Wildlife and Safari

Looking to travel as south as humanly possible? Head to Antarctica, the coldest continent, where the landscapes are breathtaking and magnificent, showcasing huge sweeps of snow, natural ice sculptures, and intricate icebergs that bob gracefully upon the frigid aqua blue waters. It is home to many beloved species, including adorable penguins, playful fur seals, and awe-inspiring whales.

While many of us are in the middle of winter, the Southern Hemisphere is currently experiencing summer, a time of year that allows the sun to shine nearly 24 hours and warms up the continent to a tolerable climate, with temperatures quite comfortable for travelers.

Realtravelers Tole and Jessica experienced Antarctica by cruise, a popular method of travel to this region. “It isn’t possible to convey in words, or even in pictures, the otherworldly beauty of the landscapes and seascapes we saw,” they reflected in their blog. “We spoke with people and looked at photos beforehand, and were skeptical that it would be all that wonderful. In the end, Antarctica drastically exceeded our expectations. We felt awestruck every single day. Even to stand out on the deck as we passed through a channel filled with icebergs and surrounded by snowy glaciers was enough to get me a little teary-eyed at how stunning it all was.” (more…)

Nearby destinations in the Patagonian region of Argentina and Chile are stunning travel spots in themselves and can also be great launching points for exploring Antarctica. From El Calafate, the gateway town to Patagonia, travelers can go to hiking haven El Chalten before heading to Puerto Madryn, Tierra del Fuego, and, last but not least: beautiful Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world.

When Realtraveler Annie King was in Ushuaia she had a lot of fun: “After lunch we set out to Neko Harbour, our second landing on the Antarctic mainland, very sheltered, the sea was nearly like glass and the sun was out and it was a glorious afternoon. And very playful, as this was a place where we could ‘sledge’ down a very enticing slope – only trouble was it needed to be climbed each time! Hence I only did it once – but it was great fun!!

We were woken early in the morning to see the Lemaire Channel – a spectacular long straight which runs north/south to the west of the Antarctic peninsula – and the morning was perfect for it! We saw Orca whales and snow pectrals and the view was magical, the morning sun bringing out the blues in the icebergs and the snow and ice covered cliffs and mountains, and patches of ice on the sea.” (more…)

If you’re like me and feel lured by the vast expanses of unspoiled landscape, the amazing wildlife, and the surreal beauty of this unique area of the world, you too will want to plan a trip to this incredible region as soon as possible.

Here are some resources to help you do so:

Ushaia Hotels
Antarctica Cruise Trips

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The UNESCO World Heritage Site list can look like the most enticing travel wish list you’ll ever see, so it’s no wonder many people plan their travels around these precious destinations. Heritage sites not only enrich our lives today, but will also serve future generations, and luckily UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) is helping make sure these sites live on. The UNESCO World Heritage organization seeks to preserve the many wonders that exist in our world today, encouraging nations throughout the world to protect their national and cultural heritage.

All this week we will be featuring off the beaten path World Heritage Sites, lesser known but no less worthy, including the charming castles of the United Kingdom, the national parks of Indonesia, the historic towns of Mexico, and the spiritual sites of India.

Today we take a look at Australia, where World Heritage Sites range from the cultural (such as the Sydney Opera House) to the natural (the Wet Tropics of Queensland), sheltering some of the world’s most precious endangered species and offering travelers ample beauty within its many different landscapes. Most people have heard of the Great Barrier Reef, a famous scuba diving spot and host of the world’s largest collection of coral reefs, so today we take you off the beaten path to explore some more unusual Aussie sites!

Tasmania

Tasmania appeals to any traveler with a sense of adventure, with its many lush parks and wildlife reserves. The Tasmanian Wilderness is a wonderland of natural wonders, from the Bay of Fires and Freycinet National Park, to Wine Glass Bay and Cataract Gorge.

Realtraveler Peters Travels saw some wallabies and other wildlife while exploring Tasmania:

“We arrived at Freycinet National Park after lunch for a couple of hours walk to the view point overlooking wineglass bay and a walk to the beach. This is a very beautiful area out on the peninsula of the same name with hills clad in thick forest and native bush, plus the odd friendly Wallabies looking for lunch!! Wine Glass Bay, so named from the whaling days, Whales where brought into this bay for cutting up, and as a result the sea turned red, and the bay is shaped like a wine glass, hence the name wine glass bay.” (more…)

Realtraveler and London native DaisyRTW also experienced Tasmania during her around-the-world travels:

“The National Parks are stunning, 2 of them are World Heritage sites. Stopped in Freciynet National Park to see the stunning Wineglass Bay, then headed off to Cradle Mountain where the walks were good and the scenery spectacular. Traveled through some tiny towns and cute villages. The food was great and met some real characters.” (more…)

Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock)

Pictured above, the beauty of Ayers Rock in Uluru National Park speaks for itself. The enormous red sandstone monolith is considered the largest in the world, changes colors throughout the day as it reflects the sky, and has an important place in Aboriginal history. The Newell Post, a couple from Saskatchewan, Canada, snapped this gorgeous photograph. Here is an excerpt from their blog about Ayers Rock:

“The amazing thing about Ayers Rock (besides being the world’s biggest monolith), and what attracts all the attention, is the fact that it never looks the same no matter how many times you see it. This is due to the changing nature of the sky. This means that the best times to see the rock are at sunrise and at sunset…it was so beautiful watching the sun rise and set over that rock. The colours of it are incredible - red rock like I have never seen before.” (more…)

Fraser Island

Lying off the east coast of mainland Australia, the phenomenal natural wonder known as Fraser Island is so unique and extraordinary that it was inevitable UNESCO would name it a World Heritage Site. It is the largest sand island in the world, characterized by its soft, sloping sand dunes and sparkling fresh water lakes.

Travel blogs about Fraser Island:

not another spider!
mkagan
Bumpkins on Tour

Blue Mountains National Park

The spectacular Blue Mountains National Park features sandstone outcrops, glistening forests, winding rivers, several waterfalls, and the famous Three Sisters Rock Formation. The park has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its magnificent beauty, and is perfect for travelers who like to enjoy the great outdoors through hiking, trekking, camping, wildlife viewing, or guided tours.

Travel blogs about Blue Mountains National Park:

The Hallgrens
Kurt R.
Ryan & Sara
hornet

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This only scratches the surface of the World Heritage Sites found in Australia, so follow these useful links to find out more and plan your own adventure down under!

Resources:

Australia Travel Guide
World Heritage Sites in Australia
Blogs about Australia World Heritage Sites
Tasmania Travel Guide
Fraser Island Travel Guide
Blue Mountains National Park
Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock)
Australia Travel Deals

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