Why Uluru should top every Aussie’s bucket list

May 25, 2014 ToniLeave a comment

Most Australians favour an overseas adventure to a holiday in their own backyard. However there are some places in Australia that boast a beauty that is found in no other – one of those places is the Red Centre, Northern Territory. And the heart of the Red Centre, all 863 metres of it, is Uluru.

Uluru is more commonly known as Ayers Rock; it was named by William Gosse in 1873 after Sir Henry Ayers. Uluru is the Aboriginal and official name. You can fly directly to Uluru and take one of the many transfers to Ayers Rock Resort, where five different types of accommodation await, from camping grounds to Sails in the Desert, a five-star resort.

You can see Uluru from the air, walk around it (all 10km of it), the local tribes recommend you don’t climb it for spiritual reasons, or watch the sunrise on a camel.

Sounds of Silence dinner at Uluru http://www.ayersrockresort.com.au/sounds-of-silence/

A must-do is the Sounds of Silence dinner, winner of multiple tourism awards. Nothing showcases the beauty of this massive monolith than a candlelit dinner in the middle desert, complete with astronomer and a showcase by a local indigenous tribe.

Whether you stay for a weekend or 5 days, the red sand of Uluru exudes a positive energy which you feel as soon as you are in its presence, and there are not many places in the world where you can say that.

Travel Must Haves Apps for your iPhone

May 12, 2014August 2, 2014 ToniLeave a comment

Travelling the world has become a smaller place thanks to the digital age – however it can still be daunting when you are travelling overseas and having to find ways to overcome the language barrier, navigate your way around a strange city or even finding a bed for the night.

Dealchecker have put together this neat little infographic on some of the most effective apps to help you when you are travelling: from easy ways to send notes to loved ones back home or the best time of day to shoot that amazing sunset.

Must have apps for the savvy traveller is an infographic produced by dealchecker.

Wizarding World of Harry Potter

April 16, 2014November 29, 2015 ToniLeave a comment

Since I read the announcement in 2009 that there was to be a theme park devoted to recreating the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, I was beyond excited. After waiting in line for each of the books release – I started late as I only discovered the Harry Potter books just before Book 3 was released in 1999 – it was on my bucket list to see the world I had come to love in the books come to life.

I would read reviews and watch celebrities like Ellen visit the WWOHP and lap it up. And four years later, in 2013 I finally got the chance to go Universal Studios Orlando to see it for myself.

It was the middle of Summer and so rehydrating is a must.

All the stores in WWOHP are true to the books. When I asked one of the Wizard shop assistants at Olivanders about shipping stuff back home, she pulled out a Book of Spells and flipped to the Shipping Spells section. Also JK Rowling made sure that all the drinks sold in this part of Universal were authentic to the Wizarding World – so no soft drinks like Coke. Only Butterbeer, water, Pumpkin Juice, traditional lemonade and craft beer at the Three Broomsticks.

Once it was announced that the theme park was expanding to include a real life Hogwarts express that will take you between the existing Hogesmead to Diagon Alley, and the Knight Bus, I started a savings plan to make sure I don’t have to wait another four years to go back.