Come along for a free-wheelin' bike tour of New Orleans

New Orleans is a city perfectly suited to bicycle touring. It's flat with quiet street route options and affords the visitor an intimate and comfortable experience.

Of course, you can hire your own and do your own thing, but we tagged along for one of the guided tours from The American Bicycle Rental Company centrally located at 325 Burgundy Street.

Our guide, Jonathan, took us on a relaxed cycle through the back streets and neighbourhoods, pointing out significant buildings and sites along the way with fun, informed commentary. The bikes are classic cruiser cycles, comfortable and easy to ride for the three hours we were in the saddle, covering about 15kms.

We toured on a Sunday, so traffic was quiet and we enjoyed waving to families relaxing in their yards and would recommend this to anyone contemplating the same. The popular advice is not Fridays as the roads are busy.

We stop often for interpretive stories at significant sites

The heritage-listed Dufour-Baldwin House is just
one of many superb historic houses along the route.

The spooky Catholic cemetery, where the deceased cannot be buried below ground

Centuries-old oak trees in city park.

Jonathan leads the group through scenic back streets like this one.

Book a bike tour now

Contact: The American Bicycle Rental Company

325 Burgundy Street

New Orleans, LA 70112

Phone: 504-324-8257

MAP

Queensland's Gold Coast - a special place in the hearts of Australian travellers.

THE HEART OF THE GOLD COAST

Words and photos by Dallas Sherringham / www.wtfmedia.com.au

Australia's Gold Coast holds a special place in the hearts of Australian travellers.

For many families it was their first experience of an exotic destination and two weeks in a "flat" at Kirra, Coolangatta or Broadbeach was like travelling to the moon.

As a young boy living in outback NSW, I ticked off the months until they turned to weeks and then days until the big day finally arrived. We were off to Queensland on a two day journey in the two tone 1958 Holden.

To give you an idea how primitive it was, we took our Pye TV with us because you had to hire one on the coast - they weren't provided. As a wide eyed youngster in 1963, the Gold Coast was as close to America as I was ever likely to get. There were streets named First Avenue and there high rise apartments with names like Shangrila and Waikiki;  beaches had exotic names like Miami and Surfers Paradise.

Every major beach at a live show beside the surf club each morning with hundreds of visitors taking part. The Currumbin Bird Sanctuary was THE main attraction followed by Gilltrap's Auto Museum. The Water Ski Gardens on the Nerang River would eventually morph into Sea World.

To get to Surfers Paradise, you drove out across the flat from Burleigh Heads on a skinny road through the sand. From the back seat I gazed in amazement at the wonders unfolding before me.

Surfers had a few high rises and the famous hotel beside Cavill Avenue was right at the centre of the action even in those days. However the glitzy Chevron across the street was the Mecca of the well healed traveller.

Beautiful bikini clad girls in gold wandered the streets putting sparkling silver five penny coins in the parking metres. An amazing side trip was a  drive around the Isle of Capri and Chevron Island, two man-made wonders where you could actually buy a home overlooking a canal.

I recently made another trip to the Gold Coast. I have been their many times as a father with five kids and later as a mature traveller. Through the years I noticed my Gold Coast quickly turned into a major city with four world class theme parks, fine dining opportunities, sophisticated night life and even a casino with a monorail.

Now the Gold Coast is set to gain a new boost of world-wide acclaim thanks to the Commonwealth Games being held there in 2018. The city is currently gearing up for the biggest influx of visitors ever.

I found that the coast still has the simpler lifestyle of my boyhood available if you go looking for it.

You can still sit on the rocks at Burleigh and watch the surfers swoosh and fly on white foamy monsters. The power and majesty of the warm blue ocean is still the major attraction on the coast.

You can still feed the birds at Currumbin and watch the water skiers at Sea World and the island real estate developments now stretch on forever. You can still buy a feed on king prawns and enjoy them on the sand overlooking South Stradbroke Island.

Meter Maids still save the tardy visitor with deposits of gold. People are friendlier on the Gold Coast than they are in the Big Smoke down south. I was taken aback by a coffee shop staff that made me feel like a long lost friend. The theme continued at Nobby's Surf Club with it superb views and a fine restaurant serving barramundi and wedges.

And you can still sit on the balcony of your high rise apartment and watch the tapestry of life unfold before you.

However the Pacific Fair shopping centre, once famous for being an "outdoor" shopping centre is now a huge mall with stunning architecture. It is a "must see" on any coast visit.

The easiest way to get there is to "ride the G". For the uninitiated, the G is the new light rail system that links all the major points between Pacific Fair and Southport. It costs $10 for a day pass and you can easily ride from, downtown Surfers to Pacific Fair.

I think it will be amazing when it links all the way to the Gold Coast Airport and downtown Coolangatta. Traffic has become a major problem on the coast, but the G promises to ease the congestion in its ultimate format.

I enjoyed my short stay on the coast. I know some Australians have abandoned it for cheaper holidays in Asia, but the Gold Coast can still be a relaxing holiday if you want it to be. There are still nostalgic treasures to be found amongst the modern facade of a world class city.

You see, the forever sea still draws thousands from around the world to enjoy its pleasures and the sun still smiles down every day. And so may it ever be.

Feature supplied by WTF Media: www.wtfmedia.com.au/



CAPTIONS:

Surfers Meter Maids always the centre of attention

Cavill Avenue is still at the heart of the Gold Coast

Counting down the days to the 2018 Commonwealth Games

Watching the waves at Burleigh Heads

The new 'G' light rail leaves Pacific Fair

Surfers Paradise introduced canal living into Australia

Struth! bizarre tests for China's glass deck bridge

IN his continuing search for the more weird and wondrous in this world, David Ellis says that in one of the more bizarre acts of confidence, builders of a bridge in China that has a glass decking so users will have the feeling of walking in space, are going to have volunteers try their hardest to actually shatter that bridge's see-through decking before it officially opens in July.

On the 25th of this month, with scores of TV crews and newspaper journalist watching-on, the volunteers will be given hammers to try to break panels of the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge, and when that hopefully fails, twenty of them will jump up and down on the hammered glass panels – and finally a car laden with passengers will be driven onto it.

The bridge designer, Israeli architect Haim Dotan say that all this will prove just how strong is the glass on the 430m (1,400ft) long bridge, and while an upper layer may possibly crack, the layers below will not (because if they do, those undertaking the tests know they will have a horrible 300m fall to the river below.)

The Zhangjiajie bridge will be the longest and highest glass-deck bridge in China when it opens next month 60km south-west of Zhangji in Hunan Provence, and according to Mr Dotan will be strong enough to carry 800 users at a time.

Those who suffer acrophobia (fear of heights,) are advised to give it a wide berth.



[] CHINA'S longest and highest glass deck bridge during its early construction phase; bizarre tests on June 25 will prove just how strong the glass floor panels really are.   (Haim Dotan Architects.)

Struth! World's Longest Bridge with world's fastest trains

China Says Now This Is A Bridge


IN his continuing search for the more weird, wacky and wondrous in this world, David Ellis says that when it comes to bridges, China's got the rest of the planet beaten by a country mile for having the longest one in the world.

Because it's Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge between the cities of those two names, stretches an incredible 164km, or 102 miles, and took 10,000 workers four years to build using some 450,000 tonnes of steel and 1,800,000 cubic metres of concrete.

On average 31m (100 feet) over lowland farms and rice paddies, canals, rivers and lakes, and winding its way around cities and towns along the way, the bridge was built as part of the 1,300km (811 miles) Beijing-Shanghai High Speed Railway.

And while it was completed in 2010, a whole year was taken testing it with train after train running its whole length over and again to ensure its stability, and with the first official passengers going aboard on June 11 2011.

The Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge cost the equivalent of AU$11.5b to build, with a mix of thirty-three high-speed and express trains now using it at any one time daily, and offering Second Class, more spacious First Class and luxury Business Class options.

And the fastest trains have only one stop along the 164km journey, helping trains on the Beijing-Shanghai High Speed Railway do that 1,300km trip in just 4-hours-48-minutes at speeds of up to 300km an hour.

                                                         ………………

PHOTO CAPTION:

[] A BRIDGE too far – just a tiny part of China's 164km long Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge, the longest in the world. (Beijing-Shanghai High Speed Railway)

Queensland: Bewitching Mt Tamborine

 by Helen Flanagan

World-heritage rainforests, glow worm caves and soft adventure plus cool mountain-top villages with galleries, wineries, cheesemakers and snug cottages are dotted around Mt Tamborine.

Heart-pumping theme parks, high-rise, glitz and no glamour are considered by many to be the quintessence of the Gold Coast.  Maybe true near the Glitter Strip but 30 minutes away, west of the steel and glass towers there's a quiet, more refined aspect.

Head to the hinterland hills where the ancient volcanic ridges, national park wilderness, world heritage rainforests, and the mountain-top villages of Mt Tamborine are a breath of fresh air - literally.

The main street is jam-packed with galleries, art and craft shops, cafes, a brewery, wine centre and temptations such as fudge and hand-crafted cheese. Get a bird's eye view of the lush rainforest on the Tamborine Rainforest Walk, which soars 30 metres above the valley, has spectacular views and the gradual descent gives way to rock pools and waterfalls.

Try chocolate liqueur, Moulin Roos absinthe and lemon myrtle leaf vodka at the internationally-awarded Tamborine Mountain Distillery, one of only a handful of privately-owned distilleries in Australia. Michael and Alla Ward use a traditional pot-still and local fruit to produce a range of liqueurs, schnapps and spirits in hand-painted bottles.

Stop for a coffee at the Mount Tamborine Coffee Plantation and Gallery Café run by Kees and Maria van Rijssen who recognise the value of the super-rich soil, as does Meredith Morris, owner of Witches Chase Cheese Company, who sources all her milk from a herd of local jersey cows. A must-stop is Witches Falls Winery cellar door where winemaker Abbey Nicholas could tempt you with a tipple of pinot noir.

Nearby in North Tamborine, abutting Queensland's oldest national park, nestled among scented secluded gardens, towering rose gums and bird-watcher's paradise is Witches Falls Cottages. Meeting convivial hosts Daniela and David and deciding on breakfast and dinner options, before opening the door of your home-away-from-home, a stone-gabled cottage with a bull-nose verandah, you quickly realise this getaway will be everything you've dreamed about and more.

Charming throughout, there are timber floors on split levels, a private courtyard garden with barbeque, a fireplace for chilly winters, aircon for summer and the romantic double spa bath is surrounded by full glass walls and roof. Sipping bubbly and star gazing is recommended!

Accoutrements such as chocolates and liqueur are a fitting finale to the delectable dinner prepared at your leisure from the supplied basket of first quality produce. Ditto the oven-fresh home-made bread delivered to your door the next morning.

Celebrating? Why not take it up a notch with a Ripple massage for two. A professional massage therapist arrives at your door, ready to turn the living room into a relaxing spa then promptly send you on a heavenly pampering path.  Options include Russian deep tissue to unlock knots; rich Honey to nourish; and a decadent Wicked Chocolate for chocoholics who don't want the kilojoules.

Experience the magic of Mt Tamborine. There's a bewitching ripple effect all year-round.

If you go:

Witches Falls Cottages:   www.witchesfallscottages.com.au        

Ripple Massage: www.witchesfallscottages.com.au

A professional massage therapist arrives at your door, ready to turn the living room into a relaxing spa then promptly sends you on a heavenly pampering path.

Cruise with the family on Pacific Jewel

FAMILY CRUISING ABOARD PACIFIC JEWEL

Story and Photos by Dallas Sherringham

P&O has been Australia's favourite family cruise line for many years and the newly revamped Pacific Jewel upholds that great tradition.

I first cruised on the Jewel five years ago and it won me over right from the start with its laid back friendly crew and its modern facilities.

Going on board recently was like going home. Smiling faces, people having fun and great new facilities.

Jewel has a timeless beauty, but cruise ships need to be constantly updated and P&O decided it was time to revamp the ship while maintaining its best features.

 Carrying 1900 passengers, the 70,310-tonne ship features the cruise line's ground-breaking dining concept, The Pantry, as well as a Salt Grill by Luke Mangan restaurant, Asian-themed dining at Luna and private group dining at Chef's Table in the Waterfront restaurant.


 Pacific Jewel is home to the largest adventure park at sea, the P&O Edge Adventure Park. This includes a thrilling flying fox style ride on a zip line running across the pools and deck.

For mum and dad, there is a two-level Oasis child-free retreat as well as the Aqua health spa.

You can relax in the Dome entertainment area and observation lounge or the eight bars and lounges. The ship has lot of deck space plus two swimming pools and whirlpool spas.

However, it is in the food and catering areas that the biggest changes can be seen.

There is a new coffee restaurant and lolly shop, but the biggest eye-catcher is The Pantry. This is the eatery on Deck 12 which is used by most passengers for breakfast and lunch.

Gone are the "buffet" type island bars, replaced by staffed servery's where you can order anything from Mexican to a pizza or a burger. It will be personally prepared and served to you.

The Pantry is much healthier for guests as the old fashioned buffet on most cruise ships is susceptible to health problems.

La Luna Asian restaurant is always a great night out and for something different; I had High Tea in the Salt Grill. It was a Dietician's Nightmare; lovely cakes, scones and large selection of teas from around the world.

I went on this cruise as part of a multi-generational group...grandparents and grown up kids. Next time I will take the grandkids as I quickly realised the Jewel offers the perfect family holiday.

So, what do kids get to on board?

Well, there is a multitude of Kids Clubs, serving every group. Kids get the chance to make new friends and learn new skills in a relaxed, safe environment.

Turtle Cove is designed for the two to six-year-old age group.  This includes a pager service for parents so that you can be contacted at all times. The theme is "Have Fun and Be Safe" and the kiddies are hosted by child minding experts.

Shark Shack is for kids aged seven to 10.  Lego is the big favourite in this club, but there are also lots of activities throughout the day including arts and crafts, dancing, concerts and scavenger hunts.

HQ is for older kids 11 to 14 and is real eye opener. It is a lots of electronic games, the chance to make a stop motion animated film and a Teen Jam section for making music.

Kids can come and go throughout the day, but after 10.30pm they have to be picked up by parents.

HQ Plus also provides the chance to make music or form a group and make a music video. Both HQ and HQ Plus also have the chance to perform live on board at a concert.

There is special dining for the younger kiddies if you desire, but I noticed that a lot of children dined with their parents. I think this is great to see as it gives kids dining skills for the future and teaches them what it is like to sit at a table and chat without a TV or I-phone.

In fact, a Pacific Jewel cruise is a great way to introduce your young family to overseas travel. They get to discover new worlds and make new friends in some of the most stunning places on earth.

Finally, the staff on Pacific Jewel is brilliant. They are the friendliest group I have met in more than 80 cruises worldwide. They are a credit to P&O and continue the company's great tradition of friendly service.

 Fares on Pacific Jewel's 10-night Pacific Island cruises departing October 12, 2016 from Sydney start from $849 per person quad share and $1099 per person twin share including a complimentary premium beverage package for the first two adults on the booking, main meals, onboard entertainment and many activities. Offer is valid until June 29, subject to availability. Conditions apply

For more information and bookings contact a licensed travel agent or P&O Cruises on 13 24 94 or visit www.pocruises.com.au


Images

• The Lolly Shop is a new attraction on board
• Part of the impressive HQ Club facilities on board
• Pacific Jewel's distinctive, classic lines
• Kids love the exciting zip experience

Struth! Pet therapy for nervous flyers

Nervous flyers go to the dogs

IN his continuing search for the more weird and wondrous in this world, David Ellis says that jittery flyers at some thirty-odd airports in the United States, and four in Canada, are being helped through pre-flight panic attacks by teams of special pooches that are part of a unique program called PUP… Pets Unstressing Passengers.

And it all came about because a volunteer airport chaplain simply took his dog to work with him for company at San Jose's International Airport after the infamous 9/11: so many nervous flyers patted and befriended the friendly little animal, that the airport officially made it a first-ever "therapy dog."

The concept quickly took off with other airports following suit, PUP owners every week now volunteering an hour or two of their time – and that of their dogs – and with Los Angeles International (LAX) alone having 40 pooches of numerous varieties on its roster for daily visits.

Director of Volunteers at LAX, Heidi Huebner says many things can stress passengers: a genuine fear of flying, crowds, daunting queues, terrorism concerns, flying to a funeral, to visit sick family members, or to attend stressful meetings.

"You can literally feel the stress levels drop when people see and befriend our dogs… those previously nervous start smiling, strangers begin talking to each other, everybody goes on their way feeling really, really good," she says.

"One passenger whose husband of 40 years had just told her he wanted a divorce, saw our PUP at LAX, knelt down and wept on its shoulder… the dog just sat there as she let it all out: he could feel…"

And the parents of a 5-year old with autism now arrange for a PUP to meet her whenever she flies home to LAX, it's greeting immediately relieving the child's pent-up anxiety from the flight.

For more information about the program  look at petsunstressingpassengers.com



                                                            ………………..

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

[] JUST some of the forty PUP volunteers and their pets helping daily de-stress nervous flyers at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX.) (Photo courtesy of PUP)

[] PASSENGERS of all ages quickly pal-up with the friendly pooches of the PUP program at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX.) (Photo courtesy of PUP)

Highlights of New South Wales Central Coast

THE CENTRAL COAST OF NSW

Sydney's northern playground has returned

By Michael Osborne with Dallas Sherringham


Back last century, when our parents could afford to take us on holidays from Sydney, we usually went to the Central Coast. I can remember Pearl Beach, the Entrance and Avoca.

Following an invitation from Central Coast Tourism, we made the short drive from Sydney and headed for Avoca Beach.

Our choice of accommodation was the Avoca Palms Resort as it was ideally situated only a short walk to the beach and next to the shopping precinct.

Each of the fully self-contained and serviced, three and four bedroom units had views across the park to the lake and ocean.

Self-accommodated units are fast becoming the main choice of mature travellers, where you can control your costs.

Although we did go out for an evening meal, the delight of sitting on a sun drenched balcony, eating our breakfast, while watching the sun rising over the ocean, could not be faulted.

The actual size of each unit was impressive and except for personal items, almost everything we needed was waiting for us. The undercover secure car park is also a bonus feature.

What also adds to the experience is the friendliness and professionalism of the managers, Megan and Brett Rowe. Since taking over they have ensured that as a resort style accommodation, their guests have almost everything on hand, making it possible to spend your entire visit at the resort.

We suggest that you visit their web site and ask about their very special midweek dealswww.avocapalmsresort.com.au

OUT AND ABOUT

A little research and. wow we just didn't realise how the tourist scene had changed. Just go the official web site; www.visitcentralcoast.com.au and you will be able to find so many interesting aspects, a week’s visit would not be sufficient.

Here are a few of the recommended activities:

FIVE WALKING ADVENTURES

This is an ideal way to take a deep breath and go for a hearty walk in the crisp air. You can enjoy a mid-year commune with nature, something most people only think about in summer. Boasting seven National Parks and a number of State Recreation Areas, where should you start?

1. Five Lands Walk - 9 km - Macmasters Beach to Terrigal

For more information or to register: www.5landswalk.com.au

2. UNESCO World Heritage Listed, Old Great North Road, Dharug National Park

3. Bouddi Coastal Walk - 8 km - Bouddi National Park

4. Coast Walking Track - 3.5 km - Wyrrabalong National Park (South)

5. Moonee Beach Trail - 3 km - Munmorah State Conservation Area

www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au


DINING ON THE COAST

From snacks and fast food, from great dining rooms in licensed clubs, to fine dining in restaurants and hotels, it is all here.

For a special treat, we decided to try The Crowne Plaza Terrigal and the legendary Seasalt Restaurant. We knew it was going to be an exciting event, as soon as we arrived and were ushered to our reserved table. The very friendly and as turned out, very efficient staff had us relaxed and looking forward to the mostly recommended meals we had ordered.

The food was well supported by an extensive wine list. The wine we chose was not available, but they were able to suggest another 3 or 4 similar ones, much to our delight.

The a la carte menu promotes the fresh local produce, with seafood a highlight. If we had known and had the time, we would have undertaken the degustation menu. It is a mouth-watering treat that excites the weariest of taste buds

The Crowne Plaza is also noted for its accommodation, spas and bars and shopping precinct.


KEN DUNCAN GALLERY

Ken Duncan was recently described by A Current Affair as an “Iconic Australian image maker”.

Ken has been at the cutting edge of Australian landscape photography for more than 25 years and is well known for his passion to be constantly pioneering new frontiers within the photographic world.

Thanks to Ken’s ongoing quest for excellence, the Central Coast now boasts the largest privately owned photographic gallery in Australia.

The complex also houses a state of the art theatre and The Sanctuary Café – all in a delightful bushland setting with an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity. Within this expansive, purpose-built facility, Ken has created an entirely new experience that encompasses the arts of stills photography, moving images and food. www.kenduncan.com

Visit the Central Coast's official web site; www.visitcentralcoast.com.au and like us, have a wonderful time on The Coast.