Australia is well-known for offering wine tours that can rival France's Bordeaux region and now a new drinking trail has opened in the state of Victoria, this time offering cider and ale.

The newly-launched Yarra Valley Cider and Ale trail encompasses seven micro-breweries and orchards where visitors on a tour of Australia can learn about the cider and ale-making processes and taste the state's best apple and pear ciders and a variety of beers.

Holidaymakers can make their own way around the trail by picking up a brochure map and make a visit to estates including the Coldstream Brewery, Buckley's Beer and the Giverny Estate.

There are vineyards in the Yarra Valley as well to take in some wine tasting.

Punt Road Wines is another estate involved in the trail. It said that the trail came about from "the emergence of several micro-breweries and cider makers in the Yarra Valley [which] has captured the interest of food and beverage critics, local businesses and visitors alike".

Yarra Valley is just one hour's drive east of Melbourne.

Posted by Jane Masters

People planning a tour of Australia during their summer holidays this year could get the chance to attend a brand new festival in Tasmania.

Dark Side of the Brew is a celebration of all dark beers in the country and is the first of its kind to be held in Australia.

Microbreweries in Tasmania, as well as cider makers, whisky distillers and chocolate makers will be on show to hold tasting sessions, education workshops and even hold events to match chocolate to beer.

The reason for this is that it will form part of the popular Latrobe Chocolate Winterfest.

Held every year in the town near East Devonport, the chocolate festival has stalls, master classes, competitions and a fun chocolate sculpture trail.

Tasmania's events calendar is packed full this July. Between July 6th and 10th the Festival of Voices will take place in various venues and open spaces in Hobart, featuring some of the world's best choirs, while the Devonport Jazz Festival takes place between July 28th to 31st.

Posted by Terry Jameson

It will be easier to reach Queensland's coastline in time for the Easter holidays thanks to new flights.

QantasLink is to launch additional services to Rockhampton, Gladstone and Mackay in March.

It will mean that an extra 598 seats will be available for travellers heading to Rockhampton from March 15th and as many as 1,674 into Gladstone.

From March 26th almost 1,000 additional seats will be made available to get people to Mackay, which is located south of popular Great Barrier Reef locations Hamilton Island and Hook Island.

"It's great for both business and leisure travellers and will make access into Queensland easier," commented tourism, manufacturing and small business minister Jan Jarratt.

It comes after Virgin Australia announced it would increase its flights to Queensland. Jetstar, meanwhile, will boost its services between Melbourne, the Gold Coast and Cairns in April. It will also introduce a 12th daily flight from Sydney to the Gold Coast. 

Posted by Linda Ellison

People in New Zealand are being given a rare opportunity to watch a huge glacier calving take place.

Glacier calving at Aoraki Mount Cook National Park is a natural phenomenon which takes place over several months, but a calving today (January 31st) is believed to be one of the largest.

It took place at Tasman Glacier Terminal Lake and is believed to have moved around 30 million tonnes of ice, the largest since a glacier calving last February which was triggered by the earthquake in Christchurch.

"It was an absolutely magnificent event," Denis Callesen, general manager  of tourism for Aoraki Mount Cook Alpine Village, told Glacier Explorers.

"A huge chunk of ice has literally broken away from the terminal face, and then fractured into dozens of icebergs. This is the first time that a calving has occurred across the whole 650-metre-wide terminal face."

Calving is an event where glaciers flow towards the ocean and cracks are created, with ice breaking off and making icebergs.

As well as being able to watch one or two icebergs break off a day, tourists can see beautiful 'blue ice' that has been hidden beneath the water's surface for more than 300 years, come to the surface and turn white from air exposure.

Posted by Chloe Adams
 

The Overland Track in Tasmania, a World Heritage Area that attracts walkers from all over the world, now offers an improved visitor experience with brand new signs.

All huts situated along the site feature new welcome signs, as well as new notice boards and emergency and first-aid response information.

In addition, travellers can learn more about the track and understand the natural surroundings with new panels on the history of the area.

"Research has shown that one of the main reasons visitors come to Tasmania is for our wilderness and wildlife," commented Tasmania's minister for tourism, Scott Bacon.

"These signs will no doubt enhance the experience for walkers travelling through one of Tasmania's great, iconic tourism experiences."

The Overland Track is a six-day walk, covering 65 kilometres from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair. It passes through dolerite mountains, waterfalls, a variety of ecosystems and close to the island's highest mountain.

Last year, readers of Australian Traveller Magazine voted it as the best adventure holiday destination of 2011.

Posted by Linda Ellison
 

Today (January 26th) is Australia Day, one of the biggest days the Aussie calendar and millions of people from all over the world have been celebrating in style.

While there are countless events being held throughout the world, the real party has been going on in Australia and could be a great time to book holidays to Australia for next year.

Locals and tourists in Sydney have been spending the day relaxing in Hyde Park, with music gigs on a large main stage before the Lord Mayor’s Citizenship Ceremony.

Elsewhere, the annual Body Science Great Australian Swim took place at Sydney Harbour, where hundreds of amateur and professional swimmers race 2.2 kilometres around the Sydney Opera House.

This year also marks the 176th Australia Day Regatta, the oldest regatta in the world, which sees all classes of yachts race in the harbour.

In the evening, a huge fireworks display brings this annual party to a spectacular end.

The national day of Australia commemorates the arrival of the first fleet at Sydney Cove back in 1788, which is why the city takes the lead in the celebrations. However, tourists heading to other cities in Australia on January 26th 2013 will still be able to find many events going on.

Posted by Chloe Adams
 

Adelaide is getting itself ready to host the 2016 Australian Deaf Games (ADG) after a successful bid.

Organisers heard the news at the closing ceremony of the 2012 Games in Geelong and will now create plans to prepare the venues and build a Games village.

South Australian tourism minister Gail Gago said the event will attract 900 Australian and international athletes, as well as hundreds of spectators, volunteers and officials.

As many as 200 athletes will be from South Australia, which is known for its ability to host world class sporting events.

Ms Gago added that the event will be extended to include a festival atmosphere.

"This is a chance for us to support and encourage our local deaf community, while also welcoming visitors who we hope will take advantage of the summer holiday period to visit easily accessible
regional areas while they're here," she remarked.

Visitors planning an Australia holiday to Adelaide can expect the event to take place in January 2016, although no more dates have been announced.

Posted by Dave Moore
 

Hotels in Queensland are among the most popular in all of Australia, according to past visitors.

They make up more than half of TripAdvisor's latest Traveller’s Choice Top 25 Australian Hotels list, which could entice more people to the state on their tour of Australia.

Jan Jarratt , minister for Tourism, Manufacturing and Small Business in Queensland, welcomed the news and claimed that the reviews and opinions cast on the website represent future bookings for the state's hotel operators and "show the great work and resilience of our industry".

Indeed, the local tourist board stated that a number of initiatives have been launched in the past year to promote the sunshine state to international and regional travellers, while it has also worked hard to encourage Queensland tourism operators to boost the service they offer visitors with "unexpected thrills and smiles".

Mr Jarratt added that initial feedback shows that Queensland's tourism destinations – which has six World Heritage areas including the Great Barrier Reef – have been "bustling" over the summer months.

Posted by Terry Jameson
 

Visitors to Dart River in New Zealand will now have the chance to see a sacred Maori stone thanks to a redevelopment of the local visitor centre.

The greenstone, named Manatu by Maori elders, was moved from the Museum of New Zealand in Wellington – where it has been for two years – to the Dart River Jet Safaris visitor centre.

To the Maori people it embodies a living, spiritual energy, shared with people who touch it.  It is also a symbol of the Ngai Tahu tribe’s relationship to the land.

The stone was originally found in the Te Koroka site, which was first discovered in 1970, although the Manatu was not removed until 2009. The site is protected by the Maori people and is closed off to visitors. Therefore, being able to touch the stone at Dart River is a unique experience for people on New Zealand holidays.

John Thorburn, chief executive of Ngāi Tahu Tourism, explained the significance of the move: "Dart River Jet Safaris is an iwi-owned business and one of the aims of the redevelopment was to showcase Ngai Tahu traditions and share local stories with visitors to the pristine Dart River Valley."

Posted by Linda Ellison
 

Many people come to Sydney in Australia to catch an opera at the world famous Sydney Opera House, but this year something very special is being planned away from the venue.

Opera Australia will stage a music spectacular, in the open air on Sydney Harbour, from March 2012, which is sure to attract locals and visitors on Australia honeymoons for a romantic night out.

The company will perform Verdi's La Traviata on a purpose-built floating stage on the harbour, with huge fireworks, special effects and a nine-metre Swarovski crystal chandelier, suspended from a crane.

It will be the first time the company has put on such a show, which will give audiences a unique view of the city scape, but it could become one of an annual event.

Visitors planning their visit for later in the year will find that Opera Australia's winter season will feature Erich Korngold's Die tote Stadt and Richard Strauss’s Salome, as well as a new production of Lucia di Lammermoor and Broadway musical South Pacific.

Classic opera fans can also catch The Pearlfishers, Aida and Madama Butterfly at the Sydney Opera House.

Posted by Chloe Adams

Hot air balloon rides are being offered to visitors to Ayers Rock for a unique view of the natural landmark.

People planning Australia holidays to the Northern Territory will no doubt want to visit the national park and Uluru, the Aboriginal name the site goes by, and one way of seeing it is from the air.

The Aboriginal Anangu people had banned tourists from accessing the park but have now granted permission for hot air balloons to fly over the Patji region at the base of Ayers Rock, which will take around half an hour.

Conde Nast Traveller reported that the balloon flights, which launch from March, will not float over the rock, but will still provide an unobstructed view of the iconic site.

"This exciting new service will allow travellers to admire this much-loved Australian icon from a new perspective," Fleur Burrows from Tourism Northern Territory told the news provider.

Alternatively, tourists can take a camel trek or guided walk to the rock.

Last month it was announced that Virgin Australia and Singapore Airlines subsidiary, SilkAir, will launch new flights from Darwin to Singapore in early 2012.

Posted by Linda Ellison
 

Australia doesn't often get rain but when it does there are still plenty of things to do.

According to Tourism Queensland, there are countless museums and galleries to visit when the sun disappears for a spell, meaning that people on their Australia holidays do not miss out.

Visitors in Brisbane, for example, can head to the award-winning Ipswich Workshops Rail Museum and the XXXX Ale House Brewery, outdoor-types who don't mind a bit of wet weather will find that the Story Bridge Adventure Climb heads out in all weather.

Those on the Gold Coast do not just have to spend the day on the beach. When the sun isn't shining, south-east Queensland's only indoor karting track is located in the Gold Coast, while there is also plenty of shopping to do.

Holidaymakers in north Queensland, however, can take a drive through the Atherton Tablelands and visit the museums and beautiful scenery on their own time, the tourist board said. The white water rafting on offer at Tully, Russell and Barron Rivers, however, is all the more fun with a bit of rain.

Posted by Jane Masters
 

Flights to Australia from the UK can stopover in a number of great destinations, allowing holidaymakers to see a country even if it is just for a few hours.

Alternatively, people planning a tailor made holiday to Australia can stop for a whole day or two in a stop-off country before continuing their journey Down Under.

Air Asia X has made this idea easier for many people by launching new daily services between Sydney and Kuala Lumpur.

This will bring direct weekly flights between Malaysia and Australia to 87 and more routes are being planned in the future.

Tourism Australia has welcomed the news by the low cost airline as providing the chance to welcome new visitors to Australia.

"We foresee a future positive outcome of both greater visitor numbers and new consumers visiting Australia, through this new service," commented Andrew McEvoy, managing director of Tourism Australia.

Holidays to Sydney do not just have to include a trip to the opera or visit to Sydney Harbour Bridge. Visitors can soak up Australia's history at the Rocks Markets and wander through native bush land on Manly.

Posted by Terry Jameson
 

Those considering holidays in Australia over the coming months could add Adelaide's Big Day Out to their itinerary as Australasia's massive music festival reaches the city.

Taking place on February 3rd, some of the world's leading musicians will be lining up to play to a huge crowd at the Adelaide Showground in what is Australia's biggest music event.

Among the bands set to perform are Kasabian, My Chemical Romance and Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.

It doesn't only take place in Adelaide, either. Big Day Out will be visiting Auckland, the Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth over the coming months and could interest those planning a trip to the area.

For those considering an extended stay, the Adelaide Festival will also be taking place in early March, featuring an array of different cultural events,

As well as literature and art, opera and theatre will also be on show as 970 talented performers take to the stage.

Posted by Dave Moore

Christchurch has been named as one of New Zealand's most exciting cities by Lonely Planet.

The travel guide stressed that a visit to the city on New Zealand holidays will not only be filled with many activities and beautiful sights, but travellers will also be supporting local businesses getting back on their feet after the devastating earthquake.

Indeed, Brett Atkinson, a Lonely Planet travel writer, suggested that Christchurch is now going through a kind of renaissance, with plenty of building work going on all around.

It was recently reported that the city has opened a new, brightly-coloured pop-up shopping mall built out of old shipping containers. Appropriately named Re:Start, the unique shopping experience features 27 shops and a string of cafes. Department store Ballantynes has also opened after a major refurbishment.

Lonely Planet tipped the area of Addington to be the city's new hub for live entertainment, while Sydenham is set to get a string of new restaurants and art house cinemas.

Posted by Dave Moore
 

As Tasmania's MONA (Museum of Old and New Art) approaches its first anniversary since opening, it has proved to be a hugely popular attraction with locals and tourists alike.

It opened on January 21st last year and has welcomed 350,000 visitors during this time from people on Australia New Zealand tours, as well as travellers from other Australian states.

Situated in Hobart, MONA features ancient and contemporary art in a vast open space. Exhibitions include works by Belgian conceptual artist Wim Delvoye and a musical anthology by Daniel Mudie Cunningham.

The museum has even recently showcased a moving exhibition called Tattoo Tim, a living man who has been tattooed for art by Wim Delvoye.

Hobart is Tasmania's capital and is home to the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and many visitors come for the famous Salamanca Market. Boat tours are also available to explore the island's surroundings, while the views from Mount Wellington also draw in nature-loving tourists.

Posted by Jane Masters

Adelaide is preparing for its annual cultural arts festival and the line-up of events is sure to attract huge numbers of tourists.

The Adelaide Festival runs from March 2nd-18th and people on a tour of Australia could make sure they stop in at the South Australian city.

Featuring the best opera, theatre, dance, new media, literature and art, this popular event has been running every year since 1960 and includes 386 performances from 970 talented performers. Travellers can get involved, too, with master classes and forums running for some shows.

Visual arts workshops, for example, will provide the rare opportunity for visitors to work alongside and learn from international artists to develop their own skills.

Highlights of the festival include performances from the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra, Eddie Palmeieri's Latin Jazz Sextet, contemporary dance show Water Stains on the Wall and a controversial take on Tennessee Williams' play, A Streetcar.

The Adelaide Festival will also run at the same time as Adelaide Writers' Week, including readings, discussions and debates with a string of contemporary writers.

Posted by Jane Masters

People could be plotting a trip to Australia this year after it emerged that the country's own Facebook page has had a surge in the number of 'fans'.

Now, more than two million people have added Australia to their Facebook page, suggesting that plenty of travellers from all over the world are hoping to book a tour of Australia some time in the future.

Tourism Australia's recent New Year's Eve film, Project:12, which asked people visiting or living in the country to film their midnight celebrations and upload it to the internet, has certainly helped raise the country's popularity.

The film has been viewed by almost 400,000 people, who could be tempted to have their own celebrations at Sydney Harbour to bring in 2013.

"By having the largest Facebook page located in Australia and, by a considerable distance, the largest destination page on Facebook – with almost three times as many fans as our nearest rival, Las Vegas – we can effectively demonstrate our country's continuing appeal both to Australians and people overseas," commented Tourism Australia managing director Andrew McEvoy.

Interestingly, Australia's native animals gain the most interest on the Facebook page, generating the most 'likes' and shares.

Posted by Terry Jameson

Lizard Island in Australia provides an 'ideal introduction' to the Great Barrier Reef, with opportunities to snorkel and get up close to the natural wonder.

The island has been featured in the BBC's three-part series about the reef and it is expected to attract many more visitors on their Australia holidays keen to see the site for themselves.

Holidaymakers who are new to snorkelling will find that there are dive sites on Lizard Island that are suitable for all experience levels. Here, snorkelers can see corals, sharks, green sea turtles and giant clownfish, as well as 100-year-old giant clam gardens.

Presented by Monty Hall, the second programme in the BBC series explored the areas of the Great Barrier Reef that goes beyond the coral reef. Indeed, just seven per cent of the area is coral reef. The remainder is made up of the world's oldest jungle, hundreds of islands, swamps, deep water gardens and sea grass, all connected by a giant deep-water lagoon.

Within these habitats, millions of wildlife survives and the programme also visited what is considered to be the greatest wildlife wreck, a 100-year old shipwreck of the SS Yongala.

Posted by Chloe Adams
 

Cathedral Cove Recreation Reserve, the beautiful landmark on the Coromandel Peninsula in Hahei, has finally been re-opened by the Department of Conservation (DOC).

Although the department still urges visitors to remain cautious of naturally falling rocks, the site will surely attract thousands of people on tailor made holidays to New Zealand.

It has been closed since April 2011 as DOC worked to make the area safe, performing remedial work to the arch faces and the internal parts of the landmark.

However, the iconic site is still safe to visit. Since it re-opened on December 22nd, the cove and beach has been crowded with tourists and locals, according to Fairfax News.

One visitor, Sarah Wilkinson, told the news provider: "I come from Australia, but this has definitely got to be one of the most beautiful natural wonders I have ever seen."

Other local attractions at the site include the Gemstone and Stingray Bays, which offer safe places to swim and are surrounded by white cliffs and Pohutukawa trees.

Posted by Dave Moore

Despite visiting a number of coral reefs during his time as a marine biologist, former rugby player Monty Hall has said that the Great Barrier Reef showed him a "new world".

He is presenting the BBC's new nature documentary, a three-part series about Australia's great natural wonder, and writing for the Daily Mail he revealed that the cameramen filmed a number of "extraordinary wildlife documentary firsts".

Describing the Reef in one sentence, Mr Hall said it is "a new world, a magical place of savage predatory action, of chemical warfare, of mass amphibious landings under a blood red dusk, of giants sculling in from the open ocean, of vast lagoons, ancient rainforests and a delicate (and possibly doomed) ecosystem like no other".

People planning tailor made holidays of Australia could be tempted to visit the Great Barrier Reef after watching the BBC programme in high definition glory, as well as the local onshore attractions. Mr Hall revealed that Queensland Rainforest is one of the oldest in the world.

Posted by Linda Ellison

Bars and restaurants in New Zealand are hoping to make tourists and locals fall back in love with Riesling during the summer months.

The wine, which originally hails from Germany although it is grown in Australia and New Zealand, is a refreshing drink for the hot weather and people on a New Zealand holiday could be tempted to give it a go.

An annual campaign, Summer of Riesling kicks off this month throughout New Zealand, offering an array of tastings, dinners and events dedicated to the grape.

Even wineries are getting in on the act. Riesling producers Amisfield Wine Company in Central Otago and Villa Maria in Auckland are just two of the estates keen to get tourists enjoying the wine again.

Indeed, while many people head to New Zealand on wine trails, finding the best Riesling could be an interesting twist on these tours.

More than 80 per cent of New Zealand Riesling is grown in Marlborough and North Canterbury and many wineries will be taking part in the campaign until March.

Posted by Dave Moore

The BBC has broadcast its first episode of Great Barrier Reef, a nature and travel documentary about the largest living structure on earth.

Sure to entice more people to visit one of the natural wonders of the world on their Australia holidays, the three-part programme will be shown in stunning high definition and reveals all there is to know about the site.

Rugby ace Monty Hall presents the show, which saw the first episode explore the complex structure of the coral reef and the wildlife that lives on it.

"So vast it is visible from space, the reef is actually built by tiny animals in partnership with microscopic plants. It is a place full of surprises, always changing, responding to the rhythms of weather, tide, sun and moon," the BBC explained.

The series uses remote cameras and underwater macro and digital time-lapse photography to capture things that have never been seen before at the Great Barrier Reef and it provides an exciting preview of the site for tourists.

Posted by Linda Ellison

Planning holidays to Australia does not have to involve too much thought about time of year, as according to one expert, Australia is a "year-round destination".

"No matter what time of year you visit, there will be great weather to be found somewhere," claimed Rodney Harrex, general manager for the UK and Northern Europe at Tourism Australia.

He explained that travellers heading on their trip of a lifetime between October and March will find warm weather in the southern states, while during the rest of the year it is the northern states that receive the best weather.

Indeed, Mr Harrex said that destinations like the Great Barrier Reef in Tropical North Queensland are best to be experienced when the weather is dry, hot and sunny.

The expert also aimed to despell the myth that Australia is a one-month holiday and stressed that it can be enjoyed in just two weeks.

"Australia offers unique holiday experiences in stunning surrounds, and as long as they don't try and pack too much in to their itinerary, holiday makers will have a fantastic time in as little as a fortnight," he remarked. 

Posted by Terry Jameson

New Zealand is an extremely popular destination among Britons as they feel safe there, the national tourist board has said.

Britons planning tailor made holidays to New Zealand will also find that as it is relatively small and accessible, it is a "really easy country to travel around", said Gregg Anderson, general manager of western long-haul markets at Tourism New Zealand.

"There is no language barrier, we have a stable economy and a low crime rate," he added.

Indeed, last year, New Zealand welcomed more than 230,000 visitors from the UK, who came to see the country's vast and varied landscape and support a number of world class sporting events. This number could rise in 2012 as attractions such as the Te Araroa opens.

This is a 3,000-kilometre trail that spans the entire length of the country, which takes three months to complete, or people can head out on day walks.

Posted by Dave Moore

A world class cycling race is set to kick off in January and will show off the sights and sounds of South Australia.

The Santos Tour Down Under is a great attraction for people on holidays to Australia, who can stand on the side-lines and cheer on the World Tour professional cycling teams.

It takes place from January 15th until 22nd and will begin with a 32-mile closed-circuit road race in Adelaide.

Meanwhile, the six stages of the main race will cover almost 500 miles across many regions of South Australia, including the Barossa and Clare Valleys and the picturesque routes of the Fleurieu Peninsula.

Spectators, who come in their thousands every year, can take in the beautiful scenery, watch the racers and enjoy the region's food and wine.

There is even a new Tour Down Under Scenic Flight helicopter experience for real cycling fans to watch the action from above at any of the six stages of the competition.

Posted by Linda Ellison

Sydney Airport has launched a handy new app to provide up-to-the-minute information for passengers.

For travellers on a tailor made holiday to Australia, the iPhone app could help them make sure that they do not miss their connecting flight from the city to another Australian destination like Melbourne.

It provides information on flight schedules, as well as real-time results on arrival and departure times, so that users will know if their flight is delayed.

Other features include maps of each terminal and a list of all the shops and restaurants at the airport.

And for domestic passengers, the app also details which check-in counter you need to go to before you've even arrived at the airport.

"We want to make it easier for the 36 million passengers that use the airport every year and this app will mean all the information is at your fingertips," said Sydney Airport chief executive Kerrie Mather.

People planning a holiday in Australia next year will find a brand new look to Sydney Airport after it spent £324 million on upgrading the International terminal.

Posted by Chloe Adams

A trip to Australia will be the top of everybody's list after a new stunt is expecting to show off Sydney on New Year's Eve to the world.

Project:12 is being run by Tourism Australia and they hope to get people who are staying in Sydney for New Year's Eve – both locals and tourists – to take videos of their experiences and upload them to the project.

From the magnificent fireworks display over Sydney Harbour to other late-night revelling, people from around the world will be extremely jealous to watch the clips on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.

The first images will even be shared across social media before many people will have brought in their own New Year.

According to the tourist board, the project aims to show why there's nothing like celebrating New Year's Eve in Sydney and it will surely encourage more people to plan a holiday in Australia to bring in 2013!

Posted by Jane Masters

Hayman, the luxury nature resort off the coast of Australia, has announced a series of wine weekends for a unique holiday experience.

After a visit to mainland wine regions like Margaret River in Western Australia, people on a tour of Australia can head to the private island for a wine tasting event with food and wine experts.

Taste a selection of Tyrrell's Wines from the Hunter Valley in New South Wales with the expert guidance from the vineyard's chief executive Bruce Tyrrell, or later in January learn about premium Australian brands.

People heading to Australia in the new year could be lucky enough to take part in Australia Day celebrations. The country remembers its history on January 26th and Hayman Island will join in the festivities with a three-day party.

Of course, no visit to the Whitsunday islands is complete without a trip to the Great Barrier Reef.

Neighbouring Whitsunday island Hamilton was even recently named as the top-rated international travel destination in 2011 by Google Australia.

Posted by Linda Ellison

Hamilton Island, the luxury resort located among Queensland's 74 Whitsunday Islands, has been named the most popular travel destination of 2011.

Google has published its annual 'zeitgeist', the most common search terms made on the website over the past year, and on Google Australia, Hamilton Island was the top-rated search term out of all international destinations for 2011.

Proof of Hamilton Island's popularity is further shown by the local tourist board, which reports that its monthly website views have increased by 216 per cent over the past three years, while monthly revenue – people choosing to head to Hamilton Island on their Australia holidays – is up 166 per cent.

While Hawaii, New York and Las Vegas were also top travel destination searches this year, a number of Australian attractions also made the list, reaffirming the country as a hugely popular destination.

Byron Bay and the Blue Mountains in New South Wales were top-rated searches, as well as Uluru Ayres Rock and the Great Barrier Reef.

Visitors to Hamilton Island, of course, can take day trips out to the Great Barrier Reef and see the world's largest reef system.

Bernie O'Keefe, Hamilton Island's online marketing manager, welcomed the news from Google but said that this is "just the start".

"We will continue to innovate and enhance the online experience for our guests and trade partners," he said. "For example, recently completed and upcoming online projects include: continual content creation, launching mobile sites and eight foreign language websites, re-launching the current portfolio of websites, social media initiatives and [a] smartphone app."

With flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Cairns, holidaymakers can easily tie-in a trip to the beautiful white sands of Hamilton Island as part of a larger holiday.

Five must-do activities in Hamilton Island –

Take a walking tour –
There are a number of walking trails to join or undergo alone, all of which have different abilities and terrains. Get a stunning view of the island on the Scenic Trail, which takes in a lookout from the second-highest point on the island, while more experienced hikers can head on the Valley Trail and take in the views of the Lindeman group of islands. Another challenging walk is the Saddle Trail, which has a steep climb to Passage Peak, the highest vantage point.

Experience the seas –
The calm waters that surround Hamilton Island make it a great place to go sailing. There are number of vessels to choose from, as well as your own yacht for, quite literally, learning the ropes on. If you prefer to be alone, dinghies are available to hire and you can spend the day at a deserted cove and have a go at fishing.

See the Great Barrier Reef –
Visit one of the natural wonders of the world from Hamilton Island, from taking guided snorkel safaris, scuba dives, flights or just observing from the boat deck. A trip to the island is not complete without seeing this World Heritage site, which has the world's most diverse plant and animal life, including fish, turtles and dolphins. Some of the tours even allow divers to get up-close to the animals.

Tee off –
Golfers will love playing a round on Hamilton Island, which is well-known for its lush green golf course. The Hamilton Island Golf Club is par 71 over 18 holes and is the only championship course in Australia to be located on its own island, Dent Island. What's more, while you're putting away, there are beautiful panoramic views of the Whitsundays to enjoy as well.

Relax on Catseye Beach –
For some people, a visit to Hamilton Island provides the opportunity to relax in peace and quiet on a beautiful sandy beach. Catseye Beach is in a picture book location where you can rest without a care in the world. For more active travellers it also offers a range of watersports including catamarans and paddle skis.

More people could be heading to Darwin after the Northern Territory government successfully pushed for a new flight route to the city from Singapore.

From early next year, people on Australia holidays will be able to fly directly to Darwin thanks to new flights from SilkAir, a Virgin Australia and Singapore Airlines subsidiary.

Chief minister Paul Henderson stressed that the move "underscores Darwin's position as one of the best cities in the world to visit in 2012".

"We've been actively lobbying to secure a full service international airline to Darwin and these new flights to Singapore are great news for Territorians, business, and tourism," he added.

Darwin is also a good base for tourists looking to explore more of the Northern Territory.

The new services will also see an extra 1,000 seats per week each way between Sydney and Darwin.

Top sights in Darwin include Kakadu National Park and Aboriginal homeland Arnhem Land.

Posted by Chloe Adams
 

New Zealand is famed for offering once-in-a-lifetime experiences for thrill-seeking travellers, while Australia provides the more relaxing part of the holiday.

Already, people taking Australia New Zealand tours can go bungee jumping and do other high adrenaline sports and from next year there are even more activities available on the north and south islands.

Perhaps the largest and most important of all new experiences for 2012 is New Zealand's Te Araroa, a 3,000-kilometre trail that stretches the entire length of the country.

Having only just opened, New Zealand's tourism authority is already expecting around 350,000 people to visit the trail on day walks, while 100 people are predicted to walk the entire route each year.

It is one of the longest walks in the world and should take around three months to complete for those daring and ambitious enough to attempt it. Starting at Cape Reinga on the North Island and ending at the South Island's most southerly tip at the fishing port of Bluff, hikers will take in coastline, forest, volcanoes and mountains, as well as seven cities along the way.

Travellers do not, of course, have to set aside three months to experience the Te Araroa, and can take shorter excursions and day trips for some stunning viewpoints.

Cycling enthusiasts, meanwhile, can attempt the New Zealand Cycle Trail, or Nga Haerenga. This too has taken years to plan and complete and trails are opening up gradually, with the most recent, Nelson's Dun Mountain Trail, launching in November 2011.

Of the 18 trails, which take in different landscapes across the country and are suited to different abilities, 12 are partially-opened and four are set to open from 2012.

They will include an easy-level path along the Great Alpine Fault on the West Coast, which forms the Westland Wilderness Trail, a four-day cycle path that takes in dense rainforest, rivers and lakes, wetlands and the snow-capped mountains of the Southern Alps.

If cycling and hiking are not adrenalin-pumping enough, then a new shark cage diving experience has also opened. Stewart Island, located off the coast of the South Island, offers the chance for visitors to come eye-to-eye with the great white shark. The operators Southern Aqua Adventures have over 20 years diving experience and promise that daring holidaymakers can spot a handful of great whites, as there are over 100 swimming in their natural habitat off the coast.

There is also other wildlife to see, including whales, seals and penguins. 

However, for something a bit more low-key, visitors to Auckland can join the Zest Food Tours for urban walking trips that take in the city's cafe culture and fresh foods. Two new tours have been cooked up for 2012, the Ponsonby Gourmet Walk and the Auckland City Tastes, which takes in Britomart and the Viaduct Harbour.

It is perhaps unsurprising that so many new events are opening in New Zealand next year. The country recently celebrated its Rugby World Cup win and World Expeditions has just named it as a must-see destination for next year.

New Zealand is also set to benefit from another surge of interest from movie fans as director and Kiwi native Peter Jackson is filming The Hobbit throughout New Zealand's landscape. When The Lord of the Rings was released ten years ago, showing off New Zealand's beautiful mountains and forests, the country became a top attraction.

There are plenty of other great activities to do in New Zealand that welcome thousands of visitors every year.

Five adrenalin-pumping activities in New Zealand-

Dare to go bungy jumping –
Mokai Gravity Canyon is the North Island's highest bungy and New Zealand's highest bridge jump, while Shotover Canyon Swing is the world's highest cliff jump from 109 metres.

Trek along the Wairere Boulders –
Hokianga Harbour's Wairere Boulders is eco-tourism at its best, with a range of walks and trails available to suit different levels.

Cycle along one of the worlds top trails –
The West Coast and Glaciers Cycle takes in snow-topped mountains, glaciers and rainforests as you cycle from Queenstown to Christchurch.

Swim with dolphins –
There are number of places along the coast where you can do this once-in-a-lifetime activity. Swim with wild dolphins or take pleasure in enjoying them in their natural habitat from the boat.

Head to the snowy mountains-
New Zealand has a range of ski and snowboard slopes, offering a unique view of the country's beautiful landscape.

Posted by Terry Jameson

Christchurch in New Zealand has a very exciting new attraction, which is sure to bring thousands of visitors and locals to its city centre.

A pop-up shopping mall has opened in the city and people on their New Zealand holidays will find more and more shops and cafes opening up throughout the summer.

The unique brightly-coloured retail outlets are built out of old shipping containers, with glass fronts and balconies. So far there are 27 shops, from well-known high street brands to boutiques and a department store, Ballantynes, which has just re-opened after a major refurbishment.

Re:Start pop-up city mall is not the only pop-up project to launch in Christchurch. A new pop-up mobile bar has opened on Victoria Street, called the Revival Container Bar, while The Shed is a new NZ$4.62 million (£2.26 million) theatre venue, built inside an old granary.

The city's reimagining and rebuilding work, through ideas like the pop-up revolution, have helped it be named as one of the top international cities that will shape the next century, according to Foreign Policy magazine.

Posted by Dave Moore
 

While a visit to the Great Barrier Reef is a must for any visitor to Queensland, it does not always have to involve getting wet.

Townsville and Whitsundays both offer this opportunity, while the best Great Barrier Reef tours also involve a snorkelling trip along the colourful landscape.

The world's largest living coral reef aquarium is located at Townsville's Reef HQ, while the Living Reef Lagoon is located on Daydream Island, which houses live coral and marine specimens from the Reef. It's also one of the island's great free attractions.

Travellers who do want to get wet, meanwhile, can take a 15 minute boat trip from Port Douglas and enjoy perfect reef snorkelling along the Low Isles.

Meanwhile, one of the most pristine parts of the Reef is off Lady Musgrave Island, or visitors can see the Reef from above by taking a seaplane or helicopter over different parts of the landscape.

There are so many ways to experience this once-in-a-lifetime trip.

Posted by Dave Moore

The latest 'Great Ride' has opened as part of the Nga Haerenga, or New Zealand Cycle Trail, offering a great new activity for visitors next year.

Millions of people are expected to get on their bikes in 2012 and take to the trails on their New Zealand holidays for an active way to see the beautiful landscapes of the two islands.

The Dun Mountain Trail is the latest to open, suitable for intermediate level cyclists, and it runs for 38km from The Brook, in Nelson, through a forest, an alpine mineral belt and to the Maitai River.

According to Nelson city council mayor Aldo Micco, the city is perfect for cycling as the terrain is cycle-friendly, the weather is good and there are plenty of other things to see and do in Nelson, such as a visit to the Abel Tasman National Park.

It is just one of 18 Great Rides in the New Zealand Cycle Trail, which covers coastal paths, advanced-level river trails, mountains, lakes and easy-level forest trails.

The project is not yet complete, with some trails partially opened and others planned to launch in 2012.

Posted by Chloe Adams

Perth is expected to welcome millions of visitors in 2012 as it gets set to host an array of big ticket events.

People planning holidays in Australia will find that Perth will host the oldest annual arts festival in the country, the Perth International Arts Festival, which is expected to attract more than 350,000 people to its events.

Its opening night will be hosted by French company Les Studios de Cirque for a performance of Place des Anges, following on from the success of the event's opening night this year.

Sporty travellers, meanwhile, can look forward to the Chevron City to Surf for Activ event, Western Australia's biggest sporting event. Last August, 42,000 people took part in the community sporting event, which included the biggest marathon in the state's history.

The city of Mandurah will also be getting active next March as it hosts a three-day event called Action Sports Games Mandurah. The festival will take advantage of the state's amazing coastline for the International Waterski and Wakeboard Federation World Cup at Mandjar Bay, the first time the competition will be held in Australia.

Freestyle motocross, bicycle motocross and skateboarding competitions will also take place.

Posted by Terry Jameson

Australia Day is fast approaching and this year, New South Wales is set to host more than 5,000 events to mark the country's national day.

People heading on their holidays to Australia next month will not want to miss celebrating with the locals on January 26th, be it in Sydney itself or around New South Wales.

At Sydney's Hyde Park, entertainment will run throughout the day, with children's fun in the morning on the main stage followed by the Lord Mayor's Citizenship Ceremony in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, over at Sydney Harbour there will be jazz concerts, sailing races and impressive displays from the Australian army. One particular highlight is the 176th Australia Day Regatta, where all classes of yachts take to the water for an ocean race from Sydney to Botany Bay.

By the evening the best is saved until last when Darling Harbour puts on a huge music and fireworks display.

Elsewhere in New South Wales there will be fireworks displays, citizenship ceremonies and concerts to commemorate the arrival of the first fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788.

Posted by Linda Ellison

Thirty-five years after the idea was first mooted, the 3,000km Te Araroa Trail has opened.

The latest attraction for New Zealand holidays, the hiking trail travels the entire length of the country, making it one of the world's most intense walking trails.

It begins on the tip of New Zealand's North Island, Cape Reinga, and ends at the southernmost point on the South Island, the fishing port of Bluff.

While active travellers can undergo the three-month challenge to walk its entire length, a network of regional pathways has also opened for tourists to take shorter excursions.

Parts of the Te Araroa take in existing trails and Maori routes, while years of construction has also led to the creation of brand new routes.

At its mid-point the trail takes in the city of Wellington and other notable viewpoints include New Zealand's stunning alpine and volcanic landscapes. There is also a vast water section that must be travelled by kayak. Other sections of the trail can by completed by bike.

It is thought that around 100 people will walk the entire trail each year, while 350,000 people will use it for day walks.

Posted by Terry Jameson
 

The launch of a new food guide to Sydney's Chinatown area may interest fans of quality cuisine.

People on a tour of Australia who want to sample some of the best grub on offer should look at the Food Lovers Guide to Chinatown and Haymarket.

Put together by MasterChef Australia winner Adam Liaw, it points out where people can find the best restaurants, bars, teahouses and bakeries in the area.

Lord mayor Clover Moore said that Chinatown is one of the best places in Sydney to go and eat, labelling it a "foodie favourite".

She noted there is a range of eateries in the location, offering "Chinese favourites like steamed dumplings and chilli crab to Malaysian, Indonesian, Japanese and Uyghur food".

Mr Liaw – who triumphed in the second series of the cooking competition and released the book Two Asian Kitchens – said Chinatown is the "obvious choice" for dining if people are in the capital.

Posted by Linda Ellison

The launch of a new food guide to Sydney's Chinatown area may interest fans of quality cuisine.

People on a tour of Australia who want to sample some of the best grub on offer should look at the Food Lovers Guide to Chinatown and Haymarket.

Put together by MasterChef Australia winner Adam Liaw, it points out where people can find the best restaurants, bars, teahouses and bakeries in the area.

Lord mayor Clover Moore said that Chinatown is one of the best places in Sydney to go and eat, labelling it a "foodie favourite".

She noted there is a range of eateries in the location, offering "Chinese favourites like steamed dumplings and chilli crab to Malaysian, Indonesian, Japanese and Uyghur food".

Mr Liaw – who triumphed in the second series of the cooking competition and released the book Two Asian Kitchens – said Chinatown is the "obvious choice" for dining if people are in the capital.

Posted by Linda Ellison

Some 5,000 people are expected to attend the Manjimup Cherry Harmony Festival in Western Australia.

Tourism minister Kim Hames noted the "famous cherry spitting competition" is a highlight and this could tempt people on a tailor made holiday to Australia.

Taking place in Manjimup, it is the tenth time the event – which runs from December 10th and 11th – has been held and there will be food and wine tastings, street theatre and evening family concerts.

"Regional events such as this one are important as they provide significant economic, social and cultural benefits to the community, as well as increase the region's profile through media exposure," Mr Hames observed.

Funding for the event has come from the state government and Eventscorp's Regional Events Scheme.

Regional development minister Brendon Grylls stated the event is an opportunity to showcase the "uniqueness" of the location.

There will also be a quiz night, golf day and the Australian Army Band will perform.

Tourists could be tempted to head to the Martinborough wine region in New Zealand.

It is a great location for New Zealand holidays and according to resort manger Peppers the area is "world class".

Individuals can experience picturesque views of the local scenery and the Tararua ranges.

As well as tasting the finest wine the region has to offer, there are also plenty of outdoor activities to keep people occupied.

Golfing, horse trekking, boating and quad biking are some of the pastimes sporty individuals can enjoy, while others who prefer the relaxed pace of life can go fishing, get pampered or have nice long coastal walks.

It comes after the most recent Tourism New Zealand's annual Visitor Experience Monitor was released and it shows people on average score their trip to the nation as 8.9 out of ten in terms of satisfaction.

Over 4,500 international visitors were questioned as part of the study.

Posted by Terry Jameson
 

Australia can offer some of the best experiences going for travellers, it has been claimed.

Tourism Australia managing director Andrew McEvoy noted "word-of-mouth advocacy" is important when it comes to promoting a location and so the more people on Australia holidays who are full of praise of the country the better.

He added the endorsements of "high profile celebrities or grassroots advocacy through channels like TripAdvisor, Facebook [or] Twitter" all helps to make the nation more appealing.

Renowned Australian chef Matt Moran – who Mr McEvoy stated is "one of the most well-known and celebrated individuals in the hospitality industry" – will go around the country sampling some of the new T-QUAL Tick accredited tourism products.

These have been decided by TripAdvisor as part of a new microsite developed to showcase what is on offer.

In total, there are more than 20 accreditation programmes used down under as this is an attempt to bring them under one banner.

Posted by Chloe Adams
 

Individuals lucky enough to be in Sydney for New Year's Eve may want to go down to the Harbour Bridge and see the iconic fireworks display.

Lord mayor Clover Moore stated over one billion people worldwide are expected to watch the famous show and those on Australia holidays could see it up close and personal.

She described the event as "possibly the biggest … held in Australia" and so those who have the opportunity to experience it should do so.

A special 12-minute song has been created to mark the occasion, which will feature music from drum 'n' bass band Pendulum, 1980s new-wave rockers The Swingers and a number of other local artists.

Ms Moore observed some 1.5 million individuals will take to the location of the bridge in order to celebrate the start of 2012.

Their will be an aerial show beginning at 18:00 GMT to keep people entertained ahead of the big countdown.

Posted by Linda Ellison
 

New Zealand is one of the must-see destinations of 2012.

This is according to World Expeditions, which has placed a holiday to New Zealand tenth in a list of places to go to next year.

The country has been heralded for the stunning natural landscapes that it has to offer, which is regularly cited as one of the best things about it.

Individuals will also get a chance to see the stunning scenery the nation has to offer in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit.

Mark Carwardine, a British conservationist, photographer and presenter, said New Zeeland also has some of the finest wildlife on the globe.

He pointed to "its potential as a place to experience some of the world's most unique and interesting species".

Mr Carwardine continued by saying that UK residents should not hesitate to make the trip to the Southern Hemisphere.

Individuals were also advised to go to Vietnam, Mexico and Bolivia.
 

Tourists can uncover some of Sydney's best kept secrets thanks to a new project.

People on holidays to Australia will be tempted to check out the Hidden Spaces exhibition, which is running until December 3rd.

Lord mayor Clover Moore says the scheme highlights the best locations to go and relax in all types of settings.

"These hidden away places and paths fire the imagination and inspire people to get out and explore," she added.

The project is a collaborative effort between the City of Sydney and the University of Sydney and comes after AU$9 million (£5.8 million) was recently invested in the location's backstreets and laneways.

People who go along will be able to find some of the best clubs and pubs in Sydney, as well as some heritage buildings.

Alternatively, individuals could choose to find out what developments are to be carried out in Chinatown, as a public consultation is planned for December 6th.

Posted by Linda Ellison
 

Adelaide's Botanic Park is to be the setting for this year's Womadelaide.

Taking place from March 9th to 12th, the internationally-renowned festival is a celebration of world music, art and dance and may appeal to anyone going on a tailor made holiday to Australia.

The event was co-founded by former Genesis front man Peter Gabriel – famous for his 1980's hit Sledgehammer – and first made an appearance in the nation back in 1992.

Over 81,000 visitors went along to the 2011 version of the celebration and next year's effort is expected to be just as popular.

Workshops and performances by some of the best exponents of world music will be spread across seven stages, while there will also be a number of display stalls.

So far, Tinariwen, First Aid Kit, The Barons of Tang, Eddi Reader, Chic and Sharon Shannon Big Bang are among those who have been confirmed as taking part.

Posted by Chloe Adams
 

A massive Christmas tree is to be lit up in Adelaide on December 2nd.

It forms part of the Lighting the Heart of the City event – which will see the latest stage in the celebrations for the festive period – and it is sure to interest people on holidays to Australia.

Lord mayor Stephen Yarwood is among those who will be taking part in the process and he noted it will be an "incredible night".

Chris McDermot, founding director of Little Heroes – the charity that has teamed up with the council to promote the event – remarked: "Christmas is a very special time of year for all families."

The City of Adelaide Concert Band and the Philharmonia Choir are among those who will be performing at the occasion, while 12 lanterns are to be designed to tie in with the song 12 Days of Christmas.

Plans are also being made for the Australia Day parade, which will be held in January 26th.

Posted by Chloe Adams
 

Two festivals have been announced for Adelaide in 2012.

The Adelaide Fringe and the Adelaide Festival are confirmed to take place in the first three months of the year and so people may be keen to go on holidays to Australia to check them out.

All four of the events will hope to showcase South Australia's vibrancy and "zest for life and sheer artistic thirst", according to the South Australia Tourism Commission.

From February 24th to March 18th the Adelaide Fringe will be returning for its 52nd year.

The largest arts festival in Australia, over 334,000 tickets were sold for the 2011 incarnation and next year's happening promises to showcase the finest local and international talent.

As well as this, the Adelaide Festival – which is to feature a special on the baroque scores of Ennio Morricone – will bring the best opera, theatre, dance and music that the nation has to offer.

Posted by Dave Moore 

Individuals heading to Perth next year may want to take the opportunity to see some of the best cyclists in the world.

The Chevron 2012 Perth International Track Cycling Grand Prix will take place on March 24th and it is an ideal event for sporting fans on tailor made holidays to Australia.

Kim Hames, tourism minister for Western Australia, said there will be more than 170 "elite level riders" expected to take part in the competition, including current world champions Cameron Meyer and Luke Durbridge.

"This high-level competition will be track cycling at its very best, offering local audiences a truly international event in a world-class venue," he added.

Mr Hames continued by saying it will also give local sportsmen and women an opportunity to test themselves against the best.

It will be the first top level meeting held in Perth since 1997 by UCI – which is the sports world governing body.