Discover South Australia!

Known for it's multiple wine regions, long summers and it's array of festivals and events, South Australia is the perfect retreat destination for families or anyone wanting to embark on a relaxing and invigorating holiday experience. It's capital city, Adelaide (voted one of Australia's most liveable cities), is home to hundreds of pubs, cafes and eat streets as well as museums, galleries and zoo's, providing many opportunities for visitors to experience life in this central part of Australia.

Spend a day at Adelaide Zoo, home to over 1,800 animals and 300 species of exotic native fauna, this attraction can be enjoyed by guests of all ages. Now with the inclusion of The Immersion South East Asian Rainforest exhibit, Adelaide Zoo is home to Wang Wang and Funi, the only two giant pandas found in the Southern Hemisphere. Get up close and personal with these two friendly giants in a behind the scenes tour, giving you the opportunity to prepare their bamboo breakfast and release them into their day enclosure.

Image taken from the Adelaide Zoo Website

Renowned for it's 18 wine regions, South Australia is a hot spot for travellers wanting to experience the taste of artisan crafted beverages, from fine wine to cider, this region has over 200 cellars all within an hours drive from the city. Take a tour of the famous Coopers Brewery, established in 1862 and try the popular Sparkling or Pale Ale or visit any of these local establishments for your taste of what South Australia has to offer:

• Barossa Valley Brewing Comapany 

• Goodieson Brewery

• Prancing Pony Brewery

• Gulf Brewery

For more information on what South Australia has to offer, visit http://www.southaustralia.com/index.aspx

Don't forget to check out and follow our twitter page @getawaytravelmq for more updates and information on travel!

-Jessica

QUEENSLAND!

Also known as "The Sunshine State", Queensland is a hot spot for both locals and tourists. There is an endless amount of things to do such as soak up the sun on one of the many beautiful beaches, going wild at the theme parks on The Gold Coast, exploring the picture perfect coastal area of The Whitsundays and snorkeling through The Great Barrier Reef. 

The Great Barrier Reef is definitely one of the most well-known sites not only in Australia, but on Earth. It has been named one of the seven wonders of the natural world as it is the largest living thing and is made up of thousands of different corals and reefs as well as being home to many different animals such as fish, turtles, stingrays, sharks and dolphins. 

A part from ticking it off your bucket list, there are so many different activities available to the general public to participate in whilst at The Great Barrier Reef and the most popular include:

1. Getting up close and personal with the wildlife by snorkeling in the reef.
2. Going on a glass-bottom site-seeing cruise through the reef and surrounding islands 
3. Riding in a helicopter or seaplane over the reef 
4. Skydiving over the reef - guaranteed to have spectacular views!
5. Again, getting up close and personal with the reef by scuba diving into it.

This photo was taken off the Official Australian Geographic Site

For more information on The Great Barrier Reef, I would recommend visiting their official website by clicking here

That's all for now, but stay tuned for more Aussie posts from the rest of the group! And don't forget to follow us on twitter for updates! @getawaytravelmq

-Michelle 

AUSTRALIA: Uluru!

Want to travel to Australia? For the next two weeks, our team will be focusing on different locations and landmarks that are a must to visit while you’re here down under!

First up is Ayers Rock, also known as Uluru, is a world heritage listed icon that is famous for its unique, geological features. Located in the spinifex plains of the Northern Territories, this sacred rock is not only admired due to its spectacular natural formation, but also popular because of its spiritual vibe it provides. As one of Australia’s most iconic symbols, Ayer Rock is an ancient landscape that is rich in Australian indigenous culture and spirituality.

The top 5 things to do:

1.     Walk around the base of Uluru

2.     Enjoy a sunrise or sunset

3.     Dine under a canopy of stars

4.     Go camel riding

5.     Visit and explore Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

Make sure you experience the majesty of Uluru and the beauty of this antique desert landscape!

Play me!

Remember to follow us on twitter for live updates at @getawaytravelmq! 

- Sandy