Heathrow is the busiest international airport within the UK. Based in Hayes, Middlesex just to the west of London, it serves approximately 180 worldwide destinations through 90 different airlines. Despite already having 4 terminals, it's continuing growth has led to the construction of a fifth terminal.

Airport car parking is more convenient and accessible than ever before and Heathrow Airport has several options available whether you are flying for business or pleasure. If your holidays are fast approaching and they start from Heathrow Airport, the UK's busiest airport, then why not look into booking a car parking space before you fly.

For cheap airport parking Heathrow you can book your car parking space up to 12 months in advance and as a result will be protected from any prices increases that may occur within that time. Booking ahead not only saves you time but can save you money as well.

Heathrow has a Long Stay Car Parking facility that suits anyone who will be travelling away for 2 days or more. It is open throughout the year and operates a courtesy transfer service from the car park to your chosen terminal. The car park has a high security policy so you can be assured your car will be safe and secure for the duration of its stay.

Heathrow's Short Stay car park is ideal for anyone stopping at the airport for a short period of up to 5 hours, such as dropping off or collecting a passenger. You can park here for longer but the cost of doing so increases and it may be more economical to pre-book the long stay parking space. There is a short stay car park next to each terminal making it convenient, wherever you are flying to. They are patrolled on a frequent basis and monitored extensively by CCTV.

Business Car Parking at Heathrow Airport is conveniently located closer to each terminal than the longer term parking to save time for regular business travellers. It also has a rapid and regular transfer service. For the Valet Service option you can drop your car off at the designated point and have it parked, valeted and returned to you on your arrival back at Heathrow.

The new Terminal 5 officially opens in March 2008 but you can pre-book and get special savings on their long stay, short stay and business parking spaces. They are also offering a special short stay weekender rate, available fridays to mondays.

A trip North up the Bruce Highway to Bowen takes about an hour. The approach to the town from the South has the usual Information centre, with a feature of the Big Mango. The pleasant staff at this centre, are very helpful to visitors. On first sight the big mango looks like an Easter egg, but becomes more realistic from a different angle. The next thing we noticed going into Bowen was the BOWENWOOD sign on the water tower above the town, in the style of the HOLLYWOOD sign in that location.

The reason for the sign, we discovered when we were in Bowen, was that part of the town was roped off as a set for the Baz Luhrmann movie "Australia" with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman. There were sandbagged buildings, red dirt streets and an army tent camp. The idea is to represent Darwin during the war. It all looked very effective. The crew were due to move on to Kunnanurra in Western Australia - over 4000km, 2500miles, for the next shoot - maybe we would see them over there.

Bowen brings more golden beaches within reach. There are several in town, and further up the coast, with island views and tideless clear water, snorkelling and coral, close to shore. Stinger nets are provided in a couple of places - do they work? We will stick to the lagoon and the park pool.

A feature of the main town beach, is the golf course laid out along it, making a beautiful location for the golfer. What a great excuse for an afternoon stroll in the fresh air.

Other noteworthy features of the town are a series of beautiful murals, one by Pro Hart, depicting trains, planes, ships, wagons etc. There are a total of twenty-two murals in all. A historical record of the area can be visualised with this series. There are a couple of high points with lookouts to the islands, and a museum. As Queensland's oldest town, founded in 1861 Bowen was once under consideration as State capital.

Inland you can visit Colinsville, a coalmining town and see the "Coalface Experience", an audio-visual presentation to show the workings of the mine. (Having had a couple of "school visits" to working coalmines in England - "Doon the Pit", I did not partake).

On the way back to Airlie, you can take a side trip to Dingo Beach, said to be white sand, a beachcomber's delight, and Cape Gloucester. The latter is one of the few places on the East coast to see a sunset over the sea, although Airlie can be almost as good.

A trip North up the Bruce Highway to Bowen takes about an hour. The approach to the town from the South has the usual Information centre, with a feature of the Big Mango. The pleasant staff at this centre, are very helpful to visitors. On first sight the big mango looks like an Easter egg, but becomes more realistic from a different angle. The next thing we noticed going into Bowen was the BOWENWOOD sign on the water tower above the town, in the style of the HOLLYWOOD sign in that location.

The reason for the sign, we discovered when we were in Bowen, was that part of the town was roped off as a set for the Baz Luhrmann movie "Australia" with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman. There were sandbagged buildings, red dirt streets and an army tent camp. The idea is to represent Darwin during the war. It all looked very effective. The crew were due to move on to Kunnanurra in Western Australia - over 4000km, 2500miles, for the next shoot - maybe we would see them over there.

Bowen brings more golden beaches within reach. There are several in town, and further up the coast, with island views and tideless clear water, snorkelling and coral, close to shore. Stinger nets are provided in a couple of places - do they work? We will stick to the lagoon and the park pool.

A feature of the main town beach, is the golf course laid out along it, making a beautiful location for the golfer. What a great excuse for an afternoon stroll in the fresh air.

Other noteworthy features of the town are a series of beautiful murals, one by Pro Hart, depicting trains, planes, ships, wagons etc. There are a total of twenty-two murals in all. A historical record of the area can be visualised with this series. There are a couple of high points with lookouts to the islands, and a museum. As Queensland's oldest town, founded in 1861 Bowen was once under consideration as State capital.

Inland you can visit Colinsville, a coalmining town and see the "Coalface Experience", an audio-visual presentation to show the workings of the mine. (Having had a couple of "school visits" to working coalmines in England - "Doon the Pit", I did not partake).

On the way back to Airlie, you can take a side trip to Dingo Beach, said to be white sand, a beachcomber's delight, and Cape Gloucester. The latter is one of the few places on the East coast to see a sunset over the sea, although Airlie can be almost as good.

The Whitsunday region extends South down the coast of Queensland, Australia, as far as Mackay, and North as far as Bowen. The predominant scenery is tree covered hills and miles of canefields.

Mackay, about an hour and a half away, has several beaches, Sarina beach just South of Mackay is particularly attractive, and has places to free park. There are good shopping centres in Mackay, although for the Motorhome traveler, looking for spares, or parts, I would advise looking in Rockhampton, coming from the South, or Townsville from the North.

Inland from Mackay, on the Pioneer River, you can travel the Pioneer Valley to Eungella National Park. The rainforest has walking trails, with spectacular lookouts, and over 200 species of birds, as well as native animals, especially platypus, at Broken River.

On the way to Eungella, at Finch Hatton, turn off for Finch Hatton Gorge and go bushwalking past freshwater swimming holes and beautiful waterfalls. Stop off at one of the picnic areas - you did bring the picnic?

At nearby Mirani is a museum with the history of the sugar industry in the area, as well as the Illawong Fauna Sanctuary, with a variety of wildlife, including crocodiles. An alternative to the more commercial crocodlile farms around the region.

Between Mackay and Airlie, at Bloomsbury, is a turn-off for Midge point, a small coastal town on Repulse Bay. The beach here is long and wide (but not white!) with good fishing, and no-one around. Coconut palms fringe the beach, and islands and headlands complete the scene. Just up the road is the Laguna Keys resort, for the golfers among us. It's a ten minute drive back to the Bruce Highway.

Another twenty minutes brings you to the turn-off for Airlie, at Proserpine. The main purpose for Whitsunday visitors, the airport, is just outside the town, and has flights to the East Coast capitals. Proserpine itself is a pleasant small country town, with plenty of places to stop for a coffee or tea, with home made cakes, or a meal, to make a pleasant break in your journey.

A few kms out of Proserpine on the Airlie Rd, turn off towards Conway Beach, at the Northern end of Repulse Bay. Worth a detour along this road is the turn-off to the Cedar Creek Falls, especially if it was raining last night (it often does). Conway Beach has a fairly steep approach, affording an attractive view over the bay. Nearby Wilson Beach has a boat launching ramp - and a warning sign about cleaning fish there, due to crocodiles in the area. Another half hour will bring you back to Airlie.