TRAVEL | Eureka Tower

Eureka Tower is a 300-metre skyscraper located in Southbank, Melbourne, the world's tallest residential tower when measured to its highest floor. However, Q1 located on the Gold Coast is officially the world's tallest residential building because of its spire adding to its total height.

I really like the design of this tower. Apparently, the building was named after Eureka Stockade, a rebellion during the Victorian gold rush in 1854. The building's gold crown represents the gold rush and a red stripe on the side of the tower represents the blood spilt during the revolt. The blue glass cladding that covers most of the building represents the blue background of the stockade's flag and the white lines also represent the eureka stockade flag.

The observation deck, known as the Eureka Skydeck 88, occupies the entire 88th floor of the Eureka Tower and is the highest public vantage point in a building in the Southern Hemisphere at 285 m.

Do you see the blood?

TRAVEL | Sydney

The state capital of New South Wales, Sydney, often known as the Harbour City, is the largest, oldest and most cosmopolitan city in Australia. Since I will be visiting this alpha+ world city in a month or so, I decided to introduce some must-go attractions in Sydney.

The Opera House

One of 20th century's most distinctive buildings. Built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon.

The Sydney Botanic Gardens

An immense green space right next to the concrete jungle of the CBD.

The Sydney Tower

The second tallest observation tower in the southern hemisphere, after Auckland's Sky Tower

Sydney Olympic Park

Home to the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

Darling Harbour

A leisure and entertainment area immediately to the west of the CBD, with restaurants, waterside boardwalks, aquarium wildlife and the maritime museum.

China Town and Hay Market

Paddy's Market with lots of clothing, sunglasses, souvenirs, and food.

Kings Cross and Oxford Street

Sydney's red light district and the city's world famous gay scene.

Manly Beach and Bondi Beach

Sydney's most popular beaches

So many must-go attractions! Can't wait!


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TRAVEL | Whitsunday Islands

Along the Queensland coast of Australia, dotted with hundreds of tropical islands lies the Great Barrier Reef, the world's greatest Coral Reef system. And in the heart of the reef are the 74 islands of the Whitsundays, the largest group of offshore islands in Australia. It is said that the sand found here is so pure (99% white sand), that NASA uses it to make lenses for its telescopes.

The majority of the Whitsunday islands are designated national park, leaving them uninhabited and in their purest natural state. The azure seas, the white sandy beaches and the amazing reef make it one of Australia's must go holiday destinations.

It would be a dream come true for me to be able to go scuba diving in the coral reefs, seeing the variety of wildlife that exist here, and then spend the rest of the afternoon enjoying the white sandy beaches.

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BUSINESS | Air New Zealand profits plunge 90pc

National carrier Air New Zealand has unveiled a big slump in full year, normalised earnings to $145m, with bottom line net profits sinking 90pc to just $21m.

Analysts were forecasting a profit within the range of $65m to $113m. Last year's profit was $218m.

Key highlights

• Normalised earnings* before taxation of $145 million
• Normalised earnings* after taxation of $118 million
• Operating revenue down 1.2 per cent to $4.6 billion
• Passenger demand down 7.6 per cent
• Net cash position $1.6 billion, up 22 per cent
• Final dividend of 3.5 cents

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New Zealand Herald Thursday 27 August 2009

TRAVEL | The Great Ocean Drive

The Great Ocean Drive begins near Torquay, about 100 km. west of Melbourne, where it follows the coastline for several hundred kilometres to Warrnambool and rejoins the Princes Highway.

The total length of the drive is 247 Km and follows the coast all the way, with some of the most spectacular coastal scenery including rugged cliffs, sandy coves and spectacular rock formations.

The highlight is undoubtedly the Twelve Apostles, a unique group of 12 limestone stacks in the Port Campbell National Park that jut out of the sea.

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