Tourism and Events

Search Site Reviews

Resource reviews are provided for teachers to support their teaching and learning programs.

The views expressed by reviewers are not necessarily those of the NSW Department of Education and Training. Copyright for reviews is held by the NSW Department of Education and Training. Permission for reproduction of reviews in part or full for any purpose must be sought in writing. For further information contact colleen.foley@det.nsw.edu.au

Sites are listed alphabetically by title. Where external links are a major part of a site, additional time would be required to locate relevant information on these linked sites. Please note that changes happen daily on the Internet. Sites come and go. We cannot guarantee that the following sites are permanent or are structured as they were when they were reviewed.

Atlas Obscura: a compendium of the world’s wonders, curiosities and esoteric
Australian Hotels Association
Beach vacations and beach resort: find my ideal beach resort at Orbitz’s beach finder
Create your own travel guide
Creative spirits: the art of touching spirit and soul
Department of Food Science extension publications
Rolling your own sushi

Atlas Obscura: a compendium of the world’s wonders, curiosities and esoteric
A collaborative and ongoing project, the atlas is a fascinating site that includes interactive maps, writing, photographs and short videos about the world’s bizarre and unusual places and events. Ideal as an IWB activity or for self directed extension work by students, the site offers a great opportunity to integrate ICT skills across KLAs. Students can focus on a specific country or investigate the Categories of wonders & curiosities. The latter includes a very wide range of material on syllabus related topics such as Microminature art, landscapes, flora and fauna, disasters, archaeology, architecture, and technology. Most of the material will work best as an inspirational illustration of where education can take students. For example, Creative Arts students can admire the artists who added resonating tubes to a bridge, in Musical wonders. The site is not merely a catalogue, it succeeds in expanding the user’s sense of identity in a wider and wondrous world. C. Sheppard
USER LEVEL: Stage 5 Stage 6 Professional
KLA: CA; HSIE; Science; TAS; VET
SYLLABUS: Earth & Environmental Science Stage 6; Geography 7–10; Geography Stage 6; Music 7–10; Science 7–10; Tourism Curriculum Framework Stage 6; Visual Arts 7–10
SCIS SUBJECTS: Civilisation; Geography; Natural history; Wonders of the World
PUBLISHER: Atlas Obscura, USA
REVIEW DATE: 01/04/10 [910] SCIS 1434156

Australian Hotels Association
Representing accommodation ranging from hostels to five star businesses in Australia, the AHA is recognised as the hospitality authority on government, media and industry issues. This fairly basic site could be used to introduce Hospitality students to these issues using the site’s content of Media releases on marketing, Industrial relations, wage increases and work choices, Careers in the industry, mergers, Accommodation, and the AHA magazine Our hotel. Links cover the important sites related to the Hospitality syllabus. M. Timperley
USER LEVEL: Stage 6
KLA: VET
SYLLABUS: Hospitality Curriculum Framework Stage 6; Tourism Curriculum Framework Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Hospitality industry – Australia
PUBLISHER: Australian Hotels Association
REVIEW DATE: 30/04/07 [338.4] SCIS 1281455

Beach vacations and beach resort: find my ideal beach resort at Orbitz’s beach finder
The site is more about beach hotels than beaches, and it is an entrée to a wide range of hotel accommodation. Over 450 beach resorts are in the database, and they are accessed via user input of type of traveller, what they would like to do on holiday, and type of hotel required. All hotels are in the Americas. Current prices are provided and there is a pleasant wave audio and attractive graphics. Once a selection is made, the site recommends various resorts, and provides a brief amount of information about the hotels chosen. Modify your search criteria allows searching by location and budget. The site has potential for the Tourism Curriculum Framework syllabus, in terms of investigating how this type of content can be displayed and used. It is a useful tool for students investigating the make up and worth of online hotel databases. F. Campbell
USER LEVEL: Stage 6
KLA: VET
SYLLABUS: Tourism Curriculum Framework Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Holiday resorts – Directories
PUBLISHER: Orbitz, USA
REVIEW DATE: 01/11/09 [910.46]SCIS 1419422

Create your own travel guide
Creating a custom travel guide to a destination chosen by the site user’s choice will be an interesting exercise for students within a range of syllabuses. Users need to register for the full range of functions, but teachers and students will find the site useful without having to register. A guide of local attractions, history and culture can be accomplished quickly from an extensive list of global cities and popular regions. This supports the study of a place in HSIE K–6 and Geography 7–10, a novel’s setting in English K–6 and English 7–10, and the manipulation of data in the Tourism syllabus. Travel guides are free to view, but a fee applies for a printable version. The site is an entertaining and informative method of developing an understanding of the world. J. White
USER LEVEL: Stage 3 Stage 4 Stage 5 Stage 6
KLA: English; HSIE; VET
SYLLABUS: English K–6; English 7–10; Geography 7–10; HSIE K–6; Tourism Curriculum Framework Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Travel
PUBLISHER: DK, UK
REVIEW DATE: 01/02/10 [910.4] SCIS 1427030

Creative spirits: the art of touching spirit and soul
In collaboration with Indigenous people, the author of this excellent website has created an insightful look into Aboriginal culture by researching aspects including Arts, Health, History, Land, Spirituality, Sport, Economy, People, Language, Law/justice, Media, Politics and Autonomy. There is a wide range of topics presented on the site, such as The Dreaming, rock paintings, stolen wages, art authenticity, Indigenous teachers, life expectancy, the Myall Creek massacre, the Stolen Generations, and discrimination. Colour photographs and maps facilitate understanding of the well written text. Statistics and quotations are supported by references. The author has also included travel guides for New South Wales and Western Australia with a focus on Aboriginal cultural sites, and links to Aboriginal associations and publications. A. Frost
USER LEVEL: Stage 4 Stage 5 Stage 6
KLA: HSIE; VET
SYLLABUS: Aboriginal Studies 7–10; Aboriginal Studies Stage 6; Tourism Curriculum Framework Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Aboriginal peoples
PUBLISHER: Creative Spirits, Australia
REVIEW DATE: 01/11/09 [305.89]SCIS 1414980

Department of Food Science extension publications
With clear instructions for accessing publications in either HTML or pdf formats, this informative web site provides users with titles of papers written by the Department of Food Science at North Carolina State University. The papers focus on Food safety areas for the modules of Poultry processing, HACCP, Acidified foods, Seafood safety including mercury in seafood, Egg processing, Fruit and vegetable processing, Biotechnology, Dairy processing, and Food entrepreneurs. General food safety such as Irradiation, cooling hot foods, feeding babies, and safety at picnics are also featured. Users can access current and past newsletters, and contact the university via email. This site is most helpful for student research. M. Timperley
USER LEVEL: Stage 6
KLA: TAS
SYLLABUS: Food Technology Stage 6; Hospitality Curriculum Framework Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Food - Safety measures
PUBLISHER: NC State University, USA
REVIEW DATE: 25/05/05 [664] SCIS 1204646

Rolling your own sushi
Hutchenreuther created this site in 1994 after he held a men's workshop on how to make sushi. Since then, the site has featured on television programs, and it is specifically recommended for students learning the art of sushi making. Instructions are clear, and the tone and style reflect the author's enthusiasm. Along with many illustrated styles of sushi making, the site gives information on Terms and Equipment, extras such as ginger and sushi vinegar, descriptions of Foodstuffs required, and an explanation of Sashimi. The basic California roll is described in detail, and would be an excellent recipe for students to start with. M. Timperley
USER LEVEL: Stage 4 Stage 5 Stage 6
KLA: TAS; VET
SYLLABUS: Food Technology 7-10; Food Technology Stage 6; Hospitality Curriculum Framework
SCIS SUBJECTS: Cookery with rice; Sushi
PUBLISHER: M. S. Hutchenreuther, USA
REVIEW DATE: 25/05/05 [641.59] SCIS 1192340