Coast Radar guide of things to do

Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, Florida, United States

2012-04-29

Waiting in sunny Orlando are four Theme Parks, two Water Parks and two entertainment districts that make up the Walt Disney World Resort. You'll be immersed in a world filled with exhilarating excitement, fantastic thrills, over 20 Disney Resort Hotels and unlimited recreational opportunities. Add in countless award-winning dining and shopping experiences too.

Encounter the wonder of make-believe as favourite Disney classics come to life at Magic Kingdom Park with Cinderella Castle as its centrepiece. Enjoy classic attractions such as The Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain, The Haunted Mansion and the thrilling Splash Mountain.

At Epcot, discover high tech excitement, food and cultures from around the globe. Ride Test Track and feel like an astronaut on Mission:SPACE.

Explore the world of animals at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park. Encounter the 'Yeti' while riding on Expedition Everest™ and go on an adventure at Kilimanjaro Safaris.

Over at Disney's Hollywood Studios enter the world of movie making. Fans of the Disney.Pixar's 'Toy Story' films shouldn't miss 'Toy Story Mania!', an exciting 4-D interactive adventure. For the wildest, most interactive parade in Disney history, Block Party Bash features over 20 of the most popular Disney.Pixar Characters.

On top of all that plunge down thrilling water slides, float through gentle waves or soak up the sun at either Disney's Typhoon Lagoon or Disney's Blizzard Beach. Or play golf, be dazzled by broadway-style shows, shop 'til you drop at Downtown Disney.

There's only one ticket that you need to experience all of the above - Disney's Ultimate Ticket. You can hop between all the Disney Parks on the same day or take it easy and come and go as you please. Maybe enjoy an early morning safari, a refreshing swim in the afternoon, followed by a dazzling firework display in the evening. If that sounds too hectic, build in some time to relax – it's your choice, and there's no need to plan! Only available when pre-bought before arrival, this ticket offers fantastic value and flexibility.

What are you waiting for…?

Lankayan Diving, Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia

2012-04-23

The island of Lankayan is in the Sulu Sea, a 1.5 hour boat ride north of Sandakan. A marine conservation area as it has high biodiversity and is a nesting site for Green and Hawksbill Turtles.

Diving is in season March to May and as well as the turtles you will get to see some whitetip and nurse sharks and if you are very lucky whale sharks. A few ship wrecks also to explore and the gradually shelving reef system.

Layang Layang Diving, Spratly Islands, Sabah, Malaysia

2012-04-09

Layang Layang is an island in the South China Sea situated 300 km north of the coast of Sabah, in Malaysian Borneo. A part of the disputed Spratly Islands, the island is also claimed by China, Taiwan, Vietnam and the Philippines, and is occasionally known in English as Swallow's Reef.

This dive resort is situated on a coral atoll along with a small off limits Malaysian Naval base. The island has been reclaimed from the ocean and artificially increased in size to allow for the naval base and air strip. There are no sandy beaches, just concrete boulders.

Layang Layang is situated in very deep waters with the drop off outside the island's reef falling away to approximately 2000 metres. As the reef is in the middle of nowhere, the South China Sea waters are clear and unpolluted. Species such as Hammerhead sharks visit this location around Easter (1st of April - 15th of May) whilst at other times you may well see reef, whale and whitetip sharks, turtles, and tuna. The corals are in pristine condition and with no fishing permitted, the fish life is abundant.

There are a wide selection of dive sites all which are accessed by boat from the dive centre. The visibility is usually very good at 20 metres and more. The water temperature is somewhere around 30^oC. Each dive will give you opportunity to see large creatures such as sharks, turtles and manta rays - maybe even the elusive hammerhead shark. A vast array of intact, unbleached hard and soft corals, barrel sponges, gorgonian fans, schools of large fish and the usual array of colourful little fish are easy to see on each dive. The diving conditions such as wind and currents will vary with the weather and the dive master will select a suitable site accordingly.

Crack Reef
D Wall
Navigator's Lane
Snapper's Ledge
The Tunnel
Wrasse Strip - Sloping reefs best visited when the current is not so strong. The gentle slope is coverred by a variety of hard corals and spionges. At around 20 metres the slop drops off into a wall.
Dogtooth Lair - Depth is to 25 metres and you will get to see flat reef areas as well as tuna, turtles and jacks.
Gorgonian Forest
Sharks Cave - The name is a little missleading as this dive will present no sharks but you get two sandy shelves at 25 and 35 metres down a near vertical wall. The overhangs create two very interesting caves.
The Runaway
The Valley - In the shallower waters you have a valley within the reef, but if you go deeper to around 30 metres you get a great selection including whitetip sharks.
The Point - For a chance to see any hammerheads, this is the location where divers swim away from the reef at the beginning of the dive into the blue at about 30-35 metres depth for about 5-10 minutes before returning to the reef and completing the remaining 30 minutes slow ascending dive along the reef wall.
Pier Diving - Diving is available from the pier but with the sandy bottom and movement of the boats, it is very murky with visibility being 2-4 metres. That being said, there is an amazing array of marine life to be seen directly under the pier from huge moray eels to baby lion fish. Pier dives are offered for those wanting to do a night dive without the expense of chartering a boat and also as the last dive of your visit.

The island's one resort is open from March to August only as November to February is considered Monsoon Season. Best way to get to the Island is on one of the several flights per day during the peak season from Kota Kinabalu.

Elements of this article provided by Wikipedia.

Vassiliki Windsurfing, Vassiliki Lefkada, Ionian Islands, Greece

2012-04-04

Vassiliki is one of the world's best windsurfing destinations.

Vassiliki's has an unusual wind in that it changes around midday. The wind changes in direction and strength making this an ideal destination for all windsurfing levels.

The mornings are ideal for beginners or those learning new skills as the wind is typically a light on-shore breeze with a calm, flat sea. This makes learning easy.

The afternoons change giving ideal conditions for intermediate and advanced as the wind changes from a gently on-shore to a strong cross-shore, known as "Eric". Even in the bigger wind the sea remains relatively flat, with some chop.

Surfing and SUP, Broadstairs, Kent, United Kingdom

2012-03-28

Joss Bay is the Home of Kent Surfing. Surf Lessons, Sup Lessons, Surf Hire, Competitions and loads of other activities!! Watch this Space and spread the word....

Biddenden Vineyard, Biddenden, Kent, United Kingdom

2012-03-12

Biddenden Vineyard is Kent’s oldest commercial vineyard, having been established in 1969 to produce wines and ciders. The vineyards are set in 22 acres on a gentle south facing slope in a shallow sheltered valley. Ten varieties of grapes are grown to produce White, Red, Rose and Quality Sparkling wines. Traditional Kentish ciders have also been made here for over 20 years together with farm pressed apple juices.

Visitors are welcome throughout the year. Our coffee shop is open daily and there are marked walks around the vineyard for visitors to wander at their leisure.

Go Ape Leeds Castle - high wire forest adventure, Maidstone, Kent, United Kingdom

2012-02-01

Go Ape Leeds Castle, giant obstacle courses up in the trees using ladders, walkways, bridges and tunnels made of wood, rope and super-strong wire, and top it all off with the country’s best zip lines

We then kit people out with harnesses, pulleys and karabiners, give them a 30 minute safety briefing and training and let them loose into the forest canopy, free to swing through the trees. Of course, instructors are always on hand, regularly patrolling the forests (not in monkey suits unfortunately!)

The result is spectacular. The Go Ape experience gets the adrenalin pumping, gets people out of their comfort zones and above all (no pun intended), it’s just great fun.

Go Ape Crathes Castle - high wire forest adventure, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom

2012-02-01

Go Ape Crathes Castle, giant obstacle courses up in the trees using ladders, walkways, bridges and tunnels made of wood, rope and super-strong wire, and top it all off with the country’s best zip lines

The result is spectacular. The Go Ape experience gets the adrenalin pumping, gets people out of their comfort zones and above all (no pun intended), it’s just great fun.

Brown Lake, North Stradbroke Island, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

2011-12-08

Brown Lake (Lake Bummiera) is a natural perched lake, made brown by the native tea trees. The lake is a popular swimming and picnic location.

There are barbecue and picnic facilities and easy road access.

Sand Boarding and Tobogganing, Moreton Island, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

2011-12-08

Moreton Island is famous for its Sand Boarding and Sand Tobogganing.

Sand tobogganing is where you sit or lie on a specially made sand board with a waxed bottom.
Sand Surfing is where you stand up on the sand boards, similar to snow boarding.

Moreton Island has a number of places where you can participate:

The Small Sand hills and The Desert are better suited to beginners and families.
The Big Sand hills are on the southern end of the island, and some of these sand hills can be up to 100m high.

For the more experienced you can reach speed in excess of 60kph.

Also remember to take a break at the top and enjoy the magnificent views provided.