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Few experiences match the idyllic setting and ezquisite cuisine of the Berowra Waters Inn, just north of Sydney. Unless of course you’re talking about the journey that takes you there - your sea plane flight from Sydney Rose Bay, across the Sydney Harbour and along the coast direct to the inn’s private jetty. A journey and a meal that complement each other perfectly.

Also, on Sydney’s northern beaches or to be exact the Whale Beach you will find Jonah’s, an exclusive retreat with Andrew and Thellie Wade amongst their clientele.  If you need to stay in the city, take some time of at least to have lunch at Jonah’s - you’ll never regret it.

 High Tea at Sydney Opera House is an experience unlike any other. Under the sails of one of the world’s most iconic buildings, bathed in the late afternoon light, you’ll enjoy an exclusive operatic performance while sampling exquisite delicacies prepared for you by renowned chef Guillaume Brahimi. To cap off a wonderful afternoon, stroll down the Opera Bar for a glass of wine as the sun sets over the Harbour.

See in 2009 with a bang at Opera Australia’s New Year’s Eve Gala at Sydney Opera House. Sip champagne and rub shoulders with the glitterati while enjoying performances of Broadway and opera favourites. You can also choose a sumptuous pre-gala dinner, or join in the midnight party. And when the show really starts, you’ll have front row seats to the world’s most spectacular fireworks display.

For a cool $ 1 million, you get a brand new Bentley Continental GTC, an exceptional 12.16 carat pear shaped diamond from Bunda, and a Hilton Sydney extravaganza that you and 100 of your closest friends will never forget. Along with your guests, you’ll take over the three Executive floors of the hotel, have exclusive use of Glass Brasserie and Zeta Bar, all the while enjoying the very best life - and Sydney - has to offer.

Witness the awakening of the city and Harbour from the top of Sydney’s iconic bridge. As part of BridgeClimb’s exclusive Dawn Climb experience you’ll watch the city’s lightd fade and the sky’s changing colours emerge, transforming night into day. Add to that a breakfast of Ricotta Hot Cakes at Bills at Darlinghurst and it’s morning that will awaken your senses.

Sydne’s Art Gallery of NSW will soon be home to one of the finest exhibitions of Impressionist art ever held in Australia - Monet & The Impressionists.. For something more intimate, take a chauffeur driven tour with an art expert from Sydney Arts Tours to explore some of Sydney’s hidden boutique galleries, or if you want something a little better known, visit one of the jewels in Sydney’s art crown, the Museum of Contemporary Art.

 Staying at the world-renowned Park Hyatt Sydney is a luxury in itself. But to really spoil yourself have Alessandro Pavoni, executive Chef at the hotel’s harbourkitchen & bar, whip up a lunch on board your own private 43ft luxury cruiser. Your crew will be happy to take you wherever your heart desires, direct from Park Hyatt’s own private wharf.

Here’s a tip for visitors to

Sydney.

We recently stayed at The Menzies ( where we can offer you a VERY good deal by the way) and had dinner on our first night at the Athenian which is close by on

Barrack Street

. Excellent service. The restaurant and the waiters took us back to

Buenos Aires where you get the best service.

 

We enjoyed a Roasted Greek Lamb and a Moussaka.

 

The next day we wanted to try something else, sat down at a Thai restaurant, walked out, looked into a few others but realised The Athenian would be our choice for this evening as well and we enjoyed the food and the service just as much on our second evening.

 

You can have a look at their website, www.athenian.com and please note, I don’t have any commercial interest in the restaurant but I think when you come across something good you should share it with your fellows. So I wish you a bon apetite at the Athenian next time you’re in

Sydney.. The main course, a roasted lamb (which fell of the bone, lovely and tender) with potatoes cost 22.00!  Very reasonable.

 

Here’s some advise you might find useful.  

To start with, the airline tickets.Living in North America you would probably check out the best fares on the internet through www.expedia.com or some other local website. Once that done I suggest you also send an email to info@australiantravel.us so you can compare which one offer the best fare for you.  

Once you have your bookings confirmed and paid it’s time to organise a visa for Australia. This is easily done by going to website; http://www.eta.immi.gov.au/Just follow the instructions and you’ll have your visa in minutes . 

Your itinerary. You probably have a rough idea of what you want to see and where you want to go and some of you might prefer to do all arrangements yourself by booking hotels through a website like www.australiatravelweb.com where you can book hotels, hostel accommodation, tours and airfares.   Others prefers to deal with a travel agency, preferably ours; www.australiantravel.us and our speciality is to work out personal itineraries. . You tell us where you plan to go, what kind of accommodation you prefer, budget, standard, first class or luxury and we’ll send you a suggested itinerary by return email.  

Payment: in regards to airfares both international to Australia and domestic within Australia and New Zealand a credit card is preferred. The reason for this is that airlines these days offers specials throughout the year BUT you need to pay immediately and also to keep in mind that most airfares are not refundable so a travel insurance that would cover you in case you can’t travel for medical or personal reasons is essential.   For the rest of the arrangements it’s normal to pay about 2 weeks before your departure. With the internet it could not be easier. We normally send all vouchers to our clients before they depart the U.S. Once you have printed them out and checked they are as should be you can go to the bank and transfer the money to

Australia or just pay the lot with your credit card. Please bear in mind there is a 2.9% charge to credit cards imposed by operators.   So what is the difference between doing the arrangements yourself and going to a travel agent?  There is a service fee using a travel agency, normally 20 dollars for a hotel booking, 10 dollars for a flight reservation and up to 100 dollars in service fees  but you get expert advise from an agency that is actually based in Australia and has stayed at most hotels they recommend as well as having done most of the tours offered.  

What should you see?  It is of course very individual, Sydney is a favourite both as an exit and departure point in Australia. Combine that with a couple of days up in Cairns to see the Great Barrier Reef and the world heritage areas of Daintree and Cape Tribulation. Should you wish to add Ayers Rock to your destination the most popular option is to arrive in Ayers Rock at lunchtime on day 1, sightseeing in the afternoon and the next morning followed by a transfer to Alice Springs. On day 3 there is time for a morning tour before continuing to Cairns.The extra cost involved here is about 1100 dollars per person so if you been to Monument Valley and other places in Arizona and N.M. you might reconsider.  We drive on the left hand side in Australia but roads are good and there should be no problem for you to adept to local regulations.However, the distances are great so we recommend that you fly to your destination and rent a car locally for excursions.   One of the more charming destinations for a driving holiday is Tasmania. You should allow about 6-7 days to cover the whole island staying in charming B & B’s and enjoying the fabulous food and wine offered.   If you like a Miami-style holiday try the Gold Coast, the number 1 destination in Australia for the natives. Theme parks, casino, clubs, endless beaches and golf.  Vineyards of Yarra Valley outside Melbourne, Adelaide with Barossa Valley, Clare Valley and Hunter valley north of Sydney.   For this and many many more ideas click on www.australia.com And remember, we are your travel agent in Australia. info@australiantravel.us

Part of travel is often to bring back an unusual gift for yourself or friends. www.2ECM8.com has just added a fabulous beanie to their sortiment and, being biased we think this is a must for any overseas visitor or locals.

The Australian Beanie is hand knitted in 100% wool BUT please note; you have to order it in advance as each beanie is individually knitted as per your order. So we need your size when you order. The price is 47 Australian dollars and postage is included.

 For this and other ideas, please visit www.2ecm8.com and be surprised!

“The sheer pleasure of being alive…experience it on a sensational, gentle adventure that take you into island nature, the hidden world of wildlife and a history rich with human stories.  Join us on the Maria Island walk.Through our 4-day guided walk we aim to provide a rich experience of history and nature, gentle achievable adventure , comfortable elegant accommodation and dining, and wildlife viewing – all supported by knowledgeable, educational interpretationThat’s the introduction to this wonderful walk on Maria Island operated by Ian and Bronwyn Johnstone.Maria Island is conveniently accessed via Hobart.  The entire island is a National Park, with unspoiled beaches and tall Tasmanian Blue Gum forests, and this relaxed, guided walk is a great way to explore it.  The four day trip includes two nights at comfortable beachfront wilderness camps and the final night is accommodated at historic Bernacchi House at the Darlington settlement. Maria Island’s wildlife viewing is exceptional with a variety of rare kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, echidna and fur seals.  Maria is also a renowned destination for bird watching with 10 of the 11 endemic Tasmanian species being found here. Casuarina Camp and White Gums Camp each provide twin share accommodation in environmentally sensitive standing camps built on wooden platforms with canvas walls.  Foam mattresses and pillows are provided, as well as camp showers and composting toilets.  Guests stay in restored Bernacchi House on the final night.
The four-day trips leave Hobart on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, from October - May.  Participants meet at 8.00 am at Hobart’s Salamanca Arts Centre, with a return to the same venue by 5 pm on Day 4 of the trip - airport drop off is optional.Group size is limited to eight persons, accompanied by two guides, and light packs of 5-8 kilos are carried along firm sandy beaches or gentle forest trails.  The walk is graded easy/gentle

DAY 1: Hobart to Casuarina Beach Camp

Departing from the  Salamanca Arts Centre in Hobart, start with a drive through lush east coast farmland and peaceful seaside town of Orford to arrive at Triabunna.  Board a boat to wet your appetite for adventure, exploring Mercury Passage en route to Chinaman’s Bay on
Maria Island.  The walk begins with a visit to old homesteads and former pastures reclaimed by kangaroos and wombats. Ramble along Crooked McGiness Lagoon, to be surprised by abundant wildlife and birds.  Then enjoy stunning views along the sweeping curve of
Riedle Bay beach before walking in the footsteps of French Explorer, Nicholas Baudin, who visited the island in 1802. Find out why the nearby point is called Cape des Tombeaux.
Overnight at the delightful Casuarina Beach Camp with the option of a refreshing dip in a sheltered bay.
Distance: 8km - 4hrs

DAY 2: Five great beaches - White Gums Camp.  

Easy does it - this is ‘five beaches day

  Walk across to
Shoal Bay, where a string of five superb beaches unfolds before you.  Add a dash of spice at the convict cells at Point Lesueur, where you will hear tales of intrigue from the early days of this outpost.  Birds and mammals abound in the vicinity of five natural freshwater lagoons. Inspect an ochre pit at Bloodstone Point, a rare source of ochre used by Tasmanian aborigines, then continue past Gull Nest Point to Soldiers Beach and Return Point.
Put your feet up tonight at White Gums Camp and enjoy a glass of wine on the deck. Banksias and white gums around the camp are full of native birds.

Distance:  13km – 6hrs

DAY 3:  Gondwana Rainforest - White Gums to Bernacchi House

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast then head inland, leaving behind the pristine white beach for the rich green of grand forests.  This is prime habitat for the endangered Forty-spotted Pardalotes and your guide knows just where to look for them.
Take a gentle inland track to Hopgrounds beach and the Painted Cliffs or if you are feeling energetic, continue to the 711 metre summit of Mount Maria to stand in awe of breathtaking 360 degree views.  Greet trees and ferns that are relics of the supercontinent of Gondwana – giant Tasmanian rainforest specimens of blue gums, celery-top pines, sassafras and manferns.
Arrive at the restored convict settlement of Darlington to explore the Coffee Palace and the daily life of prisoners and workers in the doomed silkmaking, winemaking and cement manufacturing industries.  Be touched by the tragedies of Italian entrepreneur, Diego Bernacchi, then enjoy the same sunset view that helped inspire his vision. Join new friends for a sumptuous banquet in Bernacchi’s former home, where you will stay the night.

Distance:  9km or 17km walk – 4 or 8 hours (depending on Mt Maria Climb)

DAY 4: Fur Seals onIle des Phoques and Fossil Bay caves and cliffs - Return to Hobart

The final day begins with a sunrise boat trip to Ile des Phoques, 18km north of
Darlington, to see a playful colony of Australian Fur Seals - mammals once on the brink of extinction.  Back on Maria, inspect the dramatic sea caves and cliffs around
Fossil Bay before lunching at Bernacchi House.
Refreshed and ready for the outside world, depart Darlington for Triabunna and return drive to
Hobart. It’s a great chance to swap addresses and say an easy goodbye before returning to Salamanca Arts Centre around 5pm, or an airport drop-off can be provided.

Distance:  4km walk - 2 hours

The current price is AUD 1745.00 per person.

Included in the Maria Island Guided Walk;

All transport: Hobart – Maria Island – Hobart 3 night twin share accommodation and excellent meals.

p>Two guides per trip with maximum 8 guests.

National Park entrance fees.

Raincoat and pack supplied, together with sleeping bag.