Australia

Australia

Australia may be on the other side of the world, with one of the lengthiest travelling times from the UK of any cricket playing destination, but despite this, the appeal, rivalry and excitement of an Ashes Tour continue to be a strong draw for cricket devotees from both countries.

Often, at the top of most cricket fans’ touring wish list from these shores is a trip down under to witness a Test match in the magnificent MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground), or in the traditional setting of the SCG (Sydney Cricket Ground). Add in a side trip to Uluru (Ayres Rock) or the Great Barrier Reef and your ‘once in lifetime’ dream trip is complete.

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Adelaide Attractions

After what could be an exhilarating start to the Ashes, you’ve got a few days to spare in Adelaide between tests. So it’s time to make the most of a range of Adelaide activities and attractions. Head for the Barossa Valley and raise a glass to Australia’s finest wine region. Get up early and revel in the bustle of Adelaide Central Market. Explore North Terrace’s grand houses. Stop for coffee, or just soak up the culture.

Brisbane Attractions

Bustling Brisbane brings it all together. Crammed with culture, blessed by the sun and close to the surf it’s a popular leg of the Ashes tour. Muster the strength to visit Fortitude Valley and you’ll be rewarded with the finest Chinese cuisine and brightest nightlife. You should also be on the lookout for Mount Coot-tha and its panoramic views of Brisbane’s skyline.

Melbourne Attractions

Visit Melbourne during The Ashes and you get a real sense of why life in Australia is so attractive. You’ll find a city at ease with itself, brimming with relaxed cafes, friendly bars and quirky neighbourhoods. Australia’s second city boasts bustling markets and sparkling skyscrapers alongside the trademark trams and sun-kissed beach.

Perth Attractions

Visit Perth in Western Australia and you’ll experience the joys of life on the edge of the Indian Ocean. Here in WA, the locals are blessed with sun, sea and serious wealth. The ‘sandgropers’ point out that they bankroll the rest of Australia – tapping into a rich vein of minerals and metal. But alongside the mines, they also bring you fine wines and rich dining. For many ‘west is best’.

Red Centre Attractions

After what could be an exhilarating start to the Ashes, you’ve a few days to spare in Red centre between tests. So it’s time to make the most of a range of the local activities and attractions. Head for Uluru, an ancient landscape, rich in Australian indigenous culture and spirituality, or Alice Springs, which is a hub for Aboriginal art.

Sydney Attractions

It would be true to say that no cricket holiday to Oz is complete without a stay in Sydney. From penal colony to Olympic host, Australia’s largest city has undergone one mighty transformation. Sydneysiders benefit from unlimited shopping opportunities, close proximity to beaches and a thriving nightlife. Sydney at New Year has always been the place to be and in 2017/18 the last Test rounded the celebrations off in style.

Tasmania Attractions

Discover Australia’s hidden gem known for its vast, rugged wilderness areas, largely protected within parks and reserves. This enchanting island is also famous for its friendly, helpful people with a relaxed island lifestyle, wonderful wine and food and a haunting history evoked by spectacular convict-era ruins.

The Great Barrier Reef

One of Australia’s most remarkable natural gifts, the Great Barrier Reef is blessed with the breathtaking beauty of the world’s largest coral reef. The reef contains an abundance of marine life and comprises of over 3000 individual reef systems and coral cays and literally hundreds of picturesque tropical islands with some of the world’s most beautiful sun-soaked, golden beaches. A visitor to the Great Barrier Reef can enjoy many experiences including snorkelling, scuba diving, aircraft or helicopter tours, bare boats (self-sail), glass-bottomed boat viewing, semi-submersibles and educational trips, cruise ship tours, whale watching and swimming with dolphins.

Stopovers

Taking a flight to Australia can be a gruelling 24-hour journey with little respite. Why not break the journey and do a little sightseeing at the same time and stop over in the Middle East or the Far East. Here are some examples of places that you can visit en-route Downunder:

Hong Kong

Self-titled as ‘Asia’s World City’, Hong Kong has so much to offer that you may want more than just one night to experience this dazzling metropolis. Whether you are a shopaholic or a culture vulture, you will find that there is something for everyone in Hong Kong. Browse the bargains at the Ladies Market; dine out in trendy Lang Kwai Fong; take the public ferry across Repulse Bay for stunning views of Hong Kong Island or have a flutter on the Horse Racing at Happy Valley. These are just some of the many highlights Hong Kong has to experience.

Dubai

The most well-known and visited Emirate in the UAE has plenty of sights and activities to occupy visitors. You are almost guaranteed warm sunshine in Dubai, and where better to soak up some rays then Jumeirah Beach, which has become synonymous with a vast variety of luxury accommodation including the famous Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, arguably the most luxurious hotel in the world. There is also the world’s tallest skyscraper of the Burj Khalifa, which of course offers the most stunning views from its observation decks.

Singapore

Multi-cultural Singapore is a heady mix of modern urban sprawl and colonial splendour. A natural stop-off point on a long journey to Australasia, with lots of attractions to entice visitors to stay a day or two. Discover some of the best shopping, bars and restaurants in Singapore at Marina Bay, Clarke Quay or Little India. Treat yourself to colonial-style luxury with a stay at the famous Raffles Hotel, which has become one of Singapore’s most important landmarks.

Bangkok

When conjuring images of the Far East, the sights of Bangkok will often come to mind. This vibrant and lively city is a unique mix of glitzy shopping malls, impressive temples and an infamous red-light district. Explore the city from the Chao Phraya River and waterways, and include a trip to the bustling Floating Market. Then take a stroll down bohemian Khao San Road, where travellers and backpackers from every corner of the world like to mingle.

Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia’s capital is perhaps lesser known than other Far Eastern cities, but there are some excellent reasons to stop off and see what this gleaming city of skyscrapers has to offer. Going to the top of the Petronas Towers is one good reason, as they are the world’s tallest twin skyscrapers. Another good reason is the abundance of gastronomic delights to found; from the numerous hawker stalls to world-class restaurants serving every imaginable type of delicacy.

Australia

As a large continent, a wide variation of climates are found across Australia. The largest part of Australia is desert or semi-arid, and most of the country receives more than 3,000 hours of sunshine a year. Generally, the north is hot and tropical, while the climate of the southern coastal region is “Mediterranean” with hot dry summers and cool mild wet winters. Most rainfall is seen around the coast. Temperatures in some southern regions can drop below freezing in winter and the Snowy Mountains in the South East experiences metres of winter snow. As Australia is in the southern hemisphere, the winter is June-August while December-February is summer. The winter is the dry season in the tropics, and the summer is the wet season. In the southern parts of the country, the seasonal temperature variation is greater, and most of the rainfall occurs during winter.