As far as Northern Ireland goes, there is so much to see beyond the city limits of its Belfast capital. The second largest city in Ireland, Derry (or Londonderry, as it’s also known) is spread across both sides of the River Foyle and its position lends itself to being an excellent base for exploring the country (including nearby County Antrim) as well as the Republic of Ireland – namely Donegal and Inishowen. A city steeped in history as well as modern amenities, Derry is a quintessentially Irish town that is well worth a visit.

Staying in Derry can be an affordable prospect – you can find a hotel in Derry that is well within a reasonable budget, and places you in the heart of the city ready to explore.

In 2010, Derry was shortlisted for the prominent accolade of City of Culture 2013 and is proud to be the inaugural holder of the award next year. It’s easy to see why the city achieved the honour as well, as it provides a myriad of cultural offerings to its visitors.

The Workhouse Museum is a museum over two floors, which offers insight into workhouse life during the 19^th century and is also home to the Atlantic Memorial exhibition which covers Derry’s activity during the Battle of the Atlantic in World War 2.

The Tower Museum that opened in 1992 is home to two permanent exhibitions as well as visiting exhibitions throughout the year. The ‘Story of Derry’ does exactly what it says on the tin, and you can also enjoy the ‘An Armada Shipwreck’ exhibition that holds artefacts found in Kinnagoe Bay, back in the 70s, that belonged to a 16^th century shipwreck.

If you’re interested in local history, be sure to pay your respects to the Bloody Sunday Memorial in Glenfada Park that pays tribute to those who lost their lives during the plight of Bloody Sunday in 1972. There is also some archive space and an exhibition for you to peruse directly opposite the plinth.

A hankering for a spot of retail therapy can be satiated with the handful of shopping centres in the area, including Foyleside, Lisnagelvin and Quayside, whilst there are also a huge number of independent stores and shops, catering for any requirement, strewn across this vibrant city.

For a meal out, La Sosta provides some fine Italian cuisine, whilst if a gastropub is what you’re after, look no further than Badger’s Place for some top quality hearty grub. There are also plenty of traditional Irish establishments that are nestled on the banks of the River Foyle for you to sample if something a little more rustic is what you’re looking for.

Venture out of the city and head for the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. With Derry being in close proximity to the borders, you can appreciate the natural beauty of Donegal during your trip. The Glenveagh National Park is simply breathtaking and just north of Derry; you can find the Inishowen Peninsula which offers a 100-mile scenic drive that comes highly recommended.

Book your hotel in Derry today and look forward to exploring another corner of Northern Ireland.

Where are the Yea Wetlands?

The Yea Wetlands are located just north of the Yea Township on the Gouburn-Valley Hwy. It’s still within the 60kmph zone and just after you cross the Yea River bridge, so you really can’t miss it. It’s a terrific spot for a picnic lunch or a stop over, to break your trip if you are heading further north, or returning to Melbourne.

The Yea Wetlands constitutes 32ha of crown land between two branches of the Yea River. The Yea Wetlands is cared for by a committee of management and some very proud and enthusiastic community members who have attracted funding to create beautiful improvements that deliver ecological, social and economic benefits to the environment and community.

You can find in the wetlands of Yea, the fossils of some of the earliest known land plants in the world, dating back 400 million years ago! Also keep an eye out for the sacred Kingfisher as you meander along the beautiful boardwalks.

The Yea Wetlands is a must see for visitors planning a trip to Yea. Here’s some snaps we took whilst taking a break at nearby Wood Duck Cottage.

Map

TravelTipsPlus Google Map of Yea

One Great Reason to Visit The Yea Wetlands

One great reason to visit this travel destination is for the ease of access to an abundance of bird life and a range of frog species.

For More Information

• Official Yea Wetlands Website
• Yea on Wikipedia

Where is Jamieson?

Jamieson is a small country town in rural Victoria with a population not more than 250 making it a perfect destination for our summer vacation and digital-detox! Located in the High Country, it’s beautifully situated on the Jamieson River where it meets the Goulburn River which flows into Lake Eildon.

There are plenty of remnants of it’s past dotted around the town and I took great pleasure in leaving my camp site to take early morning walks by the river and around the town.

Map

TravelTipsPlus Google Map of Jamieson

One Great Reason to Visit Jamieson

One great reason to visit this travel destination is to enjoy the peace and quiet by the Jamieson River and if you score some warm weather, grab a tube and float downstream from Brewery Bridge to Finns Bridge.

For More Information

• Wikipedia
• Jamieson Historical Society

New Zealand is home to some of the most spectacular scenery in the world, as a large portion of the global population is now aware thanks to the success of Peter Jackson’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy (which was of course largely filmed in New Zealand). The towering and picturesque mountains in New Zealand are also the perfect setting for many adventure sports. It is perhaps unsurprising then that many aboard the flights to New Zealand provided by operators like DialAFlight have some outdoor activities in mind. The opportunities for more traditional leisure options like walking and biking are pretty much matched in number by the more extreme activities like bungee jumping and heliskiing. Here we take a brief look at some of the possibilities for exercise and adrenalin awaiting those onboard flights to New Zealand.

New Zealand is the home of commercial bungy jumping, a craze that was invented by a group of Oxford University students in 1979, but popularised by the Kiwi A. J. Hackett, kicked off the craze with a jump off the Eiffel Tower in 1987, which he used to demonstrate his newly developed bungy (sometimes spelled bungee) cord. Many arriving on flights to New Zealand still take their maiden jump at the first bungy site Hackett set up, which is located at the Kawarau Bridge in Queenstown. There are now also additional bungy sites throughout New Zealand, including at Auckland Bridge. Bungee jumpers from the Kawarau Bridge often experience a dip in the water when the cord is at full extension, and for those with a fear of heights that are nonetheless thrill seekers, many of the rivers carving deep through gorges in New Zealand present ideal conditions for white water canoeing and rafting. Indeed, New Zealand is widely recognised as being home to some of the finest white water rapids in the world. Both the Perth and Whataroa Rivers feature class IV and V rapids, which require the skills of an experienced canoeists if taking to the water in a kayak, but are ideal for the more stable and less dangerous activity of group white water rafting.

New Zealand is home to a number of large glaciers. As well as historically being responsible for the formation of much of the spectacular mountain country in New Zealand, the modern day glaciers now offer experienced hikers, skiers, and snowboarders the chance for some breathtaking walks and descents, thanks to the access afforded to the summits by heli-hiking and heliskiing. The most popular glaciers for these pastimes are on the South Island, and include the Franz Joseph, Fox, Hooker, Tasman and Volta Glaciers.

There are also many National Parks on both the North and South islands that offer less challenging but equally beautiful terrain in which to stretch your legs. Known locally as ‘tramping’, the less experienced walker is nonetheless advised to seek out guided walks to keep things safe when exploring the bush, which is after all basically a wilderness area.