Touchstone Summer 2011 - Cerebral Palsy League

Special FeaturePack your suitcasefor these accessibletravel destinationsTravel is a favouritepastime of many peoplewith and withoutdisabilities. Accessibletravel is a burgeoningindustry and Touchstonetakes a look at someenticing destinationsThere’s a certain amount ofplanning that goes along withany trip – small or large.It’s important to research yourdestination and find out whatkind of facilities are available.You can either do this yourselfor perhaps enlist the help of afamily member, friend, carer ortravel agent.Accessibility issuessurrounding accommodation,transport, entertainment,sight-seeing and shoppingare all worthwhile topics toinvestigate.Accessibility can set adestination apart from othersand nowadays it can give traveland tourism operators a valuablecompetitive edge.Australia itself is bountifulin awe-inspiring locations andtourist attractions, so why notstart close to home.QueenslandWheelieeasy.com.au is a handywebsite offering free informationsheets on accessible destinationsin north Queensland, guidedtours and holiday ideas.Accessible cruises are availablefor people with disabilities sothey can also enjoy exploringthe natural beauty of the GreatBarrier Reef. Or, if you’re reallyadventurous, AJ Hackett Cairnscaters for people in wheelchairswho want to try bungy jumping.Some conditions apply.Burdekin based bflexi.comalso organise holidays inside andoutside of Australia for peoplewith disabilities.New South WalesSydneyforall.com is a valuabletool for finding out aboutaccessible tourist attractionsin Sydney. Taronga Park Zoohas a free accessibility mapoutlining paths and inclines.The Art Gallery of New SouthWales has ramps and lifts, andruns programs such as guidedsensory tours of sculptures andobjects (which are exploredthrough touch) for people withvision impairments. There arefree Auslan-interpreted toursonce a month.Take a two-hour drive north ofSydney to Port Stephens. There’sthe wheelchair-friendly dolphinwatch boat called the TamboiQueen and O’Carrollyn’s EcoResort at One Mile Beach is verypopular, offering accessible units,concrete paths into the bush anda pool with a hoist.VictoriaCute Fairy Penguins are asight to see at Phillip Island atsunset! The visitor centre atVentnor is wheelchair-friendly forwatching the ‘penguin parade’and checking out the interactivedisplays.4 Touchstone Summer 2011