Australia's Local Celebrities

If you are following Australia, current news of local celebrities are likely to catch your attention. As it is, there are actually a lot of famous and interesting people in the country. And here are a few of them that you definitely would want to meet.

As a start, Steve Irwin is probably one of the most popular Australians that the public knows, if you have been hiding under a rock for quite sometime, Steve Irwin is more popularly known as the Crocodile Hunter, which is his monicker in the popular wildlife show of the same name. Through the show, Irwin was able to do much to promote animal conservation to many of his viewers.

Sadly, Irwin died in 2006 due to a fatal encounter with a stingray. However, he has since been considered as a local hero in Australia and has been awarded various recognitions by many groups. The international community has also recognized his contributions to wildlife conservation and have also given him a wide variety of memorials.

Meanwhile, in the realm of films, there have been a lot of Australians that has been quite popular with the audience. One of perhaps the most well known in this field is actor Hugh Jackman. Jackman is best well known by movie fans for his portrayal of the superhero Wolverine in the X-Men franchise, as well as the monster hunter Van Helsing in the movie of the same name. The actor has since appeared in a wide variety of other films.

Another well known Australian is Bob Hawke. If you have been reading the news and history, as well as politics, books, then you already know that Hawke was the country's 23rd Prime Minister, serving from 1983 to 1991 under the Labor Party. But for trivia nuts, he is actually more than that. As it turns out, Hawke actually once held the Guinness Record for being the fastest beer drinker in the world, having downed two liters of the stuff in under 12 seconds during his younger years.

And here is someone that is definitely worth including in the list of famous people in the country: Mary O'Reeri. Well, you might not be all that familiar with her, but she is actually starting to make a name for herself in the land down under. In fact, she has been recognized by Western Australia as the state's local hero for this year for her advocacy on suicide awareness. And it is like that the whole country will be familiar with her soon, as she is a candidate to receive the Australian of the Year Award for 2010.

Australian Tourism Now On A Boom

With the economy in a high in Australia, tourist visa holders are now also starting to flock back. And it seems to be going even better, as the country is also starting to attract other markets into its fold. And this is what is making people in the tourism industry jump for joy nowadays.

It can be recalled that tourism numbers dropped significantly during the financial crisis of 2007. as many countries' economies slowed down, a lot of people opted to save their money instead of using it to travel abroad. This, in turn, had an effect on popular tourist destinations like Australia, as the tourist numbers significantly dropped.

With the world emerging from the crisis early this year, many tourists have started to regain confidence in traveling, and thus started to flock back. In the month of July alone, the number of tourist arrivals have hit a high, posting around 180,000 arrivals, which is considerably higher than the numbers posted in the same period last year.

And it is an interesting thing to take note that the mix of tourists are also starting to diversify. While there are still a large number of people coming in from the Western world, most notably those from the United Kingdom and America, they are now being joined by leisure travelers coming from Asia. The biggest numbers here would be those from China, which had more than 50,000 arrivals during that period.

This growth is indicative that Australia is starting to capture the fancy of more travelers. And those in the tourism industry, as well as other related industries, are very much welcoming of the development. For instance, China Southern Airlines, one of the largest carriers in Asia, is planning to schedule additional flights to Australia in order to accommodate the number of Chinese tourists coming into the country.

The Australian government itself is also intending to make the most out of the current tourism boom in the country. Tourism Australia, the government's foremost agency with regards to tourism, has recently launched the Nothing Like Australia promotion campaign, aimed at attracting more visitors from other countries. And by the looks of it, it seems that the campaign is working, as indicated by the increasing number of tourists.

As for the tourists themselves, Australia presents so many opportunities for travel. For those who will be in the country for the first time, there are a lot of interesting sights and activities waiting for them. And for those who have already been here several times, there are still a lot of new things to see and discover.

Some Alternative Spots To Visit In Australia

For those who have an Australian travel visa and visit the country a lot, going to the same places over and over again can get quite boring. After all, you can only do so much in one place. Luckily though, the Land Down Under has tons of places that you can head to.

So, where can you head to for a more unique vacation? Here are some of the places that you might want to head to for your next vacation. Note that you won't find attractions like Uluru or the Whitsundays here because they are already quite too familiar (and you have probably visited them already).

Forty One Restaurant, Sydney

If you are hungry, then you can head to one of the several hundred restaurants around the city of Sydney. But this one is also something that you might want to see if you are a movie or sci-fi fan. Why so? Well, if you have already watched the film Matrix (then again, who haven't?), then you will likely recognized this restaurant at the top of the Chifley Tower. This is where one of the movie's crucial scenes was shot. And by the way, the food they serve are really great.

Obelisk Beach, Sydney

Since Sydney is located at the coast of the continent, there are many beaches here. But the Obelisk Beach on the southern part of the Middle Head National Park will surely be an interesting place to visit. This beach is actually one of only three legal nudist beaches in the city. This means that you can go literally skinny dipping without care about others. And of course, if you are shy to go all the way, you are still welcomed to take a dip here.

Mt. Augustus, Western Australia

If you are an avid hiker or mountaineer, consider this one as heaven. Mount Augustus is one of the most beautiful rock features in Western Australia. And since it is quite near the city of Perth, then you can easily visit this one on the go. The mountain is often compared to Uluru since they have the same features, though Mt. Augustus is twice as large as Uluru.

Bicheno, Tasmania

This one is a definitely must for animal lovers. Every year, penguins do their regular move to the shores and this has been known as the Bicheno Penguin Parade. Here, you will get the chance to see hundreds of these cute birds as they hang out at the beach. This one will surely be a wonderful sight to see.

Some Party Spots You Might Want To head To In Australia

When heading to Australia, travel visa holders would often want to party. And often, the partying would go up into the night. Luckily, there are a lot of great nightspots that you can visit in the country. Here are some of them that you might want to head to on your next night out.

New South Wales

When in New South Wales, the city of Sydney is probably the first one you will visit. And you will be in luck here, since there are dozens of great bars and restaurants that you can head to when partying. For your first stop, you can head to the Water Bar in the Woolloomooloo suburbs. The food here is really great and there are a lot of drinks for you to choose from. And if you are a jazz lover, then this is also the right place for you, as several jazz bands perform here regularly.

Not surprisingly, the Sydney Opera House is another great venue for those partying at dusk. There are actually several bars and restaurants here that you can frequent, which also brings in a lot of other people. And of course, if you want a theater performance to cap the night, several theater companies regularly perform here for the audience.

South Australia

For those going down south, the capital city of Adelaide is also a good place to head to when looking for places to hang out. One of the stops that you can visit is the Adelaide Festival Center there are several dining areas that you can head to here if you want some to grab some food. And just like the Opera house in Sydney, you will also be able to watch some great performances at the several theaters in the Center.

For party-goers, the Exeter Hotel is a great place to visit. The hotel features several bars that you can hang out in and hosts an exciting multitude of crowds that party till the early morning. The Austral is also another great one to head to for those wanting a great dinner and drink, and it is also suitably located.

Queensland

For those looking for a tropical night out, then the Gold Coast is the right one for you. The Cooly Hotel is a great place for those looking for live music performances, with some of the state's top bands playing nightly. And if you prefer partying at the beach, there are plenty of bars located along the coast and open till the wee hours of the morning.

Great Queensland Beaches That You Can Visit

Queensland is often referred to by many people as the Sunshine State. And as it is, the monicker is definitely an apt one. With a climate that's sunny almost all year round, a lot of Australia tourist visa holders travel to the state to relax and enjoy the sun.

And since this is Queensland that is being talked about, one thing that many people come here for are the beaches. In fact, you really can't talk about the state without mentioning the many beaches scattered across its coast. And so, here are some of them that you definitely must visit.

Surfers' Paradise
One of the most visited regions in Queensland, Surfers' Paradise is actually a string of beaches, instead of a single one, that line up the Gold Coast suburb of the same name. The Main Beach is the most popular spot here, with a lot of people in the water on a daily basis. And true to its name, the place is definitely a haven for surfers. Though the waves are really not that spectacular, they still give a pretty good challenge for those who want to ride them.

Burleigh Heads
if you are really a surfing fanatic, then Burleigh Heads is definitely a place that you must visit. Just a few minutes drive from the nearby Surfers' Paradise, the area's waves are practically rideable all year round. Another plus factor to those who visit here is that the beach is much less crowded than other surf spots in the country. Aside from surfing, the beach also offers an overall relaxing experience in its shores.

Whitsundays
The Whitsunday Islands, or simply Whitsundays, are definitely great for those who want to have a more exciting beach escape. The islands are located off the central coast of Queensland and offers a relaxing getaway from all the going-ons in the mainland. All the islands have fine sand beaches, which makes them very ideal fro simply strolling around. And since the islands are surrounded by the Great Barrier Reef, they offer a good jump off point for scuba divers who want to explore the region. There are also tons of other activities that one can try out here, like boating, island hopping, and trekking.

Nudey Beach
A beach with a rather interesting name, Nudey Beach is located on Fitzroy Island, just off the eastern coast of Cairns. Getting to the island is relatively easy, as there are several ferries that go there from Cairns on a regular basis. However, you might be a bit disappointed when you arrive here. Though the name indeed suggests it, there are actually only a few beachgoers that do go all the way off their clothes here (though it is not prohibited). Nevertheless, Nudey Beach offers a great shoreline where you can enjoy wading in the water all day long.

More Ways To Travel Australia

One of the things that many Australian travel visa holders like about the country is that there is a lot to see and do here. However, if you do travel a lot to the land down under, then you have probably seen a lot of the most popular sites. And the tours offered by travel companies often offer you basically the same thing and get old very fast.

Thus, you are probably wondering if there still other ways to get the most out of your stay in here. Luckily, there are actually a lot of other ways that you can go around and explore Australia. And many of these will give you a great experience that you would often not get with tour packages. Here are some suggestion that you might want to consider and try out on your next vacation.

Surprisingly, walking is actually first on the list. Some people might be thinking that this one is such a crazy idea, considering how hot the Australian climate is. However, traveling on foot is actually a very popular means of exploring the country, such that a lot of tourist eagerly arrive in the country for a backpack trip.

Strictly speaking, you don't actually walk all the way during your trip (doing so will make you drop dead after just a hundred kilometers). However, you will be doing just that for the most part. Here, you will be able to enjoy all the scenery of Australia even more, as you get to travel at your own pace.

And if you want something a little bit faster, then you can go out on a bicycle tour across the country. There are actually a lot of bicycle trails that crisscross the lands here, some even taking you from one end of the continent to the other. Here, you have two options, you can either have your own bike for travel or rent one and drop it off at stopover points to get another. Not only will this get you to most places, it will also actually be a very healthy experience, both physically and mentally.

Australia's numerous rivers and streams are also another great way of going across the continents. Ferries and cruise liners plow through the waters regularly, and since most of the cities in Australia are actually within the banks of a river, you can easily catch them wherever you are. And for those who want a more solitary means of travel here, kayaking is also fast becoming a popular activity, with many travelers often going through all the effort of bringing their own kayaking gear just to explore the country.

And this is actually just the tip of the whole story. There are a lot of other ways to go around Australia. And you will probably use up all of your time trying all of them.

Get Convenient Valentine Deals by Visiting Australia

You are probably busy right now working with your travel visa to Australia for a short visit. Well, keep going because Valentine's Day is approaching. Plus, here is another news that can spice up immigration to Australia, something that can put more weight with your Australia visa application. Australian hotels are offering their best deals, intended to sympathize with the atmosphere brought by the month of February. These offers are especially created for couples planning for a romantic getaway.

Australian hotels are really known for quality and elegance, and now that St. Valentin's special day is coming, they've just made their service even better. And from an online new provider, news.com.au, here is a list of hotels in Australia where you can enjoy the very special day and seize even until the end of the month. You can visit them by applying immediately for tourist visa for Australia, or you can go for an Australian ETA visa to get it the fastest as humanly possible.

Stamford, Brisbane- This is one of the five star hotel in the country. You can save up to 25 percent off when you go for a full rate of a room, along with a Valentine's Day package. The offer is called Romance and Seduction Package. This includes kind bed accommodation, a scented and candle lit room, French champagne, chocolate dipped strawberries and canapes, bottle of wine personalised with your love message, room service breakfast and late checkout 1pm. You can get the same offer in the Sir Stamford Circular Quay, Sydney Branch.

Reef View Hotel- This is found in Hamilton Island. All that you will get is a perfect sight of portions of the Great Barrier Reef. Book now for only $909 per person than includes breakfasts, twilight sail, dinner and airport transfers.

Sofitel Sydney Wentworth- The hotel is offering the “Air of Romance” package. The offer is composed of the breakfast in bed service, champagne and late check out at 4pm.

Sebel Playford Adelaide- Their Valentine packages start from $195. The Cupid Special offer includes a romantic night's accommodation with matching wine and house made chocolate. Such a very sweet treat to your sweet love.

Sofitel Fiji- Spend the entire week in this soothing and world class hotel for only &849 per person. The price includes the airfare, waterfront views, breakfasts and dinner.

Novotel Perth Langley- The hotel has a “Naughty but Nice” package. Sounds fun right? This offer includes accommodation in a Jacuzzi suite with a king bed, sparkling wine, oysters, a tempting gift to your room, and a complimentary in-house movie.

Hotel Windsor, Melbourne- Lucky in Love is the name of their package. You can get up to 45% off in a full rate. The package is composed of king bed, room service breakfast for two, chocolate dipped strawberries and a bottle of Sparkling Rose on arrival.

Four Seasons Hotel- This will give you the perfect view of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. Your unit will be surrounded by candles and rose petals, and you will be served with champagne, oyster and trout suckling pig and chicken, as well as a delicious chocolate and strawberry-themed dessert. You will get up to 25 percent discount on some packages.

Secret Hotel Deal, Sydney- Spend some exclusive days at the hotel in Sydney's CBD. The secret here is that the rates are very low and convenient. You can only get a room through early bookings. And that is also only the time that you will see the hotel.

Other hotels that are advisable to visit are Sea Temple Cove in Queensland, Park Hyatt and Como Hotel in Melbourne, Radisson Plaza Hotel in Sydney, Rydges South Bank in Brisbane and Hotel Grand Chancellor in Adelaide.

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