Much of Kangaroo Island’s 509 kilometre-long (316 mile) coastline is rugged and rocky, with dramatic and spectacular scenery.  The soaring cliffs, towering dunes, dense coastal vegetation, and rock formations that make up much of the shoreline are frequently battered by strong winds and pounding seas.  And several active lighthouses scattered around the island indicate further offshore hazards.

The conditions are perfect for shipwrecks.

But despite the dangers, they’re also perfect for beaches.

There are over 50 Kangaroo Island beaches, in fact—each with its own unspoilt beauty and charm.  They’re not all safe for swimming, but discovering the characteristics that make each of them special is an excellent way to explore the island’s different regions and find your own special “KI” (Kangaroo Island) spot. 

Come here outside the peak holiday season, and many of the beaches are deserted—apart from seals, penguins, dolphins, sea-birds and the occasional whale out at sea, that is.  

With so much choice, however, finding the perfect beach to match your mood can be time-consuming.  So narrow it down with my 10 favourite Kangaroo Island beaches and see if there’s one that suits you!

You’re welcome!

Penneshaw Beach

After a rough ferry ride on heaving seas from the mainland to Kangaroo Island (KI) across Backstairs Passage, Penneshaw’s sheltered harbour with its deep, turquoise waters and sweeping curve of white sand is a welcome sight and wonderful introduction to the island’s natural attractions.

Just 600 metres (1968 feet) long, the beach stretches around the bay from the jetty terminal to Baudin Conservation Park.  Walk the historic trail along the foreshore, try fishing from the beach or jetty, and admire the brilliant colours from vantage points on the walking tracks.  At dusk, take a guided tour to see the world’s smallest penguins return from the sea to their nests on the rocks near the beach. 

Spend a little time here, and your sub-tropical island beach fantasy may just come true!

Antechamber Bay

From Penneshaw, the road to Cape Willoughby lighthouse passes through Lashmar Conservation Park on the banks of the Chapman River, which flows through the park and out to sea into the beautiful Antechamber Bay.  The bay is a 4.2 kilometre-long (2.6 mile) stretch of more of that distinctive KI white sand we first saw in Penneshaw, with beautifully coloured aquamarine waters lapping its shores.

Camp in the park to take full advantage of the spectacular views across Backstairs Passage to the Fleurieu Peninsula.  Walkways on either side of the river lead to the beach, perfect for walking and swimming.  In the distance at the bay’s easternmost point is the unattended Cape St Albans lighthouse.

Picturesque and protected, the bay and its amenities are so relaxing, it’d be possible to spend your entire KI stay here!

Mouth Flat Beach

Despite—or perhaps because of—being hard to reach, unsafe for swimming and difficult to explore, Mouth Flat beach is easily my favourite of the Kangaroo Island Beaches. The Willson River meanders through the dune system before entering the sea at Mouth Flat on the Dudley Peninsula’s south coast.

The rough track leading to the flat eventually becomes a private road, so the only way to reach the beach without trespassing is to hike a rough, overgrown and undefined trail along the eastern river bank’s high cliffs through the often impenetrable coastal scrub and through the dunes.  Keep the river on your right and the dunes on your left for a couple of kilometres (1.2 miles) and you’ll eventually get to the beach.  Watch out for snakes!

Wild seas lash the uneven shore that drops away quickly into treacherous rips and currents. Small footprints in the sand around rocky hollows and small caves in the cliffs at the western end of the beach are evidence that penguins nest and roost here. However, the “path” through the dunes would be difficult to walk at dusk when the penguins are active, and virtually impossible in the dark.

Retracing our steps was difficult enough in daylight, as our footprints weren’t always visible.  After exploring the beach, cliffs and river mouth, then deciding that returning via the river bed could be tricky, we bush-bashed our way back through the dense coastal scrub instead.

Untamed, pristine and totally deserted, Mouth Flat beach is the ultimate KI natural attraction that even some locals haven’t been to.  Seek it out if you dare!

Pennington Bay

Site of KI’s most scenic public loo (IMHO), Pennington Bay is a surfing and fishing beach surrounded by high sand dunes on the south-western coast of the Dudley Peninsula.  The loo—and the magnificent coastal scenery—compensate for the dangerous rips and rough seas that can make the beach unsafe for swimming.  Vantage points overlook the beach at various locations, and watching the ever-changing ocean colours as the waves roll in can be mesmerising.  Dolphins—and sometimes whales—can be seen from the lookouts too.

Several access points lead down to the white sand beach, where you’ll often be the only visitors.  Don’t miss the surfboard storyboards on the tracks to the beach, or the awesome view from the loo!

Seal Bay

Admiring the killer coastal view, inspecting a whale skeleton in the dunes, and watching (and photographing!) the ever-present seals frolicking on the beach and in the surf replace traditional beach activities at Seal Bay, on KI’s south coast.  

Access to this beach is limited to guided tours, ensuring that the colony of around 1,000 sea lions that live here are not disturbed by visitors. Alternatively, take a self-guided tour and descend the long, sloping boardwalk (see photo in introduction) down to a vantage point above the beach and watch the seals at rest and play.  Above, from a lookout on top of the cliff, the spectacular coastal views are some of the best on KI.

But the seals are the real stars of Seal Bay, and watching them is one of the best beach activities the island has to offer.

Vivonne Bay

The horror bushfires of the 2019/20 Australian summer burned right down to Vivonne Bay’s shoreline.  But with its multi-shaded blue waters and six kilometres (3.7 miles) of white sand, it’s still easy to see why the beach was voted best in the world in 2003, and still regularly makes it into Australian Top 10 Beach lists.  Including this list of Kangaroo Island beaches!  And in photos, the blackened vegetation makes a nice counterpoint to the beach’s vivid colour palette too.

Explore the Vivonne Bay Conservation Park at the western end, fish from the jetty or snorkel the clear waters over the reef. Otherwise walk around the bay and admire the captivating view.  On a fine day, the bay is pretty close to paradise!

Western River Cove

From the access road on the high, rocky cliffs above Western River Cove, the beach is like a small, brightly coloured jewel amidst craggy, glistening rocks.  Up close, the north coast’s rugged scenery is postcard-perfect with clean lines and intense colours.  Watch out for the endangered glossy black-cockatoos feeding in the patches of sheoak near the road as it descends steeply to the bay.

The Western River enters the sea here, and there’s a small beach on the river bank below a campground and picnic area complete with scenic loo.  Swim in the beautifully clear water, or explore the rocky cliffs on either side of the bay. Unless there’s a group of school children present, as there was during our visit, it’s a peaceful and picturesque place in which to chill out. 

Snellings Beach

Atop Constitution Hill, high above Snellings Beach, the view over the surrounding steep, rolling hills and the beautiful Middle River as it flows into the sea at the small bay’s eastern end is spectacular.  If you are lucky enough to stay in accommodation overlooking the beach, waking up to the magnificent view is an added bonus.

Be careful when walking the beach—the tiny beach-nesting hooded plover, with a conservation status of “vulnerable”, can sometimes be seen here.  Check the trees around the area too, as koalas are frequently sighted (and heard!) in the area. 

Centrally located on the north coast, Snellings is an excellent base from which to explore KI’s top end, but its main attraction is its scenic beauty.

(Little) King George Beach

The otherworldly jagged rock formations and smoothly pebbled shore of what I am reliably informed is actually “Little King George Beach” couldn’t be further from the traditional white sand/turquoise water combo found elsewhere on the island.  

While it isn’t a conventional swimming beach, it’s good for fishing and excellent for exploring.  The colours of the oddly-shaped rocks in the late afternoon sun are spectacular, and walking around the western headland, while taking care not to slip on the rocks, opens up many photo opportunities.  So different from the other KI beaches, this little gem is definitely worth visiting.

Stokes Bay

Finding the “real” Stokes Bay isn’t easy.  The car park overlooks a pleasant stony beach, but it doesn’t look anything like the photos. So take the narrow path east to what looks like an impenetrable rocky cliff, follow it through a gap in the rocks, squeeze through an even smaller opening and suddenly you’re on a beautiful stretch of beach. It’s worth the effort.

A series of natural rock pools near the entry and exit point near the cliff are safe for swimming and exploring.  It’s a pleasant stroll along 300 metres (980 feet) of white sand to the other end of the beach where you’ll discover some unusual rock formations.  

An escape through the unusual entrance onto the secluded cove of Stokes Bay beach is an escape from your cares for a few hours.

Of course this is just an introduction to the amazing array of beaches to explore on Kangaroo Island—there are plenty more to discover and enjoy.

Want More?

• Beautiful beaches aren’t the only natural attractions on Kangaroo Island.  See what else I discovered on this amazing island HERE
• For a local perspective, visit the KI Tourism Alliance website HERE.
• And … for Authentic KI, go HERE.

The post 10 Beautiful Kangaroo Island Beaches appeared first on Australia by Red Nomad OZ.

World Toilet Day was November 19, and I forgot.

Bummer!

Forgetting the biggest event on the loo lover’s calendar is a dunny detective’s disaster! A toilet tragic’s tragedy!! A convenience chaser’s catastrophe!!!

BUT …

… then I think about the 4.2 billion people without safely managed sanitation facilities and the 673 million people worldwide who practice open defecation. The 2 billion people whose drinking water is contaminated with faeces, the 432,000 diarrhoeal deaths per year, and the children in conflict zones 20 times more likely to die from sanitation-related illness than violence.

That makes my dunny disaster look like a s**t-storm in a teacup.

World Toilet Day

Check out the World Toilet Day official fact sheet HERE for some even more scary facts that’ll make you realise how lucky we are in Australia.

So while you’re admiring 10 All-Australian amenities, with the 10 amazing All-Australian adventure hot spots that go with them, spare a thought for those for whom doing their ‘business’ is SO not a pleasure. Then keep reading for ideas about how YOU can help!

1 Timber Creek, Northern Territory

Afloat on a small (and relatively unstable) structure surrounded by crocodiles on Australia’s wildest river is enough to make you want to – well, YOU know! Luckily, this croc-proof (we hope!) purpose-built pontoon has ALL the amenities to survive a Victoria River Crocodile Cruise – drinks and snacks while enjoying a Northern Territory sunset AND crazy-cool crocodile cruise conveniences if nature’s call gets a little bit too much.

That’s a relief in more ways than one!  Read more about cruising with crocodiles HERE!

2 Bruny Island, Tasmania

Bruny Island isn’t just the last stop off the Tassie coast before Antarctica! Dress up in some (REALLY unfashionable) heavy weather gear for a wet and wild ride over heaving seas, through keyhole rocks, past rugged islands adorned with seals and right under the second highest sea cliffs in the southern hemisphere before reaching the Great Southern Ocean!

En route to the cruise departure point, don’t miss this loo on the Neck (are you wondering why it’s called that?) far below Truganini’s Lookout!  Discover Beauty and the Beasts on Bruny Island Cruises HERE to see why it’s one of my favourite Australian adventure hot spots!

3 Mt Kosciuszko, New South Wales

Climbing Australia’s highest mountain is embarrassingly easy – you heard it here first!  It’s only 2228 metres (7310 feet) above sea-level, making it lower than the height above which lots of people live! BUT … ‘mountaineers’ like me who climb it can bag their first (and in my case only) ‘Seven Summits’ peak.

Although I don’t know from personal experience, I bet it’s the ONLY Seven Summits peak with a view over the highest Public Toilet in the land!!  But I’ll let the REAL mountaineers prove me wrong!  Go HERE for more about how I climbed Mount Kosciuszko!

4 Head of Bight, South Australia

Head of Bight – highest point of the distinctive bite-shaped coastal curve along the southern Australian coastline – isn’t easy to get to. But you’ll drive right past it on the 4100+ km (2500+ mile) road trip across the Nullarbor Plain between Sydney and Perth! At the 2300 km mark, just over half-way from Sydney, take a pit stop to watch whales cavorting with their calves under the longest line of sea cliffs in the world!

And visit the Head of Bight loo that overlooks it all!  Check out my story about seeing the Whales at Head of Bight HERE!

5 Point Quobba, Western Australia

Killer king waves, shipwreck stories, blowholes and extreme water sports make Point Quobba one of the wildest stretches of rugged, rocky coastline in Oz (above and top) – and one of the most picturesque!

If action adventure with a massive dose of danger isn’t quite your thing, just find a vantage point (away from the edge!) and you’ll probably see a whale.  When you’re not being distracted by the thrill-seekers getting a drenching at the blowholes, that is!

Alternatively, just take in all the action from the vantage point of this classic Aussie dunny overlooking the famous blow hole.  I promise that you won’t miss anything while you’re doing your business – because the door doesn’t close!

The famous Quobba Blowhole at Quobba Point is just one of the many superb Australian Coastal and Beach Holiday Destinations you can read about HERE!

6 Mt Hotham, Victoria

Whether it’s summer or winter, the view over this part of the Australian Alps is white.  Visible in summer, the white-bleached tree trunks killed by bushfires outline the many-layered mountain ranges surrounding Mount Hotham. In winter, they’re covered in snow.

It’s likely to be significantly cooler than the plains below at any time of year, so when you get there, admire the white view from the ski lift transit lounge loo AND appreciate the civilised conveniences plumber who installed just one tap – HOT!

Read all about the Mount Hotham loo (and surrounds!) HERE!

7 Richmond, Queensland

If you’re a keen prehistoric fossil-fossicker, the chances of striking it lucky on the Outback Queensland Dinosaur trail are better than average.  Especially at Richmond, where the soft Toolebuc formation on what was once an inland sea under 30-40 metres of water has given up world famous fossil relics like the Richmond Pliosaur, Minmi and Kronosaurus.

Even the dunny gets in on the act – but while you can make your ‘deposit’ at the future coprolite drop zone (aka the loo), chances are good you won’t be around when it’s unearthed as a fossil!

Discover more about Queensland’s famous Richmond fossil fields HERE!

8 Warraweena, South Australia

For a taste of what’s on offer in one of the top Australian adventure hot spots, the ancient wonderland us South Aussies call the Flinders Ranges, head out to the privately owned Warraweena Conservation Park.  In the less well known northern Flinders Ranges you’ll find rugged 4WD tracks, mountain climbing, wildlife, stunning scenery, historic sites and eco-tourism all in one handy location.

You’ll also find the only combination scenic public toilet/visitor information centre I’ve ever seen at the historic Sliding Rock Mine site!

But that’s not all!  Go HERE for a LOT more things to do throughout the amazing Flinders Ranges.

9 Lord Howe Island, New South Wales

This tiny sub-tropical paradise 600 km (370 miles) off the east coast of Australia has so many world exclusives it’s hard to know where to start. First up, there’s Balls Pyramid – highest volcanic rock stack in the world. Then there’s only golf course on earth on World Heritage turf and world’s southernmost tropical reef. Even the wildlife gets in on the act with the endemic Lord Howe Island Woodhen and Phasmid, a large stick-insect.

And then there’s this awesome view – clearly visible from what has to be one of the most scenic loos downunder! Australian adventure hot spots don’t get much better than this!  A Lord Howe Island Holiday can be awesome – read about mine HERE!

10 Tunnel Creek, Western Australia

Although the Gibb River Road has claimed countless tyres, axles, windscreens and suspensions over its 660 km (410 miles) length full of tyre-shredding rocks, perilous creek crossings, red dust and bone-jarring corrugations.  But it’s still a popular Aussie road trip, most likely because of the stunning Kimberley natural attractions scattered along its length!  Take a short detour to Tunnel Creek and go underground for a different perspective of the Kimberley Region.

And while you’re there, detour into the even more welcome attraction you’ll find under the rocky cliffs.  There’s more about the amazing Kimberley region HERE!

We’re very lucky down here to have so many Australian adventure hot spots with amazing attractions and awesome amenities in some of our most remote and adventure-filled locations.

So while it’s easier for us (read: me!) to forget World Toilet Day even though it’s been an official UN day since 2013, we can contribute to the impact it’s having around the world on any day!

How to get involved:

World Toilet Day is about working together to eliminate the life-threatening hazards caused by poor sanitation in places where the ‘adventures’ many people face in doing their business are a lot less welcome.

If you’re not sure how you can help, here’s a few ideas:

• Who Gives a Crap:  Buy your toilet paper (and/or tissues and kitchen paper) from this innovative company, and 50% of profits are donated to building toilets for those in need (the other 50% mostly goes to growing the company).  Get in quick and you could order the wicked Gift Edition Loo Paper to make Xmas REALLY fun!
• Toilet Twinning:  Your £60 donation (about $AUD114 on 20/11/19) funds a community loo project, and you’ll get a pic and the coordinates of your toilet ‘twin’ to hang in your own amenities! Can’t afford that?  Check out the website for other fundraising products and ideas.
• Sanitation First:  Send a Shitty Gift (their words, not mine) for any occasion – check out the graphic range of gift cards – and you’ll be helping this organisation tackle poverty one toilet at a time (again, their words, not mine)!!
• TEAR Australia:  Sanitation is just one of several initiatives this organisation has to reduce poverty.  Check out their collection of Really Useful Gifts!
• World Toilet Day official website: more information and ideas, don’t forget to mark the date on your calendar for next year.

Got more ideas?  Put them in the comments below!

The post TOP 10 All-Australian Adventure Hot Spots for World Toilet Day! appeared first on Australia by Red Nomad OZ.

I’m SO not a hard-core hiker for lots of reasons. Wrong temperament. Wrong size. Wrong fitness level. And my holidays are NEVER just about the hike. Or hikes.

But although I’m the world’s slowest hiker, I like my holidays served up with a bit of hiking on the side. So my holiday destinations have to give me a hiking workout without feeling wrecked at the other end AND some different activities for when I’m over the hiking.

So my Top Ten half day hikes come packaged with their very own holiday destination. Hike to your heart’s content – but when you’re done, you’ll find plenty of different things to do.

PS Half day hikes often take me longer – so being the world’s slowest hiker will probably explain why you’re more likely to trek these trails faster than me!

1.  Kims Lookout Circuit, Lord Howe Island, New South Wales

• Where is it: Lord Howe Island is 600 km east of Sydney.
• How to get there: Flights leave from Sydney and Port Macquarie.
• When to go: Any time; September to June are most popular; July and August can be cold.
• The Hike: 7 km Loop Trail; Moderate to Difficult

Going places on Lord Howe Island generally means walking or cycling – so depending on where you’re staying, just getting to the trailhead near Ned’s Beachwill add some extra mileage (why isn’t ‘kilometerage’ a word?) to the distance.

Start climbing Malabar Hill straight away and soon you’ll have sweeping views down to Neds Beach on one side and Old Settlement and northern part of the island on the other. A little higher and you’ll see Mounts Gower and Lidgbird, Balls Pyramid, highest volcanic rock stack in the world, and the Admiralty Islands. That’s if you can bear to look over the sheer cliffs plunging down, STRAIGHT down into the ocean.

The track continues along the cliff tops (don’t look down!) to Kims Lookout with magnificent views over most of the island. Then it’s just a matter of heading down to the Max Nicholls track and back via Old Settlement Beach. Luckily, you’ll pass a cafe on the way!

Want MORE?

• While you’re on Lord Howe Island: Highlights include Cruises around the Island, to the Reef, North Bay and Balls Pyramid; Hiking, Water Sports, Birding, Historic Museum. MORE about Lord Howe Island

2.  Bararranna Gorge, Arkaroola, South Australia

• Where is it: Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary, 730 km north of Adelaide, Outback South Australia.
• How to get there: Self-Drive on fully sealed roads to Copley, 600 km north of Adelaide. Arkaroola is 130 km north-east of Copley on an all weather dirt road.
• When to go:  Anytime, but please note temperatures from November to March can be well above 30° C.  Contact Arkaroola if planning to travel during this time to avoid closures.
• The Hike: Bararranna Gorge Loop Trail, 6.8 km, Moderate

Actually, the hike can be a bit more than 6.8 km.

How much?

How far up the dramatic Bararranna Gorge you can get depends how much water is in Bararranna Waterhole.

Detour from the main trail to explore the gorge – an added extra to an already varied walk through a remote outback landscape scattered with waterholes, intriguing geological features (aka ‘rocks’) and wildlife.

Time passes quickly when you’re rock-hopping, admiring the dramatic cliffs, fossil-hunting and resting stopping for (endless) photos. Hunger and fatigue finally drove us back to the main track, where we finished the loop.

Only to find we’d doubled the suggested 3 hour walk time. But hey! We ARE the world’s slowest hikers!

Want MORE?

• While you’re at Arkaroola: Highlights include the signature Ridge-top Tour, Hikes, 4WD Tracks.  MORE Things to Do at Arkaroola HERE
• While you’re in the Area: Explore the northern SA Outback and Flinders Ranges. Things to Do at Copley HERE

3.  Dales Gorge Circuit, Karijini National Park, Western Australia

• Where is it: Karijini is 75 km East of closest town Tom Price; 1422 km north-east of Perth and 962 km south-west of Broome.
• How to get there: Self Drive. Bitumen roads all the way on main routes; dirt roads throughout the Park.
• When to go:  During dry season cooler months May to August; May and June are best
• The Hike: Dales Gorge Loop combines all walks from Dales campground; ~4.5 km, moderate – Class 3 and 4, some steep sections with ladders

Could a track possibly lead safely down the sheer cliffs under the Three Ways Lookout to Circular Pool – 100 metres below? Of course! The REALLY steep bits have ladders! But the first part is the worst part as the track follows the winding river through groves of trees with steep RED rocky walls towering above. Actually, make that BEYOND red.

The river cascades down across treacherously slippery rock shelves as the trail winds steadily uphill towards Fortescue Falls.  Then it’s up even further to popular swimming hole, the Fern Pool. Take a break there, because it’s a steep climb out of the gorge and another 2 km back along the Gorge Rim trail to the Lookout trail head.

Just as well this remarkably scenic walk gives weary walkers plenty of reasons to stop – photos, bird watching, admiring the view – that don’t sound like ‘resting’!

Want MORE?

• MORE about the Dales Gorge Walk
• While you’re at Karijini: Highlights include Hancock Gorge, Oxer and Knox Lookouts, Joffre Falls. MORE Things to do at Karijini HERE
• While you’re in the Area: Explore more of the Pilbara at Tom Price. MORE about Tom Price HERE

4.  Nelly Bay to Arcadia, Magnetic Island, Far North Queensland

• Where is it: Magnetic Island is 8 km and a 20 minute ferry ride east of Townsville. The hike starts near the ferry terminal at Nelly Bay.
• How to get there: Townsville is 1336 km north-west of Brisbane, and 347 km south-east of Cairns on fully sealed roads.
• When to go: Anytime, but the wet season between November and April can be hot and humid.  Most popular time is during the Australian winter months June to August.
• The Hike: Nelly Bay to Arcadia, 6 km + 2-3 km extra to walk from Arcadia back to Nelly Bay (local bus available), moderate

Experience life on a tropical island! AND see killer scenery from several vantage points overlooking island scenic hot spots and the mainland as the trail heads upwards through thick rainforest. It probably wouldn’t be anywhere near as tough a climb without the ever-present tropical humidity, but who cares with wildlife like Koalas and Black cockatoos on the trail?

After a detour to the Sphinx lookout, the walk ends at Arcadia aka Magnetic Island ‘suburbia’. Unless you extend the hike by taking the Junction Track to the Forts, Arthur Bay, and even Horseshoe Bay if you’ve still got the energy! Walk back to Nelly Bay – or take the regular bus service!

Want MORE?

• MORE about the Nelly Bay to Arcadia Hike
• While you’re on Magnetic Island: Highlights include Beaches, Water sports, Hikes, Guided Walks, Wildlife. MORE things to do on Magnetic Island
• While you’re in Townsville: Highlights include National Parks and Reserves, Great Barrier Reef, Castle Hill, Northern Beaches, Tropical Islands. MORE things to do in Townsville

5.  Jarnem Loop, Keep River National Park, Northern Territory

• Where: The Park is 3 km east of the WA/NT border; 203 km west of Timber Creek; 68 km east of Kununurra
• How to get there: Self Drive on fully sealed roads from Timber Creek or Kununurra. Dirt roads throughout the park.
• When to go:  Cooler months from May to August.  Seasonal closures due to flooding from November to April
• The Hike: Jarnem Loop Trail, 7 km, Moderate

The weirdly striped sandstone domes lining the Jarnem Loop trail and filling much of the landscape beyond are often described as a ‘Lite’ version of the more well known Bungle Bungles. But whether or not that’s true, the view from the fantastic 360° lookout over ranges and plains is anything but Lite!

The trail winds back down to a palm-lined valley getting much closer to the wind-scoured layers and shapes of the rounded domes. Along the creek line are caverns with Aboriginal rock art, then the trail returns to the picnic area.  And although it was peak tourist season, we had it all to ourselves!

Want MORE?

• While you’re in the Park: Highlights include Walks, Aboriginal Rock Art, Bird and Wildlife Watching. More about Keep River National Park HERE
• While you’re in the Area: Explore the Top End. Highlights include Victoria River Crocodile Cruise, Lake Argyle Cruise, Gregory and Mirima National Parks, Historic Sites, Fishing. MORE about Timber Creek HERE. MORE about Kununurra HERE.

6.  Mt Abrupt, Grampians, Victoria

• Where: Mt Abrupt is in the Southern Grampians near Dunkeld, 280 km west of Melbourne
• Getting there: Self-Drive to Gariwerd (Grampians National Park) and the Grampians Region on fully sealed roads. Dunkeld is 64 km south of the more central Halls Gap.
• When to go:  Anytime. Spring (Sept – Nov) best for wildflowers.
• The Hike: 6.5 km return, Moderate to Difficult.

It’s got one of the most spectacular views of the wilder parts of the Grampians, but the view of Mt Abrupt’s forbidding sheer cliffs from Dunkeld make it look a LOT more difficult to climb than it really is. The trailhead starts just north of Dunkeld and climbs steadily through the bushland. After passing Signal Peak, the views unfold all the way to the summit over the Victoria Range and Valley, Serra Range, Southern plains and Dunkeld.

Returning via the same route means a chance to catch up on the photos you were too knackered to take on the way up!

Want MORE?

• MORE about the Mt Abrupt Hike
• While you’re in the Grampians: Highlights include Hikes, Rock Climbing, Scenic Drives, Fishing, Lookouts, Lakes, Seasonal Wildflowers, Wildlife, Historic Sites. MORE things to do in the Grampians HERE

7.  Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park, Queensland

• Where is it: 220 km (136 miles) north-west of the Burke and Wills Roadhouse, between Cloncurry and Normanton;
• How to get there: Self-Drive. Take National Route 83 from Cloncurry. At the Burke and Wills Roadhouse, take State Route 84 – the Wills Development Road – to Gregory Downs. Boodjamulla is 100 km from Gregory Downs on a dirt road.
• When to go:  Dry season from May to October.  Roads can be impassable during the wet.
• The Hike: Several Hikes from 2-7 km, varying degrees of difficulty. The combined hike suggestion below is about 8 km, moderate to difficult.

It takes more than one walk to do Lawn Hill justice and discover everything this stunning blend of towering red cliffs, crystal clear water, palms, bushland, crocodiles, spa-like cascades, lookouts, giant carp and magnificent vistas has to offer. Chances are it’ll be HOT whatever time of year you’re there – and if you’ve come all this way you’d be mad to leave without seeing it all. So combine some of the shorter walks into a longer hike – or avoid heatstroke, stay a few days and do them one by one!

That way you’ll have time for the other activities!

But for the full experience in just one day, start early and take the Middle Gorge track to Duwadarri and Indarri Lookouts. Return the same way, or take the loop down the cliffs and back to the campground. Then do the Island Stack loop, and finish up by taking the Cascades detour – may as well have a natural spa before returning to the campground.

And don’t say I didn’t tell you to stay an extra day!

Want MORE?

• While you’re in Lawn Hill: Highlights include Swimming, Canoeing, Hiking, Wildlife. MORE about Lawn Hill National Park

8.  Mt Kosciuszko Summit, via Jindabyne, New South Wales

• Where is it: The Mt Kosciuszko summit can be reached either from Thredbo, 212 km south-west of Canberra; or Jindabyne, about 34 km from Thredbo.
• Getting There: A number of routes access Thredbo, Jindabyne and the Kosciuszko National Park. The best route will depend from which direction you’re heading.
• When to go:  Anytime, but the track is generally snowbound from June to October – you can reach the summit on cross-country skis or snowshoes, but the track had no snow poles.
• The Hike: 13 km return, Class 3 Moderate (from Thredbo); or alternatively18.6 km return, Class 3 Moderate (from Charlotte Pass).

En route from Thredbo to Mt Kosciuszko’s summit (Australia’s highest mountain), you’ll see Charlotte Pass (Australia’s highest permanent settlement) where Australia’s lowest temperature (-23° C) was recorded, Australia’s highest lake (Lake Cootapatamba) and Australia’s highest Public Loo (Rawsons Pass).

A long ride up the Kosciuszko Express chair lift from Thredbo quickly knocks off 600 metres of altitude.  Then it’s a 6.5 km undulating walk to the summit on a specially constructed raised walkway protecting the fragile alpine vegetation beneath. Congratulations! You’ve climbed a Seven Summits peak!!

Hard to believe that back in the good old days you could drive nearly to the top – so the trickiest part of your climb will be to convince everyone how difficult it was!

Want MORE?

• MORE about the Mt Kosciuszko Summit Hike (via Thredbo)
• While you’re in the Park: Explore the Park’s seven different areas. More things to do in Kosciuszko National Park 
• While you’re in the Alps: Australian Alps Highlights

9.  Ormiston Gorge and Pound, Central Australia, Northern Territory

• Where is it: Ormiston Gorge is in the West MacDonnell Ranges National Park, 135 km west of Alice Springs.
• How to get there: Self-Drive on fully sealed roads from Alice Springs.
• When to go:  Anytime, but April to October is best for hiking.
• The Hike: Ormiston Gorge and Pound Loop, 7 km, Moderate

Every kilometre the scenery changed. A steep gorge gave way to a hillside dotted with wildflowers and stunning views of Mount Sonder before descending into a spinfex-strewn valley leading up onto a scree-strewn saddle to a lookout over the Pound, ringed with rugged ranges. Down into the pound, across two creeks, then rock-hopping the gorge, red walls towering above us.

At the end of the gorge – only a kilometre to go – recent rain meant the final creek was running higher than usual. Sadly, I hadn’t yet mastered the art of levitation, so I chose to wade through the frigid water – a kilometre in wet underwear WAY better than a 6 km back-track! If you get lucky and don’t need to choose, I say you’ll be missing a super-COOL experience!

Want MORE?

• MORE about the Ormiston Gorge and Pound Walk
• While you’re in Ormiston Gorge: Highlights include Glen Helen Gorge, Larapinta Hiking Trail, Ochre Pits, Gorges and Waterholes. MORE Things to Do in Ormiston Gorge
• While you’re in the Area: Explore the area around Alice Springs. MORE Things to do in Central Australia

10.  Deep Creek Cove, Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia

• Where is it: Deep Creek Conservation Park is on the Fleurieu Peninsula, 108 km south of Adelaide
• How to get there: Self Drive along Main South Road from Adelaide, about 1.5 hours.
• When to go:  March – May and September – November.  Summer (Dec – Feb) is dry and hot with temperatures from 30-35.  Winter (Jun – Aug) is wet, so tracks can be slippery.
• The Hike: Deep Creek Cove from Trig Picnic Area, 6.4 km return, Moderate

Deep Creek Cove is accessible from two points: a moderate, but longer hike from Trig Picnic Area, and a shorter, more difficult hike from Tappanappa Lookout. But for us, two attempts = two FAILS and I’ve NEVER reached the Cove!

On our first attempt (via Trig) I was off work after an eye operation so we’d decided to explore. That was wrong. VERY wrong. And you’ll be glad to know I was punished for breaking the sick leave rule by actual illness when my eye turned to the dark side and I couldn’t finish the hike. My bad.

‘Where are those explosions coming from?,’ I wondered aloud to Pilchard on our 2nd attempt from Tappanappa as we started down the hill. ‘I didn’t know there was a quarry in the area’. Turns out there wasn’t and the explosions we heard were actually thunderclaps heading our way. So we abandoned the hike, scuttled back to the car and leftf the park before the rains hit the dirt roads.

The Deep Creek Cove hikes and several others (including the Deep Creek waterfall hike which I actually HAVE done), combine to make up the 10.9 (and much more difficult) Deep Creek Circuit. And at this rate it’ll only take me another 10 years to finish it all.

In the meantime, if YOU get to Deep Creek Cove before I do, let me know what it’s like!

Want MORE?

• While you’re in the Park: Highlights include 15 Hiking Trails, Blowhole Beach, Lookouts, Wildlife, Camping. MORE Things to Do at Deep Creek Conservation Park HERE 
• While you’re in the Area: Explore the Fleurieu Peninsula. Highlights include the Cockle Train, Coorong Cruise, Beaches. MORE Things to do on the Fleurieu Peninsula HERE

There are lots more hikes in Australia and I know I’ve probably missed some good ones.  What’s YOUR favourite half day hike holiday hot spot?

Like it? SHARE it!  

The post 10 TOP Half Day Hikes in 10 HOT Australian Holiday Spots appeared first on Australia by Red Nomad OZ.

A week on Norfolk Island should give you just enough time to realise that a week on Norfolk Island isn’t nearly long enough.

Whether or not you’re an amateur photographer/twitcher duo like us, on the prowl for amazing natural attractions, unusual birds (feathered) and scenic loos in exotic locations, chances are you won’t be able to fit it all in.

So instead of busting a gut trying to see and do absolutely everything, try a few of my 10 favourite things to do and leave yourself time for some R&R!

1 See the Island the Local way

I might not have been the youngest person on our island orientation tour – but my relative youth sure made it easy for me to a) hear what the driver was saying; b) identify and board the correct tour bus when more than one was parked at

the same location; and c) hit the lead in the race for the afternoon tea scones with Guava Jelly and cream.

Score!

The half-day tour came free with our booking, but I’d gladly have paid for what turned out to be an excellent introduction to the island’s history, points of interest, local characters and the challenges faced by a smallish group of people living on an isolated hunk of rock in the middle of nowhere.

More specifically 1770 km (1100 miles) north-east of Sydney, 1448 km (900 miles) east of Brisbane; 1126 km (700 miles) north-west of Auckland and 804 km (500 miles) south-east of Noumea.

Starting at the main settlement of Burnt Pine, we took in a superb cross-section of attractions – lookouts, convict ruins, jetties, rugged cliffs, a battleship, an old chapel, whaling station – all served up with spectacular scenery, and a teaser for things we wanted to see in more detail at our leisure.

How I got lucky!

But afternoon tea was where I REALLY got lucky. Because that’s where I found ‘Ask a Silly Question’, a booklet full of hilariously dumb questions tourists have asked local tour guide Max Hobbins.

Such as: ‘Is the Island surrounded by water?’ and ‘What colour is the native Green Parrot?’ and ‘If the Island has such a low crime rate, why do you have electric fences?’

Five minutes later I purchased it, eyes streaming with tears of laughter. And in another blinding piece of luck, the checkout operator introduced me to the author, there on another tour, and I asked him to sign my book.

Score!

I just hope none of the questions I asked him will make it into a future edition!

2 Norfolk’s TOP Spot

Getting to the top of Norfolk Island’s second-highest mountain isn’t too taxing. Just hop in the car and follow the signs to Mount Pitt – 318 metres above sea level, and with an almost 360° panorama from the lookout.

When the supply ship Sirius ran aground offshore many years ago depriving the islanders of food, the easy-to-catch petrels nesting on the Mt Pitt summit saved the colony from starvation with an estimated 170,000 killed and eaten. Unsurprisingly, despite being named ‘Providence Petrel’, the birds no longer return to their old nesting spot.

So the birds-eye view from Mt Pitt across to Phillip Island where the petrels have started to make a come-back in nesting season is likely to be the closest you’ll come to seeing one.

Getting to the island’s highest point takes a bit more effort. Follow the ups and downs of the Summit track through lush rainforest full of more endemic bird species like Pacific Robin, and past World War II memorabilia. After what I’m told is only 500 metres (although it seemed a lot more to me!) you’ll reach the Mount Bates summit, at 319 metres above sea level, the highest point on the island.

But only if you think it’s worth gaining a metre in altitude and losing a lot of the view!

3 Hit Bedrock

In an island full of extraordinary experiences, stunning scenery and fabulous food, the Bedrock Café enthusiastically serves up all three.

Perched on the edge of the Duncombe Bay cliffs with several hundred kilometres of ocean in front of you, the café setting is, for my money, one of Australia’s most spectacular dining locations.

And if you’re a keen birdo, it’s really the only place to be if you want to fit in a Great Frigate bird sighting or two between courses. Where even great food like the egg curry and coconut beef; followed by pear cake and passionfruit tart we had wasn’t distracting enough to prevent binocular and camera overuse syndrome …

4 Green Parrot: one of the World’s Rarest Birds

I SO get that birding isn’t for everyone.

But Norfolk Island’s prime position in the middle of freakin’ nowhere makes it a top birding site for sea birds not normally seen on the mainland AND birds not seen anywhere else on earth!

Even if you’re not a birder, the dense rainforest, scenic lookouts and ever-present Norfolk Island Pines are so spectacular it’s a pleasure just to hike one or more of the many trails in the Botanic Gardens and National Park, covering a third of the island.

Walk the park and you’re right in the rare Green Parrot’s habitat. In the early 1990’s only 4 breeding females remained until an intervention program increased the number to about 200-400 thus saving them from extinction AND ensuring a steady stream of twitchers* visit the island.

Camouflage!

If you think it’d be easy to spot a bright green bird with accents of vivid red and blue in the forest, then think again. Remember – there’s only a few hundred scattered throughout a pretty big park full of green vegetation studded with the red palm berries and cherry guavas the parrots like to eat so spotting one can be challenging.

After a couple of unsuccessful searches during the week, we gave it one last go on the day we departed, just before we had to leave for the airport.

Turns out all we had to do was drive up the road from our accommodation to the Palm Circuit Track trailhead, where we spotted one nonchalantly eating guavas. Too easy!!

5 Captain Cook’s Lookout

The surf thundered and crashed, boiling around the jagged rocks of the Northern Islets far below. Sea birds soared through the haze, thick with salt spray as the surf pounded the rocky shore at the base of the towering cliffs.

Call me a lily-livered acrophobic** landlubber, but you’d have to be mad to try to come ashore right here. Wouldn’t you??

So what does that make Captain James Cook? According to his ship’s log, he’s thought to have landed somewhere along the stretch of coastline below my vantage point when he ‘discovered’ the island back in 1774.

But mad or not, the Captain Cook Lookout (as it is now known) is now a fine place to have a picnic, or just hang out and admire the view (including a FINE scenic loo!), spot the sea birds and take a hike along the Bridle Track.

6 A Hundred Acres of Wood

It’s just as well I thought the ancient Moreton Bay Fig trees lining the road and entrance to the Hundred Acre Reserve deserved more than a quick drive-through. If I hadn’t walked back for yet another tedious photo session (by standards other than mine) I wouldn’t have seen the tiny White Tern chick perched at knee height on the buttress.

I can’t guarantee you’ll get lucky at the fig trees like I did. But stop there anyway to take the track through an almost endless forest of Norfolk Island Pines to Rocky Point, where there’s a better than average chance you WILL get lucky!

With killer coastal scenery, sunsets and sea bird sightings, of course.

7 DOWN to Anson Bay Beach

If not for the track zig-zagging down the sheer cliffs to the stunningly scenic sliver of sub-tropical sand below, Anson Bay Beach would likely have been totally deserted.

While the more popular Emily Bay with its easy-access road, swimming pontoon and scenic loo gets more people AND more press, Anson Bay Beach is a picturesque paradise.  Annd another fine opportunity to practice managing your photo overuse syndrome!

I already had a full blown case of it by Day 3.

Anywhere else, it’d be tempting to pack a picnic, a boogie board, swimmers and fishing gear for a big day out. But the thought of the LOOOOOOONG long climb back up the cliff road at the end of the day is an instant crash course in how to pare back those ‘necessities’ to just a swimsuit.

And a camera!

8 One Helluva History – the Museum Crawl

Unbelievably, the public amenities weren’t listed as items of interest in the 53 numbered museums, buildings, sites and artefacts in the Australian Convict Sites visitor guide to the Kingston and Arthur’s Vale area.

It must have been because of the area’s World Heritage status. Because it’d be just as unbelievable that I’d be the only one interested in potential Scenic Public loos***. Wouldn’t it?

But whether or not you include the facilities, the site represents all four very different periods of Norfolk settlement. It’s a fascinating journey starting with the Polynesians way, WAY back to 1150 CE followed by two separate periods of Convict habitation between 1788-1855. Then the present day community was formed when a group of Pitcairn Islanders, descendants of the Bounty mutineers, resettled here in 1856.

The loos are just a bonus!

9 360° of Art and History

Don’t get me wrong.

Nothing does it for me quite like travelling. BUT … every now and then, after a few days of relentless exploring and experiencing and excitement, it all gets a bit too exhausting.

But taking a day off to just do nothing doesn’t work for me either.

And that’s when I wish for a bite-sized package of cultural, natural and historic experiences to do me for the day. Kind of like a LITE version.

Norfolk LITE!

Luckily, Norfolk’s LITE version is an easy-access mixture of history, art and culture wrapped up in a stunning and remarkably detailed 360° painting – the Cyclorama – depicting key points in the island’s history.

Weirdly, the ‘no photos’ rule didn’t bother me a bit! I can’t recall the last time I wandered around without considering photo angles and lighting, or wishing my photographic skills were a bit more advanced!

So here’s a completely gratuitous photo of something else!

10 Selwyn Cottage

Booking a place to stay sight unseen can be risky when you haven’t even seen your destination, let alone the accommodation options. But it turns out we didn’t have to worry.

Because with Selwyn Cottage we REALLY lucked out!

With a private garden so fine we could have spent the whole week there, this standalone cottage in a quiet suburb close to the National Park and township was the perfect retreat after a hard day on the sightseeing trail.

Factor in the facilities, island hospitality and personal touches that made Selwyn Cottage a home away from home, and this family run haven will be where we stay when we return! Even if we have to plan our holiday around it

And here’s an extra one for nothing!  You’re welcome …

11 The one that got away – Philip Island

I really Really REALLY wanted to go to Philip Island.

The ‘Uluru of the South Pacific’, as it is described in a tourist brochure, is six kilometres south of Norfolk Island with a distinctive shape and colour visible from almost every vantage point.

Once stocked with feral animals for sport and food during penal settlement days, the degraded environment is now being rehabilitated after an eradication program. It’s a haven for rare plants, sea birds and at least five reptiles and invertebrates found nowhere else on earth. Visitors are warned about a hazardous landing and steep, rocky track complete with ropes! Who could resist?

But it’s not that easy to get there – adverse weather conditions and heavy seas during our stay meant the tour wasn’t running so we MISSED OUT!

And so the most important question of all remains unanswered. Is there, or is there not, a SUPER scenic public loo?

My TOP Ten Teaser isn’t the definitive guide to Norfolk Island.  There’s a LOT more to see and do and I can’t wait to go there again! See you there??

Want MORE?

• Norfolk Island Official Website
• More Norfolk Island Photos on Flickr

* Twitcher = bird watcher with a penchant for rare and/or unusual birds

** Acrophobia = fear of heights

*** If you’re wondering why the obsession with loos, then check out my book HERE!

The post My TOP 10 Favourite things to do on Norfolk Island appeared first on Australia by Red Nomad OZ.

Take the family to Central Australia and discover the TOP TEN kid-friendly things to do in Alice Springs!  In this guest post, Dominic Vivarini of Earth Sanctuary is your guide on this virtual

If you are on a holiday with the kids in Australia, then Alice Springs is a great place to enjoy your family vacation. Alice Springs offers many activities and places for kids so that they are never bored. Here are the Top 10 things to do in Alice Springs your kids will love.

Uluru (Ayers Rock)

Uluru (also known as Ayers Rock) is the largest monolith in the world located in the Red Centre desert about 450 km south-west of Alice Springs. It’s a sacred place for Aborigines and older kids can either climb to the top or go for a guided walk with an Aboriginal guide. The whole family can also enjoy the light show at sunset when the colour of the sky turns from crimson to gold. Many tour operators offer tours of Uluru and children under 16 are admitted free.

Alice Springs Desert Park

Alice Springs Desert Park is a ‘must see’ for everyone visiting Alice Springs. By visiting the Desert Park kids get to know many secrets of the Central Australia. The park is divided into 3 separate habitats – Desert Rivers, Sand Country and Woodland – each offering unique plants and wildlife to its visitors. Children will especially enjoy the Desert River habitat where they can get to walk among a herd of kangaroos. It only takes about 10 minutes to reach the Desert Park from the centre of Alice Springs and for children the admission charge is $12.50.

Alice Springs Reptile Centre

For kids who are brave enough, the Alice Springs Reptile Centre is a fun place to visit. The Reptile Centre is home to over 100 types of reptiles and each of them is displayed in the man-made creations of their natural habitat. In the park, visitors can see and handle pythons as well as feed lizards. However, the biggest attraction is Terry the saltwater crocodile!  The centre is open every day from 9:30am to 5pm.

The Kangaroo Sanctuary

If you want your kids to find out about kangaroos then a visit to the Kangaroo Sanctuary will be an eye-opener for everyone. It’s a baby kangaroo rescue centre established in 2005 by Chris Brolga Barnes, the star of the Kangaroo Dundee Series. The sanctuary offers guided

sunset tours for children and adults where you get to visit the 90 acre wildlife reserve and get to know everything about kangaroos.

Alice Springs School of the Air Visitor Centre

The Alice Springs School of the Air Visitor Centre, dubbed “The World’s Largest Classroom”, is an innovative education centre providing education to the children residing in the remote areas of Central Australia. The school takes classes with the help of radios and internet through which they are able to cover a vast area in Alice Springs. The visitor centre offers guided tours for tourists specialising in the history of this unique and innovative school.

Larapinta Trail

The Larapinta Trail is one of the newest and most exciting trails in Australia – and the world. It’s one the best places for hiking and trekking in Australia and many tour operators offer trail packages and adventure tours suitable for adults and kids alike.

The 223 kilometre trail is located at the back of the West MacDonnell Ranges and is segmented into 12 parts, where you can find around 600 species of rare plants. You can camp at night under the stars and most camp sites have picnic tables and tent sites along with free gas barbecues and a water supply.  Shorter walks are possible too!

Araluen Cultural Precinct

If you and your family want the total cultural experience of Central Australia then a visit to Araluen Cultural Precinct will be worth your while. The precinct is a combination of various museums and theatre. Among the museums, the Museum of Central Australia is the most famous among kids and gives visitors an insight into the various birds and animals found in the deserts of Alice Springs. Most notably, the museum offers an exhibition about the 120 million year history of crocodiles in Australia.

Frontier Camel Farm

Frontier Camel Farm is the perfect place for everything camel. Located in the south east of Alice Spring, the farm is a famous family tourist attraction. It offers camel rides, safaris and a museum of cameleering equipment, memorabilia and historical photographs. For a truly family experience, book a camel safari which offers a tour of the Date Gardens that includes breakfast and dinner.

Arltunga Historical Reserve

Arltunga, the first town of Central Australia to be born out of the alluvial gold rush is located about 110 km east of Alice Springs. The reserve also has a museum which gives you an insight on the mining industry of the old days. Shade shelters and barbecue facilities are also available along with public toilets which makes it a great place for family picnics.

Earth Sanctuary World Nature Centre

Situated in the beautiful Australian desert, just 15 minutes south of Alice Springs, Earth Sanctuary is an innovative eco-tourism destination. Earth Sanctuary offers award winning day and night tours of the outback for children and adults alike. The Earth’s Cool Tour is a tour especially designed for kids focusing on sustainability of earth’s resources. For a complete outback experience Earth Sanctuary also offers a “Spirit of the Outback” tour. It includes a guided tour of the sanctuary and a presentation on traditional Australian culture and astronomy followed by a 3 course gourmet dinner.

Thank you, Dominic and Earth Sanctuary! With all these things to do in Alice Springs, there’s NO excuse not to take the kids to Central Australia!

The post 10 Cool Places to take the Kids in Alice Springs appeared first on Australia by Red Nomad OZ.

I’m a Loo Lover.

A Dunny Detective. Amenities Aficionado. Conveniences Chaser AND Top Toilet Tragic.

Hell, with Scenic Loo blog series; a couple of Dunny Calendars and a book called ‘Aussie Loos With Views!’ under my belt, I reckon I’m the Poster Girl for Scenic Australian Public Toilets!

But I had NO IDEA about World Toilet Day!

When I took my first ever Scenic Aussie Public Toilet photo from the picnic area loo at Kata Tjuta – the Olgas – I had no idea if it was Australia’s MOST scenic dunny or not and I wanted to find out.

Finding Amazing Amenities and Designer Dunnies was easy – when I put my ‘Dunny Goggles’ on – so I snapped the Wonderful WCs and COOL Conveniences wherever I found them all around OZ!

Until I just couldn’t imagine a world without toilets.

Sadly, however, 2.4 billion of the world’s 7 billion people don’t have to imagine a world without proper toilets. And nearly 1 billion don’t have ANY toilet. That compromises their health, hygiene and basic human rights.

Yes, that’s nearly ONE-THIRD of the world’s population.

So while you enjoy my TOP TEN Aussie Scenic Loos retrospective in honour of World Toilet Day on November 19^th, imagine Australia without those awesome toilets.

Imagine life without proper toilets.

Imagine life with NO toilet.

HERE they are: Australia’s TOP TEN Aussie Loos with Views! (click the title links of each loo for more information)

10 Lake Bellfield, Grampians, Victoria

9 The Little Public Loo at the End of the Universe, Outback Queensland

8 Angorichina, Flinders Ranges, South Australia

7 Kata Tjuta (the Olgas), Central Australia

6 Australia’s Highest Public Loo, Rawsons Pass, Mt Kosciuszko

5 West Cape, Innes National Park, Yorke Peninsula, South Australia

4 Five Rivers Lookout, Wyndham, Western Australia

3 Rainbow Valley, Central Australia

2 Mount Wellington, Hobart, Tasmania

1 Lord Howe Island, New South Wales

They’re all REALLY worth holding on for, aren’t they? Have I included – or missed – YOUR favourite?

Yes, I’m a Loo Lover. And I’ve even got my dunny goggles on all the time! But if ABC radio hadn’t emailed me asking for a World Toilet Day interview on November 19^th, I wouldn’t have known anything about it.

I wouldn’t have shown off my TOP TEN Australian Scenic Toilets.

And I certainly wouldn’t have been part of World Toilet Day 2015!

I don’t yet know how I can help increase the proportion of people with access to a clean toilet, but raising awareness is the first step.

How can I get involved?

The official World Toilet Day website suggests:

• Be a Sharer: Clean, show and share our toilets on World Toilet Day
• Be an Artist: Use art to show the world what it’s like to have access to a toilet
• Be a Thinker: Think about the 1 in 3 people without proper loo access, strike the thinker pose, take a selfie and share your thoughts on social media

Spread the word – use hashtags: #wecantwait and #WorldToiletDay

Use Official 2018 World Toilet Day Tools (Click HERE) for Logos, Posters, Postcards, FaceBook Images etc

And SHARE this post (buttons below) to help spread the word about World Toilet Day!

Want MORE?

• About World Toilet Day
• How to GET INVOLVED in World Toilet Day 2018
• United Nations World Toilet Day Objectives

Previous Post:  The Ultimate Beginners Guide to Limestone Coast Attractions – Part Two!

The post World Toilet Day: Red’s TOP 10 Scenic Aussie Loos appeared first on Australia by Red Nomad OZ.

I’ve been to a lot of great camping destinations off the beaten track. They’re usually part of a lengthy road-trip with no schedules, tight time frames or deadlines.

But where do you go if you haven’t got time for a long road trip?

Where do you go if you want a less challenging trip?

And where do you go to get away from it all in a great place with an awesome array of things to do that doesn’t take forever to get to?

How DO you get started?

No camper? No problem! Start by checking out out the camper vans here on Gumtree!

Then choose one of my TOP 10 favourites – I’m calling them the best camping spots in Australia – and get your show on the road!

South West Rocks, New South Wales

Overlooking the exquisite beauty of Horseshoe Bay, down the road from historic Trial Bay Gaol and up the road from stunning Smoky Cape Lighthouse, the Horseshoe Bay Caravan Park is in one of Australia’s premier coastal locations.

The surrounding region is such a wonderland of rivers, rainforest, rocks and beaches it’s hardly surprising it once was (and still may be) former TV personality Ray Martin’s holiday destination of choice! But the fun doesn’t stop there – hit the main street and you’ll find one of Australia’s best bakeries!!

Broken Hill, New South Wales

For a taste of the outback without the LOOOOOONG distances, dirt roads and bull dust, check into the Broken Hill Tourist Park – the slag heap in the middle of town is a dead giveaway to what makes this place tick.

But its also home to a colony of artists whose work is full of outback light, colours and landscapes – you’ll find it hard NOT to bring home a souvenir!

Further afield there’s Silverton, where many movies have been set, and Menindee Lakes where the sunsets go on forever.

Lake Moogerah, Queensland

Who knew that a couple of days in the amazing Scenic Rim Region would turn into more than a week? Being surrounded by a superb array of stunning natural attractions, atmospheric small towns and fantastic fresh produce is enough of an incentive WITHOUT the added attractions of magnificent Lake Moogerah!

With one of the most scenic campgrounds in OZ, the Lake Moogerah Caravan Park is the perfect base from which to spend a day exploring – and then to return for the amazing sunsets over the lake!

Millaa Millaa, Queensland

I’d be able to pick Millaa Milla Falls (see first photo) on Queensland’s Atherton Tableland out of any waterfall line-up! And the Millaa Millaa Tourist Park on the outskirts of Millaa Millaa with Mt Bartle Frere, Queensland’s highest mountain, in the background is a stunningly scenic base from which to explore the southern Tablelands – a tropical paradise full of rainforest, waterfalls, townships and fantastic produce. Don’t leave without trying EVERYTHING!

Ormiston Gorge, Northern Territory

A stay at the Ormiston Gorge campground puts you in the box seat for superb sunrises; dingo sightings; short walks around the gorge; wonderful Outback colours and landscapes; and the ~7 km Ormiston Gorge and Pound walk – one of Australia’s BEST short (ish) hikes.

In my humble opinion!

Factor in day trips to Glen Helen Gorge, the Ochre Pits, other West MacDonnell Range gorges and Tylers Lookout, and you’ve got a destination worth visiting even without the stunning Mt Sonder (see first photo)!

Kununurra, Western Australia

Theres a lot to see and do in and around Kununurra, but we didn’t need to move from our Kununurra Lakeside Resort campsite on the shores of Lily Lagoon to see crocodiles, birds and some of the best sunsets in the Kimberley. But the Ord River produce is worth heading out for, and smart travellers will time their visit to coincide with the Kununurra Agricultural Show – who could resist the lure of the Melon Olympics and Cane Toad Races?! That makes the long trek to get there from almost anywhere SO worth it!

Kalbarri, Western Australia

If you’re visiting in spring, don’t let the stunning array of Western Australian wildflowers stop you from seeing the rest of Kalbarri’s attractions! Stay a few days at the Kalbarri Tudor Holiday Park and explore the plunging sandstone cliffs, unusual rock formations, deep gorges, magnificent beaches and the wild Murchison river – but watch out! Those wildflowers will probably distract you there too!!

Angorichina, South Australia

Fewer people make it to Angorichina in the northern Flinders Ranges – they’re too busy doing Wilpena Pound further south. But take a drive on the wild side of the ranges and you’ll discover wonderful walks; four wheel drive treks through spectacular scenery; self-drive and guided tours of historic mine sites; and stunning rock formations – all within cooee of Angorichina Village, an ex-tuberculosis sanatorium, now campground with one of the most scenic settings in OZ!

Bright, Victoria

You CAN see autumn colours in Australia AND camp among them too at the Bright Holiday Park!

Bright, in the shadow of Mt Hotham, is a great introduction to Victoria’s High Country. The Autumn Leaves Festival and Wandiligong Nut Festival are full of regional delights, and nearby Mount Buffalo’s natural attractions are worth trekking up to its 1723 metre summit – The Horn – for!

Then there’s the blackberry pies at the Edelweiss Bakery in Bright’s main street …

Port Fairy, Victoria

Get three top towns for the price of one when you stay in Port Fairy’s Gardens by East Beach caravan park alongside the Moyne River – day trips north to Warrnambool and south to Portland mean there’ll never be a dull moment in this coastal paradise!

If stunning coastal scenery, beautiful gardens, offshore islands, lighthouses, wild beaches, interesting rock formations and birdlife leave you cold, then just kick back in Cobb’s bakery and watch the world go by!

Of course you don’t have to stay in the same campgrounds and caravan parks that I did. Half the fun of travelling is finding your own favourite places and making your own memories. Just do me a favour and tell me about them here!

Ready to hit the road and discover the best camping spots in Australia? See you out there!

Like these great camping destinations?  You’ll ALSO like my TOP 10 Budget Travel Tips to make your Road Trip ROCK!

Disclosure: This post was prepared in conjunction with Gumtree

The post Australia’s 10 BEST Camping HOT Spots! appeared first on Australia by Red Nomad OZ.

It’s EASY to calculate a daily expense rate for a road-trip holiday by dividing the money in your budget by the number of days you plan to be away. That’ll give you a daily expenses estimate from which you can calculate expenditure for fuel, accommodation, food and entertainment – and emergencies.

Then comes the HARD part – sticking to it!

Don’t let those unexpected costs blow YOUR budget – try my TOP 10 Budget Travel Tips to keep your daily expense rate down AND still have a good time!

1 Stay longer!

Ask about weekly, mid-week or multi-day rates. 7 nights for the price of 6 is a massive 14.2% discount. In the off-peak, a mid-week deal of 4 nights for the price of 3 is an even bigger 25% discount off an already lower price! Some towns offer a free night or nights after a couple of paid nights to encourage a longer stay – take the offer and score an even bigger discount!

BONUS: more time OFF the road also means lower fuel costs which reduces the daily expense rate even if you use the car for day trips.

2 Join the Club!

Check your expected route for club member caravan parks (eg Top Tourist, Family Parks, OZ Parks etc). If you’re likely to stay at a few parks from the same chain, save by becoming a member. For example, $30 for a 2 year Top Tourist Parks standard membership gives 10% off (up to $30) per stay. 10 nights on a powered site @ $30 per night and you’ve recouped the membership fee.

BONUS: Join up at the Caravan and Camping Show and you might get a show special membership discount. Use your discount card for next year’s holiday too!

3 Shop Around!

Premium destinations don’t have to mean premium rates if saving money is more of a priority than staying on site. Look for cheaper alternatives nearby and compare costs, including additional travel costs.

For example, you’ll pay $35 for an unpowered campsite at Victoria’s Wyperfeld National Park. But you can save over 85% by staying at Hopetoun’s Mallee Bush Retreat on a FREE unpowered site (gold coin donation for showers); or 42.8% for a powered site @ $20! The 80km round trip to Wyperfeld costs much less than you save. Nearby towns Rainbow and Yaapeet also have cheaper campsites.

BONUS: Two destinations for less than the price of one!

4 Alternative Destinations

Want to see Uluru, but can’t afford the fuel and accommodation costs? Save on both with a visit to Australia and the Southern Hemisphere’s largest inselberg – Bald Rock near Tenterfield, NSW instead! From Melbourne, it’s 2320 km to Uluru @ $48 per night per powered site (2 people), but only 1460 km to Tenterfield @ $29 per night!

Want another example? If a drive across the country to Western Australia’s Coral Coast is too expensive, save by visiting South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula instead – it’s a smaller version but with many similar features.

BONUS: You’ll have seen a lot MORE of Australia when you finally CAN afford to visit the big ticket items!

5 Go Off-Peak

Save on site or accommodation costs during the off-season, when tours and activities are also more likely to be discounted. Research likely weather conditions, and availability of services and attractions outside peak times to select the best combination for your trip.

BONUS: Fewer people!

6 Travel Light

Based on this road test (source) using the same tow vehicle on the same route, expect to use around 30% more petrol towing an 800 kg camper trailer, and 78% more towing a 1950 kg caravan.

If you can’t change the weight of your trailer, reduce its load and save – each 50 kg of extra weight reduces fuel efficiency by around 2%. As a guide, that’s 50 litres of water (or other liquid); 2 large suitcases; a portable fridge full of food or a large dog!

Add a roof rack, and expect to lose another 5% in fuel economy.

7 Get what you pay for!

If you’ve paid for a powered site, save your gas and cook with electricity you’ve already paid for – an electric frypan or skillet will cook almost anything. Camp kitchen facilities can also extend the life of your gas bottle – especially if there are hotplates, a BBQ, microwave and hot water.

And do you REALLY want to use expensive on-board bathroom cleaning products when there’s a perfectly good amenities block – that SOMEONE ELSE cleans??

Take advantage of free entertainment or events offered by many parks to guests during peak periods like winter up north, or the school holidays – you’ve already paid for it, so why not use it?

And have a look at the informal book and magazine exchange you’ll find in many caravan park laundromats – buy a book or magazine at the start of your trip and exchange it for FREE when you’re done!

8 Balancing Act

Blown the budget? Balance high-cost with low-cost days to get it back on track.

Bring the daily expense rate down by free-camping for a couple of nights; take a hike or spend the day on the beach for a car-free day to save on fuel costs; use the local library or community centre to catch up on emails; or take advantage of the town’s free attractions – a heritage or nature walk, check out the main street, discover local art galleries and museums, and a visit to the Visitor Information Centre don’t cost a thing!

BONUS: Discover some unexpected attractions you might not otherwise have seen!

9 Let’s do Lunch!

Save by eating out at lunchtime – it often costs less than dinner. Having your main meal at lunchtime means you save on premium dinner prices AND save on ingredients for a smaller evening meal. No budget for eating out? Pack a picnic and find somewhere scenic to enjoy it!

BONUS: Turn lunch into the main event by having your meal with a view

10 Make a Date with a Sunset … and switch on the Outback Telly!

Watching a killer sunset and sharing stories, jokes, stew and damper around the camp fire (aka ‘Outback Telly’) afterwards is a great way to make that holiday more memorable.

And it doesn’t cost a thing!

My 10 TOP Budget Travel Tips is my entry in a competition run by the Heritage Bank – the Savvy Saver Blog Awards! If you liked it, PLEASE go there and vote for me!

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Sooner or later, most travellers in Australia will reach the great cross-roads at the head of Spencer Gulf that is Port Augusta.

North is the Stuart Highway to the Northern Territory. West is the Eyre Highway across the Nullarbor to West OZ. East is the Barrier Highway to Broken Hill and New South Wales. And South is to Adelaide and beyond.

Many travellers stop overnight either going to or coming from their main destination.

But discerning visitors who stay an extra day (or two or three) will be rewarded by discovering some of the FAAAAABULOUS things to do in Port Augusta.

Like what? Like THESE! Here’s TEN of my favorites!

1 Time Tunnel Travel at Wadlata

Wadlata Outback Centre isn’t just about tourist information. There’s the excellent gift shop – try a Journey Jottings map or a piece of Indigenous artwork! There’s a cool cafe – try the quandong cheesecake or the quandong slice!

And then there’s the time tunnel!

Walk into the jaws of the giant ripper lizard and be transported into the prehistoric world of life before man on Gondwanaland. This ancient history lesson is never dull as it moves through aeons (via interactive displays, dreamtime stories and intriguing facts) from the beginning of time to the present day in Port Augusta NOW!

While THIS time travel won’t take millions of years, don’t underestimate the time you’ll need – it’s easy to spend several hours there, especially with breaks for lunch and/or morning and/or afternoon tea. Just watching ‘Back of Beyond’, a movie about Outback legend mailman Tom Kruse takes an hour!

The good news is if you run out of time on this visit, just pick up a pass-out from the Wadlata staff and come back to finish it off other time!

2 The Full 360º at the Water Tower Lookout

It’s a long way to the top if you want a shocking fall – and the see-through metal mesh staircase doesn’t help either.

Luckily for us acrophobics, the Water Tower Lookout’s horribly exposed four flights of stairs ends in a fully enclosed viewing platform complete with wire mesh criss-crossing the view in four directions.

Except for a thoughtfully placed hole in the middle just right for a camera lens.

A camera lens like MINE, that is. If size DOES matter; and you’ve brought a giant lens along for a big day out, you might be in trouble

But cameras aren’t required to enjoy the superb view of boats, bridges and birds on Spencer Gulf; the iconic silhouette of the power station; and the general landscape filled with parklands and houses that make up this town, named for Augusta Sophia Marryat, wife of South Australia’s first civilian Governor.

Is late afternoon leading up to sunset the best time to check it out? I haven’t been there at any other time, so I don’t know – but it sure worked for me!

3 Matthew Flinders Lookout and RED Cliff Walk

Even if you’re more immune to the promise of RED Cliffs, the Matthew Flinders Lookout – a short walk from the car park – is worth a visit for its staggering vista of Spencer Gulf against the magnificent backdrop of the Flinders Ranges.

A landscape so fine that even standing atop a high and crumbling cliff face to view it becomes a pleasure. Well … almost

But throw in a killer sunset and even a coward like me can forget the perils of standing on the edge!

For more than double the fun, take the 4.5 km RED Cliff Circuit Walk from the Arid Lands Botanic Gardens to the Matthew Flinders lookout via a bird hide, a bluebush plain and the railway bridge with fine views from the edge of Spencer Gulf over the RED Cliffs, claypans and mangroves! Follow the loop trail back through the gardens.

4 Arid Lands Botanic Gardens

If you’ve got lemons, make lemonade.

And if you’ve got a climate with extreme temperatures, lengthy periods of drought and low rainfall, showcase the plants that LOVE arid conditions in your garden!

That’s exactly what the Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden, established in 1993 as an initiative of the Port Augusta Council, has achieved with its arid zone plant habitats – like dunes, desert and saltbush plains – spread over 250 hectares.

But demonstrating water-wise gardening techniques isn’t the only attraction!

When you’re tired of the walks, bird hides (and over 100 bird species recorded), a nationally significant Eremophila garden, art works, lookouts and plant nursery outside, there’s the Bluebush Café and Gift Shop inside.

Entry to the gardens is free, and they’re open all year round (other than Christmas and New Years Day, and Good Friday).

5 Pichi Richi Railway

Take a trip on a small section of the old Great Northern Railway from Adelaide to Alice Springs, once dubbed the Afghan Express and now affectionately known as the Ghan, through the rocky Pichi Richi pass in fully restored heritage carriages.

The Ghan hasn’t passed this way since 1956, but from April to November, experience the magic of steam and take a return trip on the restored Afghan Express from Port Augusta to nearby Quorn (41 km to the north-east); or the Pichi Richi Explorer from Quorn through the pass to Woolshed Flat.

With railway memorabilia at both Port Augusta and Quorn, the railway is a great way to experience the magic of train travel.

6 Trainspotting

Railway enthusiasts need not fear having to adopt alternative pursuits like sightseeing, birding and wildflower watching when the Pichi Richi Railway isn’t operating.

SO … if your preferred lullaby is the soothing sounds of shunting, then find somewhere to stay within sight and sound of the railway because all passenger and freight trains heading north, south, east and west pass through Port Augusta.

Even Railway ambivalents may find a multi-coloured goods train tracking north along the eastern side of the gulf with the Flinders Ranges a resplendent backdrop an awesome sight.

I know I did!

7 Quorn and the Quandong Café

Even without the enticement of a Pichi Richi train ride, the short drive to Quorn is well worth it. And top of MY list of Quorn must-do’s is a visit (or two) to the Quandong Café.

Actually, it’s not the cafe. It’s the scones. AWESOME scones. They even beat my own faithfully copied secret recipe pumpkin scones AND give the discerning epicure the opportunity to experience the delights of the Quandong, Australia’s own arid land fruit at its best when turned into a marvellously piquant jam, the perfect accompaniment to THOSE SCONES!

When you’re done with that, explore the town’s Galleries, historic buildings, cafés, pubs, an Agricultural Museum and the Powell Gardens botanic garden.

If the Quorn scenery looks familiar, it MAY be because scenes from a number of films were shot in the area. Most recently, the region AND the Pichi Richi steam train featured in The Water Diviner with Russell Crowe! Other notable films include Wolf Creek 1 and 2 (2005 and 2013), Tracks (2013), The Shiralee (1986) and Gallipoli (also featuring the Pichi Richi in 1981).

I’m not sure if the Quandong Café featured in any of the films – but it should have!

8 The Flinders Ranges

If you want to explore the folds and peaks of the ragged range that makes such an awesome town backdrop, Port Augusta is an easy day trip from some of the Flinders Ranges hot spots.

Near Quorn there’s the Dutchmans Stern, Devils Peak and Warren Gorge. A little further north there’s Kanyaka Historic Site, Death Rock and the Jeff Morgan Gallery at Hawker, 107 km north-east. 67 km south is Melrose, gateway to the Mount Remarkable National Park.

Exploring the Flinders Ranges will take a LOT longer than a weekend – but a Port Augusta day trip makes a good teaser!

9 Wildflower Wonderland

Just in case you didn’t quite catch the beauty of the arid land vegetation, here’s a little taste of what you’re missing!

10 Blanche Harbour

Past the Port Augusta city limits heading south along the western side of Spencer Gulf, the sparsely vegetated dry hills of the outback to the right contrast nicely with the brilliant blue of the sea on the left, and the intriguing skyline of the Flinders Ranges beyond.

With a landscape like this, it’s no wonder the gulf is lined with holiday shacks.

23 km later, the gulf widens as the outback sweeps down to the sea at Blanche Harbour in a magnificent sweep of coastline. Atop a low hill above the car park, there’s a marvellous vantage point inside a picnic shelter that tells the story of this place while showing off its natural attractions.

But it didn’t always look this good. The ‘before’ photos show what the area looked like 15 years ago, when a group of concerned ‘shackies’ banded together to reverse the ravages of rubbish dumping and off-road vehicle driving.

Now, with revegetation well under way and stunning scenery, Blanche Harbour is a place of beauty and peace.

So take a look at my TOP TEN – and start planning YOUR stop-over – or weekend getaway – now! And if you can fit all TEN of my favourite things to do in Port Augusta into just ONE weekend, you’re doing well!

Want MORE?

• Port Augusta
• MORE Photos of Port Augusta on FLICKR!

PS  Did I mention the Scenic Public Loos??  Here’s a triple-toilet-teaser – see if you can find them all when YOU go to Port Augusta!

The post 10 TOP Things to Do in Port Augusta appeared first on Australia by Red Nomad OZ.

Travelling downunder isn’t all surf and sunshine; kangaroos and koalas; or moonbeams and magic. A fabulous holiday can also be an opportunity to share the sights with some of Australia’s lesser known – and MUCH less popular – creatures!

Like I did when I met my TOP 10 Aussie pests some FAAAAABULOUS places!  Where I’ll go again – despite the presence of vermin.

Why?

Because meeting the ‘locals’ isn’t anywhere near so scary when you’re armed with a range of pest control products and preventative measures to keep them at bay. They’ll leave you free to enjoy the attractions without too much vermin distraction AND have a horror story or two to dine out on!

Win-win, right?

Actually, that’s win-Win-WIN! Check out the great giveaway at the bottom of the post!!

1 For MOSQUITOES, try Victoria Park!

I’ve visited this tiny fragment of remnant rainforest full of sub-tropical flora and fauna in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales many times. Its Scenic Public Toilet even made it into MY BOOK!

But although the photographic and birding attractions along the 400m boardwalk circuit mean it usually takes over an hour to walk, on our last visit we set a new lap record!

Why? Because when millions of mosquitoes (give or take a few hundred thousand) descend and threaten to carry you away, there’s only one thing to do.

RUN like hell! AND … next time bring some protection!!

2 For SANDFLIES, try Kununurra!

With killer sunsets like these direct from any lake-front campsite at the Kununurra Lakeside Tourist Park, I’m prepared to overlook a few minor inconveniences.

Even the sandflies that love me like a sister.

They ‘ringbarked’ me around the waistband of my shorts the first time I shot the sunset. Of course I was asking for it by a) wearing a loose T-shirt and b) NOT wearing any insect repellent. I didn’t make THAT mistake again – and didn’t score any more bites!

But I DID score some FAAAAABULOUS sunset photos!

3 For FLIES, try Parachilna!

On a fine day, the awesome view from the ever-so-scenic Parachilna Public Toilet (YES! It’s in MY BOOK!) shows the magnificent Heysen Ranges in South Australia’s northern Flinders Ranges at their best (see 2nd pic).

The view DOESN’T show the gazillion flies.

But why let a few million mates of Aussie Icon Louie the fly bother you when you’ve got all the attractions of one of Australia’s most magnificent National Parks to explore on the one hand, and a can of fly spray in the other??!!

4 For Deadly JELLYFISH, try Cairns!

First time visitors to Far North Queensland are often surprised to see emergency rations of vinegar at strategic intervals along the beach. AND grateful – especially if they’ve picked up an order of fish and chips to go, but forgot the condiments.

But if you’re ever stung by the deadly Irukandji (aka box jellyfish) just hope the tourists didn’t get to the vinegar first because a liberal application may help stop the intense pain – and the array of nasty symptoms collectively known as Irukandji Syndrome.

Avoid this pest like the plague! How? During October to May, wear a stinger suit, swim in the stinger net exclusion zones or just use the pool!

And leave the vinegar for the fish & chips!

5 For MOTHS, try Canberra, OR the Victorian High Country!

Actually, almost anywhere in Australia with an outside light at night is a good – or bad – place for moths, depending on your point of view.

But there’s a couple of places for a REAL moth experience – and the mystery of the moth mass migration! And that’s at either the High Country around Mount Bogong, Victoria’s highest mountain in summer – or when they move down the slopes in winter. They’ve been known to invade Canberra – you’ve GOT to love a moth that has no fear of politicians!

And if killer tomatoes are worthy horror movie subjects, why not Giant Moths? Or – even better – Giant MUTANT Mass Migrating Moths? Call me, Hollywood!!

6 For TICKS, try Toonumbar National Park!

An hour into our rainforest walk, and what happens?

It RAINS!

Not just a light shower either, but a heavy, drenching rain rattling atop the canopy high above, then ever so slowly dripping through onto the mid-storey leaves above us. Pilchard was on full leech alert as the track slowly turned muddy and the leaves of our shelter started dripping down the back of my neck.

Well, what did we expect? Toonumbar National Park, in Northern New South Wales, is in a high rainfall area, and we WERE walking through pristine rainforest.

We didn’t see any leeches.

BUT, back at the camper trailer Pilchard’s tick-removal skills – yes, THAT’S what those flat-nose tweezers in the first aid box are for – got a full workout!

7 For SNAKES, try Tasmania!

In answer to often asked, but tedious question of whether I’m a cat or a dog person, I say neither. For a ophidiophobe, a mongoose is the only sane choice of pet. And Rikki Tikki Tavi (the famous snake-fighting mongoose from the Jungle Book) the only hero worth a damn in childhood literature.

So it was a good thing that my 10 days in Tassie were snake-free, although everyone else who’s been there tells me I just got lucky.

Even the cold doesn’t slow them down, I’m told.

And even for a snake-fearer like me, seeing a snake sunning itself on the snow would almost be worth the scare factor.

It’s possible the snakes were there all along – but with scenery like Tasmania’s got, I’m WAY too busy taking photos to care!

8 For MICE, try the Yorke Peninsula!

South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula isn’t the only place in Australia subject to mice plagues from time to time.

BUT … it’s (arguably) one of the most scenic! And with public loos SO scenic, they’ve scored their own section in MY BOOK!

Yes, I’m digressing. But that’s what the scenery will make YOU do if you’re unfortunate enough to encounter a mouse while you’re down there

9 For ANTS, try Endeavour Falls!

Our stay at this little campground gem just north of Cooktown wasn’t marred at all by the rubber-chomping ants that built their nests each night over the power cord stretching across the ground from the camper trailer to the power box.

That’s because we didn’t actually KNOW they’d chomped through the outer layer of rubber that held the electrical wiring together until we packed up to leave!

All the same, it was probably lucky we only stayed in this Far North Queensland hot spot for 4 nights. Any longer, and the ants would have exposed the wires. It won’t stop us staying there again – but next time we’ll suspend the cord above the ground.

10 For CROCODILES, try Cahill’s Crossing!

OK, Ok, ok. Crocodiles aren’t really vermin, are they?

They’re more along the lines of a dangerous, man-eating predator. But who among us hasn’t thought of a verminous human (or two) for which a crocodile (or two) would provide the perfect final solution? And Cahill’s Crossing, from Kakadu to the eastern boundary of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory, is one of Australia’s best final solution HOT spots.

Tragically, there’s no effective (or ineffective) crocodile repellent on the market. Even more tragically, and unlike most other Aussie vermin, there’s no known antidote for crocodile attack.

For a verminous croc, prevention really is the best defence!

You’re on your own with the Crocodile Repellent. And you’ll have to find your own mongoose. But for the smaller Aussie pests, there’s often nothing that a good dose of mosquito repellent won’t fix!

But meeting the vermin is all part of the fun of an Aussie travel adventure, right?

For a chance to test that out for yourself, Mortein is offering one lucky reader a pack of these four TOP products worth $AUD75*:

• Mortein NaturGard Auto Protect Indoor Odourless
• Mortein NaturGard Auto Protect Outdoor Citronella
• Mortein NaturGard Odourless Flying Insect Spray
• Mortein Kill & Protect Surface Spray

SO … if you have an Australian or New Zealand postal address, enter the Mortein Prize Pack Giveaway by making a comment below containing the word ‘VERMIN’ by midnight, 8th April 2015 (see terms & conditions below)!

Giveaway Terms & Conditions: All comments containing the word ‘Vermin’ made before midnight 08 April 2015 (AEST) will be entered into a draw and a winner randomly selected via random.org. The winner will be contacted by email and must provide an Australian or New Zealand postal address to RedzAustralia (which will be passed to Mortein for mailing the giveaway prize) within 3 days of the date of the email to claim the giveaway. The giveaway will be forfeited if the winner fails to provide an Australian or New Zealand postal address within that time and will be offered to the next person on the random.org list and so on until the giveaway is claimed.

Disclosure: Mortein provided RedzAustralia with 4 products to test and is providing 4 products to give away in return for this post.

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