Oceania Archives - Girls Guide to The World

November 11, 2020 by admin

Things to do in Dunsborough

The weather is beginning to heat up and so are all the activities on offer in Dunsborough! Whether you are here to wind down and relax with a loved one or looking for an active escape, Dunsborough is definitely one of the PLACES TO BE as spring warms into summer.

In this blog we will delve into all things active above and below the surface, the BEST places to eat and drink, where to catch live music, plus a few more things to do in Dunsborough.

How to be active in Dunsborough. Above the surface:

With the calm waters of Geographe Bay lapping at the town’s shore, there are plenty of reasons to head to the beach!

Firstly, there is a portion of beach in town which allows furry friends to exercise off-lead!! After getting a coffee in town you can walk down to the beach to enjoy the salty air and sandy paws. Head to the City of Busselton website and search “Dog exercise areas” for more information.

If your stay in Dunsborough isn’t accompanied by a furry friend then you can find an enthralling walk trail throughout Meelup reserve. This walk takes you from town towards the Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse. Don’t forget to take bathers with you as there are plenty of cool crystal clear bays to provide respite from the warmer weather.

Got a bike? Then the bike shop in town is your new local. Here you can find ALL the resources to go bike riding plus so much more!! With information for both ROAD and MOUNTAIN biking, such as local trails, servicing, even biking groups!

Maybe keeping both feet steady on the ground is more your style. Dunsborough Lakes Golf Club is situated, you guessed it, beside the lake in Dunsborough! A beautiful green which circles around the estate, watch wild ducks glide across the multiple bodies of water while you challenge your mates or even beat a personal best on the course!

Back down to the beach for a game of frisbee at Eagle Bay or a volleyball tournament at the nets on Meelup Beach. If you head down within the month of November you may even catch the largest animal on the planet, a BLUE WHALE cruise past these bays!

How to be active in Dunsborough. Below the surface:

This takes us below the surface. It wouldn’t be a typical Naturaliste Charters blog without the mention of whale watching in Dunsborough! As we move into the latter part of the annual humpback whale migration, we expect to see plenty of spring babies! The ‘cow and calf’ pairs always melt our hearts with their gentle nursing and teaching behaviours. Now is the time to witness Blue Whales! Through October and November these gentle GIANTS effortlessly glide past the Dunsborough coastline! With numbers increasing each year and an already astonishing season this next month is not to be missed! There is a dedicated research team at Point Piquet too, so if coming out onto the water with us is beyond your limits then head down the to point. There is no shortage of whale information by the friendly researchers and as always, keep an eye on our socials for more epic whale pictures and videos.

With an incredible diversity of life underwater, you must put your mask and snorkel on to experience it! Follow the rocks to explore fish, sting rays, octopi and maybe even a curious sea lion. Once your head is below the surface you can hear the clicking of crayfish and crabs and maybe even a humpback whale melody echoing in the background. A peaceful experience for both children and adults!

Try your luck with body boarding or surfing the steady swell that rolls through into Geographe Bay. Hours of endless fun to be had, however you will be finding sand in your hair well after returning home.

Where to eat in Dunsborough:

Phew all this talk about activities has made us a bit hungry! So let’s delve into where to EAT in Dunsborough.

The town is your oyster when it comes to food with a huge variety of cuisines on offer. If it is oysters you crave then the seafood and asian style of Blue Manna may delight! Maybe it is a quality pub-feed you need, so head to Occy’s! Looking to start your day off with a healthy start? Then Conscious Craves have what you need! This Mexican inspired cafe serves all the good-stuff with the best vegan meals in town (voted by me!). Now these are only a few of the places to head to, we advise checking out Tripadvisor or even just finding your own favourite! There are so many memories to be made when good food is involved!!

Where to drink in Dunsborough:

Looking to wet the whistle, then head no further than Dunsborough Tavern! Here you can catch a live gig from a touring Western Australian band or even a local gig. There is nothing better than watching the sunset on a summer evening with live acoustic music to provide the relaxed atmosphere. Maybe you are looking to share a fish bowl with mates or enjoy a romantic drink by the fire with a loved one. Either way there is no wrong turn to take in Dunsborough.

That rounds out our blog on things to do in Dunsborough! We hope you enjoyed and are excited to try more places and activities in town! Don’t forget there is only about a month left of whale watching in Dunsborough for the 2020 season so don’t miss out and book a tour before its too late!

October 28, 2013 by admin

Backpacking in Australia: Sightseeing and Budgeting Tips

Backpackers

Backpacking is a great way of discovery the delights of Australia as it gives you complete liberty to roam. Australia is such a diverse place with so many regional highlights that being tied down in a single resort would be a shame. The best thing about Australia is that it is really set up for backpackers. The country is full of relatively cheap accommodation that will suit a backpacker’s budget. It is also criss-crossed by public transport connections and there are car hire operators in most large towns as well as the cities. If you are considering a trip to Australia it is well worth making your time there a backpacking experience and enjoying the utter freedom it brings.

Accommodation

There are plenty of budget style hotels – that you see all over Europe – in Australia. These offer room-only rates which are of exceptional value. Usually, each room is set up simply with your own shower room and toilet. These sorts of hotel are mostly located on the outskirts and suburbs of the large cities. If you are travelling into rural Australia then opt for backpacking hostels. You may have to share a bathroom, or even a dormitory from time to time, but they are often very well run and a great way of making friends, particularly if you are travelling alone. Hostel Bookers is a good place to find hostels before you jet out.

Camping is another option you could consider to keep your costs down. Some campsites offer tents that are available to hire but you cannot rely on this – so check ahead unless you have you own. However, many campsites, particularly those along the tourist areas of the Australia’s stunning coastline, will offer you the option of trailer-style accommodation. If you are travelling from one town to the next it is worth asking about the sort of accommodation you can expect before departing to make sure you are not caught out without somewhere suitable to stay.

Travel

The major expense of a backpacking trip to Australia is, for UK visitors at least, the cost of long haul flights to the country. If you are flying internally on a domestic flight then these costs can mount up. Either way, it’s best to use a comparison like Momondo as a means of ensuring that you are keeping the costs down. Remember that Australia is a vast island country and so internal flights may work out to be a more cost-effective way of getting from one coast to the other, rather than travelling overland.

Major Australian towns and cities are linked by the country’s rail network, however the service is not really suited if you want to explore the bush and rural parts of the country. Car hire is really the best way to go for backpackers to get around. Use a nationwide hire service so that you don’t have to return the car to the place where you hired it. If you cannot drive, then the best option is to go for the bus network which is extensive. Many Australians rely on buses to travel long distances. Trips of nine hours or more are not infrequent and many of the buses that do the long routes have films that are shown during the journey.

Sights and Things To Do

Australia has so much wonderful wildlife that you can see for yourself that it is a shame to only visit a city zoo. Get into the bush and hike into the countryside. However, it is always advisable to follow marked routes to avoid getting lost. Don’t go hiking with your full backpack, especially in the heat of the day. Take precautions like applying sun cream and carrying water to drink.

Nearly the whole of Australia has some wine making industry associated with it and many vineyards welcome visitors to sample their produce. In wine making regions it is certainly possible to sign up to an organised tour of local wineries to really get a flavour for the grapes whilst not having to worry about driving back to your accommodation.

Image source – http://teknos.goodluckwith.us/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/944af_backpacker_2799555653_0280455cb5.jpg

August 23, 2012 by Cate

New Zealand Versus Australia

Sydney Opera House

Many people tend to lump New Zealand and Australia together with that catch-all term ‘Down Under”. True, both are south of the equator, but that’s where most similarities come to a screeching halt. New Zealand and Australia each have their pros and cons on the travel scale, and here’s a list of a few of them.

Getting To and Fro

Australia is huge. Huge. It is its own continent, after all. New Zealand is much more manageable, especially for the traveler on a time schedule. A ferry links the north and south islands for the road or train traveler, and a flight between Auckland and Christchurch takes just over an hour. That being said, it’s not as if air and train and road travel don’t exist in Australia, but much more time will be spent on travel between cities.

Cosmos or Beer

With the exception of Auckland, New Zealand is still quite a rural and laid back country. This is a big draw for many travelers, but for those in search of thumping nightlife, some of Australia’s very cosmopolitan cities may be a better fit. Sydney and Melbourne are consistently at the top of the list for internationally recognized DJs and clubs, as well as frequent visits by touring acts from around the world. Brisbane and Darwin come highly recommended, as well.

Sports Weather

Weather plays a huge factor in travel decisions, which is especially true when outdoor sports are involved. New Zealand definitely has the upper hand if a ski trip is on your radar, as its volcanic terrain has inspired some great ski resorts. Surfing is popular in both countries, so it comes down to a personal warm or cold water preference. The same holds true with SCUBA diving, but Australia has the Great Barrier Reef, and that’s hard for any country to compete with.

New Zealand (Image used under Creative Commons from Flickr user Mattphotos).

Scenery

New Zealand has that type of landscape that inspires magic, and epic films like Lord of the Rings. From fjords to volcanos to grasslands, New Zealand’s landscapes are stunning in their beauty. But so is Australia’s. The Outback offers some of the best desert scenery on the planet, including Alice Springs and the impressive Ayers Rock. Additionally, people flock from all over the globe to Australia’s pristine beaches and thousands of miles of coastline.

Wildlife

In the wildlife department, Australia takes the cake. With its abundance of marsupials, including the cute kangaroos and koalas, as well as many species of lizard, snake, birds, mammals and a vast array of sea life, Australia is a nature lover’s dream. Of course, New Zealand has wildlife as well, but the kiwi simply can’t compete.

In a perfect travel world, we could travel to each country in the world and make our own opinions about the best and the less than best. At the end of the day however, it is up to you, the traveler, to decide whether Australia or New Zealand is next on your travel agenda. Each destination has its own very distinct culture, people, sights and activities to take part in, any of which will be a highlight in and of itself.

Also in a perfect world, we could answer this question simply using the rugby quotient, and we all know what the result would be.

New Zealand.