Go Ghoulish Down Under

Points we know about Australia are: it is the smallest continent, it lies between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific, it was a British colony, it holds the Great Barrier reef off its north eastern coast, it is full of Australians. We also know about the Sydney Opera House, Bondi Beach, Aboriginal art, kangaroos, countless other golden sandy beaches along the Goldcoast, sunshine, sheep, eucalyptus trees and miles and miles of absolutely nothing. What we might not know too much about is the history of this relatively young country.

Every country has its fair share of skeletons in cupboards, and Australia is no exception. Among the many unique attractions offered to tourists this year, some are quite bizarre, such as eerie tours, spooky tours, tours that make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. It is a similar concept to London’s Jack the Ripper tours, which glean considerable interest from tourists keen on following in the shadowy footsteps of this notorious and horrendous murderer. Walking tours through London’s ancient back streets delving into this character’s past have been running for years. The Australians are no longer over-sensitive about trying to hide their dodgy past for they are offering tourists a chance to visit the places where the convicts that first settled in Australia – lived.

The seemingly tranquil house in Port Arthur, Tasmania, used to house the convicts after their arrival in the colony in the 1830s.  Nowadays this grim penal colony is Tasmania's most visited historic site and a far cry from the days when “slavering, half-starved killer dogs guarded the route and sharks patrolled the seas. The most common way of leaving Port Arthur was by dying,” quotes the tourist board. On this ghost tour you will pass the more than 1,700 graves that fill the tiny Isle of the Dead guarding the entrance, get to see the lunatic asylum, an underground dissecting room (no longer in use of course) where doctors would do a little research on the lucky dead, and more.

Over to the west is the Old Fremantle Prison, built from local limestone and timbers by convicts between 1851 and 1855, where rattling chains and eerie and moaning of its former inmates are vividly re-created on candlelight tours. It was used as a maximum security prison until 1991. The Fremantle Lunatic Asylum was the first for insane convicts and is a particularly haunted building. Now it is, rather incongruously, the Fremantle Arts Centre and History Museum.

And down in Sydney Harbour, the Old Quarantine Station holds some haunting memories for immigrants from diseased ships were once confined here. All of these may be fabulous for spine chiller aficionados, but if some of your party are squeamish, you can always – SHOP! Sydney offers good shopping in the Pitt Street Mall, the pedestrian plaza between King and Market streets in central Sydney. Nearby are malls including the Mid-City Centre and Skygarden - famous names in haute couture and accessories can be found here. Double Bay is where designer labels will be found, and Castlereagh Street near King and The Queen Victoria Building arcade has are well worth browsing in.…..

ISLANDS IN THE SUN
However, if you prefer to avoid the madding crowds, Australia has a huge selection of islands shimmering enticingly to you from the blue waters off the coast of northern Queensland. There are names like Bedarra, Orpheus, Fitzroy, Dunk, Green and Magnetic islands, each holding their own unique attractions. For a top-notch exclusive island with luxury accommodation, service and privacy to boot there’s Hayman Island in the deep blue sea of the Great Barrier Reef. It is Australia's most celebrated private island destination, where peace, serenity and comfort prevails. Adventures associated with the sea are available in the waters lapping the island, or private and scheduled tours to nearby beaches and other fabulous reef locations can be arranged. All rooms, suites, penthouses and a villa feature private terraces or balconies. The resort’s privacy policies are of paramount importance, and many a famous person has stayed there without anyone else knowing about it.

Dinner in La Fontaine, one of several restaurants at Hayman, is served in elegant, formal style, yet the atmosphere is relaxed due to the surrounding soft and rich Louis XVI furnishings and romantic lighting. Waterford crystal chandeliers and the magnificent central limestone fountain lend a hand in creating a grand occasion. It’s modern European cuisine – and another plus is that the wine cellar stocks over 750 vintages from the world's finest vineyards. http://www.hayman.com.au/

Lizard Island, named after one of its native inhabitants the Monitor lizard is right on the Great Barrier Reef, and boasts 24 unspoiled palm fringed powdery white beaches and an abundance of marine life. The island is renowned for its diving, and has accessibility to the world famous 'Cod Hole' diving site. If you are a certified diver companies such as Taka Dive Adventures can take you there – provided you have a sense of adventure. At Cod Hole you may get the chance to feed a family of giant Potato Cod and dive in the magnificent Ribbon Reefs. The exciting shark feed at Osprey Reef is a fantastic memory for any diver. Lizard Island itself offers a number of outstanding coral gardens and many spectacular underwater attractions including more than 400 kinds of coral, over 1500 species of fish as well and giant clams over 120 years old. There is only one resort here, and it is a premium one too – known as Voyages Lizard Island, it caters for a maximum of 80 guests. Snorkelling, diving, leisurely exploring by motorised dinghy, catamarans, paddle skis and glass bottom boat trips plus walking trails are fabulous diversions.

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