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Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia – Getaway Family Holiday Packages

Article by Getaway Lounge is travel and accommodation network which offers discount travel deals, family holidays, discount family holidays, holiday packages to their exclusive members.

Do you ever feel that tension in the back of your neck and around the back of your shoulders when some type of deadline is looming closer and closer at work or in your social life? The thought suddenly comes to mind that you need a short break family holiday to get your life back into balance.

It’s time to make a short hop over to Hunter Valley, located just 120 km (75 mi) north of Sydney near Newcastle and the city of Lake Macquarie.What can you see, do, and discover in Hunter Valley? Being one of the premier areas in the country for vineyards, Hunter Valley is a fantastic destination for wine enthusiasts and novices alike. With about 80 wineries scattered throughout the valley, you will have the opportunity to sample and savor over 20 different types of wine, all produced within the region. With more than 150 years of producing extraordinarily fine wines, Hunter Valley is a world-renowned wine region that has made its mark on the world stage. Hunter Valley is well known for Shiraz and Semillon varieties of wines, while lately; several other varieties have also been making names for themselves, such as Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and also including Pinot Noir. Although, the jewel in the crown is definitely Hunter Valley Semillons – with the moniker of “Australia’s Gift to the World”

Here you’ll find that mountain ranges on three sides of Hunter Valley act to give shelter to it from the most unpleasant weather conditions, in addition the Tasman Sea’s gentle winds help in keeping the summer temperature down.

While on a tour of the various vineyards take the opportunity to learn about wine production and have a look at the various wine making installations. From the modest facilities of specialty wineries to the large scale manufacturers, you’ll be educated on the various styles of creating wine. From the beginning of the process, picking the grapes, to the final bottling procedure, you are able to see it all first-hand. The two primary cities in the region are Newcastle and Lake Macquarie. Both of these cities are endowed with low crime rates, up-to-date health care services, modern transportation infrastructure, and a generous amount of entertainment and recreation possibilities. Live music venues and a variety of clubs abound here with a good mixture of entertainment to enjoy. There is a potpourri of cuisine in Newcastle with the center of dining being Derby and Beaumont streets. Newcastle also has a large theater that books local productions and also touring performers on a regular basis. The plentiful culture and arts scene in the city is a result of the multicultural variedness that exists.

The original inhabitants of the area were the Wonnarua, known as the folk of the hills and plains. For over 20,000 years the Wonnarua have inhabited the Hunter Region and these tribes have long been traveling the areas between Hunter Valley and Sydney which constituted their longstanding trading routes.

Travel Videos and dvd’s at www.overlander.tv Airlie Beach (pop. 3029) Airlie Beach, gateway to the Whitsunday islands has a reputation for being a great place to party, in between sailing trips to the islands. Another must stop location on the backpacker migration up north. Had a ball in Airlie, went out on a boat yesterday to snorkel the reef. The colours of the coral and the diversity of the fish life just blew me away. Thanks to Jetstream for the trip. Also checked out the Barefoot Bushmans Wildlife Park where you can see a variety of Aussie wildlife including a great crocodile show. Tomorrow I go out on a 54 foot Classic Schooner, the Atlanta , for a morning cruise before heading off to Magnetic Island. It’s a hard life….. In Airlie I decided that given it is such a big location for back packers, instead of interviewing an Aussie local, I would interview a back packer working at Airlie. A young Irish Lass, Jenni Higgins, working at the local Irish Pub.
Video Rating: 3 / 5

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Travel Australia Holiday Guide for all the information you need for an unforgettable driving, camping and travel adventure in Australia! 125 pages and bonus Camping Ebook.
Your Guide To Travelling Australia

The sixth largest country in the world, Australia attracts millions of business travelers, holidaymakers and backpackers. The magnificent Great Barrier Reef, unending beaches, vast deserts, verdant forests, rich wildlife exist alongside cosmopolitan cities, impressive business centers, swanky restaurants and slick pubs. Business guests and tourists coming to this beautiful island nation seek for the best accommodation options in Australia. With luxury and cheap discount hotels sprouting across the country, guests have every reason to smile. The opening of the online space has highly benefited people all over the world. Hotels can now be booked with just a few clicks. The time-consuming accommodation booking procedures are now a thing of the past. Avail of discount hotel booking in Australia and reserve your hotel room in no time.

Discount and cheap Australia hotels offer comfortable accommodation at discount prices. The tariff rate of the discount and cheap hotels is far less than the other hotels in Australia. The discount hotels are ideally situated in the principal cities of Australia including Canberra, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Cairns, Gold Coast and others. Several tourists and travelers visiting Australia have benefited highly from the online discount booking services in Australia.

Online hotel booking services or discount hotel booking offer discounts on hotel amenities and services. Once you book online, you will get jaw dropping discounts on hotels in Australia and other places around the world. Avail of discount hotel booking in Australia and get discounts on your accommodation. Apart from lodging, discounts are also offered on dining and some other facilities. You just need to cross-check with the hotel about the discount rates mentioned on the site and the actual discount rates offered by the hotel.

You can avail of discount hotel booking in Australia from anywhere around the world. You just need to go to any of the popular websites, make a few clicks and reserve your hotel in no time. You can choose from the vast array of hotels in front of you. Browse through the popular hotel reviews about the hotel you are about to book. Hotel reviews online give you a clear idea about the accommodation you are about to book, the condition of the rooms, facilities available and the discount rates they offer. Popular travel reviews will provide you with a clear idea about the exact discount rates of the hotel. There are more reasons than one, why discount hotel booking has earned so much popularity amongst travelers around the world.

Discounts are offered on luxury and cheap Australia hotels. Whether you are a business traveler or a leisure seeker, discount hotel booking in Australia will meet your maximum requirements. If you want a blend of modern comforts and conveniences, discount hotels in Australia will offer you the same and that too at reasonable rates. Discount hotel booking also serves as a cost cutting measure on your accommodation anywhere in the world. You can save a lot on your expenditure with online discount hotel booking services. Now, you no longer have to visit your destination and engage yourself in the tedious task of booking your hotel. You can do it from anywhere around the world, in the comfort of your home or office. Reserve your hotel now through discount hotel booking in Australia and grab the best deal online.

We lead hectic lives. Our work demands that we put in as many hours as we can to produce as much as possible. Our families and friends require attention and care as well. This leaves little time for rest and relaxation, which could be just a quiet weekend at home watching TV and sleeping. Rarely do we have the luxury of a true vacation, mainly because of the time and money involved. Fortunately, we have travel deals being offered on the Internet. For your vacations, we recommend cruise travel. You get triple value for your money and the restful combination of sun and sea on a cruise ship, the exciting exploration of the cities in your ports-of-call, and the modern conveniences to ensure maximum comfort and safety during your journey. Indeed, cruises are the best vacations you can take.

DiscountCruiseDeals is an online travel company that offers cruise deals of all kinds to fit your needs, preferences, and budget. It works with first-class cruise lines. DiscountCruiseDeals makes it convenient for online shoppers to choose from a wide array of cruise deals, without the hassle of driving to a travel agent’s office. Their Cruise Express Search allows you to choose the best combination pertaining to your planned destination, preferred cruise line, estimated departure date, and length of time for your intended vacation. DiscountCruiseDeals offers their own discounts, special discounts for certain U.S. state residents, senior citizens discounts, group discounts, seasonal discounts and the DiscountCruiseDeals Cash Reward Program.

The destinations offered range from A to Z, literally. You can go to Asia and Africa, the Bahamas and Bermuda, the Caribbean and Canada, to Europe, to Mexico and even take the Cruise to Nowhere. If you are intrepid and adventurous, DiscountCruiseDeals can arrange for your cruises to all the world’s continents, with the exception of Antarctica. But who knows, there might just be one coming! If your ideal vacation is sun, sun, sun, they can arrange a cruise to the Mediterranean or the Caribbean; if it is a view of the majestic mountains and lush forests, they can book you on an Alaskan cruise; if the Old World excites you, then a European cruise is for you; if you want to discover the United States, a tour to the Pacific coast can be yours to take. Indeed, your ideal vacation can be spent in Australia or in New Zealand, and DiscountCruiseDeals can help you achieve it. They have a veritable alphabet of exotic locations to choose from.

You can choose from 17 cruise lines with state-of-the-art cruise ships. You are assured of the utmost comfort and safety from the interior rooms to the luxury suites, from the private areas to the public lounges. The cruise ship offers the luxury of a modern five star hotel and its professional staff. In fact, depending on your available time and budget, you can choose from short cruises which take 1-2 days, or extended cruises for up to 30 days.

Vacation cruises have become one of the most popular of the “destination” vacations available. While some people are content to step on board a cruise ship and never leave it for the entire length of their vacation, others enjoy cruising to exotic locations where the cruise is only part of the appeal. The best cruises this year include discount cruises to a number of locations that you might not expect to see on a list of cruise destinations.

Cruise the Mediterranean

Mediterranean cruises have always been popular, but this year’s best discount cruises in the Mediterranean include even more surprises. Imagine a ten night cruise that visits seven cities and includes two beautiful days at sea for just over one thousand dollars per person. Eastern European cruises are priced to buy this year with visits to cities such Mykonos, Kusadesi and Rhodes on the itinerary. The Eastern Mediterranean has always been popular featuring ports of call from Italy to Turkey, and stops at ancient ruins and beautiful beaches. An Eastern Mediterranean cruise offers a wide variety of cruise experiences at discount prices.

European River Cruises

Not all cruises to exotic destinations are on the open sea. Europe is famous for its inland waterways, and river tours are among the most popular European cruises. A Rhine River cruise has long been a European rite of passage, but not all that well-known on the other side of the Atlantic. Cruises along the Rhine offer vacationers a one-stop tour of many European countries, with beautiful views, leisurely days and stops at cities such as Strasbourg, Copenhagen and Cologne.

Northern European Cruises

Cruising through the northern waters may not seem like the vacation of a lifetime, but a Northern European cruise is an extremely memorable trip. Visit Helsinki, Copenhagen, Oslo and other Northern European capitals as you take in the remarkable culture and history. One of the most beautiful sights on a Northern European tour is the northern lights and the stunning scenery. If you book your trip early online, you can get multiple discounts and special perks on Norwegian cruises, including free airfare from several regional cities and upgrades on your cabin or overall package.

Australia and the South Pacific

For a decidedly different cruise experience, nothing can beat a tour of the Australian and New Zealand coast lines. The prices for Australian cruises are purely amazing, starting as low as nine hundred dollars per person for a ten night Australian cruise on a Royal Caribbean line, with stops at Sydney, Hamilton Island, Cooktown and Brisbane, Australia. Prices do not include airfare to the departure destination, but when you book online you can often make all-inclusive deals that will cut your prices even further.

Alaskan Cruises

Take a cruise through the chilly northern waters and enjoy some of the most amazing scenery in you will ever see. Alaskan cruises on various cruise lines offer some of the best deals available this year. You can find Alaskan cruises as low as four hundred and fifty dollars per person, double occupancy, for a seven nights that include stops at Seward, Juneau, Ketchikan and other beautiful Alaskan cities.

Shopping for the best cruise deals online is the secret to finding an amazing cruise for a discounted price. There are a many websites that allow you to search across all the cruise lines and many of the larger discount travel sites to pull together the best package deals for cruise vacations. The tips below will help you find the best prices for discount tours to exotic cruise destinations all over the world.

Plan Ahead When Booking a Cruise Online

You can book your cruise several months in advance, and booking early can often get you great discounts. Most cruise lines will directly offer you an early booking discount. Even better, when you book early, you are most likely to get the cabin or suite that you want, on the cruise ship that you want, traveling at the time that you want to go.

Be Flexible

If you are willing to live with a little risk, you can hold out to the last minute to score big discounts on last minute bookings. This is the riskiest method for getting discounts on your cruise, but offers the best possible prices. The down side is that you may not be able to book on the cruise you want if it sells out, or you may have to settle for a less desirable cabin.

Book a Cruise During the Low Season

As with any other industry, prices are apt to be better if you book your vacation during the slow season, which varies for each area of the world. Prices for a Caribbean cruise, for example, will be lower during the hurricane season, while Alaskan cruises will have lower prices during the late fall.

If you were wondering when the best time to visit Australia is the answer can be quite hard to pin down. Australia is a huge continent (not just a country) and consequently there weather can vary from state to state. There is a most popular time to visit however, and that is in their summer, or around Christmas. For people considering a Australia gap year,, the best time to go is in Febuary when the price of flights come down.

Although the east coast attracts lots of backpackers and contains some of the best and most exciting attractions, don’t over look a visit to western Australia on your gap year. Did you know that there is another reef to explore out there? Ningaloo reef located north of Perth, and in monkey mia you can swim with dolphins as well. Not bad activities for your gap year Australia.

Australia has several major cities, the majority are on the east coast. Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney Brisbane and Cairns are considered to be popular destinations to check out, you should not over look surfers paradise and if heading west Perth. Perth is surrounded by untouched beautiful beaches and wilderness and is the only city in Australia where you can see the sun set into the sea on your gap year Australia.

For a sports gap year, Australia offers many exciting possibilities. The most popular sport, and one that will be forever associated with Australia is Surfing. Surfing is so popular in Australia partly because 90% of the population live next to the coast, but also because it is seriously good fun. When you combine surfing with the big swells sometimes found off the Australian coast then you will understand why it is so popular.

The reason for the rise in popularity of the Australia gap year is a phenomenon. Attributed mainly to the British who love to travel to Australia (by some counts one in 8 brits visit Australia once a year!) the lure of golden sands, beautiful landscapes and endless flowing cheap backpacker beer it too strong a temptation, especially when you consider really bad weather back home.Travelling around on your Australia gap year need not be expensive, yes it is along way to go and there fore the air ticket can be a little more that some places, but if you pick the right time to go away, bargains can be found.

On arrival on your Australia gap year you will find loads of cheap places to stay, great backpacking hostels, and good quality affordable hotels can be found everywhere. Some like to stay in campsites and hire camper vans, others even buy cars and sleep in them! What ever preferred method you choose to travel round Australia, it is does not have to cost a fortune.

Are you interested in taking a driving tour around Australia? If you are, then you are in luck because it is very possible. But if you’re taking a rental car, you need to take your distance into consideration. Keep in mind that Australia is a large country with plenty to see, so you need to set aside a lot of time and check with the rental car company about the mileage you will be placing on the car.

When you tell the rental car company where you are going, they may object to one of their cars being taken the distance. To drive around Australia, the distance is 20,000km. This means it would take 200 hours of continuous driving to make it all the way around. In other words, it would take 8 days for you to finish your quest, but you would not be able to stop and enjoy the sites if you did this. However, the concern of the rental car company is the distance being placed upon the car. That is a lot of wear and tear. For other car rental companies, they may not care if you’re willing to put up the cash for it. If they give you a quote based on factors that include age, whether or not you need insurance, and mileage; the further you go, the more expensive it is going to be.

Sightseeing

Rental car companies also base the amount of the rental off of the amount of time you will have the car. If you are going to sightsee while driving around Australia, it can take up to 40 days to see everything. Then again, it depends on where you’re stopping and how long you intend on staying there. It is probably ideal to give yourself about two months to do and see everything that there is to do and see, but you have to make sure that it is okay with the car rental company.

Since many car rental companies do have monthly plans and will allow you to rent for as long as you want without any restrictions, you may not have an issue. Just make sure you cover all of your bases before you drive away with the car. You don’t want to come back two months later with an extremely high amount of mileage on the car that the car rental company did not expect. Some of these companies will only rent a car beyond a certain travel distance, and then sell it through their own car lot or through another. So make sure they are not surprised.

The perfect car

When you find the perfect company, you have to find the perfect car. Since you’re going to be driving all the way around Australia, you need one that is spacious and comfortable. Many individuals will opt for a van because of the amount of room they consist of. You can store weeks of clothing and other supplies, everyone has enough legroom, and you can even lie down if you need to at some point on the trip. Make sure you talk to the rental car company about a van or another spacious vehicle that you can withstand spending hundreds of hours in for the next couple of months.

So now you know that you can drive a rental car all the way around Australia. It can be quite a fun and rewarding trip. You just need to make sure you do ample planning, make the rental car company aware of your intentions, find the perfect vehicle, and have a lot of fun. You might be quite amazed at how incredible a trip around Australia really is.

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Travel Tips Australia.