AUSTRALIA'S big cities and
Queensland's main beaches are the most popular destinations for those
holidaying in their own back yard this Easter, travel agents say.
The top five destinations for Australians over the four-day
"weekend'' are the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne and
over to New Zealand, according to
Flight Centre.
Meanwhile,
Travel.com.au
says this year Sydney is the most popular Easter destination, followed
by Brisbane, Adelaide and Melbourne. Adelaide beat Melbourne as an
Easter destination for the first time in several years, it says.
Domestic
flights have accounted for 51 per cent of all flights booked through
Travel.com.au for travel during the lead up to the Easter break (April
5-7), it says.
Quick domestic getaways continue to remain popular during this time of year, Travel.com.au general manager Renee Welsh says.
"Despite
the recent trend of Aussies jetting abroad, over Easter we consistently
see Aussie travellers looking to their homeland for a holiday break.''
Online experience booking company,
GoDo.com.au, says for the people in Sydney over the break, Blue Mountains and Sydney Harbour experiences have proven extremely popular.
In
Melbourne, a dinner River Cruise along the Yarra River has been a hit,
while Gold Coast visitors have locked in trips to the Currumbin Wildlife
Sanctuary and the Reef Ryder Island Cruise.
Currumbin Sanctuary's Linda Thomas introduces a four-month-old puggle (baby echidna). Picture: Tim Marsden
Source: The Courier-Mail
LAST MINUTE EASTER FAMILY ACTIVITIES AND HOLIDAYS
Here are some suggestions for a last minute Easter getaway that won't break the bank:
CAMPING BEYOND MELBOURNE, VIC
Victorian
Caravan Parks Association says there are still vacancies for Easter at
many caravan and holiday parks throughout Victoria. Big4 parks in Port
Fairy, Phillip Island, Badger Creek and Inverloch, for instance, all
have cabins still available. For a list parks with Easter availability
see:
www.vicparks.com.au
SHOW BAGS, RIDES AND FAIRY FLOSS, NSW
The
Sydney Royal Easter Show, held from April 5 to 18, is an annual
extravaganza of show bags, adrenalin pumping rides, animals on show,
displays of farm produce, live music and food and wine. It takes place
at Sydney Olympic Park and starts early in the morning and ends each
evening with a fireworks display. See:
www.eastershow.com.au
EASTER BUNNY IN BENDIGO, VIC
The
Bendigo Easter Festival has been in existence since 1870, and is the
oldest community festival in Australia that occurs every Easter, this
year (April 6-8). The festival includes a giant Easter egg hunt, plenty
of entertainment for kids and opera under the stars for grown ups. While
in Bendigo, the Grace Kelly exhibition is on at Bendigo Art Gallery
(until June 17).
Bendigo's Chinese dragon and lions are a feature of the city's annual Easter festival. Picture: Supplied
Source: Supplied
FALL ASLEEP IN A FORMER CHURCH, QLD
If
you're looking to get closer to God this Easter without attending a
religious sermon, then head to one of these former convents, churches
and cathedrals now operating as guesthouses, B&Bs and eateries
throughout Queensland:
- In
Warwick you can rest
your head on a pillow at Abbey Of The Roses - a heritage-listed
ex-convent. Built in 1891, this guest house has metal-pressed ceilings,
antique furniture and stained glass. Stay in a Nun Cell or the Mother
Superior room. See:
www.abbeyoftheroses.com
- The Church at Hillview Cottages, located on the outskirts of
Kingaroy,
celebrates its 100th birthday this year. The property features a four
poster-bed with lace canopy, wood fireplace and a double spa bath. See:
www.hillviewcottages.com.au
-
Spend the night under the high-gabled roof of a traditional Queensland
country church. The Chapel at Prendergasts Vineyard Retreat, just two
and a half hours from Brisbane in
Moffatdale, features a private bedroom and ensuite decorated in traditional period furnishings. See:
www.prendergasts.com.au
- Perched close to heaven, high in the
Gold Coast hinterland, the Old Saint Johns Church at Beechmont on the Scenic Rim offers self-contained accommodation. See:
www.cloudsonbeechmont.com.au
- The Old Church B&B is a character-filled historic church in the little village of
Milford,
just five minutes from Boonah. It was built by locals in the 1870s and
features vaulted ceilings, church pews, pulpit and fireplace. See:
www.oldchurchbnb.com.au
At The Chapel at Prendergasts
Vineyard Retreat, visitors spend the night in a traditional country
church. Picture: prendergasts.com.au
