Category - Travel Tips

Day Trips around Brisbane to Celebrate Father’s Day

August 23, 2016

In this tech-addicted world, one misses personal interaction the most, especially with one’s parents. So spend the day instead planning a day trip with your father around the town of Brisbane.

Falling on a Sunday, you can get attractive discounts & deals on car hire in Brisbane this Father’s Day. Look for a reliable & budget-friendly car rental service online and choose a comfortable ride.

With the transport issue sorted, it’s time to pick the right spots where you can spend some quality time with your father.

1. Relaxing Day in Noosaville

A 2.3 hour drive away from Brisbane Downtown, Noosaville or ‘The Golden Mile’ as the locals call it, is a great place to relax and unwind. The long stretch of golden sand, breathtaking views and calm water along the banks of The Noosa River will make you forget all your worries.

You can explore the gorgeous Noosa River by hopping onto a ferry. Try your hand at kayaking, jet skiing or jet boat ride. To shop and eat, Gympie Terrace and Thomas Street are two popular ‘eat streets’ worth checking out.
Treat your dad to a pontoon boat ride or walk along the Noosaville foreshore. You can also set-up a quiet, non-fussy picnic on the foreshore and enjoy some fish and chips.

2. Wonders of the Rainforest in Springbrook

If you want to escape the city life, then Springbrook with its awe-inspiring rainforests and fresh mountain air is an ideal day trip spot. It takes approximately 1.30-2 hours to reach Springbrook from Brisbane Downtown.

You can park your car at the Gwongorella Picnic Area Car Park and then hike to (4 km circuit walk) the Purling Brook Falls. If your father enjoys long hikes then drive to the Canyon Lookout and walk the 17 km long Warrie Circuit.

Take a walk to the highest lookout point ‘Best of All Lookout’ on Springbrook plateau and pass through cool mists, twisted vines and endless greenery.

To grab a quick-bite, coffee, and tea, visit Puddleducks Café, Dancing Waters Café, or the Scuttlebutt Café Restaurant.

3. Rendezvous with Nature in Mount Tamborine

Adventure sports, art galleries, breweries, wineries, spas and gardens, the list of things you can do in Mount Tamborine is endless. An hour’s drive from Brisbane, Tamborine Mountain is perfect for active travelers who want to make the most of every minute of their day.

Love nature walks? Take your pick from Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk that offers stunning view of Cedar Creek falls, Sandy Creek Circuit that leads to Cameron Falls or Palm Grove Rainforest Circuit where you can meet tall Piccaneen palms and red-necked Pademelons.

After a peaceful walk amid mother nature, enjoy a hot air balloon ride, play mini golf, chill in the Thunderbird Park, and visit the various popular Art Galleries like The Arthur Hamblin Art Gallery & The Art Gallery Studio Retreat.

6 Travel Gadgets That You Should Always Have in Your Suitcase

June 15, 2016

Chris

Travel Tips

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According to a survey by Consumer Reports, 94 percent of American travelers bring electronic devices on vacation, with two out of every three taking a smartphone.This likely comes as no surprise to smartphone owners, but what kind of smartphone should be on your travel gadget list? And what other devices should you never leave home without? Here’s a round-up of travel gadgets that should have a permanent spot in your suitcase.

Galaxy S7

A quality smartphone should be water resistant, durable, not terribly expensive and come with a high-quality camera. The Samsung Galaxy S7 allows for unlimited streaming video with their “Binge On” app. Its 12 MP rear-facing camera and 5MP front-facing camera make for smooth and crisp photos and video. And, unlike other smartphones that drain your phone when you’re taking and watching videos, the Galaxy S7 has 28 hours of talk time and 12 entire days of standby time. So your phone will stay powered up even if you’re in a remote area, want to disconnect or just want to take photos every once in a while.

SteriPEN

Ever been stuck in a part of the world where even the bottled water smelled or tasted suspect? Don’t leave home without a UV water purifier. SteriPEN is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts. You can camp and hike comfortably near natural water sources without worrying about rationing out your canteen filled with bottled water. Just stick SteriPEN directly into your water bottle or glass and turn it on for under a minute. It eliminates Cryptosporidium, which can cause diarrhea and other intestinal ailments. SteriPEN is also super portable and eliminates the mess of tablets that dissolve in your water.

Tylt

Traveling with all of your devices? Need a charge on the go? Electronic addicts shouldn’t leave home without the Tylt backpack. It comes with a 10,400mAh battery pack to charge four different devices. A micro-USB connector recharges your battery pack so you’re ready to go the next day. Store your cables in a front zipper pocket designed to stay neat, orderly and convenient to charge while walking or taking a tour.

Bragi Dash

Noise cancelling headphones often make travel must-have lists. But their bulk isn’t always practical while traveling. Meanwhile, earbuds often require untangling a long cord, usually in mid-air while trying to block out the noise of a screaming child. Pick up a set of Bragi cordless earbuds before your next trip. These Bluetooth enabled headphones let you listen to music, take phone calls and respond to voice commands. And, unlike most earbuds that are only moderately comfortable, Bragi earbuds are designed to live in your ears with FitTip sizing for secure comfort so you don’t have to constantly fiddle with them.

goTenna

Eliminate the stress of skyrocketing charges for text and GPS when traveling around the world. goTenna puts both capabilities on your phone without any service required. This means you can trek through remote jungles and mountains and still stay connected to your travel buddies. This USB-style stick uses old-school radio waves to send messages to others nearby. You can share your location on a hike, send encrypted messages or just enjoy one-on-one messaging.

Bluesmart

There’s a smart gadget for everything else in your life, so why not your suitcase? The Bluesmart suitcase is the size of an airline approved carry-on and can track itself, auto lock and even charge your devices. Worried about weight restrictions after stuffing your bag with new clothes and souvenirs? Bluesmart will also weigh itself so you know what to expect before you get to the airport. And if your bag gets lost or stolen, you can track its GPS location right from your smartphone.

5 of the Best Things to Do on a Holiday in Croatia

April 12, 2016

Chris

Destinations, Travel Talk, Travel Tips

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Croatia is a wonderful country with some exciting medieval towns, the waterfall-laced mountains of Dinaric Alps, the deep blue waters of the Adriatic coastline, sprawling vineyards, gorgeous beaches, some wonderful architectural beauties, and some amazing islands. This Central European country has a very exciting blend of tradition and glamour. If Croatia is the next European destination you plan on exploring, make sure you don’t miss the following 5 best things to do in Croatia:

Spend Some Quality Time on Croatian Beaches

The number of wonderful beaches in Croatia is endless. So, visiting some of the best beaches in Croatia is a must. According to Touropia, some of the most popular beaches include Omis Beach, Banje Beach, Dubovica Beach, Makarska Beach, StaraBaska, Queen’s Beach, Sveti Ivan, Punta Rata, Rajska Plaza and Zlatni Rat. Most of these beaches are located in the country’s vast number of islands and on the Adriatic coastline.

Explore Some Wonderful Islands

There are more than 1000 islands that make up Croatia. Most of these islands are filled with gorgeous beaches, small medieval towns, exciting historical ruins, amazing little villages, and very welcoming people. Some of the most known Croatian islands include Hvar Island, Mljit Island, BracIsland, Vis Island, Rab, Murtar Island, Pag, Palagruza, and Lopud. Hvar is by far the best island vacation destination in Croatia,Vis Island is known for its local food and wine,Brac island is perfect for taking parts in some exciting water sports andMljit Island is most known for its wonderful and unspoilt nature. You will enjoy your time exploring these exciting Croatian islands.

Enjoy The Wonderful Waterfalls in Plitvice Lakes National Park

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Croatia is the wonderful waterfalls in Plitvice Lakes National Park. The park boasts of 16 crystalline lakes whichtumble into each other via a series of cascades and waterfalls. You willlove beholding the clouds of butterflies drift above the 18 km wooden pathways and footbridges and the mineral-rich waters carve through the rocks, depositing Tufa in constantly changing formations.

Experience Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is one of the most popular luxury holiday destinations in Croatia. There are so many wonderful things to do and see here. Walking on its wonderful medieval walls, exploring its fortsand palaces, having a cable car ride, tasting some of the best Croatian food and wine are among the best things to do in Dubrovnik.

Visit the Pula Amphitheater

The Pula Amphitheater, popularly known as Arena of Pula, is one of the most remarkable historical ruins in Croatia. This exciting architectural beauty resembles the renowned Colosseum in Rome and is believed to have been built in the first century AD. These days, a number of summer performances, including concerts, Opera Season, Equestrian festivals and film festival are arranged here. It can still accommodate around 5000 spectators.

These are just the five of so many wonderful things to do and see on vacation in Croatia. At least, you can’t afford to miss any of these five activities to have one of the best experience of your lifetime.

Best Places for Afternoon Tea around the World

January 2, 2016

Chris

All Things Food, Destinations, Travel Tips

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Check out the best Places for Afternoon Tea around the World:

Mount Nelson, Cape Town, South Africa

Located at the foot of Table Mountain, Mount Nelson is one amongst the simplest places for tea. Besides the various tea varieties it offers the pleasant array of ancient buffet finger food. You can even enjoy a tea made from rose petals picked from the garden of the hotel.

The Strand Hotel, Yangon, Myanmar

A far-famed old colonial haunt of Rudyard Kiplingand Somerset Maugham, the Strand building is another place to go to for tea. The architecture of this building is unquestionably from a bygone era. Afternoon tea is served within the Strand Grill restaurant. The heavily tiered stands are laden with the foremost delicate petit fours, cakes and sandwiches.

Betty’s Tea Room, Harrogate

Known as one amongst the simplest places for high tea within the UK, Betty’s Tea area has been serving afternoon tea within the North Yorkshire spa city Harrogate since 1919. There are over fifty totally different teas and over three hundred breads, cakes and pastries to choose from.

The Fairmont Empress Hotel, Victoria, Canada

The Fairmont Empress Hotel has been serving afternoon tea to dignitaries and royalty for over a century. Its tea lobby is well-appointed elegantly with snug wing-back chairs, hand-carvedfurniture,and classy chintz fabrics. The most delectable sandwiches, pastries and scones are served on silverware and delicate bone china.

Have you ever been to one of these places for high tea? Which of these places for afternoon tea would you like to visit? Share your thoughts, please!

Image by GOC53,masochismtango,Neil T Under Creative Common License.

Places to See in Corbett

October 26, 2015

Chris

All Things Food, Destinations, Travel Tips

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Check out the places to see in Corbett and include it in your bucket list.

Corbett National Park

The Corbett National park contains a top attractive beauty and also the picturesque atmosphere accentuates it. The topography of Corbett National park is varied with hilly and riverine areas, marshes, plateaus and ravines. Sal and sesham trees dominate the Flora in Corbett National park.

The Fauna in Corbett National parkis fascinating. The park houses about 50 mammal species, 580 bird species and 25 reptile species., 580 bird species and twenty five reptile species. However the most wonderful sights are the wildlife attraction in Corbett National Park. Corbett may be a haven for Tigers, four varieties of Deer, Wild Boar and a few lesser-known animals. The hilly areas of the park are home to leopards and a few nocturnal cats just like the Felis chaus and fishing cat.

The Himalayan Black bear is seen in the higher hills while the Sloth bear is found in the lower hilly areas .The wild Dog and the Jackal are found in the southern parts of the Park. The rocky hillsides are home to the Ghoral or Goat Antelopes. Elephants are found along the Ramganga River. So also the long snouted Gharial Crocodile and the ‘mugger’ Crocodile. The Languar and Rhesus monkeys are found almost throughout the park warning the whole jungle about he arrival of any predator with its shrill alarm calls.

Wildlife Viewing and Safaris

Wildlife Viewing and Safaris in Corbett Elephant rides are an expertise though the elephants rarely venture into the deep jungles beyond the grasslands. Still you’d be able to view chital, sambhar and varied other deer species. Tiger sightings are few but you may be able to see recent pugmarks. auto expedition is that the most convenient and fruitful approach of traveling through fresh pugmarks. Jeep safaris are going to be a delight for the the wildlife enthusiast and photographer .

Tourist Destinations Near Corbett

Anglers can make a visit to Ramnagar, 50kms from Corbett, that could be a smart base for fishing. It is also the administrative center for Corbett national park and Project tiger. But the best place for angling would be Lohachur, 15 kms along the river Kosi where the lucky few might be able to hook the legendary mahaseer (a kind of carp). Keep in to get the necessary permission from the Project tiger Office, Ramnagar for your fishing expeditions.

Image by Koshyk,bugeaters,Gerald Pereira Under Creative Common License.