Bicycle cycling is not just a sport. It is an exercise, a hobby, a passion, a lifestyle. Aside from the health benefits of cycling, it also promotes environmental preservation and cost-efficiency.

If you are planning to take on a biking tour in Australia, here are some of the best cycling routes every cyclist should try:

1.       Munda Biddi Trail – Located in Western Australia, this cycle route has been included in National Geographic’s travel book as one of the top 10 cycle routes. In the local Noongar Aboriginal dialect, the name stands for “Path through the Forest”. With an initial 500 km distance, this cycling trail starts at Mundaring, in the Perth Hills to Nannup, east of Margaret River. Another trail has also been opened that links Nannup to Manjimup where you can find the famous black truffles and wineries in Australia. The final version of the trail, which is aimed to be completed by 2012,  will link Perth with Albany on the southern coast, covering a distance of about 1000 km, making it world’s longest distance off-road cycle trails. Threading on this trail, bicyclists will catch a glimpse of kangaroos, brushtail possums, western brush wallabies and an awesome collection of wildflowers.

2.       Central Tablelands of NSW- Ride by train and a few hours away from Sydney, you’ll find an incredible fusion of open farmland, forests, historic villages, rolling hills, rugged escarpments, and vibrant country towns. The trail’s level of difficulty ranges from moderate to difficult since there are a lot of hills and steep, long climbs. With this trail, you can pass by Mt. Victoria, Lithgow, Bathurst, Orange, Oberon, Kanangra Walls and Jenolan Caves.

3.       Canberra to the Coast- Want to go to the south from Australia’s capital? Then this is the best route to take especially for those who have limited bicycling skills. Travelling to New South Wales via this route, cyclists will go through three stages without long and hard climbs. Travelling through quiet roads in the Southern Tablelands and the scenic views of the Araluen Valley to Moruya composes the first two stages. The third stage of the route allows you to enjoy the breath-taking views of the forests and coastal sceneries between Moruya and Narooma at the same time, avoiding the heavy traffic in Princess Highway.

Enjoy your cycling!

P.s. – We don’t think you can go past Mt Buller for Mountain Bike trails: http://www.mtbuller.com.au

The American state is really often referred to as it’s own country, as it should be considering it is hundreds of miles away from mainland America.

Hawaii’s natural beauty, warm tropical climate, inviting waters and waves, and active volcanoes has made it a popular destination for tourists, surfers, biologists, and volcanologists for the past decades.

As well as the great climate, there is also amazing natural beauty about the land, including the amazing tropical fauna and mountain regions.

In addition, there is some intriguing native tribes in the tiny islands which will be sure to interest many sociologists and historians who travel the region.

In terms of what to do in the many islands of Hawaii, there is a plethora of activities ranging from golf trips, bush-walking, horse riding into an extinct volcano, to surfing some of the worlds best breaks.

Currently the state has a population of just over one million, however, die to the massive tourism boom, it generally holds more than that at any given time.

The capital city of Hawaii is Honolulu, although there are many other major cities just as worthy of a visit during your travels.

Hilo, Kahului and Lihu’e are some of the well-known cities/towns around the island region. All cater for tourists and have great water sport activities as well as some interesting nightlife spots to head out to.

The flight, organised by Melbourne-based Antarctica Sightseeing Flights, will originate in Sydney and fly via Melbourne to reach Antarctica. Passengers will be over the “ice” at midnight and be the first in the world to see the light of the new year.

The chartered A380 will fly figure-eight patterns above the breathtaking polar terrain for up to four hours before heading back to Melbourne and Sydney.

Two other Antarctic flights are also planned for the southern summer – a second A380 service direct from Sydney on 24 January and a Boeing 747-400 from Melbourne on Valentine’s Day, 14 February. All flights are operated by senior Qantas pilots, with the captain in command having previously operated Antarctica sightseeing flights.

The New Year’s Eve flight to Antarctica will be under the command of Captain John Dennis, who has flown more than 40 of the 85 previous Boeing 747 flights to the ice. He will be accompanied by two other senior pilots for the inaugural A380 journey.

“Antarctica is the world’s coldest, driest and windiest continent, and the fastest, most comfortable way to view it is from the air, which maximises viewing but leaves not a single footprint,” said Antarctica flights founder Phil Asker, whose company has operated 85 Antarctic flights from Australia since 1994, all with Boeing 747 aircraft chartered from Qantas.

“Not only will we offer the unique opportunity for New Year’s Eve travellers to farewell 2009 and welcome 2010 flying low and slow over the breathtaking Antarctic landscape – we will offer the bonus opportunity to make aviation history aboard the first commercial flight by an A380 to the south polar region,” he said.

Antarctica sightseeing flights do not land in Antarctica. On a typical flight, the first icebergs are seen approximately three hours after passing over Hobart. The most frequently-used route then takes the aircraft over the polar icecap, the South Magnetic Pole, the French scientific base at Dumont d’Urville, rugged coastal cliffs, massive glaciers and finally the spectacular Trans-Antarctic Range before returning to Australia.

On board, experts deliver commentary and stories of their own experiences in Antarctica, and stroll through the cabin throughout the flight to speak to passengers.

Videos are screened about Antarctic life and history and a camera on the flight deck gives passengers a pilot’s eye view, via the cabin entertainment screens, of takeoff and landing in Australia and of the polar landscape ahead. There is even a jazz band moving through the cabin during the New Year’s Eve flight.

The Qantas Airbus A380 fleet is configured to seat up to 450 passengers with eight different seating options available for Antarctic flights.

Pricing from Sydney and Melbourne for the New Year’s Eve flight ranges from $999 for an Economy Class Centre seat to $6,299 in First Class.

For more information on pricing, travel dates or other details, or to book an Antarctica sightseeing flight, visit travel agents in Australia, call 1800 633 449 or visit www.antarcticaflights.com.au. Antarctic images taken from earlier flights can also be viewed at the website, and images or footage are available for media use.

Although the Antarctic sightseeing flights are operated by Qantas, the flights are private charters and not able to be purchased through Qantas reservations.