FrugalMonkey Discount Travel News

Category: Australia

  • Swim with Sea Lions in South Australia

    We’ve all heard of swimming with dolphins, and even swimming with whales.


    But one South Australian company allows you to swim with a furrier marine creature on their swim with sea lions tours. Baird Bay Ocean Eco Experience is located in Baird Bay, a tiny coastal town on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula. Just 8 people lived here at last count, including Eco Experience owners Alan and Patricia Payne. They regard the wild sea lions like their children, and just like any proud parents love to arrange play dates with interested guests. The Australian sea lion is a species indigenous to the land Down Under, although it shares many similarities with other sea lions around the world. Unlike other sea lion species though they have no set breeding season, so keep your eyes peeled for pups while you're swimming with these beautiful animals! Sea lions are naturally curious and love to play in the shallow tide pool which protects them, and their human guests, from sharks. Pups may be shy at first, but before too long they'll happily nuzzle your hands and enjoy a good stroke! [caption id="attachment_4296" align="alignright" width="150" caption="A pair of Australian sea lions"]A pair of Australian sea lions[/caption] An hour can seem like a moment when you're spending time with these friendly sea creatures, and before too long it’ll be time to return to dry land, filled with the memories of the special experience you’ve shared. Baird Bay Ocean Eco Experience swim tours run daily from September 1 until May 31 each year. It costs $140 for swimming adults, and $70 for children 15 years and under. Non swimming adults can watch from the boat for $100. The tour price includes the hire of wetsuits and snorkeling gear. While tickets can be purchased from the Marine Mammal Information Center before departure, it’s advisable to book your place during peak times to avoid disappointment.

  • Sydney for Kids on a Budget – Free Family Friendly Attractions in New South Wales

    Australia’s school holidays are looming, which is enough to fill any parent with dread. The kids will want to be entertained, but it needn’t cost you a fortune.

    Sydney residents can enjoy a staycation and soak up all the free activities in their own backyard. Museums are always a great option for families looking to save cash, with many offering free entry and enough exhibitions to keep folks entertained all day. For a journey back in time, look to The Rocks Discovery Museum tucked away in Kendall Lane, just off Argyle Street. Archival film and archaeological artifacts bring historic Sydney back to life in a way that's engaging for kids and adults. For a day out with a more nautical theme, head to the Australian National Maritime Museum. This free museum always runs school holiday programs especially designed to entertain its youngest visitors. This time around little ones can learn all about the travels of Sindbad the Sailor through, arts, crafts, and music workshops. If arts are their thing, take the children to the Art Gallery of NSW. Entry is also free, and a tour of the museum will seem much more exciting when led by one of the gallery’s fun characters. The holiday period also brings storytelling and special children's performances.Australia piggy bank Forget greasy fast food lunches; a picnic is a much more economical, and healthier option. Centennial Park is a bit of an inner-city oasis with its duck ponds and grassy hills. Take your blades or bikes along and you can enjoy the dedicated cycle and rollerblading tracks, or have a game on the tennis courts or sporting fields. Way out west you can enjoy the wetlands at Sydney Olympic Park. There are 40 hectares of parkland here, with picnic areas and barbecues for families who want a hot lunch. Playgrounds and cycleways should keep the kids entertained while mom and dad relax. So why spend a fortune on the school holidays? Sydney has plenty of fun activities that won't cost you a cent.

  • Discover Broadbeach – Cosmopolitan Style on Queensland’s Gold Coast

    When thinking of up-market vacation destinations, few people think of Queensland’s Gold Coast. It’s got a reputation for cheap plastic souvenirs, action-packed theme parks, and rowdy high school graduates. But there’s a much classier side of the Gold Coast to be discovered at Surfer’s Paradise’s more sophisticated cousin, Broadbeach.

    Broadbeach is an easy hour’s drive from Brisbane. You’ll need to hire a car to get there, but once you arrive you’ll find it easy enough to get around on public transport or on foot.

    Check in to one of the area’s high class hotels or serviced apartments for real luxury. The Sofitel Gold Coast Broadbeach offers some great weekend packages, but if you’d rather enjoy the facilities of an apartment look to Meriton Serviced Apartments or the Mantra Phoenician.

    Staying at the Sofitel has its advantages, as its cosmopolitan wine bar Room 81 is one of the places to be seen. Classic and signature cocktails are the perfect accompaniment to the bar’s tasting menu, which offers gourmet fare like duck spring rolls and local tiger prawns.Australia vacation tips photo

    The beach is a drawcard for any Queensland tourist, but you’ll find the sands at Broadbeach more relaxed than those at Surfers Paradise. The atmosphere is perfect for lazing about with a magazine, but if you’d prefer something more active you can sign up for a class with Broadbeach Surf School.

    Once you’ve surfed up a sweat, head to the local restaurant strip. Many folks regard Broadbeach as the Gold Coast’s dining hub, so it’s difficult to find a bad meal. If you’ve got a taste for seafood, head to the award-winning Yellowfin. Carnivores can get their fix at the playfully named Moo Moo Wine Bar + Grill.

    If you’re in the mood for retail therapy, make sure you stop at Pacific Fair. This mall has more than 300 shops, so you’re bound to find just what you’re looking for. If you’d prefer to find something more unique, check out the craft markets held on the shore on the first and third Sundays of every month.

    Not that you need to be on the go. Broadbeach has plenty of options for relaxing too, whether it’s a game of golf, or a spa treatment at Q1 Spa or Splash Day Spa.

    Whether you’re visiting the Gold Coast to soak up the atmosphere, or simply take it easy, Broadbeach can help you do it in style.

  • Surf the Cronulla Coast – Sydney’s Best Surfing Beaches

    Australia is known as one of the best surfing spots in the world, hosting major pro championships on the Gold Coast and Bells Beach.

    While these breaks grab the headlines, New South Wales locals prefer the more laidback atmosphere of the Cronulla Coast, just outside Sydney. The Cronulla Beaches National Surfing Reserve features seven neighboring beaches: Sandshoes, Greenhills, Shark Island, North Cronulla, Cronulla Point, Voodoo, and Merries Reef. Local surfing royalty Mark Occhilupo, Kirk Flintoff, Andrew Lester, and Steven Warren cut their eye teeth on these waves, which have been delighting generations of surfers since 1914. If you're comfortable on a board you'll fit right in, but if you're a novice you shouldn't let that stop you. Cronulla Surf School is the longest running surf school in Sydney. Its instructors will teach you everything you need to start hanging ten. The school also offers surfboard and bodyboard hire, a great option for tourists. The region is also home to the Cronulla Surfing Academy, a school that offers instruction for surfers of all levels. All gear, including wetsuits and surfboards, is supplied so all you need to worry about is learning.surfing in australia Cronulla's beaches are the area’s main attractions, but this Sydney suburb has enough to encourage you to stick around once you’ve stepped away from the sand. Local sidewalk cafes and fish and chips shops can satisfy your hunger pangs, or you can shop up a storm in the Cronulla Plaza. If you'd prefer to continue communing with nature, make sure you take in the views on The Esplanade coastal walk. Cronulla has plenty of accommodation options, from the up-market Rydges and Quest Serviced Apartments to the more basic Seabreeze Bed and Breakfast and Cronulla Beach YHA. But if you'd prefer to stay in the big smoke, the beaches are an easy walk from Cronulla train station.

  • Scoopon Travel Deals Website Helps you Enjoy Australian Cities for Less

    You can scoop up some great deals on dining, attractions and services around Australia with new travel deals website Scoopon.

    Just sign up for a free Scoopon membership to start enjoying the saving.

    These savings are pretty outstanding; recently the site has offered a five-course banquet at Melbourne's award-winning Cupido Restaurant for $20, a jetboat ride around Sydney Harbour for $29, and a five-hour deep sea fishing charter excursion on the Australia Gold Coast for $49. The site generally offers discounts of more than 50% on a range of products and services, and more deals are added daily. So how does it work? New offers are posted at noon, with the understanding that a minimum number will be snapped up. If you're interested in what's on offer, just click on the “Buy” button. Once the minimum number of respondents is reached, your credit card is billed and details of your purchase e-mailed to you. If the numbers aren’t reached, there are no charges at all. save on australia travel photo The biggest appeal of these deals, besides of course the money you save, is that you're given plenty of time to use them. You might start looking for offers before taking a getaway, or collect them in readiness for the next school vacation. Currently Scoopon only offers deals in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane, and the Gold Coast, but it's early days. If this takes off hopefully we’ll see specials available in all of Australia's major travel spots.

  • Stay Somewhere Unique in the Hunter Valley – Eco Friendly Accommodation in New South Wales

    We all want to stay somewhere unique, so why not Somewhere Unique in the heart of Hunter Valley wine country?

    This originally named eco-resort is just two hours away from Sydney, Australia, but it feels like it's a world away from the big smoke. Somewhere Unique is the perfect place for a romantic getaway, as there are only two private retreats set on 20 acres of bushland. Each is fully self contained, so you need never leave your room, but if you do want to venture out the township of Wollombi is only a few minutes' drive away. The villas have been cleverly designed with four distinct areas. There's the pleasure zone, with its plush king-sized bed, valley views, and reverse-cycle air conditioning and ceiling fan for comfort. Few things calm you like a good night's sleep, but the relaxation zone ensures you stay chilled when you're out of bed. The large bath is perfect for soaking with that special someone. The private bushland views mean you'll be in no rush to leave the tub, but when you do the thick cotton towels and plush bathrobes will be waiting.earth plant The entertainment area is state of the art, with a stereo system, LCD TV, DVD player, and iPod dock. The comfy lounge and gas log fireplace are perfect for enjoying the selection of DVDs and CDs provided. The villas are lovely, but don't forget to step outside and enjoy the private deck and courtyard. Each retreat has its own gas barbeque for cooking up a feast, or you could hop on one of the bicycles provided and enjoy dinner at one of Wollombi's famous cafes. A stay at Somewhere Unique is reasonably priced for such private pampering, with rates starting at $220 per night. This rate includes a complimentary bottle of local wine, chocolates, a breakfast hamper, and use of bicycles, picnic gear, and entertainment provisions.

  • Eco-Friendly Indulgence in Daylesford – Green Romance at Frog Hollow Estate

    For a romantic Aussie getaway that won’t hurt the planet, consider a stay at Frog Hollow Estate in the Victorian country town of Daylesford.

    The former gold mining town, located 115 kilometers north west of Melbourne, is becoming a popular destination for tourists looking to enjoy life at a slower pace.

    The streets are lined with fine dining restaurants and cafes, and the stores full of original fashions and quirky homewares. You can indulge in a mineral bath or spa at the local retreats, or a few choice drops in the nearby Macedon Ranges and Sunbury wine regions. That is, of course, if you want to venture out of Frog Hollow. This eco-friendly estate was once a stone and timber workshop, but today it enjoys spoiling its guests without harming the planet. The hot showers use collected rain water, and the appliances and eco-friendly lights green power. All villas are equipped with a corner spa for luxuriating with your love, a cosy gas or wood fire for snuggling up at the end of the night, and air conditioning for the summer. With all this romance in the air, it's unsurprising that the folks at Frog Hollow Estate love a wedding. The staff will happily take care of the arrangements, including accommodation for your guests, leaving you free to attend to more important matters. You might even like to return to reminisce on your first anniversary! Accommodation at Frog Hollow Estate in Daylesford starts from $250 a night and includes a gourmet hamper, featuring the best local produce, on arrival.

  • Dog-Friendly Beaches in Australia – Holiday with Your Pooch

    Beach holidays should be family affairs but with many Australian beaches adopting a strict no dogs policy, it can put a dampener on that ideal. But it doesn’t need to be that way.

    There are many beaches around the country that open their sand to the whole family, and that means Fido too. Byron Beach has a reputation as one of Australia's most laid back tourist centers, so it shouldn't surprise you that its Tallow Beach is chilled enough to allow pooches on the beach. There are restrictions though that dog lovers should be aware of though. While the beach extends for seven kilometers, pups are only allowed to roam in the area which runs from near Jarman Street to the northern end of Arakwal National Park. But that still gives them plenty of room to enjoy the white sand and clear waters. If you've got a city holiday in mind, head to Sirius Cove Reserve in the Sydney suburb of Mosman. This is definitely a dog friendly place, with waste bins complete with doggy bags, and picnic and barbeque facilities. Dogs can enjoy the beach at any time on weekdays and between 4 pm and 9 am on weekends and public holidays. dog at the beach Queensland has some of Australia's best known beaches, but you’ll want to veer off the tourist track if you want to bring Rover along. He's welcome at the unfortunately named Yorkeys Knob Beach near Cairns, and Sunshine Beach in Noosa. Yorkeys Knob Beach has an off-leash area at its southern end, but he must be on the leash elsewhere on the sand. Owners and canines can swim there without stress, as nets keep the stingers out. At Sunshine Beach, dogs can roam freely between Noosa National Park and the car park in Seaview Terrace. That should give him plenty of space to enjoy the beach's famous laidback atmosphere and beautiful sandy shore. With a name like Peasholm Dog Beach, you know canines are welcomed at this spot in the Perth suburb of South Scarborough. There's plenty of space for a raucous game of fetch on the beach or a run. It often feels like there are more dogs than humans at O'Sullivan Beach in the South Australian capital of Adelaide. During daylight savings (from October to March) dogs must be leashed between 10 am to 8 pm, but the rest of the time they're allowed to run freely and enjoy the dog exercise area, which extends from the marina to Christie Creek. So why should Spot miss out on all the fun? With a little careful planning, your next beach vacation can be a real family holiday!

  • Explore the Outback – Travel Around Australia’s Countryside

    Australia is a vast land but few tourists, and indeed few locals, ever see it in all its majesty. While the buzzing Eastern coastline with its beaches and big cities is alluring, to see the real Australia you’ll need to head to The Outback.

    Some 6.5 million square kilometers of rugged rural land are just waiting for you to explore. It’s tempting for tourists to join a guided tour and let someone else do all the work, but setting out solo can be much more rewarding. The major Outback roads are sealed, so it's a bit of a myth that you'll need a four-wheel drive to explore this area. However, if you want to step off the tourist path an all-terrain auto is the only way to cope with the dusty dirt roads and rocky countryside. Make sure you set off with enough food and water to feed everyone in your party for a few days. You'll need these supplies if your vehicle breaks down, as it may be some time before help arrives. It's also important to notify others of your intended route and time of arrival. Many Outback areas do not receive cell phone reception, so this is extra insurance in case of emergencies. Ease yourself into your Outback vacation by starting at Alice Springs. This is the most populated Outback town, with restaurants, tourist attractions, and friendly locals. Its ready accommodation makes it a great base for your Outback adventures. [caption id="attachment_3299" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Uluru at sunset"]Uluru at sunset[/caption] Uluru is a long day’s drive away from Alice Springs. Many tourists make an early start and see the rock before returning to Alice Springs, but it's a lot of traveling to do in one day. If you've got the time to spare it's better to make a more leisurely trip and bunker down at one of Uluru's resorts or camping sites. Following the Mereenie Loop Road from Alice Springs will take you to Finke Gorge National Park. It's home to the Finke River, which is believed to be one of the oldest running waterways on the planet, and the ancient cabbage palms of Palm Valley. And that's just for starters. From Alice Springs you can also reach the Kimberleys, the Simpson Desert, and a host of friendly country towns. But many locals suggest that it doesn't matter where you go, as a trip to the Outback is more about the journey than the destination.

  • Skateboarding in Sydney at Monster Skatepark

    Ten years ago, Sydney Olympic Park was a hive of activity as elite athletes from around the world competed for gold and glory.

    The Olympics may be long gone, but the Australian park has barely slowed down. These days it's home to a variety of events and activities designed to get your blood pumping. One of the best is the Monster Skatepark, which is the only international standard indoor and outdoor skateboarding venue in Oz. You don't have to be the next Tony Hawk to appreciate this place, which has more jumps and ramps than any other in the Southern Hemisphere. It was built by riders, for riders, so it knows just what board enthusiasts of all skill levels want. There's an international competition sized vert ramp, two adjacent mini ramps connected by spines and a roll through, and a 1000 square meter indoor street course. If you're a beginner on a board, don't let that scare you. The Monster Academy runs development clinics to help everyone from novices to aspiring pros hone their skills. Academy classes are divided into iSkate levels to ensure all participants are challenged and nurtured. The Monster Skatepark is open daily from 10 am until 10 pm, although these times may vary when the park hosts events or other special sessions. It costs $10 for a four-hour skate session or $19 for a day pass.