 The colourful and cultural town of Byron Bay abounds with romance. Happy couples flock to this charming region, known for its relaxed lifestyle and spectacular scenery. Plan an idyllic date in Byron Bay to prove your passion for your partner!
Treat yourselves to a relaxing Tweed River cruise through picturesque countryside, unspoilt sub-tropical rainforest and the gorgeous Terranora Lakes. Board the 100-passenger Golden Swan and explore the Tweed Heads’ diverse ecosystem on a 2-hour morning tea cruise or on a 4.5-hour cruise, which includes a surf & turf or seafood banquet lunch.
While meandering down the river, keep an eye out for dolphins, flying foxes and other animals; as well, be ready for the opportunity to feed birds of prey! You may  marvel at the flora and fauna from behind the large viewing windows or out expon the spacious outdoor decks. Listen to the skipper’s expert commentary, have a few drinks from the bar, enjoy the stunning and unique scenery; after this cruise, you will both feel relaxed and reconnected to nature—and to each other!
Alternatively, you can both get high in Byron Bay! Take to the skies by hang gliding or hot air balloon ride for a truly romantic experience. Hang gliding is a both an exhilarating and peaceful experience for you and your beau to share. Soar on two hang gliders high above Lennox Headland Reserve and the Cape Byron Nature Reserve and, in addition to stunning views of the scenery, you may spot dolphins, turtles or white breasted sea eagles.
For a another kind of memorable experience, you may snuggle up on a one-hour rainbow  region hot air balloon flight and enjoy the breathtaking views of the gorgeous coast, long, clean beaches and rainforest while literally floating over the world! Once you’ve landed, indulge in a gourmet champagne breakfast together.
Further, all you couples who really want to celebrate can spoil yourselves with an extravagant VIP hot air balloon flight for two, which includes limo transfers to and from your accommodations and a delicious breakfast at a 5-star restaurant, Victoria’s.
Whether you float down the picturesque Tweed River on a relaxing cruise or soar through the skies above it on a hang glider or in a hot air balloon, you and your love will be starry-eyed after your romantic date in Byron Bay!
 Book your romantic date here!
 Two of Australia’s icons, Uluru and the Great Barrier Reef, are in the running to be placed among the world’s new seven natural wonders and they need votes!
New7Wonders of Nature is an initiative to compile a new list of natural wonders determined through a global poll (rather than by one person as it was done in ancient times).
In 2007, the preliminary global vote nominated over 440 locations in over 220 countries, before narrowing it the top 77. At this stage, 13 of Oz’s sites were in the running, including Uluru, the Great Barrier Reef, the Twelve Apostles, Kakadu National Park, Fraser Island, Pinnacles Desert, the Australian Alps, the Blue Mountains, the Green Cauldron, the Flinders Ranges, Cradle Mountain and the Bungle Bungles.
 In 2009, based on selected criteria, the New7Wonders Panel of Experts narrowed this further to the top 28. Now for Australia, only Uluru and the Great Barrier Reef remain in the running. It is now up to the public around the world to vote for the new wonders of the world. The seven with the most votes will be announced on November 11, 2011.
While extremely beautiful, Australia’s leading sites face stiff competition such as New Zealand’s Milford Sound, the Maldives, Brazil’s Iguazu Falls, America’s Grand Canyon, South Africa’s Table Mountain and Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands.
The fierce competition from around the world only makes us more proud to have two of our sites in the final stage! Regardless of the results, one thing is for sure—a visit to Uluru and to the Great Barrier Reef is a must do. Add a tour around Uluru and a reef adventure to your bucket list!
Book a tour of Ayers Rock or the Reef here!
Are you itching for a cultural fix? Or do you just need to get away from the big cities to relax…perhaps try a new age treatment? Enjoy the arts, the alternative lifestyle, the beautiful beaches and the laid-back vibes Byron Bay is known for.
Following last week’s music event, “Splendour in the Grass”, the area is now preparing to host the Byron Bay Writers Festival. This weekend, over 100 of Australia’s most distinguished writers will collect in Byron Bay to participate in readings, panels, conversations, and launches.
You may be more interested in the Byron Bay Bluesfest on Easter weekend, the Underwater Festival, a photography competition, in September, the Surf Festival in October, the International Film Festival in March, or the Nimbin MardiGrass in May, among many other event options. Interestingly enough, the laid-back and relaxed Byron Bay invites a lot of action!
Beyond its large array of cultural festivals, Byron Bay is home to several permanent attractions, many of which are natural beauties. Byron Bay’s beaches are among the best in Australia, especially for surfers.The seemingly endless beach has areas that are sheltered from the southerlies, providing great surf breaks. Take advantage of these conditions by booking a surf lesson in a small class.
Further, it is not a trip to Byron Bay if you do not take the hike to Cape Byron, the easternmost point of mainland Australia.  From where the Coral and Tasman Seas meet, enjoy spectacular far-reaching views.Take the scenic walk to the Cape Byron Lighthouse, built in 1901. Continuing down Little Watego and Watego’s beaches, spot dolphins, rays, sea turtles, and whales in the right seasons.
Depending on what sort of activities you enjoy, you can see Byron Bay’s stunning coastline from different angles. Take a sea kayak tour past Cape Byron and look up to see the Lighthouse; also, get up close to dolphins, sea turtles, and whales in the appropriate seasons. Alternatively, take to the skies and enjoy views of the beautiful coast, ocean, and rainforest from above. If you are seeking thrills, sky dive over Byron Bay or, if you are looking to mellow out, take a peaceful hot air balloon ride.
While Byron Bay’s beaches are better known, its rainforest are also worth a visit. For a unique experience, try a night vision bushwalk. 
Using night vision goggles, see nocturnal wildlife without spooking them with torches while hiking through the lush rainforest.
Of course, try to get a taste of the alternative culture Byron Bay has to offer. Experience true tranquility in the peaceful gardens of the Crystal Castle. Walk the ancient sacred labyrinth, visit the giant stone Blessing Buddha, shop for crystals and jewellery, take an aura photo or get a reading done.
You may also experience the lifestyle of Byron Bay’s most colourful people in a trip to Nimbin, a hippy village. Consider these highlights and choose how you will enjoy Byron Bay. In Australia’s birthplace of the hippy culture, you are free to do as you please!
Book your Byron Bay experiences here!
WIN THE ULTIMATE CHALLENGE!…..are you up to it?
20 Attractions, 3 Days, 3 Cities
Ever dreamt of being a travel reporter? You and a mate could win the experience of a lifetime. Tour with a film crew through the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane and the Gold Coast experiencing 20 attractions. Get close to tigers, swim with seals, fly over the Gold Coast – are you up for the challenge? Our film crew will be capturing all your fears, screams, laughs – you’ll star in our experience videos!
THIS COULD BE YOU!
* 4 Nights Accommodation
* Return Flights from your nearest Australian Capital City
* $1000 (that’s $500 for you and a mate)
* All Meals
* Prize Pack with a Camera
* Loads of Money-can’t-buy experiences!
If you think you and your mate are up for the challenge, head to www.facebook.com/ExperienceOz to enter. Send us a pic and 100 words, or a 60 video to convince us that we should pick you!
For more details go to http://www.facebook.com/ExperienceOz. Entries close 29th March 2011 so get in quick!
There is no doubt that life is tough out there at the moment. Natural disasters, poor economies, overseas disasters and unrest. It’s causing a lot of people to reconsider their normal plans such as ‘should I take that holiday or save my money for a rainy day?’
In fact, now is one of the best times to take your Australian holiday with hotels dropping their rates and attractions, theme parks, day tours and activities offering heavy discounts on their products. Which means you get more bang for your buck!
We’ve been working hard to bring you the very best deals from around Australia. Visit Experience Oz, select your region, and then select HOT DEALS. There is plenty on offer and here are a few samples to get you going.
If you’re travelling to the Gold Coast, attractions such as Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, The Wheel Of Surfers Paradise & Australian Outback Spectacular are offering Adults for Children’s prices, plus for the Currumbin Wildnight Adventure purchase your full price tickets and get a FREE crocodile handling experience and souvenir photo valued at $16.95! What about the Gold Coast Hinterland? If you have never seen this hidden gem on your visit then there is no better time than now with Tamborine Mountain Tours offering free transfers to Tamborine Mountain which is a saving of 50%!
If you’re thinking more on the tropical side of things for your holiday or short break, Cairns, Port Douglas and the Whitsundays in North Queensland are sure to satisfy. Savings on reef trips, and Cruise Whitsundays‘ “Give Us A Break Sale” with savings of up to $85 per Adult (book for 2 and you’re saving over $160!) The amazing Daintree Station in Port Douglas will entrain and delight you with their Giddy Up Horse Rides & Jungle Rumble Quad Adventures PLUS book in March and receive a free Jungle Balls (Downhill Fun) ticket worth $50! Also in Port Douglas you can get below the surface for less with savings up to 20% off Outer Reef Cruises including dive gear!
Purchase tickets for the famous Australia Zoo and get FREE ‘Zoo-pons’! (In park coupons to save you some money on merchandise). Underwater World are also offering free discount coupons with their tickets. Exclusive to Experience Oz!
Sydneysiders, get out and about with the Explore4 Pass or the Unlimited Adventure Pass! The passes include single entry or unlimited entry to Oceanworld Manly, Sydney Tower, Sydney Wildlife World and Sydney Aquarium – WOW! Or cruise the Sydney Harbour on a Tall Ship midweek and save 25% per person!
With so much on offer at the moment, it’s hard not to reach for you wallet and start purchasing some amazing experiences for you and your family.
Check out the HOT DEALS section on Experience Oz today and see how much you can save!
Click below to start searching our Hot Deals!
Sydney HOT DEALS
Byron Bay HOT DEALS
Port Douglas HOT DEALS
Whitsunday HOT DEALS
Gold Coast HOT DEALS
Sunshine Coast HOT DEALS
Brisbane HOT DEALS
That’s right….we’re giving away a digital camera! After such a busy silly season, we’re sure you have plenty of funny, weird and crazy holiday photos lying around! Share it with us on our ExperienceOz Facebook wall for your chance to win a Digital Camera. Simply go to our facebook page and upload it to our wall – make sure you ‘Like’ us first.
As a BONUS, you’ll also get 5% off your next purchase. Enter Now
If you’re herding to the Gold Coast for a well deserved break or family holiday you can’t go past the National VIP Pass as the best value for money!
* 3 Theme Parks
* Unlimited Entry until 30 June 2011.
When you take into account that a normal single entry to Sea World or Movie World is $74.99 and single entry to Wet n Wild is $54.99 – $99.99 to visit all three parks, unlimited amount of times is just a fantastic special!
At Wet n Wild, Dive into a splashtacular day out at Wet n Wild Water World where summer is endless and so is the fun. Plenty of action packed watersides & rides, & chill-out zones are sure to please the whole family!
Sea World lets you get below the surface to discover a world of fun and adventure where you will experience amazing marine life face to face, meet your favourite Sesame Street characters and enjoy exciting rides and attractions including the all new Jet Rescue!
Visit Warner Bros. Movie World where everyones a star! Become lost in a world of fantasy and fun! Have a photo with one of your favourite Looney Tunes characters, check out the Hollywood Stunt Drivers, or get your adrenalin pumping on the awesome rides!
With Experience Oz there are ‘NO’ booking or credit card fees, unlike many other website booking facilities, saving you more money.
The National VIP Pass is also available to international visitors (passport or photocopy of passport are required along with the Experience Oz tickets). What are you waiting for? Buy yours today!
While access to some parts of Queensland is currently affected by flooding, most of Queensland’s tourism destinations are still accessible and open for business and with the exception of Rockhampton Airport, all Queensland airports are currently open.
Affected areas: Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Parts of Central Queensland, the Outback and Western Downs. Access is currently restricted in these areas. Queensland Rail have advised us that rail services may cease at any time this afternoon.
Recovering areas: Most tourism businesses in Bundaberg, Gladstone, Agnes Water and 1770, including Heron Island, Mon Repos Turtle Experience, Bargara beaches, Lady Elliot Island and Lady Musgrave Island, are now open and returning to normal business operation. There may however be some limited local road access.
Non-affected areas: The Gold Coast, Southern Downs and Granite Belt, Mackay, Whitsundays, Townsville and Tropical North Queensland are currently accessible and are fully open for business. This includes beaches, island resorts, accommodation providers, tours and attractions. Most tourism operations on the Fraser Coast are currently open for business, however flooding has affected road access in some areas. For latest road conditions visit http://131940.qld.gov.au/.
(Information above was supplied by Tourism Queensland).
All Gold Coast Theme Parks & Attractions are operating as normal.
Experience Oz wishes all flood affected areas in Australia a safe and speedy recovery from this natural devastation. Anyone wishing to help flood victims can donate to the Queensland Government Flood Assistance Appeal at www.qld.gov.au/floods.
Australia – it’s a big country! In fact it is the 6th largest continent in the world. However it has a relatively small population of 21 million and most reside along the eastern seaboard.
So, how do you decide where to go and what to do? How do you get the most out of your Australian visit? What do you want to get out of your visit?
Are you a nature lover? The Great Barrier Reef is the worlds largest coral reef containing marine life and over 3000 individual reef systems and coral cays dotted with breathtaking tropical islands. Or why not travel south to the cooler most southern state of Australia – Tasmania, where there are so many ways to experience the island’s natural and unique wonders! Try an evening to remember spotlighting Tasmanian devils, quolls, wombats and wallabies; a highland bushwalk alongside ice-carved crags; or an offshore cruise to spot whales, dolphins and seabirds. More info…..
From about May/June to November each year visitors can marvel at the amazing whales that pass along the east and western coasts of Australia. During summer they spend their time feeding in the chilled waters of Antarctica before migrating their way north for breeding. Visitors can usually see the whales on bard one of the many whale watching vessels as the whales make their way north and then south again towards the end of October/November. Experience Oz recommends the following destinations for whales watching in Australia. Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Hervey Bay, Sydney.
Adventurous? Australia has so much to offer! Cairns & Port Douglas in North Queensland are sub-tropical paradises in close proximity to rainforests and natural wonders.
Why not have a go at White Water Rafting in the Russel River or Barron River? If you have ever wanted to Skydive,
 Cairns offers the best views of the coastline, and reefs.
Try something uniquely Australian, such as a cuddle of a Koala (QLD is the only state in Australia where this is possible). In Queensland visitors can do this at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Paradise Country Aussie Farm Tours and of course Australia Zoo made famous by the self confessed wildlife warrior Steve Irwin. Aboriginal culture is one of the most ancient in the world, one place that you can experience this is at Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park in Cairns – they offer both day and nighttime experiences. Cheese and Wine Tours in Mudgee near Sydney or travel to the world famous Barossa Valley in Adelaide to sample some of the world best and well known wines! Take a day trip out to Alice Springs in the Northern Territory where you can take a trip to view the world famous Ayers Rock, now commonly known by its traditional name Uluru. Try an adventure or a relaxed day trip. It’s YOUR choice!
We hope this gives you some idea of what Australia has to offer you. “There’s nothing like Australia”.
Experience Oz is a one-stop shop for things to do in Australia! No booking fees, No credit card fees or hidden charges. What you see is what you pay!
What would you do with an Experience Oz $200 voucher? That’s right, we’re giving away $200 worth of experiences to one lucky entrant. Send us your best holiday pic of you snorkelling, on a roller coaster, skydiving or any other great Aussie experience to be in the running. Quick, competition closes soon.
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