Looking to get away from it all? As in, far, far, away?

The Southern Ocean Lodge is an extremely remote luxury lodge along the cliffs of Kangaroo Island in Australia.

Considered to be Australia’s Galapagos, Kangaroo Island is Australia’s third largest island and has a great variety of wildlife and natural attractions including fur seals, koalas, kangaroos, ospreys, echidnas, and more.

The lodge is the ultimate island sanctuary, located at Hanson Bay on the island’s southwest coast. Set above a cliff, the contemporary environmentally designed resort offers expansive ocean views and is in close proximity to the island’s major attractions.

The Southern Ocean Lodge offers twenty-one suites with ocean views of the coast, including king beds, a sunken lounge, glass-walled bathroom, outdoor terrace, heated floors, internet, and a music system. Suites with TVs can be requested. Additional suites include the Flinders Suite, the Ocean Family which includes two bedrooms, and the super premium Remarkable Suite and Osprey Pavilion with panoramic ocean views.

The lodge has a restaurant with daily changing menus that offer local cuisine and a diverse range of beers and wine. In addition, there is a spa at the resort which has a range of services including facials, massages, stone therapy, body exfoliation, pregnancy massage, water therapy, and tons more.

Island excursions are designed daily for guests, and include incredible wildlife encounters, cliff hikes, quad bike safaris, kayak adventures, beach fishing, national park walks, and more.

Kangaroo Island is 15km from the mainland of South Australia and SeaLink operate regular 45 minute ferry transfers between Cape Jervis on the mainland and Penneshaw on Kangaroo Island. Car hire Australia allows guest to hire a car to explore Kangaroo Island, and depending on the restrictions of the rental car company, many vehicles are allowed to board the ferry and be driven from the mainland onto Kangaroo Island. In addition, cars can be hired on the island as well.

Stuck on a Brisbane Layover? The Brisbane International Airport offers connections to 26 international and 35 domestic destinations. The airport is roughly 11 miles from Brisbane’s city center, which makes it a very accessible city to check out on a long layover. If you’re trying to figure out if you can leave the airport during your Brisbane layover, click here for useful tips.

If you’re stuck in the airport, you can check out the shopping and dining in the Airport Village, the Domestic Terminal, the International Terminal, and duty free options. If you’re bored you can also click here to send electronic postcards from Brisbane. In addition, there’s Optus Wireless connection in the airport, and departure lounges.

The airport also offer a Free Courtesy Bus for passengers with a 4 plus hour layover. The bus will take you to on-Airport shopping, food and fashion. The airport also offers suggestions for 6 hour and 8 hour layovers.

If you arrive at night or are looking for a place to rest, there are many hotels near the Brisbane airport. For a comprehensive list of Brisbane hotels of varying price points, click here.

If you plan to leave the airport, taxis will cost you approximately $35, and you can also take the Airtrain to Roma Street Station for $12 , depending on location. Unfortunately, due to security regulations, the locker facilities are not available at the airport. If you need to drop off your luggage somewhere, layoverguide suggests renting a cheap hotel room, or asking for hourly rates at the airport hotel.

Layover Guide’s Suggestions Of Things To Do On A Brisbane Layover:

Southern Great Barrier Reef
If you have the time, there’s plenty of activities that you can do on the Southern Great Barrier Reef in Brisbane. Make sure to pack a bathingsuit, sunscreen and other essentials on your layover if you plan on snorkeling, boating, fishing and more. (Note: do not think of scuba diving if you plan on catching a connecting flight within 24 hours after your dive. This can be an enormous safety issue if not heeded!)

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
You can cuddle a koala at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary — world’s first and largest koala sanctuary. The sanctuary has over 130 koalas, and here you can also handfeed kangaroos, and encounter a large variety of wildlife.

UnderWater World
This is for a much longer layover, as UnderWater World is located one hour north of Brisbane. Here, at this 2.5 million-liter oceanarium, you can dive with the sharks or swim with the seals, and see tons of species of ocean life. (Again, for diving, make sure that your flight is 24 hours after your dive.)

Balloon ride over Brisbane
In an one-hour flight, you can to soar over Brisbane in a hot air balloon ride. Prices differ, but tend to start from $225 per person and include breakfast. The age requirement for children is 8 years old and prices for children start at $220.

For tons of more options of things to do in the area, or on a long layover in Brisbane, click here.

Have a suggestion for a Brisbane layover? Leave a comment below!

Stuck on a Sydney layover at the Sydney International Airport? The airport is located 6 miles from downtown Sydney which makes the city an accessible destination for those stuck on long layover. If you’re trying to determine whether you can leave the airport during your Sydney layover, click here for useful tips.

The Sydney airport offers tons of restaurants and shopping including stores in both the International and domestic terminals, as well as tax and duty free shopping. There are also free showers, a post office and child activity centers located in the International Terminal. The Sydney Airport Executive Services offers business facilities in both terminals. In addition you can connect with the airport wireless Internet connection. For info on how to connect, click here.

If you’re looking to ditch your bags while you explore Sydney during your layover, you can stow your luggage at the Smarte Carte in the Arrivals section of north the International and domestic terminal. Call for more info at (02) 9667 9583.

As far as transportation into the city, there are taxis outside each terminal, a variety of bus options, as well as the trains (there are rail stations at both terminals).

Layover Guide’s Suggestions Of Things To Do On A Sydney Layover:

Sydney Harbour Cruise
A number of companies offer Sydney Habour Cruises. It’s a great way to see the beautiful harbour, and Sydney’s skyline, as well as enjoy a nice boat ride. For a variety of tours try
here and here.

Sydney Harbour Bridge
In addition to the remarkable architecture, the Sydney Harbour Bridge offers amazing views of the Sydney harbour. Guides are available, and if you’re interested in the climb you can choose between two 3 ½ hour experiences, available at dawn, day, twilight or night. Fore more information on the climbs, click here.

Sydney Opera House
As the most iconic building in Sydney, you can tour the Sydney Opera House‘s amazing architecture, where over 1,500 performances are staged each year. You can even catch a show if you have the time – bookings are not essential, but are recommended. You can also participate on a 1 hour tour.

Sydney Fish Market
SFM is the largest market of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere and the world’s second largest seafood market with over 100 species daily. This is the place to be for the ultimate seafood experience. Visitors are advised to watch their belongings.

Sydney Shopping Tours
With a Sydney shopping tour you will enjoy a full day of shopping to Sydney’s best warehouses and factory outlets. You will shop til you drop. (If shopping isn’t your thing, click here for more day tours.)

None of that interest you for your Sydney layover? Check out this list of 100 things to do in Sydney.

Have a suggestion for a Sydney layover? Leave a comment below!

If you’re stuck on a Melbourne layover, there’s plenty to do at the Melbourne International Airport. If you’re looking to kill some time at the airport, there’s duty free shopping, restaurants and bars, regular shopping, an airport pharmacy next to the Airport Medical Center, Wireless Internet, and a selection of airport hotels to catch a quick nap or just relax.

For those looking to ditch luggage on your layover, the airport offers SmarteCarte for left luggage. SmartCarte is located in T2 Arrivals, open from 5am to 12.30am, 7 days a week. Photo ID is required for storage and rates are per 24 hours per piece: hand luggage $10, suitcase/backpack/golf bags $14, skis/bicycles/surfboards $20

For a round of golf, Located just 25 adjacent to Melbourne Airport’s North/South runway, is the Melbourne Airport Golf Club. The course is par-70, 6000m, 18-holes with water features, 37 bunkers and elevated greens. Rates are $22 for 18 holes on weekdays, $24 for 18 holes (booking
required) on weekends.

As for transportation, you can grab a taxi from the ground floor level of Melbourne Airport, outside the International Terminal and both domestic Terminals. Rates range from around A$80 to A$85 for a return trip between Melbourne’s Central Business District (referred to as CBD) and Melbourne Airport. There’s also the Skybus, which runs from the airport to CDB. Adult return tickets cost $26. There’s also other bus services and rental cars.

Layover Guide’s Suggestions Of Things To Do In Melbourne:

City Circle Tram
City Circle Trams (Route 35) is a free tourist tram with the CBD that visits many of Melbourne’s main attractions. You can easily hop on and off, with trams running every twelve minutes (10am – 6pm Sunday to Wednesday and 10am – 9pm Thursday, Friday and Saturday.)

Queen Victoria Market
Open since 1878, the Queen Victoria Market is the largest open-air market in the Southern Hemisphere. A popular tourist destination, here you can find cook classes, a market tour, and various events.

St. Kilda Beach
For longer layovers, you can visit St. Kilda Beach, situated in a picturesque bay just outside Melbourne. In this beach town, you can find The Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron as well as with markets, amusement parks and nightclubs.

Eureka Skydeck 88
For an awesome view of Melbourne, check out the Eureka Skydeck 88. Considered to be the highest public vantage point in the Southern Hemisphere, Skydeck 88 features The Edge - a glass cube which is suspended almost 300 meters above the ground – with you in it!

Have advice for a Melbourne layover? Leave a comment below!

Stuck on an Auckland layover in New Zealand? The Auckland International Airport is located roughly 14 miles from downtown Auckland which makes the city an accessible destination for those stuck on a long layover. If you’re trying to determine whether you can leave the airport during your Auckland layover, click here for useful tips.

In addition to currency exchange, duty free, shopping, and restaurants (which you can find listed by category here for the Domestic terminal and here for the International terminal), the Auckland airport features an Artport on the first floor departures area, showcasing a wide range of New Zealand’s most talented artists. Artwork can be purchased and shipped, if requested.

Also opened in late October 2008 is Auckland’s new ‘Green Terminal’ which is a green building with solar panels, rain harvesting, cleaner air quality and eco displays. Check out the LED touch screen monitors near gate 15, which will give you a guided tour of how the airport is ‘green’ including how much carbon dioxide is being saved through the use of solar panels.

If you arrive at night or are looking for a place to rest during your layover, there are a number of hotels in the area for varying price points. For a comprehensive list of nearby hotels, click here.

If you have the time to see the sights, and want to ditch your luggage during your Auckland layover, you have a few options:

• Hand luggage storage- Bags can be left at The Collection Point on the first floor after security for NZ$3, but you’ll need to remember to pick up your bags by 11pm on the same day (Open 6am – 11pm Phone: +64 9 256 8845)
• Luggage storage is available at the Auckland Tourism i-site Visitor Information centre on the ground floor, arrivals area. Charges are NZ$15 per item, per day and NZ$15 per day for large items. Lockers are also available, costing NZ$15 per item, per day.(Open 24 hours, 7 days Phone: +64 9 275 6467)
• Luggage wrapping – Seal ‘n’ Secure (on the Ground Floor at the check-in area) will seal your luggage in recyclable, transparent polythene to protect it from scratches, moisture or any form of tampering, and will ship excess luggage to your destination. Open 5am – 7pm (Monday – Friday); 5am – 9pm (Saturday – Sunday) Phone: +64 9 256 8769

There are many options for transportation into Auckland, including a regular 15-minute Airbus Express service available from the airport for all travelers to the city’s waterfront Downtown Ferry Terminal. Tickets cost about NZ$12 each way. For other bus options, click here.

You can also grab a taxi or shuttle. For a list of companies and numbers, click here.

Layover Guide’s Suggestions Of Things To Do On An Auckland Layover:

Sky Tower
The tallest man-made structure in the Southern Hemisphere, the Sky Tower is Auckland is more than a thousand feet high. You can enjoy the 360 degree rotating restaurant, travel up in the glass-fronted elevators to a spectacular viewing platforms, or for the adventurous type, you can SkyJump off the Tower!

SailNZ
Take a ride with SailNZ and participate as cure on an actual America’s Cup yacht for a two hour sailing trip. A great way to see the sites of the Waitemata Harbour. (2 hours for $150 per adult, $110 for children)

Tonic Day Spa
If you’re tired and feeling worn out, check out Tonic Day Spa — the award-winning beauty therapy and day spa. From manicures and pedicures to massages and infrared saunas, this place will relax you, for sure!

Auckland Museum
From learning about the Maori culture to the largest, most complete and best preserved Tyrannosaurus Rex fossil ever found, the Auckland Museum covers a wide range of exhibits. For all the latest exhibitions and other things to see, check out the Auckland Museum’s website, here.

Otara Market
For those of you on a layover in Auckland during a Saturday and have the time, make sure you check out the Otara Market. As the world’s largest Polynesian market, you can find everything from crafts to exotic food.

If none of these sound appealing, check out this list of 50 things to do in Auckland.

Have a suggestion for an Auckland, New Zealand layover? Leave a comment below!

December 2008 issue, they ran a great article, “Sydney: One City, 72 Hours, $1,000.”   It gives some great ideas on what you can do, relatively inexpensively, in a short period of time in Sydney, one of the world’s more expensive cities.

For getting around, you may want to look into the Daytripper ticket, which for $16, lets you ride buses, trains and ferries until 4 in the morning.

Here’s some of the suggestions, that you may want to give a hot on a layover of at least 5 hours:

RestaurantsOpera Bar – Located at the Opera House, this restaurant offers great views of the Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Skyline.  (Sydney OPera House, 61-2-9247-1666, email: mail@operabar.com.au, entrees $16-$26)

The Opera House is pretty stunning from inside and the tour that covers its construction is worth the $25.  Pre-book tours online.