Travel guides 2017

Murray River houseboat holiday guide: licence rules, boat sizes, 2017 seasonal prices, bonds, and how locks work. A checklist to book with confidence.

Sydney to Melbourne drive: take the Hume Highway for 870 km, or the Princes Highway for 1,040 km. Compare times, towns and overnight stops.

Learn to dive in Cairns? Compare course days, class sizes, boat time, fees and the PADI card so you pick the right Open Water course for your trip.

Carnarvon Gorge walks: the main track, Art Gallery, Amphitheatre and Moss Garden, with distances, the drive from Roma, camping rules and what to bring.

Eyre Peninsula road trip guide: a 7 day route from Adelaide to Port Lincoln, Lincoln National Park, Coffin Bay oysters and sea lion tours.

Dubai stopover for Australians: a free 30 day visa on arrival, the Metro to the Burj Khalifa, the Creek and the souqs, and how many hours you need.

Jervis Bay day trip from Sydney: about three hours each way, Hyams Beach, Booderee entry at A$11 a car and a realistic one day plan.

Chiang Mai travel guide: Old City temples, Doi Suthep, night markets and day trips, plus five questions to ask before you book an elephant visit.

Kimberley cruise guide: how to compare trip length, ship size, tides and shore access on a Broome to Wyndham voyage, and why the dry season suits it.

Melbourne tram travel guide: where trams are free, how Myki works on a tram, what a 2 hour fare costs and how to avoid a ticket fine.

Opal card for visitors: where to get one in Sydney, how to top up, the A$15 daily cap and A$2.50 Sunday cap, plus train and ferry tips.

Hanoi travel guide for three days: the Old Quarter, Temple of Literature and food streets, plus tips on crossing roads and taking taxis safely.