The world's largest coral reef system, the Great Barrier Reef stretches almost 1500 miles into the Pacific from the tip of Queensland. Designated a Marine Park by the Australian government and a World Heritage Area by UNESCO, the reef is home to an extraordinary abundance of species and habitats. Snorkeling, diving and fishing are rightly popular along the reef, nowhere more so than on the Whitsunday Islands, where the silica sands and aqua waters of the Coral Sea create the perfect beach escape.
Australia’s third-largest city, Brisbane is the hub of Queensland culture, offering a peek at the past and a glimpse into the future. Visit the historic Windmill and Old Commissariat Store, built by convicts in 1828, or fast-forward to the present (and beyond) with a trip to the new Gallery of Modern Art. Mingle with locals atop Mount Coot-tha, cruise the Brisbane River to South Bank’s sandy beach on the City Cat and make sure to fill the cuteness quota at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, home to koalas and kangaroos.
Some of Queensland’s most remarkable sights require you to leave terra firma. Off its coast sits the Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef. Snorkel and scuba among 1500 resident fish species, or sail through the Whitsundays’ white-sand atolls. Back on dry land, you’ll find tropical escapes in the Daintree Rainforest to the north, rugged outback to the west and alfresco dining on the Gold Coast in the south. South East Queensland boasts mountain views, vineyards and ‘river city’ Brisbane.
Discover the best Lodges in Northern Territory including Darwin FreeSpirit Resort, Aurora Kakadu Lodge and Caravan Park, Walkabout Lodge, Litchfield Sunset, Cooinda Lodge Kakadu, Clearwater Island Lodge, Seven Spirit Bay Wilderness Lodge, Melville Island Lodge, Cobourg Coastal Camp, Arnhemland Barramundi Nature Lodge.
Discover the best Lodges in New South Wales including Mungo Lodge, SkyLodge Temora Accommodation, Regents Court Sydney, Narimba Motel, Bulahdelah Motor Lodge, Neutral Bay Motor Lodge, The George Hotel, Santa Fe Motel & Holiday Units, Darling Junction Motor Inn, Royal Hotel Capertee.
Australia is as varied as it is enormous-- it is home to thriving cities, vast wilderness, and earnest, friendly people. Sydney is for sophisticates, with its famous opera house and annual Sculpture By the Sea outdoor art exhibits. Port Douglas makes a great base for snorkeling or diving the Great Barrier Reef, and quaint lighthouses keep vigil along the beaches of Byron Bay. Melbourne is a hub of rousing cricket activity, and the limestone pillars of the Pinnacles Desert are a natural wonder.
Discover the best Lodges in Province of Vizcaya, Basque Country including Mendi Alai, Caserio Iruaritz, Mendi Alai, Casa Rural Ortulane, Casa Rural Arriortua, Pension Martinez, Hotel Santuario Urkiola, Casa Rural Ogono Mendi, Kerizara Baserria, Bide Ondo.
Ios embodies that classic Greek island ambiance—hillside clusters of blue-roofed white buildings, an amphitheater, golden beaches that spill into the sapphire sea. The spindly windmills of Ios are like something from a storybook, and a visit to the Tomb of Homer (yep, that Homer) is an exercise in awed contemplation. When the sun goes down, party it up at one of Ios’ many electrifying nightspots. Favorites are Astra Cocktail Bar and the (kind of insane) alt-rock scene, The Orange Bar.
If you come across "cipolla di Tropea"-flavored gelato, you might worry that you’ve forgotten your Italian… or are losing your mind. Don’t fret. "Cipolla" does mean onion, and yes, that is indeed onion gelato. The local red onions are so popular that they’ve even made it into dessert. Tropea, like so many towns on the Amalfi Coast, has a gorgeous cliffside setting. Beneath those cliffs, you’ll find beautiful, sandy beaches.
Discover the best Lodges in Ragusa, Province of Ragusa, Sicily including Turismo Rurale Cozzo Di Papaleo, Mastro Vanni - Urban Masseria, Vista sul Duomo, Chibao, Casale Clemente, Turismo Rurale Cozzo Di Papaleo, Capo Sud - Holiday Houses - Residence Ragusa, Beda Ragusa, Sagittarius Mare, Villa Nicol Affittacamere.
Discover the best Lodges in Castiglione del Lago, Province of Perugia, Umbria including Porsenna Resort, Morami, Antica Casa di Famiglia, Agriturismo Borgo Del Papa, La Pievaccia, Morami, Relais Alla Corte del Sole.
Rich in mountains, islands, glaciers, farmlands and fjords, Sogn og Fjordane is best known for Sognefjord, the longest in Norway and the second-longest in the world. One of its arms, Nærøyfjord, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as is the 12th-century Urnes Stave Church near Lustrafjorden, an excellent example of traditional Scandinavian wooden architecture. Jostedalsbreen, the largest glacier on mainland Europe, is home to a national park with several museums and visitor centers.
The most northerly of the Western Fjord counties, More og Romsdal is a land of rich and rugged terrain, including steep mountains, rolling valleys, many islands, some of the country’s longest waterfalls and, of course, the deep fjords that make the area so famous. Geirangerfjord, one of Norway’s most visited fjords, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and home to the spectacular Brudesløret (Bride’s Veil) and De Syv Søstrene (The Seven Sisters) waterfalls. Picturesque Alesund is the county capital.
When most people think of Norway, the Western Fjords area is what they picture, with its stunningly beautiful deep waterways carved through rugged mountains by ice age glaciers. Several of the world’s tallest waterfalls are here too, adding to the splendor. An incredible region for cruising, hiking, fishing, biking, rafting, canoeing and summer skiing, the region is also home to fascinating cities like Bergen, Stavanger and Alesund, each chock-full of unique and interesting urban activities.
Called Sørlandet, Norway's South Coast is known for its rocky coastline, its whitewashed houses and its idyllic archipelago. This warmest area in the country draws many resdents for a summer holiday. Kristiansand, the biggest city here and fifth-largest in all of Norway, has many lovely beaches, a very good zoo (Norway's most visited attraction) and a number of historic buildings. These date from the period of the city's 17th-century founding and are located in Posebyen, the old town area.
From its snow-capped mountains to its mighty fjords, from grand valleys to tranquil lakes and lovely archipelagos, the county of Troms is bursting with natural wonders. To cap it off, it also plays host to the northern lights. Tromso, the capital, is the gateway to the region's rugged beauty, but with 65,000 people it's also a surprisingly rich city culturally, with many interesting museums and sites (including the world's northernmost botanical garden) and even a pulsing nightlife.
Typified by steep mountains and the flat lowlands where they meet the Norwegian Sea, Nordland is known for its stunning scenery. The Lofoten Islands off the mainland are considered among the world's best for travelers and include unique attractions like the Lofotr Viking Museum at Borg. Saltstraumen near Bodo has the world's strongest tidal current. Further south, Vega has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its age-old lifestyle of fishing and eider duck down harvesting.
Home to both the midnight sun (with constant daylight from April to July) and the northern lights, North Norway is a rugged land of steep mountains, deep fjords and scenic coastline, making it a great place for outdoor adventures like dog sledding, snowmobiling and wildlife safaris. It's also the ancient home of the Sami people, 3,000 of whom live (along with 100,000 reindeer) at Kautokeino, Norway's largest municipality at over 3,700 square miles.
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