interNATIONAL PARKtours - Group Walking Tours to National Parks and Natural places in Australia and Overseas. Enjoy walking tours and holidays with experienced andknowledgeable guides.

Vibrant cities, volcanic landscapes, coastal coves, Roman ruins and historic battlefields are some of the wonders of central and western Turkey. Istanbul is the gateway to two continents where east meets west. Walk to an Ottoman fort, visit the renowned Hagia Sophia, cruise on the Bosphorus and explore massive Topkapi Palace. In central Turkey, Cappadocia features curious volcanic landscapes, steadily carved by nature and its human inhabitants. Based here for four nights, we visit Goreme Open Air Museum and the underground cities. Day walks explore villages, canyons and lesser visited valleys.

After visiting Konya, home of the whirling dervishes, we cross the Taurus Mountains to Antalya and stay four nights in the coastal town of Kas. Walk in Olympos National Park and enjoy a day on the Lycian way following aqueducts to the old city of Patara. A half day Gulet cruise to Kekova Islands provides time for walks, viewing the sunken city of Simena and visiting Myra the ancient capital of Lycia. On another day, we visit the nearby Greek island of Kastellorizo. In western Turkey, we explore the archaeological sites of Ephesus, Pergamon and Troy. Before returning to Istanbul, we walk on the Gallipoli Peninsula, and visit the military museum and memorials in Helles.

As we were moving the IPT office a few months ago, we came across a wooden box that had been sitting in one of the kitchen cupboards. To Lisa's joy, it was her grandmother Marjorie Groom's recipe box. So from now on we're going to include some of Marjorie's favourite recipes. Today we're baking an Orange Tea Cake (passed on from Win Bristow we believe):

Orange Tea Cake

• 1 1/2 cups Self Raising Flour
• 1/2 cup castor sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 2/3 cup milk
• 3 tablespoons melted shortening / butter
• 4 teapoons grated orange rind
• 1/4 cup sugar

Method:

• Sift flour and mix with sugar and salt. Beat egg, add milk, shortening and 2 teaspoons grated ring.
• Stir into flour mixture mixing only enough to dampen all flour (do not beat smooth).
• Place in greased & floured 9" tin. Mix the remaining rind with 1/4 cup sugar and sprinkle over batter.
• Bake in moderate over for about 25 mins.

Experience the autumn colours, seasonal food and interesting walks on a new journey to Hokkaido’s mountains, lakes and peninsulas. Hiroko Kobayashi has designed this tour to the northernmost Japanese island at a special time of the year.

Your tour begins with a flight from Tokyo’s Haneda airport to Asahikawa on Hokkaido. After forest walks, you can soak in the tubs of Shirogane onsen, a Japanese hot spring resort above the Biei River.

In the centre of the island, the volcanic mountain ranges are protected by Japan’s largest national park, Daisetsuzan. Cable cars allow access to moderate walks and autumn hues on Mt Asahi. Further south, enjoy the hidden treasures of Hagoromo Falls and Lake Shikaribetsu surrounded by white fir and spruce.

At Lake Akan, forest and mountain walks contrast with an Ainu fire festival and an afternoon cruise to view Marimo, rare algae that form into beautiful green balls. World Heritage listed Shiretoko Peninsula offers forest and lakeside walks, remote fishing villages and possible sightings of the rare Japanese Black Bear. Travelling via the Notsuke Peninsula, enjoy boardwalk strolls through the fascinating Kiritappu wetlands. Your tour ends with a flight back to Haneda from Kushiro airport.

Colour your winter with a short break in the Scenic Rim. Stretching south west of Brisbane, this arc of sweeping ranges, river valleys, lush rainforests and quaint country towns is a great destination for nature and food lovers! Walk amongst spectacular landforms, sample fresh produce and meet artists and local characters along the way.

Travelling from Brisbane via the country towns of Kalbah and Harrisville, we explore short walks in Main Range National Park. In and around the lively town of Boonah, enjoy the combination of good food, wine, excellent local art along with easy walks in Moogerah Peaks National Park. While in the Mt Barney / Lost World area, we can walk to creek-side picnic spots, mountain lookouts and then contrast the day with a cooking class and visits to local wineries and olive groves.

Finally we come to the south eastern side of the Scenic Rim stopping for short walks and culinary delights on Tamborine Mountain before enjoying the best of Lamington National Park. Based at Binna Burra Lodge, walks to Antarctic Beech trees, the Coomera River or waterfalls and lookouts are all on your doorstep. We return to Brisbane via a private lunch at a Beechmont house with views back over the mountains.

Explore two of Europe’s most beautiful jewels – the spectacular coastline and national parks of Croatia and the mountains, lakes and villages of Slovenia. Join IPT founder Tony Groom on a 3 week journey to two of his favourite European countries.

The World Heritage Listed city of Dubrovnik is the perfect meeting point. A short distance west, the island of Mljet is your base for two days. Enjoy the island’s quiet beaches, native forests and unique salt lakes. Back on the mainland, Split has the ancient Diocletian’s Palace and further north, Paklenica and Krka National Parks stretch from the Adriatic coast inland to deep canyons and spring-fed creeks. World Heritage listed Plitvice National Park has a network of boardwalks, serene aqua-coloured lakes and waterfalls.

Entering Slovenia, we enjoy meadow and pine forest walks in the serene valley of Logarska Dolina. From Lake Bohinj we explore glacial lakes and the limestone mountains of Triglav National Park. Our final walks explore the emerald-coloured river and gorges on the Soca Trail. The tour ends in the city of romance, Venice Italy.