Posts Tagged ‘accommodation’

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Discovering the Hawkesbury River in NSW

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

An easy hours drive from Sydney CBD is the surprisingly unknown Hawkesbury River and Wisemans Ferry region. Here you will find one of the most beautiful and fascinating tourist spots in New South Wales.

Stretching eastward from the fringes of the Blue Mountains to Broken Bay, the Hawkesbury River is framed by vast sandstone cliffs and lush national parks full of wildlife. The great river links a fascinating mix of historical townships and riverside villages, making the area an ideal respite from the hustle and bustle of Sydney.

The Hawkesbury region is a sanctuary for adventure seekers, nature lovers, art enthusiasts and cuisine lovers. You’ll find a wonderful combination of locally grown food and wine, fine dining restaurants, quaint pubs and golf courses, all set amongst natural scenery.

Hawkesbury River Accommodation

There is a wide variety of Hawkesbury accommodation to suit everyone’s taste and budget. A broad range of accommodation to suit all requirements is available from camping through to romantic retreats and luxury resorts.

The highlight of Hawkesbury River accommodation is the waterfront houses. Nestled along the banks of the beautiful river, these self contained holiday homes are accessible by boat only, making them the perfect romantic or family getaway.

Alternatively, for those who like something different, you can stay on a houseboat.  Explore the waters upstream to Windsor and downstream to places like Brooklyn and Berowra Waters.

However, for those who prefer to keep their feet dry, there are townships and holiday houses that still have road access, namely Spencer and Daleys Point. This spots are an ideal base for holiday makers keen on exploring the surrounding areas, or the nearby Hunter region and Hinterland regions of Sydney.

Wisemans Ferry

An area along the Hawkesbury River not to be missed is the historical region of Wisemans Ferry. Set amongst amazing mountain and river scenery, this area dates back to early European settlement and is full of Aboriginal culture.

Tucked away in bush land, not far from Wisemans Ferry, is the historical Old Great North Road. The road was built by convicts back in the early days of European settlement to travel from Sydney to the Hunter Valley. And today, it still remains one of Australia’s best unknown engineering wonders.

Whether you need to escape for the weekend, or better still, rejuvenate for a few weeks, the perfect country escape is Wisemans Retreat.   The Retreat is located in a tranquil haven bordering some of the most breathtaking scenery in New South Wales.

Whilst at Wisemans Retreat you will be spoilt for choice for things to do. Check out the surrounds of the National parks or enjoy in one of the many leisure activities on offer. Swing a golf club, play tennis, savour in modern cuisine, or indulge in a massage or beauty treatment. You are bound to have a relaxing stay with happy memories when you enjoys the Retreats famous hospitality and personal touches. The location is very popular as a wedding reception venue

Although you are only an hour away from the city, you are literally a world away from fast paced city life. The surroundings are so serene you will find it hard not to relax and unwind. You may plan a short break to Wisemans Ferry but it is unlikely you will want to leave.

Next time you are planning a trip in Australia and want to escape popular Noosa holiday accommodation and other busy destinations then consider a trip to the Hawkesbury.

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Amazing England Vacations And York

Friday, November 13th, 2009

Increasing numbers of folk are deciding to take vacations nearer to home this year. For most of us it is to help with the family budget but is this the correct decision or a terrible error? Commonly many of us overlook the many local visitor attractions and yet they are commonly top class and far better than those we would see somewhere else. Folk residing in the British Isles have a mindblowing list of places for a vacation all of which have a growing collection of first class tourist attractions to visit. In the following article I introduce the English city of York and York hotels.

York is situated in the north of England and was, once, the capital city of a huge kingdom covering most of northern England. In such an old city it will not be a great surprise to discover a large selection of extremely old architecture, however you might not expect the astounding sight of the Gothic masterpiece of York Minster.

The first York Minster was a small wooden church in which King Edwin of Northumbria was, in the 7th century, baptised. It wasn’t until the time of the Norman Conquest that the first substantial stone building appeared on the site. Built by Thomas of Bayeux, a Norman Archbishop it was extended by Archbishop Roger who constructed a north and south transept. After many more alterations and additions the cathedral was complete and consecrated in 1472. The interior has the largest medieval stained glass window in the world. York has other places to visit including; the Jorvik Viking Centre, The Shambles, Barley Hall, the National Railway Museum, York Castle Museum and York Dungeon.

On top of all of the awesome historic and ancient attractions discussed above, York is an excellent place to go out partying in or enjoy live music. It that doesn’t excite you then you could spend the evening in a pub there are certainly plenty to choose from, including; The Royal Oak, The Snickleway Inn, Slug and Lettuce, the Old Star Inn and The Bluebell Inn, and, lastly, the Black Swan. Out of all the mentioned pubs the Black Swan is probably the best with a pleasant atmosphere and sometimes having live music.

Bed And Breakfast Accommodation In York

Like many other UK cities you will discover a massive variety of bed and breakfast accommodation in York ranging from cheap and cheerful guest houses to five star hotels. The Middlethorpe Hall hotel is a mere two miles from York city centre but offers excellent bed and breakfast with private gardens, steam room, sauna and gym, and it is also possible to get a massage. Other superb hotels in York include; Parsonage Country House Hotel, Hotel du Vin and Bistro, Marriott on Tadcaster Road and Bishops at 135 Holgate Road and one of the finest guest houses is Crossways on Wigginto Road, or if you are searching for something different why not consider Marmadukes Boutique Hotel.

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Nottinghamshire Vacations And The City Of Nottingham

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

Think of Nottingham and the vast majority of people recall the legend of Sir Robin Hood and his merry men and even though the legend attracts increasing numbers of visitors year on year there is a great deal more to Nottinghamshire and the city of Nottingham than your would think. Infact the city of Nottingham is home to a respectable collection of super local attractions and it makes it a superb place for a weekend break and the article below examines the city more closely and a small number of tourist attractions in and around Nottingham, as well as some hotels offering B&B accommodation in Nottingham.

Nottingham is in Nottinghamshire, East Midlands in England. As well as the legend of Sir Robin Hood, his merry men and the Sheriff of Nottingham, the city is also known for the lace making business especially at the time of the Industrial Revolution when the city gained a worldwide reputation for excellence.

The Lace Market

At one time the center of the world’s lace industry, at the peak of the British Empire, Nottingham’s Lace Market is, now, a protected heritage area. The area  has many superb examples of Nineteenth Century industrial architecture. The Lace Market was not like a normal market area, rather than having salesmen and stall, it was a collection of salesrooms and warehouses displaying and selling lace. After the downturn in the lace industry the area also fell into decline but, these days, the vast majority of the old warehouses have been restored and renovated for alternative use for example photographic studios and the likes. The Lace Market in Nottingham is a popular visitor attraction.

Shire Hall & Galleries of Justice

Nearby the Lace Market can be found the Galleries of Justice located in Shire Hall. The Hall is a Georgian building which features Neoclassical pilasters, columns and dome. The front of Shire Hall has, if you examine it carefully, a misspelled word Goal rather than Gaol. The Hall has two excellently preserved courtrooms from the Victorian period plus old cells, a women’s prison, bath house, an Edwardian police station and a prisoner’s exercise yard.

Nottingham is a superb place to take a city break. There is plenty to see and do within the city and an incredible number of visitor attractions which are readily accessible. Places worth visiting include; Wollaton Hall, Hardwick Hall and Newstead Abbey.

As all all England bed & breakfast accommodation, accommodation in Nottingham is usually extremely good at a reasonable price and many folk choose to stay in Nottingham for only part of their vacation and then elsewhere for the remainder.

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Short Breaks in Plymouth and Tourist Attractions to Visit

Saturday, October 24th, 2009

Vacations in the UK appear to be immensely popular this year, most probably due to the economic downturn and the weak pound. The United Kingdom has a large number of top class tourist destinations including London (the capital of England) and other fascinating cities plus a fine selection of seaside resorts such as; Blackpool, Margate, Great Yarmouth and Bognor Regis. One seaside town often overlooked is Plymouth in the south of England.

At first glance Plymouth appears a little bland and fairly modern, but delving a little bit deeper and you will soon find that the city has a fascinating history and a long relationship with the sea. As long ago as the 16th century Plymouth has been an important port. In 1588 Francis Drake embarked from the port at Plymouth to successfully defend the English from the Spanish Armada. A further moment in history occurred in sixteen twenty when the Pilgrim Fathers set sail for North America.

It is possible to have low cost Plymouth weekend city breaks by booking rooms in bed and breakfast in Plymouth rather than making a reservation in a costly hotel. A quick search on Google will reveal that it is possible to book a room for a little as £29 a night and many establishments offer dinners at a very reasonable rate, commonly equal to, or less expensive than local restaurants.

Places To Visit In Plymouth

There are a great many places of interest in the town which are worth a visit. Popular tourist attractions include; Merchant’s House Museum, the National Marine Aquarium, the Mayflower Steps and St Andrew’s church. A cruise around the waters of the port is a superb way to spend some time but if you find that you have more time why not take a day out to other places near to Plymouth, for example; Mount Edgcumbe, Saltram House or Buckland Abbey.

Saltram House is a fine Tudor Mansion which is found two miles from the town, Mount Edgcumbe is another fine example of a Tudor house with coastal paths, landscaped gardens and parklands, and Buckland Abbey, about six miles from Plymouth, is a Cistercian abbey which was once owned by Sir Francis Drake and was later renovated as a family home.

If you and your family are currently considering taking a trip to Plymouth it is incredibly important that you reserve your  rooms at the earliest opportunity because, sadly Plymouth hotel and guest house accommodation tend to be amazingly busy and are often fully booked for a long period in advance. If you are travelling in a group you may find that apartments in Plymouth prove to be reasonable option to Plymouth bed and breakfast. If you are visiting England from overseas then why not consider booking a room for a few days in London hotels to take in the attractions of the English capital too.

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The Tsar’s Sanctuary in the Medieval Capital of Bulgaria – Veliko Turnovo

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

When we Bulgarians hear Veliko Turnovo we immediately think about the Medieval Hill Tsarevets. And reasonably, Veliko Turnovo was called the Second Constantinople and had prospered for more than 200 years in the Medieval. Its three hills are surrounded by its fortified fortress walls. They seem to be an extension of the rock string, separated by the meander of the Yantra River. The Tsarevets Hill is the most gorgeous one. The main fortress is there. The two main institutions of that time were situated there – The Tsar’s castle and the Patriarchate.The fortress wall is 2km long and 2.6m wide. It distinguished with the many covered towers. Three entrances were available in the fortress. A narrow rock isthmus with three consecutively situated gates, guarded by towers, is the where the main entrance is. The rock isthmus at the first gate is cut (4.50m width) and connected with a draw-bridge, which was up at night or when the fortress was in danger and was down during the day and in peaceful times. The other two gates, situated on several meters one from each other, also obstructed the aggresors’ way. The patriarch complex, the “St. Ascension Day” church, the bell tower and the patriarch’s residence (surrounded by a separate fortress wall) are situated on top of the hill. The Tsars’ castle is situated on the most comfortable place, on smooth terrain – a real citadel (inner fortress), which covers 5 decares of land. Long time could the thick fortress walls hold off a siege, after the outer walls had fallen. {The limited area of Tsarevets made it impossible for all the noble people to live in there}. Thus, it is supposed that the closest relatives of the tsar and his husband settled in the rest of the area along with the rest of the noble population, called Bolyari. There were about 110 families, according to Constantine Kostenechki. A part of them settled down on the hill of Trapezitsa, which formed as a aristocratic quarter, surrounded by a strong fortress wall with five towers and three gates and numerous churches, a part of which were family ones.
The city formed as a center of political, spiritual, economical and cultural life. The name of the capital of Bulgaria was spoken with respect in whole Europe. . There were the Evtimieva literary school, the vocal school of Joan Kukuzel, The Painting and Architectural school of Turnovo. The most famous literature pieces of art that have reached to nowadays were written by the men of letters Patriarch Evtimii, Grigorius Tsamblak, and Kiprian.

If this article has intrigued you, you can always find accommodation in Bulgaria – in Veliko Turnovo or in the nearby resort villages, such as Arbanassi. You will enjoy the combination of history, nature and modern entertainment.

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