Ashes Series 2013-14
Australia
Watching the Ashes in Australia is top of most England supporters’ wishlist but Australia offers so much more to see and do besides, making this one of our favourite sporting and touring destinations.
Tourists are well looked after: you will find that that quality of hotels, coaches and tourist attractions is consistently high and that all the cricket grounds have good facilities. The Test match host cities are all vibrant and cosmopolitan and it is no exaggeration to say that outside the urban areas, this is a land of astonishing and unspoiled natural beauty.
It’s no secret that the Aussies are passionate sports fans, so you can be sure that the atmosphere at the ground will be nothing short of electric as England fight for a repeat of the 2010-11 Ashes Series to beat the ‘Baggy Greens’ in their own backyard.
And, finally, if you need further persuasion, just imagine yourself escaping the winter gloom and Christmas madness at home for a few weeks of glorious southern hemisphere sunshine.
Adelaide is divided in two by the River Torrens and is surrounded by beaches and the Mount Lofty Ranges. A quiet city, it has a calm and tranquil feel and being only one mile square and based on a grid system, it is extremely accessible.
Embrace the alfresco ambience of Rundle Street in the East End or explore the exotic, bustling foodhalls of Chinatown. Swim with dolphins in vibrant Glenelg and fish from the jetty in Henley. Explore the museums, markets and historic harbour of Port Adelaide or browse the world's largest collection of Aboriginal antiquities at the Aboriginal Cultures Gallery.
Kangaroo Island, just off the coast of Adelaide, makes an excellent day out and is easily reached by sea or air. Kangaroo, wallaby, bandicoot and possum are all native to the island and you will also see seals and sea lions.
Visit world-famous vineyards such as Yalumba, Seppelts, Penfolds and Two Hands and sample quality, local produce on the Butcher, Baker, WineMaker Trail. In the nearby heritage town of Gawler you will find stone churches, galleries and museums set against rolling hills and manicured vineyards. Take a tour of historic wineries and boutique breweries. See artisans at work in one of the many studios or buy some of the region’s famous handicrafts. Of course, nothing beats a long lunch under the gum trees with a bottle of one of the region’s flagship wines, Barossa Shiraz or Eden Valley Riesling.
Enjoying good weather nearly all year round, Brisbane, the third largest city in Australia, is a laid-back city built around the Brisbane River. The gardens and lagoons of the South Bank are well worth exploring, as well as Fortitude Valley’s cafés and boutique shops. For an adrenalin-pumping view of the city and its surrounds, do a bridge climb or take to the skies in a hot air balloon. On the clear waters and islands of nearby Moreton Bay, you can fish, enjoy a boat trip and spot wild dolphins.
The areas to the north and south of Brisbane are ideal for day trips. To the north is the beautiful Sunshine Coast which boasts more than a hundred kilometres of golden beaches as well as lush, green hinterland. To the south is the lively Gold Coast, Australia’s most popular holiday destination and home to many theme parks, including Movie World and Sea World.
Sitting on the Yarra River at Port Phillip Bay, this stylish, vibrant city is a maze of hidden lanes, welcoming bars, many of Australia’s best restaurants and great shopping. The city has a strong history as a sporting venue as a home to the Australian Grand Prix, Australian Open and Melbourne Cup.
Melbourne is known for its trams, elegant tree-lined boulevards and fine Victorian architecture, alongside modern skyscrapers. Visit Federation Square, the city’s landmark cultural space, and enjoy a sunset beer on the promenade in Melbourne’s seaside suburb St Kilda. Shop till you drop on funky Brunswick Street or upmarket Chapel Street and wander along the Southbank development enjoying cafés, bistros and bars.
Situated in the north of tropical Queensland, Palm Cove and Port Douglas are both great bases for a visit to the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef. Snorkel and swim in warm tropical waters to view the rainbow coloured coral, sponges and fish. All tours to Palm Cove and Port Douglas include a trip to the Great Barrier Reef which, for many people, is a highlight.
Palm Cove is located at the foot of rainforest clad mountains, less than 30 minutes north of Cairns. This peaceful village rests on a casual esplanade of restaurants and cafés, lined with palms that meet the golden sands of Palm Cove’s picture-perfect beach.
The tropical resort town of Port Douglas is about an hour’s drive north from Cairns and is regarded as one of Australia’s premier resort destinations, with a cosmopolitan and sophisticated atmosphere.
Perth, situated on the banks of the Swan River, is one of the liveliest cities in the country, bustling with business by day and with a thriving nightlife. The city has a Mediterranean climate and claims to be one of the sunniest cities in the world, with beautiful clean, uncrowded beaches, lapped by the waters of the Indian Ocean just a short distance from the city centre.
Situated on a hill overlooking the city, Kings Park offers spectacular views as well as over 1000 acres of natural bushland and wild flowers. In the evening, a favourite haunt with locals is the vibrant Northbridge district, offering a great choice of restaurants and bars.
Australia’s oldest and largest city, Sydney is one of the most cosmopolitan and dynamic cities in the world with al fresco dining, historic sights, golden beaches, stylish shopping and a warm, temperate climate. The Harbour Bridge and the Opera House complete the famous picture postcard scene and the surrounding areas of the Rocks and Circular Quay are popular with tourists and locals alike, particularly coming to life at night.
Darling Harbour, a modern harbour-side centre housing an array of shops, entertainment, waterside cafés and restaurants, is worth a visit, as is the AMP Tower for panoramic views over the city, Bondi Beach and Manly. ‘Must dos’ include Sydney’s BridgeClimb where you are taken on a guided walk to the top of the Harbour Bridge, lunch at Doyles in Watson’s Bay and a coffee cruise around the Harbour. The Blue Mountains and Hunter Valley Wineries are both within easy reach and make worthwhile day trips if you want to escape the city.
A sacred Aboriginal site, Uluru dramatically rises 348 metres from the flat surrounding desert in the deep centre of Australia, and it is worth getting up before the sun to watch the first rays of light setting the rock ablaze. On a walking tour with an Aboriginal guide, you will learn about how it was created by spirit ancestors in the Dreamtime, and see the cave paintings that adorn the rock. Other ways to explore Uluru include from the back of a motorcycle or camel or with a scenic helicopter flight. Just 40 kilometres away you’ll find another famous landmark, Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) - steep, rounded, russet domes formed through more than 500 million years of erosion.
This coastal paradise stretches from Cervantes and the moonscape Pinnacles Desert in the south to Exmouth and Ningaloo Reef in the north. The Kalbarri National Park is known for its gorges, cliffs, winding rivers and white beaches and in the Shark Bay World Heritage Area you can feed wild bottlenose dolphins at Monkey Mia and get up close to sea lions, manta rays, dugongs and humpback whales.
Yarra Glen is the heart of the food and wine region and a perfect base for touring the acclaimed wineries of the beautiful Yarra Valley. Explore the tall forests of the Dandenong Ranges National Park: stop amidst the fairytale mists of Sherbrooke Forest or take the Puffing Billy Steam Railway through the villages of Belgrave, Gembrook and Emerald. Nearby, Healesville wildlife sanctuary showcases more than 200 species of Australian wildlife, featuring kangaroos, koalas and amazing birds of prey.