Page 541 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

SPECIALIST HOLID A Y S AND A C TIVITIES  539

Adventure Sports
Appropriate training is a
component of adventure sports
in Australia, so novices are
always welcome alongside
more expert adventurers.
Contact specialist tour opera-
tors or national associations
(see p541) for information about
anything from a one-day class
to a two-week tour.
Abseiling, canyoning, rock
climbing and caving are all Camel trekking along Cable Beach, Broome (see p334)
popular in Australia, which has Aboriginal Heritage Tours Camel Trekking
some fantastic natural land-
scapes ideally suited to these Aboriginal heritage tours can Camels have been an invaluable
pursuits. The Blue Mountains range from a visit to an form of transport in Australia’s
are something of a mecca for Aboriginal art gallery to days Outback since Afghan-run
enthusiasts of all the above. spent with an Aboriginal guide camel trains were used to carry
Naracoorte in South Australia touring Arnhem Land or goods across the Australian
(see p359) is a great location for Kakadu National Park in the desert from the 1840s until the
caving, while the Grampians Northern Territory (see pp280– coming of the railway. Joining a
National Park in Victoria (see 81). With the highest camel trek today is still an
p431) attracts a large share of percentage of Aboriginal land adventure, and activities range
abseilers and climbers. and people in the country, the from a one-hour jaunt to a two-
Northern Territory has the week trek. Food and accommo-
greatest number of activities, dation (usually camping) are
but there are sights and oper- provided by tour operators.
ators all over Australia. The Alice Springs (see pp286–7) is
focus of activities varies and the most popular starting
may encompass a number of point, but tours are available
themes, including traditional country-wide.
bush food, hunting, rock art
and Aboriginal culture. Aerial Tours
Perhaps the best aspect of
many of these tours is the Aerial Tours can provide an
chance to see the remarkable exhilarating overview of an
Australian landscape from a area and are a good option for
different perspective; Aboriginal time-restricted travellers who
spirituality is closely linked with want to see some of the more
the land. In addition, some far-flung attractions. Aerial
Climbing on Wilsons Promontory in Victoria tours will journey to Australia’s safaris, stopping at major
(see p448) most remote areas and travel sights, are popular in the
through Aboriginal lands that Outback. For charter flights to
Golf are usually closed to all but Australia’s furthest flung
There are more than 1,500 golf members of the local territory, a section of Antarctica,
courses in Australia and 1,580 Aboriginal communities. contact Croydon Travel.
golf clubs. Many clubs have
affiliations with clubs
overseas and offer reciprocal
membership rights, so check
with your own club. There are
also public municipal golf
courses in many towns.
Australian courses are of a
high standard, and Melbourne
is home to two of the top 30
courses in the world, the Royal
Melbourne and Kingston Heath.
A round of golf will cost
anything from A$20–$250.
The Australian Golf Union has
a handbook that lists all of the
golf courses in Australia. Seaplane moored at Rose Bay in Sydney, ready for a scenic flight