Start Your Australian Adventure - Cairns & The Great Barrier Reef from $898 round-trip Traveling the Vast Spaces Down Under Getting to the land down under is by no means a short trip from the United States – but well worth it to travelers who arrive and are soon in awe of the hospitality, fresh seafood and other culinary creations, local wines, amazing beaches, reefs, rainforests and the outback. There is so much to explore and enjoy that visitors do need to carve out at least two weeks to fully explore and there are a variety of ways to do so. The best time to visit Australia is typically in the spring and fall seasons (March – May; or September – November) when the weather is perfect for exploring and getting around this vast continent. Getting There The major cities that most travelers fly into are Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne – all great points for starting your journey. Sydney is Australia’s oldest best known city and filled with friendly people, world-class shopping, restaurants and culture. Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, is a winter escape for city dwellers so it does get crowded during June – August but the weather is extremely pleasant year round. Melbourne is a lively, multi-cultural city that with a lot to offer in terms of theater, art, music, shopping, food and nightlife – it's hard not to enjoy. For Adventure and Nature Enthusiasts Explore Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef with Qantas For a limited time, when you plan your adventure to the Great Barrier Reef, you can easily add Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Auckland to your journey and see more at no additional cost! Take advantage of Qantas’ network and depart Los Angeles or San Francisco from $898. Book by 2/27! Taxes & fees additional. Learn more Cruising Australia Since Australia is one massive island, cruising provides an easy way for exploring multiple destinations. Most Australian cruises sail in the fall and winter. Flying into a major port such as Sydney and then exploring for a few days before boarding a ship to see more of the continent is an excellent option. P&O Cruises Australia offers year round cruises from Auckland, Sydney or Brisbane. Cruises range from 2 to 28 nights through the South Pacific and sail year round. These cruises are the perfect accompaniment to an Australian land vacation. For a cruise-only experience, sail on Oceania’s Nautica from Singapore to Sydney. This 18-day adventure takes passengers through Indonesia, the Timor Sea, and the Great Barrier Reef before stopping in Australian ports including: Cairns, Townsville, Whitsunday Island and Brisbane. It’s an itinerary that would be hard to duplicate on land. Exploring by Rail Although Australia doesn't have an expansive or terribly convenient rail system for getting from place to place, there are several luxurious rail trips that will transport into small towns and scenic areas and make a nice side-trip The Ghan (operated by Great Southern Railway) travels from Adelaide to Darwin a two-day, three-night trip. Or, leave Sydney on the Indian Pacific for a four-night journey through rural Southern Wales and explore outback towns and cross into the Nullabar plain on the longest straight stretch of track in the world. Or, in Queensland, book a trip on the Tilt Train – a modern train which will rolls through coastal towns sugarcane fields and rainforests – and each seat is equipped with a monitor to an entertainment system. Driving If you want the flexibility of being able to drive yourself to various destinations, the island of Tasmania lends itself perfectly to exploring by car. Hertz has several rental car locations in Tasmania for those who crave more time outdoors consider renting an RV and staying in some of the many campgrounds. Driving tours of this wonderful island can be tailored around your interest – culinary, nature or along the coast. One of the most popular destinations in Tasmania is the town of Hobart situated on a lovely harbor blending history and a vibrant restaurant scene with spectacular views of Mt. Wellington. You may never want to leave! © For advertising inquiries, please visit our Web site, www.yourtravelinsider.com, © 2008 Your Travel Insider, published by Thomas, Townsend & Kent. All rights reserved.