Destinations guide for Australia and NZ | Experience Oz Travel Blog

Nature Meets Culture at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

Mary Anne Terry — Fri, 11 May 2012 23:55:45 +0000

On Wednesday, we enjoyed a day packed with memorable wildlife encounters, active thrills, cultural experiences and delicious eats at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. A few steps off the Gold Coast Highway, we entered the beautiful, natural escape from the city – one that people of all ages and interests can appreciate.

Arriving just after lunch, we first explored the gorgeous grounds covered in lush rainforest and eucalyptus and discovered some of the hundreds of the weird and wonderful and adorable and fierce Australian animals on display. We visited Maximus and the other snakes, the crocodiles (both small and massive) and the dingoes, among many other creatures; we then hand-fed and pet several kangaroos and wallabies in an open field, before catching the impressive Free Flight Bird Show.

Next, at 3:00pm, we joined the last Green Challenge, an exhilarating high ropes nature adventure course, of the day. As children are allowed on two of the three courses, we expected it to be a simple rope path from tree to tree, but we were pleasantly shocked with the intensity and diversity of the course’s challenges! The Green Challenge includes sixty-five challenges set amongst the sanctuary’s treetops, such as giant, fast flying foxes and a tarzan swing into a net!

While thrilling and challenging, the course is extremely safe. Participants are dressed in full body suits, gloves and a waist harness that has a pulley system and two carabiners. The course is designed so that you are always attached so a safe point; in fact, we saw this in effective use – my friend slipped jumping from step to step on one of the challenges and simply hung there comfortably (laughing her head off) until she was ready to attempt the jump again!

An exciting flying fox returned us to the ground, concluding the adrenaline-pumping Green Challenge. From here, we made our way to Rainforest Bar to enjoy a drink and await the start of Yanguwah, an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural show and dinner. The evening show began with an impressive didgeridoo performance, an educational video on the cultures’ histories and a traditional welcome ceremony – during which my partner was appointed the group’s “bala”, meaning strong warrior or leader.

He and the tour guides led us outside to the Kup Murri, where we watched them unearth our dinner that was cooking beneath sand and leaves – a teaser to get our appetites ready for the later meal. Next, we moved to a beautiful outdoor arena set under a big red tent to admire many amazing Aboriginal dance and song performances. Again here, my partner or “bala” was called on to join in the dances – a very entertaining scene.

Next, we explored some of the sanctuary’s grounds and animals by night. We learned about types of present bush tucker and medicine as we walked; watched a Tasmanian Devil feed on a kangaroo tail; hand fed a mob of kangaroos; and held a baby Salt Water Crocodile for a photo!

After these close animal encounters, we indulged in our delicious Kup Murri buffet feast while watching an impressive Torres Strait Islander dance show, which included plenty more fun audience involvement! After the dinner and show, Yanguwah concluded with an opportunity to cuddle a koala for a photo!

Natural, wild, cultural and more – Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary offers a variety of worlds to explore; we highly recommend you discover this oasis from the city by both day and night with a day admission and Yanguwah package deal!

Jet Boating in Paradise

Mary Anne Terry — Thu, 10 May 2012 06:48:47 +0000

Back on the Gold Coast, the sightseeing tour continues – yesterday at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and today with jet boating. This morning, the sun was shining brightly, the weather was warm, the water was calm and the jet boat ride was positively exhilarating! It was one of those perfect days on the Gold Coast‘s gorgeous waterways.

Our beautiful morning out began at Mariners Cove Marina, where two friends and I met the friendly crew at Paradise Jet Boating. After a short safety brief, we with the others in the tour group piled into the state-of-the-art, 315 horsepower turbo-charged jet boat, pumped for our broadwater adventure!

For the first few minutes, we went at a leisurely pace while we admired in-water and on-shore sights, such as a collection of stunning yachts, Palazzo Versace Hotel and Sea World, and we listened to our knowledge guide speak about the area and about what to expect for the rest of the ride. His enthusiastic personality made the experience even more exciting. No two turns are the same, he explained; “Some are fast and wet; some are slow and wet,” he said with a mischievous smirk.

All of us on board laughed but it was far from a joke. Once out of the slow zone, the jet boat ride was pure adrenaline-pumping action! After several sharp turns, quick stops and full spins, there was no one on the jet boat (including the skipper) who was not drenched. It became an exciting game of anticipation – who was the next to get soaked? With the sun blaring down on us, however, we all welcomed the big splashes.

In addition to the thrilling spinning, beach skimming, wave surfing and high speeds, the jet boat ride proved to be an informative and entertaining tour; we discovered at the mansions of the rich and famous on Sovereign Island, explored the natural beauty of the region’s beaches and of Moreton Bay Marine Park, and spotted plenty of wildlife.

This was an incredible jet boating experience that offered the perfect balance of excitement and of information – and it was an amazing introduction to the Gold Coast’s canals for my two friends visiting from Canada. If you’re interested in Gold Coast jet boating and want to enjoy an awesome discount, head out at the same time as us – on a 10am ride – to receive the early bird special. For more information, read Experience Oz’s full review of Paradise Jet Boating rides. Have fun!

Cruise Majestic and Magnificent Milford Sound

Mary Anne Terry — Tue, 08 May 2012 07:40:27 +0000

Milford Sound has officially landed in my top five favourite places in the world list. The spectacular fiord is blessed dramatic and impressive scenery, including majestic mountains, clear, calm waters, abundant wildlife, sheer towering cliffs, cascading waterfalls and lush rainforest. Exploring this natural beauty on a Milford Sound Nature Cruise was a perfect grand finale to our road trip through New Zealand’s South Island.

As we cruised by the world’s highest vertical sea cliffs, passed the iconic Mitre Peak and Mount Pembroke and under waterfalls double the height of Niagra Falls, we were truly inspired. As this is an experience that words and even photos really cannot do justice, I highly recommend you make the journey to this awe-inspiring region. To learn more of what you can expect from the unforgettable experience, read Experience Oz’s full review of the Milford Sound Nature Cruise.

Book your Ziptrek Ecotour here!

Fly through Queenstown’s Forests with Ziptrek

Mary Anne Terry — Mon, 07 May 2012 06:46:03 +0000

Consisting of several exhilarating zipline circuits amidst gorgeous forest overlooking stunning alpine vistas, the Ziptrek Ecotour encompasses the essence of Queenstown. My two friends and I were thrilled by Ziptrek’s Kea 6-line Tour, which offered us not only the high-energy, fun-filled activity, but also spectacular views of the picturesque region and informative discussion on present environmental issues.

Launching from Bob’s Peak, 430m above Queenstown, we travelled down to the base of the mountain throughout our 3-hour tour by gliding down a series of six exciting ziplines! Ensuring we were always entertained, each zipline was unique, having different launching and landing platforms, varying degrees of steepness and different lengths; they were also each set in different scenes and offered different views.

Further making each zip unique was the flexibility of our safety harnesses, which allowed us to launch in a variety of ways; for example, we jumped off the platform forwards, leapt off backwards, canonballed off, flew upside-down and more! The world’s steepest tree-to-tree flying fox, one kilometre (or ten rugby fields) in length, the 6^th and final zipline was a definite highlight. On this thrilling run, we zipped down 30 storeys at speeds of up to 70 kilometres per hour!

You don’t have to be a daredevil to enjoy the rush from ziplining in Queenstown. If you’re interested in this flying-through-the-forest adventure, read Experience Oz’s detailed review of the Ziptrek Kea 6-line Tour!

Book your Ziptrek Ecotour here!

Experience Queenstown’s Many Sides with a Skyline Package

Mary Anne Terry — Mon, 07 May 2012 00:20:23 +0000

Panoramic city, lake and mountain views; Maori cultural experiences; and a delicious and diverse dinner spread – we enjoyed all of this with the Skyline Queenstown Gondola, Kiwi Haka and Taste of NZ Buffet Dinner Package half way through our road trip through New Zealand’s South Island.

The exciting evening out began at 5:30pm with an incredibly scenic dusk gondola ride. Travelling up to Bob’s Peak, 430m above the city, on the steepest cable car lift in the Southern Hemisphere, we marvelled at views of the city, Lake Wakatipu, Coronet Peak, The Remarkables mountain range, Walter Peak and Cecil Peak, among other highlights.

After our 730m gondola journey up the mountain, we arrived at the Skyline complex in time to enjoy a fascinating Maori cultural experience – the Kiwi Haka. Throughout this 30-minute live show performed by Queenstown’s leading Kapa Haka group, we learned of the world of the Maori, including some of their traditions, mythical legends, fighting tactics, weaponry, songs and dances; we even got on stage to join the Maori women in a dance!

Following the very entertaining and educational cultural show, we indulged in a mouth-watering feast of NZ flavours at Skyline’s Taste of NZ Buffet Dinner. The one buffet included over eight unique tables/stations, each offering something unique and irresistible to tempt and please the palette. Further, as the restaurant is designed with large windows for optimal viewing, this dining experience offered not only a deliciously satisfying meal, but also a beautiful, relaxed atmosphere and spectacular views of Queenstown and beyond.

After dessert, we rode the gondola back to the base of the mountain, admiring views of Queenstown’s lit by the city’s evening lights – and landed extremely impressed with our evening at Skyline. If you’re wondering what to do in Queenstown, consider an evening of stunning natural and built scenery, of culture and history and of a fulfilling feast. To learn more, read Experience Oz’s full review of the Skyline Queenstown Gondola, Kiwi Haka and Taste of NZ Buffet Dinner Package.

Book your Skyline Combo here!

Take the Leap with Queenstown’s Shotover Canyon Swing

Mary Anne Terry — Sat, 05 May 2012 12:00:08 +0000

I’ve never been into swinging…until today. Today, my two friends and I could not be prouder to have gained the official status of “swingers” after braving Queenstown’s Shotover Canyon Swing. The world’s highest cliff jump and the world’s greatest giant rope swing – this extreme and exhilarating experience was the perfect introduction to the vibrant and high-energy city of Queenstown – and now seems an essential stop in any holiday in New Zealand’s South Island.

One of the company’s slogans is: “Gravity is toy” – and the friendly folks at Shotover Canyon Swing sure do know how to play. Throughout our adventure, the jumpmasters, three Kiwi jokers, put us as ease by poking fun and pulling pranks – and they offered us over 70 jump style options ranging from scary to very, very, very scary. Figuring the go-big-or-go-home motto applied in Queenstown, the adventure capital of the world, the three of us chose jump styles from the scariest end of their scary scale.

My girlfriend and I were up first and chose to do a very, very, very scary tandem jump, Gimp Boy Goes to Hollywood. This consisted of us being dangled upside-down in the open air 190 metres above the canyon’s rock and river bottom; once in position, facing the ground we were about to fly toward, we were released – we freefell for 60 metres next to the cliff’s rock walls, accelerating up to speeds of 150 kilometres per hour, watching the canyon’s floor rapidly rush toward our faces! Then, we gently slowed as the ropes carried us on a few 200 metre swings over the clear blue water of the iconic Shotover River.

My partner was up next, doing a very, very, very scary solo Pin Drop jump; then, he and I capped off the adventure with a final tandem Forwards jump. To learn more about these extreme experiences, including the now-funny breakdowns and mishaps, read Experience Oz’s in-depth review of the Shotover Canyon Swing.

Book your Shotover Canyon Swing here!

A Scenic Glacier Helicopter Flight in NZ to Remember

Mary Anne Terry — Tue, 01 May 2012 12:10:22 +0000

Majestic mountains towering above, cascading waterfalls and rushing rivers beside us and plenty of winding scenic drives. We love New Zealand. I, Experience Oz’s Travel Writer, and two others have just begun our tour of New Zealand’s South Island – and we began it with a bang aboard a Fox and Franz Joseph Twin Glacier helicopter flight.

After driving the incredibly scenic and mountainous roads of Arthur’s Pass from Christchurch to the rugged West Coast, we arrived at our first destination, Franz Josef. As a short side note, for anyone who may want to take this path, plan to do the drive during the day – it gets dark early and you do not want to miss the highlights of Arthur’s Pass!

In Franz Josef, we woke early on a very sunny morning, ready for the scenic helicopter flight. Originally from Canada, we have explored mountains before and are used to the snow; but our prior expectations of the glacier flight were so far from what we actually enjoyed – a truly unforgettable, inspirational experience.

We flew over many of the alpine region’s most spectacular highlights and marveled at awe-inspiring views of the iconic and magnificent Mount Cook, Fox Glacier, Franz Josef Glacier and Victoria Falls, as well as other waterfalls, creeks, mountains and more. Part way through our in-air exploration came the most exhilarating moment of the journey, landing on a snow field on the Franz Josef Glacier!

There, we jumped out onto the vast snow field dressed in a fresh layer of snow and felt unbelievably alive. Unable to see any sign of civilization, we stood in the midst of the open, bright white field, surrounded by massive snow-capped mountains, strange and stunning ice formations, unique rocks with water rushing down them and unusual neves and crevasses, among many other spectacular sights.

Being surrounded by such unspoiled impressive beauty is an experience like none other – and one I recommend to all. To learn more about this memorable adventure and the unbeatable high it induces, read Experience Oz’s full review of the Fox and Franz Joseph Twin Glacier helicopter flight. Or check back here soon to read about what to do in Queenstown!

Book your glacier flights here!

Experience Sydney’s many Colours at Vivid

Mary Anne Terry — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 06:31:19 +0000

The vibrant city of Sydney is soon to become even more colourful with Vivid, an 18-day festival of lights, music and ideas! From 25 May to 11 June, Sydney will become illuminated with impressive light displays on the sails of the Sydney Opera House, the heritage buildings in the Rocks, around the Circular Quay and several other scenic and creative spots.

Sydney will also offer a variety of big concerts, such as performances from Florence and the Machine, Sufjan Stevens and more; and will host a range of forums focused on art, film and electronic games, among other themes, at the MCA.

If you’re going to be one of the 500,000 people expected to head to this harbourside precinct for Vivid, take advantage of the other exciting things to do in Sydney, such as harbour cruises, the Sydney zoos and attractions, jet boat rides, hot air balloon flights, scenic flights and other activities. Experience the many colours of Sydney during Vivid!

Book your Sydney experiences here!

Jabbawockeez Now Performing at Jupiters

Mary Anne Terry — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:48:42 +0000

Jabbawockeez has officially hit the stage at Jupiters! The popular freestyle dance crew performed the Australian premiere of its newest production, MÜS.I.C, over the weekend in the revamped theatre in the Gold Coast’s Jupiters Hotel & Casino – and it has been a hit!

The Experience Oz crew had the pleasure of recently catching this captivating production and we were all thrilled by the show that offers so much more than a typical dance performance. Of course, the impressive movements blew our minds, but we connected to the characters and the storyline on several other layers.

Jabbawockeez and show directors Tabitha and Napoleon, Emmy-nominated and So You Think You Can Dance choreographers, strategically and creatively designed the production to be deeply enjoyed by people of all ages and interests. To achieve this, they incorporated not only incredible dances, but also comedic and dramatic themes, effective character development, a diverse, popular song list, complex costumes and sets, cross-generational cultural references, audience involvement and more.

For more information on what makes the unique dance crew and its newest hit show so entertaining and so exciting, read Experience Oz’s in-depth review of Jabbawockeez: MÜS.I.C – then see it for yourself!

Buy your Jabbawockeez tickets here!

Join a Kuranda Scenic Railway and Skyrail Tour from Cairns

Mary Anne Terry — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 02:19:14 +0000

If visiting Tropical North Queensland, be sure to not miss the spectacular Kuranda world heritage listed Rainforest and Village; here, you can discover magnificent waterfalls, gorges, mountains, impressive lookouts, rainforest boardwalks through massive palms, Tree Ferns and towering Kauri Pine up to 400-years-old, diverse wildlife, Indigenous culture and a village home to a variety of attractions.

One of Experience Oz’s team members, Michelle, recently explored this region in a unique way – on the Kuranda Scenic Railway and Skyrail Tour from Cairns – and loved it! On this day tour, she rode the Skyrail, a 7.5km scenic journey aboard a cableway over the rainforest; during this breathtaking ride, she was able to stop to visit some of the natural highlights along the way, such as the Barron Gorge and Falls.

The Skyrail delivered Michelle to Kuranda, the Village in the Rainforest, where she enjoyed lunch and explored the Heritage Markets; she also joined a Kuranda Riverboat Tour during which she spotted many sorts of wildlife, including a freshwater croc! To complete her day tour, Michelle returned on a 1.5-hour ride on the Kuranda Scenic Rail, thoroughly impressed with this exciting and scenic day out!

Are you interested in experiencing Kuranda? To get the inside scoop on this day tour, click here to read Experience Oz’s in-depth review of the Kuranda Scenic Railway and Skyrail Tour from Cairns.

Buy your Kuranda tour tickets here!