worldtravel 2017 Issue Two
The Gold Coast National Parks of NZ Climb Japan’s Highest Peak
Singapore Asian Garden City This Issues Top 5: Greatest Driving Roads
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Stunning Golden Beach in Abel Tasman National Park
Contents worldtravel Gold Coast
NZ National Parks
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Top 5
Singapore
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Climbing Fuji
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Words
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Photos by Jamie Brown
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“Queensland ’s G old Coast is internationally famous for its beaches , about a 50 km stretch of sun drenched beaches , warm enough to swim every day .”
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he Gold Coast is one of the most amazing places you will ever visit. With it’s white sand beaches and waters from the Pacific Ocean, the Gold Coast of Australia, is like no other place you have ever seen in the world. There are many wonderful towns, for you to visit, along the Gold Coast shoreline. These town make for wonderful day trips and, thanks to the year round moderate temperature, are excellent places to visit no matter what time you year you decide to take your holiday. Coolangatta is an area with excellent surf opportunities, great shopping, cafes and restaurants, and many f exciting things to do. It is at the south end of the coast, and although there are other towns in this region, Coolangatta is the one that you must not miss. Surfers Paradise is a great spot for a swim, surf or family fun. It is one of the Gold Coast major tourist attractions and has many surf beaches, national parks and theme parks. At Surfers Paradise you will not find yourself searching for a place to shop, eat or take in the sights; this activities are around you wherever you go in this region. Main Beach offers visitors the opportunity to partake in many water sports, including fishing, boating, cruises, jet-skiing, para-sailing and whale watching. Food lovers will be in their element on Main Beach’s famous restaurant strip. From Thai, Indian, Italian, vegetarian, organic and modern Australian cuisine. Main Beach also
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offers lively wine bars and bustling coffee shops. Southport is ideal for anyone that is looking for a little retail therapy. There are 230 specialty stores throughout the Australia Fair Shopping Centre and Southport Mall. Those with a fancier taste, should visit the Marina Mirage Shopping Village. The Gold Coast Hinterlands is the perfect place to enjoy a leisurely day browsing the local arts and craft galleries, dining at a casual cafe or country pub, and sampling local wines at a boutique winery. There are also fabulous waterfalls, walking trails sparkling rock pools and much more in this subtropical rainforest. Queensland’s Gold Coast is internationally famous for its beaches. We have about a 50km stretch of sun drenched beaches, where the water is warm enough to swim every day of the year. The water at its coldest, in the dead of winter, is around 19° C. So its pretty easy to see why we love our beaches here, and why so many people visit us just to spend a few weeks relaxing on the beach. For the Surfers from Duranbah in New South Wales through to The Other Side (TOS) at South Stradbroke Island, we have beach after beach of world class waves to surf. We have some of the most famous reef breaks in the world, with Snapper Rocks and Burleigh Heads constantly producing amazingly long right handers. And it is at these point breaks that we host the first ASP World Championship Tour event, during February March every year.
If you are a little like me though, and are happy to trade off a small amount of wave quality, for a large amount of the crowds, our beach breaks are just the thing. We have mile after mile after mile of sandy beach breaks. The more famous of these beaches include Kirra and of course Surfers Paradise. Some lessor known beach names include Main Beach, Mermaid Beach, Nobby’s Beach, Tugan and Miami. There is rarely a day where there is an unridden break or two along the magnificent Gold Coast Stretch. Its little wonder this stretch has produced such a host of Aussie surfing champions, including the current aspiring World Champions, Mick Fanning, Parko and Dean Morrison. For Swimmers and Tanners The Gold Coast Weather combined with the temperate water temperature makes our beaches ideal for swimming and tanning all year round. Sure, sometimes it gets a bit “nippy” here in winter, but it is a rarer July and August (June - August are winter in the Southern Hemisphere) not to see people tanning on the beach, than to see them there. The beautiful 20 24° C days of sitting in the sun in the middle of winter are the rule, not the exception. And then there is our our ocean water temperature. As an example, I have been very warm swimming, one chilly night when the outside temperature was only 6° C, in just a pair of shorts. The water was still a beautiful 20° C. I have to admit though, it was a bit of a mad dash to the car once I was finished... With 10 - 20 metres of sand from the water to the street, on most Gold Coast beaches, tanning, running, surfing, swimming, kitesurfing and all manner of beach activity become such a pleasure. Further, many local counsels have installed picnic areas, and beach volleyball competitions are a frequent sight. It is little wonder our beaches in themselves have become one of Australia’s premier tourist attractions. The biggest annual event on the GC is without doubt the Supercars Gold Coast 600 race event held in last weekend of October. It’s a huge weekend of motor racing with a
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300km race both Saturday and Sunday and massive concerts Friday and Saturday nights featuring some of the biggest names in Australian and international music. The event also features the crownng of the coverted Miss Supercars title. It is common to find amazing theme parks, in areas where the weather is just about perfect all year round. The Gold Coast, in Australia is no exception. There is a fabulous park in the Gold Coast called Dreamworld that is perfect for the entire family. This theme park offers more than just thrill seeking, dare devil rides, although there are plenty of those with rides like the Tower of Terror , the Giant Drop, the Cyclone, the Claw and a multitude of other rides that you will find in Ocean Paradise. And don’t forget to pick up some tickets to Screamworld for a night time adventure that is not for the weak at heart. There is also a lot for families with small children to enjoy as well. Dreamworld has many rides and attractions for smaller children. There is Nick Central that have Nickelodeon themed rides and characters walking about. From there you can hop onto the Dreamworld Train and get off at the Australian Wildlife Experience. Here you will be able to feed and watch many creatures. There is also an IMAX theatre, which is great when you are looking for an escape from the heat, and Wiggles World, where you can ride more children friendly attractions, with familiar. Most times it is the tweens and teens that are hardest to please, and Dreamworld has accounted for this when creating attraction geared towards them. Although these age range children may want to visit Nick Central, or take a ride on some of the more thrilling attractions, there is also Tiger Island, Mick Doohan’s motocoaster, a crocodile show and more. There are also water rides, old time costume photos and a Sunset Safari. No matter what age, you are sure to find something to enjoy at Dreamworld. It should be a stop on everyone’s Gold Coast vacation itinerary.
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New Zealand National Parks Words & Photos By Jamie Brown
Devils Punchbowl Waterfall, Arthur’s Pass
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here are national parks all over New Zealand. From Tongariro in the North, to Fiordland in the South and a lot of area in between. We’ll also cover Egmont National Park, Kahurangi, Abel Tasman, Paparoa, Arthur’s Pass, Westland and Aoraki/Mount Cook. The Tongariro National Park is home to three of New Zealand’s largest volcanoes. Mount Ruapehu, Mount Ngauruhoe and Mount Tongariro itself. All are still active but are small and very quiet in comparison to others around the world. It is the 4th oldest National Park in the world, established in 1887. The Tongariro Crossing is one of the most popular tracks in the country at 19.4km it is a well-known, well-visited day hike. The Turoa and Whakapapa Skifields are within the park and are hugely popular in the snow season.
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There are small villages and holiday homes scattered along the coast and a large campground at Totaranui in the north. Neighbouring the Abel Tasman is Kahurangi National Park, one of New Zealand’s largest National Parks, covering more than 4,500 kilometers located in the north-west part of the South Island. It spans most of the width of the Top of the South area. It is home to one of New Zealand’s nine great walks; the Heaphy Track, which is 82 kilometers long and takes four days to walk.
“Wind your way through dense native New Zealand forest before arriving at yet another golden beach.”
Egmont National Park is home to Mount Taranaki also known as Mount Egmont. It is a stand-alone active volcano, which makes it quite the phenomenon. Mount Taranaki is another one popular with hikers and climbers, and provides unbelievable photo opportunities. From space, Egmont National Park is very nearly a perfect circle, and would be if it didn’t stretch further to the north.
Paparoa National Park on the West Coast is small but slightly larger area compared to Abel Tasman. Here is the village of Punakaiki which is home to one of the world’s strangest phenomenons; the Pancake Rocks. Layers upon layers of flat rocks piled on top of one another to create what really does resemble pancakes. At the same location are blowholes, where sea water is thrust through gaps in the rocks and coastline high up into the air.
In the South Island the Abel Tasman National Park near Nelson is the smallest National Park in the country, but it has so much to offer. It’s popularity is headlined by the golden granite beaches all along the Abel Tasman’s coastine. The park boasts some of the greatest walking tracks you’ll find, as you wind your way through dense native New Zealand forest crossing creeks and passing waterfalls before arriving at yet another golden beach.
Arthur’s Pass National Park surrounds the only road to cross the Southern Alps in the centre of the South Island. In the middle of the park is Arthur’s Pass village, a popular stop for coast to coast cross-country travellers and commuters on the Tranz Alpine train from Christchurch to Greymouth. A short walk from the village is the Devils Punchbowl waterfall. The falls drop 131 metres!
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Mount Cook is the highest peak in the whole of New Zealand at over twelve thousand feet. This attracts many tourist and even some serious mountain climbers. This was one of the mountains where Edmund Hilary learned his skills before attempting Mount Everest. There is the small Mount Cook Village where there are beautiful holiday homes, lodges and a hotel for tourists, hikers and mountaineers alike can stay. Fox Glacier can be found on the west coast of the South Island in the Westland National Park. This is one of the most accessible glaciers in the world and this explains why it is so popular. It is only a short walk from the carpark to the base of the glacier. Guided walks and helicopter rides can be brought onto the glacier itself, which is a very popular attraction. There is a small friendly town nearby that caters mostly for tourists. Milford Sound is one of New Zealand’s top tourist destinations. This place offers some really stunning scenery and was once described by Rudyard Kipling as the eighth wonder of the world. It is situated in quite a remote location, but those who make the journey never forget it. It is home to Mitre Peak one of the most picturesque and photographed locations in New Zealand. If you are in the mood for a bit of exercise you will find plenty of trekking and kayaking. It is also possible to go on a boat tour. The Milford track is without doubt the best track in New Zealand given it’s surroundings. New Zealand’s National Parks are a must visit if you travel to this amazing country. You don’t have to do a four day hike, most of the best points of interest are accesable by road and a short walk.
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Awaroa Inlet, Abel Tasman NP
Abel Tasman Beach Kahurangi National Park
Pancake Rocks & Blowholes, Punakaiki, Paparoa NP
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Fox Glacier, Westland National Park
West Coast Beach in the Kahurangi NP New Zealand Native Kea
Statue of Sir Edmund Hillary beneath Aoraki/Mount Cook
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Singapore Words & Photos By Jamie Brown
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Perfect location, scenic landscapes, golden beaches, world class hospitality, deep blue sea and numerous shopping options makes Singapore a must visit place for people who love holidaying in style.
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ingapore is the little Island in South East Asia, becomes a popular holiday destination for the tourists with lots of attractions. Covered with trees and plants from everywhere despite of heavy urbanization, pollution free environment, strict rules and regulations for traffic and less crime rate is what magnetizes people towards Singapore often said as The Fine City.
Shopping at this metropolis is always a fun. Wondrously huge shopping malls, large market areas and boutiques here provide you with variety of shopping options. Grab best brands of clothes or take home some finely made decorative pieces, but be prepared to bargain. Due to the presence of diverse cultures and people, cuisine of the city is also of diverse. You will get to savor into the different flavors of the world.
Culturally diverse in nature, the metropolis is a combination of too many different colors. The style of cordial reception of guests makes visitors feel as if they are at home away from home. If you are planning to go out on holidays, then book your flight tickets to Singapore and have an experience of a lifetime.
Beach lovers can enjoy stimulating games at the sandy beaches here. Get your feet dirty on the shores, explore under sea life, party at the beach pubs or sun bath here.
Singapore’s principle island is 42km from east to west and 23km from north to south, sufficiently conservative to investigate in only a couple days. The southern corner of the precious stone is home to the principle part of the city – “downtown”, or only “town” to local people – which fixates on the Singapore River, the spring where Raffles initially arrived on the island in 1819. Following an entire day’s touring, it’s without a doubt the top spot to loosen up, lined with previous distribution centers that are presently home to humming eateries and bars. Tourism in Singapore is a major industry. Millions of people descend here every year with families and friends. Culture of the city is mostly of Chinese, Malay, Indian and Arab ethnicities. While digging into the city during your vacations don’t forget to visit museums, art galleries, Zoos, national heritage sites, gardens and parks that narrate you the story of past and present of the metropolis. City is a perfect blend of everything that one desires to explore while holidaying. Singapore is also called garden city as it has many parks like Garden by the Bay, Botanic Garden that’s probably that one can find trees everywhere. 150 years old garden is Botanic Garden and also National Orchid Garden is also familiar for Orchid Flower which is called the national flower of Singapore.
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Colorful carnivals and festivals are celebrated all year long at Singapore giving a lively and zippy touch to the surrounding environment. No day passes by here without fun. Considered as a best place for family hangout, you can plan out your next trip with your family and kids. Reaching this spell bound city is not an expensive affair these days, as many flight providers are rendering cheap flights to Singapore. Singapore’s Wildlife parks gives visitors a chance to see and come close to wild life where travellers get a chance to mingle with different creatures of the world. Underwater world takes them to the world of dolphins and sharks for swimming and diving with them under the proper instructions of the instructors. Singapore is a very diverse country that has a melting pot of various ethnic cultures. It is evidently seen throughout the country with distinct influences of Malay, Chinese, and Indian cultures. It is quite blessed to have such a diverse mixture of cultures as you will be spoilt for choice when choosing your dining selection. There is a great selection of different types of food in Singapore, in which they all provide an authentic taste to their individual ethnic backgrounds. Singapore has many outlets for different taste of persons includes international and local cuisines for taste of different culture person. You can easily find the food according
to your taste because of availability of wide verities of eateries according to your taste. Traveling into Singapore has many options, as you can commute by air, land, and sea. By knowing the common entry points into Singapore , then you will be able to plan your trip effectively for both coming into Singapore and for your onward journey out of Singapore. You can enter by all forms of transportation, from air, bus, train, and sea. All international flights arriving into Singapore will arrive into Changi International Airport, which is located on the eastern tip of Singapore. The airport has 3 terminals that serve the major international airline companies, as well as a budget terminal that serves the low cost budget airline carriers. The airport is modern, clean, and efficient, so entering through here is quite easy and straight forward. There is only one train station in Singapore that connects to Malaysia and beyond. This train station is located at the Woodlands Checkpoint on the northern tip of Singapore near Kranji MRT station. There are 3 ferry terminals in Singapore that provides ferry service from neighboring countries of Malaysia and Indonesia. The Changi Village terminal provides ferry service by bumboat to and from Kampung Pergerang which is located in the Johor State of Malaysia. As for other destinations in Malaysia and Indonesia, then the ferry terminals at Harbourfront (central southern tip near Sentosa Island) and Tanah Merah (near eastern side of Singapore) are the places that serve those destinations. Singapore has lots to do besides shopping, dining and movies surely will never let you get bored. It takes you to the real charm of Singapore where you will find many attractive places that have become the famous tourists’ terminus these days. Many attractions, activities and events that are in Singapore must be explored by travellers as it increases the excitement in the mind of the travellers.
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TOP
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DRIVING ROADS By Jamie Brown
5. Stelvio Pass The Stelvio is a mountain pass in northern Italy, at an elevation of 2,757 m above sea level. It is the second highest paved mountain Caumasee Lake pass in the Alps. This pass is extremely narrow so watch out for pedestians cyclists, cars, trucks and buses which you may come across stuck unable to turn at one of the several hundred hairpins. Recommendation is you drive a car, because your bus ride is likely to take several hours with all the hairpin turns.
4. Furka Pass The Furka Pass, which has an elevation of 2,429 metres, is a high mountain pass in the stunning Swiss Alps. Parts of this pass are bery narrow and dangerous, so again be wary of other road users. And please promise us to keep your eyes on the road, as the views around here are so incredible, it’s difficult your eyes on it.
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3. Trollstigen Trollstigen is a mountian road in Norway connecting small villages but apart from that it isn’t a main highway. So it’s not too busy. The road is narrow with many sharp bends, and although several bends were widened during 2005 to 2012, vehicles over 12.4 metres (41 ft) long are prohibited from driving the road. This road is more or less in the Arctic Circle, so please avoid travelling to this road in the winter months, because like many of these, it’ll be closed.
2. Atlantic Road Also in Norway (worldtravel’s most beautiful counrty in the world), The Atlantic Ocean Road is an 8.3 kilometre long section of County Road 64 that runs through an archipelago. The road’s roller coaster-feel, curvy bridges and phenomenal views have made it a favorite of road trippers and motorcyclists alike. This is one ribbon of tarmac where you’ll be tempted to turn around and do it again and again until the sun goes down. However in the right middle of summer, the sun doesn’t really go down!
Transfăgărășan Pronounced Trans-far-ga-ra-jan, the DN7C, also known as Ceaușescu’s Folly, is a paved mountain road crossing the southern section of the Carpathian Mountains of Romania. We covered this pass in our first ever issue way back in 2013 because someone saw it on Top Gear and really wanted to go there. Our favourite line from that article was “you get the impression that you are about to drive off the edge of the planet.” There’s not much more to add, except buy that 2013 issue or go there for yourself.
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Climbing
Fuji
Words & Photos By Jamie Brown
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n the postcards, of course, Fuji is beautiful. A snow-capped deity, framed with cherry blossom and cloudless skies, an image recreated in a thousand different ways across the land of the rising sun. Up close and personal, however, Fuji feels different. Earthy, wet and submerged in mist. Slippery, stubborn and chasing my breath. Japan’s Mt. Fuji is an active volcano about 100 kilometers southwest of Tokyo. Commonly called “Fujisan,” it’s the country’s tallest peak, at 3,776 meters. A pilgrimage site for centuries, it’s considered one of Japan’s 3 sacred mountains, That picturesque snow blocks the mountain for all but July and August, when most of the 400 000 people who climb it each year do so by night. In Japan, Fuji is sacred and pilgrims labour by torchlight to reach the 6th station for the sun’s first appearance. For pilgrims in search of solitude (and latecomers like myself), the only option in September is to hike by day. Yet the clouds that hover around Fuji-san make the search for sunlight no less optimistic. During the climbing season, climbers of Mount Fuji are asked to contribute 1000 yen per person at collection stations at each trailhead. The money will be used to cover some of the expenditures arising from the huge number of climbers that visit the mountain each summer, especially regarding the protection of the environment and measures to guarantee the safety of climbers. The ascent to the summit does not pose any major difficulties regarding climbing skills. Only at some points the terrain is rather steep and rocky. Abundant signs along the trail warn the hikers of other minor problems such as sudden wind gusts and falling rocks. However, the main challenge of the climb is the fact that it is very strenuous and the air gets notably thinner as you gain altitude. Most people try to time their ascent in order to witness the sunrise from the summit. Also, the chances of the mountain being free of clouds are highest during the early morning hours. The recommended way of doing this, is to climb to a mountain hut around the 7th or 8th station on the first day and spend some hours sleeping there before continuing to the summit early on the second day. Note that the sunrise takes place as early as 4:30am to 5:00am in summer. Another popular way is to start climbing the mountain in the late evening from the 5th Station and hike through the night to reach the summit around sunrise. This is a more tiring way of climbing the mountain and is discouraged by the local authorities as it brings an increased risk of altitude sickness and injury. The 5th station, where roads and civilisation end. The “viewing point” shows clouds beneath and the crater above, sliced in two by Alpine-looking buildings.
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“The Yoshidaguchi Climbing Trail is closed from September 5 to June 30,” reads the translation. “We are not responsible for your life and what you do.” Ascending and descending the mountain in a single day during daytime is also possible, but again it is not recommended for the same reasons as above. Furthermore, the mountain provides very little shelter, leaving climbers fully exposed to the sun. Visibility also tends to be worse during daytime when the mountain is frequently wrapped in clouds. Congratulations, you’ve made it to the top of the highest point in Japan, Mt. Fuji! But before making your triumphant return to the base of the mountain, check out all the interesting things to do while you are here. Most likely the main reason that thousands of climbers make the trek to the top of Mt. Fuji, watching the sunrise is the best thing you can experience after a grueling long-winded hike. The spectacular view at the top of Japan’s iconic mountain is simply one of the most treasured memories one could bring back from Japan.
“watching the sunrise is the best thing you can experience after a grueling hike” However, in order to experience it, be sure to check the weather forecast in advance and to keep the sunrise time in mind. The sunrise starts at 4:21 a.m. at the beginning of July and can be as late as 5:05 a.m. towards the end of August. Plan your hike accordingly in order to not miss out on this spectacular view! If you’re challenging the Ohachi-meguri, be sure to head for Kengamine Peak. The slope doesn’t cover much distance, but great care is required. The mixture of loose pebbles and dirt combined with winds that can reach speeds of 20~30 meters per second (45~67 miles per hour) can make this final stretch rather difficult. With perserverance and a steady pace, you can make it to the top, 3776 metres above sea level and the highest point in Japan! Yes, you heard right. One of the other unique things to do at the top of Mt. Fuji, is to send a postcard from Japan’s highest post office. If you want to avoid the possibly long queue, you can prepare your card in advance and just drop it in the mailbox. Take precautions though, as the post office is only open in summer from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. When can you climb Mt Fuji? Ideally, between July and August to be safe. It is possible to summit Mount Fuji in September during the day but you do so at your own risk.
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What to wear when climbing Mount Fuji. Plenty of layers for warmth as temperature drops at higher altitude. Sturdy boots with ankle support and waterproof clothing in case of bad weather. Check out what to pack for a walking holiday for more useful tips. What to bring to Mount Fuji. Nothing heavy. Consider a torch at night, take plenty of drinking water and bring some food. In the peak season, mountain huts serve basic food but it’s best not to rely on this. The mountain itself may look more attractive from afar than from close up, but the views on clear days and the experience of climbing through the early morning hours among hundreds of equally minded hikers from across the world are very rewarding.
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