auburn | The Adventure Travel Site

Rock Climbing at Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur

Their walls of the Batu Caves offer a unique opportunity for enthusiasts of climbing and first timers alike. Take up the challenge and see how you fare on your journey in Kuala Lumpur.

The climbing walls of Batu Caves

For the uninitiated, this may come as a surprise however, the Batu Caves are well known for the amazing climbing walls they offer. If you are staying at a serviced residence in KL such as the Ascott Sentral Kuala Lumpur, be sure to request some transport to take you to the location and back because you will be exhausted afterwards!

Getting to the Nayang Wall

This is one of the three walls in the area and is found right in front of the shops close to the main road leading up to the caves.

Don’t forget base-jumping

If you are looking for a bigger thrill, be sure to try out the base jumping that takes place off the Gua Damai cliff as well.

The New Batu Caves

In 2018, the Batu Caves were reopened with a new coat of colour and an overall facelift to the delight of climbing enthusiasts.

Melbourne Skydeck and The Edge Experience

The Melbourne Skydeck is found in the Riverside Quay and is a viewpoint like no other, offering visitors a 360-degree view of the stunning city skyline.

Some facts about the Melbourne Skydeck

Since its opening, the Melbourne Skydeck has seen close to six million people passing through its doors. If you are staying at any of the apartments on Elizabeth Street such as the Somerset on Elizabeth Melbourne it is well worth taking a trip to take in the views.

The Vertigo Experience

While the name implies a horrifying experience, there is no real danger involved. It is a great opportunity to stand in front of a green screen and take a photo that looks almost as if you are falling off the building.

Visiting the Melbourne Skydeck

The attraction is open every day from 10 am to 10 pm so be sure to visit to catch a stunning sunset or take in the view as the city of Melbourne prepares for the night shift.

The Edge Experience

This is an activity that places you in a glass cube that sticks out from the side of the building and really puts you on the edge of your seat.

Bali – Jungle Swing Experience in Bali

When it comes to visiting places with a good view of lush greenery, one would normally think of hiking and being rewarded with a mountain view. But Bali offers a bit of a different experience with its collection of thrilling swings at the edge of cliffs.

Bali Swings

There is an amazing collection of swings here but mind you, it isn’t anything like the ones at children’s parks. These are thrilling and offer grand views of lush rice fields and forests.

Wanagiri Hidden Hills Swing

This place was literally built for those Instagram addicts looking for the best places to snap the perfect picture. This swing ride offers views of two beautiful lakes – Lake Tambingan and Lake Buyan.

Uma Pakel Swing

This swing is located in Ubud and overlooks the famous Tegalalang rice fields. The swing is not the only thing here, you also have the chance to take pictures in a giant bird’s nest.

Tegalalang Rice Terrace Swing

Set up in between 2 palm trees is this amazing swing that looks down on beautiful rice fields. The experience is more thrilling than ever. If you are looking for one of the best things to do in Tabanan, simply inquire at the front desk of your local hotel like Nirjhara for the nearest swings.

Cruising the Huangpu River

Dubbed the ‘mother river of Shanghai’, the Huangpu River is a 113-km body of water dividing Shanghai into 2 sections: Pudong (east bank) and Puxi (west bank). It is a great point to view Shanghai’s past and future.

Image credit- Unsplash,
Emmanuel Appiah,CC0

The river

A tributary of the Yangtze River, the Huangpu River flows through 10 districts in Shanghai. Its use is multifold, including shipping, fishing, and providing drinking water. If you are mulling over where to stay in Shanghai, consider booking hotels such as Citadines Jinxiu Shanghai located within an easy distance from the river.

The sights

On a Huangpu River cruise, you will witness Shanghai’s colonial past and trailblazing future. Many cruises depart from the Shiliupu Wharf as this is considered the most popular route for cruises. The west bank features the famous Shanghai Bund with its colonial buildings. The east bank is dotted with skyscrapers, including Jin Mao Tower, Shanghai World Financial Centre, Shanghai Tower, and Oriental Pearl Tower. Consider a night cruise, as the city’s iconic landmarks are jazzed up with neon lights.

Cruise details

Various cruise companies offer different types of cruises, including meals. Cruise durations can be 30 minutes, 1 hour, or 3 hours. Be sure to check for updated information about departure times.

Best time to go

The ideal time to embark on a cruise is between March-May and September-November, as the weather is fair and temperatures moderate.

Unforgettable Scuba Diving in Bali

While Bali offers plenty of fun on the beach, don’t forget there’s much to discover beneath the waves too! Here’s more on scuba diving in this enchanting destination.

Dive Centres

Beginners or those looking to get an additional certification will find plenty of dive centres on the island; choose one that offers PADI and / or SSI training and certification. Ideally, be based by the coast with options including a hotel near Ngurah Rai Airport for travel enthusiasts like HARRIS Hotel Kuta Tuban Bali.

Best Time to Go

Scuba diving in Bali can be experienced year-round though generally, May to September, the dry season, is considered the best time; you can still enjoy this activity at other times when it doesn’t rain, while destinations like Pemuteran and Menjangan Island are popular places to visit the whole year through.

What to Expect

There’s plenty to encounter on your underwater adventures be it thriving coral reefs, fascinating marine species or even intriguing shipwrecks. Apart from a myriad of colourful tropical fish, you may also come across larger denizens of the deep including manta rays, sea turtles, various species of sharks and the elusive mola-mola or sunfish.

Diving Hotspots

There are diverse dive sites in Bali, each with something different to offer. On the east coast are popular spots at Tulamben and Amed where you will find shipwrecks, some dating to World War Two. Menjangan Island and Pemuteran on the north coast are also well-known for diving as are Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan.

Encounter Dolphins at Kiluan Bay in Lampung

A memorable experience awaits those going dolphin watching at Kiluan Bay in Lampung, Indonesia, where you can watch these marine mammals swimming wild and free.

Image credit- Unsplash,Pablo Heimplatz,CC0

Planning a Trip

Kiluan Bay is in the Lampung Province on the island of Sumatra’s southern tip. For accommodation in Lampung, hotel options catering to budget travellers including families can be found at properties like POP! Hotel Tanjung Karang Lampung in Bandar. The bay is around 80 km away and is a three to four-hour drive.

The Excursion

There are boat operators at Kiluan Bay offering dolphin watching excursions on various types of boats with varying capacities ranging from four to eight passengers. Dolphins are best spotted in the mornings between 6:00am and 10:00am, though you may see them again in the evenings from 4:00pm to 5:00pm.

A Marvellous Sight

This bay is on the migration route of dolphins which makes it an ideal spot to observe pods of these playful denizens of the ocean only after around a 20-minute journey off the coast. Spinner dolphins and common bottlenose dolphins are the two species widely spotted swimming wild and free amidst the waves.

Other Experiences

Kiluan Bay is best visited from April to September and the peak time for dolphin watching is usually from June to July. There are plenty more things to do here as well including snorkelling or fishing in the bay and if you’re lucky, spotting turtles. Within easy reach is Gayau Lagoon, a natural pool that’s worth visiting too.

Sea Forest Adventure Batam

The city of Batam offers travellers everything from the Sea Forest Adventure to various attractions made to entice family and business travellers all year round.

What is Batam?

This city is essentially recognized as the gate of tourism in Indonesia and is accessible by travellers from Singapore via an hour’s journey by ferry or on a plane.

Indulge in the Sea Forest Adventure

As a relatively new attraction in the city, this location was opened in 2017. If you are staying at a Batam hotel such as the HARRIS Hotel Batam Center Batam then you will only be a 30-minute drive away.

Activities on offer

This stunning attraction offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy activities that revolve around nature, adventure and survival science. One popular activity is playing bubble soccer, which takes the sport up a notch.

There’s room for romance

Sea Forest Adventure also provides people visiting to unwind and enjoy a lovely night under a starry sky during their moon-lit camping sessions.

Night Golfing in Jakarta

There is no better way to spend an evening than to gather with friends on the greens of Jakarta under the city lights and enjoy the city centre golf course.

Image credit- Unsplash,Steven Shircliff,CC0

More than just a sport

For many people, golf transcends sports and falls into the category of meditation. Alternatively, it can also just be a raucous good time that is perfect for relaxing with friends, family and colleagues.

Beyond the nine to five

The reality is that most people tend to play golf early in the morning to avoid being under the sun during the day. However, for those with day jobs, this is a rare opportunity so night golfing is an ideal alternative.

Pick your club

If you are a backpacker and staying at a hotel in Sudirman such as the HARRIS Suites FX Sudirman Jakarta, then you will find yourself in close vicinity to The Senayan National Golf Club.

There’s always a bite to eat

Always close at hand are various eateries that can provide a hearty meal for a hungry golfer!

Exploring the Ba Vi National Park

For those who love the great outdoors and nature, the Ba Vi National Park in Vietnam offers much to discover and here’s a look at what awaits.

Planning Your Trip

This site is around 50 km from Hanoi; serviced apartment options near the CBD like Somerset Hoa Binh Hanoi make an ideal base for excursions to this attraction, about a 75-minute drive away. The dry season, from November to April, is generally the best time to visit and at the year’s end, many photograph wildflowers here too.

What to Expect

The Ba Vi National Park was once a French hill station and is known for its rich biodiversity, idyllic scenery and cool climate; no surprises it’s a popular place for weekend visits. A rich storehouse of flora including medicinal plants used by the Dao ethnic group, the site also has varied fauna from birdlife to flying squirrels.

The Three Peaks

The park is set amidst Ba Vi Mountain with three peaks of varying heights namely the Dinh Vua, Tan Vien and Ngoc Hoa peaks. They form a crest which at its tallest point is often shrouded in clouds adding to its enchantment. Not to be missed is a hike to the summit to visit the Ho Chi Minh Temple and take in the stunning vistas.

Other Highlights

There are lots of trails for hiking and trekking through forests or up mountain slopes where you will find sacred temples, an ancient pagoda, tranquil streams and hidden waterfalls. An ancient French church, a scenic pine forest, a cactus garden, an orchid garden and the Ngoc Hoa Cave are some of the other sites of interest here.

Surfing at Seminyak Beach

Those who like to visit Seminyak beach and simply unwind may be missing an element of the experience that is priceless. Taking the time to catch a few waves will go a long way towards helping you have the best experience possible.

Where is Seminyak?

This stunning destination can be found right in the middle of South Bali. It is well worth a visit as it is prepared to meet and the needs and amenities of travellers globally.

Finding the right accommodation

If you are looking for a Seminyak hotel, there are plenty to choose from such as HARRIS Hotel Seminyak Bali that will be able to offer you comfort and closeness to the ocean.

Pick the right time to surf

Surfing is a seasonal activity. This means that when people are travelling, they will need to keep in mind the season by which the surf patterns abide to catch the best wave. Seminyak Beach is a treat because the area tends to offer waves all year round.

Eating and drinking in Seminyak

Food is never going too far from reach when you are relaxing in Seminyak, with this tourist town being filled with sunset bars & eateries.