Travel Destination Tips - Tropical North Queensland Australia

Regional Overview:

The Cassowary Coast is centred in North Queensland's Great Green Way. The Bruce Highway motorway and Queensland Rail service the Cassowary Coast. The Historic Town of Cardwell is the southern gateway to the Cassowary Coast. To the south of Cardwell, Townsville is 2.0 hours by road transport. Cairns in far North Queensland is 2.5 hours by vehicle from Cardwell. Cairns and Townsville host domestic and international airports. With air connections to east coast Australian capital cities Brisbane, Sydney and international air carriers.

Cassowary Coast physiography embraces the Coral Sea, Great Barrier Reef, islands, estuaries and isolated beaches. The tropical coastal plain hosts perennial rivers, rainforest, escarpment range gorges and waterfalls. The scenic Kirrama Range Road and Palmerston Highway road routes access the Atherton Tablelands and Savannah outback.

The Cassowary Coast is renowned for outdoor leisure, recreation and sporting activities. Circumvented by Forestry Plantations, Queensland Forestry Reserves, Queensland National Parks and Queensland Wet Tropics World Heritage Areas e.g. Cardwell Range Girringun National Park. Key nature based activity interests include:

• Sighting Natural Attractions, Features, Flora & Fauna.


• Landscape & Nature Photography.


• Boat Cruising, Sailing, Island Camping & Trail Walking.


• Reef Snorkelling, Spear Fishing and Scuba Diving.


• Fresh & Saltwater Fishing e.g. Luring, Trolling & Sport Fishing.


• Rainforest Trail Walking and Waterfall Viewing.


• Swimming, Kayaking & Whitewater Rafting.


• Rural Cross Country Road Cycling.


• Road, Track, Trail & Downhill Mountain Biking.


• Motorcycle Touring and Trail Bike Riding.


• Picnics, BBQ's and extended stays Camping.

Review multi day hiking and camping adventure options e.g.

• Hinchinbrook Island - Thorsborne Trail.


• Hinchinbrook Island - Sea Kayaking.


• Girringun National Park - Herbert River Gorge Juwun Walk.


• Tully Gorge National Park - Misty Mountains Trail Networks.

Cardwell - Local places to visit on holidays: Port Hinchinbrook, Hinchinbrook Island, Hinchinbrook Channel, Goold Island, Garden Island, Brook Islands Group, Rockingham Bay, Cardwell Lookout, Cardwell Scenic Forestry Drive, Attie Creek Waterfall, Dead Horse Creek, Cardwell Forestry Spa Pool, Five Mile Swimming Hole, Dalrymple Gap Walking Track, Kennedy Valley, Cardwell Range Kirrama National Park, Kirrama Range Road, Society Flats and Blencoe Falls.

For an extended Cardwell vacation, multiple road trips and tours. These destinations are within a day trip drive, return to Cardwell:-

• North Coast - West Inland

Cardwell Forestry Drive, Edmund Kennedy National Park, Jumbun - Murray Falls, Echo Creek, Tully, Mt. Tyson, Alligators Nest, Tully River Gorge, Tully Heads, Hull Heads, South Mission Beach, Wongaling Beach, Mission Beach, Bingil Bay, Djiru National Park, Licuala Walking Track, Lacey Creek, Clump Mountain National Park, Bicton Hill Lookout, El Arish, Silkwood, Japoonvale, Mena Creek, South Johnstone, Henrietta Creek, Nandroya Falls, Kurrimine Beach, Cowley Beach, Mourilyan, Mourilyan Harbour, Etty Bay, Innisfail, Flying Fish Point, Ella Bay and Wooroonooran National Park.

• South Coast - West Inland

Lucinda, Ingham, Broadwater Creek, Herbert River Gorge, Wallaman Falls, Mt. Fox Volcano, Crystal Creek, Paluma Range, Mt. Spec, Paluma, Paluma Lake and Hidden Valley.

Explore Australia's Great Green Way tropical Cassowary Coast with Family & Friends.

SWIT Guide - Nature Sightseeing and Multi Sport Adventures. Sharing small group special interest travel activity experiences since 2003.

Bolivia Travel: Parque Nacional Sajama

Bolivia's oldest national park, Parque Nacional Sajama is a must-see for nature lovers. The 81,000 hectares of land are home to the eponymous volcano, Sajama. The scenery in the national park is spectacular and includes views of glaciers, geysers, thermal springs, and two other volcanoes, Parinacota and Pomerape. The national park holds the world's highest forest, consisting mostly of the rare Kenua tree which can survive at up to 5,200 m above sea level. Several rare species of Andean animals and plants thrive in the park, and the neighboring Parque Nacional Lauca in Chile.

The park appeals to mountaineers and scientists, but there are excursions for people without high-altitude experience. Due to the extreme temperatures and altitude, it is not advised to roam the park alone. You can hire jeeps at Tambo Quemado or at the junction into the village to see the sights. There's a fun bathing spot in hot springs 5 km north of the village. There are geysers 6 km west of the village with several lakes and herds of vicunas. There are a number of opportunities for hiking in the park, and you can rent mules, porters, horses, and equipment in the village.

To get to Sajama there is a paved road from La Paz to Arica in Chile which passes through the park. There is also a scenic route from the north along the road from Patacamaya, which takes seven hours. Once you arrive, visit the Centro Asistencia Turismo (CAT) office for help with arrangements. Some community members offer basic accommodation in their homes. These should provide mattresses and blankets, but it can be very windy and cold at night so pack a quality sleeping bag, gloves, hats, and warm clothing. There are four basic restaurants in the park but no fresh food, so you must bring your own.

This guide to Parque Nacional Sajama was written by a Bolivia travel expert at Bolivia For Less available to help you custom design your exciting Bolivia vacations.

Costa Rica Travel Tips

Costa Rica is mostly a friendly, hospitable and tropical paradise when one considers it. There are just a few peculiarities about this jewel of the Caribbean before one visits it. One great thing to mention about it is that it is a great place to get sick! That may seem ironic, but Costa Rica is world famous for its excellent health care system. This has brought a certain amount of "medical tourism" to the country. The downside of its health issues surrounds dengue fever outbreaks and malaria infested mosquitoes. Take precautions against these potential health threats.

Getting Around Safely

Before traveling to the wild and jungle zones of Costa Rica, one may be required to travel around its more civilized zones. This may require a great deal of caution as Costa Rica is known for having one of the highest traffic fatality rates in the world. One great example - that is not always obvious - is to avoid a pole or a branch poking out of the road. This is a warning sign that it is a pothole or an open manhole or sinkhole. When you see these symbols steer clear!

Speaking of which, traditional road signs are almost always absent. Even the locals may not know the name of the street or the road they are on. And driving under the influence is never recommended - it could land the DUI driver in prison for up to 3 years. Pedestrians also need to be extra cautious as they have no right of way!

Alternatives and Some "Risks"

Taking a cab or a bus can be safer. Just be sure the cab is red with a yellow triangle. If you fall asleep on the bus, you could wake up without your baggage! The US State Department (TravelState website) has offered warnings that such crimes are on the increase. These seem relatively minor offenses compared to those of other countries in the region (notably Mexico). The wise traveler will always take precautions against theft. Other than the few wily pilferers and unsafe drivers, the rest of the Costa Ricans are very friendly, helpful and kind.

Nature's Hazards

Mother Nature and her creations are present in abundance in Costa Rica. It is wise to be aware of these things when one steps on the ground in Central America. Volcanoes are present in the country and should have their own natural warnings. However, there are always fatalities when people and volcanoes get together. If one visits Arenal volcano, it is important not to get to close to the edge or lip and fall in! The same goes if one decides to camp in a quarry or natural ravine. The camper could roll into a deep gully or river. Some do not survive.

The beaches do not have life guards. If one doesn't know how to swim against a rip tide, it is best to stay out of the waters. Bull sharks and crocodiles are known to inhabit these territories. Be on guard for these stealthy ambush predators!

Jaguars and stray dogs can also be found in the jungles. Jaguars do not usually attack humans. Stray dogs can be found just about anywhere. Do not approach them. Oh, and do not pick up or handle the colorful poison dart frogs. Just admire their beauty from a distance.

Matthew Kepnes has been traveling the world for four years and runs an award winning travel website that has been featured on websites like the Huffington Post, AOL Travel, and the New York Times. His site focuses on traveling on a budget and saving money. You can find out more about backpacking central America on his destination guide section including more Costa Rica travel tips.

Costa Rica Vacation and Travel Planner

Costa Rica is one of my favorite destinations - there is so much natural beauty crammed in this small country of 19,600 square miles. From the humble capital city of San Jose, located in the center of the country at about 3.600 feet above sea level, everything is close at hand - the Caribbean and the Pacific Coast are less than 90 minutes away, the lush lowland rainforests of the Caribbean slope are about 75 minutes away and the cloud forests and the volcanoes of the central highlands are less than 1 hour away. For a visitor who can afford only 7-8 days in Costa Rica, it is possible to explore a variety of habitats and life zones in a very short time period.

The following 8 day/7 night itinerary would be ideal for such a traveler:

• 
  One night in San Jose - if you arrive during the day, you may have time for a quick highlights tour of the city and some shopping


• 
  Two nights in the Caribbean lowlands - an opportunity to explore the lush rainforests of Costa Rica. Nature hikes, white water rafting, birdwatching etc.




Alternate: 2 nights in Tortuguero - well-established ecotourist destination located on the Northern Caribbean Coast. Wet coastal forests, very lush and green. Drive/take motorboat from San Jose/return by air. Important nesting area for both Green and leatherback turtles.




• 
  Two nights at Bosque de Paz - private nature reserve and lodge at about 7,000 feet above sea level, Cloud forests and montane rainforests, Secluded and quiet. Ideal for hiking and nature studies




Alternate: Two nights in Monteverde - popular ecotourist destination and mountain resort straddling the continental divide. Misty cloud forests, very lush and green with views of the Pacific Ocean. Somewhat commercial but there are many attractions in the area. Many lodges to choose from. Nice social scene.




• 
  Two nights La Fortuna - Popular resort area, and site of Arenal Volcano, most active volcano in Costa Rica

If you can afford to stay 3-5 days longer, I would add an extra night at Bosque de Paz and in San Jose and/or perhaps 2-3 nights in Manuel Antonio, a popular resort area with lush tropical landscapes and excellent beaches on Costa Rica's Central Pacific Coast. Alternate - any number of resort areas located on the Nicoya Peninsula (Northern Costa Rica) - Ocotal, Playa Tamarindo, Playa Samara or Nosara.

For your information, a variety of tour packages to Costa Rica are offered by Calypso Island Tours, with themes ranging from turtle watching to butterfly gardens. All these tours are fully customizable.

Bus Goldberg is a seasoned world traveler and the director of Calypso Island Tours, a travel company that specializes in botanical adventures and nature tours to such diverse destinations as Costa Rica, Thailand and the Caribbean. He also maintains his own travel blog, Calypso Island Chronicles which features insightful commentary on traveling in the tropics and ecotourism as well as destination tips, travel anecdotes and humor.

Chile Travel Destinations & Places to Visit in Chile

A country in South America, Chile totally reflects the beauty of nature. The country is very well known for its improbable shape. It has an unusual geography of extreme zones which means geysers, mountains, beaches, forests and volcanoes. Chile is the perfect destination for the ones who are in search of wilderness and pure nature.Generally, this country is regarded as the natural wonderland.

Santiago is the capital of Chile. Vina del Mar, Easter Island, Arica, Curico, Iquique, Calama, La Serena, San Pedro de Atacama, Valparaíso, Torres Del Paine, Valdivia, Temuco, Puerto Varas, Puerto Montt, Talca, Concepcion, Antofagasta, Quellón, Chaiten, Chonchi, Ancud, Punta Arenas, Puente Alto, San Bernardo, Talcahuano are among the popular cities of Chile.

Santiago is not only the capital city but also the biggest one. Santiago offers tourists a number of attractions. Among these attractions there are Arms Square, Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, National History Museum, Coloured House, Moneda Palace, La Chascona House Museum, Palace of Fine Arts, Church of St Francis, Statue of the Virgin, Santa Lucia Hill and much more. Moreover, Santiago offers attractive parks.

One of the major attractions of Chile is Easter Islands known as Rapa Nui and Isla de Pascua which has a mistery. The colossal rocks that are carved to resemble huge human faces make this place so charming. These are 887 huge monolithic stone statues called moai The mistery is that how these boulders were carved is unknown. Chile is also famous with Torres del Paine. It is also one of the best nature travel destinations in all of South America. In Arica there is the famous San Marcos Cathedral. Altiplano with its vast volcanoes and lakes is a place to see. Atacama desert in the North and Patagonia in the South call for adventure. The Andes provide outdoor sports such as hiking, skiing, trekking and climbing. The Lake District presents beautiful secenery.
Chile houses one of the driest places in the form of Atacama Desert. On the contrary, it has the coldest glaciers.

Chile owns a very long coastline which means that the country is a paradise for beach lovers. Viña del Mar is the most popular seaside resort of Chile. Concon, Arica and Renaca are also popular ones. Valparaíso which has been designated as World Heritage Site by UNESCO is a popular travel destination. It is the main port of Chile.

Chile also has very beautiful National Parks. Juan Fernandez Islands, Parque Nacional Laguna San Rafael, Reserva Nacional Cerro Castillo, Vicente Pérez Rosales, Volcán Isluga, Laguna del Laja, Bosque de Fray Jorge, Parque Nacional Puyehue, Lleu Lleu Lake, Lauca National Park, Rio Simpson National Reserve, Torres del Paine National Park are among these parks and places to visit while exploring Chile.

These are only some of the names of the destinations to visit. There are many attractions all of which are worth to see. To learn and get more information you can visit travelovideo.com. The videos of travelovideo will inform you about Chile.

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Travelovideo: Online Travel Videos - the place to watch travel videos online for free. Visit http://www.Travelovideo.com to view Chile travel videos and places to visit in Chile.

Holiday & Travel Guide For Bali

Beaches

Bali in Indonesia is a small island that can be pretty much navigated around by car in around an hour, but it has some beautiful beaches with many activities available. Like the popular Kuta beach, for example, where water sports like wakeboarding, surfing and swimming are offered and on the beach there are activities like kite flying as well as slingshot activities. But if you're looking for something more relaxing while you're lying on the beach then there are many pleasurable experiences to be had with wonderful massages, manicures and hair braiding. It's ideal for those of you wanting to bake in the sun and be pampered at the same time. For family fun there is a brilliant waterslide park called Waterbom. It is filled with exciting slides and exhilarating raft experiences, along with wall climbing and tubing. There is plenty to do there for a full day excursion in this tropically green and lush environment.

Sightseeing

There are so many highlights to this small island as it is crammed with culture and nature, from volcano tours and botanical gardens to amazing rice fields and trips to see the beautiful Hindu Temples that are dedicated to different spirits. These Temples are dotted all around the island. The court house Kerta Gosa is a fabulous building built in the 18th century that has now become quite famous for its bright and lavish ceiling paintings that depict the hell that awaits the law breaker. Some of the buildings in Bali are truly amazing and there are so many photo opportunities.

Shopping

As to be expected on such a small island, there are no malls, or international chain stores, but what there are is plenty of buying opportunities, because this small island has plenty of small shops selling designer fashion ware. There are also open air markets to tempt you with handmade clothing to your personal preferences, beautiful jewellery and many handcrafted items. Not forgetting the bright and wonderful art work. The prices are excellent, but a little haggling won't do any harm. You won't be going home empty handed, so be sure to leave some spare room in your suitcase.

Eating

There are many eating establishments in Bali, but very few selling typical Bali food like suckling pig with rice. Most of the restaurants and hotels sell international cuisine to appeal to the tourist market. Eating out in Bali is very cheap and not to be grumbled at as there are very few cheap places left nowadays. The outdoor markets sell some delicious fruits for you to taste and there are beach hut vendors selling snacks and drinks.

Nightlife

There are plenty of nightclubs and bars around this small island, but they don't open until around midnight and the best place to be at that time is in Legian; any of the taxi drivers in your resort will take you there. The clubs are very popular in this area, it is very well known as it's more upmarket, the place where everyone dresses to impress in their designer clothes. International imported drinks can be very expensive in these places though, so don't expect the night life to be cheap.

Happy Holidays

Trevor Butler, co-founder and owner of holidayholiday.co.uk, specialists in cheap holidays and last minute holidays worldwide.