A combination of golden beaches, a green mountain hinterland and the most varied theme attractions in Australia, make Queensland's Gold Coast the nation's most popular holiday playground.

Sixty-five kilometres south east of Brisbane is a tourist mecca - the Gold Coast. The region's 42km coastline stretches from Southport to Coolangatta and basks in more than 300 days of sunshine each year.

The Commonwealth of Australia is the largest island on earth and the smallest continent. It also boasts to being one of the most progressive nations in the world with one of the oldest civilizations. It is made up of a variety of landscapes, including tropical rain forests, the deserts of the outback, snow-capped mountains, rolling expanses of pastoral land and magnificent beaches.

That's why every year millions of tourists from all over the world decide to spend their holidays in Australia. Many of them surf the web looking for information about places to visit, lodgings and accommodations, flights and tours.

The Commonwealth of Australia is the largest island on earth and the smallest continent. It also boasts to being one of the most progressive nations in the world with one of the oldest civilizations. It is made up of a variety of landscapes, including tropical rain forests, the deserts of the outback, snow-capped mountains, rolling expanses of pastoral land and magnificent beaches.

That's why every year millions of tourists from all over the world decide to spend their holidays in Australia. Many of them surf the web looking for information about places to visit, lodgings and accommodations, flights and tours.

Australia is a country of amazing diversity and awe- inspiring beauty. From grand cities to ancient coral reefs, there is no end of star attractions in the land of Oz; and the best way to see them is to book yourself on an Australia cruise.

Sydney and its world famous harbor is a good starting point for an Australia cruise, although it is of course possible to start at other Australian ports, and also at ports outside of Australia. For instance, you could join the US to Australia leg of a round-the-world cruise at Los Angeles and find yourself in Sydney, Australia 30-days later. From Sydney you could depart on a smaller cruise around Australia and/or New Zealand.

Cruise routes around Australia normally concentrate on port stops along the East and North coasts. Brisbane, the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns, Port Douglas, Townsville and Darwin are the main ports of call, with cruise durations typically of between 7-10 days. From Darwin, a few cruise lines offer services westwards towards Broome. Cruises along the southern and western coasts are less popular. Here, the main ports of call are Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. A port stop in Tasmania is also incorporated into many an Australia cruise, as are ports of call in New Zealand, such as Auckland and Dunedin, and sometimes ports of call in Indonesia.

Australia's tropical Top End is undoubtedly one of the last great secrets of adventure travel, although the popularity of the region is now growing rapidly as word spreads about its magnificent, unspoilt natural beauty. The term Top End refers to northern region of Australia's Northern Territory, which includes the state capital city of Darwin and the town of Katherine. Darwin is serviced by many international airlines and also by the newly completed Ghan railway which connects southern Australian cities such as Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide to Darwin via Alice Springs in Central Australia.

The Top End is a tropical region closer to Asian cities such as Jakarta and Singapore than it is to major southern Australian cities. Temperatures in the Top End hover around a comfortable 30 degrees C (85 degrees F) all year. Like most tropical areas, the Top End year is not defined by 'summer' and 'winter' weather events but by what Top-Enders call 'the wet' and 'the dry'. These terms refer to the wet and dry seasons respectively, which should be taken into consideration when planning an itinerary for exploring the Top End as road conditions and access vary greatly according to season. Wet season flooding can occur from November to April, and may cause temporary closure of routes to some of the more spectacular but remote Top End destinations.

Albany Western Australia is a city of approximately 30,000 people in the south-west corner of Western Australia, approximately 409km from Perth . The city is nestled between three large hills, Mount Clarence, Mount Melville and Mount Adelaide, facing the beautiful King George III Sound.

The main industries of Albany Western Australia consist of tourism, fishing and agriculture, although before the 1950s whaling was one of the major sources of income and employment for the population. One of Albany's old Whaling stations has now become one of the biggest tourist attractions for the area.

Bunbury is located approximately 172kms south of Perth. Bunbury is a water wonderland visited by day trippers and holiday makers alike all year round. The towns population is approximately 30,000 and continuing to grow.

There is so much to see and do in and around Bunbury too. We have pristine beaches, superb yachting facilities, awesome Karri Forests, caves and inlets, beach and sea fishing, breathtaking dives including the amazing ‘Lena Wreck’, playful dolphins, whale watching, great shopping, sumptuous restaurants and a cosmopolitan cappuccino strip, magnificent art galleries, delightful wineries, world-class golfing, lovely lagoons and of course excellent accommodation. Our harbour is one of the most picturesque in W.A. and you can drive along the breakwater all the way to Koombana Bay. Now, you must not leave Bunbury without visiting the dolphins at Koombana Beach (near the inlet mouth of the harbour). Of course we can’t promise that they will turn up on time, but this is one of the few places that you can see these magnificent creatures up close and personal. In Bunbury between June and September watch out for magnificent humpback and southern right whales, who pause to play a while !

Sail away to the land down under today! On an Australian cruise adventure, you can revel in the cosmopolitan hustle of its cities, catch sight of its one-of-a-kind marine and animal life, and even enjoy summer in January as you coast your way around the lush beauty of this island nation. Now if only you had a comfortable room, delicious, all-you-can-eat dining every day, and you never had to pack your suitcase until you were headed home. Oh yeah, an Australian cruise comes with all that too!

Melbourne, Australia October 10, 2005 - THE REAL RACE is the most courageous contest ever attempted. It's not a reality TV show but a real race, with real people and real challenges. THE REAL RACE is a new tourism experience that will revolutionize the way people choose to spend their holidays. THE REAL RACE offers adventure in a competitive but friendly environment. Best of all, one team will do it all for FREE!

Now is the time that people are looking for Winter Holidays and also thinking about their Summer Holidays too. This article will look at the various options that are available to holidaymakers looking to go on a Villa Holiday in the Winter or Summertime.

Firstly we will look at the winter Holiday options. If you are looking for some respite from the cold winter months there is an abundance of destinations to suit all budgets. The Canary Islands of Lanzarote, Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura are an ideal detsination for families and couples alike. With year round good weather and a bustling nightlife these islands have something for every taste. Lanzarote is a fabulous destination for winter holidays the main resorts in Lanzarote are Playa Blanca, Puerto del Carmen and Costa Teguise. You have a great selection of villa holidays in these areas and you can be as close to or as far away from the nightlife as you desire. You can book an apartment right through to luxurious villas with their own private pool suitable for families of all sizes. You can laza about the pool all day or you can book a private villa which is a stones throw from all the major nightlife and beaches. Tenerife is the liveliest of all the islands with Playa de Las Americas and Los Christianos being where all the busiest nightlife is. During the day in Las Americas You have a more relaxed way of life with a stroll along the promenade and miles of beaches to choose from. The good thing about all these islands is that there is over 300 days of sunshine every year. No matter your budget the canary islands is an ideal destination. You can get last minute villas from several different websites where villa owners will offer you some great discounts if you book their villa and go within a week.