Posted on Jun 19, 2008 under Central Australia |
The word desert usually conjures up images of drifting sand dunes, not much vegetation or wildlife, the occasional oasis and camel safaris with cameleers in flowing robes. Well that might be true of the Sahara Desert in Africa, but when it comes to the Simpson Desert in Central Australia, you are in for a big surprise. The sand dunes are where vegetation thrives and includes a mix of spinifex grass, iron wood and bloodwood trees and after rain, a widespread carpet of wildflowers.
Interspersed among the dunes are striking rocky landmarks like Chambers Pillar and Rainbow Valley. Also living peacefully in this region, an area far larger than most European countries, is a range of well adapted animals including wild camels, inquisitive emus and dingos. Safaris do venture into the Simpson but they are most likely to be in a modern, air-conditioned, 4WD vehicles with holidaymakers sharing an unforgettable adventure with a specialist tour leader.
Various Aboriginal communities dot the landscape at Santa Teresa, Titjikala and Apatula. Aborigines are maintaining the integrity of their cultures, while keeping a firm eye on the future through regional council self-determination. Access to Aboriginal communities is limited, so check with the Central Lands Council, in Alice Springs, if you are planning to pass through a community to see if access is possible.
Kulgera Pioneer Museum and Animal Park
Historical homestead collection set on 4.5 hectares, 19km from the NT/South Australian border. Walk through restored and refurbished, early original Kulgera cattle station homestead plus a range of collections - early implements, vintage motors and many miscellaneous curios of Territory heritage. Easy access for photos and videos of emus and kangaroos. Souvenirs and crafts for sale. Easy parking. Developed and owned by Territorians. French, German and Japanese translated information sheets are available. It is open daily from 8am to 5pm. Entry fee applies.
Simpson Desert Tours
Spend half a day to eight days in the Simpson with Aboriginal guides and tour through their land. Discover rock art and engraving, find fossils, enjoy sunset at Rainbow Valley and hear the Dreamtime stories. Other tours can show you the most popular features of the Simpson Desert in a day.
Self-touring
If you are self-driving, the Simpson Desert loop is an excellent way to experience the region. It takes you from Alice Springs through Old Andado, Mount Dare Station, Bundooma Siding and then back to Alice Springs. Along the way you can stop off at Chambers Pillar and Rainbow Valley. The loop’s road surface is dirt but not difficult, although a 4WD vehicle is required. All roads in the Simpson Desert are dirt and most are categorised ‘minor’, and thus little annual maintenance is carried out by the Dep artment of Transport and Works - caution is advised. Make sure when you head into this region you are well equipped with supplies and safety equipment, and please register your journey with the Police before you depart.
Posted on Jun 19, 2008 under Northern Territory |
One of the major towns in the Top End, Katherine is just 330km south of Darwin. It is a delightful town on the edge of spectacular wilderness regions and a part of the Top End not to be missed.
Katherine is a bustling community of 10,000 people which services an area the size of the state of Victoria. The community includes RAAF Base Tindal and has a multi-cultural mix which enhances its ‘outback’ image. Katherine Gorge, just 30km from Katherine’s town centre, is the major natural attraction in the area. The town itself has many places of interest including the historic Springvale Homestead, the River Corridor, Hot Springs and various museums and historic buildings. Katherine School of the Air, Edith Falls and the Cutta Cutta and Tindal Caves also attract many visitors every year.
Nitmiluk National Park, encompassing Katherine Gorge and Edith Falls, is one of the Territory’s most scenic natural attractions. Katherine Gorge is actually a system of 13 separate gorges, each separated by rapids. Viewed from above, the gorges are a deep fissure carved into the ochre sandstone. The sheer red cliffs that stand guard either side of the Katherine River change colour throughout the course of the day. At dawn and dusk, they glow intense shimmering shades of orange and red. There are a multitude of ways to explore the Gorge system. Boat tours reach as far as the fifth gorge, while the more adventurous can hire canoes and explore all the gorges. For a breathtaking view, scenic flights are available in a fixed wing aircraft or by helicopter.
Whichever way you choose, Katherine Gorge is an all-encompassing treat for the senses. Nitmiluk National Park features over 100 kilometres of marked walking trails. It’s the ideal way to quietly discover the surrounding countryside and its eucalyptus, unusual bush flowers and perhaps even a kangaroo or two. Once the Katherine River winds its way slowly out of the gorge, it is transformed into a gentle, tree-lined watercourse. Popular with locals, they regularly vote for the Low Level Bridge and Weir as one of their favourite places.
In addition to its own wealth of natural attractions and activities, Katherine and its surrounding regions represent the cross-roads of the Outback. Positioned as it is between four areas of outstanding beauty and environmental significance, it offers the perfect base for exploring north to Darwin, Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks, east to the Gulf region, west to the Victoria River District and thence the Kimberley and south to Alice Springs, Central Australia and Ayers Rock.
Posted on Jun 18, 2008 under Adelaide |
From its establishment in 1836, Adelaide’s development has been based on the state of South Australia’s agriculture, mining and manufacturing. The city today retains much of its colonial architecture and has an air of solidity with its grid-like street plan making it an easy city to get around. Set on the edge of a desert the Mediterranean climate and dryland vegetation set the city apart form other Australian capitals. For long the city was known as the “City of Churches”, because of a city skyline dominated by spires. Adelaide is today reinventing itself as a vibrant state capital, shifting emphasis from manufacturing to services and acting a support base for South Australia’s resurgent mining industry.
Adelaide has a well deserved reputation as a city of culture which stems from its long-time hosting of the biennial Adelaide Arts Festival, a gathering of world-renown performers, artists and writers which bring the city a large number of visitors from other Australian states and overseas. The theatres of the Adelaide Festival Centre, close to the Torrens River, are the city’s cultural hub.
The popular seaside suburb of Glenelg, reached by a vintage tram that which runs from the city centre, has lots of great budget accommodation options, trendy alfresco dining and specialty shopping. The Adelaide Hills, 30-minutes drive from the city, is part of the Mt Lofty Ranges, and has walkways through conservation parks, arts and crafts shops and the pretty town of Hahndorf. The nearby Barossa Valley is Australia’s premier quality wine-making district.
Other Adelaide attractions that are worthwhile include the South Australian Museum and the Art Gallery of South Australia. Both of these allow for a new understanding and enlightenment about the state’s natural systems and Aboriginal past and the art produced in times gone by. The Art Gallery collection is one of the finest in Australia and the Gallery itself is a glorious heritage building set on North Terrace. The gallery holds the most balanced collection of Australian art in the country, and in particular, the finest of all collections of nineteenth-century Australian art. The charming Adelaide Botanical Gardens, with its artificial lakes and rainforest conservatory, is another delightful Adelaide attraction. And the Adelaide Zoo serves as a good introduction the fauna of Australia. With around 1600 introduced and native mammals, birds and reptiles. The zoo is a popular attraction.
The Flinders Ranges National Park is a great place to get a good feel for the South Australian natural environment. When you visit the park you will learn about the region’s distinctive geology and it is a great adventure for the entire family.
Posted on Jun 17, 2008 under Sydney |
In the late 50’s, Danish architect Joern Utzon won the prestigious Pritzker Prize (the equivalent of the Nobel in the architecture category) by the unique design of this building: the Sydney Opera House. The jury described it as “one of the most symbolic buildings of the twentieth century, a masterpiece, an image of great beauty… a symbol not only of a city, but of an entire country.”
His project had not been chosen among the five finalists (out of 233 that were submitted), but a well-known architect, Eero Saarinen, was on the jury for the Sydney Opera House commission and had seen the conceptual drawings of Utzon’s future Opera House. Curiously, its creator, Utzon left the project in 1966 by serious disagreements with the government of New South Wales and by the fierce complaints it received from the Australian population, who believed the building was too modernist and abstract. The original idea proved too expensive to implement, and had to be three Australian architects who complete the work in 1973, when it was opened with the opera War and Peace. Its original creator never returned to Australia to visit.
Utzon found it curious that Sydney in itself is an acknowledgment of modernist architecture, because this city can be described as the New York in the Southern Hemisphere, displayed by its skyscrapers, its modernity, its environment and its vitality.
Describing how the concept for the construction came about, he said the idea arose with an orange skin which opened its segments. The shell of an orange shaped their domes; in this web of Swedes tiles that form the roof of the building and that give this forceful contrast in the Sydney Harbour. A concrete base covered with granite, covered with white coating with ceramic tiles make up the rest of this unique monument. And that perfectly recognizable silhouette, like a boat with wind to the sails was deployed, which seems to vary depending on the point from where it is observed, and with the lights of the day and night, play with their volumes, with their facades, with its staircases and windows.
The Sydney Opera House is currently one of the most active travel destinations in the world. Inside it is home to several rooms dedicated to music, with a capacity for 2900 people, and a theatre, with 1547 seats.
Seven “New” Wonders of the World Nominee
The Sydney Opera House was nominated as a candidate for New Wonder of the World in 2007, alongside other world famous monuments like the Taj Mahal, the nabatea city of Petra, the Alhambra in Granada, the famous ruins of Stonehenge, the city of Timbouctú in Mali, the moais of Easter Island, the pyramids of Giza in Cairo, the Great Wall of China, Machu Picchu in Peru, the Acropolis of Athens, the Coliseum in Rome, the Statue of Liberty in New York, Eiffel Tower in Paris, St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow, Castle Neuchswastein in Germany, and St. Sophia in Istanbul.
Posted on Jun 17, 2008 under Sydney |
Cosmopolitan, diverse, energetic and easygoing, Sydney has colonial heritage, dazzling modern buildings and a free-wheeling lifestyle. Its iconic, glorious sheltered harbour and its sunny, subtropical climate help make it a major tourist destination. It is clean, unpolluted and relatively safe, and its not surprising that it is most often voted as one of the world’s most liveable cities.
But, far from being the clichéd sun, sand, surf and sport scene you might expect, Sydney also has world-class museums and galleries as well as a roster of shops that include branches of world-renowned stores such as Tiffany and Cartier. The cuisine is excellent – Sydney is now one of the modern food capitals of the world. And some of the finest wines on earth come from Australia’s many vineyards. After dark you can take in an opera or ballet at the Sydney Opera House, see a first-class theatrical production, dance the night away in a classy pub, take in the sparkling vistas from a vantage point such as Sydney Tower, or spend the evening sampling local beer in a historic sandstone hotel at Sydney’s birthplace, The Rocks.
A vibrant world business capital, Sydney has a commercial buzz that permeates the CBD. The city embraces people of all races and nationalities and, although this doesn’t make it a multicultural utopia, you certainly get the feeling that you are visiting an international destination. An Asian presence is strong, and you’ll overhear conversations in any number of European languages.
The pace in Sydney is faster than in other parts of Australia, so the nasally Australian English, with its distinctive colloquialisms, is delivered double time. The often-heard expressions ‘No worries, mate’ and ‘She’ll be right’ say much about the attitudes here. Come to Sydney with an open mind, meet them halfway, take Sydney as it comes, and you’re bound to have a relaxing, good time.
Posted on Jun 16, 2008 under Far North Queensland |
Kewarra Beach Resort is located a short distance north of the bustling city of Cairns in Far North Queensland, Australia. It is ten to fifteen minutes drive from the Resort to the airport, and perhaps twenty minutes drive to the heart of Cairns. Far enough away from the city to enjoy the tranquil seclusion and “get away from it all” atmosphere that envelopes this wonderful resort, but close enough to be convenient. All day tours will collect you from the resort and return you back at the end of the day.
Kewarra’s Private Beach
Kewarra is unusual in the area due to the fact it has its own private beachfront - beautiful sandy beach facing out onto the azure Coral Sea. Even in mid winter, the water temperature remains over 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius), with the ocean making a wonderful alternative to the resort’s swimming pools for a refreshing dip.
Water is very much a feature of Kewarra, with a lovely lagoon also serving as centre-piece for many of the private units.
In addition to Kewarra’s private beach frontage, there is also a tasteful recreational natural swimming pool area. No tasteless chlorinated “lap pool” here, just a lovely relaxing area, complete with waterfall and lots of area to lie in the sun on the pool edge. The resort is beautifully spread out over a 70 acre paradise of private beach frontage, brilliant gardens, and natural forest in a tasteful environment that reflects the region’s unique cultural heritage and ecology. The resort offers idyllic views of wonderful plants that gently surround you in this lovely natural paradise. With all the different plants, there are over 160 different species of birds to fill the area with color, and a multitude of different butterflies, including the magnificent Ulysses butterfly, to be found in a rich diversity of habitats.
The Accommodation at Kewarra
Kewarra offers a selection of accommodation styles to suit your taste. All units are, of course, beautifully furnished and appointed, and have the latest in quiet air conditioning and all modern conveniences for your total comfort.
Two main styles of units are available - what are known as “mouds” (a South Pacific islander term for bures or units).
The Koi mouds are semi-detached in small blocks, and face out onto a lovely setting featuring a crocquet lawn.
Most popular are the premium Waraka mouds. These are individually placed in lovely private settings, each with its own balcony where you can sit and relax in our unique ambience.
A variation on the Waraka moud is the Bhutu moud, designed for families with more than two people wishing to share one unit.
Lastly, for a priviledged few, there is the special Timara Suite. This is a restored Queenslander style cottage, with lovely balconies on three sides, set on a small island within our lagoon.
Posted on Jun 15, 2008 under Northern Territory |
Due to the fact that 85% of the Northern Territory’s most visited spots are accessible by sealed, all weather roads, and 85% of attractions in the NT are accessible by conventional (2 wheel drive) vehicles, campervans and caravans are familiar sight, with caravan parks plentiful and well equipped. Some attractions are only accessible by 4 wheel drive vehicles, and in some locations, seasonal conditions restrict access.
Fuel and food stops along these roads are no more than every 200 - 300km. Unless you particularly want to go off the beaten track, a fantastic Northern Territory driving holiday visiting all the best sites can be enjoyed in a standard family car with normal provisions and safety supplies.
Dangers
Dangers on the road include everything from kangaroos to cattle and roadtrains.
- Roadtrains are Prime Movers (trucks, lorries etc.) with three trailers hitched behind. The maximum length of these phenomenon is 50 metres!! Always give roadtrains plenty of room, and if overtaking, allow at least 1km of clear road ahead.
- Fatigue is a serious danger. Pull off the road and rest after a few hours driving.
- Floods Do not attempt to cross flooded bridges or causeways unless sure of the depth and any road damage. Most flash floods usually recede within 24 hours.
- Dust on Outback roads can obscure your vision. Do not take risks, stop and wait for it to settle.
- Lost or broken down? - do not leave your vehicle in any circumstances, a missing vehicle is easier to locate than missing people. Economise on water if you are on a less well used road.
4WD & Outback Driving
Part of the attraction of the Northern Territory to many people is the ability to visit many natural and unspoilt locations, with normally very few other people, if any. It also affords the chance to utilise a 4 wheel drive (4WD) vehicle (either their own, or rented) to gain access to these remoter places, as well as try out their off-road driving skills.
Whilst most attractions are available to all vehicle, the Northern Territory government sees the value of keeping a number of its attractions available only to 4WD vehicles. The reason is two fold; it helps reduce the impact of visitation of an area and it gives visitors the chance to experience our great outdoors, following in the footsteps of some of Australia’s greatest explorers - some which passed through just over one hundred years ago.
Information about these tracks and roads are available from quite a number of different sources, Including, the Conservation Commission of the NT, local Regional Tourist Associations the Automobile Association of the NT (AANT), the Department of Transport & Works, or Police Stations in the area.
Important! When travelling “off the beaten track”, you should advise the nearest police station of the number of passengers travelling, your proposed route, estimated time of arrival, and advise on arrival. Prepare your vehicle for the long distances and ensure you have all the basic equipment: jack, spare tyres, fan belt, radiator hoses and a tow rope. Plan ahead for fuel stops. You may need to carry fuel. Carry a map of the area, especially if travelling off the main roads. Always carry water (20 litres minimum).
Posted on Jun 15, 2008 under Far North Queensland |
A unique way to experience the Tropical Rainforest region in Cairns is to travel to Kuranda and enjoy the Tjapukai Aboriginal Theme Park with Skyrail.
Open since mid 1995, the new Skyrail Rainforest Cableway takes you between their two stations, one located at Smithfield, just a short distance north of Cairns on the coast, and the other in the quaint little market town of Kuranda, just opposite the famous Railway Station.
You can choose from either riding the Skyrail roundtrip to and from Kuranda, or just taking it one way and either using a coach transfer or the Scenic Commentary Train for the other half of your journey.
The Skyrail Experience
The Skyrail Rainforest Cableway is unique in the world. Not only is it the longest aerial cableway anywhere in the world, but it presents as an entirely new, convenient and environmentally friendly way of experiencing the amazing Wet Tropics Rainforest to be found north of Cairns.
There are three lengths of cableway stretching some 7.5 km (4.5 miles) going up the sides of the rainforest up to Kuranda in the Atherton Tablelands. Six passenger gondolas glide silently, just above the rainforest. You can not only see the rainforest, you can hear it (and even smell it) too!
From start to finish, it takes 30 minutes to travel the entire length of the cableway. However, most people choose to stop at either or both of the two transfer stations. At these intermediate points, there are boardwalk paths taking you into the rainforest, allowing you to get up close and personal with this incredible natural resource.
The Barron Falls stop also offers both views out over the Barron Gorge to the famous Barron Falls (although there is seldom much water going over the top, most being diverted through the hydroelectric power station except in rainy weather) and also the Rainforest Interpretive Centre, developed in conjunction with Australia’s national science organisation, the CSIRO.
You should probably plan on allowing at least 90 minutes for a complete journey one way on Skyrail, including time at the two intermediate stops.
About the Rainforest
The World Heritage Rainforest north of Cairns is the second largest stand of rainforest in the world (after the Amazon basin). It is also the oldest rainforest in the world, having uniquely survived the last ice age. This gives it an incredible diversity of different types of vegetation, making it a veritable living museum as a result of its isolation from the rest of the world for millions of years. There are over 1100 higher plant species that can be found, of which only 5% are considered common.
Animals too are unique and special in this area - over twenty five different vertebrate animals on the rare, threatened or endangered list make this area truly very precious. There are birds galore and many other types of animals too, even snakes that you may see curled up in the tops of trees as you glide silently and safely past.
Best of all, Skyrail presents as a clean, quiet, and low impact way to allow visitors such as yourself to experience and enjoy the beauty of the rainforest.
Pricing
Although you can make your own way to the Skyrail station and buy a ticket for the Skyrail ride only, most people choose to purchase a tour - eg, from Downunder Tours that will include convenient transfers to and from your hotel, and possibly other things as well like admission to the new Tjapukai Theme Park situated next to the Skyrail station at Smithfield.
A view of the splendid Kuranda Scenic Commentary Train, which takes people on a ninety minute journey to or from Cairns and/or Kuranda. It is very popular for people to combine a Skyrail journey one way with the Train ride the other direction. Skyrail’s Kuranda Terminal is right next to the Train Station.
A scene from the theatrical presentation that forms part of the new Tjapukai Aboriginal Theme Park, conveniently located immediately adjacent to Skyrail’s Smithfield Terminal.
For people wishing to purchase only the Skyrail tickets, a one way ticket is A$40 for adults and A$20 for children (prices valid through March 31 2009). Your travel agency can assist you with choosing a combination tour with transfers from your accommodation that is best suited for you.
Posted on Jun 12, 2008 under Far North Queensland |
Surrounding landscaped gardens and tropical swimming pools, Palm Royale Resort Cairns is a 150 room boutique resort-style hotel which is Mediterranean at heart - a harmonious blend of Australian and international influences.
Combining the contemporary design elements of wrought iron, terracotta tiles and exquisite fabrics, Palm Royale Resort Cairns offers a totally unique atmosphere, not featured elsewhere in Far North Queensland. Using the region’s bounty of fresh produce and delicious seafood, the restaurants and bars serve international cuisine and refreshing drinks to satisfy all tastes and even the heartiest of appetites.
It is a hotel with a difference, a home away from home. While respecting your privacy, the staff are always friendly and our service always outstanding. The overall aim is to provide excellence, and in so doing, ensure you have holiday you will remember for a life time.
After a long day it is not hard to picture yourself dining alfresco on your private balcony overlooking the gardens, the balmy night air relaxing you in readiness for the next day.
Location
Nestled in the foothills of the rainforest covered hillsides surrounding Cairns, Palm Royale is located just 6km (3.5m) from Cairns city and 8km (5m) from Cairns Airport.
As one of Australia’s most popular tourist destinations, it offers so much, from its idyllic climate and relaxing lifestyle to the extraordinary beauty of its many natural attractions.
Accommodation
To ensure you have a comfortable stay, the rooms feature air-conditioning, ceiling fans, king size beds, private balconies and facilities which include a bedside clock, video, radio, in-room safe, refrigerator and tea and coffee making facilities.
The resort offers a choice of both 134 Deluxe Rooms and 16 Executive Suites. Deluxe Rooms have a choice of bedding configuration - King, Family, Twin, Triple, or Disabled rooms. All feature air-conditioning and private balconies.
Executive Suites are designed with an emphasis on luxury and space. Their main features include a bath shower, King size bed, and sofa.
Guest Services
If there is anything the Palm Royale can do to make your stay more idyllic, you have only to ask any of their friendly staff at any time. They’re all here to help.
Palm Royale Resort Cairns offers you the special opportunity to master the arts of snorkelling and Scuba Diving in the convenience of their own dedicated Dive Training Pool. Operated by Australia’s leading dive training company, Quicksilver Diving Services, you can be taught the sport of Scuba by professional Dive Instructors who offer the highest international standards of diving education.
Get to choose a selection of beautiful pools, and with the wonderful weather that Cairns provides, you’re sure to enjoy a few hours alongside, or in, one of these pools most days!
Courtesy coach transfers take you to the airport to meet your flight into Cairns and to take you back at the end of your stay. A return city shuttle service also operates during the day and is complimentary. All major tour operators pick up and drop off at the hotel.
Palm Royale Resort Cairns also offers two interconnecting meeting rooms which combine to provide theatre style seating for 150 people. when planning an event you are not limited at Palm Royale Cairns. The hotel offers a selection of venues from poolside in the tropical landscaped gardens to the balconies of Parthenon and Colossus.
The combined boutique and tour office, called “Looks Royale”, gives you the opportunity to purchase a quality range of souvenirs and essentials, and gives assistance in booking any day touring you might wish to enjoy.
Restaurants and Bars
Inside or out, overlooking the Barrumundi pond, Cafe Royale Resort is the perfect place to unwind and chat with friends with an ice cold beer or one of our very own tropical cocktails.
Colossus offers an international standard of a la carte cuisine in truly elegant surroundings. Situated on the second floor, the restaurant’s Mediterranean design provides the perfect compliment to the chef’s creative selection of dishes which incorporate fresh tropical fruits, locally grown vegetables and delicious seafood. Colossus provides indoor and outdoor dining for up to 120 people.
Posted on Jun 12, 2008 under Sydney |
There is no better way to get to know the many harbourside bays and inlets and their surrounding suburbs than by exploring the multi-sectioned Sydney Harbour National Park.
Sydney Harbour National Park, which protects several islands and foreshore areas around Sydney Harbour, contains remnants of bushland common before white settlement, and many cultural and heritage attractions. You can visit convict-built buildings, historic maritime and military installations, and recreational islands. The Quarantine Station (>101) at North Head, which isolated new arrivals with infectious diseases from Sydneysiders, has night-time ghost walks. At Middle Head are the remains of a network of forts that were built around the harbour for protection from, among others, the Russians in the nineteenth century, and the Japanese in the 1940s.
Other park highlights include ferry tours to the tiny colonial penal relic, Fort Denison, Australia’s only Martello Tower. Here an audio-visual presentation highlights its history, including its time as a high security prison. Enjoy a relaxing ferry trip to tiny Shark Island, spectacularly set in the middle of Sydney Harbour. This is the perfect destination for a picnic, with its shady trees and picnic shelters – there is even a small beach where you can enjoy a harbour swim. There are many harbour walks, including the Manly Scenic Walkway, with its native coastal heath and subtropical rainforest remnants. On the south side of the harbour, the 1.5 km, easy Hermitage Foreshore Track starts in Nielsen Park at Vaucluse and takes you through a strip of protected bushland, winding along the western edge of Vaucluse and finishing at Bayview Hill Road. A swim at Nielsen Park beach is a welcome treat on a summer’s day. The harbourside suburb of Watsons Bay was a fishing hamlet and naval base. Today this charming suburb retains its village atmosphere and you can swim at Camp Cove or explore South Head National Park.