1. Taronga Zoo (Bradley’s Head Road, Mosman, Sydney)

Taronga Zoo is only a 12-minute ferry ride from Sydney’s Circular Quay, and is a great place to visit for a day. It’s home to animals native to Australia, Antartica, Africa, Asia, South America and North America, and there are many exhibits to see. The zoo’s residents include Tasmanian Devils, koalas, penguins, seals, lions, chimpanzees, meerkats, elephants, leopards and bears.

There are two excellent shows that you can watch: the Energy Australia Seal Show and the QBE Free Flight Bird Show. There are also talks by zoo keepers and opportunities to have your photo taken with various animals throughout the day. There are a number of food outlets within the zoo, and you can buy souvenirs in the five zoo shops.

Image: Brian Gieson

2. Sydney Wildlife World (Aquarium Pier, Darling Harbour, Sydney)

Sydney Wildlife World is situated in Darling Harbour, in the centre of the city, and is only about 5 minutes’ walk away from Sydney’s Central Business District. It’s home to more than 130 species of Australian animal and is divided into a number of exhibits representing different habitats.

In Kakadu Gorge, for example, you’ll find Rex, a 5 metre long saltwater crocodile, and you can even watch him being fed. You can also see Red Kangaroos in the Semi-Arid Habitat, wombats and wallabies in the Wallaby Cliffs Habitat, and possums, ghost bats and bilbies in the Nocturnal Habitat. You can even pay a little extra and have your photo taken with a koala at Koala Rooftop.

You can stop off for a meal or snack at the Lizard Lounge bar and cafe, and buy souvenirs at the Wildlife Gift Shop.

3. Sydney Aquarium (Aquarium Pier, Darling Harbour, Sydney).

Sydney Aquarium is situated next to Sydney Wildlife World, in the Darling Harbour area of the city. Its exhibits are divided into six sections: Shark HQ; Southern Rivers; Northern Rivers; Southern Oceans; Northern Oceans; and Mermaid Lagoon.

Shark HQ is the aquarium’s most recent exhibit and its highlights include a shark hatchery, talks by shark experts, shark tunnels and the largest animatronic Great White Shark in the world. In the Southern Rivers section of the aquarium, you can see freshwater fish, water dragons, yabbies and platypus, whilst the Northern Rivers section is home to barramundi, lungfish and saratoga.

The Southern Oceans section of the aquarium is home to fairy penguins, sea dragons and pineapple fish, and also contains an open aquarium, where you can see sharks, stingrays and fish.

The Northern Oceans area of the aquarium contains the Great Barrier Reef exhibit, in which you’ll find angelfish, anemones, triggerfish and many other species, whilst Mermaid Lagoon is home to Pig and Wuru, the aquarium’s dugongs (or sea cows).

You can listen also listen to talks by experts, take a trip on a glass-bottomed boat, stop off for a bite to eat at the aquarium’s cafe and buy souvenirs in its two gift shops.

4. Koala Park Sanctuary (84 Castle Hill Road, West Pennant Hills, NSW)

The Koala Park Sanctuary was established during the 1920s in order to provide a safe place for koalas to live at a time when they were being hunted for their fur. It’s situated about 30 minutes’ drive from Sydney’s Central Business District.

The Koala Park Sanctuary covers 10 acres of rainforest and eucalyptus groves and is home to a range of animals and birds, including emus, kangaroos, wombats, dingoes, echidnas and lorikeets, as well as koalas.

You can cuddle a koala and have your photo taken with it, watch the koalas being fed, and see presentations about the different animals. There is also a cafe and gift shop.

5. Featherdale Wildlife Park (217 – 229 Kildare Road, Doonside, NSW)

Featherdale Wildlife Park is situated in Doonside, about 45 minutes’ drive from the centre of Sydney, and claims to be home to the largest collection of Australian native animals in the world. The park attracts more than 300,000 visitors each year.

Highlights include Ngukurr, the park’s 4.5 metre long saltwater crocodile; opportunities to have your photo taken with a koala; and the chance to watch pelicans, flying foxes and Tasmanian Devils being fed.

Many different airlines operate flights to Sydney from London and other major international airports, and you’ll find a wide range of hotels within the city.

1. The Powerhouse Museum (500 Harris Street, Ultimo, Sydney, New South Wales) – this museum is located in the Darling Harbour area of Sydney and is part of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences. It covers a huge area and contains more than 11km of exhibitions.

It has 22 permanent exhibitions, where you can see just some of the museum’s collection of more than 380,000 objects, and also hosts regular temporary exhibitions. The exhibits include items relating to history, science, technology, art and many other disciplines, and many of its exhibitions include interactive elements, so it’s a great place to visit if you are travelling with children.

The Powerhouse Museum is open between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m every day (although it is closed on Christmas Day). Admission fees apply.

2. The Museum of Contemporary Art (140 George Street, The Rocks, Sydney) – situated at West Circular Quay, close to Sydney Harbour, the Museum of Contemporary Art is home to a number of collections, which include works by both Australian and international artists.

The largest of the museum’s collections is the J. W. Power Collection, which includes works by artists such as Roy Lichtenstein, Sidney Nolan, Andy Warhol, and Gilbert & George, as well as works by the late John Power himself. Other collections held by the Museum of Contemporary Art include the Maningrida Collection of Aboriginal Art and the Arnott’s Biscuits Collection of Aboriginal Bark Paintings.

The Museum of Contemporary Art is open between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m every day (although it is closed on Christmas Day). Admission is free of charge.

3. The Australian National Maritime Museum (2 Murray Street, Darling Harbour, Sydney) – Opened in 1991, the Australian National Maritime Museum houses more than 40,000 exhibits relating to the history of seafaring life in Australia. It has a number of permanent exhibitions, including exhibitions about the history of the Royal Australian Navy, sea voyages made from the U.K. and other destinations to Australia, and watersports in Australia.

The highlight of the museum is its collection of 14 historic vessels, situated at the wharf. These include: a full-scale replica of Captain James Cook’s HMB Endeavour; the HMAS Vampire Daring Class Destroyer, and the HMAS Onslow submarine. There are also regular temporary exhibitions held within the museum.

The Australian National Maritime Museum is open between 9.30 a.m. and 5 p.m (6 p.m. during January) every day except for Christmas Day. Admission to the museum is free of charge, although you will need to pay a small fee to explore its historic vessels.

4. The Art Gallery of New South Wales (Art Gallery Road, The Domain, Sydney) – the Art Gallery of New South Wales is one of the most important galleries in Australia and its collection includes more than 30,000 works.

Its permanent collections are: the Australian collection; the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander collection; the Asian collection; the European collection; the Contemporary collection; the Photography collection; and the Prints, Drawings and Watercolours collection. Temporary exhibitions are also regularly held at the gallery.

The Art Gallery of New South Wales is open from 10 a.m until 5 p.m daily (although it’s closed on Christmas Day and Good Friday). General admission is free of charge, although admission fees may apply for some exhibitions. The gallery is also open between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Wednesdays for “Art After Hours”, a programme of talks, films and concerts.

5. The Justice & Police Museum (Cnr Albert and Phillip Streets, Circular Quay, Sydney) – housed in the old 19th century police court building, this museum features exhibits relating to the history of crime and punishment in Sydney. You can learn about some of the mos famous crimes in Sydney’s history, see the 19th century court room, and see a range of weapons and other items.

The Justice & Police Museum is open between 10 a.m and 5 p.m daily. Admission fees apply.

Many different airlines operate return flights to Sydney and there are a wide range of hotels within the city. You can travel to the museums and galleries by car or by public transport.

Image: Saberwyn

1. Bondi Beach

Probably the most famous of Sydney’s beaches, Bondi Beach is best known for attracting surfers from around the world. The beach has been open to the public since 1882 and was placed on Australia’s National Heritage List in 2008.

If you want to swim or surf at Bondi Beach, avoid the far northern end of the beach, as it’s known for its strong rip current. Instead, head to the southern end of the beach and, if you want to swim, look out for the red and yellow safety flags as you can swim between these safely. You can hire surf boards and boogie boards from a rental shop on the beach, and sufing lessons are also available.

If swimming and surfing don’t appeal, you can still enjoy a stroll along the promenade or adjacent parkland. There are also shops, cafes and restaurants on Campbell Parade.

Image: Kitson

2. Manly Beach

The Sydney suburb of Manly is one of Australia’s most popular seaside resorts. It’s situated about 7 miles north-east of Sydney’s Central Business District, and attracts both tourists and residents of Sydney. It will take you about 30 minutes to get to Manly from Sydney by either road or ferry.

Manly is situated on a peninsula, so there are many beaches nearby. The main stretch of surfing beach is made up of three beaches: South Steyne Beach, North Steyne Beach and Queenscliff Beach.

You can sunbathe, swim, surf or take part in a range of other watersports, take a stroll along the beachfront promenade, or enjoy one of the longer walks which begin in Manly (such as the Cabbage Tree Bay Coastal Walk). There are also a number of other attractions within Manly, including the Oceanworld Manly aquarium, and the Manly Art Gallery and Museum.

3. Palm Beach

Palm Beach is slightly further away from central Sydney than Bondi Beach and Manly Beach, and it will take you about an hour to get there by car. It’s a surfing beach and is most famous for being used to represent Summer Bay in the Australian soap opera “Home and Away”. It’s also known for being a haunt of the rich and famous, and there are some beautiful homes in the Palm Beach area.

4. Coogee Beach

Situated about 5 miles to the east of Sydney’s Central Business District, Coogee Beach is the perfect place to go to for a day-trip if you want to enjoy the sun, sea and sand. It’s popular with both locals and tourists, and is often referred to as “Sydney’s Seaside Village”. If you stand on the beach and look out to sea, you’ll see a rocky outcrop known as Wedding Cake Island and, if you’re up early enough, it’s worth heading to the beach to watch the sun rise whilst the surf crashes over the island. You can swim, surf, kayak and snorkel in the waters off of Coogee Beach, or simply relax and sunbathe.

A number of annual events are held at Coogee Beach, including the Island Challenge (in November), a 2km swimming race in which participants swim from the beach to Wedding Cake Island and back in order to raise money for the Coogee Surf Club.

5. Bronte Beach

Bronte Beach is only about a mile away from Bondi Beach, but it’s far less touristy. It’s extremely popular with locals, however, as it’s family friendly and a good place to surf. It has a great picnic area, complete with electric barbecues and shaded huts. Head to the tidal pool to swim, fish at the north end of the beach, or enjoy one of the coastal walks in the area.

Image: Cookaa

Many different airlines operate return flights to Sydney and there are a wide range of hotels within the city. You can travel to most of the beaches by car or by public transport.

1. Visit the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain. Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens (Mrs Macquaries Road, Sydney) are open daily throughout the year and admission is free of charge. The site’s feature gardens include a herb garden, a begonia garden and an Australian native rockery, and you can also explore its Rainforest Walk and Mrs Macquaries Bushland Walk. The Domain is an area of parkland which surrounds the botanic gardens.

2. Walk across Sydney Harbour Bridge. Although there is a charge to climb Sydney Harbour Bridge, you can walk across it for free. Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of the city’s most famous landmarks and it was officially opened in 1932. It will take you about 20 minutes to walk across the bridge, which is nicknamed “the Coathanger”, and you’ll get fantastic views of the harbour.

3. Visit a Museum or Gallery. There are a number of museums and galleries that you can visit free of charge in Sydney. You can visit the Australian National Maritime Museum (2 Murray Street, Darling Harbour, Sydney), which houses more than 40,000 exhibits, including a number of historic vessels. Other free museums and galleries in Sydney include the Art Gallery of New South Wales (Art Gallery Road, The Domain, Sydney), the Museum of Contemporary Art (140 George Street, The Rocks, Sydney) and the Nicholson Museum (University of Sydney, Sydney).

4. Take a Tour of Government House. Sydney’s Government House (Macquarie Street, Sydney) was home to 27 Governors of New South Wales between the years 1846 and 1996. It was constructed on the site of the first Governor’s Residence, and features Gothic Revival style architecture. Guided tours of the house are available between 10.30am and 3pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The grounds and gardens are open daily between 10am and 4pm.

5. Relax in Bicentennial Park. Opened during the 1980s, Bicentennial Park is part of the larger Sydney Olympic Park, and it’s the perfect place to go for a relaxing and free day out. There are more than 8km of cycleways and pathways in the park, so you can take a stroll or hire a bike. You can also go birdwatching, enjoy a picnic or even have a barbecue. The park’s attractions include Lake Belvedere, the Silent Hearts Memorial Garden and the Peace Monument. There are also two playgrounds for younger children to enjoy.

Sydney is one of Australia’s most popular tourist destinations. Many different airlines operate flights to Sydney from London and other major international airports, and you’ll find a wide range of hotels and attractions within the city.

Image: Karen

The airport has three runways and three terminals, and is used for both domestic and international flights. Terminal 1  is used by more than 35 airlines operating international flights to Sydney. It has an observation deck, a range of shops and food outlets, ATMs, internet kiosks, a medical centre, a prayer room and even a cinema for children.

Terminal 2 is used for domestic and regional flights, and has food outlets, shops, ATMs, internet kiosks and a pharmacy. Terminal 3 is used by the Australian airline Qantas for its domestic flights.

Sydney Airport is about half an hour’s drive from the Central Business District and you can rent a car at Terminal 1 or Terminal 2. Alternatively, there are taxi ranks outside of each of the terminals, and several bus companies operate services to and from the airport.

If you would prefer to travel from the airport by train, you can use the Airport Link service, which runs to and from the centre of Sydney. The journey takes about 13 minutes and you can catch a train at either the International station, which is situated at the north end of Terminal 1, or the Domestic station, which is situated between Terminal 2 and Terminal 3.

Melbourne Overview

Melbourne is situated in the south of Australia and is the capital of the state of Victoria. Famous as both a city of culture and a city of sports, Melbourne attracts visitors from around the world.

Getting to Melbourne

The city’s main airport, Melbourne Airport, is only 25 minutes’ drive from the city’s Central Business District and many international airlines provide flights to Melbourne from the UK and other countries.

Albert Park Circuit

The Albert Park Circuit is about 30 minutes’ drive from Melbourne Airport. If you’re planning to watch the 2010 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, it’s best to travel to the circuit using public transport as car parking spaces are limited.

The circuit is temporary, as it includes public roads, so the fencing and grandstands are erected each year and then taken down again after the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix. The track circles the Albert Park Lake and is 5.3km long.

Melbourne Hotels

Melbourne has many hotels, guest houses and bed & breakfasts, as well as  self-catering accomodation. If you fancy splashing out, try The Langham Melbourne Hotel in the suburb of Southbank. This 5-star hotel overlooks the Yarra River and has a number of different types of rooms and suites: Classic Rooms, River View Rooms, Corner Deluxe Rooms, The Langham Club Rooms, The Langham Club Spa Suite and the Presidential Suite. The hotel’s facilities include a restaurant, a bar and lounge, a spa, a fitness centre and an outdoor heated swimming pool.

Other hotels in Melbourne include the Hilton on the Park Melbourne, The Westin Melbourne Hotel, The Hotel Windsor and the Novotel Melbourne on Collins.

Attractions in Melbourne

Melbourne is packed with attractions, so if you are planning to stay there for a week or two, you won’t be bored.

Melbourne grew into the important city that it is today as a result of the Gold Rush in the mid-19th century, and you can see some of the important buildings from this time by walking the city’s Golden Mile Heritage Trail.  Melbourne also has some excellent museums and galleries, including the National Gallery of Victoria, the Melbourne Museum and the National Sports Museum.

Other popular attractions in Melbourne include the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne Zoo and Melbourne Aquarium.

Melbourne is a cosmopolitan city and has excellent shops, restaurants, theatres and bars, so you should be able to find plenty to do there whatever your tastes.

Essential Information

The currency in Melbourne is the Australian Dollar and it is either 10 or 11 hours ahead of the U.K depending upon the time of year (+11 on the 2010 F1 Australian Grand Prix weekend).

The prize consists of: two economy return flights from the UK to Australia with Qantas and Jetstar; four nights’ all-inclusive stay at the exclusive Voyages Bedarra Island resort,which is  situated on a private island off the coast of Cairns; two nights’ bed and breakfast accommodation at the Voyages Silky Oaks Lodge and Healing Waters Spa, which is situated in Daintree National Park; four nights’ bed and breakfast accommodation at The Grand Hyatt Melbourne; and two nights’ bed and breakfast accommodation at Chateau Yering, a five star luxury hotel in the Yerra Valley.

The winner must take the prize before the 31st of July 2010. The following dates are not available: 1 – 14 August 2009 and 10 December 2009 – 15 January 2010.

You can enter the competition via the BBC Good Food Magazine website. Entries must be received by 31 July 2010.

Experience Queensland is offering UK residents the chance to win a holiday for two in Queensland, Australia’s Sunshine State.

The prize consists of: return flights for two from London Heathrow to Cairns via Singapore on Quantas and Jetstar; airport transfers; seven nights’ accommodation at the Cairns Colonial Club Resort (on a room-only basis); and two places on a Quicksilver Outer Great Barrier Reef Cruise.

To enter the competition, complete the form on the Experience Queensland website. Entries must be received by midday on Friday 8 May, 2009.  The winner must redeem the prize before 30 June 2009 and must take the holiday before 31 May 2010 (travel is not permitted between 10 December 2009 and 10 December 2010, and travel is restricted during school and public holidays).

Image by Donaldytong

Travel magazine Wandalust has got together with Tourism Queensland and STA Travel in order to offer readers the chance to win a holiday in Queensland, Australia.

The prize consists of two return flights from London Heathrow to Brisbane (up to a maximum cost of £1,500) and two “Oz Experience” hop-on hop-off bus passes worth £520. Please note: the prize does not include accommodation, meals, transfers or Visa costs.

There are also three runners-up prizes of £100 vouchers for adventure gear company Kathmandu.

In order to enter the competition, you will need to register with or log into the Wandalust website and answer a question. Entries must be received before 11.59 GMT on 25 March 2009. 

Image courtesy of: © Matthew Weinel | Dreamstime.com