Vacationers headed to Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef should not change their plans in the aftermath of Cyclone Larry, according to Tourism Australia.
"Some perceive that there was a lot of damage to the tourism areas and Reef, and they're wondering if they should stay away from Cairns or change their plans, but they really shouldn't," according to Kristen Malaby, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles office of Tourism Australia. "The good news is that Cairns and the regions north, including Palm Cove and Port Douglas, are back in business. All tours north of Cairns and to Kuranda, including the Reef trips, are back in action." Early reports also suggest that the cyclone caused minimal damage to the Great Barrier Reef, which is one of the best diving sites in the world and a top attraction for tourists to Australia. Airport and seaport operations in Cairns are normal as well. Tours that were scheduled to head south of Cairns -- the region hardest hit -- are being rerouted. Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services have closed national parks for cleanups and safety inspections. However, vacationers on road trips or bus tours may find their itineraries affected by road closures in some areas. A list of road closures may be viewed at www.racq.com.au .
Details: www.tropicalaustralia.com.au .
New Orleans, music together again
Head to the Big Easy for the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on a seven-night Louisiana music tour that begins April 27. Participants will spend four days in New Orleans, where they will have festival tickets for two days. Among the performers scheduled for this year's Jazz Fest are Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon and Fats Domino, said Nancy Covey tour leader and former concert producer. The tour also will include three days visiting the Louisiana backcountry, where participants will visit the homes of local Cajun and Zydeco musicians, joining them for a barbecue, an afternoon music jam and a crawfish boil. They also will attend a Cajun cooking class and go on a swamp boat trip to see alligators and dig for crawfish. An optional volunteer service day will be available for participants who want to help in a restoration project. Cost: $1,599 per person, double occupancy ($650 single surcharge), including lodging, most meals, beer in the Cajun country segment of the tour, transportation and event tickets. Airfare is not included. The trip is offered by Festival Tours International, Pacific Palisades, Calif.
Details: 310-454-4080 or www.festtours.com .
Armchair traveler
Author Jeffrey Romano, a veteran hiker and Maine resident, details 60 hikes in "Best Loop Hikes: New Hampshire's White Mountains to the Maine Coast," published by the Mountaineers Books. The book lists the route, length, season and particular highlights of each hike. Romano hiked more than 450 miles, from the hills of southern New Hampshire to the North Woods to the rocky coast of Maine. He took note of scenery, difficulty, elevation and wildlife. Interested in scenery⢠Try the half-day, 2.8-mile Mt. Kearsarge hike. Fancy seeing rare plants⢠Try the 5.6-mile loop at the Green Hills Preserve. Bird-watchers will be drawn to the Wells Estuary, a half-day, five-mile hike, while parents can discover which routes are kid-friendly by consulting the "Hikes by Interest" table. Those who want a challenge can try the Mount Katahdin loop, a strenuous, 9.8-mile hike in northern Maine. And since all 60 routes circle back, as the book points out, you never have to pass the same scenery twice. The book includes 76 maps. (The Mountaineers Books; $16.95; 240 pages; softcover
