WHERE TO SEE JACARANDA TREES IN SYDNEY: Eastern Suburbs                                                                     

For luxury shopping under Jacaranda trees, head to Oxford Street, Glenmore Road and Five Ways in Paddington. Don’t miss The Intersection, Paddington. This is the tree-lined point where Glenmore Road meets Oxford Street.

This chic enclave in Paddington is the home to luxury Australian designer boutiques. It sits opposite the sprawling jacarandas on Victoria Barracks Lawn.

Start at Jackie’s Café with a sunlit brunch in the leafy courtyard. Their greenhouse-style bar opens during spring for cocktails. Nearby Woollahra and Double Bay also boast a stunning purple haze, along with the courtyard at historic Vaucluse House.

North Shore

Pack a picnic and head to some of the best neighborhoods of Sydney. These include Kirribilli, Lavender Bay, Greenwich, Waverton, Hunters Hill, Woolwich, Longueville or Wollstonecraft for a long lunch under the Jacaranda trees. In the heart of Lavender Bay is heritage-listed Wendy Whiteley’s Garden, which has a spectacular view back to the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Harbour foreshore dotted with Jacaranda trees.

There’s also a little piece of magic by the name of McDougall Street. Come spring, tourists and locals alike flock to the fairytale avenue in Kirribilli, where the splendid arch of jacaranda trees creates a lavender-hued dome. It’s perfect for selfies.

Sydney Harbour

Take a do-it-yourself Jacaranda walking tour through the best neighborhoods of Sydney starting at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, passing through Circular Quay and The Rocks. View the stunning Jacaranda trees set against the backdrop of the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour and historic cobblestone streets of The Rocks.

Inner West

The urban landscape of the Inner West precinct also pops with Jacaranda trees. For history buffs, the much-loved Jacaranda at the University of Sydney stood for 88 years in the quadrangle before it died in 2016. The tree was so iconic because students and teachers have talked and studied under the branches for years. So the university cloned it before it collapsed.

The planting of a native flame tree and the clone of the original jacaranda was celebrated in 2017. As the new tree grows, it’s likely to also become a living legend on the University grounds. The neighbouring suburbs of Camperdown, Newtown and Glebe are also worth visiting. Pop into farm-to-table restaurant Acre Eatery or head to the Saturday Glebe markets and enjoy the vibrant Inner West community.

The post Where to see Jacaranda trees in Sydney appeared first on TRAVELIFE Magazine.

Christmas Island in Australia is the setting for one of the most amazing annual animal migration events in the world. Nature lovers all over the world are discovering the mass migration of millions of endemic red land crabs on this island in the Indian Ocean.

THE MAKING OF A MOVIE

Naturalist Sir David Attenborough described this red crab migration as one of the most amazing scenes in the world. This extraordinary natural phenomena climaxes in mid-December when millions of females of the species simultaneously spawn on the outgoing tide by dropping their eggs in the sea.

“Witnessing this spectacle is on the bucket list of nature-lovers from all corners of the globe,” said Linda Cash of the Christmas Island Tourism Association. “After the female red crabs do their joyous jiggle and release billions of eggs into the sea, they return to their burrows high in the jungle. This journey takes a week or more.”

RED CRABS ON THE BEACH OF CHRISTMAS ISLAND

These crabs are biologically programmed to take the most direct route back to their burrow. The crabs make sure absolutely nothing gets in their way. They turn the parks, golf course and beaches of Christmas Island into one moving crimson carpet. A golfer is given a penalty stroke on the Christmas Island golf course, by the way, if his or her ball accidentally hits a migrating crab.

WHAT’S IN A NAME

CHRISTMAS ISLAND was given its name by Captain William Mynors of the British ship Royal Mary. This ship was owned by the East India Company. The East India Company discovered this island on December 25, 1643. It was annexed by the British in 1888 and it became part of the territories of Australia in 1958.

ALL IN A DAY’S WORK

Everyone and everything stops for the red crabs during their annual migration season. Rangers from the Christmas Island National Park even roll-out kilometers of crab fences along the side of roads to funnel crabs through a network of grids and bridges. These allow the crabs to pass safely under or over the roads.

Even the Christmas Island school bus stops a distance away from the school to avoid the crabs that march through the school grounds. In the school, special boards have been installed on doors and windows to stop the crabs scuttling through the classrooms and interrupting lessons.

To help those crabs which still make it onto the roads, many locals also travel with a rake or broom in their car, so they can gently rake or sweep crabs out of danger.

Obviously, Christmas Island is also one of the most beautiful islands in the world. It is also home to many other natural wonders including unique seabirds, stunning marine life, and a variety of cultural experiences you won’t find in other parts of Australia. Read more about other amazing experiences in Travelife Magazine.

The post Red land crab migration on Christmas Island in Australia appeared first on TRAVELIFE Magazine.

THE JUSTICE LEAGUE AT MADAME TUSSAUDS SYDNEY

From June 30, visitors to Madame Tussauds Sydney will star alongside Justice League’s Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Henry Cavill as Superman, Ben Affleck as Batman, and Ezra Miller as The Flash. These heroes will fight to save the world from Lex Luthor’s evil corporation, LexCorp.   Elsewhere in the city, Lex’s experiment wreaks havoc, sending a helicopter and its occupants hurtling toward the ground.

HELPING THE DC SUPER HEROES

Guests have to summon all their strength and join the DC Super Heroes as they fight to save the world:

• Help Superman lift a real helicopter back into the sky as onlookers cheer from the streets below.

• Guests must summon Batman with the Bat-Signal. Billowing smoke and wind reveal Batman as he’s called into battle onto the rooftop, ready to save the world.

• Then it’s time to dig deep and guests can harness their inner Super Hero alongside Wonder Woman. One successful gauntlet blast can destroy LexCorp’s technology that has created havoc in the city.

• Then it’s time to help The Flash by running alongside him! Once guests hit ‘top speed’, effects around The Flash’s environment, including projection lighting on his suit, jump to life and electricity cracks.

“Australians love the Justice League so we’re beyond excited to launch an epic new experience that will enable our guests to be a part of the action this June,” said Mark Connolly, General Manager of Madame Tussauds Sydney.

THE JUSTICE LEAGUE EXPERIENCE AT MADAME TUSSAUDS SYDNEY

“Madame Tussauds Sydney, together with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, on behalf of DC Entertainment, has created a unique and immersive Justice League experience. We have exciting plans to unite an all-star cast of DC Super Heroes. It’s an unbeatable roster of DC Super Heroes to the sensational, hi-tech experiences and we can’t wait to share it with you all.”

The post Justice League at Madame Tussauds Sydney appeared first on TRAVELIFE Magazine.

Sofitel recently worked with global marketing research company IPSOS to conduct this global in-depth survey. They wanted to understand the habits and preferences of guests. In particular, what women want to see and experience in hotels. The survey found that 86% of female travelers wanted a hospitality program designed specifically for women.

As a result, MGallery by Sofitel established Inspired by Her. This new program focuses on what women want when they are traveling.

WHAT WOMEN WANT

73% of women surveyed said they often forget to pack an essential item. Then, they don’t realise they’ve left it behind until they get to the hotel. As a result, all MGallery hotels now offer emergency kits. These kits include complimentary beauty items, makeup remover, nail polish remover, hair ties and pins. They also contain moisturizer, sunscreen, and stockings.

Women also want quality hairdryers and good bathroom lighting when staying at a hotel. So now, all MGallery hotels in the Pacific now have quality hairdryers and makeup mirrors.

HEALTHY MENU & SIGNATURE COCKTAILS

As part of the Inspired by Her program, MGallery hotels in Australia have also added light and healthy menu items in their restaurants. In fact, several dishes have been created specifically around inspiring women.

Signature cocktails have also been created with floral creations, champagne and fruit. Also, on request, a staff member will deliver a specially brewed tea in an elegant teapot to the room.

The global survey also found out that wellbeing experiences tops the list of ‘Memorable Moments‘ women want to have. Meanwhile the feminine touches women like in a hotel are fresh flowers, fragrance, quality bedding and materials, and attention to service detail.

 ABOUT MGALLERY BY SOFITEL

MGallery by Sofitel has over 90 boutique hotels around the world. Each MGallery tells a unique story inspired by the destination. MGallery hotels are places where guests can discover the best the world can offer. Well-known properties in the MGallery collection include Hotel Molitor Paris, INK Hotel Amsterdam, Queens Hotel Cheltenham in England, Santa Teresa Hotel Rio de Janeiro, Hotel Lindrum Melbourne in Australia, Muse Bangkok Langsuan in Thailand, and Hotel des Arts Saigon in Vietnam.

MGallery is part of AccorHotels, a leading travel and lifestyle group with over 4,300 hotels, resorts and residences, along with some 10,000 of the finest private homes around the globe.

The post What Women Want, according to a Sofitel survey appeared first on TRAVELIFE Magazine.

THE 5 BEST BEACHES IN ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA

Feeling drained after a day at work? Jump in the car, chuck on your swim suit and within the hour you can be sprawled on a towel in the sun at Semaphore or perfecting your freestyle at Moana. With so many options so close to the city, it’s easy to be overwhelmed. But fear not. Here are our 5 best beaches in Adelaide.

1
GLENELG

Family-friendly Glenelg is the most popular metropolitan beach in Adelaide. It’s also the easiest to access. Just hop on the tram from the city and get off at Moseley Square, just metres away from the water at Glenelg. Once you’ve gone for a dip and strolled down the jetty, grab a bite to eat. After lunch, take a walk around the picturesque Holdfast Shores or give your credit card a workout at one (or more) of Glenelg’s trendy boutiques. Jetty Road is a bustling mix of cafés, clothing boutiques and restaurants. No trip to the beach is complete without an ice-cream or gelato, by the way, and you’ll find plenty of ice cream opportunities at Glenelg.

2
BRIGHTON

Jump back into the car for ten minutes and you’ll be at Brighton. Mirroring Glenelg with its own Jetty Road, Brighton has a similar relaxed vibe with eclectic cafés, restaurants and fish and chip shops aplenty. While still very popular in the summer months, Brighton beach is generally less crowded than Glenelg.

3
HENLEY

Surrounded by a range of good seafood restaurants and centering around a bustling grassed square, the beach of Henley is a must-visit whether you’re after a quality dinner, a quality swim, or a bit of both. The shoreline of Henley stretches as far as the eye can see, with plenty of space for laying out your towel or taking a dip.

4
SEMAPHORE

A trip to Semaphore is a trip back in time. The Semaphore beach is long, wide and bordered by sand dunes; however Semaphore’s main drawcard is its history. Its expansive foreshore and boulevard are dotted with beautifully preserved Art Deco buildings. Nothing quite compares to the grandeur of the Palais, which was originally a 1920s bathing pavilion. Now the Palais in Semaphore is a great place to grab a pub-style lunch or enjoy a glass of wine.

Nearby stands Semaphore’s iconic Time Ball Tower, as well as a waterslide complex for the kids, a ferris wheel and  a gorgeous 1920s carousel,  the oldest carousel in Australia. Semaphore Road, just metres away, is bordered by historic pubs, restaurants, interesting boutiques and a treasure-trove of shops.

5
PORT NOARLUNGA,
CHRISTIES BEACH AND MOANA

Port Noarlunga, Christies Beach and Moana are a bit further away from Adelaide, but well-worth the trip. Port Noarlunga’s huge shore, crystal clear waters and towering red sandstone cliffs assure you that you’ve left the city of Adelaide behind.

The three beaches are surfing and body boarding hotspots, but still perfect for families as swells rarely get too rough. With plenty of room on the beach, you’ll never have to worry about overcrowding. Just rock up and hit the water. Take your snorkelling gear to Port Noarlunga. The long boardwalk of Port Noarlunga leads to a reef that’s popular all year-round.

The post The 5 best beaches in Adelaide, Australia appeared first on TRAVELIFE Magazine.