Welcome to Ahwatukeelife Travel Australia

Please click on your area of interest below
ACT - Australian Capital Territory
NSW - New South Wales
Queensland
Northern Territory
Western Australia
South Australia
Victoria
Tasmania

General Facts
Australia is the world's smallest continent, but sixth-largest country. The full country name is Commonwealth of Australia with Canberra being the capital city. This is a highly-developed, affluent, well-educated and industrialized country. They supply their own basic food needs and export large quantities of foodstuffs and mineral products. This also one of the world's most urbanized and technologically advanced societies. When traveling to Australia, every nationality except New Zealanders will need a visa. Tourist visas and Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) visas are valid for three months although longer visas can be applied for. Australia is a very multicultural society with large numbers of immigrants from Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Turkey and Asia. There are also around 380,000 Aborigines and Torres strait islanders. Australia also offers an amazing art scene from its Aboriginal rock carvings and paintings that date back at least 30,000 to contemporary and experimental art. All of Australia loves sportsand the people here are active and play hard. Whatever else you bring to Australia - make sure you bring a sense of adventure and don't forget your sunscreen!

The majority of the population is concentrated along the eastern and south eastern coasts. Summer on the West coast brings the tropical and invigorating sea breeze known as "the Doctor". Although anytime is a great time to visit Australia - the summer (December to February) can get very hot even in Tasmania. Up north, it is the wet season which is very humid and the ocean is full of jellyfish. Darwin, in the far north, is in the monsoon belt so there really is just two seasons: hot and wet, and hot and dry. Winter - June until August is cooler and drier and an excellent time to visit Queensland or the Outback. Spring which begins in September and autumn which begins in March are mild throughout the country. You may want to avoid Easter or Christmas - due to crowds and lack of accommodations. Christmas time is summer vacation in Australia.

Lodging and Meals
In general meals and rooms are somewhat cheaper than here in America, however travel distances are great. You should plan on spending anywhere from $100-$200 a day for meals, lodging and travel. Lodging runs the gamut from five-star hotels to backpacking hostels. Bring your travellers cheques as they get a better rate than cash - but banks will take out a commission. Credit cards (especially Visa and MasterCard) are widely accepted and you will need one to rent a car.

ACT - Australian Capital Territory

Canberra
Canberra, the capital of the Australian Capital Territory, like Australia is both modern and laid back. Famous for its national monuments, museums and art galleries, as well as parklands and open spaces. With a number of embassies and consulates located in the city, Canberra offers excellent international restaurants which reflect the migration from diverse parts of the world. Rounding out the international recipes are ingredients that are always fresh and local as well as wines from local award winning wineries. On Sundays you can travel to the Old Bus Depot Markets and see crafts as well as fruits, vegetables, pastas, cheeses, preserves and more.
Popular activities include hiking, biking and boating around Lake Burley Griffin. Horseback riding on trails through the countryside where you can see kangaroos and cattle. Golf is available with 11 challenging courses with reasonable green fees. Namadgi National Park, is known for its hiking and hundreds of kangaroos, or you can hike through Tidbindbilla Nature Reserve, located on the edge of the city, where you will see kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, platypus and more in their natural environment.

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New South Wales

Sydney
This is the oldest settlement in Australia. The setting is gorgeous as the city was built on the shores of Port Jackson. Sydney is very progressive and laid back at the same time. This is also the location of one of the most photographed sites in Australia - the Sydney Opera House.
The cuisine, is heavily influenced by its extremely diverse ethnic mix and is rapidly becoming well-known the world over. You can find restaurants to suit any taste and budget, from African, French, Greek, and Indonesian to Japanese, Lebanese and Vietnamese all made with fresh ingredients and a fusion of Eastern and Western styles. Australia's growing wine offerings and scores of bars and pubs, which are open 24 hours a day, will quench your thirst.
Beaches
Sydney boasts a long string of golden sand beaches, private coves and beautiful bays. Bondi, is one of the most famous beaches of all. With topless sunbathers and scantily clad lifesavers, a great restaurant and cafe, both locals and tourists will find something to love.
Other beaches along the coast are Tamarama Beach, Bronte, Clovelly Beach - which features a pool carved into the rock making it safe when the oceans a little rough elsewhere. Manly, surrounded by Norfolk Pines, can be reached by ferry from Circular Quay.
Blue Mountains
One of the most spectacular wilderness parks in Australia and it's most recent World Heritage site. Forested hills, cliff top views, dramatic canyons, steep and sheer valleys, waterfalls, gum tree valleys and craggy outcrops. Bushwalking, horseback-riding, rock-climbing, caving, swimming in the river, scenic drives as well as historic towns built from timber and stone. You'll find a choice of budget lodging to restored hotels and resorts to stay at.
South Coast
Sydney to Victoria, the coastal route known as the Princess Highway passes through national parks and state forests. Mountains, valley, beaches, bays and along the way you can watch the Dolphins play. There is a pod of bottle-nose dolphins off Bouderee National Park (or Jervis Bay) or you can take a boat cruise and see them up close.
Snowy Mountains
Located in the south-western corner of New South Wales. This is the highest section of Australia's Great Dividing Range. The National Park covers most of the mountains and includes all of the state's ski resorts, rugged alpine scenery, caves, glacial lakes and forests. Mostly popular as a winter playground.
Northern Rivers
Northern Rivers and Tropical New South Wales is the most northern stretch of coast in New South Wales. Unspoiled beaches, volcanic mountains, lush countryside and World Heritage listed national parks. The coastal town of Byron Bay is world famous for its beaches, surfing, diving, and whale-watching. A artistic and 'alternative' lifestyle center, this tropical beach attracts backpackers with it's inexpensive lodging, and bohemians with it's rocking nightlife. Guided four-wheel drive trips through tropical fruit farms and rainforests, river cruises, white water rafting, fishing, and even hang gliding.
Hunter Valley
Just two hours north of Sydney, you'll find fine wine-tasting, romantic retreats, and good quality food. A dolphin cruise, a World Heritage National Park and historic settlements rounds out the options. Hunter Valley offers dozens of major wineries and boutique vineyards with tasting and excellent cuisine. You can tour the vineyards in horse-drawn carriages, take a hot-air balloon ride, golf, bike, visit Port Stephens Bay and take a Dolphin-watch cruise, go deep sea fishing or diving. Throughout your travels - watch for koalas.
Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island is about 1,700 kilometers east-north-east of Sydney, or a two and a half hour flight. The subtropical climate makes it ideal for fishing, bush walking, scuba diving and snorkeling. Norfolk Island's 1,800 residents are mostly descendants of Fletcher Christian and the Bounty mutineers, and captured Tahitian women. Although English is the official language, Norfolk boasts its own unique language and a haunting history as one of the world's harshest former convict colonies.

Broken Hill
The city of Broken Hill - gateway to the Outback - is only a two hour flight outside Sydney. It is a vast, untouched wilderness, where you'll find unusual plants, ancient Aboriginal culture and World Heritage national parks. You can take a four wheel drive excursion to the underground opal mining town of White Cliffs where you can see emus, kangaroos and many different species of birdlife. Silverton is a small mining town where the Thornbirds, Road Warrior and Mission Impossible 2 have filmed.
National Parks
Mungo National Park
110kms north east of Mildura
Telephone: 03 5023 1278
Mungo National Park lies within the Willandra Lakes World Heritage Region. The oldest recorded cremation in the world has been found at Mungo.
Mutawintji National Park
130kms north east of Broken Hill
Telephone: 08 8088 5933
Mootwingee National Park is the tribal area of the Malyankapa and Pandjikali people. Within the park lies an array of Aboriginal rock art and historic sites dating back over 8000 years.
Kinchega National Park
110kms south east of Broken Hill, Menindee
Telephone: 08 8088 5933
You can explore the Darling River and Menindee Lakes area while watching kangaroos and emus. Aboriginal occupation sites, pastoral relics and explorers have all been preserved here.
Sturt National Park
330kms north of Broken Hill, Tibooburra
Telephone: 08 8091 3308
Sturt National Park is one of New South Wale's largest nature conservation reserves. The park covers semi-desert country to flood plains which give way to small rocky gorges and dry creek beds around the 'jump up' country.

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Queensland

Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital of Queensland and offers an easy-going, sub-tropical ambience. Warm most of the year and easy to get around, there's always something to do. Enjoy great cuisine, local wines, catch a local sporting event or check out the beer gardens and verandas. Shop 'till you drop at the Queen Street mall, watch the street theatre or listen to some live music at one of the great pubs. As if that wasn't enough, you'll want to visit Brisbanes sapphire blue bay, Moreton Bay, which offers boat charters and marlin fishing. Discover reefs edging the dozens of islands, which are prized for their white sand and great camping.
Gold Coast
The Gold Coast, which is located just over the New South Wales border and just south of Brisbane - is the theme-park capital of Australia featuring theme parks with everything from dolphins to film-making. The area maintains a reputation as a top family destination by also offering 35 miles of patrolled, safe beaches and wildlife sanctuaries that are perfect for children, who can feed the birds, pet a kangaroo and cuddle a koala. The adults will find plenty to do also with over 40 resort and championship golf courses, great dining and more. The Gold Coast hinterland, 30 minutes drive from the beaches, is Australia's largest reserve of subtropical rainforest and rich in biodiversity, waterfalls, rare plants and flowers.
Rockhampton
Located in the Capricorn region - so named because it lies on the Tropic of Capricorn, Rockhampton is the 'Beef Cattle Capital of Australia'. With more than three million cattle roaming around, it's hard to forget what the area is famous for. Steak sandwiches and barbecued snags are a local speciality. In the center of the town there is the Great Western Hotel which offers bull riding in its own bullring. There is a huge rodeo that draws riders from all over Australia almost every weekend. You can try a taste of outback life on any number of cattle stations and host farms.
Cairns
Cairns - the tourist 'capital' of the Far North is a top travel destination. It's the ideal starting point to begin your exploration of the Great Barrier Reef, the rainforest or the outback. A contemporary city with excellent shopping, transportation, nightlife including the glass-domed Reef Hotel Casino with separate gaming areas and a five star hotel. For a different shopping experience, try the night markets on Cairns Esplanade. Cairns offers a selection of both international cuisine and Australian foods for a varied dining experience.
Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef essentially runs along the entire coast of Queensland. It is considered on of the world's natural wonders, made up of the most extensive reef system and largest structure made by living organisms on earth. There is camping available on the many islands that dot the reef and some of the have resort facilities. The reef in the north s almost continuous and located only about 30 miles from shore, whereas in the south there are individual reefs and some are almost as far as 200 miles from shore. You can arrange your exploration of the Great Barrier Reef easily from Cairns.

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Northern Territory

Darwin
Darwin is an amazing mix of cultures in a gorgeous setting along the Arafura Sea. Closer to Jakarta than Sydney and closer to Singapore than Melbourne it's mix of Asian and Australian is enticing. Darwin is hot and when its not just hot, it's hot and humid, so you will want to make use of the beaches to cool off - except from late October to early May when venomous jellyfish invade the water. Fortunately there are plenty of freshwater swimming spots. Enjoy a sunset cruise or take a dive and explore the wrecks. There is also excellent dining and views on the Darwin Wharf. Anywhere in Darwin the dining choices are plentiful with cuisines from Japan, Laos, the Philippines, India, Cambodia, Thailand available. Stop by a stall and try traditional treats like satay with peanut sauce, fried rice and noodle dishes, tom yum soup, or chicken curry, Vietnamese spring rolls wrapped in rice paper. If that's not exotic enough for you, try the crocodile, buffalo, camel or emu. Top it all off with a cold beer or some Australian wine. Darwin also offers an amazing array of wildlife with crocodiles, and hundreds of birds. The city was destroyed by a cyclone in 1974 and has been rebuilt with low buildings and wide streets and parks.
Katherine
Katherine is a true outback town located at the south of Australia's Top End. From here you can begin your driving, bushwalking or camping adventures. Don't miss the Katherine Gorge with sheer cliffs and waterfalls plunging into freshwater beaches. Here you can view aboriginal rock art on the cliff faces. Be sure you check out the Didgeridoo Competition! It's held on the banks of the Copperfield Recreation Dam and fans from all over the world come to sing and dance and play. Camping is allowed.
Uluru (also known as Ayers Rock)
Uluru, in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, lies five hours south-west of Alice Springs, and is a challenge to any adventure-seekers. Like the black monolith in 2001, this red monolith can change lives. Once you've seen it, and anyone who has ever visited the red rocks of Sedona, will easily understand that the rock itself and the area surrounding it is of spiritual significance for the Anangu Aboriginal people. It rises, almost in Australia's center, from the completely flat surrounding sands. As huge as it is, 2/3 of the rock is actually hidden underground. The shades of the rock itself vary depending on the time of day and type of weather. Try to visit during sunrise or sunset for the spectacular color changes from purples to blues and oranges. Please be mindful of the fact that the Anangu would prefer that visitors not climb the rock. Walks around the base are encouraged, which passes by caves, rock art and sacred Aboriginal sites. Try using an Aboriginal guide who will tell you of the dreamtime stories. There are a number of places to stay during your visit to Uluru, from campsites to resort hotels.

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Western Australia

Perth
With more hours of sunshine than any other capital city in Australia, it's easy to see why Perth, with its warm sunny weather, clear blue skies and picture perfect white sand beaches, is such a popular destination. It's also where the majority of the approximately two million people that live in Western Australia reside. The city itself is sophisticated and beautiful with parks and waterways that must be seen to be believed. The world's oldest operating mint is located in Perth along with many museums and art galleries. There are five-star resorts and casinos and plenty of shopping. Outdoor and water activities abound. Perth is the perfect place to begin your explorations to the surrounding areas.
Dunsborough
This small town offers an annual whale-watching season from September to December that is a perfect location for shooting some of the best whales-at-play photography you'll ever see.
Broome
Broome is an isolated old pearling town with an easy going tropical charm and popular travel center. There is a distinctive Asian feel. This is due to the fact that Roebuck Bay is the home of the world's largest pearl oyster shell, which brought divers from Japan and the Maylays who joined Aboriginal pearl divers, as much as it is from the fact that the capital (Perth) is twice as far away as Indonesia. Pearling is still a viable industry here. You'll find gourmet cuisine and the influence of many cultures throughout the town. With unforgettable beaches, beautiful weather and excellent cuisine, you may never want to leave.

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South Australia

Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital of South Australia, and lies between the sea and the Adelaide Hills. Outdoor activities abound here with the mild Mediterranean climate. The city is easy to walk around with wide streets and many parks. The city was populated by people wanting to build their wealth in wool, copper and wheat. There are many specialty shops, boutiques and department stores, and many stores and restaurants display the works of local artists. The food and wine are excellent with the nearby Barossa Valley providing some of the best. Lodging is plentiful with a variety of budgets accommodated.
Barossa Valley
Barossa Valley is probably the best known wine-producing region in Australia. Settled in 1842 by Germans fleeing persecution, the area still has a distinctly Germanic flavor. There are over 50 wineries with tasting and cellar sales available at many. Adelaide is about an hours drive to the south-west. March to May is very busy with the wine harvest.

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Victoria

Melbourne
Melbourne is the cultural capital of Victoria - shopping, restaurants, nightlife and sports abound in Melbourne
Visitors have compared it to northern Europe on the Mediterranean. Located on the banks of the Yarra River, there are many parks and large Botanical Gardens. Although there are trams everywhere, the shopping arcades are perfect for walking. The architecture alone is worth the visit. The city is a vital mix of cultures with immigrants arriving after WWII from Greece, Italy, Yugoslavia, Poland and Turkey. In fact Melbourne has more people of Greek descent than any other city in the world except Athens. More recently immigrants from Vietnam and Cambodia have arrived, bringing their own ideas of culture, architectural influences, and cuisine into the mix.
Yarra Valley
Approximately an hour from Melbourne are the vineyards of the Yarra Valley. With tasting, great foods and beautiful scenery. Be sure to try the award-winning chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir and of course shiraz. You'll also want to take time to check out the antique and crafts shops for a break stop in at a tea house.
Great Ocean Road
This is considered one of the world's most spectacular drives. Driving from Melbourne to Adelaide, you'll pass through beaches, rainforests, caves, gorges, and plenty of wildlife to see also. In winter you can stop and watch the southern right whales from a platform on Logan's beach. Seal colonies and fairy penguin rookeries are also located around the coast, while kangaroos, birds and smaller marsupials inhabit the area's grasslands and forests. There is also some of the world's best surf along the coastal road, with Torquay being recognized worldwide as having the best waves this side of Hawaii. Bells Beach hosts the Rip Curl Pro and Bells is also home to the women's world championship Sun Smart Classic. Every Easter the worlds best surfers arrive in Bells and the event is now a 10 day festival attracting a crowd of thousands. Of course, Torquay is a great place for all things surf related like, surfboards, wetsuits, clothing, sugnlasses and more. If you get a chance, stop in at The Surfworld Museum and Hall of Fame. Considered to be the most dramatic part of the drive is the coastal Port Campbell National Park. This is the epitome of every dramatic ocean scene you have ever seen with cliffs, seething waters and crashing waves. You can listen to the roar of the sea at Blowhole. Rock sculptures at Twelve Apostles rock pillars, are recognized icons of the area. From Moonlight Head to Port Fairy is known as Shipwreck Coast. More than 80 ships sank in a 40 year span from the end of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th.

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Tasmania

Tasmania is internationally recognized for its quality, natural produce. Cherries, apples and pears make up the harvest from around the Tamar and Huon valleys. Tourists can drop into some of the orchards and packing farms to sample the wares, buy fruit and view the packing. The apple and pear season begins in early February and ends in the first week of May. Strawberries, raspberries, red currants and blackcurrants are also produced in various parts of Tasmania. The strawberry picking season runs from early November to the end of April, while raspberries are picked from December to the first week in February and again in March and April. Red currants crop around Christmas time. Several farms allow you to pick your own fruit. Literally hundreds of organic-oriented farms throughout the state produce various gourmet delights, ranging from honey and spreads to goat and sheep cheese. Tasmania's major cheese and butter producing region in King Island has made international headlines in recent years for its unique produce. Tasmania's cool-climate vineyards produce delicately balanced cabernet sauvignon and rieslings in particular. In recent years though the area's pinot noir and chardonnay varieties have been particularly well regarded in Australian and International wine competitions. Most of Tasmania's wineries offer cellar-door tastings.
Hobart
Hobart, Tasmainia's capital, was founded in 1804. If you enjoy walking, start at Salamanca Markets on a Saturday morning where you'll find craftwork made from native woods, pottery and glass. There are plenty of cafes, seafood restaurants and pubs. Franklin and Princes Wharf are both excellent for exploring. Downtown is the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery where you can see the display of the Tasmanian tiger. A striped marsupial believed to be extinct, although sightings are sometimes still reported.
Cascade Brewery (Australia's oldest) is located here as is the Tasmania Distillery where there are tastings of whisky, gin, brandy and vodka. Hobart is also home to the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, known for the English-style plant and tree layouts and a Japanese garden dominated by a miniature Mt Fuji.
Freycinet Peninsula
With a climate similar to that in the south of France, and more than 300 days of sunshine a year, Freycinet National Park, is perfect for almost any outdoor activity. These include kayaking, bushwalking, fishing, dolphin watching (and whale watching in season), scuba diving, golf, tours of local wineries and marine farms - even Tasmanian devil spotting. The Tasmanian devil, found only in Tasmania, is a loud, sturdy and ferocious little carnivorous marsupial with short legs, strong jaws and a tremendously loud voice. Freycinet Lodge, connected by boardwalks in the bush, is designed to remain unobtrusive in a magnificent landscape. The main lodge overlooks Great Oyster Bay and the restaurant there specializes in Tasmanian farm produce and wines.

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