OverSixty January 2023 Issue

39 TRAVEL OVERSIXTY.COM.AU | ISSUE 3 | JANUARY 2023 Take note of these tips for staying fit and healthy while still enjoying the culinary delights of travelling How to stay fit and fab on holidays SUE WALLACE INSPIRE C roissants in France, raclette in Switzer- land, pasta in Italy and poutine in Can- ada – who can resist these national staples when you are on an adventure of a lifetime. But those little extra treats tend to take their toll and you may well discover an an- noying extra midriff roll, pants getting tighter or an additional chin at the end of your trip. It’s all about pacing yourself – indulge one day and not the next – and try to stick to one or two courses. Here are some simple suggestions to keep you in tip-top condition while travelling. • Wear a Fitbit to count those steps or the health app on your smart phone. • Walking and taking the stairs instead of the lift all go to keeping you fit on your holi- day. You don’t have to endure vigorous work- outs at the gym every day or jog for miles – unless you want to, of course! • Keeping hydrated is one of the most im- portant aspects of good health, whether you are in the tropics or the snow. • It is great to experience local cuisine but do your research, know what you are eating and select restaurants where the locals go. • If you feel unwell, act quickly – don’t wait for a headache to get worse, a tummy twinge to manifest or a sore throat to develop into bronchitis – keep a well-stocked first aid kit and seek medical advice early. • Get plenty of sleep – travelling is exhaust- ing but that doesn’t mean you have to forego that great play or concert – just take it easy during the day. Cruising Cruising and an abundance of food go hand in hand but the good news is you don’t have to hit the gym every day. There’s a better way to walk off the kilo- joules – pound the polished decks and ded- icatedwalking tracks and savour the fresh air. Enjoy that high tea with lashings of cream, strawberry jam and plump scones but forego the dessert or cheese and bickies that night. Also, wash your hands frequently to avoid nasty germs that linger on door handles. Covid is still about, so carry hand sanitiser with you and wear a mask when advised or as an added precaution regardless. River cruises usually have bikes for hire so get up early and go for a spin. Coaches Confined spaces and people can mean a spread of not just Covid, but other cold and tummy bugs, so ensure you wear a mask, sanitise regularly and keep away from sniffly fellow travellers. Air conditioning can cause dehydration so keep your water up. Instead of sweet treats on the bus, opt for fruit, yoghurt and health bars. Join in the walking tours. Self-drive Make sure you stop the car every two hours to stretch your legs and stay hydrated. Don’t park too close to where you want to go to ensure you walk to the attraction. The beauty of self-drive is you can purchase healthy food and snacks at local markets and have a picnic along the way, rather than eating at restaurants or grabbing takeaways. City bound Combine sight-seeing with exercise. You will see somuchmore by walking than taking the underground or a bus. Lace up your runners, plot your course, grab your water bottle and start walking – in no time you will have clocked up an impres- sive number of kilometres and seen sights you may have missed otherwise. Most hotels offer substantial breakfasts so enjoy a hearty start to the day and take some fruit for lunch. Take a dip in the hotel pool and do some laps, or look out for local Pilates or yoga ses- sions. If in Asia, join in the community tai chi classes often held at local squares daily. A little planning and forethought will en- sure you remain in fighting fit condition while on your travels. Gaining travel memories needn’t go hand-in-hand with gaining kilos, as long as you stay mindful Photo: Getty Images PLAN Tropical treasures MELANIE EGAN INSPIRE T he balmy scent unique to tropical are- as drifts over us as we step off the plane in Cairns. It brings hints of sugar from the nearby cane fields, and woody undertones of dark, musky mangroves. There is another more elusive note, too, one that promises warm nights, walks along secluded beaches and the magic of the rainforest. As a holiday destination, Tropical North Queensland has an ideal balance of relaxa- tion and adventure, surrounded as it is by two World Heritage-listed natural wonders – the Great Barrier Reef and the ancient Daintree Forest – a five-hour drive away.Thesemarvels of Mother Nature, home to thousands of spe- cies, are rather tritely summed up by the tour- ist brochures as ‘reef and leaf’.The best time to visit Cairns is during the winter months (June to August), although there is no bad time. Cairns is the region’s largest city and one we can’t resist returning to. Much of the ac- tion takes place along the Esplanade, which runs for about 2.5 kilometres along the fore- shore. The CBD, a mix of futuristic five-star hotels, a Louis Vuitton store and a Wool- worths with backpackers stocking up on in- stant noodles, is just a few streets away. In the early evening, we join the joggers and dog-walkers for sunset along the Espla- nade. Closest to the Coral Sea is a 4800-square metre saltwater swimming lagoon lapped by sand – necessary as the Cairns foreshore itself is quitemuddy. Better swimming beaches are to be found at PalmCove and Port Douglas. The other side of the road brims with out- door restaurant tables, marbled hotel en- trances and Aboriginal art galleries. Dotted in-between are Cairn’s not-to-be-missed ice- cream parlours serving up tropical delights such as mango, lychee and a take on Black Forest cake with Davidson Plum. Close to the Esplanade is the Reef Hotel Casinowith a wildlife dome, craft-beer brew- ery and Maritime Museum. The Cairns Art Gallery, showcasing local and Indigenous artists, is housed in a lovely columnated building with timber floors. The Great Barrier Reef The next day we head out to the Great Barrier Reef. Snorkelling in the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem is like entering another world. As the water constantly changes colour from aquamarine to deep blues, tiny technicolour fish satisfy their curiosity at these strange wet-suited invaders and then dart away. Fast catamaran ferries leave regularly for the Reef from both Cairns and Port Douglas. Tour operators offer snorkelling, scuba for those with dive qualifications, and viewing through glass-bottomed boats or semi-sub- mersibles as well as anchored pontoons. The operators provide masks, snorkels and flip- pers, and wetsuits, too. For a more intimate, relaxed experience, we took a day trip on one of the smaller sailing yachts. With fewer people aboard, the affable crew had time to talk. There was also a marine biologist to expand on the an- gelfish, clown anenomefish (Nemo looka- likes), turtles, mantra rays and coral we saw while snorkelling. If you don’t make it out to the Reef, an alternative is the new Cairns Aquarium opened in 2017, which has a reef installation, a turtle rehabilitation centre and a shark-diving tank for the brave. The Esplanade is the centre of all the action in vibrant Cairns, the largest city in Tropical North Queensland Photo: Getty Images INSPIRE Cairns makes the perfect base for discovering the many wonders of Tropical North Queensland Easy day trips • Kuranda , about 40 minutes from Cairns, situated in a wet tropics rainforest, is known for its eclectic markets (hippie tat, crocodile belts and locally grown coffee), and a variety of wildlife parks. Must-sees are the butterfly sanctuary exhibit and Birdworld, a giant aviary with a huge collection of free-flying birds. • From Kuranda we linked up with the Waterfalls Circuit, a popular driving loop in the stunning farming area of the Atherton Tablelands . • On the north side of Cairns, the winding Mossman Gorge has spectacular lush scenery with sheltered swimming spots in the Mossman river. Its popular Saturday morning markets have handicrafts, organic produce and homemade cakes and jams. At the Mossman Gorge Visitors Centre, Kuku Yalanji guides lead Dreamtime walks through the tropical rainforest, sharing local stories and traditions.