Top 5 Places for an Adventure Tour in Australia

Photo Credit: pixabay.com

Australia is a land of discovery that makes travellers come back for more. Visitors can enjoy the great outback, historic native communities, spectacular coastal waters and modern city skylines. As such a place of wonder, finding just 5 places for an adventure tour is a difficult task, but this list delves into the hidden gems of the magical land they call Oz.

5. Hancock Gorge

Photo Credit: wikipedia.org

This adventure is sometimes called the Journey to the Centre of the Earth and is a wondrous adventure set in Western Australia that makes you realise the true age of the country. Hancock Gorge twists and turns though the hills of Pilbara until dramatically plunging into darkness as you descend back in time. A ladder drop awaits you as you travel down the canyon creek where a narrow opening takes you to a pass you must swim through to arrive at a stunning pebble beach.

It takes just an hour to reach the heart of the gorge, and you are met by a magical emerald coloured rock pool displaying an incredible 2.5 billion year old rock formation for a truly unforgettable experience.

4. Snowy Mountains

Photo Credit: wikipedia.org

Set in New South Wales, the snowy mountains are a sight to behold. On the very top of Australia lies these stunning peaks that lead to the 2228 metre Mount Kosciuszko which has an almost mystical aura around sunset. The flora and fauna of this area is incredible in its diversity, which includes snow gums, snowdrifts, wildflower meadows and ancient trails.

Adventure trips include camping and chef prepared meals for the end of your long hike in this incredible part of the world, bringing a weary traveller back down to earth for the next adventure.

3. Enter the Cage of Death

Photo Credit: wikimedia.org

This NSW adventure tour takes you out of your comfort zone and places you in the sights of some of the most deadly crocs in the world. In Darwin you get the chance to dive into the waters with a salt water crocodile safe within the confines of an underwater cage.

This transparent acrylic cage goes one step further than the typical underwater shark sighting tours by bringing your fear levels up to maximum. Because the cage is transparent, expect to forget the sensation of feeling safe as the mighty salt water crocs come nose to nose with you. You’ll never come closer to feeling like a tea bag.

2. Uluru Adventure tours

Photo Credit: flickr.com

Being one of the most recognisable natural monuments on the planet, Uluru is at the very heart of the Red Centre just an adventure away from Alice Springs. Featuring a historic tour of the local area including an Aussie bed roll under the stars, a cultural walk around the base of the rock itself, as well as the chance to enjoy a glass of wine, you’ll be creating unforgettable memories. Take a beautiful hike around Kings Canyon and enjoy the sights and sounds of Kata Tjuta.

The trip leaves from Alice Springs, so why not stay a day or two and visit the local sites to get a feel for this stunning area. There is plenty of bars, restaurants and cultural sites to enjoy, including Earth Sanctuary, you’re sure to fall in love with the beautiful country of Australia.

1. Top End Explorer tour

Photo Credit: wikimedia.org

This magical tour of the top end takes in 5 feature packed days to appease even the most adventurous of explorers. Featuring 4WD adventures around historic cultural aboriginal sites, visiting Gunlom Falls for an unforgettable experience, as well as taking in a little croc-spotting on a wildlife boat trip.
The outstanding Jim Jim Falls in Kakadu National Park are the highlight of this adventure tour and offer you the chance to create unforgettable experiences sleeping under the stars in the top end heading out and finishing in Darwin over five days and four nights.

The Best Time To Visit Alice Springs

Alice Springs is one of the famous tourist spots to visit in the Northern Territory. It is the 3rd largest town in the Northern Territory and it is the centre of Aboriginal art and culture. The town known as Mparntwe to its original inhabitants, the Arrente, is well known for adventure tours and sight seeing for tourists. The weather there tends to be a bit extreme which can spoil your vacation, however with a bit of research and planning you can enjoy your Alice Springs tour.

December, January and February are the hottest 3 months in Alice Springs. During these 3 months average temperatures rise up to 35°C. Usually in the summer months it also rains and when it does, it pours like cats and dogs. From June to August is winter time in Alice Springs and in this period average temperature is around 5°C. In the winter months the climate is very dry so it is also the most dusty time of the year. At night the weather gets more colder so it is recommended to wear special warm clothes.

If you plan on visiting in hot weather then go between October to March. In these months there are few tourists so you can travel easily. From April to September there is a huge crowd of tourists in Alice Springs since the weather is cooler. However, if you want few tourists and nice weather then April or September is a good time of the year. In this period the average temperature is around 28°C. At night the temperature falls but it is not freezing cold. It is also the time of the year when there is less dust in the atmosphere.

Image: 1

The Top 5 Best Stargazing Spots in Northern Territory, Australia

If like many people you look up to the heavens in wonder at the universe, you will know that getting out of the city and into the outback is the best way to see clear skies filled with dazzling stars. Light pollution is a big factor in determining the quality of stargazing you will find, and with so many cities lit up at night around the world, there are few places that are far away enough from those cities to give you breath-taking views.

The Northern Territory in Australia is one of the very few places on earth that is close enough to civilization where unbridled stargazing is possible without a hint of light pollution to spoil your views. Crystal clear skies allow you to see all of the famous constellations, as well as some of the best views of the Milky Way you can find on Earth.

1. Alice Springs

Alice Springs is the ideal location to go camping in the outback and spend your evening under the dazzling night’s sky. You don’t have to go very far out of the main city to get the best spots, but with plenty of camping sites and specialist stargazing locations such as the Earth Sanctuary just North East of Alice Springs airport, you can gaze in style with the family.

2. Uluru

This famous natural monument is a beautiful backdrop for your adventure into the outback, and what better way to stage the biggest show on Earth than this historical aboriginal site. Located way out into the outback, Uluru features pitch darkness due to zero amounts of light pollution in the area, making it again one of the best stargazing spots in the world to see the night’s sky.

3. Tiwi Islands

These islands are a great way to get away from the mainland and away from all of the light pollution to watch an unfettered view of all the stars in the sky. Featuring many great stargazing points across a large area, the Tiwi Islands are a mecca for stargazers from around the world and it is easy to find a tour guide and star map within reach of the main tourist attractions. Watching the night’s sky from a coastal view can put a great perspective of the backdrop, making it a great spot for photographers!

4. East Point

This location is one for those looking to get a glimpse of the Milky Way that isn’t too far from your creature comforts. Stepping just minutes’ drive out of the main city limits you will find thrilling views of the stars and beyond from the perspective of the Timor Sea. Witnessing the galaxy up above and an endless horizon on the water makes for an unforgettable view that will stay with you for a lifetime.

5. The Red Centre 

The Northern Territory or the Red Centre is simply the best place to go stargazing in Australia. Featuring miles upon miles of endless red sand, it would be hard to find a better camping and outback adventure anywhere else. With hundreds of tours of the outback, sightseeing adventures and outback walks to go on, pitching your tent under the setting sun to reveal a simply stunning galaxy above your heads will be sealed in your memory for years to come.

Simply put, if you are a big stargazing fan, love astronomy and would love to see clear skies at night, the Northern Territory has it all. Add to this the tours and guides on hand to help you take photographs of the Milky Way, get a bite to eat and enjoy a fine drink, the Northern Territory must surely be on your to-do list for your next holiday adventure!

Image: 5, 6

The True Essence of Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism

There is now a strong push for sustainable tourism practices, with many people wishing to reconnect with nature and enjoy a more pristine holiday environment while having minimal impact on their destination’s ecological balance. With globalisation and the rapid expansion of commerce and business these kind of destinations are becoming more and more rare.

In order to preserve and even rejuvenate the small amount of untouched natural attractions we have in the world, it is important to shift attitudes and tourism techniques to find a way to restore the ecological balance so we may enjoy the true beauty of those natural landscapes without severely impacting the areas we visit.

What is Ecotourism? 

Ecotourism is in essence the best way to travel and stay in those natural places with remarkable landscapes while conserving the environment around you. Ecotourism takes into account the natural features of your destination and strives to preserve them.

The nurturing and respect of the local people, customs and way of life is also important in Ecotourism, with the aim of visiting without damaging the environment reigning supreme.

This kind of tourism also has a strong theme of education and raising awareness of our impact on the world around us, with guests often being able to come away with a better understanding of the impact they have on the places they visit.

What is Sustainable Tourism?

Like Ecotourism, sustainable tourism has the same common base, however the kind of tourism this term covers is much broader than Ecotourism. Sustainable tourism can cover Ecotourism initiatives but also recognises the need for some development in order to sustain the environment for future generations.

 

Energy discussions around the Earth Sanctuary Solar array!

Sustainable tourism encourages the idea of dedicating resources to develop the tourism sector in the destination which would lead to sustainable development and conservation of environment. Recognising the fact that not all visitors will be satisfied with bird watching and bush walking, sustainable tourism may include somewhat more damaging activities done in the least damaging manner.

Whether a destination has an Ecotourism or sustainable tourism aim, the prime goal of both is to safeguard and protect the environment from the most devastating effects of industrialisation of the tourism sectors. More emphasis is placed on preservation and less emphasis is placed on making money.

Both Ecotourism and sustainable tourism operate on a set of important principles.

• To eradicate destruction, deprivation and illegitimate usage of resources.
• To protect the local people, their wellbeing and way of life.
• Create awareness around safeguarding the environment and culture.
• Build mutual respect between the hosts and the guests.
• Help to provide incremental and financial benefits for conservation purpose.
• Generate financial benefits for both local people and private industry.
• Deliver memorable experiences to visitors while raising sensitivity to the area’s political, environmental, and social climates.
• Low-impact facilities to be constructed and developed for operation.
• Create partnership with the indigenous people in the community and aid in empowerment.
• Give recognition to the rights and beliefs of the indigenous people.

Travelling in a mindful way requires a shift in attitude for many people, requiring us to realise that we did not inherit this mother Earth from our predecessors, we are just borrowing it from our successors who will have to deal with what we leave behind. We are only here for a short amount of time and enjoying all the beautiful places in the world is one of life’s great joys, so it is important to preserve our environment for future generations.

Fine Dining Outback Restaurant in Alice Springs - The Quandong Homestead

At the heart of the Alice Springs Earth Sanctuary, located in an expansive 100% carbon neutral environment is the Quandong Homestead - a beautifully crafted and meticulously designed restaurant that serves some of the finest foods in this part of the world. Inspired by the nature that lives around it, and the traditional culture and cuisine of the land, the restaurant is the true jewel of the Earth Sanctuary experience.

The restaurant features local produce that has been specifically selected to inspire your palettes, and allow you to enjoy the finest ingredients, seasonal produce and a number of locations to enjoy your meal.

The restaurant features the Star Bar which is home to an unparalleled vista of the night’s sky to take in while you enjoy a drink of your choice, as well as featuring a hand-picked and curated wine list to perfectly compliment your meal.

The real taste of the outback

Designed to give you a real taste of the outback, the restaurant has a number of speciality items such as the platter dish that includes a number of cheese selections, bruschetta and dips, olives feta stuffed mini peppers as well as mettwurst to name a few of the starters.

The main meal courses feature a delicious buffet BBQ of scotch fillet steaks, tenderloin chicken topped with mustard sauce, gourmet bratwurst sausages, along with golden baked potatoes and seasonal veggies. A summer menu features traditional garden salad with avocado, coleslaw or pesto pasta salad, whilst the winter menu features steamed peas and carrots as a side.

Feast your senses on the lunch menu

The lunch menu at this stunning Alice Springs restaurant features a number of delights to tickle your taste buds. Featuring traditional Billy Tea, scones, Quandong Jam and cream you will be able to get a real sense of the Earth Sanctuary lifestyle with a true taste of the outback.

You will have a chance to taste some of the more traditional outback foods from the region such as the desert Emu, Kangaroo, Crocodile and native Milet Dips, as well as the home-made Quandong Jam to delight.

The outback restaurant also features a range of breads and dips, as well as a rolled sandwich buffet to treat any hungry explorer with a taste for the wild side.

Delicious desserts to delight

When it comes to desserts, the Quandong Homestead Restaurant features a mouth-watering speciality that is sure to please any outback diner. With the sticky date pudding with cream combined with a strawberry and caramel sauce, you will be able to end your evening tour with a delightful finish.

Special dietary options are available on request for any diner, as the restaurant strives to entertain and delight every guest who walks through the doors.

An evening under the stars

The star bar is where your night’s entertainment will draw to an end with an unforgettable vista of the stars and the Milky Way as a setting for your entertainment. With soft drinks starting at $3 and a range of light beers at $5 and premium beers at $8, you will be able to unwind and relax from your day in style.

A glass of wine starts at just $8 and with standard wine bottles at $27 and a premium bottle for just $35, spirits are $8 per basic measure.

The Quandong Homestead Restaurant has all of the ideal qualities to make a fantastic day trip exploring the outback, with the sustainable living educational exhibitions and the tastes of the local region in a single, carbon free environment. The delicious menu for any time of the day that uses seasonal ingredients and local produce where possible means you can treat yourself to an authentic taste of the outback, and spend an evening under the stars with a tasty drink to match!