CTOKOS Blog

My Australian tour of the coast between Sydney and Melbourne has been one of the nicest vacations I have ever experienced. Not only was the scenery fantastic, the Australian poeple were friendly and accommodating. There were also a heap of things to do.

With plenty of car rental Sydney and car rental Melbourne choices along the coast, hiring a vehicle is the most convenient way to make your way around. Car hire companies are eager to help you arrange the tour of your dreams. I found a great deal traveling from Sydney to Melbourne just by doing a quick search online.

After organising my car hire, I drove down south from Sydney through Royal National Park. The Grand Pacific Drive is glamorous. There are plenty of coastal villages along the way and I enjoyed exploring and spending some time there. I also spent a a few hours soaking up the bustling city of Wollongong before heading to Jervis Bay.

The next daybreak I boarded a cruise to see the resident dolphin population that Jervis Bay is known for. I fell in love with the beaches and had a hard time deciding whether to stay or go. Continuing my journey further south, I was able to pick up some authentic craft items in Tilba Tilba.

I stopped at Mimosa Rocks National Park and swam in the lagoon before stopping at Tathra Beach to watch some surfers and enjoy the beach. That evening I stayed in the stylish village of Metung and had a fantastic seafood platter in one of the lakeside eateries.

Wilsons Promontory National Park is home to great scenery and an abundance of wildlife such as emus, wombats and kangaroos. The place is filled with activities to keep you busy, I spent an entire day hiking through forests, exploring beaches and climbing on granite mountains.

Next destination was Fish Creek, a small, quirky and thriving town with arts and crafts, books and cafes. I drove across the bridge over to Phillip Island, a popular family stop. At Nobbies Centre you can watch the penquins strutting up and down the beach and see one of Australia’s biggest fur seal colonies.

I ended my trip in Melbourne making my last stop at the working heritage farm on Churchill Island. Renting a car was the single best decision I have made, taking the coastal drive from Sydney to Melbourne at my own pace was truly an experience that I will not forget. Next time I may get a car rental in Melbourne and do this trip the other direction!

New Caledonia is an island located in the Pacific Islands that offers a mixture of exciting adventures and glorious scenery. The island is mostly untouched which creates an ideal environment for visitors who wish to experience and try out assorted water activites on offer such as wind surfing and scuba diving. Because of its strong French influence, French abounds all over this glorious island, you should consider learning some French before your visit. In the capital city of Noumea, they speak French, English, and Japanese at most hotels, restaurants and shops.

While in New Caledonia, a favourite honeymoon destination, newlyweds can go for long dreamy walks on the beach, arrange a tour of the Jean-Marie Tjibaou Center, or wander through the beautiful botanical garden. Some newlyweds go so far as to renting a yacht while staying here. With a yacht, they can sail the settled waters circling the main island of Grand Terre or explore one of the smaller islands. Who knows they may discover a small private beach on Isle des Pines, known for white-sand beaches and an emerald lagoon, where they can have a romantic lunch and swim.

Holiday visitants to New Caledonia can join one of the hiking tours, which will allow you to see the fantastic countryside instead of the usual tourist spots, without the worry of getting lost. They could also charter a taxi boat to take them to one of the neighbouring islands in the area. Grande Terre has the worlds largest coral lagoon making it a must see. Imagine the thrill of finding a marine treasure while diving amongst exquisite coral, tropical fish, turtles, sea snakes and sharks or the enchantment of seeing dolphins playing and whales spouting while you relax on the beach of this lovely vacation location.

New Caledonia guests can experience the divine French food or local cuisine. While there try the Bougna, a traditional meal of the native Melanesians, which has meat and roots, such as yams and sweet potatoes, wrapped in banana leaves and then cooked under hot rocks heated in a fire.

Terra Nova Equipments Ltd. was established in Derbyshire in the 1980s. The company is known for its high quality tents, which have been used in expeditions in the toughest of conditions including the poles. They are famous for their geodesic design, which is a unique feature of these tents.

Terra Nova tents are characterized by innovative designs, high quality materials and detailing. In keeping with its commitment towards providing products for the harshest conditions, and its dedication to supporting the mountaineers, Terra Nova has also sponsored expeditions such as the Polar Race 2007, Claudwell Extreme Everest and the Virgin Summits Tibet Expedition 2003.

One of the lightest offering by Terra Nova tents is called Laser Photon Elite. This tent weighs an incredible 660 grams and its packed weight is only 729 grams. Laser Photon Elite is the latest in a line of products from the award winning Laser Series. It is developed keeping in mind the needs of the marathon mountain runners who want the lightest tents possible. Although, it is designed to sleep just one, it can accommodate two persons if the need arises.

Before the world record for the lightest tent claimed by the Laser Photon Elite, it was held by another masterpiece from Terra Nova called Laser Competition. Both these tents are manufactured using similar technology and even the purpose is the same - to provide light weight tents for mountain marathons. It weighs a measly 860 grams and sleeps one. This tent has done away with the longitudinal porch in favour of a transverse porch, which is more efficient in providing shelter from rain and wind.