Is it too late to go to the Ashes?

Travel packages are still available for the final Test matches of the 2013 Ashes Series, to be held at Durham in northeast England or The Oval in London. Source: AFP

DOC Holiday says there is still time to get your hands on tickets to watch the Aussies win back the urn.

WE WOULD like to go and see the Ashes cricket this year in the UK. Do you think it is too late to book? If not, who can we contact?

Doc: Luckily, cricket fans still have a chance to catch all the action of the 2013 Ashes Series, with last-minute packages available at Premium Sport Tours.

John from Premium advised that there are packages still available for fans to stay in town and attend the final Test matches of the Ashes Series, held at the Durham ground in northeast England or The Oval in London. For example, packages for the Ashes Test at The Oval include six nights' accommodation at the Hilton Tower Bridge, breakfast daily, five days of tickets for all matches and return transfers. Fans will also be invited to attend a pre-match function, hosted by Cricket Australia Travel Office. You will also receive a seven-day London travel card and travel kit, including a polo shirt, a hat and a luggage strap.

This package is priced from $2890 a person, twin share. John said other packages are available, but be quick as they are selling out fast. For bookings and details, phone Premium Sport Tours on 1800 335 971 or visit sporttours.com.au

I HAVE relatives from Canada coming to visit this summer and when they are here they want to go to Queensland to experience the Barrier Reef. Where do you think I should take them?

Doc: I shall try and narrow this down because living in this great state I could share with you hundreds of places to visit with them and keep you busy for months, but as requested I will focus on the reef area.

In my opinion the Whitsundays are paradise and I recommend basing yourselves at one of the islands there.

If you're looking for something upmarket, take a look at Hayman Island. This island offers luxury presented in a uniquely Australian manner. There are innovative menus showcasing Australian cuisine, plenty of water-sports and you will have a front-row seat to the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef.

If you prefer a more lively setting then maybe Hamilton Island would suit. Like Hayman it is perfectly situated on the edge of the reef, among Queensland's 74 Whitsunday Islands. Hamilton has a huge variety of recently refurbished accommodation and dining options together with new world-class facilities in the Hamilton Island Golf Club.

Both islands offer daily excursions to the reef for snorkelling or diving, trips to the amazing Whitehaven beach, scenic flights and bushwalking.

Virgin and Jetstar both fly to Hamilton Island. If an island is not your thing, then Port Douglas has a relaxed elegance, shopping and a beautiful beach that is hard to beat. Try the Mandalay Luxury Beachfront Apartments; they offer a unique foreshore location among lush tropical gardens, and have access to the seemingly endless stretch of Port Douglas beach through an easy walkway. Quicksilver Cruises depart from the marina at Port Douglas and will whisk you to the very edge of Australia's Continental Shelf to view the reef. You can dive and snorkel or stay dry and explore the reef from their semi-sub. You can also watch the fish feeding from the underwater observatory or even fly over the reef in a chopper. For help in planning your trip, see Queensland Holidays.

WE ARE gardening enthusiasts and are planning a trip to Europe next spring. We want to include Amsterdam and want to know the best time to see the tulips in full bloom. Do you know when this is?

Doc: I have just returned from Amsterdam, and like you, was very excited that I may have the opportunity to tiptoe through the tulips. Sadly, this was not to be. Even though spring officially started on March 26, this year they have experienced a rather long and unseasonable winter, which delayed the flowering and blooming.

Keukenhof (or kitchen garden) is the home to Holland's annual tulip festival and the most well-known tulip festival in the world.

The Dutch festival is located south, about an hour from Amsterdam in the small town of Lisse, and showcases seven million blooming bulbs on its grounds, and countless other floral displays in many indoor pavilions.

It is only open for two months of the year. This year's dates are March 21 to May 20.

The other way to see the tulips is in the farmers' fields. You can rent a bike outside the entrance to the gardens for about $12 , or there are plenty of guided tours. The safest bet for hitting peak tulip time is around mid-April. However, be aware that the tulips in the fields are not actually grown for their flowers but are grown for their bulbs. This means that almost as soon as they bloom they are chopped down, and the bulbs harvested.

You can also still enjoy more than six million tulips in the city's parks, public attractions, and along the streets. Tulip Lanes start on 12th St and River Ave, where 9km of tulips in brilliant array line Holland's streets.

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