Do you dream of ditching the everyday and searching out the next total eclipse of the sun, of doing something a tad over the top? North Queensland, Australia’s your destination then, and the time is nigh – Nov. 14 to be precise. An hour after daybreak in those southern latitudes the moon will slide in front of the sun. For two minutes, a slice of the planet will turn surrealistically dark.
There are lots of ways to take in this coming total eclipse. One of them is from a hot air balloon, the other is via a sailing ship. Either option adds a twist to an already spectacular trip.
Drink in the ambiance Down Under with a 14-day customizable tour of Sydney, Melbourne, Port Douglas and The Great Barrier Reef while you’re chasing the conjunction of sun and moon. Zicasso can get you there and show you part of Australia in the process. See the famed Sydney Opera House, climb to the top of Sydney Harbor Bridge, cruise the waters below and breakfast with a koala at a wildlife park.
In Melbourne revel in the Victorian elegance of one of the world’s most elegant cities. Explore the Yarra Valley, stopping at wineries along the way. Drive the Great Ocean Road and stare gape-jawed at some of the most spectacular scenery on planet earth. Something more sedate? Kick back and watch penguins play on the beaches of nearby Philip Island. Then, head north, to Port Douglas, a jumping off spot for the Great Barrier Reef.
Now comes the capper, the eclipse. If you choose the bird’s-eye view from the balloon you’ll have an unobstructed view from above the serene Mareeba Valley. If it’s the ship you prefer you’ll be cruising off Four Mile Beach when Mother Nature works her mystic wonders.
(Image: Ding Digital Photography)
