting yourself against mosquito bites. All travelers to malaria-risk areas in Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu, including infants, children, and former residents of these countries should take an antimalarial drug. Papua New Guinea has risk in all areas under the elevation of 1800 meters (5906 feet). The Solomon Islands has risk in all areas, except for the southern province of Rennell Island and Bellona Island. Vanuatu has risk throughout all its islands.

For additional information on malaria risk and prevention, see Malaria Information for Travelers to Australia and the South Pacific.

There is no risk for malaria in Australia, Christmas Island, Cook Island, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia (Tahiti), Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Pitcairn, Samoa, American Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Wake Island, Wallis and Futuna.

Yellow Fever

There is no risk for yellow fever in Australia and the South Pacific. A certificate of yellow fever vaccination may be required for entry into certain of these countries if you are coming from countries in South America or sub-Saharan Africa. For detailed information, see Comprehensive Yellow Fever Vaccination Requirements. Also, find the nearest authorized U.S. yellow fever vaccine center.

Food and Waterborne Diseases
Avoid buying food or drink from street vendors, because it is relatively easy for such food to become contaminated.
Make sure your food and drinking water are safe. Food and waterborne diseases are the primary cause of illness in travelers. Travelers’ diarrhea can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites, which are found throughout Australia and the South Pacific and can contaminate food or water. Infections may cause diarrhea and vomiting (E. coli, Salmonella, cholera, and parasites), fever (typhoid fever and toxoplasmosis), or liver damage ( hepatitis).

Additional information: see the Safe Food and Water page for a list of links.

Other Disease Risks
Risk of infection is quite variable within this region. Vaccine rates are high in Australia and New Zealand, but rates of certain infectious diseases are high in travelers to other islands. Dengue, filariasis, Ross River virus, and Murray Valley encephalitis are diseases carried by insects that also occur in this region. Scrub typhus and other rickettsial infections are present in this region. Protecting yourself against insect and tick bites (see below) will help to prevent these diseases. Japanese encephalitis is present in Papua New Guinea and the Torres Strait and far northern Australia. Other hazards for travelers include ciguatera poisoning, which occurs frequently on some of the islands. Snake and spider bites are also a risk.


Read Other Health Risks & After you return home

Flying distance from London to Australia

Sydney
Distance in Kilometres: 17,000 km
Distance in Miles: 10,560 ml
Travel Time: 22 hr 30 min

Melbourne
Distance in Kilometres: 16,910 km
Distance in Miles: 10,510 mlTravel Time: 21 hr 40 min
BrisbaneDistance in Kilometres: 16,530 kmDistance in Miles: 10,270 ml
Travel Time: 22 hr 30 min

Cairns
Distance in Kilometres: 17,920 km
Distance in Miles: 11,140 ml
Travel Time: 24 hr 30 min

Perth
Distance in Kilometres: 14,480 km
Distance in Miles: 9,000 ml
Travel Time: 19 hr 20 min

Adelaide
Distance in Kilometres: 16,240 km
Distance in Miles: 10,090 ml
Travel Time: 24 hr 40 min

Darwin
Distance in Kilometres: 14,210 km
Distance in Miles: 8,830 ml
Travel Time: 18 hr 10 min

Getting there

Twenty-five airlines now fly to Australia from the UK, which means 75 flights to choose from each week (May 2002). Getting to Australia has never been easier - whether via the US and Canada, South Africa or Asia.

You can fly direct, plan a stopover in Japan, Thailand or Singapore, break your journey in Johannesburg or Los Angeles, then island hop across the Pacific to a number of international gateways, with Sydney and Melbourne being the most popular. Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Darwin, Cairns and Hobart also have international terminals.

A huge range of flying and ticket options is available. Around-the-world tickets to Australia are often a great deal as they offer airline flexibility and a number of stops.

read more with australia.com