You could be taking pictures like this with Rocks Photography Tours.
When you go on an Australian holiday there is already so much that you take back home with you – souvenirs of Australia, photographs, perhaps a home video and of course the memories of this wonderful and unique country. But now you take-away something a little more special – a new-found skill with a souvenir that you’ve created. Forget kangaroo balls and cork hats, how about learning the skill of photography or sheep-shearing?
Thanks to Tourism New South Wales we’ve got hold of the best of these take-away tours that include cookery, jewellery making, sailing, surfing and more. Whether you are a single person, in a group, with a family or retired you can benefit from these hands-on experiences.
So take home something unique from your holidays this year – who knows, it might just inspire you to carry on with your new-found skill at home.
Photography Skills
Now if your holiday photos usually come out with everyone wincing into the sun, or a group of people minus heads then you may benefit from The Rocks Photography Tours. Take in the sights of Sydney and Melbourne with a professional photographer on hand to show you all the tricks and techniques of capturing that perfect image. This is ideal for both beginners and pros who want to brush up their skills and benefit from fantastic scenery that is just crying out to be captured on camera. No more will your friends and family look like startled rabbits caught in the headlights – this tour will teach you how to get the light just right, how to capture the atmosphere in the photo, how create great effects and how to make the most of the environment around you. You’ll be heading back home with a album full of professionally shot photos that will make your holiday come alive!
Sheep Shearing Fun
Are you shear you're the farmer?
Ok I’m struggling to think of where else you might use this skill, but it’s great fun nonetheless! Shear Outback is an award-winning tourist attraction that is educational and interactive. It comprises of a museum which details the history of sheep-shearing in the area and gives you the chance to meet the shearers themselves, their dogs and of course, the sheep. Learn all about Jackie Howe’s blade-shears record. Have a go at shearing yourself and come away with the wool that you sheared (I’m thinking of a nice rug by the fire at home). They also have re-enactments starting in March that tells the tale of the Baitlayers – become a participant in the tale yourself, form the Australian Shearers’ Union and witness the ghost of shearers’ cook Blackchops McGinty – all you need is Scooby Doo and the team and your experience will be complete!
Jewellery Design
Ever wanted to be a jewellery designer? Or perhaps you just want to give your partner an extra special gift that is designed and made by you out of the finest materials. Metalab in New South Wales runs small classes for enthusiastic beginners who want to learn the fine art of jewellery making. Personal attention will be given to your own design and you can have as much or as little help as you require to fashion your unique, personalised piece. As Metalab focuses on originality and personal expression you know you are in good hands. Why not do a tour first to find out about their craft practitioners and what inspirers the designers. Then with a head filled with knowledge and ideas you can get started on your piece that you will no doubt treasure forever. Who knows, it may inspire you to get creative once back at home and start creating pieces for family and friends, because once they see the exquisite design you’ve made they’ll be queuing up for their own!
Cookery Courses
They say that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, well personally I think that’s a very sexist saying as I can equally be tempted with a mouth-wateringly tasty meal (are you listening dear husband?). I like to think of myself as a bit of a foodie and so this next experience certainly grabs my taste-buds! Georgina grew up in a small fishing village on the south coast of NSW and began to explore her interest in food by setting up two small cafés. So successful were they that she found herself catering for distinguished guests and wedding parties at a private villa. She has since travelled the world and explored new tastes and cooking techniques. All of this she brings to you with her program of cooking classes at Georgina’s Cucina. You can choose from private classes for you and your friends, a spring cooking camp at a secluded beach house, a food getaway for reclusive types or team cooking projects – great for those team-building exercises! Cooking should be about having fun in the kitchen and that’s what Georgina sets out to achieve. She won’t promise to turn you into a Michelin starred chef but you will make new friends, have lots of fun and will have learnt to cook at least one dish to perfection!
Sailing Lessons
We are sailing, we are sailing, across the sea....
Now how about something more leisurely? What could be better than sailing the seas and oceans on your own sailing boat, watching the breeze catch the sails and glide you along on a calm blue sea. Well I’m sure there’s a little more to it than that and if you fancy taking the sails and finding out how it’s really done then Gosford Sailing School can teach you how.
Even if you’ve never set foot on a boat before, the professionals at Gosford will take good care of you and show you all the practical techniques you need to learn how to handle a boat. They run courses from novice right through to an Inshore Certificate. There’s even the chance for the kids to get involved with the new Kids and Teenagers ‘Learn to Sail’ course that starts on the 20th February. So what are you waiting for? Grab that tiller and sail yourself down there now.
Treasure Hunting
When you were a kid did you ever go treasure hunting? Rummage around in newly ploughed fields hoping to find a stash of Roman coins? Fossil hunting on the beach? How about fossicking for opal? No? Well don’t miss out any longer! Experience the excitement of fossicking among the rocks for a glimpse of the elusive and beautiful opal stone, you never know your luck…. Even if you fail to find an opal you can visit the underground mines and take a look at a collection of what has been found there at Lightening Ridge, including the magnificent black and crystal opal. Once you see this private collection of locally found and mined opal you’ll be back outside fossicking for more! And if your luck has escaped you for the day you can always console yourself with a purchase from the shop at Platform One, I mean who’s to know you didn’t find it yourself, right? Join Black Opal Tours for a truly dazzling experience.
Surf’s Up!
Yes this really could be you... surfing like a pro!
Us Brits are usually the laughing stock of any Aussie beach when we delicately climb aboard our surfboards, catch the smallest possible wave – so small it’s probably just a ripple – and then precariously stand, wobbling furiously, to the delight of the packed beach who break into a round of applause if we manage to stand there for 5 seconds without falling off. Well Lets Go Surfing has come to our rescue. They offer professional surfing lessons right there on Bondi Beach and trust me, they’ve deal with unbalanced Brits plenty of times before! If anyone can get you surfing the waves like a true pro, these people can. And if you’ve done it all before and think you aren’t in need of any extra tuition, well then think again because these guys have tips and advice to offer even the most fanatical of surfers on catching that elusive ‘big one’. And with a huge store packed full of wetsuits and surfboards of all shapes and sizes – all you need to bring is your enthusiasm. They can even teach the nippers!
Once you’ve caught the surfing bug there really will be no stopping you and you’ll be keen to show off your surfing skills back the UK to the envy of other wobbly Brits.
There are plenty more take-away tours and experiences that you can indulge in on the New South Wales website. So why settle for holiday snaps and souvenirs when you can bring back so much more! Next time you book your holiday in Australia, bring a little bit of Oz back with you!
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