Australasia Travel
Is it true that everything in Australia is more expensive? When teachers from Canada, and USA arrive in Melbourne, Australia one of the first things they say is that they can’t believe how expensive things are. But is this just a bit of culture shock?; or have they not taken into account the exchange rate [...]
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3 things to NOT like about Footy/Australian Rules Football/AFL/Aussie Rules? What happens with the players off the field! It is something a struggle with each time I watch a game knowing the number of players who have had drinking or drug issues; rape charges & uncharged; are rude in public. As key role models for kids in Australia, [...]
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5 things to love about Footy/Australian Rules Football/AFL/Aussie Rules? If you like sports & athletics, this is the sport for you! A combination of rugby, soccer, basketball, football all put together with a heck of a lot of running (cricket oval size field). Fast pace, few interruptions – the game flows withonly stoppage if someone is [...]
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January – New Year’s Firework Celebration; Australian Open; Midsumma Festival; Melbourne Zoo Twilights; February – St.Kilda Festival; NAB AFL begins; March – Australian Grand Prix; Melbourne Queer Film Festival; Moomba Festival; Melbourne Food & Wine Festival; April – Australian Rules Football season begins; Melbourne International Comedy Festival; Bells Beach Surfing Championships; School holidays – if [...]
Continue reading about Calendar of festivals/events/activities to do in Melbourne, Australia
It was a historical day for Canada at the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games when we won 14 Gold medals – the most gold medals won by any nation in history! At the beginning of the games all the media could talk about was, “when was Canada to get a gold medal on home soil?” [...]
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It was a slow start but Canada has really taken our Olympic dreams to a new level. With 12 Golds and the possibility of 2 more, we lead the gold medal tally! Not only are we leading the Golds, but we have just tied the number of medals we have ever won in any Olympic Games. [...]
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It was nice to see the media responding to the complaints made on Channel Nine’s coverage of the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games. In our last post, we discussed the Australian coverage of the Winter Olympics. Unfortunately with the homophobic comments, and the patronizing behaviour of Eddie McGuire and Mick Malloy, there was very little reason [...]
Continue reading about Channel Nine responds to Olympic Winter Games complaints
What do people really think of Channel Nine’s coverage of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver? Australia is no different than most other countries in the world, where they show all their own athletes over and over again. As an ex-pat, this is frustrating because while so much sport is going on, all that is shown [...]
Continue reading about Channel Nine Winter Olympics Coverage after 1st week
How proud I am to be Canadian! The Opening Ceremonies of the Vancouver Winter Olympics was incredible. The messages, the voices, the people said it all. I doubt there was a dry eye amongst Canadians around the world and I am sure many others felt the pride we have for our country. I think that [...]
Continue reading about Vancouver Winter Olympic Games 2010 begin!
With only one day to go before the Vancouver Olympic Games begin, I sit here in Australia wondering if I will get to see any of it! In Melbourne, Australia the ads on Channel 9 are going strong but what does it really mean. The strangest part is when they proudly state that they will [...]
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About 45 minutes from Melbourne, Australia you will find this excellent hike up through a gorge with a number of stops for a swim. Definitely worth a day trip out of Melbourne, Australia and stop off in Bacchus Marsh for fesh fruits and vegetables (you can pick your own strawberreies, apricots, etc!) So for all [...]
Continue reading about Bushwalking Lerderderg Gorge from Mackenzies Flat, Australia
This is my 4th year in a row attending the Australian Open, and yesterday when I arrived (Jan 20th), I did notice significant differences from when I arrived for my first experience in 2007. The only thing they seem to have kept for fans, is the price – $20/night ticket, $29 for general admission day ticket. [...]
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Second tournament of the year and into the Round of 16 at the Australian Open! Justine Henin has been tested by Dementiava (5th seed) on Rod Laver Arena and then gritted her teeth to beat Kleybanova (27th seed) on Hisense Arena. Looking forward to a great match against Wickmayer in the Round of 16 at [...]
It’s that time of year where Melbourne, Australia comes alive with day and night action with the Australian Tennis Open. If your first thought is, oh I don’t like watching tennis, think again! It is an event not to be missed, not only because of the great tennis you can watch but also just for [...]
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We have all heard about the hole in the ozone but do you even notice it when you are in Australia? The answer is YES! It might take one day walking around in the sun, but that’s all that it will take! It isn’t like any other sun you have ever experienced so take precautions [...]
With summer approaching, Tasmania is the place to visit. So much hype is always made about the East Coast, but you will find when you venture to Tasmania, the beaches, the people, the food, and the adventure are all there. Where you should visit? Take the Spirit of Tasmania and arrive in Devonport with your [...]
It’s hour 28 and in 2 I should be home in Melbourne again after a 3 week visit to Denver and Toronto. I’m so relieved that two friends are coming to pick us up. At this point, I’m not keen to talk to another stranger or pay anyone else. I’m pausing at the Sydney Airport [...]
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After many trips to the Yarra Valley wineries, I think I have a fantastic route from Melbourne where you can get a bit of everything. Leave Melbourne and head past Yarra Glen to De Bortoli. Here you taste cheeses with your wines. Try the garlic goat cheese, yum! Don’t forget to experience the Sparkling Shiraz [...]
One of the Best countries in Asia… Hopefully, you’ve read about all the reasons I love Vietnam. Here are some things to be ‘weary’ of though, so these potential ‘surprises’ don’t disappoint you. Vietnam isn’t really ready for Western tourism… Toilets (mostly) have been upgraded to “W.C.” (Western toilets) and the few squatters that remain [...]
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I didn’t really hold back at all when I went to NZ: I did everything I wanted to do. There are a lot of tours to do. If you want to have a similar holiday to me (you’re pretty adventurous; you plan to do more than one tour in every location; and you plan to [...]
Continue reading about Traveling Tips–Traveling ‘on the cheap’ (New Zealand Focus)
Here are a few key terms and some points to note about accommodation in Oz and NZ (Australia and New Zealand): Self-contained: this is one of the Australasia’s best gifts to tourism. They contain a full kitchen (what you need to cook ‘with’, ‘in’ and ‘on’: pots, utensils, stoves/fridges). You will literally have everything you [...]
Continue reading about OZ-NZ Holiday Accommodation Terms and Info
Hostels are pretty great in NZ. They are clean and rather affordable. Their deal is pretty much the same as you would get in Europe. For $20-25, dorm rooms include continental breakfast, linen (depends), shared toilets–or you can get a double room with a private bathroom for about $50-60. If you’re after a double bed [...]
Continue reading about New Zealand Accommodation: Planning Your Budget
Top 10 Best Places to See/Things to Do: White water rafting down Kawarau River (LOTR Fans: Pillars of the King scene!) outside of Queenstown. This is great for all abilities and with two tours/day, you can easily get on one during your stay by booking at the “i” site. Despite the open-ability range, there was [...]
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