Vacations Blog

An absolute must see place to visit in the New Forest is Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary and the Ornamental Drive. A beautiful drive to get here and a trip that is worth a whole day or to come back again and again. A very happy day can easily be spent here for the whole family.

In case you didn’t know the New Forest National park was once the hunting grounds of the former kings of England, and some of the ancient traditions are still practiced today by the commoners.

The car park at Bolderwood gets really busy, so on a really lovely sunny day, plan your trip early to avoid disappointment. Adjacent to the car park and the woodland there is an open green which is great for having your picnic and a family/friendly game of rounders. You can get a delicious forest ice cream from the resident ice cream van here.

Just inside the entrance to Bolderwood there is a marvellous woodland area with some picnic and barbeque facilities. You will also find a Forest Ranger manned information centre here which is great for getting advice and answering questions you might have about the forest. There are also some great examples of some of the foliage etc. that you will find during your visit to Bolderwood.

From the Woodland area of Bolderwood you can choose from a selection of walks. One of the walks is the Bolderwood Deer Watch Trail. Throughout the walk you might spot the odd deer in the forest among the trees if you are quiet but if you miss them then you are sure to see some deer in the nearby sanctuary. Here there is a viewing platform and the deer here are a little more used to human prescence so you are bound to catch a glimpse of some deer grazing.

If you decide to take the Jubilee Walk, this is a about half a mile and will take you through the Bolderwood Arboretum. This is a fabulous display of a range of trees which began as far back as the 1800’s. Unfortunately, because of the high winds we had here in 1987 and further more in 1991, many of the great trees were destroyed. A project of ongoing planting has since been put in place to return this area to its original beauty.

An alternative stroll through this beautiful ancient woodland area will show you many more varieties of trees such as Chestnut, Beech, Oak and Norway Spruce. This walk is called the Radnor Trail and will also bring you about to the marvellous Deer Sanctuary and the viewing platform, if you haven’t spotted any Deer already during your walk.

The New Forest Cycling network which takes you through the many finest parts of the forest and links many of the major villages includes Bolderwood. Cycling through Bolderwood which includes the Ornamental drive is beautiful and can take about 3 and one half hours.

During your visit to Bolderwood you must take the time to drive through Bolderwoods Ornamental Drive. This is at its most beautiful during the summer and its windy narrow road takes you through the tremendous ancient woodland. It forms part of the 100 mile New Forest Cycling network so there are many cyclists along this route and because of its beauty the drive does become quite busy, so please be careful.

If you are looking for friendly local accommodation visit New Forest cottages for local self catering holiday cottages or New Forest hotels for luxury and hotel accommodation.

Even though the economy has people showing notes of caution, there’s no reason to cut all the adventure out of your life.  One way to exercise caution whilst still having adventure is by choosing holiday rentals in domestic getaways for your vacation this year.  Australian holiday accommodation prices are falling as owners and hoteliers put sales on to ensure a strong flow of traffic.With Australia being such a vast country you are bound to find an array of adventures to suit your style however unusual they may be.  Here are five of the top adventure destinations in the country to help you get started with your planning.

The Kimberly Region:

You will struggle to find luxury accommodation out here, the area is geared up for true explorers.  Bush skills will come in handy as you explore the cliffs and gorges.  Hiring a guide might be advisable!It’s popular to take a scenic flight over the area; doing this first allows you to pick the perfect hiking or camping spot.  Typically, overnights here will mean camping or rustic-style bed and breakfasts.

Great Dividing Range:

The mountains here are perfect for skiing, climbing and white-water rafting.No matter which country your from it’s possible to appreciate the challenge involved in climbing Mount Arapiles.  Holiday accommodation here is usually a small hotel or ski lodge, with some camping available as well.You can’t ski during the summer months when the snow has all melted but the area still offers mountain biking, hiking, paragliding and more in the summer.

Murray River:

Winding along for 404 miles, the Murray River provides a wealth of adventure.You can either base yourself in a holiday rental for the trip and enjoy day trips rafting or you can go longer distances on an organised tour with multiple stops.  Start at the border of NSW and head for the sea—it’s a feat many attempt but not all accomplish.Earn yourself some bragging rights from this years holiday by trying it?

Northern Territory:

If you’re going off the beated track then trekking in the Northern Territory is serious business.The amazing views of the landscape and lack of any crowds make the challenge rewarding.Out of respect for the traditional aboliginal land owners and safety you must stick to marked trails.  The less restricted areas still require you to check in with rangers, but the adventure of it all is thrilling.  You can camp, trek, climb, go four-wheeling or any number of other tough adventures. Make a Darwin holiday accommodation booking to start your trip and then head out to explore the state and it’s national parks.

Great Barrier Reef:

After all the inland adventures, head for the Great Barrier Reef.  Quintessentially Australian, holiday accommodation here is more than a simple bush camp.  You can live high while snorkeling, scuba diving, surfing, paragliding and wave boarding.  The Reef is magnificent—there are so many adventures to be had in the water than you can almost forget the beautiful beaches.  Almost.  Holiday rentals in the high season are very hard to come by, but getting a group together and renting a house on the beach can make for a truly memorable holiday stay.  Small cottages, fancy furnished condos, and simple bed and breakfast boutiques are available. The most popular areas are Port Douglas, Cairns and the Whitsundays. Make sure you book Port Douglas accommodation or for any other popular area well in advance.