Here is a quick lesson for the Aussie bound gentleman.

When you are out and about in the Aussie Great Out Doors and a young girl turns looks at you and waives a couple of times....don't waive back right away until you are 110% sure she is waiving at you.

I had this experience on the weekend while out for a run along Perth's Northern Beach running track (my favorite running track in the world...so far).  I had reached the MAAC Club and was stretching a little before turning around to run back to my sisters house....a young girl turned and waived at me a couple of times.  There is no good reason for any young girl to be waiving at me unless of course she knew me already which is definitely not the case.....just as I was about to return the waive, she shook her head a couple of times and made a huge swinging action with her arms.....this girl was not waiving to me as I had originally expected, but instead, she was doing the infamous Aussie Salute....waiving away a couple of annoying flies.

So fellas, when you are heading Downunder and a young Aussie girl waives at you for no apparent reason....bare this little story in mind before you waive back.

Over the years, I have had the pleasure of requenting many airport lounges in various parts of the globe.  I am insired to write this today as I am very comforably seated in wing back arm chair with my feet up in the Koru Lounge at Auckland Airport.  So what is so good about the Airport Lounge you ask?  I will reveal.  The lounge is a place where you can usually find privacy/luxury/security and in general a relaxing atmosphere before you board your flight.  Most lounges offer free drinks of any kind....however, I have noticed lately, some of the lounges in the USA do not offer free alcoholic drinks.  Any of the major international airlines such as British

Airways/Qantas/Air New Zealand/Singapore Airlines/Cathay Pacific/British Midland will have free food in their lounges too.  Not just any food, they have great food and change it regularly throughout the day to reflect the meal time you happen to be in the lounge for.  (as I write this, the Koru lounge caterers are putting out the lunch spread).

Most of the other major international airlines will also offer free internet service for their members.

A very welcoming feature of the Lounge for the long haul passengers, is the ability to take a hot shower while in transit.  This makes all the difference when traveling to the other side of the world in one hit.

The Koru Lounge in Auckland Airport even has a Massage Service & Cafe Bar serving freshly made speciality coffees.  (I recommend you do not use both these services at the same time)

Air Canada's lounges through out Canada are usually very nice and comfortable.  They provide all the drinks you can consume between flights and light snacks for one to enjoy.  They have started (this year) to charge for Internet Access, unless you are an Elite or Super Elite Member...however, this can get complicated if you are boarding a partner airline flight as you would need your Air Canada flight number to put in to the system to get your free service.  United Airlines Mileage Plus lounges throughout the USA will only give free internet service to their members and not honor this for their partner airlines high flyers.

The lounges are reserved for Business/First Class & High Level Frequent Flyer Members only.  However, most airlines, in recent years, have been selling memberships to the lounge to help create another revenue stream.  This has enabled a lot more people to frequent the lounges, which has resulted in some extremely busy lounges in certain parts of the world.  So much so, that Qantas has created another lounge to accommodate only their most loyal and frequent flyers/Senior VP's and Special Guests.  Qantas'Chairmans Lounge is essentially what their Captain's Lounge was 15 years ago.  The best lounge I have ever had the good fortune of utilizing, is the Asiana Airlines Lounge in Seoul's Incheon Airport......what a beautiful lounge. 

The worst lounge I have ever been in, well,  there is no bad lounge.  I have seen lounges that need refurbishment, for example the Lounge for Air Canada at LAX Terminal 2, however, Air Canada have recently refurbed this lounge and it is now in line with the usual high standards one would expect from an Air Canada Lounge. 

All the Asian Airlines/South Pacific Airlines & European Airlines keep an incredibly high standard of lounges, almost to the degree where it is a competitive space to offer the best lounge with the most amenities and facilities.

No matter which way I look at it.....for this frequent flyer, the lounge is always the way to go....and hope I never have to go back to waiting at the gate....now let's see what has been prepared for lunch!

....There is a small stretch of beach that makes up the Sunshine Coast called Marcoola Beach.  Caught right between Maroochydore and Coolum, Marcoola Beach is where the locals go to get away from it all.  The beach here is very quiet and relaxing as it does not attract too much attention from the International Market.    There is a hotel here that is very affordable and easily accessible.

3 Star, Marcoola Beach Resort - Clean, Comfortable and spacious apartments right next to the beach (over a small sand dune).  From some of the higher rooms you have ocean views, but you can hear the ocean from all the rooms.  A gate on the side of the property llinks you to a small path over the sand dune and onto the beach.  The pool at the Marcoola Beach Resort is great for small kiddies as it has a ledge about 1.5 feet deep that spans the entire length of the pool.   The best part about this property is the rates.....our little family rented a 3 Bedroom Apartment here a couple of years ago.  Kitchen was small, but the apartment itself was HUGE.  Around 1200 square feet and the balcony was an extra 150 square feet.   We paid only $850 for 5 Nights, representing sensational value for money, probably the cheapest on the entire Sunshine Coast. This property is not really near anything other than the beach and a small strip mall.  You need tot ake the local bus or drive for 5 minutes to get to the grocery store.  Which is why it does not attract too many international tourists.  But if you want to stay on Australia's Sunshine Coast at a very reasonable rate and don't mind it being quiet and relaxing.....then this is your perfect vacation spot.

http://www.marcoolabeachresort.com/index.html

There is a 4 Star property located right next door to the Marcoola Beach Resort.  The Mantra Marcoola Beach.  I have not stayed there so cannot speak to the standard or value, but it looked very appealing to us.  Some of the rooms have balconies that back onto the swimming pool.

                         

If you are confused about the perfect place for your stay in the Sunshine Coast....talk to a Downunder Travel Dedicated Destination Specialist.  Located in Vancouver/Calgary & Toronto.  www.downunder-travel.com

As Premiere Aussie Specialists, we are asked this question almost daily.  Canadians are definitely familiar with both terms, but do not really understand the difference between the two, ultimately not knowing what is the best fit for their personal needs and wants....so we thought we would explain a little further in this forum.

Sunshine Coast is about 1.5 hours North of Brisbane, an easy drive out of Brisbane Airport and onto the highway....There are a few "Suburbs"that make up the Sunshine Coast, stretching from Coloundra in the South of the Sunshine Coast through to Noosa in the North.    The Sunshine Coast is very spread with not too many high rises.  The major attractions to the Sunshine Coast are The Glass House Mountains, Australia Zoo and Fraser Island.  The general feeling is very relaxed and laid back in the Sunshine Coast.

The Gold Coast is located about 50 minutes South of Brisbane, again an easy drive from Brisbane Airprot.  The Gold Coast is also known as Surfer's Paradise and consists of many amazing high rises along the beautiful stretch of golden sand.  There is definitely a hustle and bustle in this area.  The key attractions to this are are the many theme parks such as Movie World, Dream World, Sea World & Wet 'n'Wild etc.  There is also a rainforest hinterland just 40 minutes West of the Gold Coast beaches.

In short, both areas are a fantastic vacation destination, but at the same time, two very different experiences....want to learn more about this, talk to any of our Aussie Specialists at Downunder Travel in Vancouver, Calgary or Toronto.

I recall my very first visit to Hamilton Island....I was a young 22 years of age....hardly been anywhere as everything is a long way from Perth, Australia.  I was working for Jetset Tours in a Franchise Retail Office at that time.  Jetset Corporate had a Training School based on Hamilton Island....so each week a bunch of us would fly in from all over Australia to be trained in Customer Service and the Jetset way.   It is as clear to me as if it were just yesterday, a clear perfect day of around 27c with no wind....My first impression is that it is true, it really is perfect in Queensland.  The sand was white, the pools were inviting and the hotel was gorgeous.....but we had to go to work for the rest of the day.

The golf carts cruising the island brought me back to my early child hoold days of watching Fantasy Island on TV.  Where was Mr Orourke and / or Tattoo, surely at the hotel wating to welcome the guests.

Hamilton Island has just enough commercial retail stores / restaurants to make it all work together.  Easy to walk out for Pizza or Fish & Chips for dinner....or dine in 5 star elegance.  It really has something for everyone. Accessing the Great Barrier Reef from Hamilton Island was so easy, just a short boat ride, and my first Bucket List item was successfully achieved....the bright colours and abundance of sea life....truly a dream come true.

I recall calling my Mum from Hamilton Island on my Brick Sized Cell Phone and telling her that I was not coming back to Perth, I felt as though I had found the place I was meant to be.   However, I chose to get out from the swim up pool bar and board my plane back for Perth, with a new mission......I was going to send as many people to Hamilton Island as I possibly could.  I wanted and still do want, everyone to experience my piece of heaven.  Even to the extent of sending people to get married in the little white church on the grassy hill. 
Hamilton to this day remains my favourite place in the whole world.  I hve traveled to many island destinations over the years since, and enjoyed all the destinations immensley for what they are.....but nothing has topped Hamilton in my books.

One Day!

Not since the 2007 hit movie with Jack Nicholson & Morgan Freeman have we seen such a big buzz about the Bucket List.  It may not be something you think about every day, but the truth is, we all, at some level have a Bucket List. Perhaps it is just being on famous 4 Mile Beach in Port Douglas (as I am pictures above)....or perhaps it is sleeping in the Rain Forest?  What ever is on your Bucket List....

.......Tourism Queensland from Australia think they have all the answers with this extrordinary list of packages that incorporate very popular Bucket List items.  Such as Cuddle a Koala, Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef, Plant a tree in the Rainforest, and swim with Dolphins.  With all these (and more) high Bucket List ranking agendas all within the State of Queensland....it is highly likely they are certainly on the right track with this latest campaign to hit Canada.  Not only do they have all these Bucket List items, but they are giving them away too!

Click Here to see more about Tourism Queenslands Bucket List Freebies.

www.downunder-travel.com/queensland