Australia really does offer visitors and residents alike with so much to do and see during autumn and to tell you more about these events, Austravel, specialists in flights to Australia, has put together a selection of events showing there’s something for everyone.

Bask under a sea of Balloons at the Canberra Balloon Fiesta

Each morning for nine days convoys of colourful hot air balloons take off from in front of the Old Parliament House to soar high in the air above.  The colourful spectacle starts early morning and to be in with a chance of a favourable viewing position it is advisable to arrive in time before 7am.  Balloons come in all shapes and sizes and past events have seen designs including Australia’s magnificent kookaburra, frogs and other various animals.

You may not only feast your eyes on the skies above but also feast them on a variety of foods provided by the Belconnen Lions Club, catering for the spectators on sale you will find a range of hot breakfasts, fruit salads, freshly squeezed fruit juices as well as delicious Dutch Pancakes.

For a completely different experience from the spectators below, if you book early with one of the ballooning companies you can take to the skies and join the convoy and take in the views from a birds eye perspective.  Whilst in the sky you can enjoy sweeping views of Canberra and its iconic buildings and see just how expansive Canberra is with forestry and trees throughout.

• Where: Lawns of Old Parliament House, Kind Edward Terrace, Parkes
• When: Saturday 12th- Sunday 20th March 2011

Brush Shoulders with Fashions Finest Designers

As the Rosemount Australian Fashion week commences at the start of May, Sydney becomes the epicentre for fashion where designers, editors and models swarm to preview up and coming trends for the coming seasons.

This year’s fashion event will be hosted at Sydney’s Circular Quay with Sydney Harbour providing a stunning backdrop.  By attending the event you will be brushing shoulders with some of the best designers in the industry including Anna & Boy, Nicola Finetti, Zambesi, Josh Goot, Marnie Skillings, and Jayson Brunsdon.

If you are a fashionista, a budding designer or someone who just appreciates fashion, registration starts in March so get your name down early.  There are several packages available:

1. FRONT ROW AND FABULOUS PACKAGE – If you want to splash out, you can get the full VIP treatment, with backstage access to showrooms, VIP bar, a reserved front row seat and limited edition gift bag. This is the option for those seriously into fashion as it will set you back $120.00 - $175.00
2. RUNWAY PACKAGE –If you want to save more of your money for buying clothes, the runway package offers a reserved seat for one, pre-show access to the Fashion Festival Hub, a complimentary glass of wine at the Rosemount Festival Hub Bar, plus the limited edition festival gift bag. Cost: $45.00 per person
3. SHOW AND COMPLIMENTARY GLASS OF WINE - The basic package includes a reserved seat at the Rosemount Runway for one, with pre-show access to experience the Fashion Festival Hub and a complimentary glass of wine at the Rosemount Festival Hub Bar (over 18’s only) Cost: $35.00 per person

Tip –Save $10 on the Runway package and Show package by seeing the shows at 12:30pm, 1:30pm or 5:30pm

• Where: Circular Quay, Sydney
• When: 2nd May – 6th May

Make your mouth water at Orange F.O.O.D Week

Four hours west of Sydney nearby one of Australians dormant volcanoes you will find Orange, host town to the annual festival of F.O.O.D.  For 10 days visitors can come and enjoy a range of events which celebrate and encourage fresh local produce.

Local eateries and restaurants host cooking classes whilst others formal balls and cheese tasting, while farmers from around town set up market stalls enticing visitors to taste and buy their fresh produce.  There is much to do and see but you shouldn’t miss out on events that make the F.O.O.D festival unique such as the 100-mile dinner – an event that celebrates food using ingredients originating from within a 100 mile radius – which should definitely tickle the taste buds of environmentalists.

Another thing not to miss is the time travellers’ dinner which showcases a variety of breads, pies and chutneys typical of past eras dating back to 1876 so don’t forget your top hats and petticoats.

• Where: Orange, New South Wales
• When: Friday 8th – Sunday 17th April 2011

Getting there:

If this was the final incentive that you needed to get on a plane down under, the nearest airport to all these events is Sydney and currently Austravel has last minute deals on flights to Sydney.

Barceloneta Beach

The first beach which is worth paying a visit to is Barceloneta, probably the closest one to the city center which is only fifteen to twenty minutes walking to from Plaza Catalunya. However, nice location is not the only thing which makes Barceloneta special, the young exciting atmosphere and varied activities ranging from swimming, diving to flying kites or dancing are what attract people to Barceloneta. One more thing that should be noted about the beach is the peculiar cube monument which always makes people wonder how the architect got the design idea and how skillful the workers were to put it into reality.

Bogatell Beach

Bogatell is also a nice beach that people should visit during their stay in Barcelona. Clean and fresh water along with attractive seashore are magnets which attract lots of people. Also in a corner of the beach you can find some weight training equipment to help you burn energy and get toned if you get bored of exposing yourself too much into the water or sunshine.

Sitges Beach

If you plan to have a trip to the surrounding areas of Barcelona, Sitges beach is really worth taking into consideration. The beach has beautiful seashore with golden sand but can be a little bit busy in the peak time. Also annually in Sitges there is a vintage car rally which draws lots of attention.

Mar Bella Beach Nudist Beach

If you’ve ever asked if Barcelona has a ‘nude’ beach, Mar Bella Beach is your answer. However, don’t be surprised if you are the only one without pants in the beach, it depends on people if they would like to be naked or not, even if they visit the unofficial nude beach like Mar Bella.

The list of beaches can be really long and in this post I just want to cover some most well known and noted beaches in the city. So if you plan to visit Barcelona, don’t forget to pack sun glasses and swimming suits.

Guest Bio:

This is a guest post by Tommy Duy, a writer for Apartime, provider of Barcelona holiday rentals