Australia's Sunshine Coast lies just to the north of Brisbane in Queensland and comprises a collection of several coastal towns including old-fashioned Coolum, laid-back Caloundra and touristy Noosa, as well as the peaceful Sunshine Hinterland area.

There are many historical attraction in the Sunshine Coast. To start with there is the scenic railway, Valley Rattler, that tour the Mary Valley in the Cooloola region. You can take a half morning, half day or full day tours on an old fashioned steam train called the Red Rocket Rail Motor. If you decide to take a full day tour you will travel to Dagun, Imbil and Kandanga. This tour allows passengers to disembark at these towns for touring or exploration. For a half day tour you will take a trip to Amamoor and Dagun to enjoy morning tea or a glass of wine. Half morning tour are two hours and travel between Gympie and Amamoor where you will get a chance to explore some of the arts and crafts fairs in the area.

Then there is the Landsborough Museum, located on Maleny Street. This is an extensive look at the social history of the Sunshine Coast. This area museum collects, preserves and exhibits all the artifacts, documents and stories relating to Caloundra City. There is a exhibit that includes the personal collections of explorer William Landsborough, Premier of Queensland; Sir Francis Nicklin and local businessman John Tytherleigh. There are also exhibits of indigenous tools, camera equipment, dental equipment and relics from the SS Dicky wreck. The museum also house an extensive library of local documents of historical significance, photographs and Government Gazettes.

And last but not least is Sunshine Castle Bli Bli, a unique recreation of a Norman Castle in the Australian outback that dates back to 1971. Castle Bli Bli offers tourists so many things to do that it is hard to know where to start describing them and hard to know what to do first.

You could start by wandering through the toy and doll museum, with its fairytale dioramas, model train railway and dancing dolls or you could, instead, start by climbing the 24m tall lookout tower to enjoy the superb view of both the Sunshine Coast and Hinterland. But whatever you do, don't miss your chance to sit on the original throne as used in the Xena, Warrior Princess, television series.


When you are looking for Sunshine Coast Accommodation log onto www.sunshinecoastinformation.com.au. Whether you are looking to stay in one of the many Sunshine Coast Hotels or wanting to know about local events all you need can be found on this site.

When you are traveling around the TNQ region of Australia , the going can be tough, especially if you are unfamiliar with the region. Taking the time to prepare yourself and your vehicle for any issues or problems that may arise while traveling will help ensure a smooth holiday in this region.

The first thing that you can do is rent your vehicle through a reliable car hire company. You will find that many of the names that you are familiar with, including Budget, as also available for your overseas vacation to Australia. You want to make sure that your vehicle is reliable, especially when traveling around the Outback.

The next step is to prepare yourself in case of an emergency. You can do this by obtaining a set of current maps for the region you are visiting, always travel with water in your car, and be sure to have a first aid kit on you at all times. Even though you may never need these items, it is still a good idea to have them on you, just in case.

The last thing that you need to be sure to have is a cell phone with an overseas SIM card. This will allow you to make international phone calls with your phone, as well as local calls while you are on your vacation. A cell phone is also great to have on hand should you have an emergency or your car brakes down and you need to contact roadside services. Before you depart to your destination you will also want to save your emergency contacts, hotel information and car hire company in case there is an emergency and you are unable to get this information across to the emergency assistant.

One last tip, that will be allow you to have a safe vacation is to never abandon your car if it was to brake down in the Tropical North region. Always stay in your vehicle and never wander around. There are a lot of desolate areas and you do not want to get lost and have to have a search party looking for you. Stay with your car and wait until assistance arrives.


If you are ready to holiday in Australia be sure to use the car hire Surfers Paradise has loved for years. Log onto www.budget.com.au for the best deals available. You can also get a brisbane car rental vacationers have enjoyed while driving from sight to sight.

An Australia Vacation can be so exhilarating that you might not have enough time to catch your breath before you vacation is over. This is a country that is known to have some of the most visited cities that world over. It is filled with a plethora of exciting activities like hiking, climbing and diving that residents like getting involved in. this is a country that you will get the best vacation experience from with the help of a skilled guide. The culture is diverse as well as the land mass features. The culture has been well preserved by those that it has been handed over to. Ad to really enjoy your intended vacation it is best you plan ahead by gathering as much information as you can to get to know the places beforehand.

Activities such as snorkeling, sea fishing, and paragliding are just a few of the things you can do in Australia. The beaches are some of the most beautiful in the world with their white sands and refreshing seas. The country as a whole has very long summers with less rain so sun lovers will have a swell time here.

Australia is a huge country and Australia vacations can be confusing if you don't try to discover the places before actually getting there. The huge country has got a very low population which leaves the country not so over populated with people. It is in the southern hemisphere, so whenever the weather is chilly in the US you can enjoy the warmness in your Australia vacation.

There are many high mountains that you can take pleasure from by climbing in your Australia vacation. Tasmania is regarded as the one-fifth part which is the heritage of the country. You can really spend an awesome time in rock climbing. The country of Australia has got exotic wildlife as well as marine life. The most known The Great Barrier Reef is another attractive place which you can not find in the whole world. You can really take some time of your worries and relax in the water or skiing. Cairns and Queensland are known as famous places which you must add to your list of places to visit. You would need the help of a travel guide and you would really have an amazing trip with some guidance.

The Queensland is filled with rich greenery and is a tropical land of forests with beautiful waterfalls. Your Australia vacation can become more enriched when you get to one of the national parks like the Kakadu with their wonderful array of animals and exciting scenery. And the alternative city life can be equally exciting if not more. The main cities are Perth, Darwin, Adelaide and Canberra. The cities come with choice hotels and restaurants as well as health clubs and spas that you can take your pick from.

Another Australia vacation is a trip to Brisbane. It is a city with two coasts and wonderful beaches. The south coast is also known as the Gold coast and the other is aptly called the sunshine coast. Many of the old buildings have been well kept and it is a cultural heritage that the residents are proud of. Alice Springs and William Creek are Australian Heritage sites. Your time in these cities would be most enjoyable. And your Australia vacation will be better served if you tap the help of the local tour guides.

Your Australia vacation can lead you to Daintree Rainforest which is regarded as the oldest in the world. It contains a wide variety of plant and wild life that come from different parts of the world. If you want to touch the city of Melbourne or Sydney in your Australia vacation, it would be best you plan it so that you can get the best out of the trip. They are seen as a couple of the most popular cities of the world. You can send a post card of the snow covered alpines.

So are you ready to pack your bags and get going for some of the best times in your life?


Jim Krangou has been working in the hotel and travel business for approximately ten years. After retirement, he decided that blogging about what he has a lot of experience in might be a good idea. This is how he first started Australia vacations. If you are interested, you can visit this website to read his personal opinion regarding traveling to the Land Down Under. He recently wrote and excellent article about Australia travel packages that you might want to check out.

Flying internationally can be stressful to even the most seasoned traveler. This typically is caused by the fact that travelers are leaving the United States and will be landing in a country that they may be unfamiliar with. The laws and safety could differ immensely in this international country from the United States. Adhere to the following suggestions to help ensure safe travels:

First, establish if the airline that you are flying on is reputable. Research that they follow standards established by the International Air Transportation Association for safe travel. If you need more details regarding an airline, typically the Federal Aviation Administration or the European Union Regulators has information available on the internet regarding most airlines across the world. These organizations can also help you find information on airlines that have been banned to fly in either the European Union or the United States. The United States also offers Consular Information Sheets that provide detailed information for countries throughout the world. This can give you better information regarding the safety and security you can expect when you arrive in the foreign country.

Remember to register with the United States State Department prior to departure. This allows for the State Department to better assist you in case of emergency. You can do this for free via their website.

Next you will want to make sure that you have a valid passport. All information should be up to date including your emergency contacts. You will also want to leave a copy of your passport at home, including your itinerary.

Another important thing to remember is that you should never leave your luggage unattended or allow a stranger to watch your bags for you, no matter how short a period of time. You should also never agree to assist someone else with their luggage or packages. The only luggage you should ever carry is your own, or that of someone you are traveling with.

Familiarize yourself with the local customs and laws of the country in which you are traveling to. Double-check to ensure the items you have packed are allowed through Customs at your destination country.

Try to minimize your chances of being targeted. A great way to do this is to avoid wearing flashy and expensive jewelry. You should also never carry lots of cash around with you, and try as best as you can to fit in. If you are easily targeted as a tourist you are more of a target, than if you looked as if you were a native.

Before leaving, contact your insurance company to verify that they offer you coverage internationally.

When you arrive to your destination it is important that you do not accept a ride from anyone except an authorized agents. You will also want to be sure that you utilize a reputable company when you are going to exchange your currency.


If you are searching for Cheap Airfares for your next trip stop by www.expedia.com.au. They can offer you excellent deals on all local and international flights. This is the best way to find the Cheap Flights that you are looking for.

About 20 kilometers north of Caboolture, there is an odd group of volcanic crags jutting from the coast, called the Glass House Mountains. The legends of the Aborigine say that these belong to a Mountain Spirit Family. This story is called the Weeping Mountain and his Wayward Son.

It has long been believed that the Mountain Spirits are ruled by the father of all tribes, Tibrogargan and his wife, Beerwah. Their children include Coonowrin, the oldest, Tunbubudla and Coochin, twins, as well as Ngungun, Tibberoowuccum, Miketeebumulgrai and Elimbah.

One day Tibrogargan was looking out towards the coast when he noticed the sea level rising. Anticipating a flood, he became fearful for Beerwah who was close to the water. But he was also concerned about his children and would not be able to save them all. So Tibrogargan called to his eldest son Coonowrin to help his mother. As Tibrogargan gathered his younger children he looked behind him to see if Coonowrin and Beerwah were safe, but to dismay Coonowrin had fled and left his mother unassisted.In a blinding rage, Tibrogargan picked up his club and struck Coonowrin dislocating his neck.

When the flood went down, the family could go back home. When his siblings saw his crooked neck, Coonowrins felt ashamed from their teasing. He went to his father to ask for his forgiveness. His father wept large tears of despair, asking why he didn't help his own mother. The son responded that she was bigger than them all and should have been able to take care of herself. What he did not know what that she was very pregnant. The siblings all began to weep, forming many streams reaching to the sea.

The law of the tribe said that he could not forgive his son's disgrace, so he had to forsake him forever. Even now, Tibrogargan faces outwards to the sea while his son still hangs his crooked neck, crying. And Beerwah, is still pregnant.


When looking for a good Caloundra Accommodation, go to sunshinecoastinformation.com.au for the best prices. We can assist you find the best combinations for all families when it comes to Caloundra Hotels.

When you are planning your trip to the Tropical North Queensland region of Australia you will want to be sure and pack a pair of binoculars and a camera. This Australian region is the perfect place to observe bird life in their natural habitat.

A favorite amongst bird watchers, the Tropical North of Australia is the perfect destination for a bird watching holiday. Whether you find yourself staying in Daintree, in the Highlands, or on the Cairns Coast , you will find that some of the accommodations land you right in an incredible location to be able to catch a view of some of the most amazing birds of the rainforest from the balcony of your accommodations.

The Tropical North Queensland region is filled with many lakes, parks and beaches in addition to the rainforests making the entire region a haven for various species of birds and the year round moderate climate makes this region the perfect habitat for the birds all year long.

Some birds are more easily spotted during certain times of the year. The Channel Billed Cuckoo, Paradise Kingfisher and the Koel can be found easiest between October and April. This is also breeding season for birds which will give you the opportunity to see newborns hatching and mothers taking care of their young.

The Tropical North Queensland of Australia is a wonderful place for bird watching, but if that isn't your thing, don't worry because there are plenty of other things to see and do in the region. Just choose accommodations that are centrally located to whatever you want to see and do in the region. This will ensure that you have the best possible holiday, whether you will be enjoying the beaches or scuba diving in the reef, there are many natural wonders to explore, with just about something for everyone, you are bound to find that the TNQ will become your favorite vacation hot spot.


When you are searching for port douglas hotels go to tropicalnorthqueensland.com. It is a great tourist information centre right at your fingertips. In addition to port douglas accomodation you can also view local events to do and more.