Port Stephens

 Port Stephens, Australia, is one of the world’s most exciting and beautiful destinations. Located on the southeastern tip of the continent, the Port Stephens peninsula is surrounded by volcanic hills and clear blue ocean waters. The area’s unique location makes it the perfect vacation destination for those interested in aquatic activities, as well as those wishing to see new marine life, experience authentic regional cuisine, or just relax on the shore of the earth’s most beautiful beaches.

 The breathtaking views alone make Port Stephens a paradise in and of itself, but there is much more to this port than just its beaches.

• Tanilba House boasts breathtaking views from one of the oldest historical homes in Australia.
• Dizzyland Event Park, a family oriented amusement park with rides and attractions including stage shows, picnic areas, snack stands, a giant slide and 18 hole putt putt course.
• The Australian Shark and Ray Centre, which showcases a hands on activity where you can feed the sharks or rays while standing in the water

pictures taken from : http://blog.naver.com/matahari80?Redirect=Log&logNo=30123500152

Blue Mountains

Blue Mountains, listed as a world heritage site. A place located in Sydney, that many people may or may not know. A place that a has history, sight seeing, a place to have some healthy exercise - Blue Mountains is the place to go!

Blue Mountains, located far away from the city, but many tours provides transportation that can head to the Blue Mountains. Without tours, help, you can easily head to the Blue Mountains through the trains from Central, at Sydney CBD. One of the distinctive feature of Blue Mountains is the Three Sisters, located at "Echo Point". While looking towards the Three Sisters, you are also able to look towards the endless blue Sydney Sky. Which can be seen from the picture below.

                                                                                             

Moreover, besides the Three Sisters main attraction, you are also able to do some bush walking through the selected path routes, and you are also able to see beautiful waterfall under the cliffs.After the walk downwards, their is an easy scenic railway to head back up, after a long walk. There are different paths to start walking from, either from the scenic railway side or from the echo point, The most common way is to start from the echo point, walk down the cliff and towards the bush walk.The Blue Mountains is a day out for all ages, a healthy and enjoyable exercise while looking through some nice scenery.

picture from: http://www.oztrek.com.au/

This video below, is an example of how the Three Sisters look:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1d7HvUA1_g8&hd=1

Mount Penang Gardens

Mt Penang Gardens is the Australian native garden, where you can go wild. It has 12 different garden rooms, pick up some ideas of your home, or help solve your problem park. The best way to enjoy the garden is to take self-guided tours, or a small group of friends together to book a tour. Guided garden tour for the great showing of the best Australian native plants and demonstrate the unique contemporary Chinese landscape architecture. The trip takes about two hours, involving all the senses.Seize the attractive garden design of some of the tips and techniques used in water-saving plants from our garden guide specifically small to bring your cameras, umbrellas, hats, sun screen, insect repellent and water.

Special Offer:  $2.00 entry into the Mt Penange Gardens during winter.  Saveup to $5.50*
Discount voucher is included in the 2012 Official Guide to the Central Coast.  To order your copy of the guide call 02 4343 4444 or email:  info@centralcoasttourism.com.au.

Standard Entry prices:

• Adult $7.50
• Child Rate $3.50
• Concession Rate $5.00
• Children under 5 years admitted free.
• A family pass is $18.00, which is for 2 adults and 3 children.

 Group Rates (10 people or more):

• Adult $6.95
• Child Rate $3.00
• Concession Rate $4.50
• Children under 5 years admitted free.

Telephone: 02 4340 1002
Location: Parklands Rd, Mt Penang Parklands, KARIONG NSW 2250

Opening Hours: 9:30am to 4:30pm daily; CLOSED Christmas Day & Boxing Day

Information from http://www.visitcentralcoast.com.au/activities/land-activities/mt-penang-gardens

The Entrance

Approximately a hundred kilometres north of Sydney, The Entrance is surrounded by some of the best beaches in the Central Coast. There's North Entrance Beach - a strip frequented by those who prefer the quiet, as well as dog lovers and fishing aficionados. The beach at Toowoon Bay has been acclaimed several times as the cleanest beach and thought of as best for families; it also has a café, lots of parking, a BBQ area, and changing rooms nearby. Shelly Beach is a favourite of surfers and holidaymakers alike.

The Pelican Feeding is featured daily and for free at the waterfront area. Rain or shine, at 330pm on any given day, pelicans gather for their feeding and to give spectators an up-close and personal experience with them.

Somersby Falls

Somersby Falls, This short walk starts from the Somersby Falls picnic area and follows the series of waterfalls along Floods Creek. The picnic area provides barbeques, picnic tables, toilets and ample parking. This walk could make part of a great family day out in the area. The main falls drop onto a large rock platform and are best viewed after rain. It located in approximately 70 kilometers from Sydney, not far from Gosford, Central Coast, NSW.It is a short walk around 20min.


The waterfall is so close to the car park from where you can hear.The trail down to look out, then to the base of Somersby Falls. If you follow the track down to the river, you will reach a sign of "track and field stop here" . From there you can get the base of the waterfall. Be careful may be the rock is very slippery, especially the green moss cover. 

 

La Perouse

Opera House? Centre Point Tower? Cliched? How about La Perouse? You may not have heard of this place, but it’s one of Sydney Unique places that consists of a beautiful sea view, a small beach and some nice sea food stores along the beach to satisfy a nice day or night out. La Perouse is a 30minute trip away from the city by catching the bus (393 bus route). This bus can be easily caught from Central Station. La Perouse was also used to film Mission Impossible 2, starring Tom Cruise. But the sea view from this place gives a nice and relaxed atmosphere while lying on the grass. Along with a nice sunny day, this is one of the under rated places that tourists miss out on visiting before leaving Sydney !

The Island, Where Mission Impossible 2 was used to film.

 

A Panorama View of the La Perouse Sea View

Hunter Valley

A day in the Hunter Valley

  For lovers of vino and la dolce vita, the Hunter Valley north of Sydney is awaiting you with a welcome bottle of some of Australia’s best wines and fine dining experiences. The Hunter Valley regularly tops the list of most popular holiday destinations in Australia offering a range of luxurious attractions that will revive your spirit. The Hunter Valley region is the perfect place to escape the big city and bright lights for a vacation or a simple weekend getaway. It is located a mere 50 kilometres from Newcastle and only an hour and a half drive north of Sydney making it easily accessible from anywhere in the country.

There is plenty to do in the Hunter Valley, which makes it one of the most enjoyable and romantic destinations to be found anywhere around Australia.

 map of Hunter Valley

 Winery

<Taken at 13.14.2012>

The Grand Pacific Drive

Grand Pacific Drive

The Grand Pacific Drive  guiding  through the significance of each region along the drive. The reassurance signs provide a list of key locations and distances along the drive ensuring drivers don’t miss the iconic spots along the way!

Bald Hill

Bald Hill one of the most spectacular lookouts on the drive,you can spend some time soaking up the atmosphere before heading down the cliff hugging roads hanging above the ocean. With the 665 metre Sea Cliff Bridge a highlight, enjoy the amazing driving scenery, quaint coastal villages and uninterrupted views of the ocean

Sea Cliff Bridge

Sea Cliff Bridge, is a balanced cantilever bridge, located in northern Illawarra region. The Sea Cliff bridge to connect Coalcliff and Clifton coastal villages. Two-lane traffic, bike paths and walkways, the Sea Cliff Bridge, with spectacular views

Wollongong Lighthouse

The Wollongong Breakwater Lighthouse, also known as the Wollongong Harbour Lighthouse, a historic lighthouse located in the south of Wollongong harbor breakwater. Wollongong is the only place in eastern Australia, there are two lighthouses located close to each other, the other end of Lighthouse Wollongong. No longer used, the lighthouse resume operation in 2002, and lists a formal heritage buildings.

Nan Tien temple

Nan Tien Temple (Chinese: 南天寺) is a Buddhist temple complex located in suburban industrial Berkeley, about 80 kilometers south of the southern suburbs of Wollongong, Australia city of Sydney. The term Nantian is Chinese, which means "southern paradise".

Layout

The above picture is the layout our team that originally want to have as our layout for our blog. Most of these aspects were transported to the actually blog. Therefore, it will look similar to our actual blog. Also, for our layout we wanted our blog posts to be seen at centre left position, and information about our group, gadgets and blog archive on the right. We haven't use any gadgets yet, but we will use some gadgets to implement later in our blogs. For our blog we will utilize light and bright colours and so will the background image to make the blog site look lively. Also, our background image will also be related to travel.