Today is the best time of your life. It's the time to immerse yourself in new experiences, focus on wellbeing and enjoy the freedom of escaping the everyday routine.
But a warning: sticking to your list of must see destinations can be a challenge.
With each journey you take, another experience, another place, sight, sound or flavour will sneak onto your list.
So our solution: throw out the list.
Simply take a well deserved break and follow today's inspiration. Theres always something new to discover on an All Australian Journeys holiday. Our full service holidays will awaken your curiosity and enlarge your world.
Our team are experienced in planning, booking and guiding you to memorable experiences that will fuel your desire for more - more destinations, more experiences, more friendships.
So where do you want to go?
This year, vivid is celebrating its 10th birthday, and it's sure to be a huge celebration of light, sound and ideas. We want to make sure all our customers can get to Vivid this year, so we're offering several different options for your Vivid experience. All of our tours include coach travel from Newcastle and Maitland and a cruise on Sydney Harbour to get the best view of the lights around Circular Quay.
1. Choose one of our day tours
Our day tours have pickup locations throughout Maitland and Newcastle and you can enjoy a relaxed, luxury coach journey to Sydney with a friendly group, enjoying Robert's Famous Afternoon Tea enroute to your Vivid 2018 experience. Click here for our Vivid day tours.
2. Vivid Overnight Packages
If you're near Coffs Harbour, Nambucca Heads, Kempsey, Taree, Wauchope or Wingham and can get to the XPT rail line, why not consider one of our overnight packages? Use your rail pass to travel by rail to Maitland where we'll meet you, join you on one of our tours and then provide you with overnight accommodation and hot breakfast in Maitland before your return home the following day. Give us a call to find out how.
3. Outside Sydney? Extend your experience!
If you're based in Brisbane, Queensland or live outside Sydney and the Central Coast of New South Wales, it's still possible to experience Sydney as it transforms for Vivid. We can arrange for you to join one of our day tours, (or extend your stay with several day tours), flights and accommodation - just get in touch on 1300 631 383 and chat to one of our consultants.
Few things are as exciting as planning a holidaythe research, must see destinations and the anticipation of new adventures and relaxing experiences. The same can not be said for packing. One of the last things on the to do list before a holiday, packing is a necessary chore to get you where you want to go.
So heres our handy guide to make packing a little easier, saving you space in your bags and time on your holiday.
Pack what you can manage
Remember that airlines and tour operators will have size and weight restrictions on your luggage, so it can be a good idea to weigh your bags before you leave. All Australian Journeys request a limit of 5kg for carry on bags and 20kg for suitcases stored under the coach.
However, the best rule of thumb is to only make your bags as heavy as you can lift. While there will often be staff around who are willing to help unload your bags, in most instances it is the passengers responsibility to be able to transport their bags to and from hotel rooms and coaches.
These are the essentials
Resist the temptation to pack an outfit for every possible occasion. Not only will your bags be heavy and full of clothes that youll probably never wear, youll spend a lot of time searching through your bags every day. Heres what you should always have in your bag:
clothes that are casual and lightweight and dont need ironing
one smart outfit
two pairs of shoes onlythis is where weight quickly adds up!
travel sized toiletries to save space, weight and always wrap in a plastic bag in case of spills
a universal power adaptor so that you can plug in or charge your phone, camera, shaver
a wide top plug for sinks so that you can do essential clothes washing in your hotel room.
Packing cheats
Roll your clothes
this saves space and they tend to crease less
Bring 3-4 pegs
not just for overnight drying of clothes, pegs are handy to hold together curtains and stop the morning sun from waking you up early on your holiday
If you do wash
in your ensuite, wrap wash clothes in a clean dry towel and step on it to get as much moisture out as you can before hanging
If travelling as a couple
or with a good friendsplit your belongings between your cases, just in case something does happen to one of your bags
The landscape of western New South Wales and south western Queensland is another world away from the coastal roads of the Eastern Seaboard.
From 360 degree panoramic views of the surrounding open red dirt plains, to the stony gibber desert, to bushy forested regions, to the outbreaks of wildflowers after the wet season, the outback country on the new All Australian Journeys tour Menindee Lakes and Cameron Corner is perfect if youre looking to experience the remote wilderness that Australia is famous for.
AAJ on road team Lionel and Sue Baker love to get away and experience the vast scale of Australias outback.
The landscape is just so different to what youll experience on the east of the Great Dividing Range, said Lionel.
Sue adds, The culture of the people is different tooits like time has no meaning, you just take the time you need to get where youre going.
Sue and Lionel agree that a spirit of adventure is a must for this tour, where highlights include the geological outcrops, animal and plant life of the Sturt National Park. Emus and kangaroos are plentiful on the southern side of the Dog Fence, the worlds longest fence, but cross through the gate and the landscape changes.
There are some character pubs along the way, where the locals gather to share their stories.
While youre remote, help is never far away. Lionel says that everywhere in the outback supports the work of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. At Cameron Corner, they can get an RFDS plane out to you in just 90 minutes.
Sue says that while the journey is remote, its much more comfortable than you might experience if travelling as a grey nomad. The comfort of the air conditioned coach, and the accommodation chosen along the way, means you get to enjoy relative comforteven though in some places accommodation is in cabins with outdoor amenities.
A new addition to this holiday for All Australian Journeys is Menindee Lakes in western New South Wales, where the Darling River flows into three lakes. When the lakes are full, birdlife is prolific.
Travelling in July, Sue recommends packing for all seasons. Pack a jacket or windshield as the western winds can be cold. But youll also need summer clothing for some warm days.
1. Spend time with others
Spending time with friends and family can of course reduce loneliness and stress but will also keep you honest and increase your feeling of safety and security.
And theres nothing like a laugh with a good friend to make your day more memorable.
2. Keep learning
Research shows that keeping mentally active can increase your brains vitality and even generate new brain cells!
Whether its a daily Sudoku or seeing new places, going to shows, learning new skills or uncovering history, the moral of the story is to keep learning!
3. Be active
Being physically fit can mean different things to different peopleif youre a weight lifting superstarkeep it up! But being active can be as simple as getting your body moving for 3x 10 minute blocks per day. Start small and keep it gentle to begin with.
Take a walk with a friend, go swimming or perhaps a tour with your favourite coach and holiday company?
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