Got to Dance judge Adam Garcia, has returned to London’s West End stage in Tap Dogs – the internationally acclaimed dance show created by Olivier Award winning choreographer Dein Perry. The Aussie actor took time out from tap dancing to share his holiday experiences with CD Traveller

What do you like to do on holiday?
I either like to visit old cities or places of outstanding natural beauty. I’m not into spending all day lying on a sun lounger: I like to get out and about and explore.

Where did you last go?
Marrakech – the pink city. As it happened, I had an ankle injury so I did flop in the sun by the pool – a lot.

Do you know where you’re going this year?
I don’t. This year is proving to be very busy and I haven’t had time to firm up any definite travel plans. I am going to try and visit a friend in Stockholm this summer but it will need to be well planned: I get 48 hours off between Tap Dogs‘ end of week Sunday show and the next one on Tuesday night so I’ll have to stick to a tight travel schedule.

Of all the places you’ve been to, what was your favourite and why?
Wow. Umm… I do like island holidays. When I was a boy, my family took a trip to Heron Island in the Great Barrier Reef. Heron Island has a bird and turtle sanctuary and so the island did smell strongly of guano but one got used to that. When I went, Heron Island was relatively untouched by tourism and there was so much wildlife to observe that I was in heaven.

Which destination do you wish to travel but haven’t been?
Yellowstone National Park – I’m working on it!

In your own country, what would you recommend tourists see that isn’t in the travel guides?
I would probably say that finding one of the zillion empty beaches up & down the coasts or else driving out to the farmlands is pretty great.

How do you plan your holiday?
I really just pick a destination, maybe a hotel & then make it up once I get there.

How often do you go away?
Typically two or three times a year.

Who do you travel with?
My Mother. We have travelled to some amazing places together –The Galapagos Islands, cloud forests in Ecuador & the Amazon Basin, Svalbard in the Arctic Circle – to look at the wildlife. It’s a shared passion. My Mother is an inspirational traveler and has been everywhere. Her next trip is Madagascar which I can’t join her on & am very envious. That island hasn’t long to last.

Where do you see tourism in your country in 10 years time?
I’m fairly confident Australia will be a firm favourite with tourists in 10 years – particularly if plane travel gets quicker. Its check list of essential experiences remains as strong as ever and shows no sign of diminishing.

Thanks Adam!

Tap Dogs, starring Adam Garcia,  plays at the Novello Theatre until September 5 on Tuesdays to Thursdays at 8pm, with Friday performances at 6pm and 9pm, Saturday performances at 5pm and 8pm, and Sunday performances at 3pm.  Tickets are priced from £17.50 – £49.50 and can be purchased at www.tapdogs.co.uk. Group discounts are also available.

What do you like to do on holiday?
I tend to be pretty active and am always exploring new places to learn about their geography or history be it at home or overseas. I also love all boats, whether they are for rowing, canoeing or sailing – although nothing beats just sitting up on deck and breathing in the view….

Where did you last go?
Because I do a lot of travelling for work, I wanted to stay at home in the UK last year so we went camping in Devon for two weeks and had an absolute ball. I spent a lot of my own childhood romping around the West Country, climbing over the moors and sailing down at Rock and I still have loads of friends down there so I enjoyed showing my boys around my old childhood haunts and meeting up with my friends and their children. Being fair-skinned, we didn’t do much sun bathing on the beach but we spent a LOT of time playing Robin Hood in the forests, going around castles and building camps on the heaths!

Do you know where you’re going this year?
I was offered two weeks in the south of France in a friend’s cottage which would have been idyllic – but the boys enjoyed Devon so much they insisted on going back there again! We’re also joining some friends in the north of Scotland later in the summer.

Of all the places you’ve been to, what was your favourite and why?
That’s a tough one! I spent a few months in the Antarctic and that was the experience of a lifetime. It’s an incredibly powerful landscape – and very humbling. Curiously for someone who’s a bit of an extrovert, I adored the solitude and sense of isolation there, knowing I was about as far away from my normal life as it was possible to get.
I also adore Australia and New Zealand and visit as often as I can – both for work and holidays. I was lucky enough to spend 18 months on and off down under (including sailing around Tasmania in Cook’s replica ship, HMB Endeavour) for my Captain Cook series and the boys got to come along, too, which was really exciting for them. I think I’ve been to every transport museum, mountain railway and aquarium in the southern hemisphere!
However I also love Hawaii – again I’ve spent a lot of time there for my researching and filming my Cook series and have treasured friends in Honolulu. It’s also one of the few places in the world where it’s warm enough for me to swim in the sea, although I’m less keen on the idea of sharks!

Which destination do you wish to travel but haven’t been?
I’ve yet to make it to China and Japan, though I’m currently planning a trip to see friends and colleagues in Hong Kong. I also have tentative plans for a filming trip to the Arctic…

In your own country, what would you recommend tourists see that isn’t in the travel guides?
Daybreak in the Abernethy Forest, mackerel fishing or shrimping in the Camel Estuary around Padstow and last but not least the sunset in Kilmartin Glen (preceded by a visit to the Kilmartin Museum – if only for their fabulous gluten-free chocolate brownies!).

How do you plan your holiday?
Haphazardly. Both my partner Al and I have the kind of jobs where you need to be flexible so we’re pretty relaxed about bookings and tend to make it up as we go along. A Blackberry and Google Earth have saved us on many an occasion…

How often do you go away?
In the glory days BC (Before Children), we used to have one big world adventure every year involving lots of mountains, boats and hiking, along with a couple of smaller hiking trips in England and Scotland. Now we tend to stay relatively close to home spending our summer hols in Devon, l long weekend in the New Forest with around 20 of our university pals each autumn, followed by a week in Perthshire each spring. However we have enjoyed discovering the Forestry Commission lodges for an impromptu weekend escape – again, these are perfect for our mini Robin Hood, Friar Tuck and Little John!

Who do you travel with?
My partner, our children and Baxter – our eight and a half stone Rhodesian Ridgeback! However, I do remember those halcyon days of travelling the world solo with only a pair of walking boots, a passport and a backpack.

Where do you see tourism in your country in 10 years time?
Hopefully much more environmentally-friendly, more customer aware – and making more of the wonderful landscapes and places we have here in Britain. I’m very partial to Alastair Sawday’s Special Places to Stay and the whole idea of ‘Slow Food’ and ‘Slow Tourism’ and can see that growing more and more in popularity as people realise just what we have on our own doorsteps.

Thanks Vanessa!
To find out where other industry experts holiday, don’t forget to keep clicking back.

Scotland Revealed – a documentary series presented by Vanessa celebrating the beauty of Scotland is available to buy on DVD (RRP £19.99) from all good retailers.

Baz Luhramann’s film might have brought Australia to the centre of the world stage yet there is more to the land down under than Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, cuddly koalas and kangaroos.

‘Oz’, as it is affectionately known, is incredibly diverse and truly offers something for every traveller. From rolling vineyards to spectacular cities such as Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. From pristine beaches and islands, world heritage listed tropical rainforest to mountainous landscapes. Whatever it is you’re after, chances are Australia has it covered.

However for those of you wanting to get off the beaten tourist track, head through the outback to the territory for a taste of the ‘real’ Australia. Here you can try your hand at sheep shearing, yabbying or bush camping. Alternatively take a camel ride or visit the Flying Doctor base and the School of Air in Alice Springs – the original outback town.

Feeling more adventurous? Try white water rafting on the Tully River (Queensland) or climb Mount Connor (Northern Territory) for a stunning view of ‘scared’ Uluru (formerly known as Ayres Rock). Forget any thoughts of scaling Uluru though: it goes against the wishes of the Aboriginal people for whom such an activity is akin to an Aussie climbing on top of a church in Blighty.

Sail around the Whitsunday Islands or snorkel along the Great Barrier Reef or off Rottnest Island (Western Australia). Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge for an unrivalled sight of arguably the most beautiful harbour in the world (New South Wales) or swim with dolphins which makes for a magical experience (New South Wales or Western Australia).

For local culture, be sure to partake in a surf lesson; Scarborough (Western Australia), Bondi (New South Wales), Noosa (Queensland) or Bells (Victoria) – any beach will do. And not to be missed is a game of ‘Aussie Rules football’ – the players on the pitch are more famous than the cast of Neighbours.

Yet ultimately, the winning combination of the climate, the friendly and easygoing manner of the Aussies and the breathtaking landscape ensures that whatever state you visit, you will have a ‘bonza’ time.

Australia is ‘hot’ in every sense of the word and now is the time to go. But be warned: don’t skimp on time. Australia is a continent not a country…

Sarah and husband Brendan

Name: Sarah Morton

Age: 32

Occupation: Studio Manager

Are you a local girl?
Yes. I’m originally from the Macedon Ranges which is about an hour away from Melbourne, close to Hanging Rock made famous from the 1975 mystery movie Picnic at Hanging Rock.

What’s it like to live in Melbourne?
Great! Winter can be cold but we have four beautiful distinctive seasons and there’s so much to see and do.

What is your favourite thing about Melbourne?
The food, coffee (standouts include Seven Seeds, www.sevenseeds.com.au and St Ali, www.stali.com.au) and sport. Sporting buffs should try and catch a cricket match in summer or an Aussie Rules match in winter at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The venue holds 100,000 people and there’s always a fantastic atmosphere.

Why should we visit Melbourne?
Migrants from all over the world have made it a great multicultural city. The steady stream of fresh, new faces means Melbourne is an exciting, ever-changing place to be.

How long do we, ideally, need?
One week; four days for the city and a few for a road trip down the famous Great Ocean Road. Don’t do it just as a day trip – it’s too far and too special to rush. Another Melbourne must do is to visit Phillip Island (two hours from Melbourne) to see Fairy Penguins which, as their names suggests, are the smallest penguin species and are found only in southern Australia and New Zealand.

How can tell you locals from our readers?
Locals dress for all seasons all year around as even in summer the weather is always unpredictable and capable of extremes. A local saying is that Melbourne can have “four seasons in one day”.

Best bites?
Ahhhh – there’s too many to mention: Melbourne has the best eating in the world!  A few favourites include Press Club (www.thepressclub.com.au), Cookie (www.cookie.net.au), The Stokehouse (www.stokehouse.com.au) and Donovans (www.donovanshouse.com.au). Meanwhile if it’s cheap, authentic Chinese food that you’re after be sure to check out China Town.

Top shops?
Myer (www.myer.au) and its more upmarket cousin, David Jones (www.davidjones.au), are two popular department stores selling everything under the sun: the question isn’t what can you buy, but what can’t you buy.  On the mall front, Melbourne Central and DFO are both worth a browse but arguably the most interesting buys and boutiques are to be found in the lively laneways.

Where should we stay?
St Kilda has many cheap backpacker hostels. Otherwise the Central Business District (CBD) is a good place to base yourself as it’s within easy reach of most of Melbourne’s main attractions.

Any insider tips for our readers?
Try out the many bars in the CBD. Riverland (www.riverlandbar.com) is a popular spot on the Yarra River, Transport & Transit bar (www.transporthotel.com.au) enjoys a good vibe and central location while Madame Brussels (www.madamebrussels.com) is a fun night out and Spice Market (www.spicemarket.net.au) the place to see and be seen.
Finally, why not visit one of the wine regions? There are five in immediate proximity but the Yarra Valley wine region (www.yarravalleywine.com) – famous for its Chardonnay, pinot noir and sparkling wines – gets my vote.

Thanks Sarah! For more information on Melbourne, consult www.visitmelbourne.com and also www.visitvictoria.com

What do you like to do on holiday?
I like to get out and about and meet the locals and to sample the local cuisine.

Where did you last travel?
China (I was born in Tibet but went to university in the far north of China in Harbin, famous for the depth of its winters!) and Australia where I moved after graduating. I have offices in both countries.

Do you know where you’re going this year?
Absolutely! New York, Shanghai, Sydney and Bangkok are all on the list for 2010.

Of all the places you’ve been to, what was your favourite and why?
Cambodia and also Laos. This was a life changing trip for me as I realised that you can have a very happy life with very little. The time I spent in Cambodia and Laos definitely helped me understand the meaning of life and what is important.

Which destination do you wish to travel but haven’t yet been?
I have travelled extensively around Asia (Wendy Wu Tours offers bespoke escorted tours to Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and, of course, China) but I have never been to the Middle East or South America. I imagine these regions would be very different from Indochina. I’d also like to visit South Africa which is in the spotlight right now thanks to the forthcoming FIFA World Cup.

In your own country, what would you recommend tourists see that isn’t in the travel guides?
I’d suggest signing up for an evening cruise of Shanghai’s Huangpu River – the most significant shipping channel of Shanghai. In Shanghai the river is respected and honoured as the ‘mother river’ – you’ll soon see why.

How do you plan a holiday?
I use guide books to plan my itineraries and I also ask friends from the back packing community for their tips and opinions on a place.

How often do you go away?
Every year – apart from the last two when I was pregnant.

Who do you travel with?
Mainly by myself but often I’ll arrange to meet up with husband and friends along the way.

Where do you see tourism in your country in 10 years time?
I genuinely believe that China will become one of the top tourist destinations in the world within the next 10 years.

Thanks Wendy! For more information on Wendy Wu’s bespoke escorted tours to Indochina visit www.wendywutours.co.uk. To find out where other industry experts holiday, don’t forget to keep clicking back.

Sarah-Jane Goodall, senior sales and marketing manager for Namibia Tourism

What do you like to do on holiday?
I like to keep active and spend my time cycling, swimming and sightseeing. That said, I’m always up for spot of R&R in a spa.

Where did you last go?
Perth – the capital of and largest city in Western Australia. Perth is one of the most isolated metropolises on the planet: the nearest city with a population over one million is Adelaide in South Australia and that’s 2,104km away!

Sarah Jane's last trip was to Perth

Do you know where you’re going this year?
I am heading to Namibia – partly for work and partly for pleasure.

Of all the places you’ve been to, what was your favourite and why?
That’s easy: Namibia– which is why I represent it for the UK market! Namibia never fails to enthral its visitors with its contrasting landscapes and wonderful climate.

Namibia never fails to delight

Which destination do you wish to travel but haven’t been?
China. The 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing have helped make the country one of the world’s top travel destinations.

In your own country, what would you recommend tourists see that isn’t in the travel guides?
I would say the least highlighted information is on the cultural experiences to be had with the tribal communities in Namibia.

How do you plan your holidays?
I use guidebooks and travel websites when planning a trip and also talk to travel agents and friends who have already visited my intended destination for their tips.

The 2008 Olympic Games have catapulted China onto the hit list

How often do you go away?
At least three times a year.

Who do you travel with?
Usually it’s with my fiancée.

Sarah Jane's favourite destination: Namibia

Where do you see tourism in your country in 10 years time?
Advancing quickly. Namibia is one of the few remaining untouched wildernesses but it won’t be long before the secret is out.

Thanks Sarah-Jane!
To find out where other industry experts holiday, don’t forget to keep clicking back.

HOT
Adventure Travel
“Staring into the smouldering eyes of a tiger from the back of an elephant in India’s Kanha National Park” has been hailed as the world’s greatest travel adventure by a jury of travel luminaries including Lonely Planet founder Tony Wheeler, explorer Benedict Allen, and broadcaster Simon Calder.
Skiing on Asahidake in Japan was voted in at second place and diving with hammerhead sharks in the Galapagos in third. An encounter with mountain gorillas in Rwanda took fourth place while hiking the Inca Trail in Peru and exploring the Larrapinta Trail in Australia’s Northern Territory were placed equal fifth.

Go east
A growing number of travellers are swapping Spain’s Balearics for Eastern Europe’s Baltics according to the website Cheapflights.co.uk. Latvia and Estonia are leading the two most popular destinations with over 60 percent increase in flight searches since last year.

Picture this
Calling all budding David Baileys… why not enter your standout holiday snaps in Frommer’s new competition? The winner not only gets their picture on the cover of one of Frommer’s invaluable guidebooks but also walks away with a $5,000 cheque which you can use on your next trip. To find out more about the competition which closes on March 31, visit www.frommers.com

Moscow on the cheap
Capitalising on the success of its London and Brighton branches, budget hotel group Umi hotels is set to open a property in Moscow. “Value accommodation is sorely needed in a city renowned for being expensive,” says Steve Lowy, owner of Umi hotels. Visit www.umihotels.com for the full low-down.

Affordable Oz
Always wanted to visit the land down under? It’s time to take that trip reports long haul tour operator, Travelmood. “Airlines to Australia and New Zealand are offering extremely competitive prices on 2010 flights, making the country very affordable for visiting” says Rad Soffronijevic, managing director of Travelmood. Alongside Australia, the company has also identified Thailand as a destination that is offering the best value deals in 2010.

Berlin for all budgets
The latest EasyHotel is set to open in Berlin on March 8. Located in Hackescher Mark, the 125 room orange hued hotel is offering double rooms from as little as £10 per night. Book your bargain bed at www.easyhotel.com

Trips to Taiwan
Fancy a trip to Taiwan? China Airlines will launch the first non-stop flights to Taipei from London on March 28. The new service will operate three times a week.

Phoning a friend
Oman Air will be the first airline in the world to offer full mobile phone and Wi-Fi access for passengers in board its Airbus A380 fleet. The new service will be rolled out this month.

NOT

BA’s behaviour
British Airways cabin crew could strike yet again later this year, grrrr. The union representing the airline staff said its members would vote on whether to proceed with a strike later in the year. The silver lining if you’re looking for one is that BA staff won’t strike over Easter.

SW10
Earls Court Exhibition Centre – one of London’s most famous music and exhibition venues – faces demolition in 2012after coming under increasing pressure from rivals the 02 Arena and Excel Centre. Word is that the art deco building which for more than 70 years has hosted some of the world’s biggest musical acts including Kylie, Madonna and Beyonce, is likely to be replaced by up to 8,000 new flats.

Looking down on Hobart from Mt Wellington

Tasmania, an island off the southern coast of mainland Australia is not served by any international flights from the UK. To get there you need to fly from some other Australian major city. The state capital , Hobart, is served by just a small airport so getting in and out of it is quick and easy

But at this time of the year Hobart can be known the world over because this is the winning line for one of the most famous ocean races in the world, the Sydney Hobart. This can be a gruelling race that begins on Boxing Day on the spacious Sydney Harbour in New South Wales and ends about 2 days later in a much smaller Sullivans Cove in Hobart.

Being a small city, Hobart has a population of only about 47,000, so it is easy to walk throughout the city centre. Buses, taxis and cars form the main way or getting around as there is no railway system at all. You do need a vehicle to get you to the best vantage point to see Hobart and this is from Mount Wellington. (about 24 kms away.) In winter the road up there can be blocked by snow or closed by ice but at any other time of the year there are buses that go most of the way and tour coaches that will take up to the top. From there is a viewing platform over the city and the bay. The landscape at the top is slightly eerie. T looks how you imagine some of the moon might look and it very definitely looks as though some of it should be used for a movie set.

In the city itself, one of the big draws is the Sunday market in Salamanca Place. Four rows of stalls run for over a quarter of a mile in addition to the shops down one side. Here you can find examples of Tasmanian wood carved into all sorts of shapes, food stalls, second hand books, plants, clothing, sweets and crafts. If you are attracted to the wood just be aware that if you buy Tasmanian Myrtle (not related to our myrtle trees) which is a deep red colour be aware that the very distinctive perfume that it has requires a lot of wrapping to contain it on plane trips. After I got a piece back to the UK it took a couple of days for our living room to return to normal. The market gets very busy and finding a place to relax away from the crowds is hard. Try the café at the back of the Red Dot Salamanca Art Gallery. Maybe because tourists didn’t know it was there was why we had no problem in finding a seat.

Around the marina’s in the cove are where you can find some great and inexpensive fish and seafood restaurants. There are take-aways and sit down restaurants; posh ones and fast food ones. But eat early or late. From about 6-7pm, they all seemed packed and in a few cases people were queuing to get inside.

One place not to miss is the Tasmanian Art Gallery and Museum. One common tourist thought is that all museums are basically the same and there is a lot of truth in that. What makes this museum different is that has a large collection of Tasmanian artefacts relating to the indigenous and Polynesian peoples. That is something you can’t see everywhere.

Finally a general note about accommodation and eating. In Australia as a whole, accommodation is cheaper than in Europe unless you want to stay in really swanky hotels. The big chains have hardly got to Tasmania so small hotels. motels and guest houses abound with price ranges to suit. But it won’t cost an arm and a leg. Similarly with food. Aussies eat out a lot so restaurant prices are pretty reasonable. Half a lobster and chips cost me less than the equivalent of £10. And it was all, fresh off the quay that day.

But in Australia…

The renter is liable for the first $A3,300  (say 1,650 pounds) of damage if you are using a sealed road. If you are on a unsealed road (which a heck of a lot of Aussie roads are once you head away from the main cities, then the liability rises to $A5,800 (2,900 pounds). You can reduce this liability of course, by paying an extra daily fee of $A27 which reduces your liability by up to a staggering 93% to just $A400.

So guess what people do?

In other words, almost by default, your daily rate is more expensive than you planned because  there aren’t many of us who aren’t deterred by trying to find $A5,800.  And even more objectionable is a little phrase that is included in the hire agreement. You are liable for the money, “regardless of fault.”.

Cars in Australia are, for the popular brands that hire companies tend to use, cheaper than  in the UK. The excess on the Nissan I hired was between a third and a quarter of the value of the car if I bought it new. In the UK it is about 5% of the value. How can Aussie car hire companies justify that?

Is it because Australia has one of the highest road accident records in the world?

La Tomatina, Bunol, Spain

Every August, some 20,000 tourists flock to the town of Bunol (in the Valencia region of Spain) to hurl large, red squishy tomatoes at one another. La Tomatina – the world’s largest vegetable fight – is a full blown fiesta and in the week building up to the battle, Bunol is filled with fireworks, food, street parades and parties. However the undisputed highlight of the festival is the tomato fight which takes place between 11am and 1pm on the last Wednesday in August. It’s estimated that approximately 90,000 pounds of tomatoes are pelted at people, so expect to see streets awash in seeds, pulp and tomato guts! After the food fight, revellers get to hose themselves down in one of the public showers that are especially constructed for the annual event.

Sounds crazy, huh? But believe it or not La Tomatina is tame compared to some of the weird and wacky festivals that are out there. CD Traveller selects five of the most bizarre and downright unusual festivals you can find around the world…

Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships

What: Want to vent some of the frustration (batteries dying, texts disappearing into cyber space etc) caused by your mobile phone? Look no further than Finland – the home of the cell phone – where you can take part in the Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships.

There are two categories in Mobile Phone Throwing: traditional style and freestyle. The former is the typical ‘over the shoulder’ throw where distance is crucial, while the latter is based on aesthetics and choreography. And the prize for the winner? Why a brand new mobile phone of course.

The competition has been in existence since 2000 and to date a Mr Mikko Lampi from Finland holds the world record in the traditional category from 2005, with a throw of 94.97 metres. Anyone hoping to throw their own phone though, will be disappointed: competitors can only use mobile phones provided by the sponsor, Fennolingua.

Where: Savonlinna, Finland

The Matchmaking Festival, Lisdoonvarna, Ireland

Matchmaking Festival

What: Looking for love? Then make for the month long Matchmaking Festival in Lisdoonvarna, Ireland. Hormones run high every September as singletons converge on this sleepy, spa town in search of a soul mate.

The unattached of all ages can enjoy drinking, dancing, horse racing, a championship barbecue cook-off in addition to a myriad of other ‘meet and mingle’ events at what is, in effect, the biggest ‘singles’ event in Europe and one of the oldest festivals in Ireland.  Professional matchmakers are on hand to help so essentially if you can’t find a mate during this month, we don’t rate your chances… On the final week-end, the frenzied festival culminates with the crowning of ‘Miss and Mr Lisdoonvarna’.

Where: Lisdoonvarna, Republic of Ireland.

French Turkey Festival

What: There’s no better time to talk Turkey than the Festive season which is why in the run up to Christmas, the French town of Licques (an area famed for its poultry) holds its annual Turkey Festival – or ‘Fete de la Dinde’ to give it its proper name.

The festival’s main draw is the Sunday morning parade which sees some 200 birds paraded through the streets before being slaughtered and stuffed come Christmas Day. Before the turkey procession takes place, visitors are invited to taste the local liquor, Licquoisse which complements the taste of turkey.

Where: Licques, France

Cockroach racing

What: Held annually on Australia Day at the Story Bridge Hotel in Brisbane, the sport – which began back in 1982 – has become a bit of a tradition. Modestly described by the organisers as “the greatest gathering of thoroughbred cockroaches in the known universe”, punters pay five bucks to get in and an additional five for your own cockroach, with all proceeds going to charity. You participate by placing your roach in the centre of a large ring and the first roach to cross the line wins. Like all races, there are rules; these include penalties for performance enhancing substances like coffee, sugar and red cordial, fines for pitch invaders while people disagreeing with any race rules or arrangements will be considered “wowsers” and “not very Australian at all”.

Where: Brisbane, Australia

San Francisco Zoo Valentine’s Tour

What: Don’t fancy dinner, dancing and sappy music this Valentine’s Day?  Sign up for a sex tour at San Francisco Zoo instead. The adults’ only tour was conceived by penguin keeper Jane Tollini back in 1989 when she spotted her penguins getting a tad too affectionate.  For fun, Tollini cut out some hearts, stuck on a CD and invited her friends and colleagues to see the show. The event proved so successful that she opened it to the public and expanded the event to include all ‘up for it’ animals, from giraffes to gibbons. Attendees receive an unabashed look into the mating habits of wild animals and a behind-the-scenes tour of some of the zoo’s typically off-limit areas as well as romantic refreshments like champagne and chocolates. Adults go ape for this racy event so next Valentine’s why not woo your partner at the zoo?

Where: San Francisco Zoo ]]> http://www.cd-traveller.com/2009/10/29/festival-fever/ /feed 0