Destinations

 Must-See Australian Beaches: Great Aussie Destinations For Everyone

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Exchange rates are a double-edged sword. The Australian dollar has taken a bit of a pounding in the last year or two on world currency markets, meaning you currently won’t get as much bang for your Australian buck in many overseas countries as you did not long ago. But there is always a silver lining.

Australian holidays in 2018 are great value for money by comparison with many overseas destinations. And let’s face it, Australia is a big country. Not many of us can say they have seen all it has to offer.

Let’s take a look at Thailand as a financial comparison. As the below graph shows, the Australian dollar has headed south against the Thai baht since the peak levels of four years ago, especially in the last two years. In 2018, the Australian dollar is worth 30% less against the baht than it was in 2012. Put simply, your money won’t go as far in Thailand as it did then. A holiday to beach destinations like Phuket, Ko Samui, Pattaya or Ko Phayam is now 30% more expensive. That’s money you could spend on an Australian holiday and if it’s beaches you’re looking for, we are blessed with some of the world’s best.

In this article, we’ll focus on some of the less obvious but must see Australian beaches. Destinations that are not packed with people and are as beautiful as anywhere on the planet.

 

must see Australian beaches
Image from www.xe.com March 2016

What Are The Must See Australian Beaches?

 

Queensland

When you think of must-see Australian beaches in Queensland, the Gold Coast, Noosa on the Sunshine Coast, and the islands of the Great Barrier Reef probably spring to mind. You may have already visited those popular destinations, or be looking for some different or less crowded.

If you are, the World Heritage-listed Fraser Island is well worth a visit. Fraser is the largest sand island in the world, with its 75 Mile Beach the highlight. It is well-known for its multi-coloured sands, ranging from standard white through to orange and darker tones. Numerous crystal clear freshwater lakes there will cool you down, including the Champagne Pools, a collection of recreational waters formed by volcanic rocks. The foam of the ocean crashing into the rocks bordering the pools creates a natural jacuzzi. Fraser Island is also a prime whale-watching destination between July and October each year.

How to get there:

The quickest way is to catch a flight to Sunshine Coast Airport. From there you can then catch a short chartered flight to Fraser Island.

must see Australian beaches, Fraser Island
Image: http://uexplore4x4.com.au

Heading further north, Mission Beach between Townsville and Cairns is another great alternative. The golden sands of the Mission Beach region stretch for 14 kilometres. It contains four beach villages nestled against lush tropical rainforests, each with its own charm and characteristics. You can choose to do very little but relax and take in the beautiful scenery, or do a wide variety of water and beach activities, it’s up to you. Numerous accommodation options are available, from basic campsites through to luxury resorts.

How to get there:

Catch a flight to Cairns. Mission Beach is about an hour and a half’s drive from there, with airport transfers, bus, rail and car options available.

must see Australian beaches, Mission beach
Image: http://www.alluxia.com

Heading further north still, if you do want to experience the most secluded Great Barrier Reef island, Lizard Island is for you. It’s very expensive but well worth it. When looking at the price, just think of the money you’re saving by not going to a destination like Thailand with the Australian dollar being so low. Lizard Island has 23 stunning and largely secluded white beaches, with spectacular diving and snorkelling spots to explore the wonders of the colourful reef and its fish species.

How to get there:

Fly to Cairns and then catch a 1-hour charter flight direct to Lizard Island.

must see Australian beaches lizard island
Image: http://www.lizardisland.com.au

New South Wales

The north, south and central coasts of New South Wales offer plenty of must-see Australian beaches. Despite being a popular getaway in the north, you can still find one or two secluded beach spots in the Byron Bay region, including Whites Beach at Broken Head. Part of its charm and the major reason for its seclusion is its relatively limited access. To get there, you need to drive on a dirt road through a rainforest, and then walk along a path to its shoreline. As its name suggests, there you will find beautiful white sand, accompanied by crystal clear water and numerous rock pools. You’ll also often sight dolphins swimming in its shores. It feels a world away from the million dollar Main Beach just 10 kilometres away, so if your holidaying at Byron Bay you can experience the best of both worlds.

How to get there:

If you’re not located within a few hours drive, catch a flight to Ballina Byron Gateway Airport. From there, you can arrange an airport shuttle bus transfer.

Whites Beach, must see Australian beaches
Image: https://www.kayak.com.au

The central coast of New South Wales is famous for its surf beaches at places like Avoca, Terrigal, and The Entrance. But the region isn’t just for experienced surfers. Beginners can learn to surf at one of the many accredited surf schools in the area. Fishing and boating are also popular activities there.

How to get there:

The central coast is an hour’s drive north of Sydney.

Terrigal

On the south coast, Jervis Bay is an idyllic location 200 kilometres south of Sydney, with white sands and crystal clear blue-green water. The area is also inhabited by penguins, a pretty rare sight in Australia. It is also a popular whale-watching region from May to November. Hyam’s Beach is a great spot in the Jervis Bay region, offering a range of accommodation options and activities such as snorkelling, diving, surfing, sailing, windsurfing, and kayaking.

How to get there:

Driving from Sydney is easy or catch a flight to Jervis Bay Airport and then use an airport transfer service.

JERVIS-BAY-must see Australian beaches
Image: http://www.australiantraveller.com

Victoria

If you’re holidaying along the 243 kilometre Great Ocean Road between Torquay and Allansford on the south-east coast of Victoria, you’ll be able to visit the iconic Bell’s Beach surfing venue, see the Twelve Apostles collection of limestone stacks off the coast of Torquay, as well as find plenty of secluded spots. A good option to consider is doing a stretch of the Great Ocean Walk in the Great Otway National Park. In that region, you’ll find four hidden places well worth a visit – the beaches at Milanesia, Rivernook, Station and Parker Inlet.

How to get there:

If you’re not within a few hours driving distance, catch a flight to Avalon Airport in Geelong and then hire a car or catch an airport shuttle bus.

Bells Beach. must see Australian beaches
Image: http://www.barryplant.com.au

Western Australia

Cable Beach near Broome in Western Australia is a stunning visual location. There the turquoise of the Indian Ocean meets the ochre of the Australian outback, with ideal swimming, sunbathing and beach conditions. Both sunrise and sunset camel rides operate daily along a section of the 22 kilometre white sand stretch and make for a memorable experience. For the more free-roaming spirits, the area also includes a nudist beach but this definitely an optional experience and not on everyone’s must see Australian beaches list.

How to get there:

Catch a flight to Broome and book an airport shuttle service.

must see Australian beaches, cable Beach
Image: http://www.markboyle.com.au

Turquoise Bay in Exmouth is also a stunning beach location in Western Australia that is well worth a visit. Its beautiful waters, colourful coral and fish make it an ideal swimming and snorkelling destination.

How to get there:

Catch a flight to Learmonth Airport and then catch an airport shuttle bus to Exmouth.

Exmouth, must see Australian beaches
Image: http://www.ournakedaustralia.com.au

 

In Perth, the iconic Cottesloe Beach is a picture postcard location, with dazzling white sand surrounded by Norfolk Pines. Watching the sunset over the Indian Ocean is a sight not to be missed for those from the east coast of Australia. And although Rottnest Island is just a short ferry ride from the mainland, when you get there it will feel a world away. Just one tip if you are looking for a quiet getaway. Make sure you avoid “schoolies” or “leavers” week in late November when thousands of high school students invade Rottnest to celebrate their graduation. At any other time of year, you’ll be able to peacefully enjoy its beautiful and tranquil surrounds. 

How to get there:

Catch a flight to Perth. Cottesloe Beach is only a 15-minute drive from the city centre. Getting to Rottnest Island will require an additional short ferry trip. Leaving from Fremantle just south of Perth is the quickest way.

must see Australian beaches
Image: http://natashaoakleyblog.com

Tasmania

Tasmania is better known for its green scenery than beaches, but one exception is its picturesque Wineglass Bay located in the Freycinet National Park. Its deep blue sea is offset by stark white sand, with various shades of pink granite cliff faces combining to form a rainbow of colour. Swimming, snorkelling, fishing, sailing, kayaking and rock climbing are popular pastimes here, along with simply relaxing and enjoying the stunning scenery. You can also take in the views of the entire Bay by hiking to an elevated lookout. You’ll be able to take postcard-like photographs with ease.

How to get there:

Catch a flight to Launceston then hire a car or catch a bus for a 2-hour drive.

Wineglass bay, must see Australian beaches
Image: https://deckee.com

South Australia

South Australia is not very well known for its beaches, but a pristine location you should make a point of visiting if you are ever in the State is Second Valley. The Rapid Bay caves can be explored with Kayak Tours.

How to get there:

Catch a flight to Adelaide. If you want to get to Second Valley hire a car for the 1 and a half hour drive south.

Image: https://oztravelleryoungandold.files.wordpress.com
Image: https://oztravelleryoungandold.files.wordpress.com

Northern Territory

Beaches probably aren’t the first thing that springs to mind when you think of the Northern Territory. However, Mindil Beach is worth a visit if you are ever in Darwin. It is particularly well known for its markets that are held on its shores in the late afternoons and early evenings from Thursday to Sunday each week. Mindil Beach is just 3 kilometres from the Darwin CBD.

How to get there:

Catch a flight to Darwin.

Image: http://www.adventurouskate.com
Image: http://www.adventurouskate.com

So there you have it. Our Optimise Travel tips for must-see Australian beaches in each State and Territory. With the current value of the Australian dollar they are well worth considering as alternatives to an overseas beach destination.

We have some of the best beaches in the world, so why not leave your passport at home and tick one of these off your bucket list?

If you have any tips for must-see Australian beaches please share them in the comments section below so others can benefit from your experiences.

Why You Should Go & Holiday In Brazil

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Brazil

 Optimise Travel Test – Brazil

Put simply, the eyes of the world were be on Brazil in 2016. If you are looking for excitement on your next holiday, it should definitely rank very highly on your “potential destinations list”. If you’ve always had ambitions to go there, now is a great time!

The Olympic and Paralympic Games were held in Brazil’s second largest city, Rio de Janeiro, in August and September respectively of 2016. As anyone who was lucky enough to be in Sydney in 2000 will agree, being in the host Olympic city while this global sporting extravaganza is taking place is an amazing experience, whether or not you actually attend any events.

Brazil also offers plenty of other options for holiday-makers, from carnivals and culture to adventure and ecotourism. We’ve put the country through our Optimise Travel holiday destination test.

  • Is now a good financial time to go? 

  • Is there a wide variety of interesting things to see and do? 

  • Is there a good time of year to go? 

  • How hard is it to get to and get around when you’re there? 

We’ll look at each one of these criteria in more detail in this article, offering you some practical tips and advice along the way.

 

A good financial time to go √

Current exchange rates between the Australian dollar and the Brazilian real make Brazil a great value for money destination for Australian tourists, which is a bonus.

As the graph below shows, this has been the case for the last few years in particular. The Australian dollar (AUD) will buy you approximately 2.64 Brazilian reals (BRL), a far cry from a decade ago when it hovered around the 1.5 real mark. Even just 12 – 18 months ago, an Australian dollar would only get you just over 2 Brazilian reals.

Screen Shot 2015-11-23 at 3.26.54 pm

Image: xe.com

 

A variety of interesting things to see and do √

Before we get into those, you need to get your head around the geographic layout of the country. Brazil is made up of 26 states, and 5 regions (Northern, Northeast, Central-West, Southeast and Southern). These regions are colour-coded in the map below. It is bordered by 10 countries – Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Columbia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guyana.

While Portuguese is the official language of Brazil, learning a second language is compulsory in Brazilian primary and secondary schools, and English is a popular option. So while there will be a language barrier to some extent, it won’t be as severe as in some other parts of the world.

Map of Brazil and territories

 

Source: http://www.worldofmaps.net/en/south-america/map-brazil/map-of-brazil-regions.html (Creative Commons Attribution License)

Thumbnails below: (Creative Commons Attribution License)

The Rio CarnivalRio carnivale

This world famous 4-day festival is the largest of its kind in the world and is held before Lent each year. In 2019, it will be held from March 1st-9th. During this time, you can expect a party atmosphere with numerous street parades, floats and more than 2 million people a day flooding Rio’s streets, bars, cafes and other popular venues. The festival finishes with the spectacular Rio Samba Parade.

Copacabana Beach, Rio de JaneiroCopacabana Beach

The Copacabana beach stretches for more than 4 kilometres with its picturesque white sand and surf. The beach is bordered by a distinguishing promenade paved in a black and white mosaic style.

Corcavado Mountain, Rio de JaneiroCorcavado Mountain

The summit of this 710-metre high mountain offers unsurpassed panoramic views of the city. At the summit, you’ll also find the iconic 30 metre statue of Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer). This statue is the second largest sculpture in the world and casts an imposing presence watching over the city. A train or taxi is the best way to reach the top of Corcavado.

Sugarloaf Cable Car, Rio de JaneiroSugarloaf Cable car

The Sugarloaf Cable Car is an alternative to Corcavado mountain in terms of gaining an aerial view of Rio de Janeiro. The cableway takes you to the summit of the 396-metre mountain.

The Amazon River and rainforest, AmazonasAmazon River

The Amazon River stretches for 6,400 kilometres and is the second longest in the world, accounting for about one-fifth of the world’s river flow. It is surrounded by half of the world’s remaining rainforest area. Boat tours are a great way to explore the unique Amazonian ecosystem, taking in the wonders of nature and providing the chance to see wildlife like monkeys, jaguars, anacondas, anteaters, otters, and toucans.

The Pantanal in Mato Grosso do SulPantanal

The Pantanal is the world’s largest tropical wetland area, supporting a diverse range of plant and animal species. It has one of the largest jaguar populations in the world.

Iguaza Falls in ParanáIquazu Falls

The Iguaza Falls are located near the border of Brazil and Argentina. There are over 275 waterfalls, the largest being Devil’s Throat, which is U-shaped and has a height of 82 metres. There is a long walkway along the canyon where tourists can take in the breathtaking views.

Jericoacoara in CearáJericoacoara

Also known as “the Brazilian Maldives”, at Jericoacoara you’ll be able to swim in the freshwater lagoons, with its deep blue and green water, and relax afterward in a hammock drinking a cold beverage. You can also watch the sunrise over the ocean, which is a magical experience at this beautiful location.

Dive at Fernando de NoronhaFernando de Noronha

If you’re looking for something a bit off the beaten track, Fernando de Noronha is a World Heritage listed collection of 21 islands, approximately 350 kilometres off the coast of Brazil. The only way you can get there is via a two-day cruise or by booking a seat on a chartered plane. When you arrive, you need to pay a small environmental preservation fee, and you’ll understand why when you get there. It is one of the best dive sites in the world, with incredible visibility in its clear waters.

A good time of year to go √

In August and September, Brazil can be slightly more expensive and crowded. Brazil successfully hosted the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and 2016 Olympics and will have learnt a lot from dealing with the massive influx of tourists from all over the world.

Local school holiday dates in Brazil aren’t as fixed as they are in many other countries, it is up to individual schools to decide. However, with Christianity being the dominant religion in the country, you can expect Easter  and Christmas periods to be school holiday times, with holiday destinations and accommodation within Brazil being more crowded and expensive accordingly.

In terms of seasons, Brazil’s occur at the same time as Australia’s, since both countries are in the southern hemisphere. Its climate is similar to Australia’s, with various areas ranging from desert to tropical, and temperatures varying across the country. In the southern regions of the country it gets cooler in winter, but in other parts of the country temperatures are more even throughout the year. Brazil only has moderate rainfall throughout the year, with most occurring in the summer months.

Getting there and getting around while you’re there √

There are regular flights to both Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro (the two largest cities in Brazil) from most capital cities in Australia. It’s a long flight, taking between 29 and 31 hours from the east coast of Australia, based on one quick stopover at a connecting flight destination along the way (such as in Singapore or Dubai). Connecting flights are common for such a long journey. Your total travel time will obviously be affected by the length of any stopovers, so you should plan accordingly.

Within Brazil, there are airports in the major cities of each of its 26 states. Flights between states are relatively short by Australian standards. For example, a flight between the two largest cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro takes about 45 minutes. A long flight would be from Rio Grande do Sul in the deep south of the country to Roraima in the far north, which takes approximately 4 and a half hours.

Is it safe?

The Australian government’s official advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is that Australians should exercise a high degree of caution when travelling in Brazil. This is because there is a relatively high level of serious crime in the major cities of the country.

This means you should take sensible precautions, like paying close attention to your personal security and belongings at all times. You should also be aware that there is a relatively high level of HIV/AIDS within Brazil, and you should take precautions if engaging in any activities that will expose you to the risk of infection.

In addition, Sao Paulo is currently experiencing a severe drought and has imposed water restrictions and rationing. The quality of available water has also been affected, with people in the city being advised to boil water for sanitation accordingly.

As with travelling to any destination, you should talk to your doctor about appropriate vaccines and preventative medicines before you go. In addition to the routine vaccines, for Brazil you should prevent your chances of contracting any of the following diseases –hepatitis A/B, typhoid, yellow fever and malaria.

Please Share your Brazilian tips, tricks and stories in the comments section so that others can benefit on their travels!

*We aim to provide up to date content and information. If any information provided is no longer correct then please email us at optimisetravelaustralia@gmail.com or post in the comments section

Tips and Tricks for Exchanging Travel Money

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Tips for Currency Exchange

Exchanging Travel Money

 Credit Cards – Travel Money Cards – Travellers Cheques – Cash

When Exchanging Travel Money we are constantly being bombarded with deals and being told the best way to use our Australian Dollars when we travel. Most of the time it is companies promoting their product as ‘the best’ or ‘the safest’ product for the consumer when their main focus is it exploit travellers with hidden fees and charges.

I have travelled to many countries, changed many currencies, used many types of Bank Cards and even cashed travellers cheques before (yes that’s old school). These experiences always left me feeling that I had been ripped off and that I had lost a lot of money during the process. My aim is to explain the Pros and Cons with each method so travellers can make smart choices and get more when Exchanging Travel Money.

 

Exchanging Travel Money
Image via: sarahardmantravels

 

Credit Cards ‘CC’

  • are dangerous if used without self discipline and this can be amplified when travelling abroad. Banks charge a currency conversation fee, meaning that when you buy in a foreign currency the bank of the CC will take between 0.5% – 3% of the purchase price as a fee. Eg: if you buy a 200 USD pair of shoes in New York on your Australian CC with a 2% fee, you pay an extra $5.50 AUD just for using your card. If you like swiping your card these fees will quickly accumulate.
  • You are locked into the banks exchange rate with the currency you purchase in and this is often unfavourable for the traveller
  • Credit Card fraud is more common outside of Australia and I have many friends who have been scammed for thousands of dollars (feel free to post your story in the comments section)
  • One benefit (depending on your type of card) is that these purchases both in Australia and abroad can contribute to Frequent Flyers points and bonuses that can be used at a later date.
  • Please visit our article on Credit Cards and Frequent Flyer points for more information on Australian Credit Cards

 

Travel Money Cards ‘TMC’

This type of Bank Card acts similar to a Debit Card in that you preload your card with however much ‘cash’ you would like and once you it runs out you will need to add more usually from your internet banking. Many of these cards allow you to set specific currencies ahead of time so that travellers can see how much of a local currency they have in their account. In facilitating this convenience to its customers, banks take various fees and charges. Like Credit Cards, many banks will charge a currency conversion fee for your transaction also while using travel money cards.

Please read our article on different Travel Money Cards which breaks down the fees and charges you will encounter and also the benefits of this type of card.

Cash

As the old saying goes. Cash is King. In my experiences as a traveller, CASH will give you best value for your Australia Dollar.

But what does that mean?

Do I carry Australian dollars to another country?

Or do I buy foreign currency before I go?

Where should I do this?

And most of all…is it safe?

Most of us who travel abroad will have little experience in exchanging travel money to and from Australian Dollars. This can make for an uncomfortable experience, especially in a foreign country and often feels like it is bordering on some type of illegal activity. This is not the case and problems rarely arise when following some simple steps to keep safe and get the best rates.

 

Exchanging Travel Money
Image: http://www.travel-money.com.au

In Australia:

Banks and foreign exchange shops are commonly used and found in all major areas of the country with the majority located in big cities and close to the tourist hot spots. These are all safe and secure but offer various rates for different currencies. Travelex offers best rate guarantees on many currencies but negotiating is key when making a transaction and smaller, independent FOREX places can call their bosses and ask for a better rate than what is advertised. Things to keep in mind when Exchanging Travel Money.

  • Always use foreign exchange that is situated in safe and visible street location
  • Play different FOREX places against each other to get the lowest rate
  • Travelex and small independent venues have ability to lower rates beyond advertised market rates
  • Check our currency converter for same day median rates and aim to get as close to that as possible (top right of homepage)
  • The larger amount of money you exchange the more negotiating power you have
  • NEGOTIATING is key. If you do not ask for a better rate then you will not receive one

Overseas

Many of the tips that apply within Australia will also apply in foreign countries. Changing money in a secure, safe and open location is a priority in any countries where crime an increased concern. Also being aware that people may be watching you and taking care of your bags and belongings is always a good idea. Using the room safe to keep your cash, passport or other valuables is also highly recommended. Just don’t forget your belongings when you checkout!

AUD is readily accepted in almost all foreign destinations with the best returns coming from checking our currency converter rates, changing larger amounts of cash and negotiating for every last peso, yuan, dinar, lira or dollar.

Bringing Money back to Australia

A few years ago on the rare occasion that I had money left over in a foreign currency I would be madly exchanging it at the airport a few minutes before departing on my flight home. This resulted in me taking whatever rate was available and not giving it a lot of thought as to how I could better use my leftover cash.

Nowadays I bring home my foreign cash instead of losing out to the FOREX places. If I bring $200 USD back from the states to Australia I will simply save it and change it with a friend (or a friend of a friend) who is travelling in the next few months. This benefits both parties because neither have to pay fees for exchanging money.

Of course, I would probably not bother to bring Nigerian Naira back to Australia but currencies from places like Indonesia, the United States, Thailand, Hong Kong and Euros can be easily sold to someone you know or possibly saved if you plan on returning to the same destination in the future.

Travellers Cheques

With modern technology and increased security in the digital age this form of currency exchange has been largely fazed out and is not widely used. I would not recommend buying travel cheques but if you would like to use this method then talking with your bank is a must.

Changing currency when travelling is often a difficult and frustrating experience. By following these steps you can tackle this stressful task confidently and with the knowledge that you are not being ripped off.

If you have any suggestions for exchanging travel money please comment below and share your experiences in the comments below

*We aim to provide up to date content and information but care should always be taken when purchasing products from retailers. If any information provided is no longer correct then please email us at optimisetravelaustralia@gmail.com or post in the comments section.