Travel alerts straight to your inbox:

Tag: Nature View All Tags

When An Aussie Archway Is No Longer An Archway

June 12, 2009 at 9:22 AM | 1 Comment

Anywhere else in the world, tourism boards would be totally stressed that nature had just destroyed part of a key tourist attraction. But along the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia, locals are just wandering how to rename their famous landmark to suit the new situation.

The problem is, a huge natural rock formation known as the Island Archway partially collapsed this week, thanks to the constant pounding of the ocean. The bridge section of the structure has fallen into the ocean and now the archway looks instead like two pillars.

It's not the first time nature has created havoc with the sights along the Great Ocean Road; as recently as 2005, one of the famous Twelve Apostles pillars tumbled into the sea. But it does kind of make you want to get Down Under ASAP before all the pretty things fall over.

Related Stories:
· Island Archway Near Loch Ard Gorge Loses Its Archway [Herald Sun]
· Walk the Great Ocean Road [Jaunted]

[Photo: kabl1992]

Tasmania's Almost Tallest Tree Discovery

October 10, 2008 at 9:00 AM | 0 Comments

Sometimes being second best is still an exciting thing: That's what they're thinking down in Tasmania where they've just discovered the world's second tallest tree.

The giant swamp gum tree measures 330 feet, making it quite a few feet smaller than the tallest tree found in California's Redwood National Park. But being second isn't harming the tourism potential of this tree with plans already taking shape.

Luckily the tree is close an already-existing tourist attraction, the Tahune AirWalk. The forestry people in Tassie are looking at erecting a boardwalk to get visitors close to the massive tree. And they're also hurriedly measuring the rest of forest to see if they can win the tallest tree award too.

Related Stories:
· World's Second Tallest Tree Found in Tasmania [news.com.au]
· Tasmania Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: sridgway]

Active Travel: National Trails Day

May 28, 2008 at 9:30 AM | 0 Comments

Instead of filling up the car for your next trip, spend that gas money on an expensive pair of hiking boots and head outside for National Trails Day on June 7.

Sponsored by The American Hiking Society, the day seeks to share the fun of hiking with newbies through gear demonstrations, workshops and educational exhibits. The group has put together an interactive map, so you can easily figure out what's going on near you. Just a quick look reveals new trails to explore, dedications and events and opportunities to volunteer to improve your favorite trail.

Even if you're not that into hiking, the day is sponsored by a bunch of outdoorsy companies, so you can probably score some free swag just for showing up!

Related Stories:
· National Trails Day [Official Site]
· Active Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Nicholas_T]

Volcano Travel: Beware the Vog

May 23, 2008 at 11:45 AM | 2 Comments

Visitors have been enjoying the show at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park since March, when a new vent exploded open in Halemaumau Crater at the summit of Kilauea. The volcano has sent a continuous flow of fluffy white gas into the sky, adding some excitement to the park's already impressive lava flows.

But Kilauea has also covered the Big Island in a haze of "vog"--volcanic fog--which is heavy in sulfur dioxide and has some island residents wheezing and worrying for their health. Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park has been among the voggiest areas, leading rangers to close parts of the park nearest the summit, and even temporarily shutter the entire park in April.

The Big Island Visitors Bureau launched a press push this week to bring visitors back to the park, noting that the trade winds returned last Friday, pushing the vog out to sea and creating clearer viewing opportunities.

If you'd rather check the vog from a distance, the NPS has set up a webcam on the volcano.

Related Stories:
· Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park [Official Site]
· Losing Your Cool in Hawaii [Jaunted]
· National Parks coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: bobster1985]

National Park Travel: Maine's Acadia Reopens

April 14, 2008 at 3:05 PM | 1 Comment

Hibernation time is over! Maine's Acadia National Park reopens its central Park Loop Road tomorrow for the official season. The road, built by philanthropist John D. Rockefeller, Jr. as a set of carriage trails criss-crossing the preserve, takes visitors throughout the park, which is located primarily on Mount Desert Island.

The only national park in New England is heavily traveled during the summer months but it's a great place to hike in spring, before the hordes arrive. Use of a camp site is just ten dollars a night.

Need some gear and driving up? Swing by the 24-hour L.L. Bean store in Freeport.

Related Stories:
· Acadia National Park [Official Site]
· National Parks coverage [Jaunted]
· Spring Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: dbking]

Spring on the Other Side of the East Sea

April 1, 2008 at 10:49 AM | 1 Comment

Japan's sakura are widely lauded as the most beautiful spring blossoms in the world--except, of course, in South Korea. On the other side of the East Sea--or as your map probably calls it, the Sea of Japan--Koreans are proud of their own cherry trees, and have several festivals celebrating the arrival of the blooming season.

One of the most famous is the Gunhang Festival in Jinhae, on Korea's southern shore. This small port city about 40 miles away from Busan hosts this event annually, starting on Wednesday this year. The festivities not only celebrate the scenery but also commemorate Admiral Yi Sun-shin, who is famous for his victories against the Japanese navy during several invasion attempts in the late 1500s. Ahhh, nothing like the smell of flowers to remind you of bitter history!

In Seoul, the best place to see those pink petals floating on the wind is in Yeouido, on Yunjungno Road. Every year traffic is closed along a several mile stretch so locals and tourists can ogle the natural beauty without being run over. Don't let the daytime crowds deter you--during the festival the city keeps this street brightly illuminated well into the night.

Related Stories:
· City of Jinhae [Official Site]
· Yeouido Flower Festival [Tour2Korea]
· South Korea Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: stewils]

Illawarra's New Tree Top Walk + Meat Pie

March 14, 2008 at 9:20 AM | 0 Comments

Another reason to head Down Under is added to the list tomorrow, March 15, when the Illawarra Fly Treetop Walk opens. Located two hours south of Sydney, it's another eco-friendly tourist attraction that lets us commune with nature and snap a ton of beautiful photos at the same time.

Similar to the Western Australian tree top walk, the Illawarra Fly is a set of steel suspension bridges at the canopy level of the rainforest. Most of the walk is around 30 meters above the ground, and you can get half that far up again by climbing the Knights Tower, the ultimate viewing point.

The Illawarra Fly will be open every day from nine to five. It's not that cheap, at A$19 (nearly US$18) per adult, and you'll need to factor in another purchase: the driving directions mention that the turn-off for the Fly is opposite the Robertson Pie Shop, and you shouldn't pass up a chance to eat an Aussie pie.

Related Stories:
· Tom's Thumbs-Up For Fly [Mercury]
· Illawarra Fly Treetop Walk [Official Site]
· Walking on Top of Trees [Jaunted]

[Photo: doublebug]

Blossom Gazing and Sake Drinking Delayed

March 13, 2008 at 9:15 AM | 2 Comments

The unpredictable blooming of cherry blossom trees must be a real source of frustration for the punctual, orderly Japanese. Last year, the blossoms arrived early; this year, the prediction is they'll bloom ten days later than normal.

That means that Tokyo should have cherry blossoms by March 26, Osaka by March 30, and the mountains of Nagano as late as April 16. One of the really beautiful spots to experience hanamizake--drinking sake while looking at cherry blossoms--is in Kyoto, which should have its first blooms by March 29.

If you can get your timing right, this really is a magnificent time of year to check out Japan, and you only need to learn one word of Japanese: kirei. It means "beautiful," and we promise you'll hear it from one end of Japan to the other when the cherry blossom flowers finally arrive.

Related Stories:
· Watch and Weep [SMH]
· Japanese Cherry Blossoms Abuse Schedule [Jaunted]
· Embedded Travel Guide: Osaka [Jaunted]

[Photo: skyseeker]

Leaving The Beach? Remember Your LEGOs

August 10, 2007 at 3:00 PM | 0 Comments


We know you savvy travelers. You would never dump your six-pack rings or your dirty napkins out on the beach. But how about picking up your toys? After a larger-than-life LEGO man was fished out of the sea in a Dutch resort town, it occurred to us that maybe some people need to be reminded not to leave 8-foot pieces of debris in their wake.

If you're planning to spend vacation time along a beach, a lake or a river, practice minimal impact camping by sticking to established trails, scattering or packing your ashes if you make a fire and choosing biodegradable soap over the ol' soap on a rope. Check your camping skills against this list of minimum-impact tricks. And please, while you're out at the beach this weekend, pick up your LEGOs when you're done playing with them.

Related Stories:
· Green Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Reuters]

Hit the Surf in the Desert

April 9, 2007 at 11:45 AM | 0 Comments


Head a few hours east of the Western Australian city of Perth (already vying for the title of the world's most isolated city) and you'll be in the dry outback (be careful!). But don't forget your surfboard for a photo op at Wave Rock.

A few miles east of the small town of Hyden, Wave Rock is a 2700 million year old massive rock formation that really looks like a piece of surf about to crash on a beach. It might be a little way off the world tourist radar, but it did get a mention in the New York Times yesterday in a piece about a Rubin Museum exhibition, and it's worth visiting. Apart from strolling along the bottom of the wave, you can climb about on top, do various bush walks in the area, and watch as other tourists pose as world champion surfers.

[Photo: jonathanvlarocca]

Related Stories:
· Travels Abroad Lead to Journeys Within [NY Times]
· Won't Get Fooled Again? [Jaunted]

Sleeping With Sloths in Costa Rica

March 29, 2007 at 2:30 PM | 1 Comment



Aviarios del Caribe is a nature preserve and wildlife sanctuary near Limon, Costa Rica. What makes the property so special is the fact that it specializes in sloths (not to be confused with lazy backpackers). The Buttercup Center is dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of sloths. The Center offers day tours, but to really ensconce yourself in the wonders of slothdom, you'll want to stay overnight.

The on-site lodge is a steal at $65 (+ tax) per night, including breakfast and a Sloth Rescue Center Tour. It's convenient to Cahuita and Puerto Viejo, as well as all the sloths and river otters your heart can handle. We could all learn a lesson from the little guy above. When climbing up the metaphorical cardboard box of life gets tough, simply yawn and pass out.

Related Stories:
· Aviarios del Caribe [Official Site]
· Aviarios del Caribe Lodge reviews [TripAdvisor]

Cuddly Critters at Caversham

March 27, 2007 at 9:39 AM | 1 Comment


You can't leave Australia without feeding a kangaroo or patting a koala, can you? Okay, perhaps some people do, but they just don't know what they're missing. Don't be like them: if you're on the west coast of Oz try the Caversham Wildlife Park just outside Perth. Although it's basically a zoo, it's set in a bush area that's hot and dry--very authentic, but not always that comfortable for visitors.

But no worries, mate. Caversham takes you beyond the simple kangaroo and koala experience. Our personal fave is holding a wombat on your lap: these furry round guys can weigh over 50 pounds, and the trainer will firmly tell you that it's all muscle! There are also Tasmanian devils (who you don't wanna touch, trust us) and a whole host of minor celebrities in terms of Aussie wildlife--possums, kookaburras, even quokkas. Don't know what the hell they are? Time to visit an Aussie wildlife park then.

Related Stories:
· Caversham Wildlife Park website [Official Site]
· Taronga Zoo Excursion [Jaunted]