Backpacking is popular in Australia.

A backpacker who went missing after visiting a Sydney beach has been found alive and well after a massive police search for her.

Estonian tourist Pirjo Kukk was on holiday backpacking around Australia and had been camping near to a popular Sydney beach at Elouera. She was reported as missing after some of her belongings were found abandoned on the beach and she failed to return to the campsite.

The last known sighting of her was by an Elouera beach lifeguard late on Tuesday afternoon. Police were contacted the following morning and immediately began a search and rescue operation for the missing tourist.

It is believed that she was on a working holiday in Australia and was a receptionist at a Woolloomooloo hostel. However she was not happy at the hostel, texting a friend, the Daily Telegraph reports, to say she was missing a shift to be stubborn.

Late yesterday afternoon Miss Kukk reportedly phoned a friend to pass on the message to police that she was safe and well. Her whereabouts is still unknown but police are no longer treating the incident as a missing person.

Backpacking is becoming increasingly popular in Australia, especially with Europeans. Many Europeans can get a working holiday visa that allows them to work and live in Australia for up to a year. Most backpackers find work in horticulture and viticulture but there are also jobs to be had in the many bars that line the city streets as well as hostels and hotels.

Whale watching is an experience of a lifetime.

Winter whale watching is fast becoming a popular tourist attraction over in Queensland, Australia where hundreds of tourists watch in delight as they get up close and personal with mother whales and their calves.

Hervey Bay off the Queensland coast is the newest tourist attraction to cater for this demand and tourists are often in for a treat as mothers rise to the surface with their babies in order to show them off!

Platypus Bay is the holiday ground of the magnificent Humpback whale who congregate here every winter. They are used to seeing visitors and their boats so the chances of getting close to a mother and her calf is quite high. In fact the tour guides will report that they whales often love the chance to interact with the boat and its passengers.

It is here that the whales rest and take a break before their long migration back to the Antarctic and so it here that they are seen at their playful best.

Freedom III is one such boat that carries tourist to the famous whale watching spot. From this 58 foot catamaran, guests can enjoy 360 degree views out across the bay on three separate viewing levels. The boat can take around 49 guests but the owner, famous documentary producer Ben Cropp, prefers to take just 40 so that guests have space and room to wander around.

As whale watching can be hungry work, guests are also treated to some sumptuous home-cooked goodies and a mouth-wateringly tasty lunchtime buffet. Not that you’ll want to spend too much time eating as the whales surface and lunge all over the bay, often doing magnificent acrobatic leaps in the air.

Freedom III is now operating whale watching tours from late July to early November, visit their website at freedomwhalewatch for more information.

Australia's gold coast is a tourist hot spot.

Australia comes out tops of a survey asking people about their dream holiday destinations by travel network Virtuoso.

Almost 11,000 people took part in the survey which asked them which places they would consider for a dream trip. Australia topped the list followed by Italy, New Zealand, South Africa and Greece. The UK didn’t make it onto the list which is surprising!

Virtuoso said that the survey illustrated that holidaymakers are prepared to travel greater distances and holiday for longer, making the most of every day spent away.

It should be no surprise that Australia is the number one holiday destination as it offers a wide variety of holiday experiences that simply cannot be beaten! From the tropical rainforests of Queensland, to the rocky outback of the Northern Territories; the sandy beaches of the Gold Coast to the bright city lights of Sydney – there is something for everyone in Australia.

It’s also a country rich in culture, home to some of the world’s oldest cave paintings and one of the world’s oldest living cultures – the Aboriginal people. It’s landscape is breathtaking and unspoilt and it’s wildlife is unique.

You can choose to be adventurous and surf the waves, take flying lessons and have a go at exploring the Great Barrier Reef. Or you can simply relax in the tranquil surroundings of Hamilton Island whilst the waves merely lap around your feet. There is so much to do and see that it’s no wonder many people rate it as their dream trip. Once you’ve been to Australia, a little part of it remains with you always. See our Australian holiday section for inspiring ideas.

Rumours abound that Jana Rawlinson will be flying the flag for Britain.

An Australian hurdler has come under fire after reportedly negotiating with British Officials about the possibility of running for Britain at the 2012 London Olympics.

Jana Rawlinson is reported to have held talks with the head of the London Olympics, Lord Sebastian Coe about switching to Britain for financial reasons. Something that Rawlinson is so far denying.

Rawlinson is Australian by birth and is the defending 400m hurdle Commonwealth champion. She was quoted complaining recently about the lack of support by the Australian Athletics compared to that given to British athletes. “I do look at what British Athletics does for their athletes and they are much better supported.” She also commented on how the Australian Athletics don’t “care” about her potential to be an Olympic champion.

Jana is married to British hurdler Chris Rawlinson and has made enquiries about obtaining a British passport, this her manager says, is so she can travel around Europe with ease. She has also recently been living in Britain. As she last competed for Australia in 2007 she is eligible to compete for the UK, but her manager and Jana herself refuse the claims.

The AA manager Eric Hollingsworth said: “Jana is quite distressed by the media approach to the rumours but after a long chat with her overnight we’re here to state that Jana is Australian, she’s got an Australian passport and she will remain an Australian.”

However the Herald Sun have reportedly heard from an AA source as saying that Jana has received more than $500,000 in financial support over the past 10 years and that AA staff are furious about her mooted plans.

Uluru is a sacred Aboriginal site.

A tourist on holiday in Australia has angered Aborigines by stripping off on the top of Uluru, a sacred Aboriginal site.

The French woman was holidaying in Australia when she visited Uluru, formerly Ayres Rock, a popular tourist attraction. Climbing the rock is permitted although discouraged by Aboriginal people. Once at the top the woman performed a striptease routine, finishing in a white bikini and white high-heeled boots topped off with a bushman hat.

The woman was filmed performing the stunt and the film then appeared on the Sunday Territorian newspaper website.

Uluru is regarded as a sacred site by Aboriginal people who believe that it is a home for their ancestral spirits. It is also a hugely popular tourist attraction and whilst climbing the rock is frowned upon, it is not yet banned although there have been proposals put forward to that extent. Just recently a huge walkway was erected around the site to encourage visitors to appreciate the World Heritage site from a distance.

The striptease has so angered the Aboriginal people who own the site that they have called for the woman’s deportation back to France. Bizarrely the woman in question is reported to have said that she did the striptease as a tribute to how the Aboriginal people live naked. Which of course, is plain rubbish.

Northern Territory Police have been informed but say that unless an official complaint is made there is little they can do. The woman has not broken any laws.

This shimmering, glistening, curved beauty rises up out of its surroundings like a spacecraft about to take off, it’s sleek, aerodynamic body almost built with gliding through space in mind. It is in fact the latest luxurious offering from Saffire Hotel in Tasmania, aptly named the jewel of Tasmania. It’s unusual and elegant style gives you some idea of the contemporary design within.

Guests here are treated to a complimentary Welcoming Spa Experience where you can select your own experience from a ‘Spa Menu’ – a range of treatments to soothe body and soul and of course guests have full use of the well-equipped gym.

All suites take in the breathtaking view of the Hazards Mountains and each has a private balcony from where you can stand, glass in hand, to watch the sunset casting its warm glow over the mountains.

If you can muster up the energy to venture out of the hotel you’ll find pristine white, sandy beaches and clear blue seas awaiting you. You can even choose one of the hotel’s experiences – so perhaps you’d like to visit Wineglass Bay, listed as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world? Or perhaps one of the many water sports on offer is more your style? Whether it’s relaxing or adrenalin rushing, Saffire has an experience tailor-made for you.

In terms of unusual accommodation this one just oozes style and decadence and will make you the envy of friends back home!

For more information about this hotel visit Saffire Hotel and if you fancy staying somewhere different in Australia then read our guide to unusual places to stay.

The Redback spider is one of Australia's deadliest.

The UK had some very unwelcome visitors from Australia this week in the form of deadly Australian Redback spiders.

Staff from Lancashire’s BAE base were horrified when they opened a crate and over a dozen of the Redbacks started crawling out. Many of them fled the building in terror.

The base was eventually sealed and experts brought in to contain the deadly spiders. The spider was easily identifiable by the red stripe running down its back. They are one of the most deadliest spiders in Australia so the shock for the BAE staff at Lancashire must have been quite severe.

According to one worker to spoke to The Sun newspaper: “It caused a major panic. Big, tough men were yelling with fear when they saw these things crawling all over the place. There were also loads of eggs in there. The big worry was one could have escaped.”

Although tiny, measuring around 1 centimetre long, there is nothing tiny about their bite. Their venom is highly toxic to humans, causing severe pain which then leads to chest pain, fever, hypertension and vomiting. In rare cases it can lead to seizures, coma and even respiratory failure. Once bitten by one of these guys you don’t easily forget it!

They are common all over Australia but are not known to be able to survive the UK climate, preferring hot, dry areas. However with the weather we’ve been having in the UK lately, any escapees could make themselves right at home! That’s one Australian visitor you really wouldn’t want in your house!

Tourism Australia are looking for a new global tourism campaign.

Calling all Australians – now is your time to play a part in supporting your tourist industry. Vote for your favourite holiday experience with Tourism Australia now!

For months Tourism Australia have been asking ordinary Australians to share their favourite holiday experiences for their latest tourism campaign. Now, from the tens of thousands of entries, eight finalists have been chosen. One stands to win the prize of a lifetime – you can decide who that is.

The There’s Nothing Like Australia campaign took off like a Nasa spacerocket in April and since then almost 30,000 images and stories have been uploaded onto the special Tourism Australia website from ordinary Aussies sharing their personal holiday experiences of Australia.

One winner was picked from each state/territory, leaving just eight people and one prize of a $25,000 Australian holiday of a lifetime. Now their fate is in your hands. You have until midnight on the 29^th June to register your vote.

Tourism Australia Managing Director Andrew McEvoy said of the response so far: “From the start, the Australian people have been very much involved in Tourism Australia’s new global campaign to tell the world why There’s nothing like Australia.”

“Now we are giving them the opportunity to choose the ultimate Australian holiday from the eight finalists representing tourism experiences from across the country.”

The winner will not only win their dream Australian holiday but they’ll get to see their experience used as part of a global tourist campaign used within the Australian travel industry. But the other seven don’t go away empty handed – all eight have already won a holiday worth $5,000 plus a Google Nexus One phone.

So log onto http://www.nothinglikeaustralia.com/ and register your vote. The fate of the Australian tourist industry is in your hands! Well….almost! Get more Australian holiday ideas here.

Australia travel made easy with online visa applications.

Tourists travelling to Australia on holiday using an eVisa will find the online application much easier to fathom from the 1^st of July.

The Australian Immigration Department have updated and improved the online application processing system to make it easier to navigate and understand.

The eVisa is the most convenient way for most holidaymakers travelling to Australia to obtain their travel visa. The entire application can be carried out online and the visa is then accessible to airline and travel agencies as an online document. That means no additional paperwork to remember at the airport.

Once your eVisa has been processed you can travel in and out of Australia as many times as you like within the 12 months that the travel visa is valid for, so long as you do not exceed the maximum length for any one stay of 3 months.

The updated eVisa application form now takes you through the application step by step. Any errors are not only highlighted in red but the errors are also listed at the top of the error page. Also an additional page will appear informing you that your payment is being processed, to reduce the risk of multiple payments being sent.

Previously for e457 and eGSM visas you were restricted to sending just 20 attachments as further documentation, this has now been increased to 60 for each applicant. For all other eVisa applications there will be a maximum of 30 documents allowed. These attachments can now also be uploaded with your application form.

All of these improvements take effect from the 1^st of July 2010. It’s part of a governmental drive to simplify Australian visas and make the applications more efficient. You can also follow the progress of your visa online using your unique Transaction Reference Number.

Find out more about eVisas and eVisitors on the DIAC website.

Many items of luggage never make it to the carousel.

Travelling to Australia on holiday this year? Well when you do just make sure that you arrive with all of your luggage intact as a report claims that airlines lose 25 million items of luggage each year.

The 2010 Air Transport Industry Baggage Report has just been released which revealed that over 25 million items of luggage were mishandled in 2009. Remarkably this figure is actually down by nearly 24% from 2008 and down by 40% from 2007!

Reasons for the decrease in mishandled bags include fewer passengers travelling, fewer bags being checked-in to save on fees, oh and improved baggage handling systems of course. Well it would be improved if they have less baggage to handle wouldn’t it?

It was discovered that most bags go missing upon transfer. So for instance if you are flying to Australia and getting a transfer in Dubai, you are more likely to suffer from missing luggage. Around 16% of luggage isn’t loaded onto the flight in the first place and a further 13% of luggage goes missing because of poor labelling or bag switching by passengers.

Given these high figures it makes sense to ensure that if you are planning an Australia holiday this year that you make sure your luggage is covered in your travel insurance. Many airlines, especially the budget ones, may not offer compensation for lost, stolen or damaged luggage.

Thorough labelling can also ensure that your bags are returned safely to you should they go missing. Ensure that you have several labels detailing your flight number, the airport you set off from and your destination airport as well as the airline you are travelling with. Also include your name and contact number. Fasten one label to the handle of your luggage; another should be secured to the front of your bags and another inside your bags. This should minimise the risk of loss through mis-labelling.

It may also be worth making your luggage stand out so that it is easily noticeable and less likely to end up travelling with the wrong passenger. Just attaching a brightly coloured ribbon or painting a pattern on the front can often be enough.

But most of all do check your travel insurance details and make sure that your luggage is covered against loss and damage. Then you can relax and enjoy your holiday in Australia!