We have already tried several water sports since the beginning of our adventure (which is nearing the end...), be it surfing, kitesurfing, surf kayaking, sailing and snorkelling. There was at least one more activity we did not want to miss on the Sunshine Coast. And this activity is riding a Jet Ski. Whoever has never tried it before should do it as soon as possible! In Maroochydore, Maroochy River Jet Ski Hire & Tours is a small family business yet one of Australia's most experienced water sports businesses. Their guided jet ski tours are for people of all ages and experience (no license or experience is required for jet ski rentals). Beginners can ride their Sea Doo through the Sunshine Coast hinterland on the beautiful Maroochy River (photo). The more experienced might prefer the thrill of the ultimate jet ski adventure on the Coral Sea. We have tried both and in all cases, it is a barrel of fun. Jet skiing allows you to explore the Sunshine Coast from a whole different angle. Maroochy River Jet Ski Hire & Tours will soon offer the Flyboard, a new insane activity! Unfortunately, we will not be able to attend this premier, the official launch which will be held on February 2. Is there anyone who would be kind enough to cover the event for iPhoneography Oz?

Have you tried Jet Ski or Flyboard before? What is your best Jet Ski memory? Your worst? Tell us your stories in the comments below!

iPhoneography Oz was a guest of Maroochy River Jet Ski Hire & Tours.

Bundaberg is a small town surrounded by fields where sugar cane is grown. Brisbane is 4 hours drive south. The town is best known for having given its name to one of Australia's most iconic brands. Each year, more than 100,000 tourists and rum fans make the journey to this part of Queensland, home of Australian rum. Bundaberg Distilling Company is the place where you can explore more than 100 years of rum making expertise. The facility is open to the general public. On site, you can go for an interesting self guided tour with interactive and sensory display. Or you can go for the BDC Distillery Experience, a guided expedition deep into the working distillery. This second option is a real gem. Not only you can explore the entire rum-making process, but you can also relax in the Bundy Tasting Bar and sample rum delivered direct from the Distillery (Bundaberg Rum Royal Liqueur served with cream is simply to die for). Seriously a trip to Bundaberg is not complete without a stop at the Distillery, consistently ranked among the favourite tourist destinations in Queensland.

Do you belong to rum aficionados? Have you tasted any Bundaberg Rum before? What is your favourite Bundaberg Rum? What is your favourite rum-based cocktail recipe? Share it with us in the comments below!

iPhoneography Oz was a guest of Bundaberg Distilling Company.

We have often talked about surfing on the blog (it was only yesterday that we mentioned our last surf lesson). Today we join 1770 Liquid Adventures to surf waves... on a kayak. A whole heap of great fun, that is what surf kayaking is! The tour also includes a more relaxed pace of cruising through the beautiful waterways of Seventeen Seventy and complimentary drinks and snacks on a wild secluded beach. 1770 Liquid Adventures offers a few different tours, but we highly recommend the Sunset Kayak Tour, which finishes by sea kayaking facing an amazing sunset (photo). Actually, it is the only place on the east coast of Australia, where you can actually watch an ocean sunset from a kayak! For a fleeting moment, we travel back in time imagining just what James Cook saw when he discovered Queensland...

Have you ever surfed on a kayak? What are the activities you have taken part in Seventeen Seventy? What would you recommend to do or see in the area? Let us know in the comments below!

iPhoneography Oz was a guest of 1770 Liquid Adventures.

Before arriving in Airlie Beach, we have been told various things about the place that sounded comparable to some of the bad aspects of Cairns and the Gold Coast. "Consumerist town" and "the kind of place where people like to party non-stop" were just a couple of opinions that we have heard. That is the reason why sailing the Whitsunday Islands quickly became the best and most appealing option for us. As a result we joined Explore Whitsundays on a cruise around this unique paradise, between Whitsunday Island and the many others islands of the archipelago. We spent two days sailing on Siska, a yacht that won the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. Two days of sun and white sand (Whitehaven Beach is probably one of the most beautiful beaches in the world). Two days snorkelling in the beautiful turquoise water, appreciating the amazing ecosystem of the Great Barrier Reef (there are so many tropical fish to be seen). Two magical days exploring peaceful and hidden inlets. Life can be tough sometimes! Eventually, we returned to Airlie Beach where we spent a bit of time in town and found the place quite pleasant with its shops and accommodation, its lagoon and its relaxed atmosphere, a far cry from what we were expecting. All that to say that any travel to Australia should always include a cruise in the Whitsundays. However, be well informed before booking the cheapest cruise or you might find yourself on a crowded boat with little room to sleep.

What do you think? Have you been on a cruise in the Whitsundays? Which islands of the Whitsundays would you recommend to go? Let us know in the comments below!

iPhoneography Oz was a guest of Explore Whitsundays.

In Cairns area, a cruise to the Great Barrier Reef is a must. But brightening up a road trip on a three wheel motorcycle (photo) is rather unusual! This is what you get with Grub's Personalised Trike Tours in Port Douglas. Unlike many tour operators, here, you choose your own itinerary. Weather permitting, it is truly a unique way to discover the Tropical North Queesland, in particular its extraordinary coastline and the Daintree Rainforest. You almost get the feeling you are riding on a Harley-Davidson. Total freedom and nothing like the wind in your hair (well almost as the helmet is still required). The trike is very comfortable and incredibly stable. It does not lean in turns, for example. Trike tours are accessible to all. Grub, your guide, is a colourful character who brings value to your adventure. Contact him to create your scenic tour. It is definitely going to be an out of the ordinary experience to add to your things to do in Port Douglas.

Have you ever ridden a trike? What are the unique experiences you have taken part in? Do you have any others recommendations in the area? Waiting for your comments below!

iPhoneography Oz was a guest of Grub's Personalised Trike Tours.

Postée dans Activities, Guided Tour, Port Douglas, Queensland, Sports and Recreation, Transports, Tropical North Queensland | Laisser un commentaire

Hobart is the capital of Tasmania and, with over 200,000 inhabitants, its largest city. It is also the second oldest city in Australia after Sydney. The summit of Mount Wellington, which rises at 1,271 metres above sea level is certainly the best view of the city. Hobart is also internationally famous for being home to the finish line of the annual Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. But the state capital is also steeped in history. It is one of the cities in Australia with the largest number of superbly preserved old buildings (Georgian architecture). Salamanca Place, which hosts the famous Salamanca Market every saturday, is not to be missed. Hobart's historic center is easily walkable. We joined Hobart Historic Tours for a guided walk. The tour, extremely informative, lasts an hour and a half. Pam, our guide, passed on her passion for history to us, which makes the experience very rewarding. A great way to discover Hobart! The organization offers various walks according to your particular interests.

iPhoneography Oz was a guest of Hobart Historic Tours.

Freycinet is a huge peninsula on the East Coast of Tasmania, near Coles Bay. It encompasses the entire Freycinet National Park in which there is a wide variety of plants and mammals. The park is also popular for its granite mountains which create beautiful colours adding to the coastlines appeal. The eastern side of the peninsula is also home to Wineglass Bay, which is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. One of the best vantage points to admire the breathtaking scenery from and get up close and personal to marine life is definitely going on a cruise with Wineglass Bay Cruises. We jumped on board with this very friendly team. The boat departs from Coles Bay and makes its way around the coastline of the peninsula to Wineglass Bay where a delicious snack made up of local products (including fresh oysters) and a glass of sparkling wine is served to you (photo). Upon arriving in the bay, you may even be lucky enough to have the unique experience of encountering a pod of dolphins playfully escort you to your anchor. Rastus, the dog skipper, will certainly let you know when he spots them! On the way back, you might even approach a seal or two leisurely swimming around in the bay. One thing is certain, after several hours of cruising, your eyes will be well and truly satisfied by the magic scenery and unique wildlife!

iPhoneography Oz was a guest of Wineglass Bay Cruises.

On the north coast of Tasmania, not far from Scottsdale, nestled between Launceston and the Bass Strait, we found a field of serenity. At Bridestowe Estate they grow lavender. This is even the world's largest privately owned farm dedicated to this plant native to southern France. Once you have parked your vehicle, stop by the shop and cafe. Allow yourself a cup of lavender tea or milkshake: sweet! Visit the distillery where the different oils are produced. But mostly go for a walk in the fields of lavender. It is almost winter in Tasmania. The flowers were harvested before Christmas, but it is still beautiful. If you can, visit just before the harvest. We can just imagine the colors and scents!

Launceston, in the north of Tasmania, is the starting point of the Tamar Valley wine tour organized by Prestige Leisure Tours. It is also one of the oldest cities in Australia. The third to be exact, after Sydney and Hobart. Most buildings downtown dating from the nineteenth and early twentieth century have been preserved. Lovers of architecture will enjoy. Get the brochure published by Discover Tasmania and dedicated to Launceston's area. You will find a Walks Map which will guide you among the Victorian and Georgian buildings. Cataract Gorge is another tourist attraction in the city (photo). One of the best ways to enjoy it is going on a cruise organized by Tamar River Cruises. The company offers various cruise options. The shortest one takes 50 minutes and also offers a unique perspective of Launceston's Seaport.

iPhoneography Oz was a guest of Tamar River Cruises.

Yesterday we introduced Tasmania but forgot to mention one important aspect about the island: its vineyards! Tasmania has indeed a wide variety of wines. North of the island, the Tamar Valley is certainly one of the most beautiful areas to discover them. Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir are all varieties grown in this region. It is said that its sparkling wines are equal to Champagne and that some of its wines are among the best of the world. Nothing better than to be tempted by a day of wine tasting with Prestige Leisure Tours. The company has various options to offer. iPhoneography Oz took part in the most popular of them, the Platinum Tamar Valley Wine Tour which includes a wide and delicious selection of local Tasmanian produce at midday. We particularly liked the fact of not depending on a predetermined schedule. Here the taster is king and the tour goes at his own pace. In the morning you are picked up from your Launceston accomodation. In the evening you are dropped back at your place. In between, you are driven around the vineyards where you can taste the wines from the Tamar Valley during seven hours. Yes, life is good!

iPhoneography Oz was a guest of Prestige Leisure Tours.

A visit to the Melbourne Cricket Ground should be on your things to do list during a stay in Melbourne. Why? Because the "Ground" or "G", as called by the locals, is the largest stadium in Australia and the ninth or tenth largest stadium in the world with a capacity of 100,000 spectators. It is ahead of the Camp Nou in Barcelona (Spain), home of FC Barcelona, and the Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). It also holds the world record for the highest light towers located in a stadium. It is an institution in Melbourne, home of the 1956 Summer Olympics and 2006 Commonwealth Games. But its use does not only serve national and international sport (cricket, football, Australian football, rugby etc.). The greatest singers and bands have performed here: David Bowie, Paul McCartney, U2, Madonna, The Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson, Elton John, Billy Joel and The Police.
We attended a tour at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Taking part in their guided tour is an unforgettable experience. The view from the top floor of the stands is nothing less than impressive. The guide makes sure you do not miss a thing about the behind the scenes of this architectural gem. Each tour lasts approximately one hour. The Melbourne Cricket Ground also hosts the National Sports Museum which will be discussed tomorrow.

iPhoneography Oz was a guest of Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Are you looking for inspiration and wondering what to do in Melbourne? Have you got only a few hours to discover Melbourne? Let's get straight to the point: Real Melbourne Bike Tours is a not to be missed activity! We walked in Brisbane: it was good but quickly tiring. We drove in Sydney and Canberra: it was less tiring than walking but we missed far too many places. So we joined Murray, the owner of Real Melbourne Bike Tours, on one of his tours through the streets of Melbourne. We knew that Melbourne is full of hidden secrets. We did not know that Murray was one of them! He is a wealth of information and is passionate about what he does, you never feel like you are falling into a tourist trap. A tour with him is the ideal way to visit Melbourne and learn about the areas of the city in so little time. The tour lasts four hours including a coffee break in Little Italy and a lunch at the Queen Victoria Market (all included). You come out absolutely delighted and will want more! Any first stay in Melbourne should begin with a tour in the company of Murray.

iPhoneography Oz was a guest of Real Melbourne Bike Tours.

Melbourne's secrets do not necessarily hide downtown. Take the direction of Belgrave in the northeast outer suburbs of Melbourne for a time travel through the Dandenong Ranges and the Yarra Valley. You will be able to board Puffing Billy, a century-old steam train which was used to develop rural areas. Puffing Billy is now a major tourist attraction that exists thanks to the tireless efforts of more than 900 dedicated volunteers. We articipated in a three-hour trip between Belgrave and Lakeside. We would have liked a staging, similar to that of the Old Melbourne Gaol to really be taken back into that era, but it is still a unique experience! Several travel options are available. Our advice: if you are traveling in winter, choose a sunny day and travel preferably in the morning. There are no windows in the coaches and it can be cold at this time of year.
To see more photos of our Puffing Billy experience, visit The Complete Series gallery on iPhoneography Oz's Facebook page.

iPhoneography Oz was a guest of Puffing Billy.

Phillip Island Nature Parks is a not-for-profit organisation that manages four tourist activities on Phillip Island: Penguin Parade, Koala Conservation Centre, Churchill Island Heritage Farm and The Nobbies Centre. We experienced the first three. Moreover, it is cheaper to buy a 3 Parks Pass (The Nobbies Centre is free).
The Penguin Parade is an amazing natural phenomenon that occurs every night at sunset. On this occasion more than a thousand wild little penguins emerge from the ocean, march across the beach to reach their sand dune burrows. Penguin Parade is obviously the best place in the world to experience this event. A must see! As for the Koala Hospital in Port Macquarie, note that it is possible to adopt a penguin from the Penguin Foundation Phillip Island supported by none other than Kylie Minogue, David Suzuki and Michael Klim.

Photo: Phillip Island Nature Parks

iPhoneography Oz was a guest of Phillip Island Nature Parks.

Climbing aboard a boat on Lake Burley Griffin is a great way to "visit" Canberra. Jim, the captain and owner of Lake Burley Griffin Cruises took us in a one-hour cruise around the lake. Above all, know that Jim is quite a character (in the best way possible). Spend an hour in his company and learn a lot about the history of Canberra and the immediate surroundings of the lake. If the sun is shining, the experience is even better and the colours are stunning. Jim's aim is "to provide a memorable experience and engender a positive image of the Nation's Capital" which is successfully achieved. iPhoneography Oz can vouch for that!

iPhoneography Oz was a guest of Lake Burley Griffin Cruises.

The Jenolan Caves, located in the Blue Mountains, are of extraordinary beauty. These are probably the oldest caves in the world. The underground network of Jenolan is huge, more than 40 kilometres, and ongoing exploration. Several miles of caves have been made ​​easily accessible to visitors and it is possible to take part in numerous tours. We attended a Legends, Mysteries & Ghosts' Tour, taking us on a night tour for two hours with our guide and our lanterns. It is intriguing and fascinating at the same time. Fortunately during our visit, the ghosts were on strike. The road to access the site is extremely picturesque with many wild wallabies along the way, a first since the beginning of this project. Upon arrival the cave site will take your breath away with its staturesque presence.

iPhoneography Oz was a guest of Jenolan Caves.

This might be the most famous image of Australia: Sydney Harbour with Sydney Opera House in the foreground and Sydney Harbour Bridge in the background. To get the best point of view, nothing like sailing the waters of the bay aboard a yacht. It is the experience that Sailing Sydney allowed you to live. And what an experience! This is a unique 2h30 opportunity to participate as crew on a real America's Cup yacht in a spectacular setting. For comparison, it would almost be like Fernando Alonso lending you his Ferrari F2012 on Monaco Grand Prix's track. While we are on the subject (Formula 1), none other than Lewis Hamilton boarded the yacht only a few days before iPhoneography Oz did! Boarding is on Darling Harbour not far from the Sydney Aquarium and Wild Life Sydney. This is an unforgettable experience not to be missed which is already among iPhoneography Oz's best of!

iPhoneography Oz was a guest of Sailing Sydney.

Let's continue our investigations to confirm Newcastle's ranking in the 2011 Lonely Planet's top 10 cities in the world to visit. We took part in a sand dune safari in Stockton Beach with Dawsons Tours. Breathtaking! The landscape is incredible and sometimes reminds us of Fraser Island. The area is usually known for beach camping but the small 4WD expedition also provided some unexpected moment. Tin City emerging out of the sand like a mirage (where parts of Mad Max have been made), vestiges of the World War II and sandboarding are the highlights of this experience. Taking part in a safari is a must when you are in the area. Andrew, the Dawsons Tours guide, is in love with the place and does not hesitate to extend the journey if time allows it.

iPhoneography Oz was a guest of Dawsons Tours.

A tropical paradise is hidden in the hills of the Gold Coast. Located on the rim of the largest extinct volcano in the southern hemisphere, Tropical Fruit World is indeed a plantation containing the largest range of rare exotic fruits and tropical plants in the world. Its owners had the brilliant idea of ​​making a tourist destination of it. The tour includes a fruit tasting and a guided tour of the plantation aboard a tractor train. You can count on the passionate staff of the tropical fruit farm to be educated not only on common fruits but also on fruits that you never knew existed on the tropical fruit list. And if the tasting stimulates the appetite, the Rainforest Cafe and the fruit market located at the park entrance (both open to the public) will help to satisfy the taste buds. iPhoneography Oz gives you a tip: if you visit during weekdays (and outside of school holidays) you may be lucky enough to experience both a "private" tour and a fruit tasting which is certainly the best way to get the most out of your visit (and to sample a little more fruit!). Who wants a tropical fruit salad?

What do you think? What's your favourite tropical fruit? Do you know where are the seeds of bananas? What are your Gold Coast favourites? Let us know in the comments below!

iPhoneography Oz was a guest of Tropical Fruit World.

Brisbane is built around the river of the same name. So it is impossible not to experience a water activity. A two and a half hour river cruise with Mirimar Cruises allows discovery of behind the scene treasures you would not necessarily see from the mainland including a wide range of Queenslander architecture. Indooroopilly Island, inhabited by fruit bats (also known as flying foxes), is also worth a glance. The audio guide will not let you miss a thing along the banks as the Mirimar II navigates its way down the Brisbane River. The experience is really worth living and the friendly staff make it even more pleasant. River boat cruises depart daily from the Cultural Centre Pontoon located really close to Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art and The Parklands at South Bank. This cruise is an ideal way to get to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary which will be reviewed tomorrow...

What do you think? What's your favourite part of Brisbane? Let us know in the comments below!

iPhoneography Oz was a guest of Mirimar Cruises.