Travel guide for Eco-friendly

  We all love to relax and get away from the stresses and responsibilities of everyday life, but more and more we realise the fragility of the many wonderful eco systems that comprise the Australian continent. We want to be able to leave our troubles behind and there is an inspiring way to do that, make memories and leave only footprints on our stunning landscape.   We have rounded up five of the top eco-friendly destinations on takeabreak.com.au to help you choose a holiday that leaves you – and our country – in good shape.   Anketell Forest, NSW Anketell Forest has history, location and eco awareness all rolled into one lovely property. All the timber used in the extensions, fittings and furniture was salvaged from fallen trees and milled and handcrafted ... Read more

Sometimes, a person wants to escape the rat race and get back to the simple life. But not if you live in Walhalla! If you lived there, you probably wouldn’t encounter much traffic, as today there are only ten permanent residents! But it is this simplicity that makes Walhalla such a delightful destination to visit. Over a hundred years ago, thousands of gold miners and support businesses made this town a thriving community, but today only their ghosts remain.   Ghosts? Well – friendly ghosts anyway. If you fancy some intrigue, a local favourite tour is the Walhalla Ghost Tour where you will hear eerie stories about the characters that once roamed the town (and never left…).    Things to do: If the idea of a ghost tour gives you the chills, conside... Read more

Holiday journalling for kids: It can be exciting for a child to develop their own scrapbook, and with the many family-friendly accommodation options on takeabreak.com.au, you’ll have endless choices to explore with your children. Each evening, have them write, type, or illustrate their experiences. It may be as simple as asking a preschooler to draw their favourite memory of the day, or asking a toddler to paste ticket stubs, pamphlets and photos into a book alongside their photos. Older children can use the computer to write out their journal entries, or if doing it the old-fashioned way, can neatly write onto the pages and then attach their favourite photos and travel memorabilia.   Including the family pet: If you’ve travelled to one of the many pet-frie... Read more

Terrigal is the perfect base to explore the Central Coast as there is so much to see and do. It is halfway between Sydney and Newcastle, which makes it a great holiday destination without having to travel too far, although we came from further afield and it was definitely worth the trip.   Things to do Terrigal has something for everyone... one of the great pleasures is walking along the beach with your loved one and hearing delighted squeals as children play in the water and build sandcastles on the beach. There are many activities in the area from sailing to kayaking, and pelican feeding tours to horseriding, which are all available on Holiday Inspirations under Terrigal activities.   If shopping is your thing, then you will enjoy the many great shops, with everything fr... Read more

What is the best eco-friendly holiday destination in Australia? Here are some of the finalists - as voted by you! Just some of the TakeABreak Eco Destination Finalists Kangaroo Island, SA 26.87% Frankston, VIC 2.24% Capricornia region, QLD 2.24% Royal National Park, NSW 3.73% Kuranda, Far North, QLD 11.19% Ningaloo Reef, WA 14.93% Flinders Ranges, SA 6.72% Wilsons Promontory, VIC 10.45% Rainb... Read more

Expect more than ‘great ocean’ on this iconic touring route. Rightly regarded as one of the most spectacular coastal roads in the world, the Great Ocean Road loops like a rollercoaster along the southern sea-cliffs of Victoria. Carved out of the mountains, the road winds its way around some 300km of rugged, exposed coastline from Geelong to Warrnambool, past cliffs, roaring seas, tranquil coves and some of Australia’s best surf beaches. Along the way it links the deliciously quaint fishing villages and seaside holiday towns of Torquay, Lorne, Anglesea, Airey’s Inlet and Apollo Bay before heading inland through the Otway Ranges. Emerging from the forest, the road then reveals a vastly different landscape as it runs behind sandstone cliffs, which face the onslaught of... Read more

With sandy beaches, sparkling blue waters, and abundant fresh seafood, Merimbula is a paradise for anyone who appreciates the ocean. Nestled into the Sapphire Coast along the southeast of Australia, this town boasts more than its fair share of attractions. There are calm beaches to suit families with young children, and faster waves for surfers intent on a thrill ride. There are boat tours to take you whale watching and fishing, as well as a fabulous wharf where you can throw your line in deep without going out on the sea. Sailing, kayaking, windsurfing, Wake boarding / water skiing and canoeing are all fun pastimes of the region. But while Merimbula has something for every person who visits, it isn’t just people who enjoy the area. You may also encounter penguins, seals, and dolphi... Read more

Those of us who live in Australia grow up understanding the joys, dangers and safety rules that make it such a great place.  However, many visitors to our country find Australia an alien, but starkly beautiful country, and they have little or no understanding of the best way to stay safe and enjoy their time here. A few very simple rules can help to make a visit to Australia a safe and pleasurable experience, and Tourism Australia has a brochure available for download that lists safety tips in a variety of languages. Driving tips One of the first things to remember is that speed limits are strictly enforced in Australia, more so than in many countries overseas.  Generally, when driving in urban and suburban areas, the speed limit is between 50 and 60 kilometres per hour. When ... Read more

We know that our teenage children can be delightful, exasperating, funny, sullen, adventurous, shy, talkative, slothful and manic – and sometimes that is just in the space of an hour!  All these moods are magnified when it comes to travelling, be it in Australia or overseas, as teens and parents are forced into one another’s company without a ‘get out of jail free’ card, such as time with friends. Travelling overseas with teenagers tends to be a better experience for a number of reasons, such as the brilliant entertainment systems now available on most flights, menus that let them eat things they like, resorts that have activities that cater for most age groups and the “wow” factor.  So let’s concentrate on surviving travelling in Austra... Read more

Byron is one of those places that attracts almost everyone – because it offers something for everyone.  Once nothing more than a sleepy little surfing village, it has enjoyed a special place in the tourism world for some time now, as it manages to be a hippy haven, upmarket holiday retreat, shopping mecca, dining delight and more. These days Byron seems to be edging more towards the visitor with money to spend than the backpackers, but there is no doubt that all the market segments are catered for when it comes to accommodation and activities. As the eastern-most point on the Australian mainland, Byron commands magnificent views and also boasts a very rare north-facing beach at Watego’s.  Main Beach is a glorious stretch of sand, as is Tallow Beach, Broken Hea... Read more