Helsinki, Bundaberg, Dolomites, Homecoming Scotland and Albania

• Geoff Harrison discovers the Underground Bar and Restaurant in Helsinki, Finland.
• Host Ren Zwiers has details of how and when to see the sea turtles on the beach  at Bargara, near Bundaberg (Queensland).
• Frances Beasley visits The Dolomites in northern Italy.
• Travelbites Radio host David Gordon interviews Caroline Packman on Homecoming Scotland 2014.
• From our US affiliate Around the World Radio/TV we feature a report on some of the sights in Romania and Albania.

Castlemaine, Fiji website, Rome, Steinway and W5, Belfast

John Crook discovers a great pastry shop in Castlemaine, Victoria. Ren Zwiers has details of the new website for Fiji Tourism www.fiji.travel. Geoff Harrison presents a word picture of Rome, Italy. Frances Beasley uncovers the history of Steinway pianos in Munich, Germany. David Gordon from Travelbites Radio visits W5, 'The Odyssey in Belfast. Geoff Harrison heads for the Grampians (Victoria). LISTEN TO PODCAST ON PLAYER BELOW
Travelradio Australia #156

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Mudgee, Bavaria, Whitsundays and northern Ireland

We have another 'action packed' edition of Travelradio Australia online at travelradioaustralia.com. In this edition: John Crook reviews Lowe wines from Mudgee (NSW); Frances Beasley escorts us to the Buchheim Museum in Bavaria; David Gordon chats with renowned English travel writer Simon Calder. In addition, yours truly (host/producer Ren Zwiers) updates listeners on what's happening in the Whitsundays (Queensland) and has details of an Umbria/Tuscany Spring tour departing Australia in April 2013.

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Hairy Bikers, Orange (NSW), European trains and Florence villa-stay

A new edition of Travelradio Australia is now online.

In this episode Frances Beasley chats about her favourite TV travel/cooking show, 'Hairy Bikers'; John Crook provides details of the new Orange Wine and Food Guide; Frances then reviews some train rides through Europe. Lastly, John has details of a superb villa stay in Florence, Italy.

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Podcast focus on Germany, Italy and Norway

Another edition of Travel radio Australia has been posted online. It has the following segments for your listening pleasure: Kirsten Schmidt takes listeners on a tour around Berlin, Germany. John Crook has details of mardi gras time in Italy next year. Gonomad.com owner Max Hartshorne visits Norway.

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Discovering Porto Ercole where Romans enjoy a coastal break

Just a couple of hours north of Rome, on the Italian west coast lies the charming town of Porto Ercole which is popular with Romans and tourists alike thanks to its easy-going lifestyle and beautiful surroundings. I enjoyed a stopover in this town whilst on a Seadream II Mediterranean cruise several years ago. Host of 'Around the World' travel radio, Arthur von Wiesenberger recently visited the town as well and his report features on this week's 'Travel Radio Australia' podcast. Also on the show John Crook reviews Mitolo Wines, Frances Beasley finds a 'little bit of Africa' near her home in the Dordogne, France and Laura Powell talks about her recent experiences in Jordan. Enjoy the podcast by clicking the play button below.

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Have you ever been to Eumundi?

If you'd like to find out about this south east Queensland town, then listen to John Crook's report on this week's Travel Radio Australia episode. Also on the line-up: Arthur von Wiesenberger visits the Aolin Islands, Italy; Frances Beasley takes listeners to the German city of Freiburg and Gonomad.com editor Max Hartshorne reports on Maine (US). Click the play button on the player below to listen.

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Is New York dozing off?

A recent 'unofficial' poll lists the top 10 cities that never sleep...and guess what? New York never made the list! Listen to the details as I present them to you on this week's Travel Radio Australia podcast. Also on this show, John Crook sends one of his audio postcards, this time from Berrimah (New South Wales). European contributor Frances Beasley meets a noted Zimbabwean stone sculptor who is now working and living in the Dordogne, France. From our US sister program 'Around the World', Martha Bull relates her recent experiences on the Italian isles of Capri and Ishia. Click the start button on the mp3 player below and enjoy the show!

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Wanted: advertisers for radio show

For many years now our travel radio show has run totally advert free but the time has come when we start to recoup some of our production costs. So, if you're a potential advertiser looking for worldwide exposure on a long-running and extremely well-established radio show focusing on travel, tourism, wining and dining, please fee free to click on the badge on the top righthand corner of this home page for full information and bookings. Meanwhile if you visit our podcast site at travelradioaustralia.com you can listen to our latest edition featuring the following segments:

John Crook reviews Baritone wines from Australia. Euro correspondent Frances Beasley enjoys the culinary delights of Michelin-rated chef, Eric Vidal in Perigueux (France). The US team chat with Renata Moiso about Sardinia (Italy). In conclusion, John Crook chats about Portugal with Gill Gasper. Hope you enjoy the show!

Wines, olive oil, The Cotswolds and Sicily

In this week's edition of our show, ATW Travelradio Australia, John Crook reviews Blackjack Wines (Australia). Frances Beasley's topic for the week is 'olive oil'. The US team, Arthur von Wiesenberger, Martha Bull and Buddy Winston chat with Susan Fogwell about the Cotswolds (England). John Crook interviews Frances Butera who is an expert on tourism in Sicily, Italy.

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Italy for women and French dining

If you're a female traveller planning to visit Italy sometime soon, listen to a segment featured on this week's radio show where Anne Abernethy chats with US author Susan van Allen who has written a book on ‘Italy for women’. Also on the show, Euro correspondent Frances Beasley interviews a masterchef from France, Frederic Pilon. Back in Australia, John Crook discovers ‘Burke & Wills country’ at Lancefield (Victoria) and meets Di Leorke who owns Farmers Arm Retreat in that region. To listen click this link.

VIDEO: Venice, Italy 2009

Enjoy the cityscapes and vistas of the canal city in north east Italy, staying at the Hotel Delfino, Mestre (on the mainland) and visiting the main island of Venice as well as the beach resort of Lido.

Cars go on display throughout Italy

With more than 1500 museums and art galleries holding almost half of the world’s greatest art and culture heritage, Italy is home to the finest museums in the world, from Florence’s Uffizi to the Vatican Museums in Rome. What may be less well known – except among car enthusiasts – is that Italy is also the home of many of the world’s greatest automotive museums and this northern summer they and many of their non-motoring counterparts are joining forces to celebrate 110 years of Italy producing the most stylish and acclaimed cars in the world.

Until October 31 not only will there be co-ordinated displays across Italy, some private Museums will be open to the public – including the largest collection of Maseratis in the world – and there will be special prices for visits to more than one of the participating museums.

Under the banner of “L’Automobile Italiana” (The Italian Automobile), the nationwide series of exhibitions will attract car lovers from around the world and will run throughout the northern summer.

Italian cars are international symbols of style, class, elegance, technology and performance, and 'L’Automobile Italiana' brings together the great iconic Italian marques as part of a voyage of discovery of the most exclusive products of Italian ingenuity between 1899, the year in which Fiat was founded, and the present day.

The exhibition illustrates the extent to which the automobile has changed our way of life and customs at various turning points in history, and the influence of creative thought and the economy on the evolution of the cars themselves. It holds a mirror up to an entire era, revealing the advertisements, the aspirations, the sense of freedom and escape, and scientific application involved. This is the story of an entire century told by looking at the car, which probably more than anything else has characterised its direction and fuelled the dreams of every strata of society.

In its role as official Ferrari museum and home to Maranello’s permanent single-seater and GT collections, the Galleria Ferrari has for the occasion decided to pay special homage to such technological masterpieces as the 1907 FIAT 130 HP, the 1954 Lancia Aurelia B 24, the 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 B and the 1948 Maserati A6 1500 as well staging the “110 Years of the World’s Most Beautiful Cars” exhibition of photography with original film clips produced by the various marques.

The Galleria Ferrari is taking part in the exhibition in collaboration with other prestige collections which include: the Museo dell’Automobile di Torino at the Turin Esposizioni centre, the Collezione Umberto Panini at Corlo di Formigine (just a few kilometres outside Modena), the Museo Nicolis dell’Auto, della Tecnica, della Meccanica at Villafranca near Verona, and the Centro Storico Fiat, home to the designs and actual vehicles (destined for air, sea and land) produced by the renowned multi-faceted Italian company over the years. Other museums across Italy will include special “L’Automobile Italiana” presentations within their normal displays.
Until October 31, visitors will enjoy reduced entry fees at the other museums involved in the exhibition when they produce the ticket purchased at the first one they visit. Most importantly of all, they will be able to book very special visits to two private collections: the Collezione Umberto Panini, which houses one of the most complete collections of Maseratis in the world, and the Centro Storico Fiat, which opened in 1963 and is based in the first extension made to the workshops on Corso Dante in Turin, where Fiat began life.

-Edward Rowe

VIDEO; Venice, Italy

I filmed this video on my most recent trip to one of my favourite cities, Venice. It explores the colour and spectacle of this canal-ridden haven which is slowly sinking into the massive lagoon. Most of the scenes are shot whilst wandering around town, on oboard one of the canal ferries but it also includes a demo of the traditional craft of glassblowing on Murano island. There is also a visit to Lido, where all good Venetians (and many visitors) enjoy their beach breaks. Click on the play arrow and 'enjoy your trip'!

VIDEO: The Renaissance city - Florence, Italy

The birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence, Italy is one of the world's premier tourist destinations, thus, avoiding the crowds is virtually impossible. Despite this, we greatly enjoyed our visit to this colourful and interesting central Italian city.

We stayed in a budget hotel withing the main rail station precinct. There's plenty of affordable hotels in this region and they're within walking distance of many attractions and sights.

The video was shot from the open top deck of the 'hop on, hop off' citysights tour bus (a great way to get your bearings and save your feet) as well as on foot, exploring this beautiful city.

VIDEO: Mediterranean cruise on Seadream 2

SeaDream 2 is a five-star cruise ship which its owners, SeaDream Yacht Club refer to as 'yachting not cruising'. Both SeaDream 1 and 2 boast staterooms accommodating less than 100 passengers in total and a crew of equal size to pander to their wishes. The cruises are all inclusive, meals, open bar and lots of pampering by a thoroughly professional crew. This is the way to travel!

Our cruise took us from the port of Nice (French Riviera) to Cannes, Portofino, Porte Ercole, Sorrento, Isle of Capri and terminating at Rome (Civitacheccia).

For more details on Seadream's cruises and services check out www.seadreamyachtclub.com

VIDEO: Rome - the eternal city

The ancient city of Rome is a delight to visit for anyone who enjoys history - there's Roman ruins all over the place! However, even those of us (including yours truly) who don't spend a lot of time visiting cathedrals and historic sites still enjoy holidaying in the Italian capital.

It's a great place for people watching, walking, drinking capuccinos in little cafes, enjoying gelati in a cone along the way and all those delightful practices. Be warned, restaurants tend to be expensive by Australian and American standards, but the food is very good. If you're on a budget, stick to the countless pizza and pasta places or, dare I say it, McDonald's and keep the spare cash for purchasing imitation designer wear from street markets or the real stuff from the glitzy stores.

We stayed in a budget hotel in the central Rome Terminii area. There are literally hundreds of reasonably priced hotels within walking distance of Rome's main rail station.