Posts Tagged ‘Australia’

Tips For Enjoying the Great Down Under in Australia

March 20, 2010 in Scuba diving tips | Comments (0)

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As with many people, you have probably dreamed of traveling to the beautiful land of Australia. In Australia there are wonderful beaches perfect for scuba diving or snorkeling, incredibly polite and welcoming locals, and the land is also a safe and wonderful place to visit.
Appeal of the Land
Australia is the sixth largest country in the world, making it twice the size of Europe, except not nearly as crowded. That means you have plenty of activities without being the intense tourist magnet that Europe experiences.
There are over 7000 beaches to play around on and the most amazing fauna you could ever see in your life. Australia’s culture has so much to offer as well.
Getting to Know the “Language”
English is spoken in Australia but with a little twist. People there often insert words that are only known to the natives, so it may be a bit difficult to understand everything they are saying.
For example, instead of calling someone “buddy,” they refer to that person as a cobber; and rather than suggesting that a person dress warmly, they tell you to “rag up.”
So, the English language it is, but you still may need to consider studying up on their native slang. In fact, taking a little time before your trip to learn common phrases in the destination is a simple means of showing respect to those whom you meet.
Reverse Climate Change
The climate is opposite the United States. It is the months of December to February that are the warmest, as those are their summer months. So if you are traveling there during those months it is best to dress lightly. And of course conversely, the temperatures will become fairly cold during the normally hot and humid months found in the U.S. Either way, plan you packing accordingly.
The air is very humid as well – plan to bring a little bug repellant and some sunscreen. The nights tend to get chilly, though. Bringing a light jacket will help with the cool air, especially if you are traveling to the Southern region. There is no question that if you are headed for the bushes, you will need a comfortable and durable pair of boots for the hikes.
Customs to Consider
Other tips that are important include knowing drivers travel on the left side of the road, so take note before you hop in your vehicle, and pay attention once you do. Finally, Australians are the opposite of Americans when it comes to tipping as well. They tend to consider it bad taste unless a special occasion.
Australia is one of the most beautiful countries in the world and with its immense diversity. There is something to see for everyone. People frequently ask to see some of the more popular animals of this land, such as kangaroos and koala bears. Just be aware that though they appear cute and cuddly on TV, they are still wild animals and should not be approached if seen.
From the bush area to the Great Barrier Reef and everything in between, Australia is simply a vacation of a lifetime.


Things to do on your gap year in Australia

March 17, 2010 in Scuba diving jobs | Comments (0)

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Adventure activities

Scuba diving

Australia has some fantastic opportunities for scuba diving. The Great Barrier reef is famed the whole world over, so it’s hardly surprising that it’s one of the top diving hotspots. One that you might not be familiar with, however, is the Nigaloo Reef.

Cadge diving

It’s the crowning jewel of the Nigaloo Reef Marine Park and gives divers the unique opportunity to dive with whale sharks. These stunning creatures can grow to a massive 18 metres in length but luckily, they’re no threat to humans. Still, it takes a brave traveller to swim alongside them.

Swimming with sea lions

If you’d rather take a dip with something a little cuter, head for Baird Bay on the west coast of South Australia. Here you’ll have the chance to swim with sea lions – an altogether more playful set.

Rock climbing

Now how about a bit of rock climbing on Australia’s best-known landmark? That’s right, you can take a trip to the top of Ayers Rock – the hard way. So if you want to give climbing a go, there couldn’t be a better place to start.

Surfing

Surfing is an essential activity in Australia. The coast is stunning wherever you are but there are some beaches that are just perfect for surfing. Bells Beach, Bondi Beach, Byron Bay and the Gold Coast are just a few examples – but you won’t know how good they are until you’ve tried them.

Dizzying heights

And finally, don’t forget to take a trip to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It offers some fantastic views over the city and will give you some great memories.

Volunteering

Like a good bottle of wine, Australia is great fun and half empty in the best of senses! Australia presents many ideal opportunities for adventure and exploration. The huge interior hinterland is home only to kangaroos, wallabies and dust, so there’s plenty to explore. The European settlers don’t seem to have reached the red centre so it remains a fascinating living fossil of Aboriginal culture for anyone armed with factor ‘one million’ sunscreen and a good hat to enjoy. Distances are on the massive side so a Zen-like appreciation for the journey as well as the destination is advised, as well as a desire to meet some of the world’s most intriguing animals.

Volunteering here is a great way to get around the whole country and see the best of this giant from the cool sophisticated coast to the tropical north. The colours sum up the beauty of the country; from the red centre to the gold coast, greens thrive where they can before being frazzled out of existence and retreating to the tropical safety of the north. The beautiful scenery is breathtaking and the locals want to keep it that way, there are therefore, lots of volunteer projects focusing on nature and wildlife conservation.

Nature conservation working holiday

Meaningful travel company i-to-i have recently launched a new trip that will give travellers the chance to spend a hassle free gap year in Australia. Not only will the company sort out al the paper work they’ll give you a years access to their job placement service and a week working at a conservation project at any one of 20 destinations across the country, take a look here http://www.i-to-i.com/volunteer-projects/australia-working-holiday-and-conservation-experience.html


Scuba Diving In Australia: Visiting Beautiful Reefs

April 27, 2009 in Discover scuba diving | Comments (0)

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There is so much to see when scuba diving in Australia. Divers’ main attractions of course include the Great Barrier Reef. The area is comprised of more than 2,900 separate reefs along with 900 individual islands. It tops for the number of different species of marine life that live in it.Hundreds of types of coral can be seen here. Along with the coral there are thousands breeds of fish. Each dive has its own distinctive view with no two dives are ever exactly the same. This is a very good reason for a diver to go scuba diving in Australia.To arrive in the Great Barrier Reef you are to travel into Queensland to Cairns. Divers can look into dive stores and centers in this busy tourist town for assistance. Bookings can be made from here to visit many of the areas for the reef. This can be done either with day trips or actually living on board ship.The Great Barrier Reef is protected by being on the list that World Heritage puts out. It is considered as one of the great wonders in this world that everyone should witness. Give yourself the treat of looking at up close through scuba diving in Australia.Next to the Great Barrier, a diver should go to the Coral Sea too. This sea is teemed with mountains, pelagic fish, and sheer walls. You can also observe sharks in this underwater area. In fact all sorts of marine life are there among the reefs. There is much for a diver to enjoy seeing the sights.Several sites to dive at are there too. Flinders Reef, Cod Hole, and Ribbon Reefs are just to mention a few. There is something for you to find leisure in seeing whether you’re a novice diver or a skilled one.Flinders Reef is not far from Moreton Island and is a rather remote reef. It is positioned about 5km in a northwesterly direction from Cape Moreton which is in Southeast Queensland. All the coral species in this reef make it a much admired dive spot with divers.Cod Hole is situated at the northern edge of the famous Great Barrier Reef and on the #10 ribbon reef. It is recognized for the copious potato cods that inhabit the area. This fish can weigh anywhere from 6 to 30kg varying on how much the divers feed them.In the northern area of Great Barrier Reef, the Ribbon Reefs are located. They stretch eastern from Cooktown to the Torres Strait; this is 670 kilometers in distance. These Ribbon Reefs are along the continental shelf’s edge. Coral sprouts so well in part of the area that the reefs reach quite high to make taper walls. This makes quite a barrier that has just a few breaks in it along the way. These are actually big enough and of the right depth that ships can pass through them.Discover for yourself scuba diving in Australia today! Between the Great Barrier Reef and the Coral Sea alone can already provide you an ultimate beautiful venture. You are still about to behold many more areas as well as what has been mentioned here.