text:
Southeast Ohio

Southeast Ohio includes rural areas of the state that border West Virginia. This region is very hilly as it lies in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Most of the Wayne National Forest is in Southeast Ohio. When looking at a map, the forest will look like patches. The whole area resembles the National Forest, which is reclaimed strip mining areas, in various stages of reforestation. Much of it is primitive area, popular with hunters and all terrain vehicle users. The southeastern part is along the banks of the Ohio River and has some of Ohio's most scenic and historic areas.

Counties
Athens County, Gallia County, Fairfield County, Hocking County, Jackson County, Lawrence County, Meigs County, Monroe County, Morgan County, Noble County, Perry County, Vinton County, Washington County, Belmont County, Coshocton County, Guernsey County, Harrison County, Jefferson County, Muskingum County, Tuscarawas County

Cities
Southeastern Ohio does not have any big cities, but does have a whole bunch of small towns.

 * is the county seat of Tuscarawas County.
 * is the county seat of Tuscarawas County.
 * is the county seat of Tuscarawas County.
 * is the county seat of Tuscarawas County.
 * is the county seat of Tuscarawas County.
 * is the county seat of Tuscarawas County.
 * is the county seat of Tuscarawas County.
 * is the county seat of Tuscarawas County.
 * is the county seat of Tuscarawas County.
 * is the county seat of Tuscarawas County.
 * is the county seat of Tuscarawas County.
 * is the county seat of Tuscarawas County.
 * is the county seat of Tuscarawas County.
 * is the county seat of Tuscarawas County.
 * is the county seat of Tuscarawas County.
 * is the county seat of Tuscarawas County.

State Parks and Resort Lodges

 * Burr Oak State Park and Resort Lodge, Athens County, north of Glouster and east/adjacent to the Wayne National Forest off of Route 13. A variety of overnight accommodations, lodge, cottages and campground. Lodge: Sixty guest rooms, five meeting rooms, a dining room, full-service lounge, gift shop, swimming beach, tennis courts, playground equipment, boat launch ramp and indoor pool. Cottages: 30 family cottages, air conditioning, cable tv, sleeps six people, bath/shower, living room, complete kitchen, dining area, screened porch. Linens, towels, cooking, eating utensils are furnished. Camping: 100 non-electric campsites, showers, flush toilets, twenty one primitive sites, pet camping. Fishing, hunting, swimming, beach, bathhouse, showers, changing booths, snack bar, twenty-eight miles of hiking trails, Burr Oak Backpack Trail, horseshoe court and playground.
 * Forked Run State Park, east Meigs County, south of the Bellville Dam on the Ohio River and north of Long Bottom on Route 124. 80 campsites with 50-amp electric, 71 non-electric sites, showers, pet camping, three camper cabins, ten horsepower limit on boat motors, three launch ramps, Ohio River Access, access launch ramps, boat tie-ups, restrooms, 400-foot sand beach, three hiking trails, disc golf course, miniature golf course, volleyball, horseshoes,  tetherball, and playgrounds.
 * Great Seal State Park, Ross County, 635 Rocky Rd., Chillicothe. 15-site campground, pressurized water, vault latrines, playground, shelterhouse, pet camping, shelterhouse, horse camp, twenty-two miles of trails, hunting,  playground equipment, disc golf course, volleyball, basketball, horseshoe court.
 * , Hocking County, south of Gibsonville on Route 374. Cottages: 40 gas-heated, air-conditioned cottages, two bedrooms, bath, shower, living room, gas-burning fireplace, microwave, complete kitchen, dining area and screened porch. Camping: 159 electric sites, with electric, 13 non-electric sites, heated showers, flush toilets, laundry facility, camp store, swimming pool, playgrounds, volleyball court, horse shoe pit. Dining Lodge (Seasonal): restaurant, meeting rooms, TV lounge, game room, snack bar, outside swimming pool, there are no sleeping facilities at the lodge. Other amenities: miles of trail, picnicking, recess caves, Old Man's Cave and Ash Cave.
 * Jackson Lake State Park, southern Jackson County, west of Oak Hill on Route 93. 34 electric campsites,  beach, pet camping, ten-horsepower limit, launch ramps,  boat rentals, fishing, volleyball courts, playground equipment, horseshoe pits, and shelter houses.
 * Lake Alma State Park, southeastern tip of Vinton County, northeast of Wellston on Route 93, adjacent to part of the Wayne National Forest. 72 wooded campsites with electrical hookups, eleven non-electric sites, pet camping, pit latrines, tables, fire rings, drinking water, boat launch ramp for non-powered boats, fishing, 3.5 miles of trail,  1-mile paved walkway/bicycle path, three picnic shelters, two public beaches, change booths,  beach, concession, boat and bicycle rentals, volleyball, basketball courts, and a playground.
 * Lake Hope State Park, eastern Vinton County, qpprox. 20 miles west of Athens. Lake Hope State Park is entirely within the 26,824-acre Zaleski State Forest and adjacent to part of the Wayne National Forest. Dining lodge: destroyed by fire 2006. Being rebuilt. Cottages: 72 cottages, all cottages have linens, towels, complete kitchens, microwave ovens, heat, air conditioning, outdoor grills and fire rings. Camping: 219-site campground, heated showerhouses, pit latrines, waste disposal, laundry facilities, picnic tables, fire rings, forty-six sites have electric hookups, pet camping, three Rent-A-Camp units, one camper-cabin, one Rent-A-Tepee. Boats with electric motors only, 120 acre lake, canoes, kayaks, and rowboats, available for rent. Swimming beach, beachhouse, sun deck, restrooms, concession building, fishing, hunting,  seventeen miles of hiking trails,  21-mile backpack trail with primitive campsites, thirty-three miles of bridle trail and 23-mile singletrack bike trail.
 * Muskingum River State Park, Muskingum County, near Zanesville, at Ellis Campground, 1390 Ellis Dam Road. At Lock 11, there are 20 campsites off State Route 60 and County Road 49, water, picnic tables, fire rings, pet camping, there are eight boaters-only, primitive campsites at Lock #5. Boats with unlimited horsepower motors, house boats, pontoon boats, canoes and rowboats travel the river. Public launch ramps, at Locks 4, 5, 6 and 11, private ramps located near Locks 2, 7 and 10. Picnic tables, grills, latrines, drinking water and ten locks on the river.
 * Pike Lake State Park, Pike County, southwest of Chillicothe on Route 41. Camping: 80 sites with electricity, latrines, tables, fire rings, camp commissary, pet camping.  Cottages: 12 standard cottages, 12 family cottages, heated,  air-conditioned, two bedrooms, bath with shower, living room,  with hide-a-bed, gas log fireplace, kitchen/dining area,  screened porch, dishes, kitchen utensils, linens, a group lodge offers kitchen facilities, two baths, sleeping accommodations for 16 people. 13-acre lake, sand beach, changing areas, showers, vending machines, boating, non-powered watercraft and boats with electric motors only, rowboats, canoes and pedal boats are available for rent, playgrounds, basketball courts, horseshoes,  disc golf, six miles of hiking trails, the Lake White State Park and Paint Creek State Park are adjacent and have several miles of bridle trails.
 * Scioto Trail State Park, Ross County, south of Chillicothe, east of Route 23 on CR 372. 55 campsites,  40 with electricity, latrines, water, fire rings, picnic tables are provided. A secluded hike-in camp near Stewart Lake has 18 non-electric sites.  Two rustic camper cabins are available. Fishing, hunting, twelve miles of hiking trails, 17 miles of bridle trails, nature center, basketball, horseshoe courts, playground, games and sporting equipment to registered campers, basketball, horseshoe courts and volleyball court.
 * Shawnee State Park and Resort Lodge, Scioto County, west of Portsmouth on Route 125. Shawnee State Park is located in the 63,000-acre Shawnee State Forest. Lodge: fifty guest rooms, elegant dining room, meeting rooms, indoor, outdoor pools, game room, sauna, jacuzzi, tennis, basketball and shuffleboard courts. Cottages: 25 family, two bedrooms, bath, shower, living room, double-wide rollaway bed, complete kitchen, microwave, telephone, dining area, screened porch, charcoal grill. Two premium cottages offer Jacuzzis. Lodge facilities are open to cottage guests. Camping: 107 campsites, electric hookups, waste disposal, heated shower houses, flush toilets, laundry facilities, pet camping, 38 campsite horsemen's campground with latrines, near Bear Lake. 75 miles of bridle trails, several nature trails, one to two miles in length, swimming and golf.
 * Stouds Run State Park, Athens County, east of Athens, on Route 690, inside of Wayne National Forest on Dow Lake. 75 non-electric campsites, picnic tables and fire rings, pet camping, three Rent-A-Camp sites, boating, fishing, hunting, fifteen miles of hiking trails, birdwatching, nature study, 8-1/2 mile bridle trail, 900-foot sand beach, change booths, drinking water, restrooms, scuba diving with proper equipment, picnic tables, cooking grates, three shelterhouses,  basketball court, playground equipment, boat rentals,  volleyball court and another playground.
 * Tar Hollow State Park, east part of Ross County, east of Chillicothe, at 16396 Tar Hollow Road, Laurelville, 71 sites with electrical hookups, 11 non-electric sites, 12 walk-in sites, and 5 primitive sites along a backpack trail. Equipped with showers, laundry facilities, pit latrines and a dump station. The beach is close by. Boating with electric motors only, permitted on the 15-acre Pine Lake. Perfect for canoes and rowboats.
 * Wolf Run State Park, Noble County, south of Cambridge east of I-77 exit 28. 71 electric and 67 non-electric campsites located on the south shore of the lake. Showers, laundry facilities, fire rings. A 20-site primitive fly-in camping area on north side of the lake, within walking distance of the 4,700-foot runway at Noble County Airport. Hunting, fishing, a 3-mile section of the Buckeye Trail, half-mile loop trail at the nature center, 1.5-mile Lakeview Trail, swimming beach,  basketball hoop, playground equipment, games, sporting equipment for registered campers.
 * Barkcamp State Park, Belmont County, south of I-70, exit 208, off of SR 147 at Belmont Lake, about 20 miles west of the West Virginia/Ohio State lines. 125 electrified campsites, hot showers, tables, firerings, two wheelchair accessible sites, 25-site horseman's camp, horse washing station, accessible mounting ramp, pet camping, two deluxe Camper Cabins, boats with electric motors only, boat tie-ups, launch ramp, boat rentals, fishing, hunting, 700-foot beach, seven picnic areas, tables, grills, water, latrines, picnic shelterhouses, miles of hiking trails and a barn with naturalist activities and historical displays.
 * Blue Rock State Park, southeastern Muskingum County, southeast of Zanesville off of Route 60. 94 non-electric campsites, pet camping, latrines, picnic tables, water, dump station, fire rings, showers, beach, bathhouse, three camper cabins, camp store, 15-acre lake, fishing, hunting, several miles of hiking trails, horsemen - 26 miles of bridle trails, volleyball, basketball courts, horseshoe pit, playground, all adjacent to the 4,573 acres, Blue Rock State Forest.
 * Dillon State Park, northwest Muskingum County, northwest of Zanesville on Route 146. Cottages 29 family cottages, air conditioning, cable television, gas heat, two bedrooms, bath, living room, all-electric kitchen, dining area, screened porch, linens, towels, kitchen utensils furnished. Camping: 195 campsites,  183 have electric, flush toilets, showers, dump station,  commissary, laundromat. Boating, unlimited horsepower, two boat ramps, one hundred 20 and 24 foot docks for rent, nightly docks, 1,360-foot swimming beach, fishing, hunting, lighted trap and skeet fields with high, low, and combination houses, 100-yard rifle range, 25-yard pistol range with firing line shelter, restrooms and meeting space and 15 miles of wooded bridle trails.
 * Salt Fork State Park and Resort Lodge, northern Guernsey County, southeast of Cambridge. Exit 47 off of I-77 to Route 22 East. to Route 285 North. Lodge: 148 guest rooms, dining room, coffee shop, snack bar, gift shop, lounge and lobby areas, indoor game area,  meeting rooms, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, sauna, tennis, volleyball, basketball, shuffleboard courts, 400-foot swimming beach, boat launching and docking facilities. Cottages: Thirty-seven two-bedroom cottages, fully furnished living and dining areas, kitchen, cooking and eating utensils, bath, shower, screened porch. Seventeen chalet cottages, gas log fireplaces and hot tubs, available year-round. Camping: 192 sites with electricity, twenty full-service campsites offer sewer and water hookups, heated shower houses, flush toilets, dump station, a separate beach, boat launching and docking facilities for campers. Pet camping. Other amenities:  18-hole golf course,golf shop, snack bar, driving range and putting green. Fishing, hunting, 2,500-foot beach, bathhouse, showers, lockers, toilets and snack bar, two marinas, 469 rental docks, comfort stations, gasoline fuel stations, parking facilities, concession areas, variety of rental boats.
 * Jefferson Lake State Park, 501 Twp. Rd. 261A, Richmond. 97 non-electric camp sites, latrines, water fountains, picnic tables, fire rings, public beach, bathhouse, showers, toilets, fishing, hunting, volleyball, basketball courts, horseshoe pits, eighteen miles of  multiple-use trails through the park for hikers, horseback riders and mountain bikers, any season.
 * For camping and getaway rental reservations on any of Ohio's Parks tel. 1+ 866-644-6727.

Note
The mailing address and actual location of these parks may be two different locations: For more detailed information on these and other Ohio State Parks, contact the Ohio Department of Natural Resources - Division of Parks and Recreation. Click here.

Understand
This is coal mining country. The landscape is generally composed of the foothills of the Appalachian Mountain Range.

Get in
I-77 runs north-west through this region. I-70 runs east-west along the northern portion of the region.
 * If you wish to ferry across the Ohio River, there are three remaining commercial passenger ferries, Monroe County at Fly, to Sisterville, West Virginia - Higginsport, Ohio in Brown County to Augusta, Kentucky - Cincinnati, Ohio to Constance, Kentucky. All-year, continuous daily service, weather permitting. Car=about $3 or less.

See
The Hocking Valley Railroad which has planned excursions, Victorian Nelsonville Public Square and historic art district including Stuart's Opera House, Murray City Train Depot and Coal Mining Museum, Smoke Rise Horse Ranch, Hocking Technical College, Ohio University, Little Cities of Black Diamonds Chattauqua festivals, historic downtown Athens, New Straitsville Moonshine Festival, Burr Oak State Park, Athens county Fair, Albany Paw Paw Festival, The Spotted Horse Ranch. Pike Island, Yorkville, two locks and a gated dam, one of the two major types of dams in service. Controls the water level in the navigation pool upriver of the dam. Machinery moves large chains which lift gates that are hinged into the body of the piers. The gates are raised or lowered to control the amount of water flowing under them. The upstream pool is maintained at a relatively constant level for an authorized depth of at least 9 feet throughout its length. The dam cannot be operated to control flood flows.
 * Rosco Village in Coshocton. Restored Ohio & Erie Canal port village.
 * The Ohio River
 * Hannibal Dam - on the Ohio River at Hannibal, Ohio Intersection of Route 7 and 536.

Museums
Barnesville: Dresden: Marietta: Norwich: New Concord: Portsmouth: Roseville: Zanesville: Pickerington

Do

 * Burr Oak State Park
 * Wayne National Forest
 * Lake Shawn, +1 800-845-0036, on State Route 148, six miles west of Powhatan Point, Ohio. The 108 acre property one of the best fishing holes in the entire state. Anglers can catch hybrid striped bass as large as 14 pounds along with smallmouth, largemouth, giant bluegills, perch, crappie, trout and silver channel cats. Lake Shawn has two cabins available for rental year round for fishing and deer, turkey and pheasant hunting. People visit Lake Shawn from all over Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia not only because of the great fishing and hunting but rather because it is very private. Only small parties of fisherman and hunters are allowed on the property and it is by reservation only.

Eat
A must eat at is the Nelsonville Ramono's Pizza place. A local favorite open for nearly 40 years.

Athens Ohio has most large chain restaurants. Historic downtown Athens has many small eateries and pubs.

Drink
In Buchtel Ohio there is a spring which flows endlessly and has been piped and flows into a large trough, it is off State route 78 and can be easily seen from the road. Many locals have drank the spring water all their lives. It is not unusual to see cars pull up and people fill up gallon jugs with this water.

Stay safe
This is a very rural part of Ohio with many primitive areas. As long as you stay on the paved, narrow, winding roads, you should have few problems. If you wander off onto the logging or coal mine roads, be prepared for potholes, bad roads, mud and very little, if any traffic to ask for assitance. Much of this area is not served by cell phone towers and you will have little to no communications. The area is popular with hunters and all terrain vehicle users. Rumor has it that the area is also popular with marijuana growers, in and out of the Wayne National Forest. If you come upon a patch, change direction and move on slowly while looking for man-traps. Don't even think about getting close enough to pick any. You may be being videotaped by law enforcement or worse. During hunting season, wear brightly-colored clothing if you go into the woods.

Ohio

 * Northeast Ohio
 * Greater Columbus
 * Miami - Scioto basins

West Virginia

 * Ohio Valley
 * Metro Valley

title: Southeast Ohio


text:
South East Queensland

South East Queensland (SEQ), the most populous region taking up most of the southeast in Queensland, includes the city of Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane's north, and the Gold Coast to its south.

Cities

 * - largest city and state capital
 * - Australia's main party destination by the beach
 * - a budget northerly alternative to the Gold Coast
 * - historical industrial city of Greater Brisbane
 * - perhaps Greater Brisbane's most forgotten city
 * – the splurge Sunshine Coast
 * – the splurge Sunshine Coast
 * – the splurge Sunshine Coast
 * – the splurge Sunshine Coast

Other destinations

 * – these cores of extinct volcanoes are so called because they are shaped like the glass furnaces of industrial Britain
 * – the most prominent world heritage Gondwana Rainforest national park in Queensland
 * – environmental paradise within reach of Brisbane city
 * – in the Noosa hinterland
 * – the world's second largest sand island, near Brisbane
 * – in the Gold Coast hinterland
 * – in the Gold Coast hinterland
 * – in the Gold Coast hinterland
 * – in the Gold Coast hinterland

Understand
South East Queensland is the most populous and fastest growing region in Queensland.

Brisbane is Australia's third largest city and capital of Queensland. The Gold Coast (including Surfers Paradise) to the south of Brisbane is possibly Australia's main party destination by the beach.

Renowned for its relaxed approach to Queensland life, the Sunshine Coast is famous for its uncrowded white sand beaches and green scenery to the north of Brisbane. Stretching for nearly 70 kilometres, the Sunshine Coast falls within the Sunshine Coast Council's jurisdiction and provides for a great (and popular) escape from Brisbane, or the Gold Coast. A holiday mecca even for South East Queensland locals, the Sunshine Coast is a great place to relax, unwind and taste the amazing local produce.

The Scenic Rim region is a thriving rural paradise with breathtaking scenery set in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range and surrounded by world heritage listed national parks. Home to a population of more than 34,000, the region covers and is located an hour south of Brisbane and an hour inland from the Gold Coast. From its myriad of wineries and art galleries to expansive bushwalking tracks, state of the art equine facilities, growing rural communities and friendly country charm. Many forest areas were previously logged, but the forest recovery has been excellent, and virtually all the logging tracks have disappeared except for those still used for foot access.

History
South East Queensland was home to 20,000 Aboriginal people prior to British occupation. Local tribes in the area included the Yuggurapal, Yuggumbeh, Quandamooka and the Gubbi Gubbi.

The Glass House Mountains of the region were sighted by Captain James Cook from the deck of the HM Endeavour in 1770. Other European explorers in the region included Matthew Flinders, John Oxley, Allen Cunningham, William Landsborough, Ludwig Leichhardt and Patrick Logan. In the 19th century, Europeans were able to settle in the region.

Many of the Sunshine Coast's towns began as simple ports and jetties for timber industry during the 1860s and 1870s, as the area once had magnificent stands of forest. Likewise, the region's road were used for hauling timber. Timbergetters used the region's creeks, rivers and lakes as seaways to float out their logs of cedar - the resultant wood being shipped far afield as Europe.

By car
Brisbane is an 8-hour car journey from Sydney.

By plane
The region is very well served by three airports. Brisbane is the international hub, however both Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast airports have good connections throughout Australia.

Brisbane Airport
See the Brisbane guide for Brisbane airport. An important international airport with many international connections. Trains directly from the airport will connect you with the city and the rest of the region. Buses and shuttle transfers to both the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast are available.

Gold Coast Airport
Gold Coast Airport is widely known as Coolangatta Airport. Because it straddles the NSW and Queensland borders, you land in one state and arrive in another. It is a fairly small terminal but handles around 3.5 million passengers per year with frequent connections from major Australian cities and some international flights from New Zealand and Asia.

 * The airport is 30 minutes’ drive from Surfers Paradise and an hour from Byron Bay. The drive to Brisbane can take an hour and fifteen minutes.
 * Jetstar, Qantas, and Virgin Australia all have frequent domestic flights from Adelaide, Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney.
 * Internationally, AirAsia X and Air New Zealand fly in from New Zealand and Malaysia.
 * Surfside Bus Lines offer convenient transfers to hotels and theme parks. The free Airport Link shuttle takes you straight to the Gold Coast Highway, where public transport is readily available.
 * Car rental companies can be located opposite the check-in counters at the airport.
 * Taxis are available immediately outside the terminal.

By train
Brisbane has a direct train connection from Sydney which lasts 15 hours. A few hours slower than by car but a lot less stressful. For the more adventurous a connection from Melbourne via Sydney would take about 25 hours in total. Check plane ticket prices since a flight to one of the main three airports in this area may be cheaper than the train fare.

TransLink coordinates rail services in SEQ, including suburban services in Brisbane and interurban services on the North Coast rail line from Brisbane to Gympie North and the intermediate destinations Landsborough and Nambour, with connecting buses to Caloundra, Mooloolaba, Maroochydore and Noosa, From Brisbane to the Gold Coast and intermediate destinations of Logan and Beenleigh and from Brisbane west to Ipswich and Rosewood.

By public transport
South East Queensland's public transport network is run by a single provider known as Translink. The official website and app can be used to plan journeys. Google Maps also offers full navigation with real time information.

The region is divided into 8 concentric "zones" for fare purposes. Network maps clearly mark the zones and zone boundaries. Your fare is determined by how many zones you travel through. For example, travelling between zones 2 and 3 will cost you the same as travelling between zones 7 and 8. Major destinations like shopping centres are often used as zone boundaries. A station or stop within a zone boundary is considered part of either zone.

Fare payments can be made with a contactless credit or debit card (buses not available until 2025). Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Apple Pay and Google Pay are accepted. Some prepaid cards may also work.

The fare is deducted as you touch on and touch off each mode of transport. You must touch both on and off for all journeys regardless of the mode of transport. A failure to touch off will result in a fixed fare of up to $30 being charged. Train stations and tram stops have fare gates or distinctive pink validators located on the platform. Buses and ferries are fitted with validators as you board and alight.

Translink uses the word "journey" to mean end-to-end journey including any required transfers, and the word "trip" to mean a single point-to-point trip. A journey can be made up of one or more trips on any mode of transport. When making a number of trips to get to your destination it is still one journey if you touch on within 60 minutes of touching off on your previous trip.

Alternatively, fare payments can be made with a go card. The card costs $10 (refundable deposit) plus the travel credit you wish to top up (maximum $250). The card is available at train station ticket counters, busway fare machines, and selected newsagents and convenience stores. The card can be topped up at the same locations, including train station fare machines. Applying for a refund of the deposit and any unused travel credit can be a hassle. If you have paid by cash it can be processed directly at a train station, including the airport train station. If you have paid by credit card it can only be processed by cheque or transfer to an Australian bank account.

Paper tickets are only available at train station ticket counters, train station fare machines and busway fare machines. Paper tickets are only valid for one way journeys and cost 30% more than a card. Buses are prepaid only so you will need to purchase a paper ticket beforehand or use a card instead.

If you are going to be travelling extensively and using the Airtrain, you can buy a 3-day or 5-day unlimited travel SEEQ Card for $79 and $129 respectively. SEEQ cards work like regular go cards and provide additional discounts at various tourist attractions around South East Queensland. You don't have to worry about topping up and refunds, but you'll struggle to get value out of it unless you are catching the Airtrain.

You can be fined $261 for travelling without a valid fare.

See

 * Picturesque hinterland towns are spread across the region.
 * Picturesque hinterland towns are spread across the region.
 * Picturesque hinterland towns are spread across the region.
 * Picturesque hinterland towns are spread across the region.
 * Picturesque hinterland towns are spread across the region.
 * Picturesque hinterland towns are spread across the region.
 * Picturesque hinterland towns are spread across the region.
 * Picturesque hinterland towns are spread across the region.

Do
The obvious thing to do is visit the beach and enjoy the sun. There are however a great deal of things to try out:

Brisbane & Moreton Bay

 * Climb the Story Bridge in Brisbane. Although not quite as spectacular as Sydney's Harbour Bridge climb, this is still a great way to experience the city.

Surfers Paradise

 * Long walks are possible between various beaches around the various headlands (i.e., along the rocks) if the tide is low enough. Also at low tides, lots of interesting rock pools can be uncovered (but watch for unexpected waves if approaching near the edge).
 * Dive the wreck of HMAS Brisbane with Sunreef Scuba Diving
 * Go Tandem SkyDiving with Sunshine Coast Skydivers
 * The adventurous may wish to climb one of the Glasshouse Mountains
 * Surf, or learn to surf, at Noosa
 * Take a train ride on the Mary Valley Rattler at Gympie

Eat
A good amount of Australia's produce is grown in the inland areas.

High-end dining experiences are to be had in Brisbane.

Drink
The beach towns in the region are known for hard partying and drinking.

Although not as well known as the vineyards of the other states, this part of Queensland does boast a growing wine industry.

Stay safe

 * When swimming at surf beaches, swim on beaches patrolled by surf lifesavers and between the red and yellow flags. Surf conditions can change quickly, and invisible rips can cause problems for even the strongest swimmers. The flags denote the safest area to swim in and the area is monitored.
 * Drinking alcohol and swimming is an obvious risk anywhere. The proximity of the beach to the party life in many of the towns in this area means this point is worth reinforcing.
 * If you see signs warning swimmers that "stingers" (poisonous animals) are in the water, read them carefully as some are deadly. Find a pool or use one of the net protected beach enclosures common on many main beaches.
 * Shark attacks are rare but possible. Always swim on a patrolled beach.
 * Unlike further north in the state, Crocodiles are not a threat in this region.

Go next

 * Central Queensland – Rainbow Beach and K'gari, two of the nearest attractions
 * Darling Downs – the region inland
 * Northern Rivers region of New South Wales is just across the border. A great road trip all the way down to Sydney is to be had.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: South East Queensland


text:
Southeast South Dakota

Southeast South Dakota is in the United States of America.

Cities

 * - largest city in South Dakota
 * - the Siouxland metropolitan area also extends into Iowa and Nebraska
 * - home to the University of South Dakota
 * - the Siouxland metropolitan area also extends into Iowa and Nebraska
 * - home to the University of South Dakota

See
Most of the major attractions are located in Sioux Falls or the Yankton-Bon Homne area. Sioux Falls being South Dakota's largest city has many attractions. Falls Park in downtown Sioux Falls is a major attraction for both locals and tourists. In the southern part of the region near the Missouri River you will find a lot of recreational fun. Just west of Yankton is Lewis and Clark Lake and a camp ground. If you are someone who likes to explore the country this is paradise for you. Scattered west of Yankton are several small farming villages such as Avon, Tyndall, Lesterville, Scotland, and Tabor. The highlight of this area is Czech Days located in Tabor. This celebration of Czech Catholic heritage takes place every June. East of Yankton are the villages of Gayville and Volin; these towns offer little more than a glance at small town America but might still be worth passing by if you have the time. Continuing East you will come to Vermillion, a bustling college town home to the Dakota Dome.

title: Southeast South Dakota


text:
Southeast Sulawesi

Southeast Sulawesi is a province in Indonesia, covering the southeastern peninsula of the island of Sulawesi as well as many offshore islands.

Other destinations

 * — world-class diving and a famous dive resort

Understand
Most of the province of Southeast Sulawesi is mountainous. The provincial capital Kendari is in the east on the coast of Kendari Bay (part of the Banda Sea), and is also the largest city of the province with a population of about 300,000. The only other independent city is Bau-Bau on the island of Buton.

By plane
Kendari's Haluoleo Airport has direct flights to and from Makassar, Jakarta, Surabaya, and nearby smaller airports. The smaller airports of Bau-Bau, Kolaka, and Wakatobi only have flights from Makassar.

title: Southeast Sulawesi


text:
Southern Tasmania

Southern Tasmania is often an alternative name for Hobart and surrounds in the island state of Tasmania.

Southern Tasmania can be an entry point for many who travel by air to Hobart, where the airport is known as Hobart International Airport.

Regions
Southern Tasmania has four primary regions, divided by both natural barriers and unique climates and landscapes, each with distinct attractions and history.

Cities

 * - the state capital, Australia's second oldest city.
 * - once famous for its apple orchards, Huonville is now a busy regional centre
 * - a modern town on the beach
 * - historic town on the River Derwent, with some of Australia's oldest buildings.
 * - an almost perfectly preserved Georgian village now located inside one of Tasmania's best wine regions
 * - gateway to the South-East and one of Tasmania's oldest towns
 * - capital of the remote Tasman Peninsula
 * - seaside town on the D'entrecasteaux Channel

Other destinations

 * – Tasmania's most visited offshore island, with beautiful, quiet landscapes, cute wildlife, and the oldest operational Australian lighthouse
 * – a small park that gives you the true feeling of "wilderness"
 * – famous for its waterfalls and alpine hikes
 * – home to some of the world's most spectacular dolerite cliffs and coastal scenery
 * – Tasmania's largest national park taking up 10 percent of the state
 * - famous world-heritage convict site

Understand
Tasmania has regions determined by geography, the south of Tasmania is one of the older settled regions in Australia, and it has many buildings and sites that can trace their origins back into the mid nineteenth century and the convict era. Many Tasmanians did not want to acknowledge the convict past into the late twentieth century, when the convict heritage was being explored in movies, books and sites, to the point that now in the twenty first century, convict culture and legacy is exploited wherever possible.

The Tasman and Forestier Peninsulas is a set of two peninsulas in the south-east of Tasmania. Located close to Hobart, this area is a popular day trip destination and is home to the former penal colony of Port Arthur along with many natural wonders within Tasman National Park.

The Derwent Valley is the largest drainage basin in Tasmania. It contains more differing ecosystems than any other area of Australia, from alpine to temperate rainforest to riverine reed beds. The area is scenic and beautiful, with tumbling streams, mirror lakes, poplars, rolling green hills and snow capped mountains in winter. Must sees include New Norfolk - the third oldest town in Australia with its history, Mt Field national park, Salmon Ponds where trout were first hatched in the southern hemisphere, the Styx Valley with the tallest hardwood trees in the world, the oldest golf course outside of Scotland at Ratho.

By plane
Southern Tasmania has one airport: Hobart International Airport. Flights to Burnie and Launceston, and to the mainland cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide arrive and leave regularly.

By car
Southern Tasmania is cross-crossed with natural geographic barriers, so routes by road are often winding and scenic. Roads may not be in the best repair outside of the capital city, so drive carefully and be aware of conditions. It's a three-hour drive using National Highway 1, and a two-hour drive from Launceston again using NH 1.

By boat
Several cruise lines stop at Hobart - sometimes first stopping at Port Arthur - usually for several days.

By car
Southern Tasmania is connected by a number of arterial highways

 * Brooker Highway (Highway 1): Hobart centre to northern suburbs and Derwent Valley
 * Tasman Highway (A3): Hobart to South-East, and South-East to Midlands
 * Arthur Highway (A9): South-East to Tasman Peninsula
 * Midlands Highway (Highway 1): Hobart eastern shore to Midlands
 * Southern Outlet (A6): Hobart to Kingston
 * Channel Highway (B68): Kingston to Margate and D'entrecasteaux Channel
 * Huon Highway (A6): Hobart to Huon Valley

Outside of major highways, road conditions may vary. Drive to the conditions and obey local speed limit signs.

Parking in Southern Tasmania is administered by local councils, and policies vary. Smaller towns may have free parking townwide, but some still operate parking metres. Hobart city centre has several parking towers, but they fill up quickly at peak times such as lunch and Saturdays, so plan extra time to find a park.

By bus
Skybus offer an Airport to Hotel service running from Hobart International Airport to the CBD. Metro Tasmania provide public bus services within the urban area of Hobart, and Hobart City Council offer a courtesy bus to Salamanca Market on Sundays. Bus services outside of Hobart are infrequent and may be expensive. TassieLink and RedLine Tasmania provide some services to the Derwent Valley, Sorell, Tasman Peninsula and Huon Valley.

By train
There are no public train services.

By ferry
Bruny Island can only be accessed by a passenger/car ferry, departing from Kettering and operated by SeaLink. The Museum of New and Old Art offer a catamaran passenger ferry departing the Hobart waterfront to the museum at Berriedale. A public ferry operates between Berriedale on the eastern shore of the Derwent River and Brooke Street Pier in Hobart. Several companies also offer looped river tours on the Derwent River and D'entrecasteaux Channel.

See

 * Out of the total eleven convict sites making up the UNESCO World Heritage listing "Australian Convict sites", four are located in Southern Tasmania; two on the Tasman Peninsula, one in Hobart and the Darlington Probation Station on Maria Island.
 * South Bruny National Park on Bruny Island contains wonderful coastal walks, wildflowers, birdlife, forests and a historic lighthouse, and is home to one of the last remaining population of white wallabies.
 * Cygnet has a rich arts culture

Drink
The Derwent Valley has wineries such as Stefano Lubiana, Laurel Bank, Derwent Estate, Meadowbank and Kinvarra Estate

The Nant Distillery produces single malt whiskey

Stay safe

 * As you travel further south, mobile phone reception does become weaker. Many city-based mobile phones on Optus, Vodafone, Virgin and other smaller carriers will not work in many areas of the Huon and Channel. Telstra NextG mobile phones provide the best coverage, although this is not guaranteed in all areas.
 * Observe speed limits. 50 km/h in built-up areas, otherwise 90 km/h on sealed roads and 80 km/h on gravel.
 * Watch out for wildlife - particularly at night.
 * Always notify somebody if you are going bushwalking and carry a (NextG) mobile phone if possible.
 * Carry an EPIRB if boating and wear life jackets.

Go next

 * Western Tasmania
 * Eastern Tasmania

title: Southern Tasmania


text:
Southeast Wisconsin

Southeast Wisconsin is a region of Wisconsin.

Other destinations

 * — Non-contiguous forests that cover an over 100 mile area, stretching from the northernmost part of the Southeast Wisconsin to the Illinois border.

Understand
As home to state's largest city, Milwaukee, and to Kenosha, Racine and Waukesha (the fourth, fifth and seventh largest cities respectively), Southeast Wisconsin is the population center and most developed area of Wisconsin. While somewhat culturally similar to neighboring Chicagoland to the south, the region has a separate character and a diverse economy with a mixture of industry, tourism and agriculture. Milwaukee is an exceptionally diverse city, while the suburbs and exurbs tend to be more homogenous and conservative.

Get in
Southeast Wisconsin is the busiest region of Wisconsin and is serviced by a number of interstates, numbered US routes, daily rail service and General Mitchell International Airport.

By car
The region may be accessed via I-94 (from Chicago or Madison) and from I-43 (from Green Bay or Beloit). The region is also accessible via US 41 and US 45.

By train
There is daily service via Amtrak and Metra's Union Pacific North Metra Line (in Kenosha and Sturtevant).

By plane
General Mitchell International Airport has daily departures and arrivals.

Get around
The primary method of transport in Southeast Wisconsin is car travel. Most of the region is easily accessible via I-94 and I-43. US and State numbered routes also cross the region. Milwaukee County and the cities of Kenosha and Racine also have a multitude of public transport options, usually local bus systems.

title: Southeast Wisconsin


text:
Southeast Wyoming

Southeast Wyoming is a region of one of the United States of America.

Byways & Backways

 * Seminoe to Alcova Scenic Backway - Paved and gravel roads between Sinclair on I-80 and Alcova on Wyoming Highway 220.
 * Snowy Range Scenic Byway - A 41-mile paved highway from the old mining town of Centennial, over the rugged Snowy Range to the North Platte River Valley.

title: Southeast Wyoming


text:
Southend-on-Sea

Southend-on-Sea is a seaside resort about 40 miles (64 km) east of London at the mouth of the River Thames Estuary. It's famous for its Victorian pleasure pier, the longest in the world!

Understand
Around the late 1800s there were two main villages: Prittlewell (famous for its Priory which is still standing today in Priory Park) and Leigh-on-Sea (a mile or so along the coast, famous for its cockles and seafood). The city coat of arms for Southend contains the monk and fisherman from monks of the Prittlewell Priory and the fishermen of Leigh-on-Sea. Westcliff-on-Sea is primarily a seaside resort, the shingle and pebbles along the stretch of beach have been covered with imported sand. Owing to its large Jewish population, it is also known as 'Jerusalem On Sea'.

The modern city known today as Southend was built up as the south end of Prittlewell and expanded into a large resort with its most famous landmark of all - Southend Pier - constructed in 1890.

Popular with Victorian daytrippers from London, the resort expanded generously from the 1830s onwards. Steamer ships would bring hundreds of daytrippers every day down the Thames from London to alight at Southend Pier. It wasn't so much about the sunshine and the sand (well, pebbles) as the "bracing" sea air which was seen as healthy and a nice break from the heavily polluted London air.

Southend's ultimate heyday came in the 1950s and 60s. Daytrippers from the east-end of London would come down on the train to spend the day sitting on the pebble beach, visiting the famous Kursaal Amusement park, or playing the fruit machines in the seafront arcades.

South East Essex College, with the University of Essex, has an impressive new campus building directly adjacent to Southend Central Railway Station.

Local information

 * Southend-on-Sea Council website

By car
Southend is well served by roads, with two junctions off the London-Orbital motorway, the M25. The A127 (junction 29) and A13 (junction 30) both go direct to the town centre. The A127 is more free-flowing road however gets busy on summer weekends when many day-trippers head to the seaside.

There is lots of parking available in Southend, but most day-trippers head for Seaway car park (£1.60/hr or £12/day) which is expensive and often full. Save yourself the hassle and head for Tylers Avenue/York Road (£1.10/hr or £10/day) or the car park at the Royals (£1/hr or £15/day; £3/day Sunday) instead; they are equally close to the seafront and far less crowded.

A cheaper alternative on weekends is to park to the north of the High Street. The Victoria (£0.80/hr or £10/day) is a 20 minute walk from the beach, while the Civic Centre is a 40-minute walk and costs only £3/day on weekends.

By train
Southend is served by two railway lines, both about one hour from London. Tickets specifying one service are not valid on the other line, although it is possible to buy tickets valid on either service.

On foot
It does not take long to get from one end of the town to another by foot and the walk from Southend Victoria station (to the North) to the sea (to the South) will take at most 15 minutes. From the seafront it is possible to walk East towards Thorpe Bay or West towards Westcliff. Some walks will probably involve steep hills.

Cycling
There is an 8-km-long cycle track along the seafront between Westcliff and Garon's Park. There is also a cycle track from the Southend Victoria station to Priory Park. You cannot cycle along the High Street.

Both train lines allow cycles to be taken on trains without a reservation. Alternatively, Cycle hire is available from one of three Southend bikeshare automated docking locations along the seafront (£2/hour) or from Bike and Go at Southend Victoria station (£10+£3.80/day).

By car
It is possible to get around Southend by car and the roads are usually not busy. For most flexibility, this is the preferred method of transport for many people in the town and it is possible to get from one side to another with ease.

By bus
Southend has a reliable, frequent bus service run by Arriva Buses and First Buses. Buses run regularly during the day however tend to stop quite early in the evenings (there are no night bus services), so be sure to know the time of the last bus to save disappointment later in the evening. Minor services are operated by Stephensons of Essex.

Buses can be picked up at the modern travel centre located just away from the high-street. All buses in Southend stop here and there is a travel centre where information and timetables can be obtained.

An Octopus ticket is expensive (£4.50 per day) but is valid for all the bus companies. Tickets valid for one bus company only are slightly cheaper. Pay with cash or a contactless card when you board.

By taxi
Southend is well-served by Taxis; however, there are relatively few "black cabs", so taxis have to be picked up from designated taxi ranks or booked over the telephone ( or ). Taxis can be expensive for longer journeys and the prices go up after midnight.

See

Along the top of the cliffs, are spectacular views over the Thames Estuary towards the distant Kent coastline. Not far from the Royal Mews are the beautiful Prittlewell Square gardens and farther along is the Beecroft Art Gallery in Station Road.

Westcliff
Westcliff-on-Sea is home to the Thames Estuary Yacht Club and the Westcliff Casino, which is the largest provincial casino and the second largest in Great Britain.

In London Road is the Palace Theatre and a wide range of restaurants, while the New Empire Theatre is in Alexandra Street.

Cliffs Pavilion, on Station Road, has a variety of acts

Do

 * Watch football at
 * Watch football at
 * Watch football at
 * Watch football at
 * Watch football at

Eat
Along the London Road at Westcliff is a wide range of restaurants from Thai to Italian, Chinese, Cantonese, Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese.. too many to mention.

In Leigh-on-Sea, visit the restaurants along Leigh Road, Leigh Broadway and Rectory Grove, where you will be spoilt for choice.

Pubs, bars, etc
Despite the introduction of 24-hour alcohol licenses in the UK, there are relatively few pubs open beyond 11PM in Southend, due mainly to the local police force fighting all applications for extensions of licences. The normal night out in Southend therefore beings in a pub until around 9:30PM when people visit one of the many nightclubs to continue drinking and dancing until 5AM in the morning.

Stay safe
Southend is relatively safe for tourists, but you should avoid wandering off the beaten track. As with anywhere, walking alone at night should be done with great caution. Although the suburb Shoeburyness is mainly a small residential area, it does contain housing estates, many are run down and look nearly derelict. Avoid these in the evening, the most well known housing estate is at The Renown in Shoeburyness and is very dodgy at night. However, it is away from the tourist areas and there should be no need for a tourist to visit these areas. Like housing estates in Shoeburyness, parks can be a hotspot for crime due to their isolation, especially Sweyne Park in Rayleigh, so avoid these at night if possible. In Southend, Lucy Road is the location of nightclubs and partygoers can spill out into the High Street at 1-2AM.

Connect
As of Feb 2023, Southend and its approach roads have 4G from EE and Vodafone, and 5G from O2 and Three.

Go next

 * Rochford - A 10-minute car ride from Southend will bring you to Rochford, a small but historic market town famous for Rochford Hall (by the golf course) where Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII met on a few occasions!
 * Leigh-on-Sea
 * London - via London Liverpool Street

title: Southend-on-Sea


text:
Southern Aegean

Southern Aegean Region is on the southwest coast of Aegean Turkey. It has a 2000 year tradition of tourism, and most international visitors are heading for party-town Bodrum. But beyond the resort strip are some of Turkey's top attractions, with quiet coves, Roman cities, hot springs, and mountains clad by pines and wild olives.

Towns

 * is a lively resort city with a castle, Roman ruins, and bars and clubs.
 * on Bodrum peninsula's west coast is a large modern resort strip.
 * is an attractive fishing village just north.
 * is the main resort on the north coast of the peninsula.
 * is a small beach resort and Gökova is an adjoining village, both with beautiful traditional architecture.
 * is the resort on the tip of the peninsula dividing the Aegean and Mediterranean.
 * is a large resort town near the Temple of Apollo of Didyma.
 * is an industrial city but near many archaeological sites.
 * is industrial but has a well-preserved old quarter.
 * is also industrial but has a good museum.
 * inland is th hub for visiting Pamukkale.

Other destinations

 * is a spectacular cascade of white travertine pools, overlooked by the Roman spa town of Hierapolis.
 * is a well-preserved Roman city yet tourist buses seldom visit.
 * are a trio of Grecian cities, usually visited on a combined "PMD" day-trip.

Understand
Datça is the long peninsula west of Marmaris which is taken as the boundary between the Aegean Sea to the north and the Mediterranean south. These are effectively the same body of water, pinched into channels here and there by Greek islands a few km offshore. Ancient people got around by sea: Caria was a Hellenistic kingdom which came under the sway of the Romans and later the Byzantines. Castles were built to defend their ports, and shrines to placate their gods: these suffered multiple earthquakes, conquests, desecrations and stone-robbing, but many remain as the region's finest assets. There was little industry apart from quarrying, and agriculture on the river plains between rugged hills. Tourism has a 2000-year tradition here but only brought in a mass market from the 1980s, drawn by the "blue voyages" lyrically described by Halikarnas Balıkçısı, the Fisherman of Halicarnassus. Wide-bodied jets could by then reach Turkey non-stop from anywhere in Europe, and the upgrade of Milas-Bodrum airport meant a short transfer from baggage reclaim to beach resort.

The climate is Mediterranean, with hot dry summers where the sea breeze stops you noticing how sunburned you're getting. Winters are above freezing but distinctly raw from that breeze. Early summer and autumn are ideal times to visit, with less crowding at the major sites.

Get in

 * 35 km northeast of Bodrum is the main arrival point for international tourists.
 * Denizli Çardak Airport has flights from Istanbul.
 * Izmir and Antalya are other large airports within a few hours drive.
 * Ferries sail from Kos in the Dodecanese islands of Greece to Bodrum and Datça. From Rhodes sail to Marmaris further south, and from Samos to Kuşadası further north.
 * Buses run roughly hourly from Istanbul and Izmir to major cities such as Bodrum.
 * Roads are mostly good, and traffic is light by western standards. Major divided highways are E87 from Izmir through Aydın continuing as D320 to Denizli and Antalya, D550 south from Aydın to Muğla and Akyaka, and D400 from Datça, Marmaris and Akyaka east to Fethiye and eventually Antalya, Adana and beyond.
 * Trains in this region are beyond tedious. Pamukkale Ekspresi trundles once a day from Eskişehir to Denizli, and Göller Ekspresi sleepwalks from Izmir to Denizli and Isparta at a time of night that makes it impractical for most visitors.

Get around
Muttas is the regional bus service. A swarm of Muttas buses and dolmuşes link the main towns and associated villages.

Your own vehicle will make life easier at Pamukkale (to reach the main gate) and Aphrodisias (which is off the main bus routes).

See

 * Ancient cities: Hierapolis has pride of place, as it was a Roman spa overlooking the Pamukkale travertine pools.
 * Aphrodisias was built around the temple to Aphrodite or Venus.
 * Miletus and Priene are Graeco-Roman, while Didyma has a grand temple but was never part of a city.

 * Castles: Bodrum has the best, as later rulers had reason to keep it in good repair.
 * Rock tombs carved into the cliff face are best seen at Akyaka.
 * Ottoman architecture: Muğla surprisingly has the best, as it's otherwise industrial and modern. Most towns have "traditional" mosques built recently.

Do

 * Water sports are available at the main beaches and resort hotels. Scuba diving here is mellow and suitable for low-experience divers.
 * The Carian Trail is a leash of hiking trails with coastal sections around the Gulf of Gökova, and inland sections to Muğla, Milas, and Lake Bafa.

Buy
All but the tiniest villages have supermarkets for self-catering supplies.

Eat
Expect to dine on the same Turkish and Med staples night after night. Even Bodrum doesn't offer other cuisines.

Drink

 * Most cafes serve beer, wine and the national drink rakı. Bodrum tourist strip has free-standing bars.
 * Vineyards open to visitors can be found near Bodrum and Çal, northeast of Denizli.

Stay safe
This is prime territory for not-always-sober tourists. Beware of traffic including water traffic (mad bats on jet skis) and take care of valuables.

Go next

 * In Central Aegean region to the north the big resort is Kuşadası, near the must-see site of Ephesus. Izmir is the chief city, the third largest in Turkey.
 * Lycia south is on the Med coast, with Marmaris and Fethiye its main resorts.
 * Lakes District to the east is seldom visited by tourists, but Beyşehir has Seljuk monuments and a UNESCO-listed mosque.
 * Central Anatolia to the northeast is the heartland of Turkey, with Ankara the capital, historic Konya and other-worldly Cappadocia.
 * The Dodecanese are Greek islands to the west: Rhodes and Kos are the easiest to reach.

title: Southern Aegean


text:
Southern Africa

Southern Africa is marked by sub-tropical, semiarid and temperate climates, in contrast to the tropical savannas and dense jungles of Central Africa. Dramatic landscapes such as, Victoria Falls, the Fish River Canyon Park, the Drakensberg Mountains and gorgeous beaches such as those of Bazaruto Archipelago National Park, Pemba, the South Coast (KwaZulu-Natal) amongst others are a huge draw for visitors, especially in the Southern hemisphere summer when Europe is in the depths of winter.

Not to be outdone are Southern Africa's cities and towns, chief among them majestic Cape Town with its scenic setting, as well as underrated gems such as formerly Portuguese-ruled Maputo and historic Bulawayo. This is all rounded out by the regions near unmatched national parks such as Kruger National Park and Mana Pools National Park. Overall, Southern Africa offers the flora and fauna that Africa is known for, with a diversity and modernity that may surprise visitors.

Countries
A number of other countries are sometimes considered part of Southern Africa due to their accessibility from the countries listed above, such as Angola and some East African islands such as the Seychelles and Mauritius. In some instances all of the countries south of the Equator are viewed as Southern Africa. For the purpose of this guide, these countries are described in other regions.

Cities

 * — South Africa's legislative capital and vibrant port city. Full of history and home to outstanding natural beauty, where you can climb a mountain and tan on the beach all in the same day.
 * — The capital of Botswana is a friendly, though somewhat sleepy place that lies at the nexus of two countries
 * — The capital of Zimbabwe that hosts numerous cultural, sporting and historic attractions. Home to many an affluent English style garden suburb as well as vibrant workaday neighborhoods.
 * — The largest city in South Africa. The regions centre of commerce, culture, shopping and traffic. Slowly shedding its former crime capital image and a great representative of life in modern South Africa.
 * — The capital of Malawi
 * — The capital of Zambia. Friendlier and much more African feeling than cities to its south, Lusaka feels like an introduction to the 'real Africa'.
 * — South Africa's resort city par excellence. Home to the largest Indian population outside Asia and a growing Zulu middle class, the city is subtropical, exotic and hedonistic. Home to a vibrant house music scene and equally impressive nightlife.
 * — The Mediterranean-like capital of Mozambique is laid-back, warm and inviting. Scenic beaches, art deco buildings, an emerging art scene and excellent cuisine.
 * — The capital of Namibia. Home to impressive German style architecture, this small city is well ordered and captures the growing confidence of its diverse inhabitants

Other destinations

 * in Botswana — great wildlife viewing
 * in Namibia — another park good for seeing wildlife
 * in Namibia — the second largest canyon in the world after the Grand Canyon in the USA
 * in Mozambique — an island with some of the most notable historical heritage anywhere in Africa
 * in Botswana and South Africa — huge park in the Kalahari region
 * in South Africa — one of the best managed wildlife parks in Africa
 * in Botswana — a unique geological formation where a delta is formed by the Okavango River flowing into the Kalahari desert instead of the ocean; part is designated as Moremi Game Reserve
 * in Zambia — one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in the world
 * in Zimbabwe — amazing falls in the west of the country, also accessible from Zambia

Understand
The Drakensberg (mountains of the dragon) range stretches some 1000km through Southern Africa, from the Eastern Cape through Lesotho (most of this country is on a plateau of the mountain range), central KwaZulu-Natal (where one can find the Tugela Falls, the second highest waterfall in the world), divides Mpumalanga in half creating the Escarpment and the Blyde River Canyon (the third largest canyon in the world) from where it reaches up into the southern parts of Limpopo.

Talk
English is an official language in all countries in the region except Mozambique, and most urban dwellers speak it quite well. It will be by far the most useful while travelling through the region. Afrikaans is widely spoken in South Africa and Namibia, and German is also spoken by some in Namibia. You may encounter Portuguese in the region as well, especially in Mozambique where it is the official language. French speakers are few and far in between, largely limited to Congolese and Cameroonian immigrants, French expats and less commonly upper middle class residents. The situation for Spanish speakers is even more dire, and they may better off trying their best at Portuguese.

Bantu languages dominate the area. Learning a few local words in the area you are in will greatly endear you to locals and if nothing else serves as a great icebreaker. The most spoken languages are Zulu, Shona, Nyanja-Chewa and Tswana. Zulu and Tswana are two languages that both contain to the famous African 'click' that may be a challenge for the uninitiated. Visitors should not feel intimidated though, any attempt to speak a local language is likely to go well with locals and earn you a few laughs.

The Khoisan languages, including Nama, are spoken by the Khoikhoi and the San peoples, prevalent around the Kalahari.

By plane
South Africa's O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg and Cape Town International Airport  are two of the easiest entry points into the region, with many direct international flight landing there from Amsterdam, Bangkok, Lisbon, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Athens, Dubai, Doha, New York, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Buenos Aires, Mumbai, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Sydney, Perth and others.

Connections to the rest of the Southern African region is easily made from here with flights to Blantyre, Cairo, Gaborone, Dar es Salaam, Harare, Lilongwe, Livingstone, Luanda, Lusaka, Kinshasa, Maputo, Manzini, Maun, Mauritius, Nairobi, Victoria Falls, Windhoek and more.

You may also want to have a look at Discount airlines in Africa and Air travel in South Africa.

By sea
Numerous ocean liners stop in multiple ports throughout Southern Africa, and can make a great way to explore the sub-continent. Europe or South America are the most frequent location to find a boat heading to Southern Africa. For the truly adventurous, there are infrequent ships coming up from Antarctica.

Southern Africa is easily reachable by yacht, but be sure your route avoids the pirate-infested waters of North Africa.

By car
Entering Southern Africa by car is an amazing way to see all the region's beauty as well as to get to places off the normal tourist routes. This can be done in a normal car with careful planning but a 4x4 is highly advised and many locations are only accessible with a high wheel base 4x4.

Keep in mind while planning that although Southern Africa is stable not all neighboring countries are. Please research all countries before entering them. Visa requirements and costs vary from nation to nation and are affected by the country you come from.

Each country also has unique laws requiring what emergency items need to be in the car. It is well worth looking into getting a 'Carnet de Passage' as it can save you small fortune in import taxes for your car.

Unfortunately corruption still infects certain of these countries and you'd be best advised to look into best travelling practices for each country before you arrive.

By train
Reaching Southern Africa by train ranges between highly impractical to impossible, with many former routes either closed down or in a state of disrepair. The only scheduled service from another country outside Southern Africa is the TAZARA route from Dar es Salaam in Tanzania to Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia.

By air
Southern Africa has limited airline options, and varies from country to country. Most countries have a national airline that will fly at least to Johannesburg (O.R. Tambo International) and other neighboring countries. There are several carriers in the region, such as South African Airways, Namib Air, Air Zimbabwe, etc.. Local countries have smaller airlines and include most of the national airlines, but prices can be excessively high. there are a few small regional airlines such as Airlink, FlySafair, Lift and Cemair, and these are usually the best options.

By car
Cars can be hired in all Southern African countries but South Africa is the cheapest country to hire in. Rates start from $20 a day or $300 a month for a cheap get around car (e.g. old VW Beetle), to $130 per day or $330 per month for an entry level 4x4. Depending on who you hire from there most likely will be a fee to cross borders but this should include a tow fee back to South Africa if you break down in elsewhere in the region. This can easily be arranged on line and there are plenty of forums giving advice on the best options available.

Buying a car is also easiest to do in South Africa as they are most amenable to non-citizens owning vehicles. A second hand entry level car can be purchased for less than $200 (e.g. Classic VW Beetle) to a 4x4 costing less than $5100. If you do purchase a second hand vehicle it's best to personally inspect it, as well as have mechanic inspect it before purchase. Be careful of were you go to buy the car as many areas in South Africa are not tourist safe, so make sure to meet at a mall or some other convenient location.

Driving your own car or hired car through Southern Africa will require that you have a fully road worthy car and all the legal accessories in your car. These accessories are country dependent and you should check each country you plan to enter before leaving, the items may include red triangles, fire extinguisher, spare wheel, etc. Corruption in Southern Africa is a problem (country dependent), so be cautious about best practice for each country and that they have no excuse to fine or in the worst case arrest you. And be warned Africa is bigger than you expect, so expect lots of long drives.

By sea
There are numerous Yachting Companies or Ocean Liners that travel the Southern African Coast line, depending on your budget.

By train
There's no coherent rail system across Southern Africa with the quality of passenger trains varying widely. Old colonial systems have become fragmented and services might both be slow and infrequent compared to for example bus travel. That said, travelling by train travel can be an amazing way to travel through Southern Africa and is well worth looking into.

Cross-border services are non-existent with the exception of a train between Botswana and Zimbabwe. However, some trains terminates at border stations, from where it's possible to continue by foot or taxi across the border.

 * South Africa has by far the most developed system with almost daily overnight services, including luxury trains, between Cape Town and Johannesburg as well as departures several times per week to other major cities. Regional services around Western Cape and Gauteng are well developed too, although overcrowding is a major issue on some routes.

 * Both Botswana and Namibia has decent connections between major cities, however with a lower standard compared to trains in South Africa.

 * Overnight trains in Zimbabwe are popular with both locals and tourists. The route to Victoria Falls is very scenic with excellent chances to see wildlife. However, ongoing economic difficulties means that cancellations is common and a deteriorating standard onboard trains.

 * Mozambique has three separate lines running from the ocean to the interiors. The routes are generally of low standard but an intrepid traveler might find them useful on some routes.

 * Zambia has one major north-south route connecting its major cities, including Livingstone next to Victoria Falls. The trains are generally of good standard but there are usually only 1-2 departures per week.

 * Malawi has no passenger rail system to speak of, but there are weekly departures on some routes.

Luxury trains
For travelers with deep pockets, luxury excursion trains is a very popular choice. Most famous (and expensive) is Rovos Rail which operates routes across most of Southern Africa. Fine dining, opulent carriages and excursions to be best wildlife reserves are common features. The cost of tickets starts at expensive-but-within-reach on short routes and then continues sharply upwards depending on the length of the trip.

By bike
Many countries in Southern Africa are amazing to cycle through, but the size of these countries are often comparable to France or Texas. You will have long rides often with few or no towns in a day's cycling, so be prepared to carry all you need. In certain areas it is legally required that you have a follow car with you for emergencies.

It most likely goes without saying that if the area is marked as a wild life preserve, cycling is a bad idea unless clearly indicated otherwise! (You may wind up as dinner...)

By thumb
In many areas this is highly inadvisable and may even be illegal, so check before you hit the road.

That said, if you do hit the road, with nothing but your backpack, you might want to read up on what the local customs are as sticking your thumb out will not get the message out in all countries. Watch the locals and expect that in some countries, you may still need to pay for the ride.

By bus
This is the preferred way to travel through Southern Africa for people who don't have access to a car. The buses vary in quality which is related to cost, but they will take you anywhere and normally it is easy to cross a border as a bus passenger. But the chance of a break down on a long African bus trip is high, hence you should always have sufficient time for transfers as buses often run late. The South African bus company Intercape operates a network of bus lines in most countries in Southern Africa, all the way up to northern Malawi.

Itineraries

 * Garden Route

Safari
One of the most popular holiday activities in Southern Africa is wildlife safaris where travelers try to spot the Big Five (lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, rhino). There are game reserves within South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Namibia and Zimbabwe. They all have lodges ranging from basic camping to five-star luxury.

Beaches
South Africa has beautiful beaches stretching all the way from Cape Town around the coast up to Durban, which is a surfing mecca. Further north, Mozambique - known for its excellent diving and warm, clear waters - takes over.

Limpopo - Bela Bela has a beautiful warm water you can swim in.

Adventure activities
Southern Africa is an adventure heaven. The region has some of the highest bungee jumping spots in the world; fantastic hiking and biking trails, great rivers for white-water river rafting and canoeing and excellent surf for surfing and kite-boarding.

Wine
The area at the tip of Southern Africa around Cape Town is known as the Wine Route and produces award-winning wines. Most wine farms are open for public tastings. Some of the towns to visit on the Wine Route include Stellenbosch, Franschoek, Paarl and Robertson.

Eat
Southern Africa was is home to a great variety of peoples and experienced notable immigration, beginning with the arrival of the Portuguese and the Dutch, lending a surprising amount of diversity to its cuisine. Many large cities (such as Cape Town, Johannesburg, Harare, and Maputo) have a broad array of dining options to offer tourists. These cities host fine dining restaurants (albeit not quite as cutting edge as the latest from Paris and London), as well as enclaves of various ethnic groups offering inexpensive cuisines from their homelands. In addition, a visit to the region is an excellent opportunity to try indigenous fare that is generally unavailable in Europe and North America such as Cape Malay or Mozambiquean cuisine.

You will want to experience the foods of the region you are visiting: seafood in Beira, fresh fish in Malawi, boerwors in the Free State, curry in Durban, braai (barbecue) throughout South Africa and to a lesser extent Zimbabwe, with each region having its unique meats, sauces and preparations. If you can get invited to one of those... be sure to go! Southern Africans (especially outside Mozambique and Malawi) are meat lovers at heart.

Fresh food availability is particularly obvious in the Western Cape, which is also enjoying a prominence of fruit and vegetables and fine restaurants. In Zimbabwe, try the native mazhanje and amarula fruits, the latter of which is made into a delicious liqueur. Also sample oranges of the Mazowe Valley, as well as the eponymous beverage you'll find throughout the country. Lake Malawi National Park has amazing specimens of fresh fish and Mozambique, serves one of Africa's finest cuisines, a mix of influences from the spices and flavors of Portugal, Eastern Africa, India and Brazil.

Visitors should also be on the lookout for Cape Malay food, unique to Cape Town and the Western Cape and brought to the area by Malay, Indonesian and Madagascan slaves in the 18th century. Additionally, Durban hosts one of the largest Indian populations outside Asia and is an ample opportunity to try spicier cuisine than is the norm for the South African palate. The Gatsby sandwich and bunny chow are two specialties associated with both cities respectively.

Afrikaner food, tends to be milder than east coast cuisines and developed to reflect the practicalities of nineteenth century frontier and farmer life. Expect meat, sausages and potatoes in the center of the country, and similarly starch and meat heavy cuisine among rural Black South Africans, with pap a staple across the region. That said voetkoeks and koeksisters are delightful and filing fast food snacks.

Zimbabwean food largely follows above trends albeit with more vegetables and relish due to the relatively higher price of meat and a twist from the strong presence of British cuisine staples such as baked beans, jacket potatoes, tea with milk, pork and meat pies and trimmed down versions of an English breakfast.

Nearby Mozambique is a gourmand's delight and arguably the culinary heart of the region, known for its excellent seafood and specialties like peri peri chicken.

Water
Southern Africa's tap water is generally good but the exceptions are Lesotho, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In the cities or where indicated outside these four countries it is advised for those with weak stomach to at least boil the water. In Lesotho, Zambia and Zimbabwe you should always boil the water or use chlorine pills. It's best to buy bottled water if you are worried about the quality of the tap water and this concerns all the water you use including toothbrushing, ice cubes, cleaning fruit (always rinse fruits before you consume them!) or any other time you consume water.

There are areas with contaminated waters! but this is rare near cities and normally signed, but if the locals don't drink it, you shouldn't.

River water and water in rural communities is often contaminated or will at least give travelers diarrhea. Bring fresh water were possible and in an emergency at least boil or add chlorine pills to the water. Be careful of were camp sites get their water, as it some time for the local river.

Beer, wine and spirits
Southern Africa generally has or had a lot of control on its alcohol beverage manufacture, which limited creativity or variety. Most countries have at least one local beer or beer brand. That said alcohol is readily available, though price can fluctuate greatly depending on where you buy them from.

South Africa has the largest variety as there has been more freedom in the market over the last 15 years, with around a thousand vineyards, numerous micro-breweries (beer) and a variety of other drinks being produced. You are most like to find some of the older names of South African Alcohols throughout Southern Africa, though certain international Spirits and whiskeys are available in areas.

Travel to the region is a great opportunity to discover the regions wine, which is overwhelmingly concentrated in South Africa's Western Cape region. Prices are generally a fraction of those in Europe and the United States, making them a bargain for oenophiles. Chenin blanc, syrah/shiraz and the unique pinotage are particular varieties worth sampling and taking back home, with many winegrowers producing vintages of exceptional quality. Additionally, Western Cape wineries have found success in growing Bordeaux-style and other cooler climate wines, which are a steal compared to the Old World originators. South Africa's wineries are well geared towards visitors, with many offering tours, tastings and food pairings. In addition, Zimbabwe has a small wine scene based around wineries such as Mukuyu and the Western Cape based Kumusha.

In contrast, the regions beer scene is rather unremarkable dominated by large breweries such as SABMiller, Namibian breweries and the Delta Corporation who produce exceptionally bland, mass market varieties. European visitors will also be disappointed to find the likes of Heineken and Carlsberg prevalent, particularly in tourist areas. Local brands worth sampling include Windhoek, Mitchells brewery and pilsner-esque Zambezi lager. Despite this dominance, a small craft scene is developing in urban and resort areas such as the scenic town of Knysna.

Many of the above brewers are also in the spirits business producing a variety of local and international gins, vodkas, whiskeys and brandies. British brands such as J&B, Gilbert's and Johnny Walker are especially ubiquitous. Aside from the superb Amarula cream liquer, few are worth a mention unless, you're absolutely parched for a G&T or a whiskey.

Sleep
Accommodation in Southern Africa varies to serve all budgets, from those backpacking to 5 star hotels and game resorts. In tourist areas, you will normally find something that meets your needs and budget but it's best to have cash at hand outside of South Africa or do an EFT in advance as few place accept bank cards.

Cost are often affected by time of year, Christmas (Summer) and Easter are two large local holidays that send the local tourist swarming and cause prices to rise. You can often end up paying twice as much at this time of the year in all accommodation types.

Back Packers (Hostels)
In South Africa, Back Packers (known as hostels in other parts of the world) are common in most tourist areas or medium to large cities. In the rest of Southern Africa the trend of Back Packers is slowly growing and most countries now have at least a few, especially near tourist locations, e.g. Victoria Falls, Lake Kariba or the Mozambique Coast.

Normally accommodation varies from large rooms with up to 20 beds, to smaller rooms with up to 6 beds. The number of beds in the dorm affect the cost but cost is normally around $10 per night, excluding food, per person.

Private rooms are normally available, but cost increase depending if you have a private or shared bathroom, or double bed. Normally between $35 and $70, location dependent.

Most Back Packers will also have camping facilities, with a shared amenities. Prices are around $5 per person per night.

Most Back Packers have a small restaurant inside, but often only serve a small variety of dishes (Though there is normally 2 or 3 vegetarian options), and only breakfast and dinner are served. There should also be a basically equipped communal kitchen for those that prefer to prepare their own (definitely not halal and you might want to wash any equipment before using it).

A bar, communal relaxation area, pool and even a TV are common in most back packers, but expect to find treasures like cliff top baths and tree house for the adventurous.

Backpackers tend to function as informal tourist information centers and will often help you make bookings or find out what is available with in the local area.

Bed and Breakfast
Throughout Southern Africa, in places frequented by tourists you will find a Bed and Breakfast. Mostly these are located in large cities or towns with popular tourist attractions, though in South Africa you will find one in just about every small town no matter how far off the beaten track you are.

The quality of Bed and Breakfasts vary greatly, some are no more than an old bedroom that's now open for stay, while others are professionally run and will rival top hotels.

Depending on were you chose to stay, most will offer only breakfast or tea and coffee; while a few will do dinners as well. Though if you plan in advance you can often make arrangements for extra meals.

In many ways you are staying in someone's home, so only enter the areas that the owner shows or invites you and feel free to make use of amenities where indicated. However, unlike a hotel, the staff are not always available 24/7, so don't be surprised or offended that you will be let in by someone in a bathrobe if you arrive late.

Hotels and Lodges
Cities in Southern Africa are filled with lodges and hotels to fit your budget and better rates are offered for longer stays. You will find most of the large international chains in most of the Southern African countries. On the rare occasion you will find a hotel claiming to be 4 or 5 star that is not (or more likely no longer is). Doing a little research online about other people's experiences or following a travel guide can get you a long way to finding the perfect spot to stay.

Game Reserves
Southern Africa is full with public or government run game reserves. Reserves such as Kruger National Park are easily accessible by any vehicle but many can only be accessed by high based 4x4's. Some are associated with tour operators that will get you there.

Accommodation varies from camping to five star lodges, but you will need to check what's available and where it's best to stay in which season as some areas of the reserves are not accessible during the rain season.

House Boats
If you looking for the house boat experience Lake Malawi or Lake Kariba are you best bets, though certainly not the only ones. As with selecting anywhere to stay do your research in advance as some of the best option at 30km of dirt road and a long drive from anywhere but the beauty of the lakes will make the journey worth it.

Hunting Lodges
Though most animals can be hunted at some private game lodges, please take into consideration the animals you are hunting. Please consider carefully if the animal you are hunting is endangered or high risk of becoming endangered. Do not go hunting without a professional and certified guide or a spotter, hunters have been attacked by animals they did not see while focused on their quarry. Hunting is an art you will not master in a two African safaris, if you're not exceptionally competent with a gun, master it before you leave your home country, for sake of the animal and those you hunt with.

Stay away from grey practices such as canned lion hunting - when people realize you shot a drugged animal after wounding it three times, you just going to embarrass yourself.

There are numerous hunting lodges within easy access of international travel and are normally located close to tourist areas. The quality of accommodation varies and cost is affected by what you hunt.

Stay safe
The people of Southern Africa tend to be friendly and helpful, but unemployment is high and thus a lot of opportunistic theft happens. Violent crime is common in certain cities or regions, please check each country before going. In addition, extra vigilance is required for South Africa's larger cities, especially Johannesburg and Cape Town, whose crime rates greatly exceed the regional average.

Some basic safety tips include:
 * Do not leave items visible in cars.
 * Park in secure areas, parking lots with security or visible guards.
 * Avoid leaving possessions unattended.

Stay healthy
Urban and tourist areas of Southern Africa tend to have decent health infrastructure, and all major cities will have at least one hospital or clinic (often private) that provides excellent healthcare. Visitors are encouraged to visit their home country and destinations health websites for more detailed information. In addition, it is also worth looking into purchasing travel insurance before you travel.

Water
Depending on the country you are visiting, tap water might not always be safe to drink. Consult the page for the relevant country and check with locals when in doubt, especially outside of cities.

Sunburn
Many activities in Southern Africa will be outdoors, see the sunburn and sun protection travel topic for tips on how to protect yourself.

HIV and AIDS
Southern Africa has a very high HIV infection rate by world standards. Though much lower than its peak in the 2000s, casual or unprotected sex is strongly discouraged.

Malaria
There might be a risk of contracting malaria in many areas in the region, especially in subtropical regions to the north. See the Malaria and Mosquitoes travel topics for more information.

Yellow Fever
In practice, yellow fever is not a problem in Zambia anymore, except perhaps in the extreme west along the Congolese borders. However, many countries will insist on a yellow fever vaccination certificate if they find out you've been to Zambia, so it's best to get a jab at least 10-14 days before arriving.

Other
Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Diphtheria are advised for most of Southern African countries.

Other less common vaccinations maybe advised for certain countries, depending on region and duration of stay. Consult a travel doctor before leaving.

Go next

 * East Africa
 * Seychelles
 * Mauritius
 * Saint Helena (island)
 * Madagascar
 * Tristan da Cunha

title: Southern Africa


text:
Southern Alberta

Southern Alberta is a region in Alberta, Canada. The region features flat wheat fields and ranchlands but also has the Rocky Mountains in the furthest western portion and badland and hoodoo formations and a paleontology hotbed. It is also an area rich with aboriginal history.

Southeastern Alberta

 * - Jumping off point for Dinosaur Provincial Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
 * - The focal point of the Alberta badlands, best known for its museum of paleontology.
 * - Small community near Drumheller in the badlands, known for its abandoned coal mine.
 * - Small town northeast of Calgary.
 * - Second largest city in Southern Alberta. It has a pretty river valley and is the jumping off point for Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park.
 * - Small town along the river of the same name, one of the few locations in Canada within the Mississippi River watershed.
 * - Small town near the Saskatchewan border.
 * - Known as the "Corn Capital of Canada".

Southwestern Alberta

 * - Small town in the foothills best known for its carriage museum and Mormon temple.
 * - Small town between Calgary and Lethbridge.
 * - Southern Alberta's gateway to the Rockies.
 * - Jumping off point for Head Smashed-in Buffalo Jump, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
 * - Fourth largest city in Alberta and centre of Southern Alberta. It has a pretty river valley and variety of attractions.
 * - Small town south of Calgary known for its charming downtown and antique stores.
 * - Small town in the foothills north of Waterton Lakes National Park.
 * - Small town southeast of Calgary and the "Official Star Trek Capital of Canada."

Other destinations

 * - A true natural gem in the Rockies in Alberta's extreme southwest. It is connected to Glacier National Park in Montana to form Glacier-Waterton International Peace Park.
 * — Canada's highest point between the Rockies and the Labrador peninsula
 * — in use for 5,500 years as a place where the Indigenous people of the plains killed buffalo by stampeding them over a cliff, a
 * — rich collection of dinosaur fossils and its interesting badlands landscapes, a
 * — has the greatest concentration of rock art on the North American Great Plains
 * — has the greatest concentration of rock art on the North American Great Plains

Understand
Southern Alberta is lined to the west by the Canadian Rockies and their foothills, while the rest of the region is dominated by the semi-arid prairies where farms and ranches have been built, often with the help of irrigation. The Alberta Badlands, a kind of weird and wonderful eroded landscape, are in the northeast of the region, prominently along the Red Deer River. Badlands are also found to the south in North Dakota and South Dakota in the United States. The best single destination for viewing the Alberta badlands is the world heritage listed Dinosaur Provincial Park near Brooks. There are a number of good fossil beds and exhibits in this region. Top among them are the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller, and Dinosaur Provincial Park near Brooks. They are apart, and each demands a day or two of attention, so allow at least three days to see them all. Both feature interpretive tours, that are also easy to moderate hikes, during the summer months.

Cypress Hills, in the east, at the border with Saskatchewan, are the highest point between the Rocky Mountains and Labrador.

By plane
International flights are available to the Calgary and Edmonton airports. There are regional connections to Lethbridge and Medicine Hat.

From the United States
There are four main land border crossing points, between the Southern Alberta and the Northwestern Montana and Central Montana regions of Montana, USA. They are referred to by different terms in Canada and the US.

Other crossings
There are three other crossings between Montana and Alberta, check ahead as hours will vary by season.

From other places in Canada

 * Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway) − connects to Vancouver, Kamloops, Calgary, and Regina; passes through Medicine Hat
 * Highway 2 − connects to Calgary and Edmonton; continues into Montana as US Highway 89
 * Highway 3 (Crowsnest Highway) − connects to Cranbrook, BC; passes through Lethbridge and Medicine Hat
 * Highway 9 − connects to Calgary and Saskatoon (becomes Saskatchewan Highway 7); passes through Drumheller
 * Highway 22 (Cowboy Trail) − alternate route from Calgary which passes through the foothills

By bus

See
If you're interested in dinosaurs, the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller, and Dinosaur Provincial Park near Brooks must be on your list. At the other end of the spectrum, science fiction fans are drawn to Vulcan for its Star Trek kitsch.

Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park and Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump have been declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites for their importance in understanding the Indigenous peoples of the region.

The Fort McLeod Museum of the North West Mounted Police and the Fort Walsh National Historic Site in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park explore the history of Canadian policing in the West in the late 19th century.

Medicine Hat is home to the World's Largest Teepee, and is an international centre for ceramic arts, focused on its Medicine Hat Clay Industries National Historic District.

The Hoodoos Trail near Drumheller takes you out to see a collection of fantastical stone columns with caprocks.

Do
Go hiking or take a lake cruise in the spectacular Waterton Lakes National Park on the border with the United States, or go hiking in the Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, which spills across the border into Saskatchewan.

There are many national and provincial parks that allow a wide range of recreational pursuits in beautiful settings, from hiking and camping to fishing and golfing to swimming, canoeing, kayaking, or tubing in the Milk River.

Vul-Con, in Vulcan at the end of July, is the local Star Trek convention.

title: Southern Alberta


text:
Southern Alps

The Southern Alps (Maori: Kā Tiritiri-o-te-Moana) are a range of mountains that run the length of the South Island of New Zealand. This mountain range has been likened to the Alps of Europe. The highest peak is Aoraki Mount Cook at 3,724 metres (12,218 ft).

Many of the highest peaks are permanently covered with snow and ice and there are several glaciers, including the often visited Franz Josef and Fox on the West Coast.

Other destinations

 * Southern Lakes

National parks

 * Abel Tasman National Park
 * Nelson Lakes National Park
 * Arthur's Pass National Park
 * Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park
 * Westland Tai Poutini National Park
 * Mount Aspiring National Park
 * Fiordland National Park

Glaciers

 * Fox Glacier
 * Franz Josef

Passes

 * Lewis Pass
 * Arthurs Pass
 * Haast Pass

Tunnels

 * Otira Tunnel (railway)
 * Homer Tunnel (road)

Understand
The Southern Alps play a significant part in determining New Zealand's weather. The high mountain ranges act like a dam to the wind, forcing weather systems to flow over or around the mountain ranges. The prevailing westerly winds mean the West Coast and mountains have a high rainfall, while the East Coast is baked by a hot dry nor'wester. When the wind blows from the south, the East Coast receives rain, and snow in winter, while the West Coast will have sunny skies.

Southwesterly storms become particularly hard to forecast as a few degrees difference in the storm path is all it takes to have a nor'wester or southerly storm. This leads to weather that can change rapidly and forecasts that may evolve during the day. While New Zealand weather forecasts are reasonably reliable they do change over the day. There are special mountain forecasts that should be monitored when travelling in the mountains. Travellers in New Zealand generally, but in the Southern Alps in particular, should be prepared for any type of weather as it is possible to experience four seasons in one day.

The Southern Alps also play a significant part in sizing the geography of New Zealand. What would be considered mountains in some other parts of the world are considered mere hills in New Zealand, compared to the Southern Alps.

See

 * Native rainforests
 * Fiords
 * Glaciers
 * Lakes, some with mirror-like reflections
 * Mountains
 * Rain
 * Waterfalls

Do

 * Flightseeing
 * Mountain climbing
 * Skiing
 * Tramping (hiking)

title: Southern Alps


text:
Southern Andaman Coast

The Southern Andaman Coast is a popular beachside region in Southern Thailand.

Other destinations
The area is famous for its paradise-like beaches and islands. Do an island tour or stay on one of them.

 * Ko Adang
 * Ko Bulon Leh
 * Ko Lipe
 * Ko Muk - closest and most easily accessible island from Trang
 * Ko Ngai - small, quiet island, home to some amazing reefs for snorkeling and diving
 * Ko Rawi
 * Ko Tarutao
 * Ko Rok

Get in
Trang is a good connecting hub to the island. It has an airport with multiple flights from and to Bangkok. An overnight sleeper train from Bangkok to Trang takes around 13 hours. Long-distance buses are also available.

Ko Muk, Ko Kradan, and Ko Ngai are easily reached from Ko Lanta by "4 Islands" snorkeling tours and also some regular boats from Ko Lanta and Trang.

Get around
Minibus + ferry or longboat transportation to islands is available from any of the tourist offices.

You can also book fixed island tours to the greatest sights.

title: Southern Andaman Coast