Any trip to Croatia wouldn’t be complete without a visit to one of the National Parks. The most famous of which being Plitvice which was declared a National Park in 1949 and included in the UNESCO list of World Natural Heritage sites in 1979. Zadar, about two and a half hours coach ride away, is a good base to visit from. Alternatively it is on the road between Zagreb and Dubrovinik so hopping on and off on route between the two cities is a must. The bus from Zadar to Plitvice costs 89 kuna per person.

It is easy to see why it is Croatia’s number one tourist attraction. Stunning waterfalls, crystal clear waters, an abundance of wildlife, flora and fauna all creates the perfect backdrop from which to explore using the labyrinth of walkways. The only problem is you really need more than a day to do it justice! We visited in June so there was more of a trickle of tourists around rather than a torrent allowing us to take some truly spectacular photos. Entrance fee was 110 kuna per person.

In contrast Krka, a National Park since 1985, and about 30 minutes away from Sibenik is less visited although equally spectacular. 65 kuna per person entrance fee gives you access to tour the park and view Skradinski buk and the other 6 waterfalls. If you have a bit of spare cash I would recommend taking one of the organised boat tours to the monastery on the island of Visovac, through the Krka river canyon and up to Roski Slap. Getting within touching distance of this waterfall in one of the small tourist boats is a real thrill. Remember to pack your swimming costume as you can take a dip in the bottom lake.

Deciding between which of the two to visit is an impossible decision so I would recommend you make the time during your trip to see both. We almost didn’t and I now know I would have been gutted if we hadn’t taken the extra time out of our whole backpacking holiday to experience both.

Enjoy and good luck capturing those spectacular (people free!) shots with your cameras!

Dusted off the trusty old backpack recently and gave it an airing around Croatia. Why Croatia? Had heard good tales from other travellers who had visited and decided to check it out first hand.

Started in Split, explored the Dalmatian Islands and then worked our way up the coast to Zadar. Destinations not to be missed included the National Parks of Plitvice and the lesser known Krka, Hvar and Diocletians Palace in Split.

Was surprised at how easy it was to get around Croatia using mostly buses and ferries. Not as cheap as I was hoping for though! Accommodation proved equally easy to find. The locals met the buses and ferries to offer sobes (rooms). We stayed in a mixture of private houses and self-contained apartments. 100 kuna per person seemed to be the standard rate although we were travelling off peak. You can negotiate on price. Only once in Sibenik did we find the room to be below par largely due to the fact that it didn’t have a bed just a natty old couch!

If you like your beaches stony not sandy, historic ruins and stylish European architecture, spectacular waterfalls, crystal clear sea, freshly caught fish and friendly locals (most of whom speak perfect English) then Croatia is the place for you…

One of the Lazyshark team got married this weekend at a beautiful church in the Kent countryside. The sun even came out for them. We are nursing rather sore heads today!

They are currently winging their way to St Lucia for the honeymoon. Very jealous…

The rest of the team wish them all the best in their new lives together.

Apologies for the lack of blogging recently…

Been away backpacking around Croatia. Awesome country and great people. Many tips and stories to relay. More to follow soon…

It is difficult to say which country is more sports crazy – England or Australia. Each countries national obsession with sport has led to many a classic confrontation over the years. Memorable encounters include:

·         The Ashes 2005 - 5^th Test The Oval

The greatest Ashes series ever… Certainly as a sporting duel with England, after 20 years of tasting defeat, finally matching the Aussies shot for shot, ball for ball and sledge for sledge! It all came down to the final afternoon and one critical moment. Shane Warne, easily the best Australian player throughout the series, put down Kevin Pietersen in the slips early on in his innings. KP went on to score a memorable hundred and England to reclaiming the Ashes.

·         England 1 Australia 3 – 2003 Friendly

      The Socceroos, not renowned as a global power in the football world back in 2003, embarrassed England at Upton Park playing them off the park leading many an English sports journalist to lament the death of English football!

·         England 20 Australia 17 – Rugby World Cup 2003 Final

      England became the first Northern hemisphere country to win the Web Ellis trophy with a Jonny Wilkinson drop goal just 26 seconds from the end of an absolute classic final. Just desserts for England who outclassed Australia in the final but lacked the killer instinct to finish them off in normal time. A win in the Aussie’s back yard was pretty sweet for the English as well!

·         The Masters 1996 – Nick Faldo v Greg Norman

       Six shots behind starting the final round of the Masters in 1996 Faldo showed nerves of steel whilst the Great White Shark suffered the worst collapse in majors history giving the Englishman his third green jacket.

Just four classic encounters of recent year… Feel free to disagree. There are certainly many more epic contests I could have picked from…

It is well known that Aussies have a certain penchant for ‘blowing the froth off a cold one’. Popular beers include VB, Tooheys, Coopers, Crown and of course ‘Australians won’t give a Castlemaine XXXX for anything else’. The popularity of Fosters in Australia is an urban myth and if you ever hear a local order one whilst on your travels let me know!

Despite the stereotypical portrayal of Australians swigging away on their stubbies (in true Crocodile Dundee style) it is a country well known for producing a fine array of wines and until recently was outselling its more illustrious competition in France. Any trip to Australia is not complete without a visit to a vineyard. Most famous regions include Barossa Valley in South Australia, Margaret River in Western Australia and Hunter Valley in NSW.

Alongside traditional red and white wines Australia has also developed a good reputation for producing quality sparkling wine as a less expensive alternative to champagne. Not convinced about the sparkling red though…!

Other renowned Australian alcoholic beverages include rum from Bundaberg, affectionately termed ‘Bundy’ by the locals.

So take time to sample the local refreshments whilst travelling around the country but remember moderation is the key. There can’t be anything worse than a nasty hangover in serious heat.

We were saddened to hear of the death of Emily Jordan whilst river boarding on the Kawarau river in Queenstown recently in what appears to have been a tragic accident. The Lazyshark team would like to offer our deepest condolences to Emily’s family and friends.

Australia is a sports mad nation. Geographically vast in size it has a much smaller population and hence player base to pick from than most other countries around the world. However this has not stopped Australia emerging as a force to be feared in most team and individual sport played throughout the world. Legends from across the sphere of Aussie sport include:-

·         Don Bradman – the greatest batsman of all time. Needed just 4 runs from his final ever test innings to finish with a test batting average of 100. Bowled for a duck but 99.94 isn’t bad is it!? Even the infamous tactics of Douglas Jardine in the Bodyline series couldn’t stem the flow of runs from Bradman’s bat.

·        Cathy Freeman – torch bearer and athlete given the responsibility for lighting the Olympic flame at the Sydney Olympics Freeman was under intense pressure to deliver gold in the 400 metres. She duly did and has become an Aussie sporting icon.

·         David Campese – mercurial winger and still Australia’s top try scorer. Famed for his goose step. Never short of a controversial word or two off the pitch either!

·         Ian Thorpe – aka ‘The Thorpedo’ - 5 gold medals in the pool at the Sydney Olympic Games and a member of the Aussie quartet who broke American hearts in the 4×100m freestyle relay. Need I say any more…

·         Shane Warne – leg spinning wizard and chief tormentor of England over many Ashes contests. Who can forget his first ever ashes ball to Mike Gatting…

·         Mal Meninga – Aussie league colossus remembered for his formidable power, pace and handling ability. As captain inspired his team to many a great victory and the title of undisputed world beaters for more than a decade.

·         Greg Norman – aka ‘The Great White Shark’ Norman cut an imposing figure on the golf course terrorising his opponents as the undisputed world number 1 for years. Winner of 2 majors but would surely have won at least another two but for miracle chip shots by Bob Tway and Larry Mize. 

·         Leyton Hewitt – gritty never say die tennis champion who became the youngest tennis player in history to reach the number 1 world ranking. Winner of 2 grand slams including Wimbledon in 2002.

The top 8 Aussie sports legends of all time? A matter of opinion but they all deserve a place in the pantheon of Australian sporting greats. Disagree? Let us know.

Visitors to Australia who are used to the free services offered by the NHS might be surprised at the way that health care is delivered in Australia and it is worth being aware of this before you find yourself having to give your credit card details to the receptionists in A+E!

The UK along with several other countries has a “Reciprocal Health care agreement” with the Australian government such that British nationals are eligible for “Medically necessary treatment” (treatment that needs to be undertaken before going home). Obviously this is in no way comprehensive. For example, ambulance fees are not covered. These fees can come as an unwelcome surprise- often a minimum of a few hundred dollars; they can be over a thousand if transfer from a remote area is required. Dental examinations and treatment are similarly not covered. It is well worth considering additional insurance that covers these costs.

If you are going to be in Australia for more than a couple of weeks it is worth considering applying for a Medicare card.

Medicare is a universal health insurance system that covers some basic costs of healthcare. UK residents are eligible under the reciprocal agreement for Medicare, but you need to apply for a Medicare number and this process may take a little while. If you require treatment and have not been issued with a Medicare number, you will have to pay the full amount, get a receipt from the doctor or hospital and then be reimbursed by Medicare once you have completed the application process. The Medicare website is helpful and well written, and you can apply before you go.

Medicare is not nearly as comprehensive as the NHS. For instance, a GP might charge AUS$45 for a standard consultation. The Medicare rebate for this is AUS$32.10, leaving a gap of AUS$12.90 for you to pay. Other costs are prescription medications, (contraception is free), and some surgical procedures (that are not “medically necessary”). If you take regular medications, ask your GP at home if they will give you a prescription to cover your trip - only 3 months can be issued at one time under NHS rules.

This is in no way meant to be a comprehensive assessment of the Australian healthcare system but just a quick guide. For further details we recommend you visit the Australian government initiative healthcare website Health Insite.