Types Of Accommodation – Victoria, Australia

by Driftwood on September 3, 2010

The Australian state of Victoria provides visitors with a very diverse range of accommodation choices . The capital city of Melbourne has an wide selection of accommodation that ranges from world class 5 star hotels through to economy backpacker lodgings . Being the largest city in the state and with the most visitors, it’s it’s logical that Melbourne hotels provide the bulk of the accommodation in Victoria. This city is where visitors will find most of the traditional and boutique hotels.

The availability of serviced and unserviced apartments has created accommodation options for longer stays with self catering. Apartments provide an variation to hotel suites and go some way to providing a home away from home atmosphere .  Some apartments have fully equipped kitchens with self catering capability and others have kitchenettes with only limited cooking capability .

Melbourne hosts numerous special events throughout the year. The Melbourne Cup, the Formula 1 MotoGP, the AFL footbal final, the Australian Open tennis are just a few of the major events that draw huge numbers of visitors. Add on the concerts and entertainment, exhibitions and conferences and it’s easy to see why Melbourne can have a shortage of beds in the CBD and inner city at certain times.

So if you plan to visit Melbourne, the message is simple …. pre-book your accommodation in advance.

Airport transfers may involve some travel to and from your accommodation, so always check what your transfer costs are going to be. For a hassle free arrival, it’s recommended that you pre-book Melbourne airport transfers.

Victoria has a reputation for the quality and quantity of bed & breakfast establishments available to overseas visitors and locals alike. B&B’s can be found throughout the state, with many of the best located in and around the popular destinations of the Yarra Valley, Dandenongs and the Mornington and Bellarine Peninsulas.

Being one of Australia’s smaller states means that a lot of rural Victoria lies within easy reach of the major cities and towns. It’s in these easily reached rural areas that many of the best personalised lodgings are to be found. Typical lodgings include country lodges, homely farm stays, rural bed and breakfast, seaside beach retreats and historic guesthouses.
    
Victoria has a ski season in winter, complete with ski lodges in the high country. The north east region of Victoria is the place to find the snow country where there are several world class resorts with accommodation in self contained apartments and chalets as well as suites in ski resorts.

In the smaller country towns of Victoria, hotels give way to motor inns and motels which are the most common type of lodgings throughout all of rural Australia.

A great way to see the best that Victoria has to offer is to take a campervan rental for mobility and independence and to combine that with some nights enjoying the creature comforts of some of the great B&B’s and guest retreats that are never too far away.

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Theme Parks On The Gold Coast

by Driftwood on September 3, 2010

Holidays on the Gold Coast should always include a visit to one of the award-winning Gold Coast theme parks. Whatever your age there is going to be a show to entertain the whole family . The most cost effective way to visit the parks is to pre-book your theme park tickets online and bypass the queues at the same time.

A Gold Coast hire car might be a good option if you plan to visit all of the parks , especially for family groups where there is likely to be considerable expense involved for park transfer costs. The total outlay for airport transfers, theme park transport, day trips and assorted travel will nearly always correspond to quite a few days of car rental .
        
The Theme Parks

Australia’s favourite family theme park is Dreamworld, home to the wildest rides in the country, waterslides, Bengal tiger displays, entertainers and attractions for all ages. WhiteWater World is a companion park located adjacent to Dreamworld and is all about state of the art aquatic thrills and water rides. These two parks are located at Coomera, about 25-30 minutes drive from Surfers Paradise. Travel time is a little less from the Southport area on the northern Gold Coast, and considerably longer from the south coast regions around Coolangatta . Travel time from Brisbane is approximately 1 hour.  

A few kilometres further south at Oxenford is Warner Bros. Movie World, providing a whole world of family entertainment. This park offers something for everyone ranging from adrenalin pumping thrill rides, the antics of the Police Academy Stunt Show , the Looney Tunes Village and the fun of the Grand Parade.

Wet “N” Wild Water World is where you test your speed on the Super 8 Aqua Racer and ride the Terror Canyon. The park provides year round aquatic entertainment with mega slides not matched anywhere else in Australia. Fancy a Dive-In movie? Lie back and relax in the Wave Pool.  

For visitors staying in Gold Coast resorts or apartments, Seaworld is the most accessible park. Located on The Spit adjacent the Southport Broadwater, Seaworld is Australia’s number one marine park. the park  entertainment consists of triple loop roller coaster rides to Cartoon Beach, combined with fantastic dolphin shows and polar bear displays . Seaworld is a wonderful outing for the whole family.

No Gold Coast holiday is complete without a visit to the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, 27 hectares of landscaped grounds, native flora and wildlife displays. This popular National Trust gem is where visitors get to feed the wild lorikeets, see traditional Aboriginal dancing, cuddle a koala, feed the kangaroos and get close-up with some of Australia’s most exotic wildlife .

For visitors who appreciate the unusual, a visit to Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! in Broadbeach combines a world of magic, mystery, exhibits and illusions with fun and adventure.

Australia’s Gold Coast is the only location where the  major theme parks can all be visited as part of the one vacation.

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