Australia Travel News 07/27/2011

FOR Backpackers, Cairns is a haven or heaven. What is it about our city that is so appealing? What can be done to make it even more so? Are you a backpacker? Where does Cairns rate in your Oz experience?

Netflix is still interested in launching their Netflix operation in Australia despite the expansion of the local Quickflix operation to Sony, LG and Panasonic TVs.

Kevin Rudd has declared his ambition to build a grand ''Asia Pacific Community'' is very much alive, dismissing claims the idea fell flat in the region.

OPRAH Winfrey's imprimatur has launched careers, spawned business empires and raised millions of dollars for charity, but the ''Oprah effect'' has not revived Australia's flagging tourism industry in the US.

The pricing of Europe for Australians has never behaved like our other major long-haul destination, America, where fares have fallen and risen according to the level of competition and are currently rising again after record lows of under $1000 return. But that’s with three to five airlines angling for a slice of the pie.

A NATIVE bee sanctuary in NSW, an African display at the Australia Zoo and a "total chocolate experience'' in Tasmania are among tourism projects to be funded by the Government.

AS HUNDREDS of thousands of stranded passengers can attest, last month was officially the worst on record for reliable air travel in Australia.

I wrote, a few weeks ago, about what not to miss on the Great Ocean Road; highlighting my favourite towns and attractions to see along the way. We stayed in Lorne and hiked to a beautiful waterfall. We walked on beaches even though it wasn't particularly warm, it being May in Australia.

Here I am in Brisbane, Queensland about to attend a meeting and just down from Customs House in Eagle Street lying relaxed on the pavement is this hand. I halt my scurrying and look up to see this other hand pointing skyward – what better way to be brought back down to earth.

Brooke Schoenman from Why Go Australia explained that the country is a dream come true for anyone who loves to see landscapes of different kinds.

Bundaberg, or 'Bundy', as it is known colloquially, is a popular stop for working holiday makers based on the east coast. This is because of the abundant local fruit-picking opportunities to secure that essential 3 months rural work to apply for a visa to stay in Australia for a second year. But its not all farmers and fruit.