The most popular tourist destination in the Indonesian archipelago. This relatively small (5.632.86 km2) and, besides the very South, not densely populated island is unique for its combination of scenic beauty, lively traditions, superb hotels and beach resort facilities. Its people represent the largest homogenuous hinduistic society outside India in all over Asia, with only small clusters of other ethnic groups and beliefs. The landscape is diverse, rugged volcanoes contrasting with lush green rice terraces. Bali’s colourful arts, crafts and festivals are excitingly different, its range of shopping temptations limitless and its warm tropical climate perfect for relaxing on white, gold or black sand beaches, while there is every type of nightlife in major resort centres. Drive through the exquisite countryside to experience the island’s great beauty and explore countless Hindu temples and shrines, every village has at least three, while religious ceremonies and processions take place somewhere almost every day. Don’t let media publications about the extensive touristical development of the last three decades confuse you. Just step a few kilometers outside the few tourist hotspots, and you will find idyllic small-town Bali and villagers celebrating religious festivals like they did a thousand years ago. Feast all of your senses when watching them celebrate the descent of the gods from the mountains with music and dance. Get even closer to their dieties by climbing mist-shrouded Gunung Agung and shop in the artistic centre of Ubud.
There are cultural performances practically everywhere, such as the dramatic Kecak, or monkey dance; Barong, featuring an ugly witch; or graceful Legong dance, accompanied by the uniqueley hypnotic Balinese gamelan music.
Britain's Princess Diana is the deceased celebrity many Americans would want to bring back to life while most men would prefer to die before their spouses, according to a new survey about mortality released on Tuesday.
The majority of Americans questioned in the "60 Minutes"/Vanity Fair poll said they would die for their children, but fewer were prepared to give up their life for their country or religion.
Thirty-five percent of people said Princess Diana, who died in a car accident in Paris 16 years ago, is the celebrity they would pick to bring back to life, compared to 14 percent for Apple Inc co-founder Steve Jobs and 11 percent for pop stars Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston.
Seventy percent of men in the poll of 1,005 adults said they would prefer their wives to outlive them, while 46 percent of women said they would want to die first.
When asked what they would be most willing to die for, 55 percent of people said their children, followed by 12 percent for their spouse, 10 percent for their parents or religion and 5 percent for their country.
Only 24 percent of people said they would opt for cryonic preservation, even if it were free, but the number rose to 39 percent among 18- to 34-year-olds. With cryonics, a body is preserved at low temperatures in the hope it can be revived and healed later.
A bar or a shopping mall was deemed the worst place to have one's ashes spread and 84 percent of people said they would prefer their passing to be marked "with laughter, food and drink" rather than something more solemn.
The nationwide telephone poll, which will appear in the October issue of Vanity Fair, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. It was conducted from July 17-21.
There are some truly wonderful tours, art and cultural centres that explore Australian Aboriginal culture, both in Sydney and throughout New South Wales, exploring traditional lifestyle, music and dance, as well as Bush Tucker, the name for traditional Aboriginal foods. Below is a sampling:
Sydney
Tribal Warrior
Take an Aboriginal cultural cruise on Sydney Harbour with Tribal Warrior. Tour operators entertain visitors with stories of the Eora, Cadigal, Guringai, Wangal, Gammeraigal and Wallumedegal peoples.
Visitors step ashore on one the islands on Sydney Harbour to experience a traditional welcoming ceremony. You can learn about the Aboriginal names and meanings of significant Sydney landmarks and about traditional fishing methods. Cruises depart Tuesday to Saturday, 12.45pm from the Eastern Pontoon, Circular Quay. The vessels Tribal Warrior and Deerubbun are also available for charter. Bookings are Essential. Phone 02 9699 3491 Tribal Warrior.
Blue Mountains Walkabout
Blue Mountains Walkabout is Aboriginal owned and guided, and it follows the Darug songline through the mountains. Visitors learn by following a traditional walkabout song line. A certain level of fitness is required, the full-day adventure includes challenging bushwalks with plenty of time to relax by crystal clear waterfalls and billabongs.
On the walkabout, you will be able to see traditional cave art and Dreaming stories carved in stone, ochre painting and try traditional bush tucker tasting. Blue Mountains Walkabout.
Yiribana Gallery
Yiribana Gallery, at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney, houses the largest permanent exhibition of indigenous Australian and Torres Strait Islander artwork in the world. Tours of Yiribana are conducted at 11am daily (except Mondays). Yiribana Gallery.
Gavala Aboriginal Art Gallery
Gavala Aboriginal Art Gallery, located at Darling Harbour in inner Sydney Central, is an Aboriginal-owned gallery and shop. Featuring authentic Australian indigenous art by significant indigenous artists, the gallery deals directly with the artists and their communities.
You can also find for sale didgeridoos, boomerangs, masks, statues and music. Gavala Aboriginal Art Centre, Harbourside, Darling Harbour, Phone 9212 7232 Gavala Aboriginal Art Centre.
Boomalli Gallery
Boomalli Gallery delivers a regular exhibition program highlighting urban Aboriginal contemporary arts to regional, national and international audiences. As well as a full exhibition schedule, Boomalli provides a commissioning service and advises artists on such collaborations. Phone: +061 2 9560 2541. Gallery: 55 - 59 Flood Street Leichhardt, Sydney.
Muru Mittigar
Muru Mittigar provides you with the opportunity to participate and interact with members of the local Aboriginal community. This is achieved by the educational and enriching cultural activities that they offer. Traditional Aboriginal dancing, Aboriginal Art, a Cultural Museum and lessons in Didjeridoo and Boomerang Throwing are some of the features. Phone: +61 2 47 292 377 Muru Mittigar.
New South Wales
Gamilarart
Located in Tamworth NSW, here Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Artists have joined together to form this co-operative, featuring upcoming and established artists. Phone: 61 2 6761 3321 Gamilarart.
Umbarra Cultural Centre
Umbarra Cultural Centre, 375 km south of Sydney near Bermagui, gives visitors the chance to learn about the Yuin Aboriginal people. The centre runs guided 4WD tours to local sacred sites at Gulaga (Mount Dromedary) and Biamanga (Mumbulla Mountain).
A boat cruise on beautiful Wallaga Lake reveals many significant sacred sites, including shell middens and Merriman’s Island. Umbarra Cultural Centre.
Tobwabba Art Gallery and Studio
Tobwabba Art Gallery and Studio is an Aboriginalowned and operated art gallery and studio in Forster, near Port Stephens, 304 km northeast of Sydney. It displays work mainly produced by members of the Wallamba people. Merchandise ranges from jewellery, T-shirts and sarongs to boomerangs, didgeridoos and music sticks. Tobwabba Art Gallery and Studio.
Biame Art Gallery
Biame Art Gallery, based at Hunter Valley Gardens in Pokolbin, 162 km north of Sydney, sells authentic traditional and contemporary arts and crafts made by high profile Aboriginal artists from across Australia as well as locals the Hunter Valley Region. The shop is located in The Village, a small collaboration of retail outlets. Biame Art Gallery.
Harry Nanya Tours
Harry Nanya Tours is an accredited Australian Aboriginal-owned and operated multi-award winning business, running half day, full day and overnight tours to Mungo National Park, 1050 km southwest of Sydney. The qualified guides belong to the local Barkindji people who have passed down their history and legends from generation to generation. Harry Nanya Tours.
NSW National Parks
A growing number of NSW National Parks and Reserves are being successfully preserved with co administration from the NSW government and Aboriginal Tribal Councils. There are Discovery Tours available, including the Aboriginal Discovery Program, giving you further chances to learn about Aboriginal Culture and Heritage.
Photo on the Top of Page: Guided tour of Aboriginal art with Badger Bates, Mutawintji National Park, Outback NSW. Badger Bates is a Broken Hill artist, Aboriginal Elder and Senior Archeological Officer for the NPWS, Broken Hill.
Call the National Parks Centre for more info at 1300 361 967. See more about NSW National Parks Tourist Information and about the National Parks and reserves in the Sydney Region Sydney Parks Tourist Information.
Supporting Aboriginal Artists
Please support Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait artists by purchasing only genuine original art, indicated by label.
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Melbourne Australia Best Places to Visit
Melbourne Victoria, on the south coast of Australia has a cosmopolitan and vibrant atmosphere - a sophistication and sense of history not seen, at least to the same degree, in other Australian cities.
Melbourne is definitely a city worth exploring - it is Australia’s events capital, its sporting hub and its cultural heartland, home to great theatre, music, nightlife and restaurants. Peel back the layers to uncover a place that’s constantly on the move - from the ever-changing bar scene to a non-stop rollcall of international events.
It is said people here are a little more snobby, but its probably they have a better sense of dress and are more in touch with fashion. You can find great clothes designers, shoes and accessories here.
Melbourne Fashion
Melbourne is a treat for those interested in culture, entertainment, great Australian wines, festivals and fine dining restaurants.
Even the cafes and smaller eateries outdo each other, from the small bakery cafes to the fantastic family run dining cafes, serving authentic Thai, Italian, Greek and foods from over a hundred countries.
Melbourne Surrounds
Not far from the city, Victoria being such a compact state, are places to visit that offer history, from scenic small wineries and villages to the rural cities that thrived during the Gold Rush era.
The road to Melbourne is spectacular no matter which direction you approach the city. There is a route through the rugged Australian Alps; as well as the Princes Highway seaside route from Sydney, passing beautiful sandy beaches, national parks and coastal resorts.
The Hume Highway, from Canberra and Sydney, is lined with vineyards and fine wineries. From Adelaide, along the Great Ocean Road provides a showcase for some of Australia’s most dramatic scenery.
Visit Melbourne and Victoria! Youl’l love it!
Description: View from High Street, Northcote - Melbourne Australia CBD.
Hotels in Melbourne Australia
You can find places to stay in throughout Melbourne Australia: luxury resorts and hotels to scenic campsites in Caravan Parks. Accommodation available includes a wide range of styles to suit almost any budget.
There are even Melbourne seaside resorts, conveniently located hotels, bed & breakfasts near the beach or in the city center or suburbs, caravan parks, serviced apartments and holiday homes.
Places of interest to go see and visit. Central Sydney CBD (Central Business District) Inner West Sydney, South Western Sydney, Western Sydney, Airport & Southern Sydney, The Hills to Hawkesbury Valley, Northern Suburbs & Beaches, Macarthur Region, Sydney City, East and other Sydney Suburbs to Visit.
See the Sydney Tourist Maps.
School Holidays: For the children, there are places in Sydney that have plenty of activities and other things to do during the School Holidays. There are beaches in Sydney that are close, such as Bondi, Bronte and Coogee as well as further north and south.
Sydney Shopping
Places to Shop are ever popular, including in the city center but also in the easily accessible suburbs such as Parramatta and Chatswood. See Sydney Shopping.
Sydney CBD Places (Inner City)
From Chinatown to Circular Quay, the Sydney CBD (Central Business District)is filled with things to do and see. See Sydney Places to Go.
Sydney CBD
Sydney City Map
Sydney Landmarks
Chinatown - Map
Sydney Airport - Map
Sydney Beaches
See more about finding a great beach along the Sydney coast Sydney Beaches. There are numerous beaches in Sydney while a scenic ferry ride from the city at Circular Quay gets you to Manly Beach.
The Royal National Park, history, swimming, surfing and hiking at the Cronulla Beaches.
Bondi Beach
Home to the one of the world’s oldest surf life saving clubs, Bondi Beach is the closest beach to the Sydney city centre (8kms).
Bondi Beach
Bondi Attractions
Manly Beach and the Sydney Northern Beaches
The city’s Seaside Resort, Manly Beach.
Manly Beach
Manly Beach Map
Sydney Northern Beaches
Sydney Northern Beaches Map
Sydney Harbour
Take a cruise, travel to Sydney outer parts on a ferry, tour one of the many islands, or just laze on a Sydney Harbour beach. See more about Sydney Harbour Cruises, Attractions - Places to Visit.
Inner City Suburbs
For those exploring greater Sydney, Newtown, Glebe, Paddington, Darlinghurst and Kings Cross are all suburbs close to the city and within easy reach.
Sydney Chinatown
Glebe Sydney
Kings Cross Sydney
Newtown Sydney
Oxford St, Darlinghurst Sydney
Paddington Sydney
The Rocks
As the landing place of 1400 men, women and children in 1788 (over half being convicts) The Rocks provide a fascinating look at Australian history.
The Rocks
The Rocks Attractions
Map of The Rocks
The Rocks 1855 Map
Darling Harbour
Darling Harbour boasts some of Australia’s finest museums and entertainment facilities as well as being a well known conference and exhibition centre. Just a 10 to 15 minute walk west of the Sydney city centre. There is also a light rail service from Central Station and Haymarket, as well as the monorail operating from stations in the city.
Darling Harbour
Darling Harbour Attractions
Darling Harbour Map
Sydney Outer Suburbs
City North Sydney
The northern region extends all the way to Manly, Pittwater, Port Hacking, Newcastle and to the wine growing region of the Hunter Valley.
Sydney North
North Attractions
Parramatta
Known for its historic colonial buildings, Parramatta also has a number of excellent restaurants and shopping.
Parramatta
Parramatta Attractions
Penrith Valley
Penrith Valley, about an hour from the Sydney city centre, is a city of open spaces and rural scenery with a stunning river and the spectacular Nepean Gorge, all at the foot of the Blue Mountains National Park.
Penrith
Penrith Attractions
Penrith Map
Sutherland Shire
Sutherland Shire in South Sydney has the beautiful Cronulla Beaches and is close to four National Parks, yet easily accessed from Sydney City Central.
Sutherland - South Sydney
Cronulla Beaches
Sutherland - South Sydney Map
South West Sydney
On the way to Wollongong and the south coast, the South West of Sydney, also known as the Macquarie Region, has country living at Camden only some 50 kms from the city center. Campbelltown has numerous historical buildings, each with their own story to tell.
Campbelltown NSW
Camden Sydney
Greater Sydney Map
Outer Sydney Surrounds
Nearby outer places of interest to see, go and visit. See also Sydney Surrounds and Sydney Suburbs.
Blue Mountains
The Blue Mountains offer Sydney’s most spectacular views and great walks in the bush.
The Blue Mountains
Blue Mountains Attractions
Blue Mountains Map
Central Coast Destinations
Within 3 hours drive, a great place for National Parks, boating, fishing and white sandy beaches - Visit the NSW Central Coast.
NSW Central Coast
Central Coast Map
Hunter Valley Destinations
The Hunter Valley is Australia’s oldest wine growing region. Also features some of the finest gourmet dining to be found anywhere in the state of NSW.
The Hunter Valley
Hunter Valley Map
Sydney Wine Tasting Tours
Coast of New South Wales Destinations
Central Coast NSW
Just north of Sydney lies the Central Coast of NSW. Although not far, it has some stunning scenery and great beaches. There are luxury resorts to caravan parks set in wonderful locations for families and everyone else who wants to escape busy Sydney.
North Coast NSW
Further north from the Central Coast, if you want long pristine beaches that seem to stretch forever, crystal clear streams in lush pastures, towering forests blanketing mountain ranges - Visit the NSW North Coast.
NSW North Coast
Map of East Coast NSW
North Coast Map NSW
Mid North Coast Map NSW
Far North Coast Map NSW
South Coast of NSW
Quaint villages nested on beaches by crystal-clear waters. Enjoy the beaches and lush bushlands as well as fine gourmet dining, art galleries, craft and antique shops, fishing and sports of the South Coast.
South Coast of NSW
South Coast NSW Map
Places in New South Wales Destinations
With so many tourists and business visitors coming to Sydney every year, few realise the joys of visiting the rest of this spectacular state of New South Wales NSW.
New South Wales
NSW Attractions
NSW Museums
NSW Maps
Places in Australia Tourist Destinations
Find places of interest and popular Australia tourist destinations, hotel and other accommodation, Australia tours, packages, restaurants, shopping, attractions, museums and information about Australia.
Australia Places to Visit
Australia Places of Interest
Melbourne Australia Best Places to Visit
NSW Aboriginal Tours, Art Galleries and Cultural Centres
Photo: Circular Quay and The Rocks, where Australia began as a Nation.
Places to Stay
You can find world class hotels to trendy backpackers in Australia. Bed and Breakfast, holiday apartment and home rentals are becoming increasingly popular as well.
Canberra - Being the Capital of Australia, Canberra has wonderful monuments, national buildings and a number of major attractions that make for a memorable visit to this city, not only for Australians but all world visitors.
Lake Burley Griffin
Centered around Lake Burley Griffin (Named after the designer of Canberra, Walter Burley Griffin), Capital Hill with Parliament House occupies the main apex of a triangle.
Parliament House: You can visit here, see where the politics of the Australian federal government are played out and see some deeply historic displays, including an authentic copy of the Magna Carta.
The other two corners are occupied by the Australian American Memorial, built to commemorate the alliance between the countries during WWII, while the other is a landscaped garden circle with the Australian Capital Territory flag, symbolizing the independence of the self governence of the ACT.
National Library of Australia
Just to the south, on the other side of Lake Burley Griffin, is the National Library of Australia and not far from there, in a clean line of sight from Parliament House is the Old Parliament House.
The older Parliament House was used till 1988 and built in 1927, when it was replaced by the new Parliament House in 1988. This historic building is now open to the public.
National Art Gallery
The National Art Gallery has one of the foremost collections of Australian art in the world. Not only does it have Aboriginal and colonial art, it also houses an extensive collection of European artworks.
Questacon
Questacon, a great place for kids and adults as well, is dedicated to the sciences and technology. With exhibitions and lots of hands on interactive displays, it is not only informative but a lot of fun.
On the opposite side of Lake Burley Griffin, there is Bludnell’s Cottage, built in 1858. Here, you can experience what life was like in the remote wilderness of the early colony of New South Wales.
Amongst the many places of interest to visit in Australia, being such a vast continent, planning your travel routes and places to stay was a real challenge prior to the digital age.
Australian Capital Territory ACT
The capital of Australia has not only national monuments, attractions and museums as places of interest, but also grand national parks to explore that are within easy reach of Canberra. See more about the ACT.
New South Wales NSW
New South Wales, with Sydney as its capital, continues to attract millions of visitors every year. The state has deserts in the far west, stunning national parks and charming places along the coast to visit. Stunning beaches line the coast, the snowy mountains in the south offer alpine vistas and winter snow sports. See more about New South Wales.
Northern Territory NT
The Northern Territory has the Red Centre of Australia, with Uluru being an iconic desert natural wonder and the mystifying Kata Tjuta, previously called the Olgas. To the north of the state, at the Top End, World Heritage Areas including Kakadu and Litchfield. See NT Map. More NT.
South Australia SA
South Australia offers much more than just beautiful opals and great wines. The Adelaide Hills are renowned for their natural beauty, while the Eyre Peninsula has some of the most beautiful accessible coastal scenery of the state. The Murray river meanders to the ocean through splendid Australian scenery, filling beautiful lakes, billabongs and lush wetlands along the way. More about SA - Adelaide Australia.
Tasmania TAS
This island state, Tasmania, has huge national parks. More than a third of Tasmania is protected in state reserves, national parks and World Heritage Sites. This natural areas are great attractions for visitors from both Australia and overseas. More about TAS.
Queensland QLD
The sunny state, Queensland has one the great natural wonders of the world, the Great Barrier Reef. Yet, there is even more to explore here, islands, sub-tropical cities and towns and sweeping ocean vistas and long sandy beaches.
Queensland’s tropical climate itself is an attraction, other places to see here include of the Barrier Reef, but also Cairns, which is a popular jump off point for those wanting to explore the reef, as are towns along the coast including Mackay, Rockhampton and Townsville. Further south are Brisbane and the Gold Coast. See QLD.
Victoria VIC
Victoria, although the smallest state, has a wealth of places to go and grows great wines and has a great alfresco/café culture to match that of Europe. Its stunning national parks preserve some of the most wonderful pristine areas of the world, while Melbourne is considered to be Australia’s Food Capital. See VIC.
Western Australia WA
Growing in popularity with overseas visitors, Western Australia, occupying over two and a half million square kilometres (1 million sq. miles) of land mass has a huge diversity of natural landscapes and wonders. From the tropical sunsets of Broome, to the deep gorges and waterfalls of Karajini, from the great desert regions, to the stunning coastal vistas, backed by the deep forests and fertile fields of the south west. More about WA.
Hunter Valley Wineries
Hunter Valley Wine Tasting Tours. Only a two hour drive from Sydney is the Hunter Valley - famous as Australia’s oldest wine growing region.
Late January to late March is the harvest season, but there are things to do the year round and plenty of cellar doors to visit for tastings, even buy a case or two.
See more about this wine growing region in Australia Hunter Valley tourist information NSW.
Cessnock
The Cessnock Information Centre is an excellent place to start, it provides information for the many wineries operating here and can arrange bookings for such diverse activities available in the Hunter as ballooning, tours and horse riding.
Cessnock Information Centre: Phone (02) 4990 4477.
Wines
The many varieties grown here include superb Semillon, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. Wyndham Estate, Tyrrell’s Vineyards, Rosemount Estate, Peppers Creek, Lindemans, Lake’s Folly and Farrell’s Wines are amongst the many esteemed wineries operating here.
Most of the cellar door tastings are free, even large groups can be accommodated if you book in advance. There are tours available for the Rothbury Estate, McWilliams Mt Pleasant Estate and Tyrells, showing you some of the finer points of wine making.
Hunter Wine Regions
Connected by the Hunter River, there are two distinct regions, the Lower and the Upper Hunter. In the lower Hunter area there is also the registered wine sub-region of Broke Fordwich.
The Hunter has many other things to offer such as horseriding and ballooning, and of course gourmet restaurants befitting such a renowned wine area.
Tours
With the many winery tours available from Sydney, you don’t even have to drive if you don’t want to... so you can savour them for yourself without having to worry about getting home safely.
There are a number of wineries operating around the periphery of Sydney as well. Tours are available for these and the Hunter from Sydney at Circular Quay and places like Newcastle and Gosford.
Things to Do
Check out the Cellars at the many Wineries
Ballooning
Bicyling
Gourmet Picnic from Local Produce
Sampling fine local Cheeses and Chocolates
Horse Riding
See the Weather for Today and Forecasts Hunter Valley Weather.
Dining Restaurants
Combined with the many great restaurants that the Hunter region has to offer, allows you to sample the fresh seafood that Australia is famous for. There are many other delicious cuisines made from locally grown produce, from Italian to Australian Noveau to Japanese.
Some of these restaurants have extensive wine lists spanning many years. At the same time, the Aussie tradition of B.Y.O. (bring your own - wine) gives you another chance to enjoy your choices from the cellar door sales available from the many Hunter Valley wineries.
Explore the history, the antique and art galleries, Australian bird and wildlife and play at golf courses with spectacular views.
The Blue Mountains offer majestic views and great bushwalk experiences. See the weather for the Blue Mountains, Today and Forecasts Blue Mountains Weather.
History
When the colony was first founded in 1788 it took many years before a route across the mountains was discovered by the European settlers. Led by William Cox, their explorer party, after listening to the aboriginal’s advice to stick to the ridges found their way to the rich fertile hinterlands.
Things to Do - Families
There are lots of things to do for families such as bush walking and hiking, riding the scenic Zig Zag railway or visiting the World Heritage Plaza at Echo Point with the Skyway cable car and its breathtaking views, as well as the world’s steepest railway. Or pan for gold at Sofala, just west of the mountain range or visit the Hartley Historic Village.
Megalong Valley
You can go horseriding at Megalong Valley or visit the Australian Heritage Centre. Visit Mt. Blackheath with spectacular views of the mountains or enjoy a Devonshire Tea at the Megalong Valley Tearoom.
Hiking (Bushwalking)
There are many different walks of differing length and difficulty available in the Blue Mountains.
Try the Jellybean pool at Glenbrook, a 2km easy walk to go for a swim, or see the South Lawson waterfalls with lots of birdlife and great views, a medium walk of about 150 minutes at Lawson.
There are more than 240,000 hectares of National Park to explore. People do occasionally get lost, so get advice at the one of the visitors centres at the villages and towns in the mountains.
New South Wales Blue Mountains Tours
The local aboriginals, the Gundungarra, Wiradjuri and Dharug tribes, had been traversing the mountains for thousands of years. Blue Mountains Walkabout tour offers a chance for you to experience the local aboriginal culture, education and adventure for yourself.
There are a number of bus tours operating from Sydney offering a wide range of Blue Mountains experiences, including Aboriginal, as well as 4WD adventures.
Accommodation in the Blue Mountains
There are many historic inns and pubs, grand hotels and resorts dating from the 1800’s in the Blue Mountains. There are also caravan parks to modern luxury resort accommodation that offers a variety of stays including backpackers and discount hotels for those wishing to stay longer than a day visit.
You can book hotels and resorts in the Blue Mountains - Blue Mountains Hotel and Travel.
Restaurants and Dining
The fresh mountain air and views can make food taste better! There are plenty of eateries and restaurants dotting the mountains to accommodate even the most discerning palate with almost all cuisines represented here.
Places in NSWHere are 3 of the most popular places, yet still beautiful, to visit in New South Wales (NSW) after of course, Sydney. Within these regions are also many hidden treasures to explore off the main beaten tracks.
Map of New South Wales
The Blue MountainsBlue Mountains, NSW - offer Sydney’s most spectacular views and great walks in the bush. Great restaurants, Australian heritage, birdlife and outdoor adventure. More about NSW Blue Mountains. See a Blue Mountains Map.
The Hunter ValleyHunter Valley NSW - The Hunter Valley is renowned as Australia’s oldest wine growing region with cuisine to match. More about Hunter Valley Wine Tours. Also the Hunter Valley NSW Map.
North Coast NSW
North Coast NSW - Things to do, places of interest. North Coast NSW Getaway Choice Australian getaway from Sydney. Beautiful beaches, sleepy fishing villages on the East Coast of NSW. More about North Coast NSW Getaway. Also map North Coast NSW Map.
See more about New South Wales places NSW Tourist Guide.
Queensland Places of Interest
Gold Coast Surfers Paradise Queensland
Gold Coast Queensland
The Gold Coast Surfers Paradise is very popular for its Queensland beach lifestyle and nightlife the year round. With lots of attractions, activities and things to do.
Capricorn Coast QLD
Beautiful emerald rainforests, sapphire gemfields and the Queensland Great Barrier Reef. See more Capricorn Queensland.
Mackay Region QLD
The beautiful town of Mackay Queensland, surrounded by cane fields, has beautiful beaches and national parks with abundant wildlife, including kangaroos, wallabies and bush turkeys. See more Mackay QLD.
See more about places of interest in Queensland Queensland Tourist Guide - Queensland Maps.
Places in Victoria
Victoria Maps
Great Ocean Road Victoria
Great Ocean Road & South West Coast - Winding from Geelong to the South Australia border is the Great Ocean Road - See more on The Great Ocean Road.
Goldfields Victoria
Goldfields Victoria - Explore the historic gold towns, take a chance at discovering gold, enjoy great cuisine and see where the armed 1854 Australian Eureka rebellion took place. See about The Victoria Goldfields.
The High Country
Victoria High Country - This beautiful Alpine Region of Victoria has dramatic escarpments, stunning views, snow fields in winter and wonderful heritage to explore. See more on The High Country of Victoria.
Places to See in South Australia
South Australia Maps
Barossa Valley South Australia
The Barossa Valley South Australia offers great wining and dining! Only an hour drive north east from Adelaide one could easily spend a number of days exploring what Barossa Valley has to offer. See more about Barossa Valley SA.
Limestone Coast
The Limestone Coast offers much to the visitor, great wines are grown here and the white sandy beaches, coastal scenery of cliffs and sheltered bays are delightful. See more Limestone Coast South Australia.
Yorke Peninsula
Where sheer cliffs meet the ocean! But a lot more as the Yorke Peninsula is also a place to explore Australia’s Mining Boom and Bust history, deep sea fishing, and white swimming and surfing sandy beaches tucked away amongst the cliffs. More about Yorke Peninsula South Australia.
More Australia Places of Interest - See:
Australia Places of Interest.Australian Capital Territory Places.Sydney Australia Places.Melbourne Australia Best Places to Visit.NSW Aboriginal Tours, Art Galleries and Cultural Centres.
Here are some of the best Brazilian attractions:
1) Big cities with beach: Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Recife, Fortaleza, Natal, Florianopolis.
2) Historical cities: Salvador da Bahia (Bahia), Olinda (Pernambuco), São Luis (Maranhão), Alcantara (Maranhao), Ouro Preto, Tiradentes, Congonhas & Diamantina (Minas Gerais), Paraty (Rio de Janeiro).
3) Best Shopping: São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Fortaleza, Ouro Preto.
4) Churches: São Francisco da Penitência (Rio de Janeiro), Convento de São Francisco and Nossa Sehora do Rosario dos Pretos(Salvador, Bahia), Matriz Nossa Senhora do Pilar (Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais).
5) Museums: Imperial (Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro), Nacional de Belas Artes (Rio de Janeiro), De Arte de São Paulo - MASP (São Paulo),
Oscar Niemeyer (Curitiba).
6) National parks: Iguassu falls (Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná), Chapada Diamantina (Lençois, Bahia), Lençois Maranhenses (Barreirinhas or Santo Amaro, Maranhão).
7) Beaches: Guarda do Embaú (Palhoça, Santa Catarina), Most beaches of Florianopolis (Santa Catarina), Trindade (Paraty, Rio de Janeiro), Lopez Mendes (Ilha Grande, Rio de Janeiro), Espelho e Curuipe (Caraiva, Bahia), Tassimirim (Ilha de Boipeba, Bahia), Quarta Praia (Morro de São Paulo, Bahia), Gunga (Barra de São Miguel, Alagoas), all the beaches south of Pernambuco and north of Alagoas ( the best bet); Baia do Sancho (Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco), Jericoacoara (Ceará).
8) Ecology: Pantanal (Mato Grosso do Sul), Ilha do Bananal (Tocantins), Manaus and surrounding areas (Amazonas).
9) Events: Carnival (Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Recife/Olinda), Festas Juninas (Campina Grande, Paraíba) including Sao Joao (Cachoeira, Bahia), Festival de Parintins (Parintins, Amazonas), Festival de Teatro (Curitiba), Bumba Meu Boi (Sao Luis, Maranhao), Oktoberfest (Blumenau, Santa Catarina).
The culture of Bali is unique. People say that the Balinese people have reached self-content. It is not an exaggeration that when a Balinese is asked what heaven is like, he would say, just like Bali, without the worries of mundane life. They want to live in Bali, to be cremated in Bali when they die, and to reincarnate in Bali.
It does not mean that the Balinese resist changes. Instead, they adapt them to their own system. This goes back far in history. Prior to the arrival of Hinduism in Bali and in other parts of Indonesia, people practised animism. When Hinduism arrives, the practice of Hinduism is adapted to local practices. The brand of Hinduism practised in Bali is much different from that in India. Other aspects of life flow this way.
Traditional paintings, faithfully depicting religious and mythological symbolisms, met with Western and modern paintings, giving birth to contemporary paintings, free in its creative topics yet strongly and distinctively Balinese. Its dance, its music, and its wayang theaters , while have been continually enriched by contemporary and external artistry, are still laden with religious connotations, performed mostly to appease and to please the gods and the goddesses. Wood and stone carvings, gold and silver crafts parallel the development of paintings, gracefully evolving with external forces to enhance their characters. The batik of Bali owes its origin to Java, and inspired the development of ikat and double ikat.
Painting Of Bali Paintings of Bali have experienced remarkable evolution. Traditionally another means of expressing religious and mythological ideas, paintings of Bali have been subjected to a number of influences, including deep interaction with Western painters who came and lived in Bali. As with any other artistic expression found in the island, these influences have been uniquely adapted into Bali's personality, creating new nuances and styles of paintings that are distinctly Balinese. Instead of religious or mythical characters of wayang, contemporary paintings present nature, daily lives of Balinese, or even tourists. The shades of coal gray that dominate traditional paintings are now accompanied by vibrant play of color capturing Jalak Bali or Gunung Agung in the morning sun.
The Raja of Ubud was known for his fondness of arts and paintings, and his openness to foreigners. Thus Ubud became the center of arts, welcoming into its heart renowned artists such as Bonnet, Spies, Blanco, Snel, et., many of whom came and never could leave Bali. Today's Ubud is only slightly different. You should not be surprised to run into a foreign writer who has spent months living in a homestay facing a rice field terrace while writing his next book. Fabulous museums of paintings such as the Puri Museum Lukisan, the Neka Museum, and the Rudana Museum have in their permanent collections some of the best paintings ever produced by Balinese or foreigners who found their physical and artistic home in Bali.
People Of Bali The Balinese, anthropologists suggest, are an amalgamation of a number of people. The Chinese coming from the North, the Indian and the Arabs from way West, and other groups coming directly to Bali or by way of Java. Centuries past, and they become what is now known as native Balinese. They are blessed with well-developed bodies, golden-bronze skin, long, glossy black hair, and charm and mystical smiles, happily living in a rich and complete yet dynamic culture.
There are pockets of villages in which fraternization with outsiders is completely restricted, resulting in a people and a culture that the Balinese called Bali Aga (Old Bali), which may curiously be the tunnel that allows us to periscope into the culture of Bali in the past centuries.
People, Religion, and Temples
A person in Bali cannot exist in solitude. Balinese society is very community oriented. The first invitation to attend the next village meeting is delivered to you practically as a wedding present. If ignored, it will result in a warning; if three invitations are ignored, then the village may take actions against you. Since land is usually owned by the community, the village may revoke your privilege to till the land. Much of the rituals require massive effort, which usually the village shoulder in cooperatively. You will have to shoulder it yourself, should you decide to be an outcast. Along with other families in the village, you participate in meetings. You may play an instrument in the orchestra, or dance in the ceremonies. The women prepare the offerings, for their little shrines or for the village's offering to the Mother Temple of Besakih. If a child in a family is having his tooth filed, the rest of the village's women will help cook and prepare, and the men help erect a stage and decorate the house. In short, life in Bali is never alone.
You can observe this even in little children. As their parents go to plant rice, the children - all seem to be in their best behavior - play with their age group. The older ones will care for the younger ones. Fights rarely occur, and loud screams or cries are even scarcer. As if they have been taught to be at harmony with their surroundings.
The Balinese also has a built in population control mechanism through their naming structure. In Bali, all first child is named Wayan, second child is Made, the third child is Nyoman, and the fourth, or the last, is Ketut. If you have more than four? Well, the Balinese seem to have understood modulo arithmetic, so it's back to Wayan, Made, Nyoman, and Ketut, repeat. But implicitly, the culture discourages having more than four children.
Though originating from India, the brand of Hinduism known and practiced in Bali differs significantly from the one found in India. Instead of mysticism or philosophy, the emphasis of Bali's Hinduism is more in rituals and dramatic features, allowing the religion and its practice to be incorporated into daily life of Balinese peasants. These rituals and dramatic features have been intricately woven into the lives of Balinese to the extent that one cannot separate the religious life of Bali from its daily life. In fact, one can say every little action of a Balinese has some religious connotation; stone and wood carvings, cremation ceremony, trance dances, vibrant music - all are intended to please the gods and the goddesses. These rituals most often take place in a temple, the most important structure in the Balinese culture.
Food
Another aspect of religious life in Bali is the belief that the gods and the goddesses appreciate the mundane pleasures as much as the mere mortals. Feasts and festivals color everyday life as they function to please the people as much as they please the gods. Dances, music, and performances will of course be present. And endowed with such fertile and arable land, the Balinese also practice their creativity with the food and offerings presented in these feasts (which, one can rightfully expect, transcend into similar kinds of food and fruits consumed in normal daily living...)
Textil Of Bali
The Batik of Bali provides another venue of showing the artistic excellence of the Balinese people. Their beautiful designs, inspired by religious mythologies to everyday encounters, spread throughout the world. Originally stimulated by Javanese motifs, dominated by wayang and other mythological characters, contemporary batik artists have also experienced artistic development that parallels that of paintings. Modern batik artists express themselves through various subjects, from objects of nature such as birds or fish to daily activities such as cremation (ngaben) procession or tourist attractions as well as religious and mythological stories, accompanied by modern interpretation.
The Ikat and Double Ikat are two amazing techniques that the Balinese have perfected. A piece of Ikat cloth is woven in such a way that the ink is 'tied' (which is what 'ikat' literally translates to) in one of the two threads. A Double Ikat recursively repeats this technique; both threads contain ink. The ink will bleed to its neihboring area, and the result is a piece of cloth with distinctive, subtle patterns.
The village of Tenganan is well known for its superb double ikat work. A good piece of double ikat may take months to complete, and it usually belongs to the family heirloom. Certain patterns, such as the black and white, checkered, double ikat are considered to have protective powers against the evil spirits. Thus, they are used a lot to cover or to dress statues that guard the entrance to a temple or sacred masks like Barong.
A piece of ikat shirt or a batik wrap-around, each can be had for as little as a few dollars, are must have. Local garment shops will gladly supply you with these or any other kinds of Balinese garments that might interest you.
