Queenstown is the adrenaline capital of New Zealand, right? No visit would be complete without hopping on a Quad Bike in Queenstown!
This is our second trip to Queenstown, the first was a ski holiday so our days were filled with skiing and given the amazing powder we had, we simply didn’t get to the Quad Biking! Needless to say, it was high on our list for this trip. We booked with Off Road Adventures (recommended by our tour company Wild Kiwi) as they offer a range of tours and cater for all different levels, which was perfect for the group of friends we were travelling with.
About Off Road Adventures
When researching what company to choose for your tour, it can be daunting. We chose Off Road Adventures which is a family run business and is now the largest Off Road Tour Company in the WORLD! They have 100 dirt, quad and road bikes and offer Motorcycle, ATV and 4WD tours. They have 6 Toyota Landcruisers and tours run from 1 hour to 21 days!
This family knows what they are doing (and after 25 years in the business you’d think so!), but having a Super X champion be your guide is pretty cool. To read more about the family and their achievements, click here.
What Quad Bike Queenstown tour to choose?
There is a range of quad bike tours to choose from. Click here to view the full range to make sure you pick something suitable for you. I would personally recommend the 1.5-hour tour.
Adventure quad bike tour
We chose the adventure quad bike tour. This particular tour has been designed for those looking for a bit of a challenge and excitement. With 1.5 hours of riding time, it gives you plenty of time to relax and enjoy the tour on the 11,000 acres of off-road terrain. The 1.5 hours went by so quickly and we could have easily spent another few hours quad biking! This is why we recommend the longer session!
Our Quad Bike Queenstown experience
It was incredible. We have had friends in the past say that each time they visit Queenstown they always quad bike. I don’t think we realised just how much fun it would be. At the end of our week-long trip, Jenna asked everyone what their highlight was… everyone at the table said it was quad biking! The experience was great and it really gets you excited!
Here is a short highlights video!
Where is the Quad Bike Queenstown tour?
It is about a 35-minute drive out of Queenstown on an 11,000-acre property. You are guaranteed some incredible views throughout the tour. You can even quad bike down to the river if you are up to it and have enough time.
Do you need experience?
The best bit is that you don’t need any prior experience or licence to be able to do this quad bike tour. The guides will ensure you are in the right group from the start. So, if you’re a beginner and aren’t too confident, you won’t be put into a group of professional quad bikers! Kids as young as 6 can even take part (with adult supervision of course).
Jenna and her friend Meredith were in a group together with their guide, Mark. Mark really took the time to get the girls used to the quad bikes, plenty of practice and really got into the technique to build their confidence. I was in another group with Emily and Kush and our guide Scott. We had plenty of fun in our group!
What’s included with the Quad Bike Queenstown tour
The below is included in the price of the adventure tour
- return transfers from the Off Road shop in central Queenstown
- top of the line sports quad bikes (50cc to 250cc with upgrades to 400cc available at their discretion)
- gumboots
- full face helmets
- goggles
- gloves
- wet weather gear (jacket and trousers)
What to bring
These guys provide most things for you, but you should remember to bring/pack the following:
- wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty/muddy (particularly trousers and socks)
- water
- snacks
- cameras
- GoPro (you will need the helmet mount or a chest strap – the helmet strap does not work)
If you’re bringing your GoPro, subject to availability you can borrow helmet mounts for the trip. If you have your own, I’d suggest you bring that to avoid missing out.
What if the weather is bad?
The beauty about quad biking is that it doesn’t matter what the weather is, it will be great! I’ve had friends who have done this in sunny weather and rainy weather and they actually preferred the rainy weather! As long as you don’t mind getting wet and muddy, you’ll have a great time.
Do you have travel insurance?
Before travelling, make sure you get a travel insurance policy – you never know when you might need it! Click here for information on travel insurance, what company we recommend and a link to get an instant quote.
“Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind.” – Seneca
Raining in Franz Josef? Frantically googling what to do on a rainy day?
The months leading up to our trip we had our hearts set on the Glacier Heli Hike in Franz Josef. So, you can imagine our disappointment when we arrived and it’s pouring with no chance of the rain easing up (well it did, of course, the morning we needed to leave for Queenstown!).
*Insert really really sad face here*
We were told that it frequently rains in Franz Josef, particularly in the springtime (so we were told once we were there!) it is definitely a good idea to have a backup plan.
We visited Franz Josef as part of our Wild Kiwi Tour on the South Island and our guide, Mark, managed to keep us entertained – wet weather and all.
What to do in Franz Josef in the rain
Not wanting to waste our only day in Franz Josef, we braved the rain and put on our waterproof and windproof jackets, waterproof boots and decided to venture off on a fun-filled day of exploring!
Click here for a printable packing list for NZ.
For our highlights from our rainy day in Franz Josef, check out this short video!
Franz Josef Glacier Walk
Located a short drive from the Franz Josef Village, you just follow the signs to Franz Josef Glacier Walk. At the carpark, you will also find public toilets should you need to make a pitstop before starting the walk. The walk is around a 1.5 hour round trip and isn’t too difficult, so some decent shoes and you’ll be fine. If you don’t have a car, most hotels arrange a shuttle service to the car park (for a fee).
Despite the rain (and I am talking heavy rain), the walk was lovely – beautiful paths and lush scenery. So don’t let the rain put you off!
The start of the walk, known as Forest Walk has plenty of information boards to get you up to speed with the area and history. From here, it is around a 1.5km walk to get to the face of where you can start to enjoy the glacier (well, in our case we couldn’t see it too well!).
On a clear day, you should be able to see the blue ice and enjoy the views of the glacier.
We continued along the Waiho riverbed to enjoy the waterfalls up close and personal! The first significant waterfall is called Trident Falls.
If you continue to the last set of barriers you can get a feel of how large this glacier really is. This point is less than 300m above sea level and also happens to be one of the three glaciers in the world that sit this close to the coastline.
But, due to the rain and fog, we couldn’t see it! But, there are some lovely waterfalls and it is still beautiful despite the weather.
You can see me standing there next to the waterfall – you can get an idea of the size of the waterfall.
Tatare Tunnels Walk
Mark, our guide, drove us to the base of the second walk for the day – Tatare Tunnels.
Mark had warned us to pack some thongs/flip flops/jandals (whatever you want to call them!) as when we walked through the tunnel it would be through some water around ankle deep. I decided to keep my waterproof boots on, Jenna changed into her thongs. Let’s just say she probably made the right decision. Although her feet were freezing (you need to remember we did this in September so it was pretty cold still) her boots remained intact! During the tunnel walk, you can see some glow worms which are pretty cool.
The walk is a 1.5-hour return journey which initially follows an old 4WD road track and then climbs into the old water tunnels. The first 10 minutes of the walk is pretty easy going and then it becomes steep (Jenna would say very steep!) and narrow for the climb to the Tatare Tunnels.
Tip: You will need a torch, raincoat and flipflops to explore the tunnels!
When you reach the end of the first tunnel, you will see the rainforest. This is where the track ends and you can’t go any further, unfortunately.
On our way back down to the bottom, we stopped to enjoy this gorgeous waterfall!
West Coast Wildlife Centre
After a warm shower, we were off to the West Coast Wildlife Centre. We got a backpackers rate of $25 NZD per person to see the kiwis. To be completely honest… I definitely wouldn’t recommend visiting the Wildlife Centre. The Kiwi’s are nocturnal, which means the room is super dark and it’s very difficult to see them. I’d include a photo here but you’re not allowed to take photos (not that they would come out). Avoid.do
Jenna was absolutely keen on heading inside to see a kiwi- but there are plenty of wildlife centres around and the one in Queenstown appears to have a larger exhibit and other wildlife as well so if you must, maybe head there instead.
Glacier Hot Pools
Then it was time to relax… we stopped for a couple of hours at the Glacier Hot Pools. It cost us $28 NZD per person to get in and was worth it especially on a rainy day like we had. You can hire lockers in the change room for $2 or you can put your stuff out in the open lockers by the pools.
Here is a short 30-second video of what you can expect in the pool area!
Where to eat in Franz Josef
The Landing: The food was a really good serving size and quite yummy as well. Would recommend for a lunchtime visit.
King Tiger: This restaurant is a mixture of Indian, Thai & Chinese. There is something there for everyone. Food was alright, and given we were such a large group, I was impressed that everything came out correctly!!
Do you have travel insurance?
Before travelling, make sure you get a travel insurance policy – you never know when you might need it! Click here for information on travel insurance, what company we recommend and a link to get an instant quote.
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.” – Mark Twain
If you’re exploring the South Island of NZ, you will no doubt want to head to Franz Josef and with any kind of luck, jump on a glacier hike experience. This post will explore the best driving route between Christchurch and Franz Josef and where to stop along the way.
This was Day 1 of our Wild Kiwi Southern Island Voyager tour. Check out or New Zealand page for all of our posts relating to the South Island.
Christchurch to Franz Josef
It is such a beautiful drive and as you drive throughout New Zealand you will appreciate just how picturesque it really is. See below for a map highlighting our specific stops.
2 hours from Christchurch you will find yourself at Castle Hill.
We spent 45 minutes here exploring the area and climbing up on top of the rocks! Do you see me in the photo above, standing on the top of the rock?? It was a heap of fun and a great way to start the journey.
Here is a super short video to show you just how much fun it was!
We drove for a little bit to get to our next stop and the scenery kept impressing us!
Our next stop was for lunch at Hokitika. To get here, you drive through the famous Arthur’s Pass. We decided to get some fish and chips (or fush and chups as the kiwi’s pronounce!).
If you want to pick up some Jade, here is the spot to do so, as recommended by our Wild Kiwi guide! We got to see some locals making some pieces in their workshop.
We even got to pick up some ‘pretty’ hardcore weapons!
Also… if you have a bit of a sweet tooth, stop in at Alice’s Fudge Kitchen for some delicious fudge (just don’t ask for a tasting!!).
Continuing on the journey, If you find that you’re needing 5 minutes to stretch your legs, definitely stop in at Lake Ianthe. It is so relaxed here with the jetty and blue skies!
A couple of hours later we arrived at a very wet and rainy Franz Josef. But we were hopeful for a sunny day on day 2 so we could jump on our much awaited Heli Hike on Franz Josef! Did we get some sunshine? You will have to check out day 2 to see how that ended up!
We ate dinner at Monsoon Bar which was located at our accommodation, Rainforest Retreat.
Driving map from Christchurch to Franz Josef
This was our driving route from Christchurch to Franz Josef.
Click here for our New Zealand page and to read more about our Wild Kiwi 7 day South Island tour!
“Nobody can discover the world for somebody else. Only when we discover it for ourselves does it become common ground and a common bond and we cease to be alone.” – Wendell Berry
No one really needs an excuse to travel to the UK. There are so many interesting cities and beautiful places that lists of tourism opportunities practically create themselves. But it still never hurts to single out a few events you might enjoy while you’re travelling, so in this post, we’ll take a look at some of the popular festivals that occur each year throughout the country.
Glastonbury Music Festival
Glastonbury is right up there with Isle Of Wight as the most well-known music festivals in the UK. However, an article giving an overview of the nation’s best musical events made sure to point out that this is the nation’s most popular festival. It’s a five-day party that takes place each June in Somerset and hosts all kinds of fun, artistic attractions. Chief among them, however, is a big-time music lineup that usually includes some of the biggest stars of the day. For instance, the 2017 group included Radiohead, Foo Fighters, Katy Perry, and Ed Sheeran, to name just a few of the highlights.
Photo Credit: Cinnamon Magazine
England’s Medieval Festival
Particularly to foreigners, the UK is known largely for its rich history, and perhaps most of all for the medieval time period. This period has been fictionalized and romanticized over the years by everything from Hollywood films and video games to costumes and kids’ colouring books. Nevertheless, there’s some truth to the romantic version of the medieval era, and that’s largely what’s celebrated at England’s Medieval Festival – the biggest and best of several events of its kind. It’s not just a look at jousting or archery (though those are both part of the fun). Rather, the festival seeks to give visitors a glimpse into the everyday life and times of the fifteenth century, with craftspeople, traders, reenactment professionals, and visitors making up a large, fun-loving crowd.
Photo Credit: Pinterest
Cheltenham Festival
This is one of many different horse racing competitions that take place in England throughout the year, and in some ways, it’s the first. There are smaller races before the mid-March Cheltenham Festival, but this is the first big, multi-day event that attracts a real crowd. It features four days of racing, occurs at a sprawling facility complete with bars and restaurants, and is scheduled just in time to celebrate St. Paddy’s Day (which as you might imagine can be a pretty big deal in the UK). The main appeal is certainly to fans of horse racing, but to think of this merely as a sporting event is a mistake. The Cheltenham Festival is about as well known for fashion, drinking, and general revelry as it is for its races.
Photo Credit: IB Times UK
Craft Beer Calling
As with music festivals, you can pick any number of beer festivals to enjoy throughout the UK in any given year. To some extent, it depends on what you like, as different occasions will showcase different types of beers, etc. But Craft Beer Calling may be the most fun of the bunch. Boasting some of the world’s leading craft breweries under one roof, in addition to music, a wine cellar, and a “gin palace,” it’s got a little something for everyone. It also happens to take place in Newcastle, which is a fun city to explore. You may even catch a soccer match at St. James’ Park, which is one of the coolest stadiums in the Premier League!
Photo Credit: Eat Drink Seek
Looking for panoramic views? Make sure you head up the Queenstown Gondola, the steepest cable car lift in the Southern Hemisphere!
About the Skyline Queenstown Gondola
The Skyline Queenstown Gondola is the steepest cable car lift in the Southern Hemisphere. But don’t worry, we felt perfectly safe and the views are worth it!
Elevated 450m and with 220-degree views, this is a great way to take in the natural beauty of what Queenstown has to offer. You could spend hours enjoying the view over Lake Wakatipu and enjoying the view of the majestic mountains surrounding the city, including Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Walter & Cecil Peak.
You can also enjoy watching the people go around the Luge track – it can be quite entertaining!!
Gondola opening hours
Open every day from 9 am – 9 pm with the last departure from the top generally soon after the restaurant closes. For more details on the opening hours, click here.
About the Skyline Luge
This was on our list (ok, well Jenna’s list) of must do things in Queenstown. We ran out of time during our first trip as we were very much looking for adventure and wrongly assumed this wouldn’t be worth it- was I wrong! The luge track is around 800m and you can think of it like go-karting.
There are corners, tunnels and dippers which all keep you entertained. All of this whilst having an incredible view.
Once you’ve enjoyed the views from the observation deck, you head outside along a short path which takes you to a second chairlift- this takes you all the way to the top where the fun starts! The track runs along the edge of the mountain back down towards the observation deck where you can easily hop straight back onto the chairlift and do it all over again!
There are two tracks to choose from. The blue track is for your first run, quick introduction of how the luge works, it’s somewhat important to understand how to slow down and turn, it’s fair to say this is a relatively gentle ride, less of a gradient, easy bends tunnels and dips. Once you’re comfortable, you can try your luck on the red track. I loved the red track, it has a steeper gradient and far more adventurous with banked corners, tunnels, dippers and cuttings!
We absolutely recommend doing at least 3 laps, no doubt you will want to do more. It was way more fun than I thought it would be!
You can do the track as many times as you like – you can purchase different packages to suit what you’re after. See below for pricing.
Luge opening hours
The opening hours for the luge are different to the gondola. They open at 10 am, however, the closing time depends on the season. Click here for current opening hours.
Pricing
There are a number of different options you can choose from. There is the gondola price on its own, or you can mix and match it with the luge, lunch, dinner or stargazing. Click here for a current list of prices. You can pre-purchase online and possibly even save a few $$. However, pre-purchasing your tickets doesn’t seem to save time when you get there as you still need to line up with everyone else!
Gondola and Luge Video
Check out our short video with highlights from our time up the top!
Do you have travel insurance?
Before travelling, make sure you get a travel insurance policy – you never know when you might need it! Click here for information on travel insurance, what company we recommend and a link to get an instant quote.
Here are some other pictures from our time up the top!
“The life you have led doesn’t need to be the only life you have.” – Anna Quindlen
Sometimes booking a hotel is not practical, or there are no hotels readily available. This was the case for us on our Cinque Terre holiday. There were 5 of us and Air B&B was the best option. But, you need to be careful… they can catch you out.
I mean, imagine waking up to this view!
Get yourself an AUD $50 discount
If you’re new to Air B&B, click here to receive AUD $76 off your first adventure.
This is a great discount and you can get this added to your account when you sign up using this link. You might be thinking that you’ve already got an account and you can’t make use of this discount, but here are a couple of tips that can help.
- If you have a second email address (work or a second personal one – use that to create a new account) it’s worth it to save $50!
- If you have a Gmail email address, you can simply add a ‘.’ in your email address and receive the credit as google doesn’t recognise these in email addresses. For example, our email address is thewelltravelledman@gmail.com … we could use the.welltravelledman@gmail.com and it should allow us to get the additional $50 off our booking.
Once you’re signed up, get your mates to sign up using your link (via the Refer a Friend link), and you will soon be receiving an additional credit to go towards your future bookings!
This is another of our bookings in Turkey!
Booking your first stay
You first need to set up your profile. This includes a profile picture of yourself, confirm your identify and include a short bio of yourself. This is actually quite important as often the hosts will pick their guests based on what’s in the bio, particularly if they have multiple requests. Once you’ve booked a few times, you will be given reviews which other hosts can view when deciding whether to accept your booking or not.
How to pick an Air B&B that’s right for you
It is important to know what you’re looking for before starting your search.
- Do you want an entire home, or happy with sharing with the host?
- Do you need a laundry?
- How many bedrooms do you need?
- Do you need car parking?
- Is there Wifi?
- Do you need a kitchen?
As soon as you’ve worked out what it is exactly that you need, you can use the filter options to start searching for properties.
Once you’ve found a few you like, read other travellers reviews. These should form part of your decision on whether to stay somewhere or not. If the same issues were mentioned in review after review, chances are it is a common theme and you should avoid it.
Additional Costs
When you are looking at the price of the place per night, it is good to double-check if this includes the cleaning costs and deposit – this is often in addition to the advertised price. This means the price can quickly add up so make sure you check this before booking.
Some rentals also have specific rules, such as must empty rubbish, strip beds and so forth prior to leaving. Others do not specify and it is not required. You should be aware of these before booking to avoid receiving negative feedback.
If you need to cancel your booking, some hosts are quite flexible but others aren’t and will charge you a cancellation fee. Best to check this if you think your plans may change.
At the end of the day, if you arrive at your Air B&B and something isn’t right, it isn’t what you signed up for and the property isn’t as described, contact Air B&B as soon as possible before the funds are transferred to the host. It is better to be safe than sorry.
If you’re new to Air B&B, click here to receive AUD $76 off your first adventure.
Do you have travel insurance?
Before travelling, make sure you get a travel insurance policy – you never know when you might need it! Click here for information on travel insurance, what company we recommend and a link to get an instant quote.
“A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles.” – Tim Cahill
Have you ever been in a foreign city, think you know where you’re going and then all of a sudden you’re completely lost? You’re stuck without mobile data and there is no wifi in sight. What if I told you there is a way of using Google maps offline, without using any wifi or data?
Benefit of Google Maps offline
The best thing about google maps offline is that you can use it as you normally would. It even gives you that blue dot that tells you where you are! Yep, I don’t know about you, but I even use that function in my home city when I find myself a little lost.
Photo credit: https://embedgooglemaps.com
How Google Maps offline works
It is important to note that you need to get this set up before you travel as you will need wifi to do it. So make sure you have a strong wifi connection before following the below steps.
- Connect your phone to wifi and open up Google Maps
- Type in the city you’re visiting (e.g Sydney)
- When your map is showing up with your city, click on the hamburger (also known to most people as the three horizontal lines) which are in the top left of the app
- Click Offline Areas
- Click Custom Area
- You can now zoom out or in depending on what area of the map you want
- Remember to be connected to wifi (to save your 4G) and click Download.
- After a few minutes, it will be fully downloaded and you can then rename your area (e.g Sydney) and save it
How to save down favourites to your offline map
This is a very cool function. You can save down your hotel, a point of interest, tourist attraction to your map and it will appear with a star! This will make it easier to find when you’re out and about.
To do this, simply follow the below steps:
- When you’re in google maps, search for the place of interest (e.g your hotel)
- Click on the red pin and when it expands with the address details, click Save
- Select Starred places
- Continue for all other points of interest
- You will now notice when you go into your map, these places will be marked up with a star
Photo credit: HowtoCreator YouTube
Can you still get directions when using Google Maps offline
The one thing we’ve noticed when using Google Maps offline is that it can’t give you walking or driving directions. Just keep this in mind and remember that before you leave your hotel and you’re connected to wifi, set up your google maps and start your directions – it will keep directing you even offline (just don’t change the route as it won’t reroute for you!).
We used this function on our trip to Cinque Terre and it saved the day!
“Investment in travel is an investment in yourself.” ~ Matthew Karsten
Have you seen the movie ‘In Bruges’? If you have, I wouldn’t be surprised if you weren’t too impressed by the city itself, but I’m glad we visited because it’s one of Europe’s most preserved medieval towns and you won’t want to leave.
Part of the reason why Bruges has remained so traditional and charming is that the historic town centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has been since 2000.
Where is Bruges and how to get there
Located in the northwest of Belgium, you will no doubt read that Bruges is the capital and largest city in West Flanders which also happens to be the Flemish region (yes Flemish is the name of an official language, similar to that of Dutch).
Despite being the largest city in the area, it is still small enough to explore by foot!
We travelled from London via the Eurostar to Brussels and then switched trains to Bruges. The entire process was so easy and super convenient and drops you off basically as close to the old town as possible!
What to see in Bruges
Walking Tour: There are a few things you need to see while you’re there so I’d recommend joining a walking tour as they show you all the spots and give you the history behind it all. There are a few free walking tours available so pick the one that best suits you and make sure you jump on one!
We got to know the history of the most famous dog in Bruges! He was of course in the movie ‘In Bruges’ and became a tourist attraction. His name was Fidèle and he was a golden lab who sat on the window sill and watched the passers by.
Market Square: When you’re not on the walking tour, just wander around the cobblestone streets, walking in and out of the adorable shop fronts around Market Square and relax! I can promise you that you’ll love Bruges as much as we do.
The old square is surrounded by these gorgeous coloured buildings, plenty of bicycles and heaps of restaurants to choose from. You can even jump on a horse drawn carriage to explore the area!
Belfry of Bruges bell tower: If you feel like climbing up the 366 steps to get to the top then you should definitely get there early to avoid waiting for an hour or so in the line. The staircase is narrow, as all bell towers are so this shouldn’t be a surprise!
When you’re at the top you have views over Bruges and it is amazing.
Basilica of the Holy Blood: This is a very unique Catholic church. It was built in the 12th century and it claims to have a vile of the holy blood inside.
Canal boat cruise: Before you leave, you really do have to jump on a cruise through the canals. This is an absolute must when you’re here and the half hour journey will show you a different side of Bruges, from the canals.
The boat has a local guide and they point out different points of interest so you know what you’re looking at. There are a few spots around the city where you can jump on a boat so keep an eye out for the platforms (and probably massive lines!!).
Museums in Bruges
There are few you can visit in Bruges and here are the ones we stopped in at.
Bruges Bier Museum: If you’re in Belgium, you must visit one of the breweries! This museum gives you the history of the Trappist Beers and also has a nice view over the old town centre.
Frietmuseum: Well, if you’re like Jenna and love fries.. or really potato in any form then you should visit this museum. To be honest, it wasn’t the most amazing museum we’ve visited, but if it’s a rainy day you could probably fill in some time!
The Chocolate Museum: You can’t visit Belgium without visiting the chocolate museum! We watched how the chocolate is made and got a taste test as well, which was delicious!!
Where to eat
Poules Moules: We were recommended this restaurant by the hotel. We were not disappointed! The service was great, the vibe was fantastic and the food… amazing!
The Waffle Van: These waffles were the best in Bruges!! He parks his van in the afternoon and evening and you pick which one you want. He will make them fresh while you wait and trust me – it is worth the wait! Absolutely delicious.
Grilled meat from De Wijngaert is a must. Absolutely delicious, it’s not all about the Moules Fritte when in Bruges!
2 be (To be in Bruges): This is such a great beer garden! On a gorgeous sunny day, you can sit outside and admire the buildings, boats going up and down the canal and it is very relaxing!
Do you have travel insurance?
Before travelling, make sure you get a travel insurance policy – you never know when you might need it! Click here for information on travel insurance, what company we recommend and a link to get an instant quote.
Alternative accommodation
If you’re looking for alternative accommodation to either save some money or share with friends or family, click here for information on Air B&B ($50 discount on your first booking), hotel price comparison websites etc.
“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.” – Anonymous
Jordan was on my list of places for quite some time Jenna’s not so much! So, why visit Jordan?
All I can tell you is that after our trip, even Jenna fell in love with the country and these 4 reasons will help you book your next trip to Jordan.
Jordan is safe!
I think what happens is most people assume Jordan is not safe because it is in the Middle East, surrounded by countries that are known to have problems (Syria, Egypt and Iraq). I can tell you first hand that it is a very safe country and isn’t like many of the other countries that are part of the Middle East.
Jordan is a very peaceful country and has had ties with the US for many, many years.
Petra & Wadi Rum
Petra is one site in Jordan you absolutely must visit. Click here to read more about Petra and Wadi Rum and why you need to visit there during the day and evening. I am sure those who have watched Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade you will notice the iconic Treasury building.
Visiting the lowest point on earth
I am sure the Dead Sea is on a lot of people’s bucket list. I mean, who doesn’t want to experience the lowest point on earth and get that photo floating and reading the newspaper?!
To read more about this wonderful part of Jordan, click here.
Amman
No trip to Jordan is complete without exploring the capital city, Amman. Spend a day exploring what the city has to offer such as the Citadel. Click here to read more about what to do in Amman.
Do you have travel insurance?
Before travelling, make sure you get a travel insurance policy – you never know when you might need it! Click here for information on travel insurance, what company we recommend and a link to get an instant quote.
Alternative accommodation
If you’re looking for alternative accommodation to either save some money or share with friends or family, click here for information on Air B&B ($50 discount on your first booking), hotel price comparison websites etc.
“There is no moment of delight in any pilgrimage like the beginning of it.” – Charles Dudley Warner
If you’re a bit sick and tired of the same old Bondi Beach, why not check out some of Sydney’s secret (well, not so secret) beaches that in my opinion, are way better than Bondi!
Secret Beaches of Sydney
Gordons Bay
Located along the famous Coogee to Bondi coastal walk between Coogee and Clovelly is Gordons Bay. It is so secluded and is perfect for relaxing, snorkelling or just avoiding the crowds on a hot summers day!
Little Congwong Beach
So, there is Conwong Beach and if you keep walking along the Congwong walking track you will get to Little Congwong Beach. Located in the Botany Bay National Park, south of Sydney not only is there FREE parking (and for Sydney, this is so rare) but there are heaps of walking tracks if you want something a little extra.
Little Congwong is great for snorkelling and the waves aren’t too rough so good for a nice paddle. There are no facilities at Little Congwong Beach so you will have to make your way back if you’re looking for toilets or a lunch venue. However, there is normally a guy in a boat who turns up selling ice creams and packets of chips! Just a bit of warning though, this beach has a reputation for being a nudist beach!
Photo Credit: Concrete Playground
Wattamolla
Located in the Royal National Park, is Wattamolla Beach. It is pretty remote which means there aren’t any cafes or shops close by so remember to take some snacks with you. You will find a couple of nice walks around the area as well, and you can also head down further towards the famous Figure 8 Pools if the tide is right!
Burning Palms Beach
The beauty of Burning Palms Beach is that you need to hike to get to it! Most people who visit this beach are on their way to the Figure 8 Pools (which, by the way, are amazing!).
It is a long sandy beach and a perfect spot to unwind and relax. However, if you’re someone who likes amenities close by, this isn’t the beach for you! The hike back up to the car park will probably take you around 30 minutes and if you go in summer, you will feel like you need a shower by the time you get back to the top!
If you need a photo to encourage you to visit the Figure 8 Pools, here it is!
“A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles.” – Tim Cahill
