OTIRA VIADUCT

Straddling the Southern Alps 153 km from Christchurch and 98 km from Greymouth, the 1,147 sq km  Arthur’s Pass National Park, the seventh largest in the country, is a place of huge geological and climatic contrasts. On the western side of the alps, where the rainfall is high, the park is clad in dense and varied rainforest through which steep, boulder-strewn rivers rush; on the drier eastern side, mountain beech forests and tussock-covered river flats predominate. Sixteen mountain peaks in the park exceed 2,000 m.

 Otira Viaduct, Arthur's Pass National Park, Canterbury

 

The park offers the well-equipped outdoor enthusiast superb mountain climbing and hiking opportunities, as well as many shorter walks suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels. Otira Viaduct completed in 1999, this section of State Highway 73 spans the rugged Otira River. The TranzAlpine journey from Christchurch to Greymouth crosses the Canterbury Plains before cutting dramatically through the Southern Alps via the Otira viaduct.

 

Received from Roman 

VIRGIN GORDA

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF PARADISE

 
Where the Caribbean meets the Atlantic there's a chain of sixty islands called the British Virgin Islands. With hundreds of secret bays and hidden coves, they've been a haven for seafarers for centuries. The British Virgin Islands hold many attractions. Deserted white sand beaches where you can soak up the sun or lie in the shade all day. The green, cedar-covered hills. Shady mountain trails to be hiked. Sophisticated shops. Friendly people to welcome you.

 
Virgin Gorda 

 
Measuring just eight-and-a-half-miles long, Virgin Gorda is the third largest in the island chain. Dramatic slopes plunge from Gorda Peak to the turquoise waters far below. Columbus named it Virgin Gorda, "The Fat Virgin". By mid-morning in Virgin Gorda, the sun-worshippers have settled down on one of the many deserted beaches that fringe the island. The unique rock formations at The Baths call out to the nature lover. The pace of life is slow here. The choice of restaurants will please the most discriminating palate. 

 

The British Virgin Islands Tourist Board

Caribbean Tourism Organization 

PICTON

 Charming and known for its relaxed pace and old-fashioned hospitality, Prince Edward County is surrounded by Lake Ontario and the Bay of Quinte, and is sometimes referred to as Quinte’s Isle. Picton - a popular touring centre on the scenic Loyalist Parkway, this attractive and historic small town with a natural deepwater harbour is the hub of Prince Edward County. A shoreline that in points around Picton creates dunes of white sand standing over 30 metres high.

 

Sandbanks Provincial Park

 

Sandbanks and North Beach Provincial Parks. Endless fine sand beaches and dunes, along the island's western shore, for swimming and picnicking. Camping at Sandbanks only. It is about 2.5 hours’ drive from Toronto, three hours from Ottawa, four hours from Montreal. Home to gorgeous beaches, on hot sunny days, Sandbanks feels like a tropical island getaway without the plane ticket. One of Ontario’s most popular holiday destinations.

Destination Ontario

RAROTONGA

 An Unforgettable South Pacific Experience!

The Cook Islands consist of 15 islands scattered over some 2 million square km of the Pacific Ocean. An unspoiled paradise, complete with white sand beaches, blue lagoons, and lush green mountains. The Cook Islands enjoy a pleasantly warm and sunny climate all year round. The hospitality is warm and spontaneous, the dancing exuberant, the mood relaxed. The old culture lives on with song, dance and an easy pace of life uncomplicated by the turmoil of the outside world. 

 BEAUTIFUL MURI BEACH AND LAGOON,
Rarotonga, Cook Islands

  Rarotonga, the hub of the Cook Islands, has so much to see and do, yet remains unspoilt. No traffic lights, no McDonald’s and no building taller than the highest coconut tree. Round Rarotonga Road Race (32 km, first Saturday in November) is extremely popular and many international runners participate. Rarotonga offers an interesting variety to tempt the taste buds from high class eateries to friendly "island style" cafes. Don't miss special "Island Night" cultural show for an unforgettable experience!

COOK ISLANDS TOURISM

CAUSEWAY COAST

 Northern Ireland's north coast has something for everyone: the Giant's Causeway, impressive cliffs, beaches, and the cheerful resorts of Portstewart and Portrush. This is the most exciting place to walk in Northern Ireland. The shorter of two circular walks takes you up the cliffs, above the Giant's Causeway, from where a great view of the columns clearly show in fact three causeway, the largest looking like a crocodile's snout.

ANTRIM COAST A drive of over sixty miles from Larne to Portrush offers one of the most spectacular scenic routes to be found anywhere, one of nature's displays of unspoiled beauty. The road weaves around the coastline with side roads leading off to the famed Glens of Antrim. Clearly visible, the Scottish coast and Rathlin Island rise from the sea, while the peculiar regular sided columns of the Giant's Causeway appear as stepping stones to these places.

SPRINGS

 Largely an industrial area, known for its wealth of gold and coal. The town boasts the HF Verwoerd Theatre, one of the few live theatres on the Witwatersrand outside the Pretoria/Johannesburg area. The Pam Brink Stadium, home of the Eastern Transvaal Rugby Union, is situated near the civic centre and seats 20 000. The modern Civic Centre is a popular venue for the performing arts.

 Springs, City Centre 1968

SPRINGS PARK Lovely park area built on a converted mine dump. Set out in lawns with a meandering rivulets and cascading waterfalls. Covered picnic spots.
ALEXANDER DAM The home of the Murray Park Yacht Club, but casual sailing is permitted. During Nov. to Feb. yachting is suspended due the weeds. Walks marked around the dam.

HUNTINGTON

Well-mannered Huntington provides a civilized introduction to West Virginia at the southwestern entrance to the state, just across the Kentucky/Ohio border. Years of prosperity spawned an orderly city teeming with industrial, cultural and social activity.
Huntington is graced with stately homes, beautifully landscaped parks, an internationally famous rose garden, three amphitheaters, a vintage vaudeville era performance hall and theater, a nationally acclaimed art museum and a venerable state university.

 The Ohio Riverfront * Huntington, West Virginia

 

If enterprise and culture make up the heart of Huntington, its arteries are rivers and rails. One of the nation's largest inland ports, the area increased its fortunes through shipping by rail and barge. Huntington restaurants serve a fine bill of fare, ranging from gourmet dining to food and service reminiscent of fine club car dining.

EDMUNDSTON

 Edmundston is a city of cultures, where New Brunswick Francophones and Anglophones mix with residents of the nearby state of Maine and province of Quebec to form a cultural feast unlike any in this part of the world. The capital of the legendary Republic of Madawaska, is the largest community in northwestern New Brunswick. The 18-hole golf course, built at the turn of the century, is among the finest in the Atlantic provinces.

Madawaska's lakes, rivers and forests are among the most magnificent in the province. Fish, game, campers and ornithologists abound. The city is the site of the provincial hospitality school. The province's longest downhill skiing season. The display of leaves in the autumn is unparalleled anywhere in the world.
 

Tourism New Brunswick

WINDSOR

 The twin towns of Windsor and Eton, facing each other across the Thames, are synonymous with two great bastions of English privilege: Windsor Castle and Eton College. Towering above the pleasant town of Windsor, Windsor Castle has been inhabited by royalty since William the Conqueror's time and has grown to be the largest lived-in fortress in the world. Its most outstanding building is St. George's Chapel, one of the finest examples of Perpendicular architecture in existence.

Windsor, the Norman Gate

 

Go across the Thames River by Windsor Bridge to Eton College, founded by Henry VI in 1440. Britain's most famous and exclusive school, where boys wear tail coats and wing collars, has spawned 20 prime ministers. Like many private fee-paying schools in England, it is paradoxically called a "public" school.

MILDURA

In 1887, Mildura was little more than a village on the banks of the Murray River, situated in the middle of a red sandy desert. That year, two Canadian brothers, William and George Chaffey, came to town direct from their successful irrigation project in California and began Australia’s first large-scale irrigation scheme. Since then, the red soil, fed by the Murray and Darling rivers, has become a vast plain of farms stretching for nearly 100 km. 

Feeding the pelicans on the banks of the Murray River

Today, Mildura is a modern city with a thriving tourist trade. The former home of William Chaffey, the Rio Vista is worth a visit. Built in 1890, it has been restored with its original furnishings and is now an Arts Centre. Grapes, olives, avocados and citrus fruit are grown successfully in the region and the area is rapidly expanding its vineyards and wineries.