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Wollongong for the Absolute Beginners

New South Wales imposes itself as one of the most beautiful areas in the Southern Hemisphere. While this Australian state is well-known for Sydney and its famous sights, it can offer much more attractions to curious tourists. One of the most interesting destinations in NSW is definitely the town of Wollongong. Situated about 50 miles south of Sydney, this place is a real heaven on the Australian East Coast.

Coastal walks with scenic sights

Almost a part of the Sydney metropolitan area, Royal National Park is a great place to visit when you are driving from Sydney to Wollongong. Allegedly the oldest national park in the world, this place contains an incredible string of breath-taking beaches, amazing white cliffs, incredible walking paths and scenic views of the ocean.

A visit to Royal National Park should be pre-planned, so that you manage to book all the tickets and the guided tours you would like to take.

Jamberoo

The largest of its kind in New South Wales, Jamberoo Action Park is a perfect destination for a pleasant family trip. Visitors can go on more than a dozen of spectacular, adrenaline-pumping rides, or show their skills at a landscape golf course.

The high season here is from February to April and during some public holidays, so it would be smart to buy tickets online if you decide to visit it during this period.

Symbio

No matter if you are an urban guy living in Sydney or a tourist traveling around Australia, Symbio Wildlife Park will sweep you off your feet. Here you can have a close encounter with some authentic animals, such as red pandas and cotton-top tamarin monkeys, as well as Sumatran tigers.

In addition to this, the park offers different interactive learning experiences and even serves as a party venue, and you should not miss it when coming to Wollongong.

Car trip that soothes the soul

When you hit the Grand Pacific Drive, you will see why this part of Australia is so famous for its natural beauties. If you are coming from Sydney, first you will spot the amazing scenes of Royal National Park on your left. You will be driving through lush rainforests and picturesque villages before you see the spectacular construction of Sea Cliff Bridge.

Also, when getting back from Wollongong to Sydney, it would be wise to visit one of the local bottle shops to grab some specials from this region as a souvenir. Besides, if someone can drive you back to Sydney, you can also enjoy the spectacular view of this area while having a drink.

Craft beer treat

Also, you can try local beers if you spend the night in Wollongong and then drive back to Sydney. So, if you are not driving anywhere on the day of your visit and want to taste a quality craft beer, go and visit the Illawarra Brewery on the Wollongong beach. When paired with a clear view of the ocean and the fresh ocean breeze, Illawarra craft brews will show you Wollongong the way the local people see it.

Gourmet Heaven

As one of Australia’s most culturally diverse places, with over eighty different ethnic groups calling it home, Wollongong wows the palates of dinners as its highly esteemed food culture keeps on evolving, spoiling locals and visitors alike. People who take their food seriously will definitely satisfy their hunger in one of these eating establishments.

When you see Wollongong and its surroundings, you will realize that the traditional attractions tourists are usually offered Down Under have serious rivals in other parts of Australia. Only the drive from Sydney to Wollongong and farther, along the Grand Pacific Drive is spectacular enough, let alone all the other places along the way. Therefore, if you are planning to visit Sydney, rent a free car and come to Wollongong for a couple of days. Explore its brews, beaches and wildlife and enrich your Australian experience.

Roads Less Traveled: Hidden Gems of the U.S

It’s never been cheaper to go to the U.S! Increased airline competition on routes between Los Angeles and New Zealand has pushed fares down as low as a few hundred dollars return, compared to about $2,000 on average a few months ago. This winter is therefore the perfect time to experience a summer road trip in America! Here’s our selection of the perfect off-the-beaten-track road trips:

Oregon-California

The West Coast displays a myriad of interesting destinations. Since everybody knows everything about Frisco and the City of Angels, you should find out more about some other, less famous but equally interesting destinations. For instance, a route from Eureka, CA to Coos Bay, OR is still pretty much a cherished secret, offering a great chance to see some mystical scenery and witness lush oceanic landscapes.

Prairie Creek Redwoods

The drive itself can lasts for about 4 hours, but the time passes fast on this route. Your itinerary for this trip has to include a visit to Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, where a part of Jurassic Park 2 was shot. Once you reach southern Oregon, you can indulge yourself in sea activities, but there are also some beautiful mountain landscapes, like Elliot State Forest.

Round Colorado

Colorado still possesses the true spirit of America – the unharnessed wilderness and the genuine felling of self-reliance, reflected in hundreds miles of mountain pathways. Start the Colorado trip in Whitewater Park in Durango. Here you can go kayaking, as well as see some quite amazing animals. From Durango you should go west and enjoy hiking around Wolf Creek Pass. It is a great place for a hiking afternoon and a picnic for the entire family.

After resting your mind and soul, head north and visit Grand Dunes National Park. Among many other interesting things, here your kids can try sandboarding and sand sledding.

Midwest Minnesota-Michigan

A family can have a great experience on this long trip from Duluth, MN to the Michigan’s shores of the Great Lakes. The planned route is 550 miles long, so you should plan at least five or six days for this adventure. Duluth is the hometown of Bob Dylan, the greatest singer/songwriter of our time, which is why you should not miss to visit his boyhood home, as well as some other Duluth attractions. After that, you can set off for Michigan via Wisconsin.

You should plan your route to get to Upper Peninsula in Michigan, to reach Black River Scenic Byway. Here you can see seven breath-taking waterfalls and observe beautiful Lake Superior. Also, this is a perfect place to have a rest while enjoying some tasty wine specials, before falling asleep after an exciting day in nature. When you get some good sleep, hit another 200 miles and finish this trip in Hiawatha National Forest.

New Orleans-Florida

The last trip we suggest for this summer is about 400-mile long adventure from New Orleans to the west coast of Florida. If you take your family to New Orleans, make sure that they visit French Quarter – the old city center. Also, your kids will like the New Orleans ice-cream specialties called snowballs.

When passing through Mississippi, you should make a two-day stop to rent kayaks and visit the Horn Island and its beautiful beaches. Also, families could find boat visits to this island a more practical solution than going there in kayaks.

When you get to Florida, the end point of this trip could be Apalachicola, where you can rent an apartment for your family and enjoy a few days in mild ocean waves and a wonderful local cuisine.

Road trips around the US can last for a few days or a few months, depending on your budget and wanderlust. The routes suggested in this article can fit into an average ten-day family ride and a middle-class vacation budget, especially if you manage to score a free rental RV on Transfercar. Have a great trip!

Text Lillian Connors, Photos creative commons

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New Zealand Road Trip for Wine Aficionados

Wine itineraries published in the Northern Hemisphere usually present wine regions from the Mediterranean countries as the most exciting destinations for wine aficionados. True, France, Italy and Spain unquestionably have their charm, but what about New Zealand?? We reckon Aotearoa is one the best destinations in the world for wine lovers, with boutique vineyard experiences that are unmatched elsewhere. Grab a free rental car and go on an unforgettable wine road trip across New Zealand. Here are a couple of our favourite spots.

Otago

When starting your wine tour of New Zealand in the South, you can start in Christchurch or Queenstown and grab a free rental campervan. Before indulging in the wines of the world-famous Otago region, you should see some interesting attractions along the way, such as divine Lake Tekapo.

There are three incredible wineries worth a visit close to Queenstown. You could go round Chard Farm Winery and Mt Difficulty Winery in the same day. Our favourite view ever is from Rippon Vineyard in Wanaka. Otago is a region with a long winemaking tradition. Thanks to its specific, cooler climate, this region offers the best aromatic wines and pinot noirs.

Marlborough

Situated in the northern part of the South Island, Marlborough is we think the second most interesting wine region of the south. It will take you about eight hours to get from Queenstown to Blenheim, the heart of wine industry in Marlborough.

When it comes to wines in these regions, you should try sauvignon blanc or pinot at Cloudy Bay Winery. Also, go to Johanneshof Cellars, because this underground winery will enchant you with its incredible architecture, as well as their Gewürztraminer wine.

Martinborough

Martinborough is often overlooked, but it’s surprisingly close to Wellington, just over an hour’s drive. It is situated in the South Wairarapa district. The life in this region is based on two industries: wine production and agriculture. If you can schedule your NZ wine trip for November, you will witness one of the funkiest little wine festivals in the world – the Toast Martinborough Festival. It will give you an opportunity to taste all the major wines of this region in one place.

However, if you come here at any other time of the year, you have to try the pinot noir and chardonnay made in accordance with the tradition of Martinborough Vineyard. On the other hand, those who want a taste of Europe in the middle of New Zealand have to visit Schubert Wines Winery.

Hawke’s Bay

Once in Napier, You must go to Mission Estate Winery, which is one of the world famous wine-producing places in New Zealand. They have been producing wine for more than 150 years. It’s on the outskirts of Napier, so it will not be hard to find it.

We also recommend that you visit Clearview Estate Winery, situated on the ocean shore, about 20 km south of Napier. Taste their rich chardonnays and red wines, as well as some splendid meals they serve in their Red Shed Restaurant.

No matter where you go, visiting wineries in New Zealand is a truly a delightful experience; with a free rental car or campervan, you’ll have more money to spend at the vineyards!

Text Lillian Connors and Pascal Languillon
Photos Pascal Languillon and FlickR creative commons

Australian Road Trip Adventures: East or West?

Australia has vast empty spaces, beautiful landscapes and modern highways which represent a genuine treat to every road adventurer. There’s so much to discover, so where to start? In this article we tell you what you can expect if you make a trip along the West or East Coast.

The West Quest

Since most tourist itineraries dedicate more time and space to the East Coast, we are going to start on the other side of Australia. Although not as star-studded as the eastern part when it comes to famous sights, the West Coast is famous for its beautiful landscapes, vineyards with gentles slopes and incredible coral areas.

From Perth to Exmouth

The first of two trips along the West Coast we are going to present here starts in Perth. The final goal of this trip is Exmouth. The distance between these two towns is about 2,200 miles. It will take you about 10 days to get from Perth to Exmouth. Since you will be driving along the Indian Ocean, you can stop at many places to enjoy some breath-taking views of the ocean. The strip from Perth to Exmouth is also called the Australia’s Coral Coast and it is lined with wonderful beaches, rich with atolls and azure sea.

You should also visit Coral Bay, a village which is the best starting point to get to Ningaloo Reef. If you come to this attraction in the period between March and late June, you might get a chance to see whale sharks and even swim with those unique animals.

On the other hand, travellers who are not keen on sea adventures should pay a visit to the Kalbarri National Park. Here you can make a two-day stop and go trekking through this wild park. When you finally get to Exmouth, you can get back to Perth or maybe fly to the East Coast.

From Perth to the South

The other exciting road trip along the West Coast that we recommend is the route from Perth to Albany. This trip is perfect for wine lovers and surfers. As you leave Perth, the first attraction to visit is Bunbury. This vivid town with a large port offers a great number of beautiful restaurants with fresh seafood. Here you can see some wild dolphins, as well. Now that you have had some shrimps or calamari, you will be ready for some surfing when you get to Margaret River. This is probably the finest region in Australia for surfing enthusiasts. With about 90 miles of coastline, it gives enough options to every type of surfers.

After an exciting day on the waves, it is time for a wine night. The Margaret River Region is so famous for its wine that even the Guardian has made a special wine guide about this area. Of course, tasting wines demands a night stay in this region. Once you reach Albany, you can go back to Perth along the Albany Highway in less than four hours or choose to fly to another part of Australia.

Feast in the East

Although the Australian East Coast has more famous sights, it is less exciting in terms of road trips. Nevertheless, every road adventurer should try the route from Sydney to Brisbane.

From Sydney to Brisbane

The distance between Sydney and Brisbane is about 700 miles. The road that takes you there is the Pacific Highway, which should take about 10 hours’ drive. However, there will be some off-highway turns, so the whole trip could last longer. The first such turn should be made near Newcastle, where you should leave the highway and turn to the Hunter Valley. Since you will be leaving the main route for a couple of times, it would be wise to get a reliable GPS navigation. Since this is arguably the most attractive wine region in Australia, you should book a hotel room in advance and spend a couple of days tasting wines and enjoying the region.

Before you get back to the highway and continue your trip to Brisbane, make a stop in Newcastle. This is one of the most attractive artistic and cultural hubs of Australia. Brimming with modern boutiques, art galleries and artistic vibrations, Newcastle is a sort of Australian San Francisco and it is worth a visit.

As you keep heading northward, you could make a break in dreamy Port Stephens, where you can watch a dolphin and whale ocean show. As you keep getting closer to your goal, pay attention to Byron Bay, one of the most idyllic places in Australia, with its golden beaches and some great surf breaks. When you finally reach Brisbane, have a look around the town, visit these attractions and visit the divine Gold Coast on your way back to Sydney.

Australia is ready to offer you some great roads and places to visit for your road trip. Pack your things, buckle up and have a fantastic road trip Down Under.

AUTHOR: Lillian Connors is an avid traveler, often just letting her insatiable wanderlust take her to the places she never thought she visit. As a seasoned blogger within this niche, she regularly shares her insights with those infested with a travel bug. This aside, she enjoys losing herself in a good book and knocking back a couple of pints of quality pale ale.

Carpooling: a smart way to share the cost of your relocation

Getting a free rental car is great, isn’t it? However you’ll often have to pay for all or part of the fuel used to relocate the car, and on long journeys you may spend over $100… The smartest way to keep costs down is to share the trip with friendly passengers and split the fuel bill. A trip from Christchurch to Auckland could end up costing you only $25 if you take a free rental car and share the cost of fuel with fellow travellers. Carpooling is not very popular in New Zealand yet, however it is huge in Europe, and it can only grow here too…

Chariot is a brand new app that matches users, drivers and passengers, along the same route. Fares are calculated based on trip distance, mileage rate and fare zone. Trip distance is measured by Google Maps. The contribution is cashless, via the secure app. Users agree to a cost-sharing agreement upfront using the app.

“Our mission is to reduce the number of empty seats in cars, cut traffic congestion and carbon emissions by offering a platform for social ride sharing,” said Chariot’s CEO, Thomas Kiefer.

The app has literally just launched a few weeks ago so it can be a bit buggy and the number of rides offered is small for now, but this can only improve and grow in the near future.

CarpoolWorld is another good tool for New Zealand travellers with some long distance trips. You can find for instance drivers or passengers willing to go from Auckland to Queenstown, Christchurch to Wellington, etc. The website doesn’t look very sharp but the system works well.

Let’s Car Pool is a New Zealand government run website that allows those interested in carpooling to register and upload any trips they are taking, but this is mostly inter-city, in Auckland or Wellington for instance.

Let us know about your experience if you use any of these services with one of our free rental cars!