Get Geared Up for 2011 Underwater Festival in Australia

Vibrant coral reefs, mesmerising marine life and spectacular submerged treasures comprise the baffling realms of the underwater world and this September it is time to uncover all of them!

Highlight of the festival

The 5th Underwater Festival 2011 is just few months away and it is time for you to book seats on cheap flights to Australia. The major highlight of the festival is undoubtedly the photo and video shootout competition that offers more than U$100,000 in prizes to the winners and goes on from the 2nd to the 11th of September 2011 - best time to visit the region.

The competition will be held simultaneously all over Australasia - a region that encompasses 25 countries spanning both hemispheres - and encourages people to don on their diving suit and get clicking or shooting! It's like a huge carnival that engulfs the entire region into festivities and celebrations.

One feature that really makes this competition stand out in the crowd is the unrestrained canvas that it offers you to paint your pictures on! Any diving spot that one can imagine will be your shootout locality - be it your local dive centre, live-a-board, resort dive spots, your personal favourite spots and even your home bath tub! Top 100 images will be exhibited at the new Australian Dive & Travel Expo ODEX in Brisbane on the second weekend in October 2011.

Thousands book their cheap tickets to Australia for the period to be able to enjoy this incredible event and its accompanying revelry. All those Britons hoping to land up with cheap tickets to Australia for this September event must book now. As it is, cheap tickets on flights to Australia from London are difficult to come by, but if planned in advance travellers may end up saving considerably.

Making the Difference

The event is much more than just a competition, it is about letting people around the world know what they are set to loose if they are not careful with nature and natural resources. The event is about highlighting the underwater beauty as well as the issues that plague the underwater life. The event is about making a difference in the world!

Underwater Festival Fringe Events

There are various other organised events that are planned for prospective participants all over Australasia during the 10-day shootout period. Some of these are Dive Fest at Heron Island Resort, Underwater Photography Workshops on Christmas and Cocos Islands, Great Victorian Nudi Hunt with Dragon Mouse Diving, Workshops with Photo Pro with Mike Ball Dive Expeditions and The 2011 Gangga Shootout on Gangga Island Resort & Spa.

Numerous well-known photographers and diving legends like Neville Coleman, Mathieu Meur, William Tan, Tim Rock, Bob Halstead, Tony Wu, Gary Bell, John Lippmann have already committed to be part of the event and many more are to follow.

Countries that are Part of the Festival

All countries belonging to the region of 'Australasia' are part of the competition. This includes Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, Cook Islands, East Timor, Fiji, French Polynesia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Federated States of Micronesia, Myanmar, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Tonga, Vanuatu and Vietnam. Keen British holidaymakers who look forward to book their London to Australia flights for September can also plan holidays to few of these enchanting destinations.

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Visa, Safety and Flight Tips for Tourists to Australia

Australia is hugely popular among Britons as a holiday destination. Millions of British citizens book flights to Australia every year. It is also important for them to be completely familiar with various aspects of travelling to Australia.

Australia is replete with tourist delights and attractions – be it natural splendours or contemporary lures.

The incredible deserts, the brilliant beaches, the charming coral reefs and the lush green forests intermingle with some of the world’s finest architectural marvels, pulsating nightlife and super shopping options to create a holiday destination that is very hard to beat! Britons constitute the major portion of the tourists who book flight tickets to Australia as cities such as Sydney, Perth, Cairns and Melbourne are incredibly popular with them.

The popularity of Australia among Britons warrants that travellers remain well versed with different aspects of travelling to the country.

Entry Requirements

Visa

Britons do need a visa to travel to Australia. There are two types of electronic visitor visas available to the British citizens who intend to travel to Australia - eVisitor Visa and Electronic Travel Authority (ETA).

eVisitor Visa requires no application charge or service fee, and can be obtained directly from the Department of Immigration & Citizenship. ETA can be applied through travel agents or airlines, and requires a service fee of A$20.

Passport Validity

Australia does not have any minimum passport validity requirement, but those travellers who plan an onward journey to other countries in the region must check the passport validity policies of those countries.

Safety and Security Tips

Crime

Crime against foreign tourists is not unheard of in Australia. Travellers must take appropriate safety measures to ensure a peaceful stay in the region. Always take care of your valuable possessions and important travel documents like passport. Opt for a hotel room that features a safe as it allows you to keep your valuable belongings secure.

Certain tourist spots in popular holiday cities like Sydney, Perth, Cairns and Melbourne are most susceptible to crime against holiday makers. Avoid travelling at night and follow fundamental safety measures.

Beach Safety

The beaches in Australia are popular as surfing spots. However, the beaches here have witnessed a string of surfing accidents. Holiday makers are advised to follow basic precautions while indulging themselves.

Always swim between the red and yellow flags. These flags indicate a stretch that is supervised by life guards. You should also avoid going for a swim after consuming alcohol or drugs.

Flight Information

No airline offers direct flights to Australia from the UK as the distance is too huge to be covered in a single stretch. However, a good number of carriers offer hopping and indirect flights. Qantas, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, Royal Brunei, Singapore Airline and Emirates are some great choices for flying indirect to Australia. Royal Brunei is also popular for offering cheap tickets.

Baggage allowance for most airlines is similar, while Qantas and Emirates are the ones that offer A380 flying experience to the passengers

Article Source: http://goarticles.com/article/Visa-Safety-and-Flight-Tips-for-Tourists-to-Australia/4920005/ 

Book Tickets to Sydney to Attend Top Events in 2011

Sydney features a list of vivacious carnivals and events. Almost half the year has gone by but there are still heaps of vibrant and pulsating events that are yet to take place in the scintillating city of Sydney. Vacationers who wish to seek the magic of such wonderful events must book cheap tickets well in advance to avoid overflowing flights.

City to surf

The City to Surf is the most emblematic running event in Sydney. This event includes running along the best attractions of the city such as Hyde Park, harbor bays of Double Bay, Rose Bay, a climb to Heart Break Hill, and then finally comes to an end at renowned Bondi Beach. Thousands of runners take part in this 14km run which aims at fitness and fun.

Bangalow Music Festival

The Bangalow Music Festival is the most popular event in Sydney that makes travelers book cheap tickets to Australia. This enthralling fine music event portrays a blend of fine chamber melody with striking ambience. Musicians such as Mozart, Ravel, Bach, Liszt, Chopin and Debussy have taken the visitors on harmonious ride through their melodious blast in this event.

Festival of the winds

Tourists booking tickets to Sydney in the month of September never miss out the city's vibrant spring festival, the Festival of the Winds. This festival assures a great day out for the entire family. Colorful cartoon characters, decorations and flying kites make the city come alive! The kite making stalls, food stands and shopping hubs convert the place into a colorful canvas with vivacious colors.

Darling Harbor Fiesta

The Fiesta claims to be Australia's most happening dance and music celebration. Every year this fiesta presents Australia's preeminent music bands. This year bands like Watussi, Club Havana Band, Mi Tierra, Son Veneno, Gonzalo Porta and the Sydney Salsa All-stars will carry forward this tradition. Overall, more than 70 finest Latin bands, dance groups and DJs will perform in the festival. The travelers can make advance bookings to grab cheap tickets to Sydney and to spend a breathtaking October weekend in Sydney.

Carols in the Domain

Australia's major and most appreciated Christmas celebration, Carols in the Domain is a must see. During this festive time, the Domain located in the centre of Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens gets alive with festive Christmas songs. The festival hosts events like public catering, carols TV and pre-show entertainment, Woolworths Carols and firework displays.

Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race

Sydney to Hobart yacht race has attracted curiosity of millions of Britons. It is the leading event on the Australian yacht racing calendar that features yachts as small as 30-footers and as large as 90-footers, navigated by professionals who have participated in all the races in the key yacht racing courses. The visitors get to see the beautiful scenery of thousands of multihued yachts sailing in the blue ocean.

Article Source:http://www.sooperarticles.com/travel-articles/air-travel-articles/book-tickets-sydney-attend-top-events-2011-641774.html