| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 19/06/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 54 |
| Copyright: Other |
experts’ view: favourite adventures
We asked three representatives from Australia’s regional tourist offices about their favourite adventure Down Under. Here’s what they said.
white-water raftingRos Pittendreigh,
Tourism Queensland Sales Manager
“My top adventure experience would be white-water rafting down the Tully River, just north of Cairns in Tropical Northern Queensland – diving on the Great Barrier Reef comes a close second.
The two ground operators that run the tours – R’n’R Rafting and Raging Thunder Adventure Holidays – offer a pretty similar product. You go down river in an absolute frenzy of activity, with the guides shouting instructions at you to keep the boat on course. You end up getting bruised and battered but it’s great fun. It’s also a good way to meet people. Once you’ve seen somebody’s white knuckles you feel like you know them better. I can vouch for this personally as my husband and I are still in touch with a couple we met 13 years ago on a rafting trip.
After the rapids the river is quite flat but fast flowing. It’s a great way to see the rainforest – it’s so peaceful, with no people or houses for miles around.
The tours stop for a barbecue lunch at a special clearing in the forest. The guides have a video camera and they interview everyone for their personalised tapes. These are taken away and edited with footage from the rafting, so everybody gets their own souvenir at the end of the day.”
Rafting: take a white-knuckle ride
driving the Stuart Highway
Jovanka Ristich, Australia’s Northern Territory Tourist Commission
“Driving down the Stuart Highway would certainly be near the top of my list. This is the Australian Route 66 – it goes all the way down to Adelaide through the Northern Territory and South Australia.
It starts in Darwin, which used to be a real one-horse town but has developed a lot in recent years. It’s closer to Bali than it is to Sydney, so there is a lot of Asian influence – especially in the food.
From Darwin you can take detours to Kakadu National Park – made famous by the film Crocodile Dundee, and the smaller Lichfield National Park, which is great as it has lots of freshwater pools for swimming in – no crocs though.
Carrying on south you can stop at Katherine National Park, or go on to Tennant Creek – an old mining town. About an hour’s drive away are the huge, almost spherical granite rocks known as the Devil’s Marbles, which Aborigines say are the eggs of the Rainbow Serpent.
Further south is Alice Springs, home of the Royal Flying Doctors service, and the gateway to the outback. You can carry on to Kings Canyon and then on to Ayers Rock – an unforgettable experience.”
Stuart Rigg, Tourism New South Wales Regional Director, Europe
“My best active experience in Australia would be taking a ‘Surfari’ on the New South Wales coast. This activity takes a group of dedicated surf-seekers along the beautiful Pacific Coast Touring Route between Sydney and Byron Bay.
Passing beautiful coastline and hinterland, the group stops at a number of spectacular camping grounds on route – all in unique settings right on the beach. Locations do vary according to wind and sand bar conditions though.
This is a great way to learn how to surf. The Australian wildlife is all around you – kangaroos hop around on the beach, eagles soar above – you even get dolphins riding on the waves with you.
Although this is an active tour, the trip is relaxing, as you are never on a tight schedule. A normal day consists of long walks on deserted beaches, surfing lessons, walks through tropical rainforest and just generally getting back to nature.
Having explored the Harbour City sights – restaurants, Harbour Bridge Climb, Fox Studios – I was advised a Surfari was the best way to ‘let loose and experience regional New South Wales.’
Iwould have to agree. Beautiful beaches and surfing are very much part of everyday life for Sydneysiders – I’d recommend that any soft adventure lover experiences it!”
surfari
Surfari : a must for adventure lovers