So my other half returned from a trip to Zambia recently boasting about how she did a canyon jump near the Victoria Falls. I had dared her before she left to do a bungy jump thinking she wouldn’t have the nerve!! So hats off to her. Although I still maintain that doing a bungy is more nerve racking…!

Anyway this got me thinking of all the crazy ways you can throw yourself off a cliff nowadays… A few of my favs to recommend include:

Bungy Jumping

Canyon Jumping

Sky Swing

Skydiving

Paragliding

Gliding

Ziplining

Abseiling

If you have the bottle to undertake any of the above then respect goes out having done a few of these myself and lived to tell the tale!

You can book any of this craziness at lazyshark.com

There is a historic rivalry between Sydney and Melbourne. In my opinion Sydney wins hands down with its picturesque harbour, stunning architecture, golden beaches and wide array of museums.

However Melbourne has much to offer. In terms of a place to live I know many Australians who have chosen Melbourne for its European style climate, bustling metropolitan life, varied cuisine and vibrant nightlife.

So what to see?

Depending upon your budget here are some Lazyshark suggestions on how to spend your time and Australian dollars whilst you’re there:

Money to burn?

Restaurants - Melbourne is a gastronomical paradise with a vast array of restaurants to suit every pocket. Access to food ingredients and the Asian/Greek influence to the cuisine has led to Melbourne attracting world reknowned chefs.

Sporting events - Home to the Australian Grand Prix, the Australian Open (one of the 4 slams in tennis), and the Melbourne Cup. Why not get yourself a hat and have a flutter at Australia’s biggest horse race! This sports mad city comes alive as the eyes of the country and world fall on it. If you are lucky enough to be in the city at the time and flush enough to afford a ticket they are must see events.

The Arts - Take your pick - Melbourne plays host to a number of festivals throughout the year. A few of the more well known ones include the Melbourne International Arts festival, the Melbourne Fringe and Australian Fashion week.

Wine Festivals - Melbourne and the surrounding area has many great vineyards. A few of them host annual wine festivals including Budhurst and Brown Brothers. Why not pop along and sample the fine array of local Victorian wine…?

On a shoestring budget?

St. Kildas - This small bohemian district just outside Melbourne is reknowned for its relaxed bustling markets and buzzing nightlife. A great place for a stroll and a smoothie at the weekends.

Great Ocean Road - You can start or finish at Melbourne. Best seen by hiring a car or grouping together with fellow backpackers to rent a mini van which allows you to stop and start when you want. The Twelve (now Eleven) Apostles make this one of, if not, the greatest ocean drives in the world.

Royal Botanic Gardens - Entry to the gardens is free of charge. A great place to stroll around during the day and take in a variety of different gardens and plants from the Cycad Collection to the Californian Gardens.

Phillip Island - A short drive from Melbourne, Phillip Island is home to the Little Penguin amongst other wildlife. They come ashore at dusk climbing up the shoreline to their sand dune burrows for the night - ‘the Penguin parade’ as it is known is a spectacle worth seeing.

Recently spent an exhausting 24 hrs at the Devizes to Westminster canoe race and I was only in the support crew!! Congratulations must go out to one of the Lazyshark founders Mike and his kayak partner James who completed the gruelling 125 mile non stop event in 25 hrs and 7 mins and this with only 4 months of paddling experience. Well done guys.

This got me thinking about other endurance events and in particular those in Australia and New Zealand. The Antipodeans definately have a penchant for hosting and competing in these kind of events. There are any number of ultra marathon, iron man and long distance cycling events you can undertake… A couple of sites worth visiting for any of you hard core competitors out there include Cool Running and Endurance Sport.

I think the challenge of competing in the Great North Run is more than enough for me at present…!

I recently returned from a safari trip to Chobe National Park in Botswana. With so many fantastic photo opportunities I was clicking away constantly. However on my return home I was slightly disappointed with the quality of the pictures.

Back in the days of film cameras (remember those!) I used to take a bulky SLR camera with me. (a Canon EOS 500) It was a great camera and I took loads of fantastic photos with it. However what let it down was its sheer size and weight. When I got my first compact digital camera I never looked back and my SLR has been languishing in a draw collecting dust ever since.

At the moment I am weighing up the pros and cons of splashing out on a new digital SLR. These are my thoughts on the merits or otherwise of travelling with a SLR:

Pros

1.  The ability to manipulate your pictures is far greater plus they cope better with different light conditions and depth of field. Those shots of beautiful sunsets are so much more vibrant.

2. Zoom - Particuarly with animal shots compacts often loose the definition on high zoom.

3. Kudos - You look more professional!

Cons

1. Size and weight - Even high end SLR’s are pretty bulky. They certainly don’t fit in your pocket!

2. Sign of visible wealth - Particularly when travelling in poorer countries it is an obvious sign you are carrying something expensive and worth stealing.

3. You may find yourself having nerdy conversations about lenses and filters with other SLR owners. Not a good way to attract the ladies!

4. The photos can take longer to set up and because it is a more intense process you find yourself looking through the view finder as opposed to enjoying the moment.

I’ve been wrestling with indecision for several years since SLR’s fell into my price bracket back in 2006. I am still not convinced that I won’t travel with my compact as well but I think for my next trip I will be accompanied with a new shiny SLR!! Let’s hope it doesn’t get stolen…

Short answer - No - especially for Brits with a weak pound at the moment.

However there are ways to cut costs:-

1. All inclusive holidays - Action Outdoors is a good place to start. The food, accommodation and ski equipment is a bit basic but often cheaper than you can arrange independently.

2. Last minute/off-season deals - If you are flexible with dates sometimes there are last minute bargains for flights and accommodation to be scooped up using sites like lastminute.com and Expedia.

3. Discounted ski passes - A huge part of the expense of a skiing holiday is the ski pass. However certain resorts offer discounted passes. For example Val D’Isere offer a VIP pass or Eco pass which if booked online 15 days prior to departure gives you a 10% discount.

4. Packed lunches! - Eating up a mountain comes at a premium. Prices are often eye-watering and if the weather is fair there are plenty of spectacular spots on the sides of pistes to picnic.

5. Take food with you - If self-catering, supermarkets in resort know they have a captive market so you might find yourself spending £5 on some Weetabix or £2.50 on a tin of beans! It seems over the top but this can make a real difference to your total spend.

6. Cheap resorts - How about Bulgaria or Slovenia…? A good option particularly for beginners but make sure you do your research. You don’t want to get stuck somewhere that is a combination of building site and no snow…!

Writing this blog sat in Geneva airport waiting for a bus got me thinking about the hours I have suffered in transit holed up in uncomfortable airports. In comparison Geneva is relatively pleasant.

I don’t know much about architecture but even an ignoramus like me can see the difference that has occurred in airport lounges over recent years. Gone are the loud clashing colours of the 1980’s carpets designed to hide dirt, blood and vomit and in their place are sleek lines made of gleaming steel with plenty of use of natural light and air.

Airports have seemed to move from purely functional places towards calm tranquil environments designed to make you willingly part with your money at the numerous retail outlets on offer. Some airports are head and shoulders above others. At Zadar, Croatia recently I felt like I was sitting in an exclusive VIP club whilst waiting to board my flight. In contrast Gatwick North Terminal, whilst vastly improved remains like a cattle market on a busy Friday night!

I guess, if I happen to be marooned my favourite airports tend to reflect their countries culture rather than being neutral environments ensuring you are in a holiday spirit at all times.

I was recently fortunate enough to be between jobs which meant having a bit of spare time on my hands. Split between going on a great holiday and adding a little something extra to my CV I decided to volunteer for a project in Zambia for a month.

A huge number of companies have sprung up to cater for the needs of the more altruistic tourists who go on holiday not only to lie on the beach but also perhaps to build local schools or teach local children.

It can be an extremly rewarding experience if you go with the right company. Just make sure you do your research - some are definately better than others.

Projects tend to break down into the following categories:

• Environmental
• Teaching/Education
• Sports
• Medical
• Long-term Infrastructure

It is wise and sensible to choose a project that matches your skills and current aspirations. Alongside this I found the location a key decision maker. Although you are likely to be working pretty hard Monday to Friday often the weekends are your own. I wanted to pick a destination where I could make the most of my spare time - Zambia certainly ticked this box and I would thoroughly recommend it as a destination for volunteer work.

I’ve come back to the UK full of enthusiasm and ready for my next challenge. To be honest I’m not sure that the people I was ostensibly out there to help benefited as much from me being there as perhaps I benefited from the experience but working so closely with people in abject poverty has given me a fresh insight and new understanding for which I am most grateful.

Glacier Country in the South Island of New Zealand is a place of breathtaking beauty where you can witness nature at its most awe-inspiring. A must visit destination for any backpackers itinerary. There are two glaciers to choose from - Fox or Franz Josef. In actual fact you have to drive past Fox to get to Franz Josef so you get to see both. The key decision is which to climb!

So what to see?

Depending upon your budget here are some Lazyshark suggestions on how to spend your time and NZ dollars whilst you’re there:

Money to burn?

A Glacier hike - A must in my book! There are loads of tour companies on the main high streets offering a multitude of walks according to fitness and experience. Alternatively alot of the hostels also allow you to book at their receptions often at slightly cheaper prices. Would recommend choosing a hike that involves a certain amount of ice-walking. There’s nothing like strapping on the crampons to make you feel like an artic explorer and get the adrenalin flowing…

Helicopter flights - If you have that little bit more money burning through your pocket then taking a flight over either glacier is an amazing experience which allows you to appreciate the incredible size of  them. If you visit outside peak season try bartering the price down with tour companies who are all often competing for your money. This can make this luxury option more affordable to the majority of backpackers.

On a shoestring budget?

Walks - There are free public walks which take you up to the start of the glacier ice for those with no money to do a guided hike.

Meal deals/Free drinks - Glacier Country is on the South Island backpacker trail so there are loads of bars and restaurants all competing for your NZ dollars with price sensitive deals. A couple of half price pitchers of beer after a days climbing/walking quench the thirst very nicely!

When travelling around Australia many do not think about it as a particularly cultural destination. However hidden between the amazing beaches and stunning landscapes there remains the artifacts of earlier Aboriginal life and their culture. Many visitors choose not to visit and embrace this side of Australia which is a real shame. For those of you who wish to soak up this side of Australian culture there are a number of key destinations to visit:

The Northern Territory - Home to the most famous of Australia’s landmarks Uluru. The traditional owners of the Rock are the Anangu who believe as descendants of this ceremonial area that they are responsible for its protection. If you visit make sure you check out a performance of their traditional dance. The majority of the land in the Outback is Aboriginal owned which has allowed them to preserve their ancient culture more so than elsewhere in Australia. In fact the Aborigines have resided here for between 20,000 and 50,000 years and to this day one third of the states population are Aborigines. The N.T. is also home to Kakadu National Park, Australia’s largest park covering over 4.3 million acres with the impressive Jim Jim falls at its heart. The Park is home to many superbly preserved Aboriginal rock art including the stunning paintings of Namaragan (or the Lightning Man) on Nourlangie and the depictions of local wildlife at Ubirr Rock.

Melville and Bathhurst Islands - Australia’s second largest island after Tasmania, the island located about 50 miles off the north Darwin coast, is inhabited by Tiwi Aborigines. With no contact with the mainland for centuries a very different Aboriginal culture has developed. That the culture has survived to this day is due in part to the fact that the island is still owned by the Tiwi. Worth a day trip to visit the art centres and burial sites with their painted wood burial poles.

Queensland - Laura - A typical Outback town it is off the beat and track but home to some great Aboriginal art sites including the ‘giant horse gallery’. Quinkans, large stick like figures designed to represent spirits can also be found here.

Sydney - If you can’t make it to the N.T. then there are some equally spectacular rock engravings of more than 4,000 figures in the Hawkesbury area of Sydney. One whale engraving is more than 20 metres long!

The capital city of New Zealand and by far its largest in geographic size and population Auckland is a superb place to kick off your trip.

So what to see?

Depending upon your budget here are some Lazyshark suggestions on how to spend your time and NZ dollars whilst you’re there:

Money to burn?

Auckland Sky Tower - Free to enter you have to pay NZ$28 to get to the very top. Worth the money though. At 328 metres it is the tallest tower in the Southern hemisphere, offering breath-taking views for more than 80 kilometres in every direction. Just make sure you choose a clear day! If you are feeling brave you can even Sky Jump off the top of it…

Ever fancied walking up the Auckland Harbour Bridge? Well you can although not advisable for any of you who suffer from vertigo!

The Viaduct harbour - Just a short walk from the city centre it is a cool place full of trendy bars and restaurants to venture to in the evening for a few drinks and some good food, although a bit pricey.

On a shoestring budget?

Waiheke Island - Just a short inexpensive ferry ride away it offers the perfect opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of the city centre. Remember to pack your trunks as there are plenty of swim spots to choose from - although the water temperature often makes it only appealing for the hardy amongst you!

Asian Food Court - On Queen Street there is a great selection of Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Korean, Indian and Malaysian food all at reasonable prices.

Auckland Botanic Gardens - Good place to go and chill out for an afternoon stroll around the gardens. Free to enter.