 Early morning last Friday, two of us set off on a two-hour calm water sail to an island resort! We plopped ourselves on a few bean bag chairs at the bow of the boat and enjoyed the breeze in our faces and gorgeous Gold Coast Broadwater views, including several dolphin sightings! Along the way, our tour guides provided us with homemade scones and coffee and shared with us interesting histories of the area and of the ship.
The authentic 85-foot spacious tall ship, weighing 70 tonnes, is a beautiful boat with a rich and interesting history. The stunning ship is named Sir Henry Morgan after the famous pirate that inspired the popular Hollywood character, Jack Sparrow.
She was originally built in 1970 by a retired New Zealand naval architect, who wished to sail around the world with his wife. After the maiden voyage from Auckland to Sydney,  his wife soon realised she gets seasick. As our quirky guide Khan explained, “After one day of being seasick, you think you’re going to die; after two days of being seasick, you wish you were dead.”
Choosing his wife over his sailing adventure, the architect sold it to an infamous drug dealer who transformed Sir Henry Morgan into a drug trafficking ship, an illegal casino and a brothel. When the police who were not invited to the party came after the tall ship, the crew, in attempts to escape, set fire to her.
The Gold Coast Tallship Cruises crew salvaged Sir Henry Morgan, completely rebuilding and refurbishing it. Since 1994, she has sailed many happy travelers through the Broadwaters to South Stradbroke Island, where the company has its own island resort, McLarens Landing.
We were impressed by the authentic island feel the resort had. There, we enjoyed lounging in a hammock on the beach, feeding wild wallabies, hiking and playing beach volleyball. In addition to the kayaks and paddleboats available for free use, there are optional, reasonably priced activities available, such as speed boat rides, tube rides, jet ski hire and seaplane tours.
Lunch was a delicious BBQ buffet; we were able to choose from fish, chicken or steak (cooked to order) for the main event and loaded our plates with roasted potatoes, three types of salad and bread from the buffet. To accompany our meal, we grabbed a couple of strawberry daiquiris from the tiki-style bar, before sitting down to enjoy the live entertainment.
 We thought Khan was joking when he got on stage, but he proved to be one talented singer—and a very good sport. Upon requests, our tall, handsome guide even performed “My Humps” by Fergie and “Single Ladies” by Beyonce—complete with entertaining dance moves!
As the half day tour joined us at the island for lunch, we were given the option to take the Fast Cat, a large catamaran, or Sir Henry Morgan home. For some variety, we opted for the Fast Cat, which granted us more time on the island before zooming us home in 30 minutes! These Tall Ship Cruises and island adventures make for great days out on the Gold Coast!
 Book your tall ship adventure 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!
 BuzzSaw, it’s a Ripper of a Ride, they say and they do not lie. Dreamworld, one of the Gold Coast‘s top theme parks, has added the high-speed roller coaster with the tallest inversion in the Southern Hemisphere and the second tallest in the world to its Big 7 Thrill Rides. BuzzSaw opened just in time for the September school holidays last weekend and has already stirred plenty of screams and thrills, including those of the Experience Oz crew.
As we crept through Dreamworld’s smoke-filled town of Gold Rush on our way to BuzzSaw, several ghostly figures explained why the town is so eerie. After the 1800s great gold rush, the town turned to timber to save its economy. One evening, Jack Darke, a quiet sawmill worker, tried to stop other workers from setting the mill on fire and, during the scuffle, was killed by the giant buzz saw.
To protect their men, the town’s lifeblood, locals covered up this story, telling others poor Jack Darke was the one who attempted to burn down the sawmill when he fell into the buzz saw’s path. While the sawmill has been closed since, you’ll often hear the buzz saw start up; as well, on nights like the one he was killed, Jark Darke returns for revenge.
Spooked from the story and from the screams from the huge roller coaster  towering over us, the Experience Oz team nervously waited to board the BuzzSaw. Forced to watch the car before us zoom past at 105kph, our nerves were wracked worse with bittersweet anticipation.
Our turn. 12 riders, two to a row, bravely hopped into the open carriages and got secured—with nothing more than a single lap bar. The suspense built quickly as we headed up the completely vertical track; at 46m above the ground, we were flipped, dangling upside down, suddenly feeling very exposed as our bodies hung on only our waist harnesses.
And we were off! High above the ground, we flew down the steel track, through a 360-degree heart roll and down a 90-degree drop at top speeds of 105kph. With so much momentum, we zoomed past the launch pad, back up the steep climb, then backwards up the opposite hill. On your way back, suddenly, the ride car was caught by the chain on the vertical climb and we were slowly lowered back into the station.
Relieved to plant our feet on the ground again, our hearts were pumping and ear-to-ear grins were plastered across all of our faces! It took some coaxing, but we convinced one of our team member’s to try the BuzzSaw, her first roller coaster—and she is officially hooked! BuzzSaw is truly 150m and 50 seconds of pure adrenaline not to be missed!
The opening of BuzzSaw has helped Dreamworld celebrate its 30th birthday this year! Be sure to try out its Big 7 Thrill Rides, including Cyclone, Mick Doohan’s Motorcoaster, Tower of Terror II, Wipeout, The Claw, The Giant Drop and, of course, the menacing BuzzSaw…if you dare!
Buy your theme park pass here!
 Join the drivers of the Gold Coast 600 for Lunch! Gear up for a revved up October on the Gold Coast. The Armor All Gold Coast 600 will see our V8 Supercar Champions joined by 28 high profile international drivers in one of the most unique formats in world motorsport. An event being held at Jupiters Hotel & Casino Gold Coast will give you the chance to meet and mingle with the drivers over lunch as they prepare to contest the Armor All Gold Coast 600.
Your ticket will include lunch and beverages (XXXX beers, wine, soft drinks and juice), 2011 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 winners interviewed on stage, select V8 Supercar Drivers and their international co-drivers talk about their race preparation for the streets of Surfers Paradise, pre-lunch mingle session with V8 Supercar Drivers and their international drivers, driver meet and greet autograph session and meet the V8 Supercar Chillettes.
For bookings click here. No booking fee’s or credit card charges apply! Individual tickets or discounts for Tables of 10 are available.
Get to Sea World during these September school holidays and catch the exciting new jet ski stunt show, Jet Stunt Extreme! After a successful run over last Christmas, this awesome live performance has returned to the Sea World Lake!
Opening weekend revealed that this show has improved, now featuring more ramps, a rail slide and more big industry names! Catch some of the world’s most talented competitive jet ski riders perform in this adrenaline-filled show! Your jaw will drop as you watch these performers defy gravity with huge aerial flips, awesome jumps and other extreme stunts!
 You’ll get to see the world’s best jet ski performers, including the first Australian Flat Water Freestyle champion and former X Games Gold Medal Winner Jon Cooke and 20-year-old Lee Stone; regarded as the world’s most skilled freestyle jet ski rider, Stone has earned three British titles, three European titles, and four World titles.
Jet Stunt Extreme has two showings a day, so head to the Sea World Lake and prepare to hang on the edge of your seat! The best way to see this visually spectacular show is with a Theme Park VIP Pass. This pass not only enables you to see this awesome, high energy show, but also grants you unlimited access to the Gold Coast’s top three theme parks—Sea World, Movie World, and Wet ‘n’ Wild—until June 30, 2012! Get in on the extreme fun today!
Buy your theme park pass here!
 Crikey! Australia Zoo is charging through boundaries! The Zoo is extending its grounds to just under 100 acres and is bringing the only giraffes, zebras and rhino calf to Queensland with its new African Safari exhibit—opening tomorrow!
This open-range African exhibit is bringing Steve Irwin’s dream to fruition. He dreamt of opening a park where several species would live freely together on open plains, granting the public an opportunity to observe the animals interact as they would in the wild.
Tomorrow, just in time for the September school holidays, Steve’s vision will be seen. From the comfort of a Safari Shuttle, you will be able to watch exotic animals roam and interact as they explore a massive, beautifully and authentically designed 24-acre savannah.
An ear-to-ear smile will grow as you watch Savannah, a cute rhino calf, play with six other adult Southern White Rhinos—Queensland’s only breeding group of Rhinos! You’ll be amazed by the park’s three giraffes, Rosie, Penny and Forrest, as they graze the grounds and nab leaves from trees with their bright blue tongues! You will also enjoy marveling at cheetahs and zebras exploring replicated natural habitats.
Soon to be Australia Zoo’s largest exhibit, the huge African Safari exhibit has demanded extensive preparation. The construction and design team has been busy building intricate fencing systems, laying roads in the plains, sculpturing themed pieces, such as a drinking hole and tress that reflect the native Boabab Tree in Africa, and building shelters out of mock rock to create an authentic African feel.
Boarding the Safari Shuttle and experiencing this exciting new African adventure is included in the price of regular admission. Get your tickets and go wild at Australia Zoo!
Buy your Australia Zoo tickets here!
 A premier Australian festival, the Brisbane Festival, just passed its half way mark. Make sure to get your dose of culture at one of the festival’s fun and inspirational daily events before it ends on September 24th.
Developed in 1996, this annual cultural event is designed to foster the arts. For the first three weeks in September, Brisbane plays host to acclaimed international and Australian artists. The festival programme consists of four world premieres, five Australian premieres and eleven international productions. Everyday, productions from all areas of the arts are filling concert halls, parks, theatres, galleries and public spaces across the city.
From circus acts to classical music concerts to modern art displays, there is something to interest everyone. Catch a few of the highlights this weekend, Maria de Buenos Aires,  a riveting tango performance, an outdoor performance by rock band Custard, and a unique performance by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and virtuoso pianist, Nikolai Demidenko.
Further, be sure to take advantage of the many free events, such as the Santos City of Lights. Head to the South Bank Parklands to marvel at bright, colourful lights and lasers bursting from skyscraper rooftops, the river and bridges to the tune of dramatic music.
While you are embracing the Brisbane Festival, explore more of what the city has to offer. For a fun way to discover Brisbane, spend a couple hours climbing the iconic Story Bridge on an Adventure Climb. You may also enjoy taking a scenic cruise down the Brisbane River; you will be dropped off in South Bank, where you can take a ride of the Wheel of Brisbane. There are a number of day tours that help you explore Brisbane in unique ways.
If you are able to attend the Brisbane Festival over the next week and a half, we hope you enjoy it! In the words of Festival Artistic Director Noel Staunton: “Art has no boundaries… I urge everyone to show no fear, try something new, and embrace the unique experiences that Festival time in Brisbane is set to offer.”
Book your Brisbane experiences 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!
Get ready to be scared……really scared. This is not suitable for children under 14, so make sure you bring a spare change of undies!
Halloween Fright Nights at Warner Bros Movie World on the Gold Coast will once again host the annual Fright Nights during the month of October. Opening after dark, be greeted (or scared!) by characters from famous horror movies, one of which is SAW. Once again this year, the SAW Maze will have you shaking in your boots with every turn presenting a new scene of horrific proportions.
There will also be a Batman themed part, only…Batman is not to be found and the insane characters of the Gotham City Asylum and The Jokers henchmen are let loose to terrorise the park. Also check out the frightening entretainment each night with the Les Damned de Burlesque in the Main street, Circus of the Damned in the Hollywood Stunt Driver arena, and the dark and seedy Club Blood, an age restricted bar area with a Gothic DJ, alcohol and Sexy Cage dancers.
VIP Pass Gold holders will receive one FREE entry to Fright Nights as part of their pass! This has never been offered before and is a great deal at $149.99 (Normal VIP Pass is $109.99).
This is an event not to be missed! Bookings will be available soon for October or purchase your VIP Gold Pass now which includes one free entry to Fright Nights.
Buy your theme park tickets here!
 As one of the 25 travel websites nominated, ExperienceOz attended the third annual TRAVELtech Amadeus Web Awards in Sydney on August 29, 2011—and we were honoured to be recognised as one of Australia’s top ten travel websites!
Through careful research, TRAVELtech officials compiled a list of Australia’s 25 leading travel sites. An independent, autonomous group of judges used five criteria—usability, design, utility, content, sense of purpose, traffic, and usefulness—to narrow this list to the top ten, which were announced at the event earlier this week.
Giving our website high scores on these criteria, the judges named ExperienceOz one of the top ten travel websites in Australia.
While currently a smaller operation, ExperienceOz ranked above big tourism names such as Qantas, Virgin Australia, Webjet and many others. We are proud to have done so well in this very competitive field!
Earning this prestigious recognition after only two years of existence reveals the rapid growth ExperienceOz has experienced since its launch in 2009. ExperienceOz, developed and managed on the Gold Coast, now serves over 2000 tours and activities Australia wide and is looking forward to further advancement through direct and affiliate channels.
Following this year’s tongue in cheek conference theme, “Best of Enemies”, we would like to congratulate all of the other winners, including Ski.com.au, Jetstar, Worldnomads, Wotif, PlayMelbourne.com.au, Hotelscombined, Viator, Jetabroad and, in the top spot, VroomVroomVroom. Congrats to all!
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