go-see-do guide for adventurous travellers
There’s only one town in Australia furthest from the sea – in EVERY direction! Surprisingly, to me at least, it’s NOT in Central Australia! Australia’s weird continental shape means the geographic centre is relatively close to the Great Australian Bight to the south, and the Gulf of Carpentaria to the north. No, the title of furthest from the sea currently[…]
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It’s amazing how easy – and fun – it is to compose doggerel a new stanza for my favourite RED Aussie things! AND what better way to celebrate this fabulous Australia Day with some new RED OZ stuff!! I’m a loud and proud Aussie – so of course I’m going to show off all the OZ good bits to inspire you[…]
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The benign, blue sky stretches away to infinity around western Queensland’s Boulia, mostly unrelieved by clouds, birds or planes. Unremarkable – at least by Outback standards – Boulia’s boundless blue backdrop is the ultimate Big Sky luring travellers to the Outback. But it’s not the splendidly panoramic sky of daylight hours that attracts visitors to this remote capital of the[…]
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The ancient landscape of OZ, eroded by time, long disappeared sea beds and a harsh climate has given rise to weirdly unique and bizarre creatures. Well … their remains, anyway! I knew this. But I DIDN’T know the present day Outback fossil fields near northwest Queensland’s Richmond, would engender a creature more fantastic than any of them. And I was[…]
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With an official population of two, tiny Toompine is barely a blip on the radar! And yet, all roads seem to lead there in the western Queensland Outback. A simple distance measurement between the outback towns of Eulo, Thargomindah and Quilpie yields Toompine’s coordinates almost exactly. Is that enough reason to visit? Of course not! But finding out why the[…]
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When the 200-year-old Tree of Knowledge was poisoned shortly after being included on the National Heritage List on Australia Day 2006, I was appalled. Yet another historic Aussie landmark fallen victim to the disregard sometimes shown for our heritage. But although the tree’s demise was disappointing, I was also resigned to its fate. Because when a tree dies, it’s gone for[…]
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Possibly the sign of a misspent youth, my ability to guess ‘whodunit’ has been well-honed over the years by detective and courtroom drama novels, TV shows and films. But this sign, languishing with other unlabelled exhibits in a shed at Boulia’s Stone House Museum, gave my amateur sleuthing skills the chance for a REAL workout! Who made it? Where was[…]
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Outback Road heading west from Windorah, Queensland If you liked ‘My FavouRED OZ Things #1’, you’re going to LOOOOOOOOVE My FavouRED OZ Things #2!! But … you won’t find it here (although there’s a teaser photo above …) I’m guest posting over at Jim’s wonderful blog Holes in My Soles! But wait! There’s more!! My guest post introduces Jim’s ‘Magnificent Monday’ –[…]
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What is it about the great Australian Outback’s magical aura that inspires – actually, compels – visitors to attempt to capture its essence? Is it the amazing colours and contrasts? Perhaps the unique light artists spend a lifetime trying to capture?? The spectacularly varied subject matter??? Whatever it is, it’s almost impossible to take a bad photo. So photographers like[…]
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The exacting recreational pursuit of opal fossicking demands much of its devotees. Physical strength, mental fortitude, stamina and courage at the absolute minimum. Oh, and the ability to cross your legs and hold on for grim death when nature calls! So it was a relief (in more ways than one!) to find that the ability to cross ones legs for[…]
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