<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/xsl/rss2html.xsl" type="text/xsl" media="screen"?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/scripts/wpcss/wiki/australiatravel/skin/spots/rss" type="text/css" media="screen"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"><channel><title>Australia Travel Wiki - Recently Updated Pages</title><link>http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/pageSearch/updated</link><description>Recently Updated Pages on http://www.australiatravelwiki.com</description><language>en-us</language><webMaster>info@wetpaint.com</webMaster><pubDate>Fri, 27 Jun 2008 02:05:31 CDT</pubDate><lastBuildDate>Fri, 27 Jun 2008 02:05:31 CDT</lastBuildDate><generator>wetpaint.com</generator><ttl>60</ttl><image><title>Australia Travel Wiki</title><url>http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/wikis/australiatravel/img/itm_headerSite.png</url><link>http://www.australiatravelwiki.com</link><description>Australia Travel Wiki: A community wiki on Tourism Australia. Learn about Australia's hotels and food. Also, take in Australia culture, attractions, and get maps of Australia.  </description></image><item><title>Australia Shopping</title><link>http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Australia+Shopping</link><author>littleco</author><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Australia+Shopping</guid><pubDate>Fri, 27 Jun 2008 02:05:31 CDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Calling all shopaholics!Recommend some of your favorite shopping finds--give as many details about where you found it, price, and link to the source, if you can.  <br><br><ul>  <li>  Have a question? <a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Australia+Shopping" target="_self">Ask the community for tips and advice.</a>   </li><li>  Help build the page on <a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/My+Favorite+Shops" target="_self">My Favorite Shops</a>.<br></li></ul><br><table align="bottom" cellpadding="5" class="wp-border-all" width="100%">  <tbody>  <tr>  <td width="100%">  <h3>  Shopping in Sydney</h3>1. A roundup of shopping in <a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Sydney%27s+Paddington+District" target="_self">Sydney&#39;s Paddington district</a>.  <br><br>2. <a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Design+from+Down+Under" target="_self">Design from Down Under</a>: <font size="2"><font size="2"><br><br><br>3.<font size="3"> <a class="external" href="http://classifieds.ozfreeonline.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Oz Free Online Classifieds</a> - free ads posting site</font><br><br>4. <br><br>5. <br></font><br><br></font></td></tr>  <tr>  <td width="100%">  <h3>   Aboriginal Art</h3>Dot painting, digeridoos, boomerangs, weaving, etc.  <br>Recommend places to find art, and any buying tips:<br><br>1. While most traditional art is available online as well as at authorised outlets, authenticity is perhaps the most critical issue facing the industry. Without authentication from a reputable supplier, art purchased now may not appreciate in value in years to come. The National Indigenous Arts Advocacy Association Inc. represents and protects the rights of Indigenous people and ensures that you are buying the genuine product.<br><br>2. <br><br>3. <br></td></tr>  <tr>  <td width="100%">  <h3>  Wool products</h3>Sweaters, slippers, blankets, suits and more.  <br><br>1. <font color="#ff0000">If you travel there, you should buy goods related to lanolin or wool. It&#39;s worth to do that! Trust me!</font> <font size="2">  </font><br><br>2. <br><br>3. <br></td></tr>  <tr>  <td width="100%">  <h3>  Designer Fashion</h3>Collette Dinnigan&#39;s label is favored by Nicole Kidman, Kate Blanchett, Kylie Minogue, and many others.  <br><br>1. <br><br>2. <br><br>3. <br></td></tr>  <tr>  <td width="100%">  <h3>  Shopping in Melbourne</h3>1.   <br><br>2. <br><br>3. <br></td></tr>  <tr>  <td width="100%">  <h3>  Shopping in Perth</h3><br>1. <br><br>2. <br><br>3. <br></td></tr>  <tr>  <td width="100%">  <h3>  Shopping in Cairns</h3>1.   <br><br>2. <br><br>3. <br></td></tr></tbody></table><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><h3>  <br></h3><br><br><br><hr size="1"><br/>]]></description></item><item><title>Jaipur Holidays</title><link>http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Jaipur+Holidays</link><author>niraj_3470</author><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Jaipur+Holidays</guid><comments>tour for rajasthan</comments><pubDate>Thu, 05 Jun 2008 12:39:44 CDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[<br> <br><div class="wikiWrapper">  <div><a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://jaipurholidays.wetpaint.com/page/Home" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="HOME"><font color="#497fb1">HOME</font></a> <a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://jaipurholidays.wetpaint.com/page/Rent+A+Car" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Rent A Car"><font color="#497fb1">Rent A Car</font></a> <a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://jaipurholidays.wetpaint.com/page/Packeges" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Tour Packege"><font color="#497fb1">Tour Packege</font></a> <a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://jaipurholidays.wetpaint.com/page/Tour+For+Rajasthan" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Tour For Rajasthan"><font color="#497fb1">Tour For Rajasthan</font></a> <a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://jaipurholidays.wetpaint.com/page/Travel+Tips" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Travel Tips"><font color="#497fb1">Travel Tips</font></a> <a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://jaipurholidays.wetpaint.com/page/Heritage+Tours+Rajasthan" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Haritage Tour"><font color="#497fb1">Haritage Tour</font></a><br><br><b><u>Jaipur Travel Guide<a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://www.locateandtrade.com/lt2emailAdvertiser.jsp?ffid=14959&url=/feat?fid=2017" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> </a><br></u></b>Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, popularly known as the Pink City, was founded in 1727 AD by one of the greatest rulers of the Kachhawaha clan, the astronomer king - Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh. Jaipur has several tourist places e.g. City Palace, Jal Mahal. Jaipur is surrounded by the Aravali hills. The old city of Jaipur is enclosed within seven gates, the most important of which are Chandpol, Jaipuri and Sanganeri. Jaipur was colored pink to create an impression of red sandstone buildings of Mughal cities of that time. Jaipur city offers great opportunities for shopping. Bazaars chock a block with all kinds of goods from exquisite jewellery to dainty jootis (traditional leather slip-on shoes, decorated with colorful embroidery). Jaipur is also famous for precious stones, blue pottery, carving on wood, stone &amp; ivory, block print, tie &amp; dye textiles, hand made paper, miniature painting etc. Some of the important festivals of Jaipur are Kite festival, Teej festival, Gangaur festival, and Elephant festival. <br><br><b>You Must Experience</b><br><a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://jaipurholidays.wetpaint.com/page/Jaipur+City" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i><font color="#0000ff">Elephant Festival:</font></i></a> This festival is held every year at the Chaugan stadium on the day of Holi, the festival of colors. Beautifully decorated elephants participate in the royal procession. You can also experience an adventurous elephant polo and elephant race. <br><br><b>Tourist Places Of Jaipur</b><br><a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://jaipurholidays.wetpaint.com/page/Jaipur+City" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i><font color="#0000ff">The City Palace:</font></i></a> The City Palace complex is the major tourist attraction of Jaipur. The palace has a museum with a huge collection of costumes and armory of Rajputs &amp; Mughals. City Palace is wonderful blend of Rajput and Mughal architecture. <br><br><font color="#0000ff"><a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://www.locateandtrade.com/lt2emailAdvertiser.jsp?ffid=14959&url=/feat?fid=2017" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> </a></font><br><b>Hawa Mahal: </b>This &#39;Palace of the Wind&#39; (Hawa Mahal) is a part of the city palace. This is the most famous building in Jaipur. Built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, the Hawa Mahal is a remarkable structure. It is a part of the city palace. The Palace is a beautiful example of the Rajputana architecture, but there is an influence of Mughal style of architecture. This pyramid shaped five-storied building has number of small windows. It was originally built to enable ladies of the royal household, to watch the everyday life and processions of the city. The entrance to Hawa Mahal is from the City Palace side, through a stately door which opens into a spacious courtyard. There is a small archaeological museum here. Only the eastern wing has three more stores above, which are just a single room thick. The building, standing on a high podium, is a fifty-foot high thin shield, less than a foot in thickness, with small intimate chambers , which give this palace its unique facade. There are no regular stairs to reach the upper floors, but only ramps. Hawa Mahal provides some excellent views of the city and a bird&#39;s eye view of the Jantar Mantar (a medieval observatory and an important tourist place in Jaipur). Hawa Mahal is the best example of solid architecture. <br><br><a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://jaipurholidays.wetpaint.com/page/Jaipur+City" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i><font color="#0000ff">The Amer Fort:</font></i></a> Amer Fort is located on the hills just 11 km out of Jaipur. It was built by Raja Man Singh in 1600 AD, continued by Raja Jai Singh and then completed to its present form by Sawai Jai Singh in the eighteenth century. It is a blend of Hindu and Mughal architecture. <br><br>  <div align="right"></div><br><a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://jaipurholidays.wetpaint.com/page/Jaipur+City" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff"><i>The Nahargarh Fort:</i> </font></a>Located 6 km North West of Jaipur, on the Aravali Hills is the Nahargarh Fort. The Nahargarh Fort provides some stunning views of the city below both during daytime and at night. <br><br>  <div align="center"><br><a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://jaipurholidays.wetpaint.com/page/Elephant+Festival+in+India" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> </a><br></div><br><a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://jaipurholidays.wetpaint.com/page/Home" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="HOME"><font color="#497fb1">HOME</font></a> <a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://jaipurholidays.wetpaint.com/page/Rent+A+Car" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Rent A Car"><font color="#497fb1">Rent A Car</font></a> <a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://jaipurholidays.wetpaint.com/page/Packeges" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Tour Packege"><font color="#497fb1">Tour Packege</font></a> <a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://jaipurholidays.wetpaint.com/page/Tour+For+Rajasthan" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Tour For Rajasthan"><font color="#497fb1">Tour For Rajasthan</font></a> <a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://jaipurholidays.wetpaint.com/page/Travel+Tips" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Travel Tips"><font color="#497fb1">Travel Tips</font></a> <a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://jaipurholidays.wetpaint.com/page/Heritage+Tours+Rajasthan" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Haritage Tour"><font color="#497fb1">Haritage Tour</font></a><br>  <div align="center"><a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://jaipurholidays.wetpaint.com/page/Contact+Us" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Contact Us"><font color="#497fb1">Contact Us</font></a> <a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://www.locateandtrade.com/feat?fid=2017" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Book Now"><font color="#497fb1">Book Now</font></a> All cheques/ DD should be in favour of <b>New Beyond Look, </b>payable at Jaipur OR Deposit advance in our ICICI bank <b>A/c no. 001205023516</b><br></div></div></div><hr size="1"><br/>]]></description></item><item><title>JAIPUR HOUR</title><link>http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/JAIPUR+HOUR</link><author>niraj_3470</author><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/JAIPUR+HOUR</guid><pubDate>Thu, 05 Jun 2008 12:37:01 CDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[There is no abstract available for this page revision.<hr size="1"><br/>]]></description></item><item><title>Hotels in Queensland</title><link>http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Hotels+in+Queensland</link><author>Booh</author><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Hotels+in+Queensland</guid><pubDate>Wed, 04 Jun 2008 01:08:28 CDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ 			<h3>Recommendations from the people who&#39;ve been there<br></h3>This page of the wiki is designed especially for travelers to connect about places to stay in Queensland. The way it works: <br><br><ul><li>If you&#39;ve stayed at a memorable hotel, inn, or b&amp;b during your travels, copy and paste the blank template to this page and tell why you want to recommend it. </li></ul><br><ul><li>If you&#39;re looking for a place to stay, start your research here and get a tip from other travelers!<br><br></li><li>Have a question about staying in Queensland? <a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Hotels+in+Queensland/thread" target="_self">Ask the community for advice and tips.</a><br></li></ul><br><h3>THE TEMPLATE:<br></h3>  <b>Name of Establishment:</b> (insert name)<br><b>City: </b>(insert city)<br><b>Neighborhood:</b> (if it&#39;s in a large city, this is helpful to know)<br><b>Phone: </b><br><b>Web address: </b>(link to it here)<br><b>Why you&#39;re recommending it: </b>(write a few sentences about why you liked it: location? service? views?)<br><b>Cost per night:</b> (Approximate cost; specify Australian or U.S. dollars)<br><b>Recommended by:</b> (insert your wiki user name here)<br><br><table align="bottom" cellpadding="3" class="wp-border-all" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td width="100%"><br></td></tr></tbody></table><br> <h3>THE LISTINGS:</h3> <b>Central Brunswick Apartment-Hotel</b><br><b>Brisbane, Queensland</b><br>455 Brunswick Street,Fortitude Valley<br><font color="#000000" face="arial" size="3"><font face="Verdana" size="2">+61 7 3852 1411</font></font><br><a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://www.centralbrunswickhotel.com.au" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.centralbrunswickhotel.com.au</a><br>Location is just excellent for business travelers since it is only a few minutes away from the CBD.<br>Cost per night:AUD 115 | Best Rates on Official Website<br>Recommended by: bright_sunshine<br><br><b>Villa Vaucluse Apartments<br>Cairns, Queensland</b><br>141 Grafton Street, Cairns, Queensland 4870 Australia<br>+61 7 4051 8566 <br><a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://www.villavaucluse.com.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.villavaucluse.com.au/</a><br>It offers personalized tour arrangements for FREE!<br>Cost per night:AUD 169/night | Best Rates on Official Website<br>Recommended by: bright_sunshine<br> <br><b>Hotel Gloria in Springwood, Queensland</b><br><b>Springwood, Queensland</b><br>14 Carol Avenue Springwood, Queensland, Australia<br>61 7 3387  6000<br><a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://www.hotelgloria.com.au" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.hotelgloria.com.au</a><br>It&#39;s a good choice for business-related accommodation, or even for the holidays. Newly-built and well-maintaned property.<br>Cost per night: AUD 120 | Best Rates on Official Website<br>Recommended by: bright_sunshine<br><b><br>Esplanade Apartments<br>Cairns, Queensland</b><br> Williams Esplanade, Palm Cove, Cairns, QLD 4879<br> 1800 788 155<br>(07)4059 1234<br> <a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://www.rockfordesplanade.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.rockfordesplanade.com</a><br>  20-minute drive from Cairns airport. Magnificent ocean, pool and mountain views <br>Cost per night: AUD 158.00 | Best Rates on Official Website<br> Recommended by: booh<br> <br><b>Quality Hotel Sheridan Plaza</b><br><b>Cairns, Queensland</b><br>295 Sheridan Street, Cairns, QLD 4870<br><font face="Arial" size="2">(07) 4031-6500 </font><br><a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://www.sheridanplaza.com.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.sheridanplaza.com.au/</a><br>It is affordable but with pleasant, luxury-style service.<br>Cost per night:AUD 125 | Best Rates on Official Website<br>Recommended by: bright_sunshine<br><br><b>Barbizon Executive Apartments<br>Brisbane, Queensland</b><br>491 Wickham Terrace, Spring Hill Brisbane Qld 4000<br><font color="#000000" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">07                                3833 6500<br><a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://www.barbizonapartments.com.au" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><font size="3">http://www.barbizonapartments.com.au</font></a><br></font>Well-serviced apartments that offer accommodation for both long and short-term stay.<br>Cost per night:AUD 148 | Best Rates on Official Website<br>Recommended by: bright_sunshine<br><table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" height="23" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td width="50%"><br></td>                             <td width="50%"><br></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Story Apartments<br>Brisbane, Queensland</b><br>89 Lambert Street, Kangaroo Point 4169. Queensland.<br><font color="#000000">+61 7 3392 1300<br><a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://www.storyapartments.com.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.storyapartments.com.au/</a></font> <br>It is near the Brisbane CBD and offers accommodation for both short and long-term stay.<br>Cost per night:AUD 209 | Best Rates on Official Website<br>Recommended by: bright_sunshine<br><br><b>South Side Inn<br>Cairns, Queensland</b><br>446 - 452 Mulgrave Road, Cairns<br>(07) 4033 7722<br><a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://www.southsideinn.com.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.southsideinn.com.au/</a><br>Ideal for bothe leisure and corporate traveler<br>Cost per night:AUD 90 | Best Rates on Official Website<br>Recommended by: bright_sunshine<br><br>  <b>Grand Mercure Esplanade<br>Cairns, Queensland<br></b> Williams Esplanade, Palm Cove, Cairns, QLD 4879<br> 1800 788 155<br>(07) 4055 3999<br> <a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://www.rockfordesplanadepalmcove.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.rockfordesplanadepalmcove.com</a><br>  Very nice hotel with breathtaking panoramic view of Palm Cove beach. Worth every penny.  <br> Cost per night: AUD 209.00 | Best Rates on Official Website<br> Recommended by: booh  <br><br><br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td colspan="1"><br></td></tr></tbody></table><br><hr size="1"><br/>]]></description></item><item><title>A Piece of Advice</title><link>http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/A+Piece+of+Advice</link><author>mingis</author><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/A+Piece+of+Advice</guid><pubDate>Sun, 01 Jun 2008 08:33:47 CDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ 			When you&#39;re traveling internationally, a little advice goes a long way. If you learned something the hard way, leave a tip or trick here for other travelers Down Under. <br><br>1. We found it really difficult to find a decent second-hand campervan, we had to trawl the hostel notice boards and reply to ads that were weeks out of date. As a result I recently set up a website where backpackers can buy and sell their vehicles for free, check it out at: <a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://www.vanexchange.com.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.vanexchange.com.au</a><br>2. <b>Black flies in the Outback: </b>I wish I had known about the black flies that swarm around you in the Outback (and also in Sydney, which surprised me!). They are super annoying, and I would have brought some bug spray or a face net with me. Anyone have ideas on how to deter them?! --heidianna<br>3.   I was wadering around central Sydney in January a few years ago, plagued by the darn things!  They didn&#39;t seem to be bothering anyone else.  I asked a local.  He advised &quot;Bushman&quot; Bug repellant and sunscreen.  It worked like a charm!  --daveandmelanie<br>4. <br>5. <br><br><hr size="1"><br/>]]></description></item><item><title>Australia Travel Wiki | Explore Australia</title><link>http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Australia+Travel+Wiki+%7C+Explore+Australia</link><author>aussiebel</author><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Australia+Travel+Wiki+%7C+Explore+Australia</guid><pubDate>Wed, 14 May 2008 18:43:24 CDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[<table align="bottom" cellpadding="3" class="wp-border-none" width="100%">  <tbody>  <tr>  <td width="100%">  <font size="4">Explore </font><b>...</b> Australia | <font size="4">Share ... </font>your Aussie travel stories | <font size="4">Connect </font><b>...</b> with like-minded travelers <br><table align="bottom" cellpadding="3" class="wp-border-none" width="100%">  <tbody>  <tr>  <td align="middle" width="25%">  <div align="center">  <font size="2"><a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Beaches" target="_self"> </a></font></div><a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Beaches" target="_self">Australian Beaches</a>   </td>  <td align="middle" width="25%">  <a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Australian+Outback" target="_self"><font size="2"> </font></a><br><font size="2"><a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Australian+Outback" target="_self">Australian Outback</a></font></td>  <td align="middle" width="25%">  <font size="2"><a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Australian+Cities" target="_self"> </a> <br><a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Australian+Cities" target="_self">Australian Cities</a><br></font></td>  <td align="middle" width="25%">  <font size="2"><a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Wonders+of+Australia" target="_self"> </a> <br><a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Wonders+of+Australia" target="_self">Wonders of Australia</a><br></font></td></tr>  <tr>  <td align="middle" width="25%">  <font size="2"><a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Aborigines" target="_self"> </a> <br><a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Aborigines" target="_self">Aborigine</a><br></font></td>  <td align="middle" width="25%">  <font size="2">  <br><a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Australian+Food" target="_self">Australian Food</a> <br><a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Australian+Wine" target="_self">Australian Wine</a><br></font></td>  <td align="middle" width="25%">  <font size="2"><a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Scenic+Journeys" target="_self"> </a> <br><a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Scenic+Journeys" target="_self">Scenic Journeys</a><br></font></td>  <td align="middle" width="25%">  <font size="2"><b>Contribute what you know to this wiki!</b> <a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/accountnew" target="_self">Sign Up</a> (<a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/#" target="_self">it</a>&#39;s fast and <a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/#" target="_self">free</a>)</font></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>  <table align="bottom" cellpadding="5" class="wp-border-none" width="100%">  <tbody>  <tr>  <td width="50%">  <h3>  Sign up for our eNewsletter</h3><font size="2"><a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://australia.ed4.net/enroll/signup.cfm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><font color="#660000">Click here to subscribe</font></a>. We&#39;ll keep you up to date on:</font> <font size="2">Hot deals, </font><font size="2">Latest airfares, </font><font size="2">Events, and </font><font size="2">Great vacation ideas</font>   <br><font size="2"><br></font>  <h3>  Featured Writer</h3><font size="2"><font color="black"><font size="2"><font size="3"> </font><font size="2">Max Hartshorne is the editor of GoNOMAD.com. He writes a </font><a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://www.gonomad.com/readuponit" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><font color="#800080">daily blog</font></a><font size="3"><font size="2"> about the people he meets on his travels and his work as the owner of the GoNOMAD Cafe in South Deerfield, Massachusetts.</font> </font></font></font></font>  <br><br><font size="2">Follow Max on his travels to Melbourne, the City of Arts, Sport and Fun. </font><a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Melbourne%2C+Australia%3A+The+City+of+Arts%2C+Sport+and+Fun" target="_self"><font size="2">Read more</font></a><font size="2">...</font><br><br><h3>  Been There, Done That? </h3><a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Been+there%2C+done+that%21" target="_self"> </a><font size="2">If you&#39;ve been to Australia, we want to hear from you! Add your $.02 to any of these pages:   <br><br></font><br><ul>  <li>  <font size="2"><a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Wiki+Photo+Album" target="_self"><font color="#660000">Wiki Photo Album</font></a>: Add <font color="#000000">your snaps to this free-form vacation album</font><br></font></li>  <li>  <font size="2"><a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/My+Vacation+Down+Under" target="_self"><font color="#660000">My Vacation Down Under</font></a>: Your Aussie travelogue, wiki-style</font> </li>  <li>  <font size="2"><a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Vacation+Videos" target="_self"><font color="#660000">Australia Videos:</font></a> If <font color="#000000">it&#39;s a video and it&#39;s</font> related to Australia this is where <font color="#000000">it goes</font>!</font></li></ul><br><br><h3>  Travel + Leisure Articles <i><br> </i></h3><font face="Helvetica" size="2">T</font><font face="Helvetica" size="2">he editors and writers of <i>Travel + Leisure</i> are among the most reliable sources in the travel industry. Read about their favorite places to eat, drink, shop and play Down Under. </font>  <br><br><br><ul>  <li>  <font color="#660000" face="Helvetica" size="2"><a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/The+Islington,+Tasmania" target="_self">The Islington, Tasmania</a></font> </li>  <li>  <font size="+0"><font face="Helvetica" size="2"><a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Melbourne" target="_self"><font color="#660000">Melbourne</font></a><font color="#660000">, Shaken, not Stirred</font></font></font> </li>  <li>  <font size="+0"><font face="Helvetica" size="2"><a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Byron+Bay" target="_self"><font color="#660000">Making Waves Down Under</font></a><br></font></font></li></ul>  <h3>  </h3></td>  <td width="50%">  <h3>  Travelogue of the Month</h3>  <h3>  <font size="3"> <a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/One+week+in+Southeast+Queensland" target="_self"><font color="#660000" size="2">An AussieWeek in South East Queensland</font></a></font></h3><font size="2">You don&#39;t need a lot of time or money to visit Australia, and you shouldn&#39;t consider it a &quot;trip of a lifetime.&quot; It&#39;s a large country best viewed many times, focusing on one area per visit.</font>   <br><br><font size="2">From the West Coast of the U.S., a flight to Australia is about as long as one to Europe, but once there, you&#39;ll find a better value for your dollar. </font><a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/One+week+in+Southeast+Queensland" target="_self"><font size="2">Read more</font></a><font size="2">...</font><br><br><br><h3>  Help Build the Travel Guides!</h3><font size="2">There&#39;s so much to see and do Down Under--help out a fellow <font color="#000000">traveler</font> by adding what you know to pages on:   <br><br><br></font>  <div align="left">  <ul>  <li>  <font color="#660000" size="2"><a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Sydney+&+New+South+Wales" target="_self">Sydney &amp; New South Wales</a></font> </li>  <li>  <font color="#660000" size="2"><a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Melbourne" target="_self">Melbourne &amp; Victoria</a></font> </li>  <li>  <font size="2"><a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Northern+Territory" target="_self"><font color="#660000">Northern Territory</font></a> <br></font></li>  <li>  <font size="2"><a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Queensland" target="_self"><font color="#660000">Queensland</font></a> <br></font></li>  <li>  <font color="#660000" size="2"><a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/South+Australia" target="_self">South Australia</a></font> </li>  <li>  <font color="#660000" size="2"><a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Tasmania" target="_self">Tasmania</a></font> </li>  <li>  <font color="#660000" size="2"><a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Western+Australia" target="_self">Western Australia</a></font></li></ul><br><br></div>  <h3>  </h3>  <h3>   So many restaurants<br>So little time</h3><font size="2">Help sort through the best dining experiences in Australia. <a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Australian+Restaurants" target="_self">Submit</a> your dining recommendations. </font>  <br><br><font size="2">Or search Travel + Leisure&#39;s restaurant database</font><font size="2">.</font> <br><br><h3>  </h3>  <h3>  </h3></td></tr>  <tr>  <td width="50%">  <h3>  </h3>  <h3>  </h3></td>  <td width="50%">  <h3>  </h3></td></tr>  <tr>  <td width="50%">  <h3>  </h3></td>  <td width="50%">  <h3>  <div align="center">  </div></h3></td></tr></tbody></table><br><hr size="1"><br/>]]></description></item><item><title>Melbourne, Australia: The City of Arts, Sport and Fun</title><link>http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Melbourne%2C+Australia%3A+The+City+of+Arts%2C+Sport+and+Fun</link><author>aussiebel</author><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Melbourne%2C+Australia%3A+The+City+of+Arts%2C+Sport+and+Fun</guid><pubDate>Wed, 14 May 2008 18:16:58 CDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[<font color="#3b5a82"><br></font> By Max Hartshorne, editor of GoNOMAD.com. He writes a <a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://www.gonomad.com/readuponit" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">daily blog</a> about the people he meets on his travels and his work as the owner of the GoNOMAD Cafe in South Deerfield, Massachusetts. <br><h3>  <br></h3>  <h3>  <br></h3>  <h3>   Aussie Football Blends the Best of Three Sports </h3>I sat next to two young women on the long flight to Melbourne. One of the things they told me I should see while I was here was Australian Rules Football. So despite the jetlag, I took the tram down to Melbourne Cricket Grounds and soon I was holding a beer, chomping on a meat pie and watching the action.   <br>It&#39;s a fun game that to me blends many of the best aspects of other sports. It has football&#39;s laterals and punts, soccer&#39;s precision passing and nonstop action, and rugby&#39;s tackling and shirt grabbing. <br><br>The action takes place in a large circular field, with four posts on either end. The men jump high to grab at the ball, which is bounced hard off the grass and then they begin lateralling, punting and passing the ball trying to get in position to boot it through the uprights.<br><br>The fans are part of the fun. Most of them were dressed in team colors, including the sponsorship logos, and are a raucous bunch, waving flags, singing songs, and drinking big cups of beer cheering everything going on down on the field. <br><br>With my $20 ticket, I was relegated to the high stands up on the fourth level, where the view of the field is excellent.<br>Collingwood was victorious on this Sunday game against Richmond, and when the game let out, forty thousand rabid fans all made their way to the trams, which were mobbed. But everything sorted out nicely, and I had enjoyed my first game of AFL football here on a crisp fall day in Australia.<br><br><h3>  The Twinkling of Glasses Mark&#39;s Melbourne&#39;s Prosperity </h3> Melbourne has the prosperous feel of a city on the up and up. I got this sense right after we got off the plane and stood in a line waiting for customs. As a cute blond Labrador was walked through the line, sniffing every passenger&#39;s feet and luggage, posters up on the wall described the multi-billion dollar upgrade going on at the airport, with new terminals, parking and jetways that will accommodate the biggest plane ever built, Airbus&#39; A380.   <br><br>Last night I walked home from dinner at Taxi, an upscale Australian/Japanese restaurant where glasses of wine were priced at $12-17 each, with no shortage of takers. Entrees, (that&#39;s what they call appetizers here) were priced at about $20-25 and &#39;Mains&#39; scaled up to about $45 or $55. I picked a wild Barramundi filet, which was crispy and buttery inside. This fish is farmed in Massachusetts, but the wild variety was more flavorful. <br><br>I sat at the bar and tried to get the waiter to explain the rules of Australian football. But he said that you either know art or football around here, and he fits the first category.<br><br>The walk through the busy and bustling streets showed a city full of people with money to spend on those $15 glasses of Chardonnay. That&#39;s always a good sign, full bars, people laughing and talking, sitting outside on terraces heated with gas heaters in the chill of fall here down under. There are cranes dotting the skyline, a new convention center being built and even the cabbie sounded proud of the way this city is shaping up and expanding.<br><br><h3>  &quot;I&#39;m Sorry&quot; Are Two Words That Mean Everything to Aborigines </h3>&quot;I&#39;m sorry.&quot; These words are everything to Australia&#39;s Aborigine community, and just a month ago, they were uttered by Australia&#39;s new liberal prime minister Kevin Rudd.   <br><br> For more than a decade, the conservatives have ruled, and they were not about to apologize for what the white man has done to those who were already living here. But as I viewed photos of the new PM saying these historic words to Parliament today at the Koorie Heritage Trust in Melbourne, Dean Stewart explained to me how much they meant. He calls it a cultural tsunami, and the facts bear him out.<br><br>We walked up a stairway and past a replica of a River Red gum tree. At one time these white barked trees stood tall all over the city. But the English settlers cut them down, and with them came very important parts of the Aborigine&#39;s lives. <br>Dean showed me where his ancestors, members of the Wamba Wamba about four hours north, once cut the bark to make a canoe. And the possums that lived in these trees provided the pelts for the possum skin cloaks, that every native man and woman wore to keep warm.<br><br>&quot;If you asked those kids over there playing football which tree is a river red gum tree, they&#39;d have no idea. Nor would they know the sound of the Magpie Lark. But these things were engrained in the native people&#39;s mind. This tree provided everything, from painkillers to bark for canoes, to oil for their skin, to honey for food.<br><br>Dean turned to me and said his grandfather had played for the Australian football team that won the championship. Yet when the census was taken back then, just two generations back, native peoples were not counted as part of the humans who lived here. <br><br>&quot;It wasn&#39;t until 1967 that Aborigines were allowed to vote, and were actually counted.&quot; He said this with a tolerant sort of incredulity that made his point eloquently.<br><br> He teaches school children about the more than 250 different languages that the original people here once spoke. So many of them were killed, on Tasmania there used to be a bounty for each native that settlers could kill. There was recently fossil evidence that put the age of the first aborigines here at 35,000 years ago. The English came in 1825.<br>Dean spoke excitedly about how part of the Royal conservatory a few years ago was replanted with indigenous plants, and the English ivy was torn out. Birds and bugs not seen in many years returned, sensing that this might be their new home. <br><br>As children planted the native plants, two huge predator birds swept over the garden, birds that hadn&#39;t been spotted in Melbourne in more than 40 years. They too, he said, must have sensed that the place was being returned to the way it was before the settlers changed everything.<br><br><h3>How Much Do Things Cost in Australia? </h3>  I had an chat with a man named Murray who runs Melbourne&#39;s Best Bicycle Tours yesterday. We sat by the Yarra river and sipped lattes and talked about how much people get paid here. Then we asked the waitress how much she made, and she wasn&#39;t at all shy. &quot;$18 to 20 minimum,&quot; she said. That&#39;s per hour. <br><br> I told her that at our cafe we have baristas who make between $8.50 and $11.00 per hour. But the coffee here is $3 minimum for a small, and I&#39;ve noticed that the drinks in bars are way higher, as are the menu prices. Everything here is racheted up higher, because wages are so much higher.<br><br>The whole system, said Murray, comes from the days when Labor ran the country. So wages are set much higher, and in this country there is no tipping. There are giant apartment buildings for the unfortunate, the crippled, and those who have no homes... and there is a safety net of health insurance that isn&#39;t like a complete HMO but covers the basics.<br>People work as waitresses and bartenders and at service jobs for careers, because the average wage is about $50,000 a year. That means they have the money to go out for dinner, and to pay a cover charge of $32 to see a comedy show, or spend $89 for a bike tour. <br><br>It all works well for Aussies, but not as well for Americans, since we exchange our dollars for basically the same amount of Aussie dollars. But we are used to adding twenty percent on top of everything, so it&#39;s closer than we think.<br>One thing that Murray was not pleased about was when he tried to take his kids to an American football game in the states, and was shocked at the $65 minimum ticket price. &quot;Here we can take the kids to a footie (Aussie football game) and it&#39;s a twenty for me and just $3 for them....so the whole family can watch the game for not that much.&quot; <br><br><h3>  The Wines Were Great But No &#39;Roos en Route </h3> Today I joined a group of about twenty wine enthusiasts for a trip to the Yarra Valley&#39;s wine country. The van drove down winding roads through wooded hills and then onto more wide open areas with rolling hills and mountains in the distance.   <br>It was a gorgeous, sunny, fall day and spirits were high as we got to know each other across the aisle of the van.<br><br>asked the mostly Aussie busmates about sports in Australia. I told them about how much fun I had at the AFL game on Sunday. Most of them, being from near Sydney, didn&#39;t share the Melbournian love of this game, they said that cricket was the really dominant sport in Oz. <br><br>&quot;Netball is huge,&quot; they added. I had never heard of this game, but they told me that girls play it and it involves a basket and no backboard, and requires a lot of passing and shooting. There are two kinds of rugby here, union and league. The union is the pro game that is on TV, the league is a lower level version. &#39;Footy&#39; is what everyone in Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and everywhere but Sydney loves.<br><br>The hills here were quite green, owing to a few inches of rain that had fallen recently, but it was clear seeing the shrunken ponds that a serious drought was still ravaging the country. <br><br>More than sixty wineries are spread out through this vast valley, and we got a chance to sample some interesting wines like sparkling red. It&#39;s better than it sounds, but we can&#39;t buy this variety, from Chandon, in the states. <br><br>Here too, I learned that screw tops are becoming more and more popular, as winemakers have discovered that the metal tops avoid cork rot that can spoil good wines.<br><br>Our host, Nick Johansen is an avid wine lover who made the trip a lot of fun with light-hearted banter and constant jabbing at the residents of other states. &quot;We have few interstate rivalries here, you can tell,&quot; he told me with a laugh.<br>Under his tutelage, we learned that swirling the glass loosens the molecules in the wine and brings out the aromas; that letting wine breathe is basically meaningless, and we perfected our sipping, sucking and swirling techniques. <br><br>It was a great way to get to know about wines and the only thing missing was a chance to see a kangaroo... The only one we spotted, I missed; it was munching grass in a field by the road. Damn! <br><br><h3>  The Convent is Just the First of Tina&#39;s Many Grand Plans </h3>  Tina Banitska paused for a moment, feeling a bit emotional when she took me through her 15-year labor of love called The Convent in Daylesford, Victoria. &quot;Excuse me,&quot; she said, sensing that I could tell this made her emotional. She grabbed my arm and continued, &quot;I get this way sometimes, Max,&quot; she said. I could totally relate and fell in love with this amazing woman the moment I met her. <br><br><br> To know Tina is to walk through this sprawling converted 1860s convent, a project of immense proportions that began two decades back when she saw the place from a distance. She knew she had to have it, and it wasn&#39;t until years later that she made her dream a reality. <br><br>Tina is a warm person, who says your name and reaches out and touches you to make her point. The scale of what she&#39;s built here is impressive -- seven beautifully sunny art galleries, a restored chapel, a large retail store, a cafe, a lounge bar and function rooms that accommodate large weddings. Oh, and gorgeous gardens, restored original nun&#39;s quarters, and her dynamic personality that radiates confidence, her belief in the power of the arts, and in the goodness of people to help her make it all work.<br><br>She has 45 fulltime employees -- gardeners, chefs, clerks, baristas, sales help and assistants, and she gives them all the power and confidence to do their jobs without her meddling. As we sipped chardonnay in the Altar Bar, she told me how glad she was that I came, with a flattering amount of conviction. I was too.<br><br>&quot;I didn&#39;t know anything about finance,&quot; she explained, and when she signed up for a multimillion dollar mortgage at 18 percent interest, most people would have balked. But again, it&#39;s that belief, her sincere belief that creating a place where artists can show their work, and in putting such love into the restoration, and the attention to detail, it comes back to that old saying, &quot;If you build it they will come.&quot; And they sure do!<br><br>The stairway bannisters are welded to create a piece of art, as are the details of the crenalations and stained glass windows. The massive structure begins first with Victorian style tower, then the middle section with another tower is Romanesque, and finally the side devoted to the function rooms has a modern tower. Yet they blend together and stand out on the tall hill overlooking Mount Franklin. <br><br>There are acres of polished light wood floors, and a chapel that&#39;s perfectly restored, an excellent location for weddings. She brings in more than 120 of them a year, many from overseas couples who hear about her venue and come all the way to this town outside of Melbourne to tie the knot.<br><br>&quot;I&#39;ve got a secret to tell you,&quot; she whispered, sipping her wine and smiling. &quot;I&#39;ve bought another convent, it&#39;s five times as big as this one.&quot; This new project will also take millions in loans, and despite the daunting challenge, you just know that Tina will make it all work out.<br><br>&quot;I want to begin an artist mentoring program, where we teach artists about the business of selling their work, so they can not only create art but make a living at it.&quot;<br><br>When she saw that this second convent was up for sale, about 35 minutes away in Ballarat, she stayed up all night writing a proposal. The nuns even agreed to finance part of the deal for her. Of course they did, she&#39;s Tina Banitska, and she believes it will all work out.<br><br><h3>  Getting to Know the Pleasure Region with Josh Oakes</h3>   Josh Oakes says he is raw. Raw as in new to many aspects of running a full time<a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://www.melbprivatetours.com.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff"> tour guide business </font></a>here in Melbourne. We met yesterday and he took me to a beautiful part of the country, the spa-focused region of the Macedon Ranges. Here, he said, the emphasis is on pleasure. There are mineral springs, thermal baths, hot tubs and massage therapists. There are also many restaurants that adhere to the ever more popular concept of 20-mile dining.<br><br>We stopped at an elegant inn called the Lake House, where the chef lists every vendor she works with in the back of the menu, with details about the delicious meats, produce, or other local product they offer. We dined on fresh trout with broccoli rabe, and in the garden we fed filet mignon scraps to a kookaberra bird, whose cries sound like a mocking laugh.<br><br>Josh told me about his and his wife&#39;s expanding business that caters to high-end clients, many of whom come from the US. They take people out and using all locally-raised guides, give them a taste of what&#39;s really delicious, impressive, and fun in Melbourne. They also take folks out to the hills to places like Daylesford and to the ocean on the peninsula. They&#39;ll cater their tour to whatever the client wants, including chartering private planes to spend an evening on a distant beach. <br>Comparing notes in the van back from the trip, we both had a lot of the same issues in common, and it was clear that business on either end of the globe are fraught with the same pitfalls, glories and hassles.<br><br><h3>  The Tiny Butterfly Club is Where Talent Begins</h3>In Melbourne, the arts are a seriously high priority. Whether it&#39;s public art in city squares, or nurturing the art of new clothing designers or performers, the arts are a big part of the experience of visiting here. Even the highways coming into the city are lined with gigantic steel posts, angling sideways, there just to make the city look nicer.   <br><br> Last night I met two men who have developed the country&#39;s most successful incubation center for new cabaret talent, and do it without a penny of government grants or other assistance. In a country where arts dollars flow freely, this is a big change. They prefer to make money with a jumping bar and sell tickets to the lucky few who can snap them up.<br><br>The Butterfly Club operates in a cramped Victorian apartment in South Melbourne, where guests stream for 600 shows a year. The one-hour cabaret performances are held in an intimate 50-seat theatre. Neville, the affable silver-haired gent in charge of the front of the house, welcomed me with a glass of wine as I mingled with the pre-show audience just before nine last night.<br><br>&quot;We bring these artists in and about two percent of them go on tour with us to the US, London, and other cities. We have discovered some major talents here and after they hit it big in larger venues, they come back and see us. We have an extremely sharp eye for real talent.&quot;<br><br>Inside the apartment, people stream back to a bar tended by a former ballet dancer and another young man who works as a photographer&#39;s assistant. <br><br>The one-hour shows are fine tuned, each progressive performance is tweaked to be as sharp as possible, and Neville pointed out that there&#39;s nothing like working such a small room without a mike. <br><br><h3>Strolling the Queen Vic Market and Watching Yawning Lions at the Zoo </h3>  Often I compare these journeys to eating tapas. There&#39;s a little bit here, a taste of that there, and you never really settle into a groove because it&#39;s time to go when that finally happens. <br><br> This week in Melbourne has been splendid, and I must say that Oz is as fascinating and fun as I suspected it would be. That&#39;s because I&#39;ve met so many Australians in my travels and they are the reason that this a great place this is to visit. <br>I got a chance to sit down with a travel editor at the Age, and a web marketing guy for Tourism Victoria. Both of them shared their insights and provided me with some details into the working business of travel here in Australia.<br><br>I had time after our two-hour stroll to the Queen Victoria Market (the world&#39;s largest), so I took the tram to the Melbourne Zoo. Most of the wild beasts were sleeping, but I did have fun watching the elephants take baths and caught some of the big cats in repose.<br><br>For my final night here I was joined again by Josh Oakes who brought along his lovely wife and business partner Susan. We had dinner in a casual Italian place called<b> </b>Mario&#39;s on Brunswick St, one where they go a lot on their own. It didn&#39;t have the high-priced menu that we&#39;ve seen so often downtown. Oh, and they didn&#39;t take credit cards.<br><br>Winding down in my giant hotel room, I did what a local Melbournian would do. I tuned in to the footy game on the telly, and watched the Western Bulldogs come back and beat the Essendon Bombers in a live match from the Telstra Dome. Getting ready for a long ride home.<hr size="1"><br/>]]></description></item><item><title>My Vacation Down Under</title><link>http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/My+Vacation+Down+Under</link><author>aussiebel</author><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/My+Vacation+Down+Under</guid><pubDate>Mon, 12 May 2008 14:13:15 CDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[<h3>  <a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Heidianna%27s+Oz+Holiday" target="_self"> </a>Travelogues, wiki-style</h3>This travel wiki wouldn&#39;t be complete without your pictures and videos. If you&#39;ve been to Australia in the distant or recent past, search your memories and your scrapbooks--we want to hear about your trip! You can help others who are planning their Australia vacations just by reminiscing about your Aussie travels.   <br><br><h3>  How do I put my trip on the wiki? </h3>Easy! Select the &quot;Add a new page&quot; link in the tool box at the right, and pull down on the template menu to &quot;My Vacation Down Under.&quot; Name your page, then save it. Fill out as much of the page as you want--and remember that pictures tell a thousand words!   <br><br><ul>  <li>  <a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Heidianna%27s+Oz+Holiday" target="_self">Heidianna&#39;s Oz Holiday. </a></li></ul>  <ul>  <li>  <a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Mike%27s+first+time+in+Australia" target="_self">Mike&#39;s first time in Australia</a>   <div class="noKids">  </div>  </li><li>  <a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Orion+Expedition+Cruise+-+Darwin+to+Broome" target="_self">Orion Expedition Cruise - Darwin to Broome</a>   <div class="noKids">  </div>  </li><li>  <a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Dream+Trip+Part+1" target="_self">Dream Trip Part 1</a>   <div class="noKids">  </div>  </li><li>  <a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Tony+%26+Andrea%27Fantastic+Trip" target="_self">Tony &amp; Andrea&#39;Fantastic Trip</a>   <div class="noKids">  </div>  </li><li>  <a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Pete%27s+Ozzie+Trip+%22Finally+made+it+%22" target="_self">Pete&#39;s Ozzie Trip &quot;Finally made it &quot;</a>   </li><li>  <a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/A+Bittersweet+Experience+-+Brave%2FSolo+Journey+to+Oz%21" target="_self" title="Kerche's 1st Solo Trip">Kerche&#39;s 1st Solo Trip</a>   </li><li>  <a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/From+Adelaide+to+the+red+centre" target="_self">From Adealide to the Red Centre</a></li>  <li>  <a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/One+week+in+Southeast+Queensland" target="_self">One week in South East Queensland</a></li>  <li>  <a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Judy's+2nd+Trip+Down+Under+2005" target="_self">Judy&#39;s 2nd Trip Down Under</a></li></ul><br><br><hr size="1"><br/>]]></description></item><item><title>Wildlife Coast</title><link>http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Wildlife+Coast</link><author>aussiebel</author><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Wildlife+Coast</guid><pubDate>Mon, 12 May 2008 13:49:23 CDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[<div align="center">  <table align="bottom" cellpadding="3" class="wp-border-all" width="100%">  <tbody>  <tr>  <td class="" width="33%">  <h3>  Details</h3><b><font size="2">Duration:</font></b><font size="2"> 8 days   <br><b>Closest</b><b> International Airport: </b>Perth<br><b>Area featured:</b> Western Australia</font> <br></td>  <td class="" width="33%">   </td>  <td align="middle" class="" width="33%">  <h3>  Build this page!<br></h3><font size="2">Help out other travelers interested in heading west by adding details to this page.   <br><br>Add a new page for a new itinerary in WA!<br><br><a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Wildlife+Coast/thread" target="_self">Questions &amp; comments.</a><br></font></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br><div align="right">  <font size="2">[return to <a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Australian+Tours" target="_self">Australian Tours</a>]</font><font size="2"><br><br></font></div><b>Day 1 - </b>Leave Perth and head north to Kalbarri as you commence your coastal adventure. Enjoy a tasty lunch en route before arriving in <b>Kalbarri </b>by mid afternoon. Take in the breathtaking scenery of the coastal cliffs.   <br><br>Check in to your resort style accommodation and enjoy an evening under the stars at one of the many dining experiences on offer. <br><br><b>Day 2 - </b>Spend the day exploring the river gorges of the <b>Kalbarri National Park</b>. Try one of the canoe and hiking tours for incredible scenery and in season wildflowers. There are also tours to the nearby sand dunes for sand boarding. <br><br>Return to Kalbarri township in time for a sunset horse ride along the foreshore of the Murchison River. Tonight dine at one of the local cafes or restaurants.<br><br> <b>Day 3 - </b>Continue the journey north to the <b>Shark Bay area</b> &ndash; one of only a handful of regions in the world to meet all four criteria for World Heritage listing and the only World Heritage Area in Western Australia. It is home to many rare plants, mammals and bird as well as colourful marine life such as the humpback whale, dugong, manta ray, turtle and dolphin. <br><br>Stop at <b>Shell Beach</b> where countless tiny white shells of the burrowing Bivalve have formed a beautiful white shell beach which stretch for miles - some deposits are as much as ten metres deep.<br><br>Arrive at <b>Monkey Mia</b>, an area world renowned for its visiting dolphins which interact with people. Enjoy a sunset cruise along the waterfront. Keep an eye out for manta rays and dugongs!<br><br><b> Day 4 - </b>Rise early for your dolphin experience. Almost every day as many as seven bottlenose dolphins visit the shore up to three times a day. These dolphins are known to the researchers and officers from the Department of Conservation and Land Management who have named four of them - Nicky, Surprise, Puck and Piccolo. It&rsquo;s believes that up to 20 other dolphins occasionally visit the beach. <br><br>Spend the afternoon visiting the research and interpretive facility, or take a local wildlife tour to <b>Peron Peninsula</b>. Tours travel though rolling red sand dunes, dense acacia shrub land, along spectacular cliffs and among mangrove trees. Some tours include Ocean Park where, standing on an island in the middle of a manmade lagoon, you are surrounded by sharks, huge fish and manta rays. <br><br><b>Day 5 - </b>Depart Monkey Mia for the pristine marine life at Coral Bay. <br>En route visit the Stromatolites, the oldest largest display of living fossils anywhere in the world. Scientists from as far as Israel, Poland and Russia have been here to study them and compared the find to that of a zoologist discovering a living dinosaur.<br><br>Arrive in Coral Bay by late afternoon and check in to your accommodation. There is a range of accommodation options available including a caravan park, backpacker hostels, self catering apartments and resort style properties. <br><br><b> Day 6 - </b>Spend the day snorkelling on Ningaloo Reef, which lies between Exmouth and Coral Bay. The <b>Ningaloo Marine Park</b> is one of the largest fringing coral reefs in the world covering 5,000 square kilometres and rivalling the Great Barrier Reef for fish and coral species. <br><br>The calm sandy beaches of Coral Bay are perfect for swimming, while just 20 metres from shore lies the reef and a large variety of colourful tropical fish. Snorkelling equipment is available for hire from nearby dive shops, or there area glass bottom boats operating daily tours. Snorkelling and scuba diving cruises to the outer reef are also available.<br><br>If you are visiting between mid March and mid June, enjoy the once in a lifetime experience of swimming with whale sharks. Each year, the area attracts whale sharks on their migration south. At more than 12-metres in length and weighing more than 11 tonnes the whale shark is the world&rsquo;s largest fish. Ningaloo is the only place in the world where whale sharks are known to appear regularly and in large numbers near-shore.<br><br><b>Day 7 - </b>Depart Coral Bay for the journey south and head towards the <b>Batavia Coast.</b> <br>The Batavia Coast offers a choice of great locations and facilities for traditional and relaxing ocean-side holidays with attractions like fishing, reef diving, surfing, wind surfing, yachting and unspoiled beaches. If you are travelling during wildflower season (July to November) expect to see some colourful displays on roadside verges. At Northampton, detour via the Chapman Valley Tourist Drive, one of the most scenic areas in the Mid West region. Stop at <b>Chapman Valley Winery</b>, Western Australia&rsquo;s most northern winery. Arrive in the city of Geraldton, the bustling hub of the Mid West. There are plenty of accommodation options to suit all budgets and requirements.<br><br><b>Day 8 - </b>Spend the morning enjoying some of the local sights, including the war memorial and lobster factory. Geraldton is one of the major lobster fishing areas of Western Australia. <br><br>Depart Geraldton for the Nambung National Park and the mysterious <b>Pinnacles. </b>The National Park features beautiful beaches, coastal dune systems, shady groves and Tuart trees and low heathland rich in flowering plants.<br><br>At the Pinnacles, limestone spires up to five metres high rise from the sand. Erosion has exposed this natural phenomenon, which in the early morning or afternoon light creates an eerie moonscape scene.<br><br>Continue the journey to Perth. <br><hr size="1"><br/>]]></description></item><item><title>Traveling Tips for Australia</title><link>http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Traveling+Tips+for+Australia</link><author>aussiebel</author><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Traveling+Tips+for+Australia</guid><comments>removed india travel info</comments><pubDate>Mon, 12 May 2008 13:46:41 CDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Everyone needs a little help when it comes to vacation planning. Here are some resources to get you started: <br><br><a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Know+Before+You+Go" target="_self">&gt; Know Before You Go</a><br>The basics of Australia travel: tipping, weather, visas, driving, and public transportation, and more. <br><br><a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Maps+of+Australia" target="_self">&gt; Maps of Australia</a><br>Find your way with this collection of links to city, regional, and state/territory maps. <br><br><a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Great+Deals" target="_self">&gt; Great Deals</a><br>Check here regularly for new ideas on special deals on traveling Down Under. <br><br><a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Ask+an+Expert" target="_self">&gt; Ask an Expert</a><br>Leave a question about traveling in Australia. The experts at Tourism Australia will be checking this page and replying to questions. <br><br><a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/A+Piece+of+Advice" target="_self">&gt; A Piece of Advice</a><br>What&#39;s the one piece of advice you wish someone had given you before you left for Australia? Share it here--and help out a fellow traveler.<br> <br><h3>  Can you help start a new page? </h3>We&#39;re looking for travelers who can start pages on:   <br><br><ul>  <li>  Books about Australia   </li><li>  Helpful websites and phone numbers</li></ul><br><br><br><br><br><hr size="1"><br/>]]></description></item><item><title>Wonders of Australia</title><link>http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Wonders+of+Australia</link><author>eguy</author><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Wonders+of+Australia</guid><comments>Rename</comments><pubDate>Thu, 01 May 2008 17:13:12 CDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[  Few places in the world have the range of nature from the familiar to the rare as the world&rsquo;s largest island continent Australia. <br><br>All the country&rsquo;s natural wonders have helped shaped Australia into what it is today. And Australians feel that its natural gifts are there to be enjoyed &ndash; whether it is snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef, taking a cultural guided walk around the great monolith that is Uluru with the land&rsquo;s custodians, bushwalking, trekking or picnicking.<br><br><ul>  <li>  <a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Intriguing+Natural+Wonders" target="_top">Intriguing Natural Wonders</a>   </li><li>  <a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Cape+Tribulation" target="_top">Cape Tribulation</a>   </li><li>  <a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Orpheus+Island" target="_top">Orpheus Island</a></li></ul><br><br><br><table align="center" cellpadding="4" class="wp-border-all" width="100%">  <tbody>  <tr>  <td width="100%">  <div align="left">  </div>  <div align="center">  <div align="left">  <h3>  Natural Wonders To-Do List:<br></h3><font size="2">Can you start a new page on a natural wonder in Australia? We&#39;re looking for additional content for this section based on your best experiences. Include as much of a description as you can, including photos, and any contact information or travel details that will be helpful to other travelers.   <br><br>Ideas for new pages: <br><br></font>  <ul>  <li>  <font size="2">Great Barrier Reef</font>   </li><li>  <font size="2">Uluru</font>   </li><li>  <font size="2">Kata Juta </font></li></ul><font size="2">  <br></font></div></div><br></td></tr></tbody></table><br><hr size="1"><br/>]]></description></item><item><title>Ask an Expert</title><link>http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Ask+an+Expert</link><author>eguy</author><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Ask+an+Expert</guid><comments>Moved from: Australia Travel Wiki | Explore Australia</comments><pubDate>Thu, 01 May 2008 17:07:11 CDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ 	<h3>  </h3> If you&#39;re thinking of traveling Down Under, you likely have questions. Maybe you need advice on driving in Sydney, or where to stay in Perth, or how to best experience the Outback... You&#39;re in the right place!   <br><br>This section is dedicated solely to connecting you with Aussie Specialists who can answer your questions and share with you their first hand knowledge and experience about traveling in Australia. <br><br><h3>  How It Works </h3><b>First:</b> Sign up for a free user name, and log into the site.   <br><b>Second:</b> Submit your question on this page by <a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Ask+an+Expert/thread" target="_top">posting a comment.</a><br><ul>  <li>  TIP: Make sure the box is checked that says &quot;Email me when someone replies to this comment.&quot;</li></ul><br>You will get an email sent to the address associated with your account once the question has been answered. <br><br><h3>  Check Back</h3>The questions and answers will be collected on this page to create an <a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Australia+FAQ" target="_top">Australia FAQ.</a><hr size="1"><br/>]]></description></item><item><title>Australia FAQ</title><link>http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Australia+FAQ</link><author>eguy</author><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Australia+FAQ</guid><comments>Moved from: Ask an Expert</comments><pubDate>Thu, 01 May 2008 17:06:57 CDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[<br><b>Q) Wet Season in the Top End</b><br>When exactly is the wet season in the top end of the Northern Terrirtory? Also can you still visit Kakadu during the wet seaon or is it totally inaccessable? <br><font size="1">posted by <b><a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/account/citizenmac" target="_top">citizenmac</a> </b></font><br><br><b>A) </b>From November to April is the Wet Season in the Northern Territory. moist monsoonal northwest winds bring high humidity and a rainfall which gives the wet season its name. Many areas in the Top End become isolated by the floods but you can still visit many areas. Visit <a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://www.travelnt.com/en/explore/kakadu/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><font size="+0">http://www.travelnt.com/en/explore/kakadu/</font></a> for more information on Kakadu and the top end.<br><font size="1">reply by </font><a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/account/TourismAustralia" target="_top"><b><font size="1">TourismAustralia</font></b></a><hr size="1"><br/>]]></description></item><item><title>Scenic Journeys</title><link>http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Scenic+Journeys</link><author>eguy</author><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Scenic+Journeys</guid><comments>Moved from: Australia Travel Wiki | Explore Australia</comments><pubDate>Thu, 01 May 2008 16:18:26 CDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ Australian&rsquo;s rail, road, sea and air journeys are the &ldquo;glue&rdquo; which connects and showcases our experiences and destinations. It&rsquo;s not about the hundreds of kilometres of distance to traverse or checking off all the places to see, but how you go about seeing it. <br><br>Whether travelling by plane, ship, rail or car, a journey within Australia will offer new experiences and new opportunities to meet the locals. Here are a couple articles to get you going:<br><br><ul>  <li>  <a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Great+Australian+Drives" target="_top">Great Australian Drives</a>   </li><li>  <a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Get+lost+...+or+found%3F" target="_top">Get lost ... or found?</a></li></ul><br><br><table align="center" cellpadding="4" class="wp-border-all" width="100%">  <tbody>  <tr>  <td width="100%">  <div align="left">  </div>  <div align="center">  <div align="left">  </div>  <h3 align="left">  Looking for your ideas &amp; inspiration!<br></h3>  <div align="left">  <font size="2">The wiki is seeking articles and tips on: </font><br><ul>  <li>  <font size="2">The Great Ocean Road, Victoria</font>   </li><li>  <font size="2">Driving from Melbourne to Sydney</font>   </li><li>  <font size="2">Sydney &gt; Canberra &gt; Coast</font>   </li><li>  <font size="2">Brisbane &gt; Sydney</font>   </li><li>  <font size="2">Darwin &amp; the Mareenie Loop Road</font>   </li><li>  <font size="2">The Explorers Highway</font>   </li><li>  <font size="2">Fraser Island</font>   </li><li>  <font size="2">etc!<br></font></li></ul></div><font size="2">  <br></font>  <div align="left">  <font size="2">Add a new page for a new journey, or <a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Scenic+Journeys/thread" target="_top">add a comment or question.</a></font></div></div><br></td></tr></tbody></table><br><div align="right">  <font size="2">See also: | <a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Public+Transportation" target="_top">Public Transportation</a> | <a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Maps+of+Australia" target="_top">Maps of Australia</a> | <a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Driving+in+Australia" target="_top">Driving in Australia</a></font></div><br><hr size="1"><br/>]]></description></item><item><title>Unique Australian Experiences</title><link>http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Unique+Australian+Experiences</link><author>eguy</author><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Unique+Australian+Experiences</guid><comments>Moved from: Australia Travel Wiki | Explore Australia</comments><pubDate>Thu, 01 May 2008 16:17:40 CDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ 			<br><table align="bottom" cellpadding="3" class="wp-border-none" width="100%">  <tbody>  <tr>  <td width="25%">  <div align="center">   </div>  <div align="center">  <a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Australian+Beaches" target="_self">Australian Beaches</a></div></td>  <td width="25%">  <div align="center">   </div>  <div align="center">  <a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Australian+Cities" target="_self">Australian Cities</a></div></td>  <td width="25%">  <div align="center">  <div align="center">   </div><a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Australian+Outback" target="_self">Australian Outback</a>   </div></td>  <td width="25%">  <div align="center">   </div>  <div align="center"><a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Australia%27s+Natural+Wonders" target="_self">  Australia&#39;s Natural Wonders</a></div></td></tr></tbody></table>  <table align="bottom" cellpadding="1" class="wp-border-none" width="100%">  <tbody>  <tr>  <td class="" width="33%">  <div align="center">   </div>  <div align="center">  </div>  <div align="center">  <a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Aborigines" target="_self">Aborigines</a></div></td>  <td class="" width="33%">  <div align="center">   </div>  <div align="center">  </div>  <div align="center">  Journeys</div></td>  <td class="" width="33%">  <div align="center">   </div>  <div align="center">  </div>  <div align="center"><a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Australian+Food" target="_self">Australian Food</a> <br><a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Australian+Wine" target="_self">Australian Wine</a></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br><div align="right">  <font size="2">[See also: <a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Australia+States+&+Territories" target="_self">Australia States &amp; Territories</a> | <a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Australian+Tours" target="_self">Australian Tours</a> | <a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Australian+Restaurants" target="_self">Australian Restaurants</a>]</font></div>  <div align="right">  </div>  <div align="right">  </div><br><hr size="1"><br/>]]></description></item><item><title>Hotels in Western Australia</title><link>http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Hotels+in+Western+Australia</link><author>eguy</author><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Hotels+in+Western+Australia</guid><pubDate>Thu, 01 May 2008 16:00:42 CDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ 			This page can help travelers connect about places to stay in the Perth and Western Australia. The way it works? <br> <br> <ul><li>If you&#39;ve stayed at a memorable hotel, inn, or b&amp;b during your travels, click EasyEdit, then copy and paste the blank template to the bottom of this page. Tell everyone why you want to recommend it. </li></ul>   <br> <ul><li>  If you&#39;re looking for a place to stay, start your research here and get a tip from the people who know--other travelers!</li></ul> <br> <ul><li>Have a question about staying in Perth and Western Australia? <a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Hotels+in+Western+Australia/thread" target="_self">Ask the community here.</a> </li></ul>   <br>     <h3>THE TEMPLATE:</h3>    <b>Name of Establishment:</b> (insert name)<br>   <b>City: </b>(insert city)<br>   <b>Neighborhood:</b> (if it&#39;s in a large city, this is helpful to know)<br>   <b>Phone: </b><br>   <b>Web address: </b>(link to it here)<br>   <b>Why you&#39;re recommending it: </b>(write a few sentences about why you liked it: location? service? views?)<br>   <b>Cost per night:</b> (Provide an approximate cost; specify if it&#39;s in Australian or U.S. dollars)<br>   <b>Recommended by:</b> (insert your wiki user name here)<br>   <br>    <table align="bottom" cellpadding="3" class="wp-border-all" width="100%">   <tbody><tr><td width="100%"><br></td></tr></tbody>  </table><h3>THE LISTINGS:    </h3>    <br>   <br>   <br><hr size="1"><br/>]]></description></item><item><title>Hotels in Capital Territory</title><link>http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Hotels+in+Capital+Territory</link><author>eguy</author><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Hotels+in+Capital+Territory</guid><pubDate>Thu, 01 May 2008 16:00:14 CDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ 			This page of the wiki is designed especially for travelers to connect about places to stay in the Capital Territory. The way it works? <br><ul><li>If you&#39;ve stayed at a memorable hotel, inn, or b&amp;b during your travels, copy and paste the blank template to this page and tell why you want to recommend it. </li></ul>  <br><ul><li>  If you&#39;re looking for a place to stay, start your research here and get a tip from the people who know--other travelers!</li></ul><br><ul><li>Have a question about staying in ACT? <a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Hotels+in+Capital+Territory/thread" target="_self">Ask the community here.</a> </li></ul>  <br>   <h3>THE TEMPLATE: <br></h3>   <b>Name of Establishment:</b> (insert name)<br>  <b>City: </b>(insert city)<br>  <b>Neighborhood:</b> (if it&#39;s in a large city, this is helpful to know)<br>  <b>Phone: </b><br>  <b>Web address: </b>(link to it here)<br>  <b>Why you&#39;re recommending it: </b>(write a few sentences about why you liked it: location? service? views?)<br>  <b>Cost per night:</b> (Approximate cost in Australian or U.S. dollars)<br>  <b>Recommended by:</b> (insert your wiki user name here)<br>  <br><table align="bottom" cellpadding="3" class="wp-border-all" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td width="100%"><br></td></tr></tbody> </table>    <h3>THE LISTINGS:</h3><b>Name of Establishment:</b> Hotel Kurrajong &gt;&gt; Boutique Hotel in Canberra<br>  <b>City: </b>Canberra<br>  <b>Neighborhood:</b>National Circuit, Barton ACT 2600 AUSTRALIA<br>  <b>Phone: </b>011 61 2 6234 4444<br>  <b>Web address:</b>http://www.hotelkurrajong.com.au/kurrajong.html<br>  <b>Why you&#39;re recommending it: <br>It is a boutique hotel, therefore everything is fine and nice. Service is excellent. Facilities are complete. Their location is peaceful.<br></b>  <b>Cost per night:</b> AUD 168<br>  <b>Recommended by:</b> bright_sunshine<br><br>   <h3><br></h3>   <br>   <br>  <br>  <br><hr size="1"><br/>]]></description></item><item><title>Hotels in Tasmania</title><link>http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Hotels+in+Tasmania</link><author>eguy</author><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Hotels+in+Tasmania</guid><pubDate>Thu, 01 May 2008 15:59:30 CDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ 			Use this section to connect about places to stay in Hobart and Tasmania. The way it works? If you&#39;ve stayed at a memorable hotel, inn, or b&amp;b during your travels, copy and paste the blank template to this page and tell why you want to recommend it. <br><br>If you&#39;re looking for a place to stay, start your research here and get a tip from the people who know--other travelers!<br><br><ul>  <li>  Have a question about staying in Tasmania? <a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Hotels+in+Tasmania/thread" target="_self">Ask the community here.</a> </li></ul><br><h3>  THE TEMPLATE:</h3><b>Name of Establishment:</b> Lenna of Hobart   <br><b>City: </b>Hobart<br><b>Neighborhood:</b> Salamanca Place<br><b>Phone: 61362323900</b><br><b>Web address: <a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://www.lenna.com.au" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.lenna.com.au</a></b><br><b>Why you&#39;re recommending it: </b>This hotel is an old mansion and has a wonderful old world feel to it. It is 2 minutes walk from Salamanca where the Saturday market is held and about 5 minutes walk from the harbour. A fantastic selection of restaurants and pubs are close by as is Battery Point.<br><b>Cost per night:</b> $150 US<br><b>Recommended by:</b> 7horses<br><br><table align="bottom" cellpadding="3" class="wp-border-all" width="100%">  <tbody>  <tr>  <td width="100%"><br></td></tr></tbody></table><br><h3>  THE LISTINGS:</h3><br><br><br><br><hr size="1"><br/>]]></description></item><item><title>Hotels in New South Wales</title><link>http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Hotels+in+New+South+Wales</link><author>eguy</author><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Hotels+in+New+South+Wales</guid><pubDate>Thu, 01 May 2008 15:58:40 CDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ 			<h3>  Recommendations, from the people who&#39;ve been there<br></h3>This page of the wiki is designed especially for travelers to connect about places to stay in Sydney and New South Wales. The way it works:   <br><br><ul>  <li>  If you&#39;ve stayed at a memorable hotel, inn, or b&amp;b during your travels to New South Wales, copy and paste the blank template to this page and tell why you want to recommend it. </li></ul><br><ul>  <li>  If you&#39;re looking for a place to stay, start your research here and get a tip from other travelers.<br><br>  </li><li>  Have a question about hotels in Sydney and NSW? <a href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Hotels+in+New+South+Wales/thread" target="_self">Ask the community for advice and tips.</a> <br></li></ul><br><h3>  TEMPLATE:</h3><b>Name of Establishment:</b>   <br><b>City: </b><br><b>Neighborhood:</b> <br><b>Phone: </b><br><b>Web address: </b><br><b>Why you&#39;re recommending it: </b><br><b>Cost per night: </b>US$<br><b>Recommended by:</b> <br><br><table align="bottom" cellpadding="3" class="wp-border-all" width="100%">  <tbody>  <tr>  <td width="100%"><br></td></tr></tbody></table><br><h3>  THE LISTINGS:</h3><br><b>Name of Establishment: </b>Rendezvous Stafford Hotel <br><b>City: </b>Sydney<br><b>Neighborhood:</b> The Rocks<br><b>Phone: </b>612925216711<br><b>Web address: <a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://www.rendezvoushotels.com/sydney" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.rendezvoushotels.com/sydney</a></b><br><b>Why you&#39;re recommending it: </b>Location, location, location! This hotel is in the heart of the Rocks and minutes from Circular Quay. It is easy to get anywhere from here and there are some great restaurants, shops and pubs at your doorstep. It&#39;s not fancy at all, but the service was fine and access to Sydney was unbeatable.<br><b>Cost per night: </b>$125 US<br><b>Recommended by:</b> 7horses<br><br><b>Name of Establishment:</b> Sovereign Inn Cooma<br><b>City: </b>Cooma, Australia<br><b>Neighborhood:</b> 35 Sharp Street Cooma, NSW, Australia<br><b>Phone: </b>61 2 6452 1366<br><b>Web address: <a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://www.sovereigninncooma.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.sovereigninncooma.com</a></b><br><b>Why you&#39;re recommending it: </b>The place brings comfort during winter season (skiing is what it is known for), and among the reputable chain of hotels in Australia: Sovereign Inns.<br><b>Cost per night: </b>AUD 135 | Best Rates Online in Official Website<br><b>Recommended by:</b> bright_sunshine<br><br><b>Name of Establishment:</b> Gemini Hotel<br><b>City: </b>Randwick, Sydney<br><b>Neighborhood:</b> 65 -71 Belmore Rd, Randwick NSW 2031<br><b>Phone: </b><font face="arial" size="3"><font face="arial">(02) 9399 9011</font></font><br><b>Web address: <a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://geminihotel.com.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://geminihotel.com.au</a></b><br><b>Why you&#39;re recommending it: </b>The airport transfers are efficient. Room space is really large, and with good personalized service.<br><b>Cost per night: </b>AUD 135 | Best Rates Online in Official Website<br><b>Recommended by:</b> bright_sunshine<br><br><b>Name of Establishment:</b> Parkridge Corporate Apartments<br><b>City: </b>Sydney<br><b>Neighborhood:</b> 6-14 Oxford Street, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia<br><b>Phone: </b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">+61 2 9361 8600</font><br><b>Web address: </b><a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://www.hotel-apartments.com.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><font color="#660000">http://www.hotel-apartments.com.au</font></b></a><br><b>Why you&#39;re recommending it: </b>Location is right in the heart of CBD Sydney. Well-maintaned apartments<br><b>Cost per night: </b>AUD 140 | Best Rates Online in Official Website<br><b>Recommended by:</b> bright_sunshine<br><br><b>Name of Establishment:</b> St. Mounts Boutique Hotel<br><b>City: </b>Blackheath, Blue Mountains, NSW<br><b>Neighborhood:</b> 194 Great Western Highway Blackheath N.S.W. 2785 Australia<br><b>Phone: </b>(+61 2) 4787 6111<br><b>Web address: <a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://geminihotel.com.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.stmounts.com.au/</a></b><br><b>Why you&#39;re recommending it: </b>Peaceful and classy, it&#39;s both modern and luxurious country living. Great for holding events or weddings.<br><b>Cost per night: </b>AUD 120 | Best Rates Online in Official Website<br><b>Recommended by:</b> bright_sunshine<br><b>Name of Establishment:</b> Ascot Motor Inn   <br><b>City: </b>Wahroonga, NSW<br><b>Neighborhood:</b> 18 Ingram Road, Wahroonga, NSW 2076, Australia<br><b>Phone: </b>02 9487 3355<br><b>Web address: <a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://www.ascotmotorinn.net.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.ascotmotorinn.net.au/</a> </b><br><b>Why you&#39;re recommending it: </b>Right for the budget with a good range of room types.<br><b>Cost per night: </b>AUD 95<br><b>Recommended by:</b> bright_sunshine<br><br><b>Name of Establishment:</b> Funkhouse Backpackers<br><b>City: </b>Sydney<br><b>Neighborhood:</b> 23 Darlinghurst Road Kings Cross Sydney NSW Australia<br><b>Phone: </b><font size="3"><font face="Comic Sans MS" size="-1">+61 2 9358 6455</font></font><br><b>Web address: <a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://www.funkhouse.com.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.funkhouse.com.au/</a></b><br><b>Why you&#39;re recommending it: </b>Located at the heart of Sydney, free breakfast, cheap accommodation.<br><b>Cost per night: </b>AUD 19<br><b>Recommended by:</b> bright_sunshine<br><br><b>Name of Establishment:</b> Checkers Country Resort &amp; Conference Centre<br><b>City: </b>Terrey Hills, Sydney<br><b>Neighborhood:</b> 31 Mona Vale Road, Terrey Hills, NSW 2084, Australia<br><b>Phone: </b>02 9450 2422 <br><b>Web address: <a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://www.checkers.com.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.checkers.com.au/</a></b><br><b>Why you&#39;re recommending it: </b>The venue is perfect for weddings and other special group affairs.<br><b>Cost per night: </b>AUD 105<br><b>Recommended by:</b> bright_sunshine<br><br><b>Name of Establishment:</b> Redleaf Resort<br><b>City: </b>Blue Mountains<br><b>Neighborhood:</b> Cnr Evans Lookout and Valley View Roads, Blackheath NSW 2785 Australia<br><b>Phone: </b><font size="2">61 2 4787 8108</font><br><b>Web address: <a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://www.redleafresort.com.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.redleafresort.com.au/</a></b><br><b>Why you&#39;re recommending it: </b>Modern facilities and peaceful surroundings.<br><b>Cost per night: </b>AUD 115<br><b>Recommended by:</b> bright_sunshine<br><br><b>Name of Establishment:</b> Sovereign Inn Crows Nest, Sydney<br><b>City: </b>Sydney<br><b>Neighborhood:</b> 220 Pacific Highway Crows Nest Sydney, Australia<br><b>Phone: </b>61 2 9957 5744<br><b>Web address: <a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://www.sovereigninnsydney.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.sovereigninnsydney.com/</a></b><br><b>Why you&#39;re recommending it: </b>Great views over Sydney.<br><b>Cost per night: </b>AUD 110<br><b>Recommended by:</b> bright_sunshine<br><br><b>Name of Establishment:</b> Bundanoon Country Inn Motel<br><b>City: </b>Bundanoon, NSW<br><b>Neighborhood:</b> Anzac Parade, Bundanoon, New South Wales, Australia<br><b>Phone: </b>61 2 4883 6068<br><b>Web address: <a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://www.bundanoonmotel.com.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.bundanoonmotel.com.au</a></b><br><b>Why you&#39;re recommending it: </b>Country living, quiet and serene surroundings<br><b>Cost per night: </b>AUD 80<br><b>Recommended by:</b>bright_sunshine<br><br><b>Name of Establishment:</b> Parklands Resort &amp; Conference Centre<br><b>City: </b>Mudgee, NSW<br><b>Neighborhood:</b> Cassilis Road Mudgee 2850, New South Wales, Australia<br><b>Phone: </b>61 2 6372 4500<br><b>Web address: <a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://www.parklandsresort.com.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.parklandsresort.com.au/</a></b><br><b>Why you&#39;re recommending it: </b>Flexible for coach groups and seminar venues<br><b>Cost per night: </b>AUD 115<br><b>Recommended by:</b> bright_sunshine<br><br><b>Name of Establishment:</b> Shores Managed Apartments<br><b>City: </b>Forster, NSW<br><b>Neighborhood:</b> 39 &ndash; 41 Head Street, Forster NSW 2428<br><b>Phone:</b>9763 7600<br><b>Web address: <a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://www.shoresforster.com.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.shoresforster.com.au</a></b><br><b>Why you&#39;re recommending it: </b>Nice beach, perfect for family holidays<br><b>Cost per night: </b>AUD 135<br><b>Recommended by:</b> bright_sunshine<hr size="1"><br/>]]></description></item><item><title>Hotels in Victoria</title><link>http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Hotels+in+Victoria</link><author>eguy</author><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.australiatravelwiki.com/page/Hotels+in+Victoria</guid><comments>Rename</comments><pubDate>Thu, 01 May 2008 15:57:25 CDT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ 	<h3>  Hotel recommendations--from the people who&#39;ve been there<br></h3>This page of the wiki is designed especially for travelers to connect about places to stay in Melbourne and Victoria. The way it works? If you&#39;ve stayed at a memorable hotel, inn, or b&amp;b during your travels, copy and paste the blank template to this page and tell why you want to recommend it.   <br><br>If you&#39;re looking for a place to stay, start your research here and get a tip from the people who know--other travelers!<br><br><h3>  THE TEMPLATE:<br></h3><b>Name of Establishment: </b>Langham Hotel   <br><b>City: </b>Melbourne<br><b>Neighborhood:</b> backs to the Yarra River in Southbank<br><b>Phone: 61386968888</b><br><b>Web address: <a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://melbourne.langhamhotels.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://melbourne.langhamhotels.com</a></b><br><b>Why you&#39;re recommending it: </b>The location was perfect - close to plenty of dining and shopping and with easy access to public transit. The hotel itself is pure luxury and worth a few extra $ if you can do it.<br><b>Cost per night: </b>$200 US<br><b>Recommended by:</b> 7horses<br><br><b>Mansfield Motel</b><br><b>City: </b>Mansfield, Victoria<br><b>Neighborhood:</b> 					3 Highett Street ,Mansfield, 3722 <br><b>Phone:</b>03 5775 2377<br><b>Web address: <a class="external" href="http://www.australiatravelwiki.comhttp://melbourne.langhamhotels.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.mansfieldmotel.com.au</a></b><br><b>Why you&#39;re recommending it: </b>It is near major recreational activities (i.e. Skiing, Horse-riding, golf-fishing), and commercial shops, eateries, and supermarkets. It has clean and comfortable motel rooms.<br><b>Cost per night: </b>$109 AUD<br><b>Recommended by:</b> bright_sunshine<br><br><table align="bottom" cellpadding="3" class="wp-border-all" width="100%">  <tbody>  <tr>  <td width="100%"><br></td></tr></tbody></table>  <h3>  THE LISTINGS:</h3>  <h3>  <br></h3><br><br><br><br><hr size="1"><br/>]]></description></item></channel></rss>