Travel Horizons: Australia

Showing posts with label Australia. Show all posts

7.30.2020

travel souvenirs — part 7

I've been twice to Australia over the past four years. Nearly as large in area as the United States, its total population is about the same as Florida.

Australia offers natural beauty to appeal to all travelers.

The Great Barrier Reef offers some of the world's most amazing snorkeling.
The Blue Mountains and Kangaroo Island offer abundant opportunities to witness Australia's marsupials in the wild.
Uluru (also known as Ayers Rock), the massive natural outcropping in the very center of the continent, has an almost mystical quality if you visit at sunrise (see my photo below) or sunset.

The souvenir pictured above is a piece of aboriginal art that our group leader gave me during our Swain Destinations tour in 2016. Claire and I had the chance to visit Uluru in 2019. Do drop in to the art shop in the Visitors Center. While there, I watched an aboriginal artist create a painting in the same style, filling her outline entirely with dots of paint.

Uluru at Sunrise (c) 2020 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

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copyright (c) 2020 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel,

email me

7.11.2020

travel souvenirs — part 3

We are still sheltering in place in Northern California. With foreign adventures off the table, I've been fondly recalling some of my favorite travel experiences over the past few years. Looking at souvenirs I've brought home has been a great a way to remember the many wonderful places I've been privileged to visit.

One afternoon, after lunch in Adelaide, Australia, we had time to look (and shop) at the arts and crafts exposition right by the restaurant. Thank you to Swain Destinations for arranging this stop on our 2016 trip. A leatherworker was on hand, making and selling kangaroo leather belts. I thought the belt shown above was quite attractive. He sized it exactly for my waist, and I've been wearing it ever since.

But the best souvenirs are always photographs that I take myself. I combine my best photos each year in a book of travel photography that I give family members for Christmas. On the cover of my 2019 book is a shot of the Sydney Opera House. We stayed at the Park Hyatt Sydney for this return trip. The hotel, located directly across the harbour from the Opera House, is the perfect place to stay if you want to go to the harbour at 5 a.m. to capture sunrise images.

I'd love to return to Australia for a third visit. Melbourne is high on the bucket list for my next trip.

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copyright (c) 2020 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

1.13.2020

Australia needs our support

We are all aware of the ongoing bushfires in Australia. They have been all over the news, but it's important to know where they are burning. One of my travel partners, based in North Queensland, writes this:

We are totally unaffected by the bushfires currently causing havoc in the south. We are seeing clients cancelling travel unnecessarily due to media coverage.

Only two areas often visited by international visitors have been affected — Kangaroo Island and the Blue Mountains.

Sydney, Melbourne and other major cities, Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rainforest, Great Ocean Road, Winelands, Uluru, the Kimberley and more are unaffected.

Affected areas — Kangaroo Island is a small island, 100 miles south of Adelaide (I have circled it on the map above). The Wolgan Valley, in the Blue Mountains, is 115 miles west of Sydney.

Unaffected areas — The Great Barrier Reef is 1200 miles north of Sydney. Uluru (Ayers Rock) is 1260 miles west of Sydney. Would you cancel a trip to Chicago, Illinois because of fires burning in Key West, Florida, 1243 miles away?

The fires have been tragic. An estimated one billion animals have perished in the blazes, and their natural habitat has been destroyed. Southern Ocean Lodge has been totally destroyed, but Baillie Lodges is committed to rebuilding.

Australia needs our tourism support to assist in its rebuilding. Don't cancel your trip at a time when it's most needed. Travel instead to areas unaffected by the fires. Australia is a vast nation, virtually the same size as the continental United States ... and a most incredible place to visit.

10.31.2019

where to stay in Sydney, Australia

I have stayed at three different hotels during my various visits to Sydney, Australia. During the most recent visit (earlier this month), we spent three days ensconced at the beautiful Park Hyatt Sydney. We were fortunate to be upgraded to a Deluxe Opera room, really the size of a Junior Suite. Our room boasted a direct view of the iconic Sydney Opera House. Large and beautiful, it was decorated with the cool contemporary styling you'd expect of Park Hyatt. Ask for #343, located at the section of the building's curve with the best, dead-on view of the Opera House.

I'm partial to staying in or near The Rocks, the neighborhood of Sydney in which the first British settlers built their homes and businesses. As you can see in the picture to the left, Four Seasons Sydney is adjacent to The Rocks. I highly recommend booking a Premier Opera House room here, twice as large as Deluxe rooms for just a small premium in price. You'll love the panoramic views — the Sydney Harbour Bridge at your left and the Opera House on the right. If you visit during Vivid Sydney, you'll enjoy the colorful light show right from your room.

Highly recommended is the Langham Sydney, also located in the Rocks. The Langham features a more residential, less corporate feel. It is set on an historic street in the midst of dozens of original houses and shops. Its interior has recently been renovated, and guest rooms feature the largest King beds I've ever seen. While you will not have an opera house view from any of the rooms, I loved the sense of place and the pleasure of stepping out the front door into the most historic part of town.

Virtuoso and preferred partner amenities are available at each of these hotels — meaning you'll receive complimentary daily breakfasts for two, $100 credits, and room upgrades if they are available.

copyright (c) 2019 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

10.13.2019

wild bush luxury in northern Australia

Bamurru Plains is a safari camp in the far north of Australia, east of Darwin. Separated from the ocean by 100 square miles of flood plains, airboat excursions to view wildlife are the most popular activity. Because our visit came at the end of the dry season, we did not have the chance to enjoy this particular activity as the floodplains were dry — but we did take advantage of sunrise and sunset excursions by 4x4 and boat. The best times to visit are May through August.

Birdwatching was the passion of an English couple we met at Bamurru Plains. Equipped with extremely long telephoto lenses, they were rewarded with photographic opportunities of a vast variety of local birds. It was fun hearing them excitedly calling out the names of birds they spotted and checking that species off their list. Wallabies hopped all around our camp, and we saw crocodiles in abundance when going for a nature cruise down the Mary River.

Our cabin was plain but comfortable. Screened walls brought in the sights and sounds of the surroundings. No need for alarm clocks, as the birds will reliably wake you at dawn. The camp is completely off the grid, electricity being provided by generators and hot water from the solar collector on your roof (keep your showers short!). Being off the grid, your stay at Bamurru Plains will be a vacation from emails, phone calls, and news. Food was good, with guests dining "family style" around a long table.

9.19.2019

postcard from Lizard Island | sunset

We arrived yesterday at Lizard Island, after a 15 hour flight from San Francisco and an overnight in Cairns. I napped in the afternoon and almost missed getting this photo. We rushed down to the beach, camera and tripod in hand. The sun had already set, but I was able to capture this image of the sun still illuminating clouds above the horizon. The tripod proved to be critical, as this was an 0.8 second exposure at f/11 and ISO 100, for those who care about such details.

2.09.2019

Australia | bucket list trip

Australia is a bucket list destination for me. I've been once already, traveling with a group of travel advisors. I enjoyed amazing experiences — viewing hundreds of marsupials at Wolgan Valley, a koala in a tree on Kangaroo Island, sailing under the Sydney Bridge during a private cruise of the harbour. While my travel colleagues were all busy drinking wine, I was in the stern of the boat snapping photos, including the one above, one of my favourite travel photos ever.

But the Great Barrier Reef was not on my previous itinerary. As it's a place my wife has always wanted to see ... when I was presented with the opportunity to spend three nights at Lizard Island, I grabbed the chance! Here's the trip I've put together:

Cairns, the Pullman Reef Hotel — We fly from SFO to SYD, then continue on to Cairns. We're spending a night at the Pullman Reef in a Junior Suite, hopefully the one with the view down Trinity Inlet toward The Pyramid and Bellenden Ker Range.

Lizard Island — One of two Virtuoso resorts on the Great Barrier Reef (the other being qualia) Lizard Island is an adults-only 40-villa resort. Guests have access to 24 private beaches with a motorised dingy provided for complimentary use, or book diving trips to nearby Cod Hole.

Silky Oaks Lodge — a luxury eco lodge high above the Mossman River set within the Daintree Rainforest. Guests enjoy one complimentary Rainforest hike during their stay, and there are opportunities to explore the Great Barrier Reef from Silky Oaks.

Longitude 131 — I've heard amazing things about this tented camp in the Australian outback. With just 15 luxury tents, guests at Longitude 131 enjoy seclusion as well as direct views of Uluru (Ayers Rock) from their tents. I'm looking forward to photography at dawn and sunset.

Bamarru Plains — Finishing up our "wilderness" time with a safari, Bamarru Plains is found near Darwin on the northern coast of Australia. This will be my first time in the Bush. Bamarru Plains has one of the largest crocodile populations in the world, and the annual migration of over one hundred thousand magpie geese is supposed to be amazing.

Park Hyatt Sydney — Last time in Australia, I stayed at the Four Seasons Sydney in a wonderful Premier room facing the Opera House. This time, I'm looking forward to ending our trip at the Park Hyatt Sydney. Practically under the Sydney Bridge, Opera rooms at the Park Hyatt directly face the famous Sydney Opera House. Nothing is better than a room with an iconic view!

Though my trip is more than 7 months away, much of the pleasure of travel is the anticipation that builds when looking forward to a trip.

copyright (c) 2019 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or

1.25.2018

come back to ... America!

a graphic representation in the drop of foreign travel to the US since 2015

In 2015, the US global travel share was 13.6%. By 2017, according to the US Travel Association, the US global travel share had dropped to 11.9%. It's hard to do math in a blog, but the stick figures above put the drop in graphical terms: of every eight foreign visitors who chose the US in 2015, only seven chose the US in 2017.

The world's top twelve world destinations are listed in the chart below. Long-haul world travel has increased by 7.9% over the past two years, but two of the top twelve destinations experienced significant declines over the same period. Turkey has the worst decline — a 6.7% — and the United States is second worst with a 6% decline. Here's the list:

Australia +22%
Canada +21.2%
Saudi Arabia +20.3%
United Kingdom +17.5%
United Arab Emirates +16.5%
Thailand +13.9%
China +9.3%
Germany +8%
France +4%
Italy + 2.2%
United States -6%
Turkey -6.7%

Turkey's decline I understand. While the country is an incredible destination, it has recently suffered through a lot of domestic unrest and violence. But why the US? Has a stronger dollar, making foreign currencies worth less, discouraged foreign travel? Have more stringent visa regulations caused some travelers to visit elsewhere? Are visitors staying away in reaction to the policies of the current occupant of the White House? I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts.

Come back to ... America! The US has so much to offer from the redwood forests of California to the majestic rocky mountains, from the midwest's amber waves of grain to the white sand beaches of Florida, from great cities from San Francisco to New York. Take advantage of some of the current premium cabin deals from various European destinations to the US ... and plan a trip to the United States for your 2018 summer holidays.

copyright (c) 2018 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

1.01.2017

Where are you headed in 2017?

So many places to visit, but just one lifetime. What direction are you headed in 2017?

This signpost was photographed last March at Six Senses Laamu in the Maldives. If you're looking for a beach destination, you couldn't ask for a more beautiful setting than the Maldives. The water is warm and clear — a simply delightful place to escape winter and relax in the warm tropical sun.

2016 took me to four continents — Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America — and so many fabulous destinations — The Maldives, Australia, London, Paris, and the south of France. I've blogged extensively about each of these trips and taken notes about where to stay and what to do.

Where are you headed in 2017? If your plans are already set, get in touch and ask us how we can provide you with better value at luxury hotels than you can get online. How, you ask? Through our affiliation with Virtuoso and our preferred partner relationships with the top luxury hotel families in the world. If you need help prioritizing your bucket list, still get in touch ... and we can discuss a world full of possibilities.

Enjoy the holidays with your family and loved ones ... and best wishes for the New Year!

copyright (c) 2016 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

11.07.2016

Australia | first time? many times?

I visited Australia earlier this year, but this You Tube video from Tourism Australia has me ready to go back. It's an easy trip with non-stop flights to Sydney from Vancouver, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas and Honolulu. I was able to use United miles to fly business class on United's Boeing 787 Dreamliner — highly recommended. It's a l-o-n-g flight, but the Dreamliner's lie flat seats, higher air pressure, and diverse entertainment possibilities let me travel in comfort. Just one tip when flying United: bring your own travel pillow, as UA's supplied pillow is too thick and stiff for comfort.

Even better than the flight is the destination. Sydney is a gorgeous city with stunning views. At Wolgan Valley, I saw numerous kangaroos and other marsupials. And nothing surpassed the luxury and sea vistas at Kangaroo Island's Southern Ocean Lodge.

Australia is as large as the United States, and I have two outstanding items on my bucket list — (1) snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef and (2) staying at Longitude 131º to see the iconic Uluru.

We will work with you and our travel partners in Australia to orchestrate the bespoke vacation of your dreams. Just drop us an email, and we'll help you Discover More ... Down Under.

6.24.2016

remarkable rocks | exploring Kangaroo Island

Remarkable Rocks. This descriptive name actually what they call this place in the Flinders Chase National Park on the southeast edge of Kangaroo Island. A collection of granite boulders that have been shaped by the pounding of waves, rain, and wind over half a billion years, a visit should be part of any stay at Southern Ocean Lodge.

After visiting the rocks, we drove to Admirals Arch where we saw a colony of sea lions. After a seated picnic lunch under some gum trees, we headed to Seal Bay. Along the way, our driver spotted a koala in a tree, just ten feet above ground level. It was a thrill being this close to this cute and cuddly Australian creature.

Seal Bay is a stretch of beach that is literally a playground for a colony of seals. You can see them sunning on the sand or even swimming in the ocean. Tourists are allowed onto the beach with a guide, but you will need to keep your distance from the seals.

Does Kangaroo Island sound appealing to you? It's on my recommended list for first-time visitors to Australia!

copyright (c) 2016 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

6.05.2016

Vivid Sydney | seen from the Four Seasons

Sometimes, pictures are quite enough to tell a story. Vivid Sydney is underway in Sydney, Australia from May 27 to June 18. A sound and light show using the Sydney Opera House as a giant projection screen, visitors can enjoy a constantly changing array of colors and patterns from 6 - 11 p.m. nightly. You can even download a Vivid Sydney app.

Shot from my Premium Opera House View room at Four Seasons Sydney (room 1509), any of the "09" series of rooms will get you this direct view of the Opera House.

6.03.2016

wombats and wallabies and kangaroos, oh my!

I'll let the picture do the talking... We went on safari this afternoon, taking advantage of the Signature Wildlife and Sundowners Tour offered boy One&Only Wolgan Valley, a truly five star resort three hours west of Sydney.

There's so much to share about Wolgan Valley, but I'll supplement this first article in future blogs — just suffice it to say that my one bedroom suite is spacious and beyond luxurious. Gorgeous views, gas fireplace opening to both the bedroom and living room, dressing room, bathroom with dual vanities, step-in shower, and soaking-tub-with-a-view. Add to that your own large private indoor heated lap pool ... not to mention all-inclusive meals and minibar. As a Virtuoso travel advisor, I can save you an additional $100 with a resort credit you can use towards activities such as the tour we went on today ... or a spa treatment like the massage I'll be getting tomorrow.

Great room, great food, great scenery, and hopefully some sun will poke through the clouds tomorrow so I can capture some great photographs!

5.14.2016

adventuring Down Under

2016 has been a year full of travel opportunities, and I've been taking full advantage of all of them because, as they say, I'm not getting younger :-). If you've followed Travel Horizons, you know that my travels thus far have taken me to Dubai and the Maldives (March), England (April), and Mexico (May).

My next adventure will take me Down Under! One of my favorite Virtuoso partners, Swain Destinations, has invited me on an educational trip to Australia. One of my bucket list destinations, Australia has been on my radar for a long time. Here are the highlights of my tour.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner — I was fortunate enough to be able to use United miles to obtain round-trip flights in business class in one of United's Boeing 787 Dreamliners for the long flight from San Francisco to Sydney. I depart on June 1st.

Wolgan Valley — From the Sydney airport, we drive to the Wolgan Valley and its unique, rugged landscape.

Sydney — Back to Sydney, we spend two nights at the FS Sydney. On our itinerary is a climb up the Harbour Bridge and a luncheon tour of the harbour.

Barossa Valley — Flying to Adelaide, we will stay at The Louise, a luxury lodge in the Barossa Valley. Our stay will include a day of private introductions to the boutique winemakers of the region.

Kangaroo Island — Flying on to Kingscote, our final stay is on Kangaroo Island at Southern Ocean Lodge, home to wildlife that includes kangaroos, wallabies, and koalas.

A final night in Sydney before I fly home, I will be hosted by The Langham (formerly The Observatory Hotel). A hotel with which I'm less familiar, I'm looking forward to experiencing this neighborhood in Sydney.

8.28.2009

Romance in the South Pacific

Discover your dream vacation in the South Pacific for a surprisingly affordable price. Vacation packages are available at all price points, beginning at under $1,000 per person. Of course, luxury packages are also available at some the most beautiful 5-star resorts you'll ever experience.

Click here for the entire resource page for Romance in the South Pacific. Islands in the Sun specializes in travel to Tahiti and Bora Bora, Fiji, Australia, and Asia. Their 40+ years of experience planning travel to this part of the world can make your romantic holiday as stress-free and effortless as possible. Just bring yourselves and enjoy an idyllic getaway while you invest in your relationship. With a price match policy, if another tour companty offers a lower price for the same itinerary using identical vendors, Islands in the Sun will match the price.

Bora Bora is one of my all-time favorite destinations for relaxation and incredible snorkeling. As a luxury travel consultant, I have personally inspected many of the best properties in order to help you find the perfect resort for your stay. Get in touch if you'd like to talk about the possibilities for romance in the South Pacific.

Romance in the South Pacific (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2009 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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