Well, here you are, keys in hand, standing at the door of the brand new country home you have always dreamed about. You are envisioning family and friends on your porch, grilling and enjoying the quiet freedom of country property. The stars shine brighter, the air is cleaner, and the solitude of multiple acres affords you the happy calm you long for while enduring a cacophony of constant city noise.

What you may not have considered (or are avoiding considering) is the upkeep of your new home. Since most of us would rather spend money on some “toys” (read: recreational vehicles, horses, etc) for the new property than pay someone to come in and do maintenance, and letting that peculiar second cousin stay there in exchange for work defeats the relaxing environment you set out to cultivate, you will have to do some maintenance yourself. Here are some quick tips to keep maintenance from taking away too much from your full-time second home job: relaxation.

1.Run through a checklist before you leave the property, every time. This will cut down on frustrating trips back out to the property to turn off the air conditioning. Below is a sample list to get you started:

a.Turn off the power. If for some reason you don’t want the power completely off, make sure to turn off the air conditioner and other energy-hogging electronics.

b.Close all the doors and gates. This may seem obvious, but people often find themselves leaving doors and gates open more when they have so much space to themselves, again, we don’t want that second cousin moving in!

c.Is there a possibility of inclement weather or extreme temperatures? Take precautions with pipes, windows, and outbuildings.

d.Remove any perishable food items, make sure all trash is taken out, and all food preparation and eating implements are clean.

2.If you have a pool or any other permanently fixed recreational equipment, invest in a durable protective cover. This will keep down the wear and tear on said equipment and keep it running smoothly without additional maintenance for a longer time.

3.Keep in mind that additional acreage may require groundskeeping. While this is not true across the board with country homes, many have sprawling, massive lawns. If riding around on a big riding mower (with plenty of cup holders) is an appealing aspect of your new property, try the classifieds or checking the closest town for deals on riding mowers. These are easily repairable machines that are constantly being resold as people upgrade or move. If you prefer not to deal with the lawn, try checking with the previous owners of the house or neighbors to see what service they may use (or if they have a teenager looking for cash).

4.As you notice fixes that need to be completed, keep a list. This will keep you from falling into the trap of trying to get too much done as you enjoy your time at your property. It is further recommended that you take separate, shorter “maintenance trips" to your property occasionally to reduce the amount of time spent working while protecting the general atmosphere of unperturbed relaxation when using your home for pleasure.

5.Get someone who lives in the area to “check up” on your property and report back if there are any problems. This may cost a slight retainer fee if you aren’t familiar with anyone in the area, but this is more than worth avoiding being surprised by anything when you arrive at your country home.

6.Some “quaint” items – such as all-wood fences – are great to look at but eat up time with lengthy repairs. Always consider additional upkeep when adding to or upgrading features of your country home

7.Some maintenance you simply can’t or would prefer not to do yourself – septic tank work, roofing, stump removal, etc. For these jobs, it is important to schedule around your use of the home. Smelling a septic tank being pumped or listening to roof work during your spring vacation may result in trouble finding company to enjoy your new home.

Some of you would, I’m sure, rather pay someone to take care of all of these types of work for you. I recommend using an all-in-one service like http://www.secondhomecare.com. Many vacation areas have a few reliable options such as this, though it is highly recommended checking these companies’ record of service with local business owners to avoid scams.

If you follow these quick tips and use common sense regarding length of time you will be gone from the property, you should be able to enjoy your property to its full potential instead of spending your hard-earned time at your great new home doing basic maintenance.
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Welcome to this guide to Australia.

This travel Australia guide is written by a real person who came to this wonderful country over 30 years ago from England and has had the pleasure of travelling around it for pleasure and for business for all of that time.

As you read through the pages of this Australian travel guide I'm sure you'll find some information that you already know but I hope you'll also find a great deal about Australia that you didn't know and I also hope that it will spark in you a desire to travel to Australia and experience more of this magical country for yourself.

The Tasmanian Devil, friendly little fellow....not!

When you travel to Australia you'll find a land full of beautiful scenery and a wonderful mix of ancient Australian Aboriginal culture and modern European and Oriental influence.

There is just so much to see and do here that when you come to travel Australia you’ll never have enough time to see it all.

In places like Uluru, (Ayers Rock to all those who don’t speak the language), which is a great big rock right in the middle of the outback, you can see ancient aboriginal rock art, painted by the local indigenous people hundreds (or perhaps even thousands) of years ago.

Maybe you might even purchase some of the local Aboriginal art to take with you as a reminder of your Australian travels and the best holiday of your life…

Australian beaches, the best in the world....

As you travel around Australia you'll find that Australian beaches are probably the best beaches in the world (in my humble opinion).

Beautiful white sand, warm pacific waters, a glass of something cool...ah, bliss!

Or perhaps you might prefer to travel to the red centre and visit our stark Australian outback (otherwise known as “the bush”).

Wonderful scenery, unlike anywhere else in the world, barren and empty to some but if you take the time and the trouble to look you'll find some very unique Australian animals and some even more unique Australian people....

The termites in Northern Australia are so big they’re frightening.

The choice will always be yours...

Australia is geographically divided into 6 states and 2 territories, each is different and each is well worthy of your time.

Australian Capital Territory.

Welcome to the nation's capital.

It's full name is a bit of a mouthful so the state is known simply as the ACT.

You could easily miss it on the map as it's far smaller than the state of New South Wales that completely surrounds it.

New South Wales.

New South Wales, Australia's oldest state, is packed full of amazing attractions, places of spectacular natural beauty, unique history and a bunch of fun activities for all to enjoy.

Victoria.

For a small state, Victoria has some of the best sightseeing and most fascinating places in the country.

From the heady Gold Rush days to the dramatic scenery, there are surprises around every bend.

Queensland.

With regions such as the Gold Coast and Whitsundays, it's little wonder that Queensland brings to mind lazy days on sunny beaches.

It's true, the perfect climate and seaside towns show relaxed Australian culture at its best.

South Australia.

Wine connoisseurs won't be disappointed, with regions such as the Barossa, Clare Valley and The Limestone Coast, South Australia's large selection of acclaimed wineries will satisfy your every tastebud.

Western Australia.

WA has a rugged and beautiful outback & a history tied to the ocean. From the vast open plains of the Nullarbor to the colourful marine wonderland of Ningaloo Reef, WA provides the best of both worlds.

Tasmania.

Tucked away at the far south of the country and across the untamed waters of Bass Strait, lies Tasmania, a place rich with heritage and spectacular natural history.

The Northern Territory.

A land of contrasts, the Northern Territory is rich with striking scenery. From the lush rainforests of Kakadu and Katherine to the arid red plains of the Red Centre in Alice Springs and the great rock, Uluru, the land is full of surprises.

Of course, unless you have an unlimited amount of time at your disposal you'll never be able to see all of Australia in 1 (or perhaps even 2 or 3 or 4) visits so to help you decide where you'd really like to go on this visit I suggest you take your time here and look around the site before you book your flights, it'll help you decide where to go and what to see.

Click here to save on your flights to Australia, or anywhere else in the world, your hotels, car rentals, and much more.

As always, if you have any questions about Australia you'd like to ask please write to me, I won't be able to answer them all but I'll always do my best and most of all don't forget the prime directive..............enjoy.
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Everyone should visit Hawaii once in their lives. A Hawaii tour defines the perfect vacation because of the many fantastic attractions it offers. If you are on your way to Hawaii, you have the right to know what these great attractions are so you could plan the perfect vacation. Here are just a few of the great places to visit when in Hawaii.

A Hawaiian visit is not complete without taking a tour of its alluring islands. Each of these islands has its share of beauty and adventure either on land, air or water. When you do your island hopping, Maui should be on top of your list. Maui has more than 81 beaches and offers great adventures like watching humpback whales, dolphins and sea turtles from a boat or submarine. The Maui Ocean Center is a huge tropical reef aquarium that you would surely take pleasure in.

Kauai or the Island of Discovery is the perfect place to dive, surf, waterski, snorkel, windsurf and watch dolphins. Do not miss visiting Napali Coast and the Fern Grotto while riding a kayak or catamaran. What’s more is that Kauai has been called a golfer’s paradise because of the great courses like Kauai Lagoons Golf Club and Princeville Golf Club.

Get captivated with the Grand Canyon of the Pacific as you visit Waimea. View the magnificence by doing a coastal hike, riding a mountain bike, motor bike or all-terrain vehicle. Riding a horse will allow you to see other natural sites like forests, canyons and waterfalls. Why not view Waimea from above by taking a helicopter ride?

At the North Shore of Oahu, you will find the 42-acre Polynesian Cultural Center. It presents recreated villages, many exhibits and activities that you could sink your hands and feet on. Many of them are about the customs of different islands in the Aloha State. Experience an authentic luau and indulge in all-you-can-eat buffets. You can even watch a volcano “erupt.”

Inspect the three volcanoes of Big Island Hawaii and enjoy sunsets, sportfishing and coffee at Kona. The great waves at Kailua are great for activities like parasailing and surfing. To top your vacation, have yourself photographed at the world-famous Waikiki beach.

For any beach buff, a trip to Hawaii is like visiting the paradise of Eden. The greatest attractions can be found in the ouMake tdoors. sure that you spend time in several beaches, trek on mountain trails and enjoy all the adventures the islands offer.
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