Reefworld weddings, Houston (Texas), Prague, Tripit app and Berchestgarten (Bavaria)

Ren Zwiers has details of a new product in Queensland's Whitsundays, have your wedding and reception on a reef pontoon on the Great Barrier Reef and enjoy a honeymoon sleepover afterwards.

Geoff Harrison chats with Houston, Texas Tourism officer Lisette Hernandez.

David Gordon of Travelbites Radio takes a walk through Prague with a local tour guide.

The team at our sister show Around the World Radio interviews Amy Jackson on the popular Tripit itinerary planning App.

Frances Beasley takes listeners to Berchtesgarten, Bavaria.

Airlie Beach is looking good!

Situated on the tropical central Queensland coast, the town of Airlie Beach is a major stepping off point for the Whitsunday islands....and it's looking great thanks to a recently completed $22.5 million revamp of its main street.

The new-look downtown area ties in with the rest of the precinct including the Airlie Beach Lagoon (above) and pristine foreshore.

The main street now flows into the esplanade, linking it with the new Port of Airlie marina which is set to eventually become the main departure and arrival point for cruises,diving trips and charter yachts. A boardwalk meanders all the way from nearby Cannonvale past Abel Point Marina (which is also being refurbished at time of writing) into Airlie's central waterfront and the man-made lagoon.

On Saturday mornings Airlie Beach foreshore hosts a colourful market selling everything from fresh produce to fashion items and craftware.

Airlie Beach has for many years been a backpacker haven with a number of great eateries and hotels, apartments and other facilities, but now it's even better, offering something for every kind of tourist, especially those who enjoy water-based activities.

For more information on Airlie Beach and its surrounds check out the website:

www.tourismwhitsundays.com.au

Andorra, Vaga Brothers, motorcycling around the world and New York sightseeing

The Vaga Brothers - Alex and Marko Alying - (above), winners of the  'Biggest, baddest Bucket List' competition.

To open this week's Travelradio Australia show we visit the republic of Andorra with Geoff Harrison who chats with Joachim Tomas. Ren Zwiers then meets the Vaga Brothers (Alex and Marco Alying) who are winners of a worldwide competition 'Biggest Baddest Bucket List' sponsored by MyDestination.com. Travelbites Radio host David Gordon has as studio guest author Geoff Hill who has written about an epic motorcycle trip he has undertaken. To conclude the show, Geoff Harrison returns to interview Will Polo of Skyline Sightseeing, New York.

Setting sail in The Whitsundays

I'm not the world's best yachtie - in fact my experience in sailing extends to participating in a media race some out of Manly Yacht Harbour, Brisbane some 10 years ago. However, I feel proud of steering a bareboat catamaran worth a cool half million dollars safely through Whitsunday waters out of Airlie Beach recently.

Our mission was to experience (and enjoy) an afternoon sail courtesy of local operator, Cumberland Charter Yachts. Onboard was a crew of equally inexperienced travelwriters and a local tourism officer, a skipper and a few bottles of champagne and some hearty snacks...perfect scenario for a memorable few hours.

The Whitsundays waters are generally quite calm, thanks to all the protection provided by its numerous islands. However, I'm not prone to seasickness, so that wasn't a concern.

Suffice to say it was a memorable afternoon sojourn with my sailing skills gaining a sizeable boost in a short time. I wasn't even too bad in turning the big steering wheel with my foot!

Cumberland Charter yachts has a large range of vessels for rent ranging from sailing yachts holding up to eight people; powered catamarans (up to 10 passengers) and sailing catamarans (up to 10 passengers). These can be hired and sailed by just about anyone, previous experience is not required as sufficient skills will be taught before you are let loose on the water. However, if you'd rather just relax on deck, you can rent a skipper as well, at additional cost.

With more than 40 potential overnight anchorages and moorings to choose from in the Whitsundays, this has the potential of providing an idyllic holiday. More than one wedding proposal has eventuated during these charters, I am told.

Cumberland Yacht Charters are based at Abel Point Marina, Airlie Beach.

For more details check them out on www.ccy.com.au

Destinations: Innsbruck, Whitehaven Beach, Singapore and Tenerife

Pristine Whitehaven Beach in Queensland's Whitsundays region.

• Geoff Harrison chats with Innsbruck, Austria tourism officer Nicholas Brukkdrucker.
• Host Ren Zwiers visits pristine Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays region of Queensland, Australia with 'World's Greatest Job' winner and adventurer Ben Southall.
• Host of California-based Around the World, Arthur von Wiesenberger sends an audio postcard from Singapore, visiting many of the city's attractions, including the historic Raffles Hotel.
• Geoff Harrison concludes this week's program by interviewing Rafael Delado and Pia Loau, who promote tourism to Tenerife.

Whitsundays, Innsbruck and Philip Island

The latest edition of our travel podcast features a variety in destinations. Firstly, I present the latest updates on what's happening in the Whitsundays region of Queensland. Our European reporter Frances Beasley then visits Innsbruck (Austria). Thirdly, our intrepid Australian contributor, John Crook travels to Philip Island (Victoria) where he chats with tourism officer Kim Storey and calls in at a chocolate factory run by a colourful character.

LISTEN NOW

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The new format of Travel Radio Australia is now into its second edition and the latest podcast can be heard on the audio player below this post.

We're pleased with the number of people who have downloaded or listened to the podcast online and we will keep producing new shows as material (and spare time) becomes available.

There will be a break in production for a month from late February, as I'll be travelling the high seas on Royal Caribbean's mighty ship 'Independence of the Seas'. Our itinerary will include a range of Spanish and Portuguese ports.

In addition to the cruise I'll be making independent visits to England, Holland and France.

No doubt I'll get plenty of inspiration from that trip for plenty of new podcast segments upon my return. Meanwhile here's is the latest show:

• Ren Zwiers has info on what's new in the Whitsundays region, Queensland
• Frances Beasley provides some interesting facts on the Bolshoi Ballet.
• From our US sister show, Around the World, Karen Ensign visits China.
• Ren Zwiers gives an insight into the renewed popularity of Bed and Breakfast establishments in Europe.

Listen to podcast on player below

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