Australia's Stunning East Coast - Travel Tips

Travel to the East Coast of Australia should be high on your list of places to visit, and once you do go, it's likely you won't want to return. Here's why: Australia is gorgeously beautiful, easy to get around in, English is spoken, and the beaches, which abound, are first class. It's a modern, safe, clean slice of heaven that we North Americans are mostly ignorant of, to our detriment.

In fact, Sydney (http://us.sydney.com) is arguably one of the most beautiful, if not THE most beautiful city in the world, with countless harbors and marinas sporting sail boats, gorgeous vistas, gleaming beaches, stunning skylines, first class facilities, hotels, restaurants, bistros, cafes, shopping, terrific night life, cultural events and venues (The Sydney Opera House, Museums, Aquariums, etc.). The seafood is abundant and superb, the people are friendly and generally quite fit and attractive (a people watching bonus). Sydney is incredibly clean and makes New York City (which I lived in for 20 years) look quite grimy and dirty by comparison. I thought I loved Copenhagen and even Paris (OK, I still love Paris and Copenhagen), but I've lost my heart to Sydney, and I think anyone who visits will fall in love, too.

Continue traveling 745 miles further North from Sydney and you'll come to the Sunshine Beach and Noosa Beach (www.noosa-heads.net/noosaheads/beach.html) areas with their stunning beaches by the Coral Sea, upscale restaurants and hotels, Surf Clubs, inviting lifestyle and easy ambiance. You'll never want to leave. The weather is invitingly subtropical, the water a mesmerizing cerulean blue, and time just ceases to exist. There is romantic potential everywhere in Noosa, so take full advantage of it.

Now travel even further North up to Cairns (1,491 miles from Sydney), and you'll find yourself in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef which is a World Heritage Site (www.greatbarrierreef.org) and the Coral Sea, near the Whitsunday Islands (www.whitsundays-australia.com) . In Cairns you can spend a few days getting your scuba diving certification, then fly to the Whitsunday's for the scuba experience of a life time. Now think of all the images you have of the Virgin Islands and Jamaica and the Caribbean. Now take that beauty and multiply it by a factor of 10. Enough said (or nearly enough), this is simply one of the most stunning island and aquatic areas in the entire world. Again, you will not want to leave and you'll be the envy of all of your friends for having visited, with good reason.

You must have a current passport. Additionally, a 3-Month Tourist Visa to Australia is also required and is easily obtained from http://www.eta.immi.gov.au/

The Visa is referred to as an ETA or Electronic Travel Authority. The cost is approximately $20 US and can be secured online quickly using a credit or debit card and your current passport information. Don't waste your time at other websites that claim to help you obtain your Visa, they are a waste of money and are unnecessary - just go to this Australian government site. Once you apply for and pay for your Visa, it will be automatically viewable by the airlines when you board your flight and show your passport. It's a good idea though to print out your ETA Visa confirmation and keep it with your passport so you have the reference numbers handy.

Round trip flights from the U.S. range from $1,200 (Huge Bargain) to $9,000+ for First Class. You'll get the best price by shopping hard on the internet and keeping your dates and times completely flexible. If you need to purchase flights within Australia beyond your initial roundtrip flight, you'll get the best prices by going directly to the Australian carriers such as Qantas and purchasing an E-Ticket from them.

Also, do not purchase tickets from anyone but the actual flight carrier in case there is a problem or a rescheduling. Many online deep discount sites do not allow for ANY changes once the tickets are purchased. Finally, do purchase flight and trip insurance usually offered at the time you book your ticket - it's a small price to pay to cover any unseen difficulties and safeguards your financial investment from certain unanticipated emergencies.

Another way to find discounts if you're a student of any age, is to purchase an International Student I.D. from www.STATravel.com. This is approximately $22, and will get you discounts on flights within the country, as well as discounts at The Sydney Opera House, museums, zoos, aquariums, etc. I used it while traveling in Australia and it more than paid for itself.

My favorite all around travel guide for Australia is the DK Eyewitness Travel Guide to Australia, available in bookstores for approximately $30, or online at www.Amazon.com for $19.80 (new book) plus shipping. Check it out for more ideas on places you'd like to visit while traveling Australia's East Coast from Sydney North to The Great Barrier Reef.

Now that you know how to do it and some of the places on the East Coast of Australia to visit, don't hesitate. This is just a taste of what's waiting for you. Go there, and remember, be prepared to fall in love.