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A breezy escapade on Australia's eastern coast
Sun and sea:: Residents enjoy an afternoon in a corner of Sydney Harbor
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Sun and sea:: Residents enjoy an afternoon in a corner of Sydney Harbor.
It is hard to imagine Australia without beaches. As a country surrounded by oceans, the majority of its population lives around the coast.
To enjoy Australia, hence, is to enjoy life in the coastal cities.
In Port Stephens, just about two-and-a-half hours' drive from Sydney, coastal adventures are many. With less adrenaline rush than surfing, families can enjoy the breezy thrill of sandboarding ' sliding down the sand dunes of Stockton Bight, which stretch for about 32 kilometers along the southeastern coast of Australia.
Breezy thrill: : People sandboard down a sand dune during winter in Stockton Bight.
When I was visiting the dunes with a group from Tourism Australia last winter, we challenged a hill about 20 meters high with a gradient of around 37 degrees.
For a first-timer, the slope may seem steep, but this does not discourage tourists from trying it. Some fathers even take their young children up to ride down together.
Sitting on a small board, the crisp wind whips through your hair while you glide down the sand dune.
In Indonesia, we can also go sandboarding at Gumuk Pasir on Parangkusumo Beach, Yogyakarta. But while we experience the strong sun beating down all year round on the grey sand in Indonesia, sandboarding in Australia is a different experience. Not only is the sand golden but in the winter, you can get quite a chill roaming the windswept coastal sands.
'The largest dune is about 40 meters high,' said Angus Jameson, our tour guide.
When the sky was clear, a night trip to enjoy full moon here also showed the dune at its best, he said.
From Nelson Bay, people can also take cruises to view the dolphins and whales. A southerly migration of humpback whales can be viewed from September to October, when the mother humpbacks are often seen with their calves.
Moving up to the Gold Coast, our small entourage, led by Dwidaya Tour, gained more experience of inner Australia. Despite staying in Surfers Paradise, our source of fun lay far beyond the beaches.
After conquering the famous bone-chilling rides at Dreamworld (Towers of Terror, check, Giant Drop, check, Buzzsaw, check), we are experiencing bites of Australian farming life.
During a dinner, we were invited to Australian Outback Spectacular to get a glimpse of the country's outback that has spawned great horse and cattle farms.
Titled 'Spirit of the Horse with a Tribute to Phar Lap', the outback show is a horse extravaganza that marries the acrobatic skills of men and animals with stunning special effects.
Sitting in an air-conditioned arena, among attendants dressed as stockmen, the show provides a local four-course meal while narrating a bit of Australian outback history, closing with the story of the larger-than-life racehorse Phar Lap, which became the spirit of the nation.
It is quite amusing to see the horses and groups of other animals ' from chickens to longhorn bulls 'parading in line with the show's script. It turns out that the animals have been trained to respond to the music being played during parts of the show.
Up in the sky:: An air balloon trip passes farmland in Scenic Rim, Queensland.
Another feature to enjoy in the outback is hot air ballooning across the farming areas of Scenic Rim, about one hour from Surfers Paradise.
Taking off in Beaudesert at sun rise, people have the chance to see an aerial view of how the day starts on farms in the area. From up to 3,300 feet, people can observe running sheep and cows on their way to the grazing lands.
After floating through the air for about one hour, we landed at Woodhill, about 11 km from where we had taken off.
Blake Flynn, our pilot that day, said that kangaroos were still commonly found in the area.
Daniel Mananta, an Indonesian Idol host who joined us for the trip, said that he most enjoyed the outdoor activities during the trip.
Although having spent some time studying in Perth, he said it was the first time he had really delved into the outdoor activities on offer in the country.
'I love adventurous trips. The sandboarding and the air balloon rides are exquisite,' he said.
' Photos by Adisti Sukma Sawitri
Around the cities:
- Sydney Tower Buffet Restaurant for exquisite meals and a perfect view of the city in a revolving dining room.
- Sydney Harbor Tall Ship Cruise to discover the famous harbor on a traditional tall ship, with the chance for a challenging climb up the mast.
- Wildlife Currumbin Sanctuary in Gold Coast to meet Australia's very own koalas, kangaroos and many more exotic animals from the country.
