The Adventure Travel Site -

Adventurous Things to Do in Auckland during spring – Blissful times!

Everything about the spring is beautiful. If you have already planned to spend your upcoming spring in Auckland, here are some of the adventures you must try out!

Head to the Botanic Gardens

This is a free thing to do, which will please everyone! Auckland Botanic Gardens spans across an area of 64 hectares, and you can also enjoy a native forest here.

Cycle rides

Auckland is just so perfect for joyous rides on cycles. Cycleway networks are growing all the time here and they link the city and the sub-regions so well.

Luxury stays

Where have you planned to spend your holiday season? If it’s at one of the Auckland harbour hotels the likes of Auckland Harbour Suites, you have the perfect opportunity to enjoy all luxuries amidst the best of hospitality services.

Auckland markets

Auckland has many markets. So, explore these markets one by one and grab the freshest veggies and fruits, the most artistic crafts, and also snacks.

Ambury Farm Park

This is a chance for you to see cute animals. Cows, pigs, lambs, and sheep are all there with their cute gestures to welcome you with love.

Snorkelling in Thailand – Dive deep and be awed

If you are heading to Thailand anytime soon and want to go snorkelling at the many great sites in the country, read on.

About Snorkelling

To explore what the waters of Thailand have to offer, the best thing to do is go snorkelling during your vacation. If you are put up at Ao Nang beach hotels the likes of Avani Ao Nang Cliff Krabi Resort, you can ask your hotel if they have excursion packages for snorkelling sites nearby.

Ao Mae Yai Bay

This is the most visited snorkelling site in all of Thailand. A combination of 5 islands form the bay area and it falls under the Mu Koh Surin Marine National Park control. Thus, you can rest assured the place is well maintained and safe to explore.

Koh Nang Yuan

Following the Ao Mae Yai Bay is Koh Nang Yuan. Yet another place formed with 3 islands, you can find this site at the northeast part of Koh Tao. Connected by an exotic sandbar, the waters here are home to rich coral life and more. Since the place is shallow, even amateur divers can go snorkelling freely.

Aow Leuk Beach

Known as Turtle Island locally, Aow Leuk is found on the southwest coast of Krabi. If you want to snorkel here, you can grab some snorkelling gear right on the beach as you will find many water sports centres right on the sands. The waters here are rich in marine life and corals too.

Explore the Amazing City of Moranbah, Queensland – A relaxing adventure in a young coal-mining town!

Located in the heart of Queensland, the young city of Moranbah began as a settlement for coal miners. Today, its quaint, rustic charm attracts both tourists and locals alike.

Big Red Rhino Bucket

Visitors to Moranbah are welcomed to the city by a life-size red Rhino bucket, regarded by locals as a symbol of the city’s coal mines. If you are staying in properties in the heart of Moranbah, service apartments the likes of Oaks Moranbah Suites conveniently provide access to Federation Walk, a 1km walk culminating in the Big Red Rhino Bucket.

Town Square Park

The Town Square Park is home to intriguing works of art in Moranbah. Visitors, both young and old, can spend their time leisurely at the fascinating musical playground featuring a musical table, chair and, railway tracks. A must-see attraction is the Bridled Nail-Tail Wallaby Statue, a sandstone sculpture created by Adriaan Vanderlugt.

Coalface Gallery

Arts and crafts enthusiasts can visit the Coalface Gallery in Town Square to get acquainted with the local talent.

Wolfang Peak

Moranbah’s central location allows visitors to explore other attractions in the region, including Wolfang Peak. Situated within the Peak Range National Park, Wolfang Peak is one of many volcanic plugs in the Range, standing at 572 meters. The climb to the summit takes approximately an hour.

How to Spend a Wonderful Weekend in Port Stephens – Explorations to remember

If you have already made plans to spend your weekend in Port Stephens, Congratulations as you’ve made a wise choice. It’s going to be a scenic weekend.

Swim with the Dolphins

Who won’t fall in love with dolphins? So, why not take the chance and start your fun-filled weekend with a good swimming session with the dolphins. You’ll have to wake up a little early, but the experience is worth it.

Stockton Sand Dunes

These amazing landscapes are located with the Worimi National Park, and you can’t simply miss out on those! Hire 4WD for a greater experience.

Tomaree National Park

This is an epic experience. Take the 45-min walk to the summit and enjoy beautiful panoramic views of the harbour. Do not forget, you’ll find many koalas waiting to say hi to you on your way.

Enjoy seafood

Port Stephens is a heaven for those who love seafood. Try out the local oysters when you are here as they are at their freshest forms.

Do not worry about accommodation

Did you know that there are many great accommodation options here such as Oaks Port Stephens Pacific Blue Resort? Check out the Port Stephens hotel deals online before you make your reservations.

Enjoy Toowoomba like a True Local Using this Ultimate Guide to Exploring the Area – Fall in love with Toowoomba

Toowoomba, which is also known as the Darling Down region’s Garden City is today, a popular tourist destination. It’s a city with many charms.

Japanese Gardens

Yes, Australia has many Japanese Gardens but, the Ju Raku En Japanese Garden you find here is one of the largest. It has a waterfall, a central lake, and a dry garden in addition to the greatest collection of native trees from both Australia and Japan.

Cobb + Co Museum

Do you wish to explore the history of the town? Head to the Cobb + Co Museum that houses 59 horse-drawn carriages and many other special galleries.

Kloud 9ine

Feeling adventurous? Head to Kloud 9ine which is an indoor theme park designed for both kids and adults (who are still kids at heart). It has 5 different sections to delight everyone.

Toowoomba accommodation

Choose to spend your weekend at one of the serviced apartments in Toowoomba. There are great options such as Oaks Toowoomba Hotel with many special offers to suit your holiday requirements. Since weekends are going to be busy, make sure you do your reservation much in advance.

What to Do on Your Holiday to Oman – The Best Places to Visit & Experiences

Oman has much to offer intrepid travellers looking for diverse adventures; here are some of the best destinations to visit and the key things to do as well.

Salalah

In southern Oman is Salalah, a city known for its lush greenery during the Khareef (monsoon) season and idyllic beaches home to properties like Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara. Here, you can enjoy water sports, dolphin watching, sunset cruises and visits to the Al Baleed Archaeological Park and the Museum of the Land of Frankincense.

Dhofar Deserts

The deserts of the Dhofar province provide captivating exploration in Oman. Attractions abound here and are best experienced on luxury mobile camping escapades. You will get the chance to travel to secluded spots in the Empty Quarter, the largest sand desert on the planet with dunes sometimes reaching heights of 200 metres!

Green Mountain

Also known as Al Jabal Al Akhdar, the Green Mountain is a destination where travellers will feel as if they have stepped back in time. Hiking amidst the inspiring mountain landscapes is not to be missed and on your journeys of discovery, you will come across terraced orchards, intriguing wadis, secret waterfalls and ancient villages.

Muscat

Last but not least is the capital, Muscat, where you can soak up the local culture. Amongst its top attractions is the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque with its stunning chandelier and handmade Persian carpet. Other sites of interest include the Mutrah Souq, a bustling historical market and the Mutrah Corniche with its waterfront promenade.

Sigiriya and Dambulla in one day

Sri Lanka is a country blessed with the best of cultural and historical aspects. Sigiriya and Dambulla are two main attractions located very close to each other that should be visited while you are there.

Sigiriya

This is an architectural marvel done by King Kasyapa over 1500 years ago. But, believe it or not, the irrigational networks and engineering skills still amaze the world! It’s a rock fortress that has everything including swimming pools, audience halls, and gardens.

Dambulla

Dambulla is one of the most ancient cave temples in Sri Lanka. Inside these caves, you find many historical paintings and Buddha Statues that date back several centuries. It’s a temple in the country that has a mind-relaxing vibe.

What else to be covered?

If you have some more time left, you can also try out the Pidurangala Cave Temple. Since all these attractions are located closer to each other, you have the chance to cover all of them in one go.

Holidaying in Sigiriya

Cover both Sigiriya and Dambulla in one day and choose to spend the night at one of the Sigiriya hotels. There are many great options including Aliya Resort.

All You Need to Know About Turtles in Maldives – Conservation Efforts Vital

Amongst the fascinating marine life to encounter in the Maldives are sea turtles and here are some insights into this majestic creature that requires our protection too.

A robustus at en.wikipedia, Turtle hatchlings noonu atoll maldives, CC BY-SA 3.0

Overview

Of the seven sea turtle species in the world’s oceans, five can be spotted in the Maldives. Apart from swimming and feeding in these Indian Ocean waters, they also come ashore to the islands to nest. While they are a vital part of the marine ecosystem, the fact remains that globally, sea turtles are under threat and their numbers dwindling.

Five Species

Hawksbill and green turtles are the most commonly seen in the Maldives. Pool villa accommodation aside, resorts like Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas even offer special snorkelling excursions to encounter turtles. Leatherback and loggerhead turtles are sometimes spotted in the country as are olive ridley turtles that sadly tend to get caught in ghost fishing nets.

Threats

The export of turtle shells and the production of shell-based items are amongst the major threats to this species along with plastic and fishing nets left in the ocean. While the Maldivian government’s ban on selling turtle products and killing or catching sea turtles has helped, the poaching of turtle eggs still takes place.

Conservation

The good news is organisations such as Marine Savers in the Maldives are actively involved in turtle conservation and help to protect these species; initiatives include rehabilitating turtles that have been injured, protecting nesting sites, releasing baby turtles to the ocean and conducting photo identification and satellite tracking.

The Best Shipwrecks to Explore in the Maldives

While you may have heard of the many reefs to visit when diving in Maldives, there are captivating shipwrecks to explore as well, like those mentioned below.

Fesdu Wreck

Spanning a length of around 30 metres, the Fesdu Wreck is easily accessible from resorts in the Ari Atoll such as Kandolhu Maldives. This former fishing trawler now features various soft and hard corals and you can encounter fascinating marine life too be it longnose hawkfish, damselfish, clownfish, scorpionfish or octopuses.

Halaveli Wreck

Those based at resort villas in the Ari Atoll can also plan diving excursions to the Halaveli Wreck, a 38-metre cargo vessel. An ideal spot for evening or night diving, this wreck has some beautiful corals including on its mast, while moray eels, turtles, barracudas, surgeonfish, angelfish and stingrays may be spotted too.

The Shipyard

Located in the Lhaviyani Atoll, The Shipyard consists of two wrecks; while one lies on its side, the other is upright, adding to the allure of this dive site in Maldives. Soft and hard corals have formed on both wrecks, while divers have a chance to see grey reef sharks, nurse sharks, butterflyfish, Napoleon wrasse and moray eels.

The Victory Wreck

Also known as the Maldive Victory, this wreck near the airport in the North Male Atoll is well-known amongst the local diving community. A cargo ship, it lies at a depth of around 35 metres and is more suitable for experienced divers who can see colourful coral and may spot batfish, trevallies, lionfish, pufferfish and turtles.

How to Ski

Seasoned skiers might make this sport look quite easy – but it’s no walk in the park! However, for those who crave adventure, mastering this sport shouldn’t be a chore but an adventure itself. Here’s what you need to know if you plan to try out this sport during your holiday at a Whistler hotel.

Learn the ABC’s

A skier is guided by the figures displayed on trail markers. For instance, you’ll find that an easy trail is marked by a green circle and a trail that should only be attempted by expert skiers is marked with an exclamation mark inside a black diamond.

Familiarize Yourself with the Basics

Skiing in Whistler Mountains |Image by Scott Hughes via Flickr

A skiing lesson is the best option to get into the basics of this adventurous sport. Some of the properties in Canada such as Pan Pacific Whistler Mountainside are known to offer skiing lessons that’ll help you master the basics.

Make The Bunny Slope Your Best Friend

A first-timer to this thrilling sport will certainly need support during the first few trips down a hill. A bunny hill is where you’ll find ski lifts; a rope tow or carpet lift will let you ease into the sport with its support mechanisms.

Correct Skiing Postures

If you lean too far behind, you’ll find out that it becomes quite difficult to take a turn; you’d even lose control. Make sure that you keep your knees bent and your hands in front to maintain the balance needed.