There's something about seeing the image of the Sydney
Opera House and expansive Harbour Bridge that leaves you dreaming of your
vacation to the South Pacific long after it ended. And although you will
enjoy every moment exploring cosmopolitan cities like Sydney in Australia
and Christchurch in New Zealand, it is the natural landscape of these two
countries that leave an indelible impression.
Nature was inspired when it created Australia. Rain forest,
coastline, outback, mountains and savannah paint a colorful palette of magical
sights against an azure sky. From the moment you step off the plane in the
beautiful Victorian city of Melbourne, spectacular scenery is everywhere!
Your first afternoon there, travel to Phillip Island, a renowned nature
reserve and home of the world's largest colony of Little Penguins. The Little
Penguin is protected on Phillip Island and a staff of rangers works diligently
to study and protect these lovable birds. The experience of watching as
hundreds of these birds waddle out from the sea and cross the beach to their
burrows in the dunes makes you appreciate the balance between Man and Nature.
Adding to the enjoyment of your afternoon will be a visit to the interpretation
center, where you will learn about the life of the Little Penguins and their
significance to the area.
The next morning its off to Cairns, the gateway to the
Great Barrier Reef. On the outskirts of Cairns in Tropical North Queensland
is the Tjapukai (pronounced Jab-a-guy) Aboriginal Cultural Park is one of
the most awarded indigenous attractions in Australia. Here an Aboriginal
language and culture that was once in danger of extinction has not only
been saved, but shared with thousands of visitors from throughout the world.
Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park is a mystical experience dedicated to
preserving authentic Aboriginal culture and includes five theaters, a museum,
art gallery and traditional Aboriginal camp which give visitors a meaningful
glimpse into a culture dating back more than 40,000 years.
As you sit in the audience waiting for the show to begin,
the anticipation in the air is so thick you can feel it. Bodies still, the
audience's attention is completely focused on the two men at the front of
the theater. Dressed in traditional Aboriginal garb of loincloths and ghostly
white body paint they crouch over a small pile of leaves and brush, one
holding a horizontal stick, the other twirling his hands up and down a vertical
one. Their aim is to create friction, which leads to heat, and ultimately
the fundamental element to human existence, fire. You will be enraptured,
imagining what it must have been like for their own ancestors to know that
the creation of so small, yet significant a thing as a flame could mean
the difference between life and death.
For a moment it seems as though nothing else will happen,
but suddenly a flash of orange appears. One of the men bends low, gently
blowing on the infant flame to coax it to life. In a whoosh it catches and
he jumps back as the brush is rapidly engulfed. He triumphantly holds a
flaming branch aloft to the haunting accompaniment of a didgeridoo. As one,
the audience erupts into cheers and applause as the Tjapukai man proves
once more the most basic, ancient element that sets humans apart from beasts,
control over fire.
You may learn later that many members of the audience
were part of a Collette Vacations tour which included Tropical North Queensland,
and the visit to Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park. Here they had the opportunity
to meet members of the Tjapukai people, learn about their history and culture,
hear their music and Dream time stories. If you're game, you can also try
your hand at playing a didgeridoo or throwing a boomerang, one Collette
traveler related to me.
Aboriginal culture is just one facet of a visit to Cairns
in Tropical North Queensland. The region's most famous attraction is undoubtedly
the Great Barrier Reef, one of the world's greatest natural wonders and
the largest single living organism on the planet. The Great Barrier Reef
stretches down the Queensland coast for more than 1200 miles and covers
an area of more than 155,000 square miles. You can visit some or all of
these reef formations, each one unique, on a Great Barrier Reef day trip.
One of the rare natural wonders in this area is Green
Island, a short journey by fast catamaran off the Cairns coast. Green Island
is a 6000 year old coral cay perfectly located for exploring the reef from
the water or from the comfort of a glass bottom boat. But there's more to
this island than the reef alone. Over centuries, a cool rain forest has
developed, along with white coral sand beaches which is yours to explore
with a Colette Vacations day trip. The city of Cairns is a vibrant coastal
town with fabulous shopping and dining ranging from traditional 'Aussie
bush tucker' to alfresco cafes and five star restaurants. The Queensland
Outback, with its miles of open spaces, amazing land formations and mobs
of free roaming kangaroos, is only a couple of hours drive inland, however,
you may chose, instead, to set off for Sydney where you can spend two fabulous
nights. The tour here may include highlights like Kings Cross, the Harbour
Bridge, Chinatown, the Rocks, Circular Quay, the Botanic Gardens and the
fashionable suburb of Paddington. Later, you will enjoy a fascinating opal
presentation and learned how raw opals are processed from the dark mine
shafts to your favorite jewelry store. On day 2 in Sydney, embark on a delightful
cruise of Sydney Harbour and pass by two of Australia's most famous landmarks:
the renowned Sydney Opera House and the world's largest steel arch bridge,
the Harbour Bridge. Afterwards, travel with a group to Koala Park where
you see koalas in their natural habitat. You will even have the chance to
feed the kangaroos and pet a wombat! Later that night, enjoy a tour, dinner,
and performance inside the Sydney Opera House surely to be the highlight
of your trip. The next morning will be so long Australia and hello New Zealand.
The moment you arrive in Queenstown, this charming South Island town will
captured your heart. The first evening there, take a gondola ride to dinner
at the Skyline Restaurant which overlooks Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu and
the mountains. Although the scenic beauty of such sights like the Hollyford
Valley and Milford Sound are not to be missed, one of the best things about
traveling is meeting people along the way, especially the locals. On this
adventure Down Under, you might have the privilege of dining with a local
family 'Kiwis,' as they're called. They may take you into their home where
you will enjoyed a traditional, home cooked meal and absorbed some kiwi
culture. These are the experiences you remember long after your return trip
home. New Zealand's most famous national park, Mt. Cook, is where you can
spend a leisurely afternoon upon leaving Queenstown. This is truly one of
the most impressive mountains in the world. You can choose to view the massive
glaciers and extensive snow covered mountain top terrain on an optional
glacier flight seeing tour, or just enjoy the park during a simple nature
walk.
Your tour of the South Pacific begins to wind to its
end in the historic city of Christchurch. Here you can participate in a
short sightseeing tour of 'the most English city outside of England' highlighting
magnificent gardens, the Neo-Gothic Cathedral and the downtown park district.
One of your fondest memories in this area of New Zealand will be a visit
to a Canterbury farmyard to take part in a sheep shearing demonstration,
and see how a New Zealand family farm works.
Throughout your 15 days spent in Australia and New Zealand,
you are sure to find a world of relaxation, beauty, adventure, and fun all
waiting to be discovered and appreciated. I can't wait to go!
Written by Ramblin' Rose Mascarenhas of Gadabout Travel
