… I saw and did for the first time in 2014!

It’s possible my definition of ‘cool’ isn’t the same as yours. I think it’s quite easy to find something cool downunder – anything new, intriguing, scenic or exclusive to OZ (or the world) does it for me.

So if you’re wondering about some of the inclusions in this selection of 12 cool things I saw for the first time in my travels through five Aussie states in 2014, that’s why they’re there!

If you don’t agree, why not tell me ALL about it in the comments

1. Bruny Island

This little island off the eastern coast of Tasmania is about the same size as Singapore. But whereas Singapore has a population of 6,000,000+, Bruny Island is a LOT less crowded with only around 600! Stunning scenery, including the 2^nd highest cliffs in the Southern Hemisphere and one of Australia’s most scenic public loos; wonderful wildlife – think seals and Tasmanian endemic birds – AND fabulous food means a day trip isn’t nearly long enough to see everything.

And I’ve never been on a waterway with a name as cool as the D’Entrecasteaux Channel!

MORE about Bruny Island

2. Cradle Mountain

We got to see Tasmania’s most famous mountain on a ‘normal’ day. And that meant cloud, fog, mist, drizzle, rain, wind and the coldest temperatures we’d experienced in Tasmania to date! Apparently, those typical images of Cradle Mountain’s classic shape reflected beautifully in Dove Lake below (click HERE to see what I mean!) only happen on one or two days in every ten!

SO … I guess we were lucky. Because MY shots show the real thing in all its non-clichéd glory! Right??

MORE about Cradle Mountain

3. Tasmanian Wombat

I’ve seen wombats before. I’ve even been bitten by a wombat!! But 2014 was the year I first saw Vombatus ursinus tasmaniensis, which the informed will instantly recognise as the Tasmanian Wombat – a sub-species of the common wombat. The lesser informed might think it a visitor from another planet with its odd shape, shambling gait and its legendary ability to burrow underground in the most inhospitable places.

Most Australian women know a ‘wombat’ – the name’s often given to a bloke who, like the wombat, eats roots and leaves. I don’t know if the Tasmanian wombat shares these habits with its mainland counterparts. But … I’ll bet a few Tassie blokes do!

MORE about Wombats

4. Balls Pyramid

It’s not that easy to see the world’s highest volcanic rock stack up close. First, get to Sydney. Then take a ~600 km flight to Lord Howe Island which, depending on the crosswinds on the airstrip bisecting the island, may or may not be able to land. Then wait for suitable weather conditions for the 23 km boat trip across the open ocean to the Pyramid – there’s a 50% cancellation rate. 66.66% if you’re as unlucky as we were with a FAIL on our first two attempts!

But finally the planets aligned and we gazed in awe at Balls Pyramid’s distinctive twin spires towering 551 metres above us.

And in an uncharacteristically speechless moment, I ran out of superlatives!

MORE about Balls Pyramid

5. Lord Howe Island Phasmid

After rats invaded Lord Howe Island following a shipwreck back in the dim, distant past, the endemic Lord Howe Island Phasmid – a large stick insect – was thought to be extinct. But many years later, it was re-discovered on the inhospitable and rugged Balls Pyramid (see above!) by a scientific expedition.

Luckily, we didn’t have to climb or camp on Balls Pyramid to see this rare creature for ourselves – there are a couple in the Lord Howe Island Visitor Information Centre.

And call me shallow, but seeing something that’s been brought back from extinction AND that not many others have ever seen gives me a BIG thrill!

MORE about Lord Howe Island

6. My TV Interview

Seeing my name on my first book – Aussie Loos with Views! – was one thing. But seeing myself on TV was quite another! My first (and possibly ONLY) TV appearance to promote my book on Weekend Sunrise may or may not fit YOUR definition of ‘cool’.

I’ll leave you to judge it for yourself!

To watch the video: Hover the cursor over the bottom of the picture. Click on the Forward Arrow symbol that will appear in the bottom left hand corner. There’s about 15 seconds of ‘sponsor messages’ before the interview starts.

*IF you received this post by email, click on the link to the blog post at the top of the email – you won’t be able to watch the video from the email.

MORE about Aussie Loos with Views!

7. Sunrise over Lake Moogerah

I’m SO not a morning person that it wouldn’t be far wrong to say that seeing ANY sunrise ANYWHERE was a first for me. But the sunsets were so spectacular near our campsite on our first visit to Lake Moogerah that I braved the cold and dark to see what I’d normally be missing.

And found out.

So what’s a few bleary eyes and frozen fingers when sunrises in the superb Scenic Rim region look like THIS?

MORE about the Scenic Rim

8. Carrs Lookout

We took a day trip from Woodenbong along the notorious Mt Lindesay Road (arguably Australia’s worst) to Queen Mary Falls in the Main Range National Park. From there, the road winds upwards for 7 km to a vantage point 1005 metres above sea level overlooking the spectacular scenery of Condamine Gorge.

Who even knew there WAS a Condamine Gorge? An embarrassing admission given it’s strategic importance as the headwaters of the Murray/Darling river system that reaches the sea in my home state, South Australia.

We decided to forego the pleasures of the 4WD Gorge track and its 14 river crossings in favour of morning tea at the Spring Creek Mountain Cafe. All in the interests of seeing more of that stunning view, of course!

9. The Roxy Theatre and Café

A fully restored – and fully functioning – Art Deco cinema complete with café and a musuem dedicated to its Greek heritage was an unexpected bonus in small-ish New South Wales country town Bingara. And when we decided to stay for a few days and explore the area, we lucked out.

Dinner at the Café, a look through the museum and an excellent show from Song and Dance Man Mike McClellan showcased the Roxy’s awesome attributes superbly.

But next time I’ll take a tripod for some blur-free interior shots!

MORE about the Roxy Theatre, Bingara

10. Birdlife Australia Gluepot Reserve

The 50 km drive over a bone-jarring, dusty, rocky station track heading due north from tiny Riverland settlement Taylorville to Gluepot Reserve took over an hour and a half. But deep in the South Australian mallee surrounded by sand dunes and spinifex, we entered a world of walks, wildflowers and wildlife.

Who cared that we didn’t see any of the 5 ‘lifers’ that birdo Pilchard hoped to find on this once- pastoral property, when a walk in the early morning light showed the beauty of this harsh, arid landscape? And it didn’t matter that our camp shower malfunctioned in the middle of our stay when the flowering eremophilas were so abundantly spectacular. Even the thought of facing that long, rugged drive on the way home wasn’t enough to faze us. Why would it?

This is Outback Australia at its BEST!

MORE about Birdlife Australia Gluepot Reserve

11. Point Danger Gannet Colony

A whole lot of large white birds resting on a rocky knoll a few kilometres from Victorian coastal town Portland was interesting – but you’re probably thinking it’s not THAT exciting. Every now and then a few of them would take off, swooping, soaring and generally showing off against a bright blue sky in a completely non-photo-friendly way.

But this cacophony (or whatever the correct collective noun is) of Cape Gannets on Point Danger (cool name, huh?!) is the only mainland Gannet colony in Australia – a spillover from the rugged Lawrence Rocks colony, just two kilometres offshore.

It’s rare to see so many gannets up this close without being out at sea. And the stretches of staggering scenery along this part of the coast are an added bonus – especially if you’re a non-birdo!!

MORE about Point Danger Gannet Colony

12. The Granites

You can’t see the wild and rugged scenery of the Coorong – Australia’s longest beach – from many places on the long drive along the Princes Highway that parallels the coastline en route to Adelaide. The 194 km (120+ miles) of sand, unbroken except for a collection of three random boulders 15 km north of of Kingston South East. So as we returned home from another Australian exclusive – a sighting of the first Long-billed Dowitcher ever recorded downunder – we took the short detour to see them.

Apart from sand dunes and waves stretching out to the horizon and a 4WD that just WOULD NOT GET OUT OF MY PHOTO, there’s nothing much else along this vast and empty beach on the edge of the Great Southern Ocean.

Except for the view. AND these three random granite boulders.

Now … see if you can guess why they called this area ‘The Granites’!!!!

MORE about the Coorong

So that’s 12 of the cool new Aussie things I saw and experienced in 2014.  2015 has already been exciting with a week in a retirement village, a narrow escape from a bushfire and the threat of floods!

Watch this space!

SO … what cool things did YOU see and do in 2014??

The post 12 Cool Aussie Things … appeared first on Australia by Red Nomad OZ.

Spotting a scenic loo was a FAIL on my first Mount Wellington ascent 30 minutes up from Hobart’s docklands on the River Derwent 1271 metres below.

But I didn’t care.

After a LOOOOONG conference, I had a few hours to kill before heading back to the mainland. Hanging out at the airport with the same work buddies I’d been closeted with for the last four days wasn’t going to do it for me. But seeing something other than the inside of the conference room might.

The bus tour I found – so long ago that a house with a killer view on Battery Point could still be purchased for around $250,000 – promised Hobart highlights including a trip to the summit, then delivery to the airport. I signed up on the spot.

In my defence, my now carefully cultivated loo-lover credentials weren’t even embryonic back then. That’s the only reason I have for not noticing whether or not the summit even had a relief station*, let alone one with a view.

And there on the summit, just over 200 years since its first recorded ascent, with the staggering scenery and extraordinary panorama spread out before me, I vowed to return.

Fast forward to March 2014 and a 10-day teaser trip to Tasmania departing two days after we seized the day and decided to go.

(Aside: It IS possible to get jet-lag despite the relatively short distance from Adelaide to Hobart. At least it is if you get up at 3:00 am, stash the car in long-term parking and take two flights separated by a 3 hour wait, lug your baggage all over Hobart airport until you find the car hire terminal, drive through unfamiliar streets to your accomodation, then hit the tourist trail and Mount Wellington by mid-afternoon).

This time I’d done my research.

So the upmarket architect-designed loo perfectly placed to catch as much of that amazing Mount Wellington view as it possibly could wasn’t a complete surprise. The glass-fronted amenities block made multitasking on the mountain-top too easy with that killer view almost as good from inside as out.

Better if you’re a toilet tragic like me.

Even climbing the summit was anti-climactic after THAT!

And it just happened to tie in with the deadline for my first book Aussie Loos with Views! Coincidence? You decide!

MY BOOK!

Mount Wellington is one of over sixty dunnies of distinction from all around Australia featured in Aussie Loos with Views! illustrated with glorious colour photos! It’s the perfect answer to almost ANY gift giving dilemma – with the possible exception of your 90 year old granny. It’d even do her if she has a wicked sense of humour!

GIVE it!

Where to get it? Check out the RedzAustralia My Book page for all the information you need!

It’s the perfect accompaniment to my Dunnies of Distinction calendar, available from my RedBubble shop. Start the calendar from any month of the year and make it a birthday present.

WIN it!

And for a chance to win a copy of Aussie Loos with Views, register and verify your request to receive RedzAustralia updates via email by 31 December 2014 (12:00 pm AEST).

Registration is easy!  Just visit the RedzAustralia homepage sidebar OR CLICK HERE and Register to get RedzAustralia updates by Email

See below** for giveaway terms and conditions.

Want MORE?

• Mount Wellington

• Hobart, Tasmania

• Tasmania

• The other 39 (so far) Aussie Scenic Public Toilets

• My Book

* ‘Relief station’ = yet another euphemism for ‘Toilet’. Add it to the list along with amenities, bathroom, can, conveniences, dunny, john, lavatory, loo, potty, privy, thunderbox, toilet, water closet (although that one does have a mildly disturbing mental image).

Do you know any more? Let me know in the comments below! It’d be sick great to have the whole A-Z, yes?!

** For entry into the draw, you must have registered and verified your email address (verification will stop your email address being registered without your consent) by 12:00pm (AEDST) 31 December 2014. All those who are registered, including existing readers, will be entered into the draw. One winner will be selected by random.org in early 2015. The winner will be notified by email. The winner must reply to the email and supply a valid postal address (to which the book can be posted) within 5 days of the email notification date to claim the giveaway. Failure to do so means the prize will be offered to the 2^nd place holder on the random.org list.

The post OZ Scenic Public Toilet #40 – Mt Wellington, Tasmania appeared first on Australia by Red Nomad OZ.

The Aussie sense of humour – ie laconic crossed with off-beat crossed with extreme larrikinism – sometimes manifests itself in unusual, weird and downright bizarre ways. And that means ‘Quirky’!

But … be warned! There’s a fine line between ‘Kitsch’ and ‘Quirky’ – and an even finer one between ‘Quirky’ and ‘Tasteless’!

So I’ll leave you to decide into which category these examples of Aussie Quirkiness fall!

1. Signs and Symbols

We get that not everyone else speaks either English OR Aussie English – our brand of it. So we put some of the most incomprehensible graphics in the world on our signs.

This Kanyaka historic site sign (above) in South Australia’s Flinders Ranges has a number of strange and bizarre symbols that mean – what, exactly?? When I asked my readers to identify them in the original blog post (HERE) they came up with a surprising array of responses!

Although sometimes those world class ambiguity skills aren’t used! THIS sign just says it like it is!!

But … when crystal clear meets iconoclastic Aussie attitude, you get something REALLY quirky! Like this sign at the western entrance to Queensland Outback town Isisford!

Want MORE?

• What’s the story behind the Isisford sign?
• Have a look at the quirky Aussie travel signs I’ve found!

2. Talking Strine*

We Aussies generally have no trouble understanding both the US and UK forms of English.  But our quirky interpretation of some of its finer points – a translation of ‘English’ to ‘Strine’ – means those who’ve learned either the US or the UK version find it difficult to understand us! In fact, they often think we actually ‘talk funny’.  Who knew?

But that’s a minor detail compared to what we’re actually saying. That’s FAR more incomprehensible! Here’s a short test to see how Aussie you REALLY are:

1. Your friend Davo and his girlfriend Shazza are coming to visit. What are their real names?

2. Translate ‘Put another snag on the Barbie’

3. ‘Stubby’, ‘Tinny’, ‘Pot’, ‘Slab’ and ‘Schooner’ are all different ways to order WHAT common beverage? AND for an extra point – how do you keep it cold??

4. ‘How are ya?’ asks your mate. ‘Flat out like a lizard drinking’, you reply. What do you mean?

5. You suspect your boss has a couple of ‘roos loose in the top paddock. What’s wrong with him?

Answers at the bottom of the post!

Want MORE?

Check out my guest post about Australian slang HERE!

3. What’s on the Menu?

Where else can you get a food item colloquially known as a ‘rat’s coffin’? Usually served with a dose of ‘dead horse’?? A meat pie with (thanks to our adoption of the British habit for rhyming slang) tomato sauce doesn’t sound anywhere near so interesting, does it?!

So sometimes we serve it on a bed of pea soup and call it a ‘pie floater’.

But then we go one better.

Neither the Kangaroo or Emu are physically able to move backwards, and that’s why they’re on the Australian Coat of Arms! Admirable, yes?

BUT … apparently we’re the only country in the world to kill and eat the wildlife on our national Coat of Arms. Then we feed them as good Aussie ‘tucker’ to hapless tourists!

When you consider, however, that Australia is home of the AWESOME Tim Tam, I think you’ll agree that balances out all our other food faux pas combined!!

Want MORE? Here’s 40 foods we Aussies call our own (via CNN Travel)

4. A Day at the Races

In a country full of people who love having a wager but with only ~0.029 horses per km²**, we’ve got creative AND quirky with what we race. And bet on!

And that means racing whatever is at hand. Like Cockroaches. Or Camels. And arguably the quirkiest racing creature of all – the Cane Toad!

Despite – or perhaps because of – being an introduced pest with numbers now thought to exceed 200 million, the ugly cane toad has reached cult status downunder. With its very own line of novelty gifts, a documentary about its infamous beginnings in Australia AND Cane Toad World, a celebration of its quirky appeal, its unique qualities have made it popular on the informal sports and racing circuit!

Want MORE?

• Destructo – The most famous racing Cockroach of them ALL!

• My day at Bedourie’s Camel Races!

• Kununurra – where I lost my Cane Toad Race Virginity!!

• Cane Toad World in Gordonvale, Queensland

5. Size DOES Matter!

I once read that you know you’re Australian when it seems perfectly normal to wander a landscape littered with enormous representations of everyday objects, most commonly fruit and animals.

Aussie Big Things are in a quirky class of their own!

Yes, the Kangaroo, Koala, Crocodile and even the Aussie Galah are obvious targets.

But whoever thought of the Big Malleefowl?

Big Wool Bales??

Or the Big Ned Kelly???

And if you take a look at The Little Book of BIG Aussie Icons you’ll find MY picture of the Big Prawn!

Quirky? More like BEYOND Quirky!

Want MORE?

• Aussie Big Things

• The Little Book of BIG Aussie Icons

6. Bizarre Buildings

While weird and wacky buildings exist in Aussie urban areas too, why is it that the most ornate, thoughtfully constructed AND intriguing are found in the middle of nowhere?

Maybe it’s the relative lack of building materials, or a yearning for the luxuries of another country, or just a response to the landscape! Whatever the reason behind them, I say these bizarre buildings qualify as Quirky with a capital Q!

Maybe we just need to redefine ‘civilisation’! OR … perhaps we Aussies already have?!?!

7. Aussie Loos with Views!

I’m a loud and proud contributor to the pantheon of Aussie quirkiness with my book ‘Aussie Loos with Views!’ But I wouldn’t have been able to produce such a book without the vast selection of quirky Aussie dunnies all around the country.

My personal pick for the quirkiest of quirky Aussie dunnies is Gunnedah’s amazing Lyrical Loo!

There’s a lot of Australian Scenic Public Toilets on my blog AND more than 60 in my book!

Elevating the humble Aussie Loo to the Dunny of Distinction AND getting a book about them published (thanks to the team at Explore Australia) is Australia at it’s quirkiest!!

And if you want to prove me wrong, just buy my book and tell me EXACTLY where my reasoning is flawed!!

Go on! You KNOW you want to …

Want MORE?

See ALL the Scenic Public Toilets I’ve ever featured on my blog!

So does the evidence I’ve shown you prove Australia’s Quirkiness? Or is it all just kitcsh and/or tasteless?? Whatever you think, I’m calling Q for Quirky right here!

See RedzAustralia’s other Aussie ABC posts:

• A is for Alice Springs

• B is for Bushranger

• C is for Crocodile

• D is for Dune

• E is for Emu

• F is for Fossils

• G is for Gorge

• H is for Holiday

• I is for Islands

• J is for Jabiru

• K is for Kangaroo

• L is for Lookout

• M is for Mt Kosciuszko

• N is for Nullarbor

• O is for Opal

• P is for Patriotic

* Strine = just say ‘Australian’ REALLY quickly (ie like a true blue Aussie) and you’ll find it sounds almost like ‘Strine’

** 221000 horses according to horsetalk.co.nz divided by Australia’s landmass of 7.692 million km² according to australia.gov.au (and they should know, yes??!!)

Answers to Strine Quiz:

1. Davo = David (or MATE!); Shazza = Sharon (or ‘Luv’ if you can’t remember her name)

2. Put some more Sausages (Snags) on the Barbecue (ie Barbie)

3. Beer; keep it cold by putting it in the Esky!

4. You’re really busy

5. A couple of kangaroos loose in the top paddock = a bit mad!

The post Aussie ABC: Q is for Quirky appeared first on Australia by Red Nomad OZ.

Picture this.

You log on to the internet one day and open your email. There’s a message from someone you don’t know who turns out to be a managing editor for a major publishing company. She asks if you’re interested in turning part of your blog into a book.

No, this is NOT a hoax!

A couple of days later you speak on the phone. No joke, she’s for real. You get some photos together and write a few sample pages of copy. Yes, it’s all good. The contract arrives in the mail. You finish the book and send off the manuscript. It’s printed and distributed nationally.

It sounds so ecstatically, idyllically, unbelievably unlikely, doesn’t it?!

But that’s EXACTLY what happened when an Explore Australia managing editor, emailed me to ask if I wanted to turn my ‘Australia’s Scenic Public Toilets’ blog series into a book.

After taking approximately .0001 of a nanosecond to formulate my response to her question, the book progressed pretty much along the lines of my fantasy scenario above.

Yes, I had it easy. Go on … admit it! I’m paraphrasing your thoughts RIGHT NOW, aren’t I?

Whether I am or not, there’s no doubt luck played a BIG part in my journey to publication.

BUT luck played virtually NO part in the back story. Those years of travel, photography, experiences, story telling and discovery was hard work – all at my own expense – that took place without knowing a future publication deal depended on it.

Over a decade ago when I found my first Scenic Public Toilet at Kata Tjuta, I didn’t even have a blog, let alone a book. I just thought it’d be interesting to find Australia’s most scenic loo so I started taking photos of the good ones. As well as photographing all the other cool stuff I found on my Australian travels. Then I got tired of the demand for my travel newsletters and emails and of giving good postcard to my family and friends.

So in February 2010 I decided to put it all together in one place and Red’s Aussie Round-up Amazing Australian Adventures RedzAustralia was born!

I found readers from all around the world who seemed to like the stories and photographs I posted of my travels in obscure parts of Australia – and my unique series ‘Australia’s Scenic Public Toilets’

And over the next few years, I found 7 RED Hot Rules of blogging that worked for me.

1. The Individuality Ideal

Find your own voice! While I struggle with brevity, my laconic, ironic, comic, self-deprecating story-based style, with intriguing facts, oddities or photos inserted at weak critical points in the narrative was a reaction against the concise, factual, straightforward communications from my previous life. But it’s mine. ALL mine!!

2. The Originality Objective

Know your niche! When you can’t possibly fail to realise you’re reading Red Nomad OZ at RedzAustralia my work will be done. To make that happen, the Aussie Loos with Views series is just one of several unique factors on my blog. Others include my sensational writing, awesome photography and superb wit, of course!

3. The Tenacity Tenet

Stick to it! My ‘call’ to publication came after 4 years of blogging and 300+ posts. And since the Kata Tjuta loo triggered the whole concept more than 10 years ago, my archives contained photos of well over 100 loos with views from all around the country, with over 30 featured on my blog. My body of work proved I could scare up a book!

4. The Friendliness Factor

Be sociable! I’ve spent countless hours reading and commenting on other blogs, working social media (look for my brand – Red Nomad OZ – across the networks), and participating in communities, groups and forums. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it AND enjoyed the rewards.

5. The Possibility Principle

Take the opportunities! If I’d held out for payment for every guest post or interview I did, I wouldn’t have been the go-to girl for Aussie Loos with Views when Explore Australia came looking. It really IS true – who knows which contact/s and opportunities will lead to something bigger and better?

6. The Maturity Measure

Move forward! Same old + Same old = Stagnation. Development + Experimentation = Growth! The differences between my early posts and later ones are significant, although my developing personal style is a common factor. I’ve just given my blog an exciting new look to match its progress over the last 4½ years! I hope you like it

7. The Fun Factor

Do it because you LOVE it! Even without my blog I’d be travelling around Australia, taking photos and writing about what I saw in some form or another anyway. I hit the blogging doldrums awhile back and took a break. But now I know blogging is a no-brainer for me – it’s what I do, and what I love doing.

And while there’s no guarantee that following my 7 RED Hot Rules of Blogging will lead to a publication contract for you, I probably wouldn’t have got my book contract without them!

Yes, I was lucky.

And YOU can get lucky too! Aussie Loos with Views has just been reprinted so grab a copy while you can!

Want MORE?

• Click HERE for my Weekend Sunrise Interview just before Aussie Loos with Views! was released
• All About Aussie Loos with Views! INCLUDING WHERE TO GET IT!
• Explore Australia

PS: Follow my blog with Bloglovin

The post How I turned my TRAVEL habit into a BOOK! appeared first on Australia by Red Nomad OZ.

On a fine and sunny non-race-day Saturday morning, the Lismore Turf Club’s sensational sub-tropical setting is generally race-horse-and-people-free.

And the Lismore Turf Club Loo is generally unused and unappreciated with an uninteresting view!

But last Saturday morning the sunny serenity of the Lismore Turf Club Loo was disturbed by a sight never before seen anywhere in the WORLD. On that day, the view from the loo – beamed all around Australia – will be forever remembered (at least by ONE person) as Red Nomad OZ’s first appearance on National TV!

If you were lucky/unlucky enough to view it (strike out that which is not applicable), you’ll no doubt agree it’s quite probably the last!!

So why was a Weekend Sunrise TV program guest lurking outside a loo at the Lismore Turf Club, over 700 km from Channel 7’s heartland in Sydney?

That’s what I was asking myself as the Rainbow Region’s morning fog melted into a clear sunny day and cameramen Peter and Ben wired me up for sound, fixed the light (dang, those glasses were tricky!) and calmed those last minute nerves.

My awesome publicist, Jenny had rung a couple of days earlier. Yes, she knew I was on the road. Yes, she knew the publication date (1 July!) of my book “Aussie Loos with Views!” was still a way off. Yes, she knew I’d be nervous.

But this was WEEKEND SUNRISE!  And they could do a live cross from anywhere with a race course!!

A race course?  Go figure!!

In my defence, a live cross isn’t an ideal situation despite the calming cameramen, pacifying producer (thank you, Kate!), or welcoming Weekend hosts!

To the onlooker (ie Pilchard) I was just a dazed redhead, standing in the middle of an empty Turf Club surrounded by lighting equipment and cameras, an earpiece taped to my neck channelling my imaginary friends and randomly speaking!

Camera and lighting equipment aside, perhaps not that different to my normal state?!

The absence of visual cues made it all a bit unreal (I’m on National TV? Yeah … whatever!) so I didn’t feel nervous at all.

On the other hand, the producer and crew have probably already rewritten the old showbiz adage, vowing never again to work with children, animals OR redheads who’ve written toilet books and never been on TV before!

Being the Aussie Scenic Public Toilets poster girl is a double-edged sword – I got to write a book about my special subject AND have it published (thank you ExploreAustralia!).BUT I DID get the chance to make a fool of myself on National TV!

Even if I discovered a new scenic loo while I was doing it!

Will the fun ever stop?

The Lismore Turf Club Loo isn’t Australia’s most scenic, and it doesn’t have the most spectacular setting or staggering view.

But it’s the most memorable!  For me, at least!!

Take a look at what the dunny saw that day on the Dunnies Downunder Video Clip from Weekend Sunrise!

Read MORE:

• Lismore and the NSW Rainbow Region
• My Book: “Aussie Loos with Views!”
• My Australian Scenic Public Toilets Blog Series

The post World Exclusive at the Lismore Turf Club Loo! OZ Scenic Public Toilet #39 appeared first on Australia by Red Nomad OZ.