Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
package tours to excellent golf courses
in major cities and holiday areas
around Australia. It has offices in Syd-
ney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth,
Cairns, and Queensland's Gold and
Sunshine coasts.
HORSEBACK RIDING
Horse-
back-riding operators are everywhere
in Australia. A particularly pleasant
vacation is a multiday riding and
camping trek in “The Man from
Snowy River” country in the Snowy
Mountains in New South Wales.
SAILING
The 74 islands of the
Whitsundays in Queensland are an
out-of-this-world backdrop for sail-
ing. And you don't have be an expert
sailor—the Whitsunday region is Aus-
tralia's “bareboating” capital. Bare-
boating means you can charter an
unskippered yacht and sail yourself.
Even those without a scrap of experi-
ence can do it, although it's best to
have someone on board who knows
aft from fore. Perth and Sydney are
mad about sailing; experienced sailors
can head to the nearest yacht club to
offer themselves as crew, especially
during summer twilight races. The
clubs are often short of sailors and
most will welcome out-of-towners.
SURFING
You'll have no trouble
finding a good surf beach along the
Australian coast. Perth and Sydney are
blessed with loads right in the city.
Other popular spots include the Gold
and Sunshine Coasts in Queensland,
the legendary Southern Ocean swells
along Victoria's southern coast, and
magnificent sets off Margaret River in
Western Australia. Don't take your
board much north of the Sunshine
Coast—the Great Barrier Reef puts a
stop to the swell from there all the way
to the northern tip of Queensland.
Loads of companies rent surf gear.
Beginner's lessons are offered at many
surf beaches. Remember, surf only at
patrolled beaches and never surf alone.
WHITE-WATER RAFTING
The
best rapids are the Class V torrents on
the Nymboida and Gwydir rivers
behind Coffs Harbour in New South
Wales. More Class V rapids await you
on the Johnstone River in north
Queensland, although they must be
accessed by helicopter. Loads of
tourists who have never held a paddle
hurtle down the Class III to IV Tully
River or the gentler Class II to III Bar-
ron River on a day trip from Cairns.
The Snowy River National Park in
Victoria and the Franklin River in the
wilds of Tasmania are other popular
spots. See also “Canoeing & Sea
Kayaking,” above.
AUSTRALIA-BASED
OUTFITTERS & OPERATORS
The Adventure Company
(
&
888/
SNORKEL
or 720/494-1530 in the
U.S., or 07/4051 4777; www.
adventures.com.au) runs day and
extended trips that incorporate all
kinds of activities—hiking, biking,
canoeing, rafting, snorkeling, kayak-
ing, scuba diving, sailing, balloon
flights, and four-wheel-driving—
mostly on the Great Barrier Reef and
in the Daintree Rain Forest and other
wilderness areas in North Queensland.
The company is based in Cairns.
Auswalk
(
&
02/6457 2220;
www.
auswalk.com.au) offers self-drive or
escorted accommodated walking tours
through picturesque parts of Australia
such as the Great Ocean Road in Vic-
toria, tropical Magnetic Island in
Queensland, and the Fraser Island
wilderness.
Tasmanian Expeditions
(
&
03/
6334 3477;
www.tas-ex.com) con-
ducts day trips and extended expedi-
tions featuring hiking, cycling, rafting,
abseiling, canoeing, sea kayaking, and
rock-climbing throughout Tasmania's
national parks and unspoiled rural
areas.
World Expeditions
(
&
415/989-
2212
in the U.S., 020/8870 2600 in
