Newsletter - Issue 7- June 99
Newsletter - Issue 7- June 99
In this Issue
Welcome to the June issue of the AHRC (Australia Holiday Resources Centre) newsletter.
What's new on Aussie World since the previous issue? Well we have several new AHRC members (specially from Victoria these last weeks). A new free service was also made available. Its name: DirectContact Service.
The principle? Very simple. You are planning a trip Down Under and you are looking for accommodation, vehicle rental, tours and leisure activities the DirectContact Service can help you. Just access the contact form, select the States(s) you are planning to visit, select the type of service you are looking for, add few comments such dates, or specific requirements, do not forget your email address and then submit the form. Your request is automatically sent to AHRC members who have subscribed to this service. They will answer you directly via email. AHRC currently count around 280 members. These members are exclusively Aussie companies working in the tourism industry.
And now, enjoy the newsletter!
Alain
I am pleased to introduce, to who does not know it yet, the TRAVEL AU Newsletter. I am receiving it on a weekly basis via email and already found several very interesting articles. But I prefer to let Bryan, the editor, to introduce it himself:
Alain
AUNZTravel (former TRAVEL AU) is a weekly ezine with information for people who travel in Australia and New Zealand.
The publication was started because of my love for this country that I call home, its diverse landscape, people and customs. And the fascination I have for the electronic media.
Travel Au’s
main goal is to help travellers in Australia get value for their holiday $$$
with reviews of things to do and places to go. It will also be an advertising
media for travel professionals to reach a target audience.
In the not too distant future I will be travelling this vast continent and will be able to report first hand…however until then I hope that subscribers who have been fortunate and travelled to various destinations will share their experiences , so we can all benefit.
To Subscribe mailto: mcheyzer@powerup.com.au
Bryan - AUNZTravel Editor
 McCafferty first bus (1940) |
On Tuesday, 12 January 1999 Mr. Jack McCaffery died in Toowoomba. For those who have already traveled in Australia, this name you sounds familiar. The McCafferty coach company is in fact an Australian success story due to the effort of this man. This years the company celebrates its 60 years of operation. More than 600 scheduled services across States and Territories except WA and Tasmania. The company contribution to the tourism industry has frequently been recognised by several awards. |
The company offers today several services greatly appreciated by travellers. for example they have a range of eight Travel Passes that are designed to suit the independant traveller allowing unlimited stops along a predetermined route. The passes provide the added option of fully inclusive tours around the major Australia's point of intereste (i.e. Uluru, ...).
The
fleet upgrading program ensures the company operates the latest and most modern
coaches. McCafferty's operates a fleet of over 120 luxury coaches, all equiped
with restroom, drinking water fountain, individual reading lamps, air-conditioning,
reclining seats and videos. Included in the fleet are 27 "Strechchliner"
coaches, all of wich are fitted with seatbelts and meet Australian Design safety
standards.
The frequency of McCafferty's services makes it easy and covenient for passengers to travel to popular coastal destinations such as Cairns, Airlie Beach, Alice Springs, Darwin, Adelaide, ...
Another way to use McCafferty's services very useful for oversea visitors is the freight service. Imagine that you arrive in Cairns, with two our three suitcases, a small campervan is waiting you. A campervan that you will have to drop few weeks later in Brisbane. Place in such a vehicle is reduced and if you keep your suitcases it will be a nightmare. The solution is to use the freight service. Just drop you empty suitcases to the McCafferty's terminal, send them to your final destination and ask them to hold them for you. The space problem is solved. Enjoy your holiday!
 |
Contact information: McCafferty's Express
Coaches |
Don, the author of the article below has travelled around Australia by car and has accepted to share his experiences with us. The article was first published in Travel AU (now called AUNZTravel) weekly newsletter (Vol 1 No 8 19 April 1999) (see the dedicated article in this newsletter) and is reproduced here with the Bryan and Don's authorisations.
Alain.
THE AUSSIE TRAVELLER - Frequently Asked Questions
In my three years of travelling around Australia, I have had many questions from those who are considering starting out in a journey around this fair country of ours. I will address a couple of the main questions that come to mind, but space prevents me from covering all aspects.
1. What should I take with me
A lot depends on where you are going, what time of year you intend going, and how long you intend staying. Not to mention budget restraints. As there are many forms of travel, I will try to keep it general to those travelling with at least a vehicle of some kind.
A good first aid kit is essential. A basic survival kit should be seriously considered if you intend travelling off the main highways. If you break down somewhere, especially in the hotter parts of Australia, lack of water is the greatest threat to survival.
A basic survival kit should include: a packet of condoms, and old pair of jeans with the legs intact, some good quality plastic rubbish bags, string, a couple of packets of waterproof matches, a groundsheet, a tarpaulin, a quantity of rope, some tent pegs, at least 20 litres of fresh water, dry foods, tinned foods and a can opener. The condoms, jeans, string and rubbish bags are used for the collection and storage of water if you should run out. A condom supported inside the tied off leg of an old pair of jeans can hold up to 6 litres of water. The tarpaulin, rope, tent pegs and ground sheet are to make a lean to shelter from the side of your vehicle. There are many good publications that will give all the information you need in order to learn how to not only collect the water, but other essentials to consider. I would strongly suggest that you do a survival course and that your trainer is someone that has had army background or training. You may never need it, but if you break down somewhere, it could literally mean the difference between life and death. Have 4 changes of clothes for each season, but at least double that of underwear. I would suggest taking a bucket with a sealing lid too. Before starting out on your days travels, simply put your dirty clothes in the bucket with water and detergent, seal the lid and just put it in the car. The natural movement of the car is enough to wash the clothes, all you need do then is rinse and dry them. Some sort of cooking pot that you don't mind being blackened by a fire, a good oven mitt to pick it up with and basic eating utensils. I would also recommend a plastic thermal travel mug. They have nice tight sealing lids on them that have a slit to drink through. I have gone through several of them ( I lose them ) and find them wonderful for having drinks hot or cold kept that way between stops. There is a lot more I could suggest, but as far as basics go, the above list is a really good start.
2. How long should I plan to take?
This of course depends in most cases on the amount of time available. If you can do it, and wish to travel Australia, I would suggest at least a year to have a basic look around.
When I first started out myself, I envisaged being away for three months. I felt that was more than enough time to see the country and do the sightseeing I wanted to do. However reality is vastly different. It is simple mathematics. Just sticking to the main road and using Perth as a starting point and travelling Perth, Darwin, Cairns, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth is a distance of 14,118 kilometres. If you include the Stuart Highway from Port Augusta to Katherine that is a further 2,399 kilometres. Assuming you wish to finish where you started from, at least one of these legs will need to be travelled twice. That means you are looking at a minimum of around 18,000 kilometres.
If you average 500 kilometres a day, it will take you 36 days to complete the journey. That is allowing no time for sightseeing or stopping in one place longer than sleeping for the night.I don't feel I need to point out the cost of travelling such a distance or that for most people this is a once in a lifetime journey. Longer is better than shorter when it comes to time but if time is restricted, I would suggest planning a trip shorter in distance.
I travelled nearly 50,000 kilometres in my first year and that didn't include the leg from Perth to Darwin up the west coast.
I spent six weeks in Cairns looking around and I didn't get to everything there I would have liked to.In the three years, I feel I have only just scratched the surface. I have so much more I would like to say on these subjects, but I am simply don't have the space in here to do so.
Travel for me has become a passionate love and a way of life. I sincerely hope that each and everyone of you makes the opportunity to travel like I have.
Don's contact details: email: dtm@tower.net.au and home page http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Rampart/5588
Study in Australia with Walkabout!
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Located at the border of the famous Kakadu national park (NT), Arnhemland is one of the most restricted areas of Australia. Entry is by permit only and must be arranged prior to your arrival with the traditional Aboriginal custodians.
Now imagine that a light aircraft is waiting for you at Darwin or at Jabiru airport. A twenty minutes flight and you are landing on a small airstrip located nearby the base camp of Davidson Arnhemland Safaris. Alternatively you can reach the base camp in two hours from Jabiru with a 4WD vehicle.
All you need
to bring is light casual clothes, a light cardigan for cool evenings during
May-September, a camera with plenty of films, flash unit and spare batteries,
walking shoes and personal toiletries.
And
the adventure can start …. You access the ultimate in exclusive wilderness expeditions,
with experienced guides escorting visitors through a series of educative adventures
that may include visiting 55,000 years old Aboriginal rock art and occupation
sites, taking a sunset boat cruise complete with light refreshments on adjacent
lilly-covered billabongs, capturing a photographic record of the area's natural
and man-made treasures, along with a staggering profusion of bird and wildlife,
fishing for Barramundi, or simply 'soaking up the country'.
After
such an amazing day, you will be please to return to the comfortable base camp.
Twin-share, airy tents each equipped with beds, 240 volt power outlets and external
lighting are spaced in a wide semi circle around the social hub, a complex that
incorporates briefing room, library, kitchen, dining areas and amenities.
... more
on Davidson's Arnhemland Safaris in the next newsletter. I will be then able
to share with you my personal experience!!!
Alain
For complementary information:
Contact person: Philippa Davidson
http://www.arnhemland-safaris.com.au
email: info@arnhemland-safaris.com.au
Australia is
the world's largest island,only 120 sq.km smaller then the "lower forty" states
of the USA but with a population of only 18.5 million people,Australia has room
to spread.
With over 80 % of the population living along the coastline from the temperate
climate of Melbourne to the sub-tropical climate of Brisbane there is a lot
of space between towns and other settlements.
The true tropical rainforest (Daintree) and the Great Barrier Reef experiences
can be found in the far north, Cairns and Port Douglas.
Traveling alone
in the more remote regions of the Outback and the tropics of the north can be
an awesome but daunting experience if on an extended holiday. However if time
is limited it stands to reason that tours of some type or other must be booked.
When you book trough your local travel agent,he or she contacts an Australian
Inbound Tour Operator who does all the ground work for your agent. Quite high
commission fees are charged,which in turn are indirectly passed on to you.
By booking trough the web, deals can be made with all aspects of travel in Australia,
ranging from accommodation,airline flights and tours. If the agent books a tour,
you will find yourself on a coach loaded with 40 or more people, but if you
search the web for specialised four wheel drive tours which take only small
groups into remote locations you will find that you get to see more of the country
and it's people. Many 4 wd tours can be large, so ensure that the operator only
takes small groups.
As a rule those who have good web sites also have the top tours and use vehicles limited only to six people. Many will even charter, which cost more, but limits the party to yourself and partner or group. Check out if overnight tours can be arranged. For young people and the young at hearth, camping tours may be suitable. However the weather may be warm, especially between September and May, which makes camping in a tent not very comfortable. Tours who accommodate their clients in air conditioned resorts and motels may be more suited. They have all the comforts of home after a long day on the road talking walks, photographing many new things and the learning and seeing, while the awesome wilderness experience and the open dusty roads are something that can only be done in company with a small group which have the same interest as yourself. Check out http://www.deluxesafaris.com.au as one site which operates in the rainforest and outback of the lower Cape York region,an area 4 times larger than the British Islands, yet populated by less than 8,000 people. A true wilderness that just begs to be explored.
Dick Eussen
 |
Few months ago I started to prepare my next trip Down Under. This year I will spend four weeks in the Northern Territory. Some
major locations that I plan to visit are the Kakadu and Litchfield national
parks, Katherine Gorges for the north. One of the best guide I found to help me preparing this trip is the Lonely Planet one: 'Northern Territory'. If you are interested, you can buy this book on-line using the Amazon.com service. Alain |
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Current promotions proposed
by the AHRC (Australia Holiday Resources Centre)
members are available via the notice
board. |
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