 Any great meal is made more enjoyable by great company—and it is a challenge to find better than cute, cuddly koalas. Before the summer is through, start your morning right by enjoying breakfast with these adorable native animals at WILD LIFE Sydney on Sydney‘s Darling Harbour.
Early morning on the weekend, head to the koala home in WILD LIFE Sydney, a beautiful rooftop bush garden. There, amidst the gum trees, banksias and koalas, your breakfast dining table awaits you.
Take a seat, intimately observe the iconic Australian koalas at their most active time, enjoy views of the wallaby cliffs and listen to an informative presentation about koalas from the knowledgeable staff.
Do all of this while indulging in a delicious, hot breakfast, including eggs, bacon, hash browns and more. Once you’ve finished dining, you can get even closer to your new furry friends—cuddle a koala for a unique photo opportunity; and take home a 
complimentary 6×9 as a souvenir of this memorable moment.
This great valued package also includes entrance to and a guided tour through the rest of the wildlife centre, so the fun does not end withbreakfast! Spend as much or as little time as you wish exploring WILD LIFE Sydney’s three levels, nine separate habitats and over 65 exhibits—it is the largest range of Aussie animal and plant life under the one roof!
Breakfasts with Koalas begin at 7:30 every Saturday and Sunday this season, with the last breakfast being held on March 31st, 2012, so be sure to get in before the end of summer! While on the Darling Harbour, you will forget you are in the big city while digging into brekkie in a bush setting with koalas keeping you company!
 Buy your tickets for Breakfast with Koalas at WILD LIFE Sydney here!
 Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day – if you haven’t already planned something special, there is still time to impress your other half! So, don’t stress and run to your local chemist to purchase one of the only remaining bouquets of flowers, the ones with few pedals left, or the last teddy, the one with the missing eye. This year, show no love for the conventional; instead, book a unique experience for you and your loved one to share.
There are endless exciting and romantic options offered across Australia. In Sydney, you can float above the earth with your beau in a hot air balloon flight; launch from Parramatta to enjoy spectacular views of the big city’s famous skyline and of the beautiful Blue Mountains or launch from Camden for views of the valley and its rivers, rock faces and historic towns;  or, for similar views, you can take a scenic helicopter flight. Alternatively, you may take advantage of what Sydney is famous for, its harbour, with a harbour cruise.
If in Melbourne, you can float in a hot air balloon over different settings, taking in views of the city’s famous landmarks, such as its many iconic sports arenas, and the Yarra Valley and its many world-class wineries and lush green rolling hills. For a traditional romantic experience, consider an antique horse and carriage tour through Melbourne. For a more indulgent and scenic day out, book a winery tour that visits several of the Yarra Valley’s acclaimed wineries.
If you’re on the Gold Coast, you can board a scenic flight or a hot air balloon to fly over the  gorgeous hinterland and enjoy views of the iconic coastal city skyline, beaches, the open sea, rivers and mountains; or take to the beautiful Gold Coast broadwater with one of the many cruise options.
Browse through the many memorable experiences available in each of the major regions in Australia to find the one that best suits you and your loved one. No need to worry about planning details or spending time shopping – you can arrange one of these incredible experiences from your desk at work or at home! Browse and book a special activity for you two on Experience Oz and receive an instant confirmation and a printable voucher. Last-minute gifts can be thoughtful too – find how you will make tomorrow memorable on Experience Oz today!
Book your Valentine's Day Experience Today
Yesterday, Madame Tussauds in Sydney unveiled its first of many wax figures to come, leading to its grand opening in May 2012. Introduced to her wax double, Dannii Minogue, fashion designer known for her recent roles in Australia’s Got Talent and X Factor UK, was shocked at the how well her every detail was captured.
“I am so appreciative of the many hours of hand-crafted  work that has gone into my figure. This is real artistry. I’m just astounded by the accuracy, fine detail and remarkable likeness,” Dannii said about her wax-self.
60 of Madame Tussauds’ most talented sculptors and artists spent over 800 hours handcrafting the remarkable wax depiction of Dannii, ensuring her measurements, face constructs, skin tones, hair style, dress and other details were accurate. This same effort will be put into creating over 70 life-like figures, including other Aussie stars, such as Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, Ray Meagher and Amanda Keller, and other A-list celebrities, such as Lady Gaga and Johnny Depp.
Once complete, Australia’s first Madame Tussauds will open its doors, joining the other 13 successful Madam Tussauds existing around the world. Located on the iconic Darling Harbour, Madame Tussauds Sydney promises to be an impressive attraction, 1,800 square metres in size, costing $14 million to develop.
This May, head to Madame Tussauds Sydney to meet wax twins of your favourite actors, politicians, athletes and other stars!
Buy your Madame Tussauds Sydney tickets here!
 Last week, crowds gathered at Sydney’s Martin Place to jam to the live concerts and marvel at the lighting of the iconic 21 metre high Christmas tree. Guy Sebastian, The Smurf Christmas Show, Playschool’s Jay Laga’aia, Lah-Lah’s BIG Live Band, carols from the Australian Girls Choir and others took to the stage and performed for the people.
As the concert concluded, the 58,000 LED lights, the over 300 stars and the 1.5m, seven-point shimmering star on the Martin Place Christmas Tree were lit before a spectacular fireworks display ended the evening. This event, as well as the neighbouring more low-key event, Hyde Park Christmas on the Green, marked the beginning of the City of Sydney’s Christmas festivities.
There is plenty of festive fun to come in the lively, diverse city. Catch one of the free Christmas Village concerts that will be put on throughout the weekends in December in various Sydney parks or watch the Sydney Town Hall transform each night between 8:30pm and 1am as Christmas images are projected onto its facade. Visit Sydney Christmas for a full list of festive events and activities in the city.
Take full advantage of your Christmas holidays by also visiting some of the city’s non-seasonal attractions. There are many affordable options for vacationers of all types. If you’re looking for family fun, consider purchasing a Sydney Attraction Combo Pass. For one low price, choose to see 2, 3, or 4 of this exciting city’s top attractions, including Sydney Aquarium, WildLife Sydney, Sydney Tower Eye and Oceanworld Manly.
For those with more time, look into the full day tours of Sydney’s scenic surrounding regions. Book a combo tour of the Blue Mountains and of Bondi Beach; choose any two days in a week to discover the two remarkable areas. Another great escape-the-city option is a Hunter Valley wine tour complete with plenty of fine wine tastings!
For something a little more relaxing, book a Sydney Harbour cruise. Board a yacht and sail the stunning Sydney Harbour at sunset while sipping champagne; soak in the sunshine and cruise around on an authentic 1850s style tall ship; or enjoy a romantic dinner cruise with great food, live entertainment and breathtaking views.
From free outdoor Christmas carol sing-a-longs to extreme water sports and unique day tours, Sydney has a lot to offer. Plan ahead to make sure you don’t miss out and enjoy your Christmas holidays!
Book your Sydney holiday experiences here!
Experience Oz – October Hot Deals
Can’t see the images? Click here to view online
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Includes: Entry to Sea World, Movie World and Wet n Wild as many times as you like between now and 30 June 2012, plus entry to White Christmas. Hurry! Offer ends 31 October 2011. |
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Includes: Entry to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary plus a 2-hour Gold Coast waterways Cruise.
100% Exclusive to Experience Oz! |
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WAS $21 per person for single entry NOW $21 for 14 days of unlimited entry.
Valid to 24 December 2011. |
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Includes: Aussie BBQ Buffet including a choice of hot dishes, salads and desserts. Entrance to the Wildnight Adventure including guided walks, wildlife presentations and aboriginal culture.
Valid to 24 December 2011. |
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Includes: Hotel pick up and drop off. Return scenic air flights. Personal guide, 5 hours for you to explore the island and reef, welcome drink, glass bottom boat/snorkel tour, buffet lunch and more!
Valid to 31 March 2012.
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Includes: Entry to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary including shows and presentations, aboriginal culture and the Green Challenge adventure course. WAS $49 per Adult or $160 per Family NOW $31 and $99.
Valid to 24 December 2011. |
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Includes: Great Ocean Road Day Tour from 8am –7.30pm and Melbourne City from 8am – 11.45am. Melbourne City Tour can be taken within 7 days of the Great Ocean Road Adventure.
Valid to 31 December 2011. |
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Includes: approximately 2 hours snorkelling in a guided tour to see the amazing Sea Dragons, Corals, Crabs and loads more creatures under the sea. Runs most weekends (subject to availability).
Valid to 31 October 2011. |
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Buy a 2 Attraction Combo Pass and get a 3rd Attraction FREE!
Limited time only! |
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Includes: Blue Mountains Tour from 8.15am to 6pm plus a Sydney City and Bondi Beach Sightseeing Tour from 8.15 to 11.45am. WAS $210 NOW $111. Sydney City & Bondi Beach tour can be taken within 7 days of Blue Mountains Tour.
Valid to 31 December 2011. |
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Includes: Choose either a 3hr Hands on Sightseeing Sail or Twilight Sailing Friday Evenings and buy one ticket get one half price! 3hr Hands on Sail – WAS $150 per person or $300 for 2 Adults NOW $225 for 2 Adults Twilight Sailing Friday Evenings – WAS $75 per person or $150 for 2 Adults NOW $112.50. |
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Buy 2 Adults get 1 child free (various activities and options available) Starting from $220 for 2 Adults + 1 Child NOW only $160.
Valid to 31 March 2013.
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Includes: Seaplane scenic flights over the Great Barrier Reef, Whitehaven Beach and the Whitsunday Islands.
Valid to 16 December 2011. |
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 With its rich history, iconic harbour, diverse and lively culture, and stunning landscape, locals and visitors alike agree Sydney is an enchanting city. But on March 18th 2012, for a limited time, this city will become even more magical as the Harry Potter Exhibition moves into the Powerhouse Museum.
Do you or your kids want to meet Dobby, Buckbeak or Fawkes, Dumbledore’s phoenix? Do you dare come face to face with a Dementor? During NSW’s school holidays, enter the wizard’s world for the opportunity to see Dumbledore’s, Lord Voldemort’s and Harry’s wands, the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry’s Nimbus 2000, the Golden Snitch and over 200 other must-see artefacts.
If you’re one of the many Harry Potter fans who will be making it out to this spellbinding exhibition, consider making it an extraordinary weekend with the family by checking out  some of Sydney’s other mystical attractions.
For a spooky experience, join a family or adult ghost storytelling tour through Quarantine Station, where migrant ships suspected of carrying contagious diseases were quarantined in terrible conditions from the 1830s to 1984. Listen to eerie stories and watch out for unusual sights and sounds as you explore Q Station’s most haunted spaces such as the hospital and the morgue.
You and your family may also be amazed by the wonders of the Jenolan Caves. Explore the underground world and its 11 spectacular caves and formations by torchlight; take the evening Legends, Mysteries and Ghosts tour and let the guide recount the caves’ mystifying legends and bring you to several spots where there have been unexplained occurrences. These caves are an award-winning magical escape!
For some fantasy of a different flavour, board an authentic tall ship, the Southern Swan, for a family pirate BBQ lunch experience! All passengers are encouraged to join the crew in dressing up as pirates and to take part in all the fun activities; everyone is also welcome to get involved by helping hoist the sails! After a delicious lunch spread, toward the end of the cruise, a “Pirate Certificate” is delivered to all good pirates on board!
Finally, if you have free time and are looking for more family fun, consider the Sydney Attraction Combo Passes. For one low price, you can choose to visit 2, 3 or 4 of Sydney’s top attractions, including Sydney Aquarium, WildLife Sydney, Sydney Tower Eye, Oceanworld Manly, over a 30-day period. These passes offer great value, flexibility and tons of fun!
You can put your wands away—you don’t need to cast a spell to have a magical experience in Sydney!
Book your Sydney experiences here!
 Widely considered the most gorgeous natural harbour in the world, the Sydney Harbour is a must see… and you get the best views of it when you are on it! Explore the waters on a luxury sailboat and marvel at the harbour’s many famous sites. Along its 240km of shoreline, you will see a beautiful blend of beaches, parklands and gardens and built icons, such as the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, luxury homes and heritage buildings.
Sailing the stunning Sydney Harbour is undoubtedly one of the most enjoyable ways to discover the area’s highlights. As Sydney By Sail offers a variety of trips, when and how you sail the harbour is up to you; afternoon, twilight and overnight cruises all offer unique experiences.
One of the most popular is a three-hour afternoon sailing experience. Departing the  National Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour at 1pm, you can either spend your hours on board relaxing and taking in the sights or joining the crew! If you’re interested in a hands-on experience, the friendly skipper will teach you the fundamentals of sailing, so you can have a try on the helm and trim the sails!
You are also given the options to help man the ship or to sit back and relax on the Friday twilight sails. This two-hour cruise enables you to enjoy three perspectives of the Sydney Harbour and the city’s skyline. When you depart at 5:30pm, the harbour is lit brightly by the sun, allowing you to see all it has to offer; soon after, the setting sun fills the skies with colour and shines warm hues on the scene; later, once the natural light is gone, the Sydney skyline becomes illuminated by the city lights. This cruise is the perfect kick-start to your weekend! Right now, take advantage of the limited time buy-one-get-one-half-price hot deal on these cruises!
 Lastly, all you true romantics out there, you may enjoy a bed and breakfast experience on the sea! Board a luxurious yacht for an evening of intimate indulgence. Enjoy the breeze and the lapping of the water, as well as the views of the lit Sydney Harbour, before anchoring on a secluded island; there, you will indulge in a gourmet dinner and spend the evening together. There is no better way to say I love you!
Choose any of these sailing trips and you will be aboard a state-of-the-art Hunter yacht. Boasting the newest fleet in Australia, Sydney by Sail’s entire fleet is under 12 months old. So, pack your cameras, bring a bottle of bubbly (BYO is welcomed) and explore the approximate 54 square kilometres of beautiful water in the harbour in comfort on a luxury yacht!
Book your Sydney sail here!
 Want to escape to a different reality—one where you act more like Jason Bourne or James Bond? Want a break from the boring routine? Need to release built-up tension from work? Suit up and shoot it out of your system! Experience Oz is proud to add paintballing to its extensive catalogue of things to do in Australia!
World Series Paintball is a premium paintball park network with locations around the country. With 10 options across Australia, including parks near Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth, it is easy to find a massive paintballing park to dominate near you! Each park offers several sessions a day, from 10 to close to 20, suitable for players of varying abilities and experience. From first-timers to dedicated competitors, there is a match for everyone.
 Even the most advanced players will play different matches to experience a variety of games and scenarios. For example, players in Brisbane have 10 themed fields set over 60 acres to choose from! As well, players in Melbourne are spoiled with the largest indoor park in the southern hemisphere! All of World Series Paintball’s large parks ensure the sport is kept exciting!
So, gather your buddies, suit up and load your guns with your pellets—you are about to experience extreme thrills! Be strategic, keep your head down and watch your back while stalking your enemies; then, pull the trigger, fire and conquer!
A tip to avoid disappointment: if you are 18 or under, make sure to check your state’s minimum age requirement before you purchase your paintballs.
Team up with your mates or go head-to-head—you will all love the rush of your paintball adventure!
Book your paintballing match here!
 On our second day in Sydney, after a morning Sydney Tower Skywalk, the ExperienceOz crew went for round two of thrills. We boarded the Red Shark, a power jet boat, and went for an adrenaline-pumping ride around the Sydney Harbour!
We met a group of fellow thrill seekers and the Oz Jet Boating crew at the Eastern Pontoon at Circular Quay, where we got suited up. We boarded the jet boat and the skipper first asked anyone who wanted to get wet to raise their hands; he smiled when all hands stayed planted on laps. He then taught us a few hand signals that would warn us when he was about to pull a stunt…and we were off, speeding out to sea!
Once out far enough, the skipper picked up the speed, then hastily power-break stopped, causing a giant wave of water to splash over everyone on board. Thank goodness for the waterproof suit!  Still, the hair and make-up were destroyed. At this point, we knew we were in for one extreme ride!
When we hit full throttle, we were amazed at the size of the tail behind us as we jumped over and nose-dived into the waves! Several times while we were zooming, it looked like we were going to crash into tall buoys, but at the last second, we’d turn sharply and knock them over with the back of the boat! At these high speeds, the hair was dry in no time.
The anticipation killed us every time the skipper counted down from three with his hands. 3…2…1…all passengers were flung to the right side of the boat as the skipper did an awesome 270 degree spin! Then to the left, then the right, then the left!
After a stunt-packed ride, we slowed down a bit to take in the many iconic sights of the Sydney Harbour, including the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Fort Denison, Rose Bay, Goat Island and Taronga Zoo, among many others. A jet boating ride is truly the most thrilling way to tour the stunning Sydney Harbour!
Book your Sydney jet boat ride 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!
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