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Creating Itineraries "Or Specialty"

travelagental — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 09:41:53 CDT

Planning Itineraries and Crafting Your Trip

How to Create the Perfect Itinerary
Last Updated: 07/28/09

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Ever noticed how some folks make the toughest trips seem like a leisurely walk in the park? We'll wager that nine out of 10 times, those travelers created a near-perfect itinerary before they even started packing.

Modern itinerary-making tools, from Web sites to computer programs, allow travelers to build colorful trip timelines and share their travel plans with loved ones. But the ability to engineer an effective, seamless itinerary requires more than just bells and whistles -- and well-laid travel plans are an integral component of any successful trip.

So what's the secret to creating a great itinerary? After you've snagged a solid airfare deal, arranged for a car rental and even managed to pack light, there are some less obvious -- but equally important -- tactics you can use to put together a seamless trip.

Use Your Computer
Travel itinerary sites and software have facilitated the creation of itineraries, and the ability to share those itineraries, for thousands of tech-savvy travelers. Here are a few of our favorites:

TripIt allows users to create complex online itineraries and e-mail them to friends and family. The site will automatically insert tons of useful information into your itinerary, including maps, directions and weather. TripIt is free, but you can buy extra perks, like a mobile service that alerts you if your flight is changed or canceled, for an annual fee.

NileGuide is a valuable resource for travelers visiting select locations in the U.S. and Canada -- but you can only create an itinerary based on the site's pre-picked destinations and cannot customize a trip to a locale not listed on the site. However, if you do happen to be traveling to one of NileGuide's destinations, pick your place from their list and you'll get an impressive inventory of hotels, activities, travel guides and more, which you can use to build a personal itinerary.

Get crafty on the computer by using software to make your own itinerary! Owners of Microsoft Office can download free itinerary templates at Microsoft Office Online, which are basically blank schedules with spots for you to record your travel information. TinyPlanet Software offers an itinerary program for Macs, Knapsack. The program's features, from interactive maps to printed itineraries that appear professionally designed, make trip planning more fun than an in-flight movie.

Be Realistic
Sure, you'd like to milk your trip for all it's worth by booking a red-eye flight and then scheduling a full day's worth of activities on day one, despite an eight-hour time difference. But by the end of the trip, you're likely to look and feel as if you've spent the week in correctional boot camp. If you really want to squeeze in every tour, meal and excursion you've typed into your itinerary, but as it currently stands you're getting six hours of sleep a night with no room for a time adjustment, you need to add a day -- or cut an activity.

Choreographing all you want to get done into a seamless schedule -- especially if you're visiting multiple cities or countries -- can be a massive challenge. Make it easier by creating a list of everything you want to see or do in your locale. Then, put the list in priority order. To help estimate how long an activity will take, or how long it will take to get there, consult a guidebook or check out online message boards for perspectives from other travelers who've been there and done that. This will make it easier for you to feel out what you can and cannot accomplish during, say, three nights in Montreal.

Research events happening in your destination while you'll be there (tourist board Web sites are good for this -- they usually have events calendars), and plan accordingly. There may be a nifty festival that you want to slot into your schedule, or, at the opposite extreme, you may want to avoid a certain part of town if it's going to be crowded or blocked off.

Also note local holidays coinciding with your trip, which can affect transportation schedules, business opening hours, etc.

Ambitious travelers who plan to embark on a weeklong tour of a Europe (yes, we've actually heard of people who attempt to see a continent in less time than it takes to learn the Thriller dance) should do some serious planning. In a case like this, a map is your best friend as you prioritize activities. Look at a map and start grouping the different attractions you want to see by neighborhood or region -- this will help you minimize transit time between one part of your itinerary and the next.

There's more to consider than just time and location. Planning to search for sunken treasures? Most scuba experts agree that divers should allow about 24 hours between scuba diving and flying (so that your body can adjust to changes in altitude). If you have a cruise or a prepaid excursion planned, arrange for your flight to arrive no less than a day prior to your departure date. Otherwise, a missed or severely delayed flight could cost you. A good rule of thumb, regardless of what you have planned: The more space your itinerary allows between activities and transportation, the better.

Get It Right, from Door to Door
It's important to reckon the drive to the airport to account for time spent schlepping from the economy parking lot a few towns over. (Is it us, or are economy parking lots are getting farther and farther away?) Allow yourself plenty of time to make it through the security checkpoint's snaking line.

Ask yourself a few questions: How far from the airport do I live or work? Will I have an opportunity to eat before driving to the airport? If I miss the parking or rental car shuttle by seconds, will I have enough time to wait for the next one, or am I going to be sprinting across the lot trying to hail down the driver?

The same thing goes for your arrival. Although travelers may sometimes save by booking flights to smaller, more out-of-the-way airports (especially in when flying on discount airlines in many European countries), it's important to weigh thrift against travel time. One of our editors saved some money by booking a Ryanair ticket to Barcelona's secondary airport in Girona (instead of Aeroport de Barcelona, the city's main hub). But she ended up taking an hour-long bus ride to get from the Girona airport to Barcelona's city center -- an inconvenience that eclipsed what she saved on the ticket.

Connections Are Key
Add a connection to your itinerary and plenty could go wrong that wouldn't have happened had you booked a nonstop flight. Connections mean additional planes and additional opportunities for delays of those extra planes. Connections also mean that your bags are being moved and mauled, which creates more occasions for your property to be lost or damaged. God forbid you miss a connection and your bags don't -- or vice versa.

A connection will disrupt your sleep, too. If you're the type to take a sleep aid in transit, you know that there's nothing more miserable than surfacing from the depths of a Dramamine-induced slumber to slouch off the plane, lumber through the airport to a new gate and endure another complete boarding process.

The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men
Your itinerary is not a legally binding contract. It's more like a rough draft ... written in sand. Things will go wrong. Restaurants will be closed. Buses will be late. Animals will attack.

Consider scheduling a free day into your itinerary. During your trip, it's likely you'll discover some worthwhile attractions you didn't know about prior to your departure. This will also give you some wiggle room in case you don't see everything you had originally planned.

All in all, the most flexible itinerary is often the best. Our final advice? Opt out of the hour-by-hour detailed timeline that factors in bathroom breaks and photo ops. Instead, expect the unexpected, and leave plenty of room for upsets. If you know where the bumps in the road might be, you can steer around them. And if you're really lucky, you can put it all together for the perfect itinerary.

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This sample photo is easy to replace with one of your own: Click the EasyEdit button, highlight the placeholder image at left and hit "delete." Then click the "image" button in the toolbar and use the "browse" button to find the image you want to insert from your computer. It's that easy.

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Down Under Adventures With Allan Hoffman CTC

travelagental — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 09:39:35 CDT

Allan Hoffman, CTC is simply one of the best consultants to help you to shop for travel to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and the rest of the South Pacific. Explore the many wonderful travel offerings, from active, participatory vacations to more traditional itineraries. As a certified Destination Specialist for the South Pacific, an Aussie Specialist for Australia, and endorsed as a Kiwi Travel Specialist (New Zealand Government Tourism) for New Zealand I do a large volume of business in the South Pacific, and I offer extraordinary discounts to my clients. Explore my site for some great travel ideas, or call me at 1.904.703-7815. Choose your destination and let me help you plan your trip today!

I hold exclusive partnership with all of Australia's major tour operators. I offer a comprehensive, friendly, and FREE travel planning and reservation service for all Australian Holidays. My product range includes day tours, harbour cruises, accommodation packages, airfares, rail, coach, car hire & extended adventure and luxury holidays. As an Aussie Specialist travel consultant, I have experienced first hand, the tours that I promote. With outstanding local knowledge they will design any itinerary to suit your individual needs and interests & inform you of the latest specials and getaways, the must see and do in Sydney and around Australia. As an Australian Travel Specialist I am committed to providing a great holiday experience to any Australian state or territory. Let me help you make the most of your Holiday. My insights and services are endorsed globally and serve you!

Adelaide Alice Springs Ayers Rock Barossa Valley Blue Mountains Brisbane Broken Hill Broome Cairns Coober Pedy Cradle Mountain National Park Daintree National Park Darwin Flinders Ranges Fraser Island Freycinet National Park Gold Coast Great Barrier Reef Great Barrier Reef Islands Great Ocean Road Hobart Hunter Valley Kakadu National Park Kangaroo Island Katherine The Kimberley Kings Canyon Kuranda Lord Howe Island Melbourne Monkey Mia Palm Cove Perth Phillip Island Port Arthur Port Douglas Sunshine Coast Sydney The Whitsundays Yarra Valley Wine Country Distinctive Air Cruises with Bill Peach, Unique Cruise and Meeting Venues Down Under

As a "Kiwi Specialist" I select only the top quality New Zealand vacation packages and travel arrangements. Our speciality is in customized vacation itineraries for sophisticated travelers. Tropical Vacations Travel provides it's clients with:

Vacation packages to luxury New Zealand resorts & hotels.
Custom designed New Zealand vacations to reflect your desires, budget, and interests.
New Zealand Honeymoon Packages
Escorted New Zealand tours
Adventure and site seeing tours

News You Can Use

travelagental — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 01:45:52 CDT

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Home

travelagental — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 09:35:20 CDT

Allan Hoffman, CTC has been a certified travel consultant for over twenty years, and rated as a source for travel service and consultation for over three decades! His work has appeared in Conde Nast Traveler Magazine, Travel and Leisure, the "Oyster Pointer", US Today Newspaper, Caribbean Travel & Life, Business Week, (BTN) Business Travel News, Adventure Travel Magazine,Arthur Frommers's Budget Travel, Vacation Magazine, Cruise Magazine and many other publications.

Allan R Hoffman III, CTC was born in Newport News, Virginia , a city in the Tidewater [Hampton Roads area] of the Commonwealth of Virginia . Here his father worked as a harbor pilot with the Virginia Pilot Association. His brother currently works on the bays, rivers and ports of Hampton Roads. While most people have a few hobbies, Allan had one major hobby growing up, collecting and distributing travel information. In fact He used to be a major referral source for some of the largest regional travel agencies in the United States. These early years of educating Himself about travel at the height of airline deregulation and the birth of major tour companies had a major impact on his life.

People watching and assisting others with their travel planning has always been one of Allan's favorite activities. Driven to understand people better, Allan majored in Social Work at East Carolina University. Ultimately, His compassion for people was not only to understand but help people weave dreams and apply the best resources for their travel needs in this super charged and very tecnological travel world. It took a while, but Allan would learn how to use the medium of travel to help others to acheive their best (optimal performance) in life. During highschool and college Allan's teachers and family, introduced him to travel and specifically travel writing and photography. Specifically Allan would assist and participate in beta development studies of some of the world's best travel planning and tourism oriented resources and photojournalism. He discovered how to turn his hobby of watching people and assisting them with their travel planning into a career. So while in both high school and college Allan worked hard on developing a broad based education that focused on business, people skills (psychology and social work), hospitality and geography (tourism). After four years at ECU (East Carolina University), Allan earned his Bachelor of Science in Social Work with a concentration in Developmental Disabilities in Children and Adolescents/Addictions Management and a second concentration in medical social work (specifically Oncology and Rehabilitative Medicine). This was significant because in many cases He continues today working with non profit organizations regarding their travel planning and the physically challenged in fufilling their dreams.

After graduating from ECU Allan went to work at a child and adolescent psychiatric hospital in Virginia. Allan enjoyed the work in His chosen field but longed for travel and the ability to assist people one-on-one with their travel dreams. Shortly after his first professional presentation in the field of social work at the National Association of Social Workers Annual Convention in Chicago, Illinois, He realized the warmth and further education at Southeastern Academy in Kissimmee, Florida (Orlando area) was calling His name. Through the help of a South Carolina based recruiter and the predecessor of American Airlines Travel Training Academy and Cendant International, Allan enrolled at Southeastern Academy. The training was able to refine his skills within the context of vacation, meeting and group travel planning. This allowed Him to capture those moments he had been seeing all his life and put His hobbies to use on a global perspectve. One evening after the conference while processing the new knowledge, Allan, got a call from Sharon the admissions counselor for Southeastern Academy. Sharon later came and met with Allan and His family in WIlliamsburg, Virginia. We discussed the great value Southeastern Academy and future career opportunities and internships with airlines, hotels and tourism programs that were ahead for Allan.

Travel planning requires a great deal of understanding of technology to produce a desired dream consistent with the client's chosen image. Allan enjoys the sciences and engineering and putting together the perfect itinerary. Meeting new clients and meeting their needs on a regular basis is exciting. Each day is filled with new people and the work that they do. People are very much interested in talking about their love of their work and hobbies. It is through this avenue that Allan has gotten to know people and helped them achieve desired goals. A new challenge is what is exciting for Allan. Going to a new location and learning or experiencing something new or difficult is highly rewarding for Allan.

He also has a natural knack with computers. He is often called upon to help people with their computer problems. His interest in technology and specifically computers has led Allan into web design and image database consulting. Allan is married to Dawn Hoffman. They met on a retreat at Emerald Isle, North Carolina. Dawn and Allan began a walk on the beach that would ultimately culminate into a life of bliss where God and Family are first and beach and travel are paramount. It was during a beach walk that they began a discussion about God and theology along the beach. They spoke about dreams and aspirations and how travel and family was so important to both of them. " Looking back it could be viewed as strange by some, but for Dawn and Allan, they are often in conversations with people about God and the value they can experience in a fufilled life together and combining it with travel. They have one child Heather. His wife Dawn a graduate of the North Carolina Chiropractic Association's Chiropratic Nurse Program and has fufilled additional coursework thru the Florida State Chiropractic Association. She sees her ministry to be with patients and physicians in the healthcare industry. We are members of Celebration Church of Jacksonville. My favorite aspect of Celebration Church is the multi-site organization of the church and the missions oriented sending approach of the church hat is making a difference worldwide and the outreaching missions programming is substantial. Unrivaled access, special connections, destination savvy—these are just some of the tools each of these süper-agents can deploy to bring the most to your next big trip. In parsing the day-to-day events of an actual itinerary, Allan Hoffman, CTC, MCC demonstrates how the intuitive maneuvers of a great travel planner can turn any journey into a smoothly orchestrated, magical experience.

Over thirty years of interviewing and working with great tour operators, hotels, airlines, bed and breakfasts, cruiselines and destination specialists (convention and meeting planners) for clients and other Condé Nast Traveler consumer news articles have given me a well-thumbed Rolodex of the most trusted consultants—people who offer the best combination of specialized knowledge, insider connections, user-friendliness, and value. Each year, I evaluate more than a hundred new applicants, and only a handful make the cut. Our recommended specialists undergo a rigorous screening process that includes a 27-question application, sample itineraries, extensive phone interviews, and client references. Those who have inadequate firsthand experience of the destination they claim to specialize in or who send an insufficient number of clients there annually are disqualified. So are those who do business with only the superrich and those who normally design trips for clients not as savvy and authenticity-seeking as the readers of Condé Nast Traveler. Other red flags: agents who unnecessarily book every trip through a tour operator (as opposed to directly with local hotels and suppliers) or who use on-site contacts that charge exorbitant rates.

The specialists who make the list do so by meeting our expectations and those of our readers. I regularly receive feedback from readers about their experiences. Any specialist who merits few raves or is the object of a valid complaint is removed from the list. To share your impressions of our specialists or to nominate someone new for consideration, e-mail me at travelexpert.allan@gmail.com. If you prefer not to hop from specialist to specialist but to develop a relationship with one generalist, then I am your consultant. Marked as a "Generalist," I am your best bet. Even if you settle into a long-term relationship with me, when booking a journey where the right guides and local connections are critical, it's still advisable to contact Hoffman & Hoffman International and Allan Hoffman, CTC, MCC.

Why Use a Travel Agent?

travelagental — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 08:23:44 CDT

You’re busy – so let us do the work for you! Having
access to Allan Hoffman CTC, MCC’s insider information saves
you time AND money.

Your vacation is an investment. So, whether you have
done a little research or a lot, we can review your
plans or ideas at no charge, and experience
has shown we can almost always help to
improve them.

On-line booking sites are simply unable to provide
the personal service, expert advice and reliability
that a Allan Hoffman CTC, MCC and staff give you. Plus, we
can meet or beat most on-line prices. And, we'll tell you if we can't.

Our relationship with you doesn’t end when you book.
With us, you’re not only booking that great vacation,
you’re booking the Consultant too! You’ll have a real person to call before,
during and after travel for any of your travel needs and questions.

Don't take chances with your vacation. You have everything to gain and nothing to lose by emailing, calling or visiting one of our professional consultants.

Fiji

travelagental — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 08:26:22 CDT

Fiji is a rich cultural surprise, where the friendly Fijian people will captivate your heart. Where you’ll come as a guest and leave as a friend. Where the Fijians say Bula, meaning Hello, welcome and enter my heart for my paradise is yours. Where you will visit tranquil villages as honored guests. Where you can lie in your hammock and laze the day away. Where you can participate in wonderful celebrations of dancing and singing and retreat to your private bure for champagne and sunsets. This is Fiji.
The Fijian archipelago has a population of less than one million. With over 330 islands, only about 100 are inhabited, and the rest are nature reserves. The depth of Fiji’s history surprises many visitors who come mostly to bask on the beaches or explore the magnificent coral reefs, for Fiji is far more than just a tropical island: it’s a complex culture with influences from Melanesia, Polynesia, India and Europe. Tranquil villages where an unbroken oral history has been maintained for generations nestle in out of the way places, just waiting for you to discover. Rituals such as the kava ceremony are enacted as they have been for centuries.
You’ll come to Fiji for the tropical beauty, but it is the gentle friendliness of the people and the rich culture that will make you long to return.

Viti Levu
Fiji’s main island, where Nadi airport is located, is Viti Levu. Denerau Island is home to many international standard resorts, most have several dining options, pools and an activities board that will keep you busy from sun up to sun down. From here you can drive south along the coastline to the Coral Coast, with some fabulous resorts. To the west of Viti Levu are the outer islands of the Mamanucas, with their golden beaches and diving, these are best when combined with a mainland stay. Further around past Coral Coast is the area known as Pacific Harbour, with its internationally designed golf course, Cultural Centre it also offers a plethora of great underwater sites. Royal Davui is located off the coast of Pacific Harbour and is a luxurious escape. To the northwest, the islands of the Yasawa group offer cave dives, friendly villages and white secluded beaches.

Vanua Levu
In the North, and only under an hour from Nadi is the second largest island, Vanua Levu. Savusavu is the main town and it reminds people of Oahu, Hawaii… 50 years ago. Here you’ll find stunning mountainous terrain, clifftops sweeping into oceans and adventure activities galore! Taveuni, also in the North is an adventurous playground and you will delight in the boutique resorts you’ll find.

Familes
Fijians revere children and Fiji is an excellent choice for family travel. Loving nannies and fun Kids Clubs are widely available at a reasonable rate, and ensure that parents get to dine deux or participate in water sports with complete peace of mind that their little ones are being doted upon and entertained in a manner to which they’ll quickly become accustomed.

Size
Fiji consists of 332 islands in a compact area of the southwest Pacific Ocean about 1,960 miles from Sydney, Australia. Fiji’s population is about 950,000 people.

Melanesian History
According to Fijian legend, the great chief Lutunasobasoba led his people across the seas to the new land of Fiji about 3,500 years ago. Most authorities agree that people came into the Pacific from Southeast Asia via the Malay Peninsula. Here the Melanesians and the Polynesians mixed to create a highly developed society long before the arrival of the Europeans.

European Settlement
Fiji was explored by the Dutch and the British in the 17th and 18th centuries. In 1874, an offer of cession by the Fijian chiefs was accepted, and Fiji was proclaimed a possession and dependency of the British Crown. In the 1880s large-scale cultivation of sugarcane began. Over the next 40 years, more than 60,000 indentured laborers from India were brought to the island to work the plantations. Fiji became independent on Oct. 10, 1970.

Climate
Fiji enjoys a tropical climate. Summer begins early in December and lasts until April. During this time it is hot and humid (94F) with bright sunny mornings and predictable late afternoon downpours on the larger islands. This wet season is a good time to come to experience the lush vibrancy of the rainforest; rivers are full, waterfalls gushing and the hills of the larger islands become refreshingly green.
By the end of April, Fiji experiences a more moderate climate. Temperatures are comfortably warm by day (84F) and pleasantly cool at night (68F), when a light sweater may be necessary. By midwinter (July), many parts of the country welcome rain; the hills around Nadi turn brown and water shortages occur on the smaller islands. However, on the eastern sides of the larger islands, notably Suva, Savusavu and Taveuni, rainfall is never far away keeping the air clear and scenery green year round.

Geography
About 110 of the 332 islands of Fiji are inhabited. The two largest are Viti Levu (4,109 square miles) and Vanua Levu (2,242 square miles). Fiji’s most impressive geographical asset is actually underwater - its hugely diverse range of soft coral; over 5000 varieties.

Time Zones
Fiji lies on both sides of the dateline! The most popularly visited islands are on the far side. Fiji is all in one time zone however.

Currency
The Fijian dollar

New Zealand -- Kiwi People

travelagental — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 08:20:28 CDT

New Zealanders, or Kiwis, as they call themselves, are among the friendliest people on earth.

Imagine a culture that draws you to the very heart of the Maori people. Where you’ll witness a deep connection to their ancestry. Where you will experience a Powhiri, or Maori welcome, and you’ll be intrigued to know more about this powerful culture.
Where the wine is internationally acclaimed and the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is rated throughout the world as the definitive benchmark style.
Where you can tee off to your hearts content with average green fee prices at under $50USD and some of the most celebrated golfers have designed courses upon clifftops and oceans.
And then there’s the water. Whether you prefer to shoot class 4 rapids, or to kayak slowly across a tranquil bay accompanied by a pod of dolphins, New Zealand has the right place to dip your paddle.
Wait until you sit down for dinner! With the abundance of organic produce, export quality meat and the freshest of seafood available from local suppliers, even a simple meal is a culinary epiphany.
New Zealand...you can be here by morning!
See what the world has to say about living in Auckland!

Size
New Zealand consists of two main islands, the North Island and the South Island that together, are roughly the size of Colorado with a population of 4 million. The indigenous Maori represent about 15 percent of the population.

Language
English is the most common language in New Zealand, however Maori is also an official language.

Maori History
Maori, who are Polynesians, were the first inhabitants of New Zealand, who are thought to have arrived more than 1,000 years ago in double-hulled waka (canoe), from islands in Eastern Polynesia (Hawaiki). Maori settled on both main islands of New Zealand and named the country Aotearoa (Land of the Long White Cloud). Today, most live in urban areas, away from their marae (tribal ground). However, many Maori gather at their marae for important occasions.

European Settlement
Dutch Navigator Abel Tasman, the first European discoverer, arrived in 1642 and named the islands New Zealand. He didn’t stay, and it wasn’t until Captain James Cook arrived over a century later that the area was colonized. Late in the 18th century, European missionaries and whalers settled New Zealand. In 1840, Maori signed the Treaty of Waitangi with the British Crown, which gave the British Government sovereignty over New Zealand. The Treaty of Waitangi is now regarded as New Zealand’s founding document. The site of the Treaty signing, Waitangi in the Bay of Islands, is a national reserve of historic significance.

Climate
Usually quite pleasant, similar to California in range. In New Zealand temperature is noted in Celsius.
In summer the weather is warm and mostly sunny, however rain is not uncommon at any time so it is best to be prepared with rain gear. Winter brings the possibility of snow, particularly if you intend travel in the South Island, and to the Southern Alps.
Seasons in New Zealand are the opposite of the Northern Hemisphere:
Spring: September-November Summer: December-February Fall: March-May Winter: June-August

Geography
New Zealand is predominantly mountainous with some large coastal plains. The high point is Mount Cook at about 12,000 feet. The New Zealand archipelago includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands.

Time Zones
There is one time zone in New Zealand. Daylight savings time is from October through March. End of October through end of March: 21 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time. End of March through first of April: 20 hours ahead of PST. Early April through first of October: 19 hours ahead of PST. Month of October: 20 hours ahead of PST.

Currency
New Zealand Dollar

Australia - Overview

travelagental — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 08:17:27 CDT

Australia, unique and wild, sophisticated and natural. Australia, there’s nowhere like it. A country the size of mainland US, with a population of 20 million people. And 99 million sheep. Where shiploads of banished convicts seized opportunity, building new lives for themselves and a new country in the process.

Where there are 7,000 beaches, and the weather with which to enjoy them; it rains less in Australia than any other populated continent on earth.
Where you can snorkel the Great Barrier Reef one day, and hike in the world’s second largest rainforest the next without changing hotels.
Where English is spoken. Yeah well, sorta, mate.
Where a giant rock measuring 300 yards above ground level, 3.5 miles below, and five miles around is held sacred by the world’s oldest indigenous people, and captivates contemporary geologists.
Where the seafood, beef, fruit, wine and beer are export quality, but the best is served only locally.
Where workers enjoy a 35-hour week and four weeks annual vacation, and friendly is a given.
Where 90 percent of the population live within commute of a city, but the other 10 percent rely on the Mail Plane and the Flying Doctor service.
Where kangaroos graze on the golf course and “Koala Crossing” road signs aren’t just cute souvenirs.
Where you’ll come for a once in a lifetime trip, and start to plan your second trip before your first one is over.

Australia, you will fall in love with this amazing sunburnt country.

Size
Australia is the sixth largest country in the world. It’s about the same size as the 48 mainland states of the USA, but has about 19 million people - the lowest population density in the world.

Aboriginal History
For more than 50,000 years, Australia’s Aboriginal people have lived and thrived in Australia’s unique and challenging natural environment. The rich vegetation and native wildlife helped them establish their presence on the land. Today it is believed the Aboriginals are the world’s oldest civilization.

European Settlement
“Terra Australis” was the last landmass to be discovered by European explorers. Talk of this mystical land and the riches it held inspired explorers to sail into the unknown. It wasn’t until Captain James Cook arrived in Botany Bay in 1770 that the great southern land was officially discovered by Europeans.
Overcrowded prisons in England and disruption caused by the American Revolution were two key reasons for the first shipment of convicts to this area. It was the explorer and botanist Joseph Banks who, in 1779, suggested that New South Wales would be a fine site for a penal colony.
Australia is now home to over 19 million people, and is made up of six states and two territories. Each state and territory has its own parliament, flag and floral emblem. Australia became a federated nation after the union of the six colonies on 1 January 1901. Bound by one parliament, one constitution and one flag, Australia celebrated its Centenary of Federation in 2001.

Climate
With the reverse seasons of the northern hemisphere, Australia enjoys a largely temperate climate. Most of Australia receives more than 3,000 hours of sunshine a year, or an amazing 70 percent of the total possible hours. Grab a hat and sunscreen and enjoy the delightful climate!
Spring: September-November Summer: December-February Autumn (Fall): March-May Winter: June-August

Geography
The Australian environment is unique. From over 7,000 unspoiled beaches, tropical rainforest, rugged mountain ranges and vast tracts of desert, Australia is a country of contrast. Home to an amazing 14 World Heritage listed wilderness areas, Australia’s diversity is yours to enjoy.

Time Zones
There are three time zones in Australia: Eastern Standard Time (EST), which includes New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory; Central Standard Time (CST), which includes South Australia and the Northern Territory; and Western Standard Time (WST)Western Australia. CST is one half hour behind EST, and WST is two hours behind EST.

Currency
The Australian dollar.