Talk

Travel

Australia

To Americans and Europeans, Australia is “the Pacific”.

To people who live in the Pacific Islands, Australia is still the most frequently visited country for “overseas” leave . To this extent it is the meeting of these two ways, so this month the whole of the travel section is devoted to Australia.

LIBRARY of tourist literature has been written about Australia; two pages we can deal but briefly th a vast continent that contains : States and one Territory; that terrain varies between the “Pacific” ands of the Great Barrier Reef d the arid plains of the interior; climate, between tropical north d alpine snow country; between ies of two million inhabitants and y bush hamlets of the proverbial /o men and a dog”.

Most overseas visitors are sold on 5 idea that Australia is always my, therefore warm. They are appointed when they arrive in the iter months and find that, particu ly in the southern States, it can : very cold. States like Victoria d South Australia have hot rimers, rainy and cold winters and ing, and a pleasant autumn.

Tasmania has very cold winters i moderate summers. NSW is a State with climatic variations but, ing Sydney as a coastal average, has three months of winter, June, y and August; usually a dry ing with bursts of summer heat, i a sub-tropical summer and umn, tempered by sea winds, eensland has mild winters with asional bursts of cold and sub pical to tropical summers, rhe inland sections of all States hot to very hot in summer and d in winter—the cold being ipered in northern latitudes, rhis is what the figures say. )aily hours of sunshine averaged r the whole year in the capital 2S are: Perth, WA, 7.8 hrs.; slaide, SA, 7 hrs.; Brisbane, Qld., hrs.; Sydney, NSW, 6.8 hrs.; iberra, ACT, 6.8 hrs. Melbourne, 5.6 hrs.; Hobart, Tas., 5.9 hrs. dean temperature, averaged over year (in deg. Fahr.): Perth, 64.5;

Adelaide, 63.1; Brisbane, 69; Sydney, 63.7; Canberra, 56; Melbourne, 58.8; Hobart, 54.4.

Average annual rainfall: Perth, 35.99 ins.; Adelaide, 21.09 ins.; Bris bane, 40.09 ins.; Sydney, 44.8 ins.; Canberra, 24.88 ins.; Melbourne, 25.89 ins.; Hobart, 25.03 ins.

Travel Pattern Because of these variations in climate over the whole country, the travel pattern is to go north in winter; and south to Tasmania in summer.

Bookings for Barrier Reef islands in the Australian winter should be made as far ahead as possible; and so should summer bookings for Tas mania, All resorts in every State are

heavily booked from Christmas to the end of Janu ary, at Easter and during school holidays in May and late August early September.

Higher rates for holiday houses, flats and caravans apply during these times. The time to visit the Northern Territory, Alice Springs or the Centre is between June and September.

Transportation

There is no mystery about how to get to Australia. Ships of every nationality trade to Australian ports.

Sydney is on the route of a dozen different international airlines.

Internal transport is a matter of personal preference. The railways are State-owned. The domestic air lines are second to none in the world, with fares less than in Europe!

Numerous private bus companies run interstate and tourist motor coaches.

Likewise there are, in all capital cities and bigger provincial towns, Drive- Yourself rental cars. For extended

stays it sometimes pays to buy a second-hand car on arrival and sell it at the end of your holiday.

What Sort of Holiday?

This, too, is a matter of preference.

If you want to spend your time in the cocktail lounge of a plate glass and chromium international-type hotel, this can be arranged. So can a similar type of holiday in one of the sun-drenched resorts of Queensland.

In a sophisticated sense, Australia has everything, although in smaller quantities than in Europe or America.

Hotels, restaurants, night clubs, rac ing, sports, shopping—Australian cities, like cities everywhere, supply these. At the other end of the scale, the off-beat tourist angle can also be supplied. You can shoot crocodiles in the Northern Territory or kangaroos out West; visit the Coober Pedy opal diggings in Central Aus tralia; go on a prospecting excursion to the old gold mining areas. Parties arrive in Australia to do just these things.

But most people want something somewhere between these extremes.

The tourist who has only a week or less in Australia can’t hope to see anything more than a few highlights.

For those with more time the possibilities are endless.

You can make the capital city of each State your headquarters and take your tours of that State’s at tractions from there. You can rent a house or a flat in the city, usually

in periods of three or six months (several advertise ments for these appear regularly in PIM). In the recognised holiday resorts such as

Manly, Palm Beach and Newport from 10 to 20 miles from Sydney; and in the Gosford-Brisbane Water area, 40-50 miles from Sydney, you can rent in terms of weeks only.

The Queensland Tourist Bureau issues a long list of flats and apart ments that may be rented by the week in the Broadbeach-Surfer’s Paradise area (rentals of £B/8/- to £22 per week go up to £22 to £43 per week in Christmas-January period, around Easter and sometimes in other school holidays).

If you don’t want a fixed address, you can take a touring holiday, either by hiring a Drive-Yourself car, buy ing your own with the idea of selling it again at the end of your holiday, or by bringing your own. You can hire a caravan for long or short periods; or simply use the excellent

motels that have sprung up like mush rooms in every State.

At last count NSW had about 180 “modern type” motels, Queensland 60 and Victoria 50—and more are being added all the time. There are motels, of course, in Tasmania, WA and SA, also.

To be regarded as modern type the rooms have private bathroom, carpeted floors, good beds, lighting and heating. In addition to these minimum requirements, some are air conditioned in summer, have kitchenettes or are grouped in family suites. Some motels have swimming pools and all have restaurants or some facility for buying casual meals and all have car parking .

They are the answer to most tour ing motorists’ accommodation problems. Originally built out on the main highway, they have now invaded the suburbs of the big cities. Prices range from about 30/- to 63/- per person per night according to facilities and some, in the tourist resorts, have weekly rates.

Surf If Australians have a typical national pastime it is swimming in the surf and sitting on a beach soak ing up the sun. The whole of the east coast of the Continent, up to just north of Brisbane where the Barrier Reef begins, is one vast yellow-sand beach and Australians make full use of it. Beaches in Aus tralia are accessible to all—unlike Europe and some parts of America where they are cut up in sections and dominated by hotels or other interests on behalf of their own patrons. (Tasmania is excluded from re marks about Australian beaches.

Tasmanians swim but their beaches are frequently shingle-covered and disappointing to mainlanders. The charm of Tasmania, the island State, lies in other directions. Mainlanders go there to cool off in this slightly sunburned version of England during January and February when the other States sizzle.) Or Snow But in spite of the national love of sun and surf, Australians are becoming more and more interested m winter snow sports. The popularity of the alpine resorts in the Southern Alps of NSW and the Great Dividing Range of Victoria is indicated by the fact that European ski instructors now

come out to work there during the Southern winter months.

The Government Tourist Bureau of both NSW and Victoria will give detailed advice on snow holidays and the cost of hotels and chalets. Some chalets and lodges are let in their entirety to parties. The rates at hotels vary considerably—but as an indication, the July-September tariff at the Chalet at Charlotte Pass, Mt.

Kosciusko, which is NSW Govern ment-owned, is from £3/3/- to £4/5/daily. Rates at the privately owned hotels in Perisher Valley, NSW, are from £26/5/- to £3O/9/- weekly.

Ski lifts and tows and ski instruction are available at main resorts; skis and other gear may be hired. If con templating a snow holiday, booking should be made well in advance.

Or Islands Hopping If you don’t like snow, you can spend your winter holiday amongst the tropical islands of the Barrier Reef. The Queensland Government offers numerous package deals for these islands. Such as 8-days on Brampton Island for £24/0/6; 8-days on Lindeman Island for £37/9/-; 8-days on Hayman Island for £34 etc. These prices include getting to the island from Mackay, on the mainland, and accommodation while there. Grade of accommodation varies from island to island—from simple cabins to first class hotel rooms. Swimming, reef excursions, fishing or sun bathing are the at traction.

If you don’t wish to spend all the time on one island, you can take a five days cruise on the large motor launch Roylen for £3O. This vessel is equipped with two berth cabins, a lounge, a liquor licence and cruises inside the Reef from Mackay to a number of the tourist islands in the Whitsunday passage.

THESE ADDRESSES will help you in planning your Australian holiday; The NSW Government Tourist Bureau, Challis House, Martin Place, Sydney.

The National Roads and Motorists Assn, of NSW, 3 Spring St., Sydney.

The Royal Automobile Club, Macquarie St., Sydney.

The Victorian Govt. Tourist Bureau, 272 Collins St., Melbourne.

The Royal Automobile Club of Victoria, 94 Queen St., Melbourne.

South Australian Government Tourist Bureau, 18 King William St., Adelaide, SA.

Royal Automobile Association of South Australia, Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide, SA.

Government Tourist Bureau, 772 Hay St., Perth, Western Australia.

Royal Automobile Club of Western Aus tralia, 228 Adelaide Terrace. Perth, WA.

Queensland Government Tourist Bureau, Anzac Square, Brisbane, Qld.

Royal Automobile Club of Queensland, 462-470 Queen St., Brisbane.

Tasmanian Government Tourist Bureau, Cnr. Macquarie and Murray Sts., Hobart.

Royal Automobile Club of Tasmania, 172 Macquarie St., Hobart.

The Australian Travel Bureau, Ist Floor, Challis House, Martin Place, Sydney, represents all State Tourist Bureaux and will arrange Australia-wide itineraries for overseas visitors.

The automobile organisations will supply information about roads, motoring, maps and hotels; the tourist bureaux will supply anything else.

HOTELS; These are a selection of the leading hotels in each of the State capitals or environs: Sydney: Australia, from 90/-, bed only; Carlton-Rex, from 85/-, bed only; Went worth, from 65/-, bed only; Chevron Hilton (in King’s Cross district), from 90/-, bed only.

Melbourne; Australia, from 70/-, bed only; Menzies, from 73/6, bed and break fast; Savoy-Plaza, from 75/-, bed only: Chevron (in St. Kilda Rd.), from 75/-, bed and breakfast.

Adelaide: South Australian, from 50/-, bed and breakfast; Earl of Zetland, from 50/-, bed and breakfast.

Brisbane: Lennons, from 60/-, bed only: Carlton, from 60/-, bed and breakfast.

Lennons (Broadbeach), from 57/6, bed only; Chevron (Surfer’s Paradise), on application.

Hobart: Wrest Point, from 65/-, bed and breakfast: Hadley’s, from 50/-, bed and breakfast.

Perth: Palace, from 84/-, dinner, bed

Australia is not all sunshine and surf. A winter scene at the Chalet, Mt. Kosciusko.

NSW Government Tourist Bureau

and breakfast; Adelphi, from 70/-, bed and breakfast.

Canberra: The Canberra, from 60/-, bed and breakfast; Rex, from 80/-, bed only.

CARAVAN HIRE: Rates vary according ;o size, type and place hired. But you :an expect to pay £l6/16/- per week for i 4-berth model between mid-December ind mid-February, and at Easter, and to ake it for a minimum of 2 weeks. At ither times, from £ll/11/- per week with t discount for extended periods.

Drive Yourself Car Hire: Two

lydney quotes we have had are (1), £3O er calendar month or £B/10/- per week 4us 6d per mile, for Morris Minor or standard 10; for 1960-61 Holden, £4O per alendar month or £ll/10/- per week lus 8d per mile. (Academy Drive Your elf). (2), Renault Dauphine, £lO/10/er week plus 9d per mile; or Holden t £l2/10/- per week plus lOd per mile oth with discounts for long periods.

Avis Rent-a-Car).

Bass Strait Car Ferry; The

Princess of Tasmania” roll-on roll-off ir and passenger ferry between Mel aurne, Vic., and Devonport, Tas., is now i its second year of operation. It carries 18 passengers in cabins at from £4/12/- • £6/8/- per person; and 156 in aircraft 'Pe lounge chairs for £3/17/- each, ars are carried at from £lB to £27 iturn, according to size. Voyage takes I hours. (Note: Bass Strait can be a ;ry nasty piece of water). Heaviest )okings on the “Princess” are between ecember and April. (A Sydney-Hobart issenger and vehicular ferry is to com ence building in 1962).

FINALLY—MONEY: Almost everyone’s oney is more valuable in Australia than home. £1 Australian is worth approx. /- Stg.. New Zealand or W. Samoan /- Fijian; and $U52.25.