Seniors -- often called "pensioners" in Australia -- from other countries don't always qualify for the discounted entry prices to tours, attractions, and events that Australian seniors enjoy, but mostly they do. Always inquire about discounts when booking hotels, flights, and train or bus tickets. The best ID to bring is something that shows your date of birth or that marks you as an "official" senior, like a membership card from AARP.
Members of AARP, 601 E St. NW, Washington, DC 20049 (tel. 888/687-2277; www.aarp.org), get discounts on hotels, airfares, and car rentals. AARP offers members a range of benefits, including AARP: The Magazine and a newsletter. Anyone over 50 can join.
Many reliable agencies and organizations target the 50-plus market. Elderhostel (tel. 800/454-5768; www.elderhostel.org) arranges worldwide study programs for those aged 55 and over.
Recommended publications offering travel resources and discounts for seniors include the quarterly magazine Travel 50 & Beyond (www.travel50andbeyond.com) and the bestselling paperback Unbelievably Good Deals and Great Adventures That You Absolutely Can't Get Unless You're Over 50 2005-2006, 16th Edition (McGraw-Hill), by Joann Rattner Heilman.
In Australia, pick up a copy of Get Up & Go, the only national travel magazine for the over-50s and the official Seniors Card travel magazine (www.getupandgo.com.au). It's a glossy quarterly, available at most newsdealers for A$4.95 (US$3.95/UK£2), and has an extensive section called Destination Australia, which covers a region in each state/territory in every issue.
Australia Travel Experiences
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Australia - Sydney
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North to the Australian Rainforest
Anna and Richard talked us into doing the most extraordinary thing! We took a bus to O'Reilly's, a resort i... Continue reading »
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Put another shrimp on the barbie!
Gidday!We've been in Austalia for a few days and love it. The first two days we spent touring Sydney and the surrounding harbo... Continue reading »
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Life in Oz
Monday - PerthArrived early in the morning after a good flight where I had nobody next to me so I was able to grab about 4 hours sleep.&n... Continue reading »
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Australia Top Moments
Well, I figured since we had spent so much time in Oz.. I would compile a list of the best moments. Now.. if I missed a great one..... Continue reading »
