He probably wasn’t an axe murderer.

I mean, skidding into the carpark in a cloud of dust, ‘Uptown Girl’ blaring from the stereo, and parking well away from the only other car in the car park?

Despite my lack of hands-on experience with axe murderers, I was pretty sure this wasn’t archetypal behaviour.

Was it?

But through the clouds of red dust partially obscuring our view of the intruder from our vantage point half way up Wild Dog Hill, I couldn’t help wondering.

Was it just a coincidence that he’d arrived here in the wilds of the otherwise deserted Whyalla Conservation Park car park right after we did??

And apart from listening to an outdated, albeit entertaining, 80’s play list (by now BJ had switched to ‘Call Me’), he wasn’t doing ANY of the things on the Whyalla Conservation Park attractions checklist.

The longer we watched the longer the list of things he WASN’T doing got. More specifically, as Blondie switched to ‘Funky Town’, he wasn’t:

• having a picnic OR

  

• drinking (alcohol or otherwise);
• hunting the elusive Western Grasswren, OR
• trying to spot any other (feathered) birds;
• taking photos;
• checking out the rock formations;
• walking the track around the base of Wild Dog Hill OR
• hiking the 1.5 km loop trail to the summit of Wild Dog Hill;
• reading the interpretive signs about arid land plant adaptation OR
• admiring the diversity of sometimes rare arid land plants in the park; OR
• just looking for wildflowers and rare lichens OR
• Western Myall and Bluebush spotting (Note: sightings of both these arid land plant species in the Whyalla Conservation Park is what’s known as a ‘sure thing’)

Which pretty much covered off on the Park’s ‘Main Attractions’ list!

He also wasn’t

• waiting for anyone.

Other than a possible imaginary friend. Because although he changed into a different T shirt shortly after arriving, no one else showed up.

Which, according to the axe-murderer avoidance manual, was probably a good thing.

Because being the only witnesses to a drug drop or illicit liaison mostly isn’t a story that ends well.

Especially so if you use the ‘I-didn’t-see-a-thing-I-really-only-used-these-binoculars-around-my-neck-for-bird-watching-not-to-watch-you-no-really’ defence.

Only 10 km north of – yes, you guessed right – Whyalla, on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula, the dirt track from the main road through the 2000 hectare Whyalla Conservation Park leads through a landscape lifted straight from the remote Outback.

That means the public loo in the picnic area, a few kilometres over a rough, rocky road from the main entrance, simulates a remote Outback dunny almost exactly.

So even though Iron Triangle town Whyalla isn’t that far away AND you can see the coast from the expansive 360° view at the top of Wild Dog Hill, the (mostly) trackless arid landscape makes an outstanding Outback outhouse setting.

Plonk an alien (or clueless tourist) down there and they’d think they’d landed on Mars.

But despite its impressive credentials, our carpark companion hadn’t driven all the way out here to visit the loo either.

Because by the time we reached Wild Dog Hill’s summit and Pseudo Echo had switched to (strangely appropriate) 500 Miles, I could see he also wasn’t:

• scenic-loo-spotting OR
• scenic-loo-using.

No, my psychic powers hadn’t turned hyperactive. The only track I could see leading through the scrub from the picnic area was the path to the dunny, and he wasn’t on it.

Besides, the Proclaimers had switched to ‘Reckless’ and if I could hear it from way up on Wild Dog Hill, then it must have been dynamite right next to the car. He sure wasn’t leaving THAT excitement just to take a pee! Or to do anything else other than wander aimlessly around in the scrub near the parking area.

But maybe.  Just maybe he’d seen the empty car and figured we’d return sooner or later. And that’s when he’d make his move!

Australian Crawl faded away behind us as the track led down the other side of Wild Dog Hill and around its base en route to the scenic loo.

And back to the car – tyres un-slashed, windscreen unbroken, locks intact. And ‘All Out of Love’ – possibly the most inoffensive, innocuous, insipid 80’s song EVER echoing through the car park.

It seems our conservation park comrade also wasn’t:

• otherwise indulging in axe-murderish behaviour OR
• interested in us AT ALL.

So OK.

If you’re thinking I’m showing the signs of early-onset (or perhaps advanced) paranoia, just remember that no one thought Wolf Creek was sinister either until the movie!

But as we drove the 65 km back to our campsite in Port Augusta I developed a working theory.

The Whyalla Conservation Park is no Wolf Creek (see link below) but if anything DID happen out there amidst the bluebush and western myall trees, there’d be no one to hear you scream.

Although listening to a few eighties hits might be pleasantly nostalgic, a prolonged overdose in a confined space could easily bring on a screaming fit.

Or worse.

So what’s a not-so-sinister-somebody hanging out for an eighties-music-hit who’s lives in a zero-tolerance household to do?

Yep, you got it.

Want MORE?

• Whyalla Conservation Park
• Things to do in Port Augusta
• MORE Australian Scenic Public Loos
• Wolf Creek

The post Amenities, Attractions and Axe Murderers at Whyalla Conservation Park, South Australia appeared first on Australia by Red Nomad OZ.

I don’t know if anyone ever struck it rich in the old days – or even the new days – by hitting a seam of opal while sinking a dugout dunny shaft.

But if it’s going to happen anywhere, the chances of it happening in Andamooka are better than average.

As long as the hole is at least 3 metres deep. That’s when it’ll hit the ancient and now opal-ridden seabed* lying beneath the surface of one of the driest parts of the driest state of the driest continent on earth.

But maybe that’s what makes Andamooka opal – a variety found only here – the most stable matrix opal in the world. The Queen’s Opal was found in Andamooka – a large piece cut and polished to over 200 carats, then made into several pieces of jewellery presented to Queen Elizabeth II, now part of the Crown Jewels.

Although there’s no record of whether or not the stone was found in a dunny shaft!

Every photo of Andamooka I’d ever seen before shows an arid outback landscape. But as the state’s resident rainmakers** en route to the warm and sunny northern winter, we’d arrived in Woomera the evening before in the middle of a rainstorm and steady rain that continued throughout the night.

So I’m still wondering what it’s like to be dry in one of the driest parts of the driest state of the driest continent on earth. The rain continued on and off through the uninspiring terrain along the 85+ km (53 miles) stretch of sealed road from Woomera to Roxby Downs, and then the 30 km (18.6 miles) to Andamooka where the one sealed road carried enough mud to turn it into a virtual dirt (read: mud) road!

But that’s where the exploration gene paid off. BIG time.

I noticed a familiar shape through the raindrops. Hang on – was that REALLY a dunny I saw before me?

Andamooka’s Historical Reserve preserves a number of early dwellings built – or more accurately, compiled – after discovery in 1930 of some of the finest Aussie Opal in the world. Which anyone who’s ever studied Australian history won’t need ME to tell them was also the time of the Great Depression.

Lack of money and an almost tree-free landscape made early opal miners inventive with building materials; and the summer heat – clocked at 46 degrees C (~115 degrees F) – forced many buildings – dugouts – partially underground.

But however rough and ready the structures and difficult the conditions in this remote Outback outpost nearly 600km (373 miles) north of Adelaide, Andamooka’s dunnies gave the opal fields a touch of civilisation. One dwelling built on three levels even had an outside dunny clearly visible through the window from the inside dunny! Luxury!!

Perhaps more important, however, position and placement meant the miner could keep an eye on the action while answering nature’s call.

Although Andamooka Opal was first discovered after a rare thunderstorm, tragically history didn’t repeat itself on our visit – leaving me without another precious piece of Australia’s national gem. And while I didn’t look very hard, nor did I find anything worth keeping down the dunny!

The muddy roads also nixed a visit either the opal fossicking area or the nearby (normally) dry salt lake Lake Torrens.

BUT … it’s probably appropriate that my only real tourist experience in Andamooka involved Scenic Aussie Loos!!

Yes, it’s unknown (to me, at least) whether anyone ever got rich from finding opal in a dunny shaft.

But I’d like to think that somewhere out there, never recorded in the Andamooka annals, is an opal miner who struck it lucky while digging out a dunny.

Because that’d make Andamooka’s classic Aussie Outback loo view one of the most valuable in the world!

* Much of the information in this post came from a tourist brochure about the Andamooka Opal Fields, compiled by Anne Louise Potter and Trevor Peek in November 2009

** It rains so often when we visit a new place that Pilchard & I are considering hiring ourselves out as drought-breakers! Call me!!

Want MORE?

• More about Andamooka, South Australia 
• Opal Hotspots in Australia
• More Australian Scenic Public Toilets
• MY BOOK: ‘Aussie Loos with Views!’
• More Andamooka and South Australian Outback Photos on Flickr

Previous Post: Climb Bald Rock – Australia’s BIGGEST Granite Monolith!

NEXT Post:  How to Spend 7 Days in Paradise – Lord Howe Island Style!

The post Dugouts, Dirt and Dunnies! 3 reasons to visit Andamooka, South Australia appeared first on Australia by Red Nomad OZ.

Australian Country Towns don’t come much smaller than some of these! But each town on my A-Z list within my Aussie ABC punches above its weight with attractions you probably won’t find anywhere else. My list of HOT Aussie Towns from N-Z here in Part 2 have attractions so COOL you’ll want to see them all.

And if you missed my selection of Australian Country Towns from A – M, then take a look at Part 1 of T is for Towns HERE!

Nimbin, New South Wales

This vibrant village in the heart of Northern New South Wales’ Rainbow Region is a alternative lifestyle magnet – think communes, cannabis and colourful creativity – amidst a spectacular natural rainforest.

Which is still there thanks to a sustained – and successful – protest against logging that reached a head at nearby Terania Creek, now known as Protestors Falls, in 1979.

Orroroo, South Australia

Near the Goyder Line – surveyed to determine the point at which agriculture in South OZ isn’t viable – Orroroo is a stepping off point for the Flinders Ranges.

But detour to nearby Magnetic Hill, described by Wikipedia as a gravity hill optical illusion! It’s not unique to Australia – but the bizarre sensation of rolling uphill on a downhill slope makes it a tourist magnet, haha!

Portland, Victoria

Non-birdos might not find the prospect of seeing the only mainland Australian Gannet colony at Point Danger near Portland – oldest European settlement in Victoria – so thrilling.

Luckily, the other attractions – like the Petrified Forest and Blowholes at Cape Bridgewater; and Enchanted Forest, Yellow Rock and Lighthouse at Cape Nelson – have more universal appeal. And how could anyone resits the Bonney Upwelling Festival?

Quobba, Western Australia

More of a locality than a town, Quobba makes up for its lack of infrastructure with a stunning coastal landscape complete with campground, beach, lighthouse, whales, blowholes (both the rocky AND whale types), wildflowers, monster waves – and one of the best Aussie dunnies anywhere EVER!

Yes, it’s in MY BOOK: Aussie Loos with Views!

Richmond, Tasmania

Nearly every Aussie state has a town, suburb or locality called Richmond. The Tasmanian Richmond boasts Australia’s oldest bridge built in 1823. Between Hobart and World Heritage site Port Arthur, picturesque and historic Richmond makes a perfect base from which to explore.  Especially when you consider its fine collection of eateries!

Besides, everyone’s already got the shot of Australia’s MOST photographed bridge!

Swan Reach, South Australia

One of the first South OZ river ports, Swan Reach marks where Goyder’s Line crosses the Murray River.  It’s 30 km below the first of the 13 completed locks along the biggest river system in OZ.

Explorer Edward John Eyre made his home here, and nearby Big Bend (can you guess why it’s called that?) has the highest cliffs on the Murray!

Tully, Queensland

Tully’s Golden Gumboot shows the height of its annual rainfall. But it doesn’t show the rivalry between Tully, Babinda and Innisfail.  Each year they vied for the ‘honour’ of being Australia’s wettest town and scoring the ‘Golden Gumboot’ award!

With average annual falls of 4000 mm (160 inches) AND highest recorded annual rainfall in a populated area (7900 mm in 1950) sugar town Tully claims the title!

For now …

Useless Loop, Western Australia

Unless you get a job mining the purest salt in the world, you won’t see the Useless Loop township because no tourists are allowed in this closed community, westernmost town in Australia.  But it’s still my favourite Australian Country Towns name!

You CAN access the Shark Bay World Heritage area surrounding the town from closest town Denham.  It’s also the official westernmost town with Australia’s westernmost caravan park!

Victoria River Roadhouse, Northern Territory

A fully self-contained roadhouse with fuel, food, accomodation is what passes for a town in parts of the Northern Territory. With a scenic campground setting below the Stokes Range right next to Australia’s WILDEST river, the roadhouse is worth a stopover.

The Victoria River Roadhouse is a chance to experience wild Outback Australia at its best if you like your scenery full of staggering views and your landscapes with a rugged edge.

Wycheproof, Victoria

It’s not such a long way to the top of Mt Wycheproof, a “metamorphic boss”.  At 43 metres above the plain (237 m above sea level) it is also the world’s (self-proclaimed) smallest mountain!

Visible from Broadway below in the township, the mini-mount is a tourist drawcard.  Especially when coupled with endemic flower Correa Glabra, unique mountain quartz Wycheproofite AND a cool scenic loo.  YES, it’s in my BOOK!

eXmouth, Western Australia

I can’t tell you why there aren’t many OZ towns beginning with X.  But I blame an unimaginative language that fails to use the letter X to its full potential!

That doesn’t mean Exmouth on the tip of North West Cape isn’t worth seeing.  It’s between the ocean and the outback with Ningaloo Reef on one side (guess which!) and Cape Range National Park on the other!

Yowah, Queensland

This remote opal mining town shares its name with the Yowah Nut, a geode-like nut shaped rock with an opal core found nowhere else on earth.

They’ve got matrix opal too.

Come for the opal festival and find yourself a Yowah Nut either on the opal field or at one of the many opal outlets.  Or just experience the awesome Aussie outback at its best!

FitZroy Crossing, Western Australia

Visit during the dry season and you’d never guess that the Fitzroy River has the highest volume of water in Australia. That’s when it’s in flood with an estimated 30,000 cubic metres per second flowing along a 15 km wide flood plain.

When it’s not being flooded out, visit Fitzroy Crossing for the awesome Geikie Gorge, the closest mainland Australia has by way of icebergs!

Well, that’s just a tiny town teaser! With thousands of small Australian Country Towns there are a LOT more to discover out there.

And if you want to discover them for yourself, take a look at some cheap flights to get you started!

Want MORE?

• T for Towns Part 1 A-M
• Australian Towns, Wikipedia
• MORE Photos of Australian Towns on Flickr
• MORE Aussie ABC 

The post Aussie ABC: T is for Towns Part 2 appeared first on Australia by Red Nomad OZ.

Ever wondered what’s out beyond the urban areas where nearly 90% of the Australian population live? There’s a LOT of wide open spaces, a LOT of natural attractions – and a LOT of TOP Aussie Tiny Towns with TERIFFIC Tourist Attractions!

The Australian Country Towns in the ABC-within-my-bigger-ABC might be small, but there’s all got something to see that you possibly won’t see anywhere else!

If you haven’t seen them, check out what you’re missing in the first instalment of A-M below – click on the town name for more information –  N-Z is right HERE!

Aramac, Queensland

If not for the distinctive White Bull, stolen with 600 cattle from Bowen Downs station near Aramac – still a grazing town – by bushranger and bovine burglar Harry Readford, he might not have been tried after his otherwise historic cattle drive 800 miles south.

Even so, Harry was acquitted! Aramac was named in typical Aussie fashion for Robert Ramsay MacKenzie who carved his initials ‘R R Mac’ into a tree. Geddit?

Bedourie, Queensland

It’s not just the awesome natural hot springs bathing pool right next to the campground or the bi-annual camel races. Bedourie – between Boulia with its pieces of Skylab and Birdsville with its iconic race meet – has its own unique piece of Australiana to boast about!

The Bedourie Oven – a clever contraption for cooking over campfire coals started here and took Australia by storm!

Charlotte Pass, New South Wales

Australia’s coldest temperature ever – minus 23 C – was recorded at Charlotte Pass, at 1765 m Australia’s highest permanent settlement, in the shadow of Mt Kosciuszko, which at 2228m is Australia’s highest mountain!

Just off the old road to the summit, Charlotte Pass is within walking distance of the top peak in OZ – how many other towns in the world can boast THAT?

Dadswells Bridge, Victoria

The tiny Victorian settlement of Dadswells Bridge, at the tip of the Southern Grampians, celebrates Australia’s favourite icon with a vengeance. Sam the BIG Koala had a facelift and make-up job since this dour photo was taken – now there’s a gift shop, tavern, ice-creamery, caravan park and a REAL Koala Zoo!

BUT … Big Sam’s concrete embrace gives ‘cuddle a koala’ a whole new meaning!

Eromanga, Queensland

It’s not Australia’s geographic centre, but via a complicated (and arguable!) calculation, Eromanga is furthest from the ocean – and ergo, so are the service station, pub, caravan park and so on!

The excellent museum (furthest from the sea) is just up the road from the opal-studded miners monument (furthest from the water) in the travellers rest stop (furthest from the coast).

Falls Creek, Victoria

It’s not Australia’s highest town (see Charlotte Pass above) nor does it have Australia’s highest body of water (that’s Lake Cootapatamba near Mt Kosciuszko), but alpine ski resort Falls Creek is the next best thing.

Near Mt Bogong, highest mountain in Victoria, it’s also got Rocky Valley Lake, at 1600m Australia’s highest significant body of water – and one of its few lakes to be used for both winter and summer sports!

Gundagai, New South Wales

A funny thing happened on the Road to Gundagai, although details vary by account – but a statue of a dog who, some say, did something nasty in his master’s Tuckerbox could surely only happen in OZ!

Often referenced in Aussie folklore, Gundagai claims Australia’s oldest bakery (still operating – YESSSSS!) and a miniature Baroque Italian palace carved, ironically, by Frank Rusconi who also did the honours for the Dog-on-the-Tuckerbox statue’s base!

Humpty Doo, Northern Territory

Only 40 km from Darwin, this small town is home to the Adelaide River Floodplain and nearby Fogg Dam, both parts of a world renowned wetland system.

There’s also the BIG Boxing Crocodile, the well known Humpty Doo Hotel and a Reptile World with 300 kinds of snake! But wouldn’t you want to visit Humpty Doo just for its name?

Isisford, Queensland

It’s no secret how Isisfordians feel about certain state government decisions – their sentiments are displayed on the town entrance sign.

But Isisford is better known for the the Mother of all Crocodiles – a fossil found on a nearby property that is ancestor to all modern crocs. You can decide which attraction is the most scary over a drink at the Clancy of the Overflow Pub!

Jerilderie, New South Wales

One of the more bizarre tributes to Aussie legend and outlaw Ned Kelly is a statue made of bread tins at (of course!) the Jerilderie Bakery.

Ned held up the Post Office and wrote his manifesto (known as the Jerilderie letter) here, but if you like your attractions a little less controversial, cross the road for Steel Wings – the only two windmills of their kind in the world!

Koolywurtie, South Australia

Raised on a Koolywurtie farm, Captain Harry Butler, a decorated World War 1 Ace pilot and aviator, made the first Southern Hemisphere over-water flight in 1919 across St Vincent’s gulf from Adelaide in his Bristol monoplane, the Red Devil.

Believed to be the only original plane of this type left in the world, the Red Devil is on permanent display in nearby Minlaton, where there’s also a mural, memorabilia and museum with information about his life.

Longford, Tasmania

Two Australian Convict World Heritage listed sites jostling for position, and a town awash with fine examples of Georgian architecture puts Longford firmly on the heritage trail.

Built by free convict labour, Woolmers and Brickendon Estates offer a fascinating glimpse of Australia’s colonial history. But if all that history’s a bit much, chill out in the Woolmers Rose Garden, with 460 varieties!

Madura, Western Australia

Crossing Australia from West to East (or vice versa) via the Nullarbor takes WAY more than a day. Luckily, the small community of Madura, 1253 km (779 miles) east of Perth has everything travellers need.

As well as a range of accomodation, fuel, food and a swimming pool, Madura is home of the Walers – cavalry horses used by the British Army. And it’s also home of Brumby’s Run – Hole 9 of the Nullarbor Links Golf Course which, at 1365 km is longest in the WORLD!

And on that happy note, that’s the end of Part 1 of my Aussie ABC: T is for Tiny Aussie Towns with Terrific Tourist Attractions!

Have YOU got a favourite Australian country town? Tell all below!!

And if you want to start visiting Australia’s AWESOME country towns here’s the lowdown on cheap flights to get you started!

Want MORE?

• Australian Country Towns Part 2 N-Z
• List of Australian Country Towns (Wikipedia)
• MORE Photos of Australian Towns on Flickr

The post Aussie ABC: T is for Towns Part 1 appeared first on Australia by Red Nomad OZ.

Welcome to the first ever RED HOT RedzAustralia selection of 16 Go-To Australian Travel Bloggers for All-Australian Travel Inspiration!

Because Australia’s wonderful destinations have so much variety and so many fantastic attractions, sometimes tracking down the perfect Australian HOT Spot for your next vacation, weekend or day off can be tricky.

It’s SO much easier when you’ve got a bit of help from some inspiring Australian Travel Bloggers and their blogs about travel in AUSTRALIA!

So how does a blog get on the RedzAustralia Inspiring Australian Travel Bloggers list?

• Most content in last 3 months is about travel destinations in Australia
• Content is original, detailed and informative about Australian destinations and attractions
• Content is recent, regular and ongoing over last 3 months
• Blog has specialty area or niche that sets it apart

I read (and enjoy!) a lot of lifestyle blogs with some travel content, photo blogs, travel blogs with mostly overseas travel content and blogs with lots of how-to and product review content all written by Australians – but they’re not where I go for Aussie Travel Inspiration. That’s why they’re not on this list.

For Aussie Travel Inspiration I visit the 16 Go-To Blogs presented below in random order (I drew them out of a hat)!

1 4WDAus (Twitter: @steve4wdaus)

Steve and Alison Kruger show off parts of Australia I’ve yet to see as they hit the less-travelled roads in their Amesz Camper!! But it takes them places we’re unlikely to get to in our Subaru Forester/1983 Jayco Dove camper combo.

Illustrated with their own superb photography, 4WDAus is an intriguing journey to places in OZ most of us don’t even know exist!

Specialty: Aussie destinations well off the beaten track
Sample Post: Aeroprakt A22LS Foxbat (Alison flies over Nambung National Park) 

2 Hiking Fiasco (Twitter:  @HikingFiasco)

Not all of beardless hiker Greg’s posts are about hiking, and not all his hikes are fiascos – but don’t let this blatantly false advertising put you off!

Greg’s epic hiking stories in some of Australia’s more remote and wild (mainly) southern areas are required reading for serious hikers; those who like awesome photography; and people who want a good laugh!

Other than climing Mt Kosciuszko, there aren’t many hikes we’ve both done – unless you count the short 2km hike up Mt William in the Grampians. For me, descending 2 km back the same way I ascended was the day’s main hike. For Greg? Well … it was just a warm up!

Specialty: Hiking in remote and wilderness areas
Sample Post: Major Mitchell Plateau, Grampians, Victoria 

3 Rocky Travel (Twitter: @rockytravel)

Hitting the Aussie road is a bit more complicated for Rocky Travel’s Michela than it is for me. She specialises in solo travel AND she’s based in Italy, but that hasn’t stopped her from seeing more of Australia than many Aussies.

Michela’s e-book Your Australia Itinerary (The Ultimate Guide for Female Solo Travellers) and her blog details her journeys in OZ with invaluable information for independent solo travellers in OZ – actually, make that ANY travellers.

And to date, she’s the ONLY travel blogger I’ve actually met! Twice!!

Specialty: Solo Travel throughout Australia
Sample Post: Road-tripping the South East Coast, Australia 

4 Life Images by Jill

What’s NOT to love about the cool Aussie travel adventures, excellent blog posts and fantastic photography that make up Jill’s awesome blog? And I’m not the only one who thinks so – Jill’s work regularly appears in Australian travel and photography related publications.

I interview Jill about her travels, her blog and her photography HERE: Red Alert #12 – RED is for LIFE!

Specialty: Road trips to remote destinations with great photos
Sample Post: Mount Augustus Walk Trails, Pilbara, Western Australia

5 Travel Outback Australia (Twitter:  @TravelOutbackOz)

Gary and Amanda live, work and play in the Outback so it’s hardly surprising their website is required reading for travellers who want to see it for themselves. The travel tips, product reviews, road-trip itineraries, destination information and inspiring photography on their blog make it a superbly readable one-stop-shop – I dare you to visit the blog and NOT be tempted to click on at least one of the posts you’ll see there!

And yes, there IS an Outback destination somewhere in a state or territory near you!

Specialty: Outback Travel
Sample Post: 25 Secret Outback National Parks

6 Pretraveller  (Twitter:  @Pretraveller)

Anne  takes a lot of the guesswork out of travelling for her readers by supplying up to date information and how-to’s about a range of Australian (and overseas) destinations, itineraries and road-trips.  She’s just released a Travel Planning Template Package on her website.

Read RED Alert #11 – InspiRED by Pretraveller! (my interview with Anne) for more information!

Specialty: Up to date travel information, planning guides and advice
Sample Post: 12 Rocking 2WD Road Trip Routes to Escape Sydney These Spring School Holidays

7 ytravelblog (Twitter:  @yTravelBlog)

Think of almost anywhere in Australia – and the chances are Caz and Craig have been there AND written about it during their recent 18 month Aussie road-trip! ytravel also does a nice line in motivation and practical advice for people who dream of travelling but aren’t quite sure how to make it happen!

Specialty: Prolific posting with great photos
Sample Post: 7 Ways to Relax and Be Romantic in the Barossa Valley 

8 Our Naked Australia (Twitter:   @OurNakedAus)

Juz and Dave left Melbourne behind nearly 1000 days ago for life on the road in Australia in their modified Troopie and they’re STILL going strong! In between then and now they’ve been to a staggering number of places all around Australia and made some awesome discoveries.

If you want to get up close to nature right off the tourist trail, Juz and Dave show you how it’s done!

Specialty: Camping and exploring Australia’s more obscure corners
Sample Post: Camping and 4WDing: Blackdown Tableland 

9 Bushwalking Blog  (Twitter:  @BushwalkingBlog)

Who says hiking can’t positively impact every aspect of your life? Not Neil Fahey – he turned his love of hiking into one of the most romantic proposals EVER! He’s also turned it into an awesome blog full of great Aussie hiking hotspots and he’s generous in sharing his personal experience. The blog has also branched out into complementary activities – like geo-caching – so there’s no excuse NOT to get active!

Specialty: Aussie Bushwalking & Hiking
Sample Post: Shepparton: A Weekend of Walking, Eating and Geo-caching 

10 Explore Australia Blog (Twitter:  @ExploreAus)

Explore Australia’s blog’s posts about natural attractions, activities and destinations all around Australia AND its list of Aussie Travel blogs make it a no brainer for researching Aussie holidays. This publishing company has its finger on the pulse with a great range of complementary books about Camping, National Parks and Walks.

Oh, and Scenic Loos! Yes, they published MY BOOK ‘Aussie Loos with Views’, one of Australia’s all time great travel titles But I digress!

Specialty: Information about a wide range of Aussie travel destinations with emphasis on camping
Sample Post: The Best Free Campsites in New South Wales 

11 Kath Swinbourne  (Twitter:  @KathSwinbourne)

Photographer, writer and traveller Kath has a good life, and isn’t afraid to admit it! Her stunning photography and excellent stories of her road trips and other travel adventures in Australia make a great starting point for those looking for places to go and things to see in Australia, but aren’t quite sure where to get started.

Specialty: Road-trips into country Australia
Sample Post: Kakadu Dreaming 

12 Wild Western Australia (Twitter:  @WAtravellers)

Bonny’s detailed insider knowledge about Western Australia make this well-illustrated blog the place to go for travellers to WA who want to explore in a little more depth than usual. The neat search tool in the side-bar makes finding information about any WA destination easy.

Specialty: Things to do in Western Australian travel destinations
Sample Post: Walking Yallingup’s Quenda Trail 

13 Travelling Australia with Kids (TAWK) Blog (Twitter: @TravAusWithKids)

Even for someone like me who doesn’t have kids – and has NEVER travelled with kids – this blog is full of interesting places to go and things to do! There’s even an on-line TAWK community and products to assist your Aussie adventures – whether you’ve got kids or not!

Specialty: Travelling Australia with Kids
Sample Post: Shark Bay Australia 

14 Adventures All Around  (Twitter:  @TheAmandaWoods)

Amanda’s adventures ARE from all around – but there’s just enough Aussie content to keep her on my list! She’s made it super easy to find her Australian content with a nifty category selector in the menu bar!

Tragically, I don’t get to listen to her regular travel segment on Sydney Radio 2UE – but that’s what the blog’s for, right?!

Specialty: Travel hot spots and traveller tips
Sample Post: Antarctic Cruise on the Akademik Ioffe with One Ocean Expeditions 

15 Travelling Type (Twitter:  @travelling_type)

The moment I discovered Andy’s awesome Aussie travel blog, he posted about moving overseas! But there’s still enough Australian content to keep him on my list (click HERE) 

Andy explores the culture and history of a destination as well as its natural attractions so visitors to his blog can be assured of reading about things they won’t necessarily find elsewhere!

Specialty: Finding hidden secrets and oddities off the tourist trail
Sample Post: Egyptians amongst the Eucalypts? The Gosford Hieroglyphs 

16 RedzAustralia  (Twitter: @RedNomadOZ)

Red Nomad OZ (yes, that’s ME – Marion Halliday!) is a loud and proud advocate of exploring Australia’s awesome natural attractions, cool country towns, hiking trails and bakeries. Oh – and Scenic Loos – I’ve even written a book about them!! My travels are a series of Amazing Australian Adventures and discoveries of the best of OZ.

Join me for travel inspiration via stories, information and photos from all around Australia!

Specialty: Discovering the adventures to be had in Australian holiday destinations, and Aussie Loos with Views
Sample Post: 5 Amazing Angorichina Adventures! Northern Flinders Ranges

I’m planning the NEXT Edition of Australian Travel Bloggers in time for the summer holidays- so if I’ve missed YOUR favourite Go-To Blog for Aussie travel inspiration, let me know in the comments below!

All Photos from RedzAustalia – hope you found them inspiring too

AND … once you’ve been inspired, find the best flights and start planning YOUR awesome Australian holiday!

Previous Post: 10 Places You MUST Visit in Australia

NEXT Post: Red’s 10 BEST Travel Experiences in South Australia!

The post 16 RED HOT Go-To Blogs for Australian Travel Inspiration! appeared first on Australia by Red Nomad OZ.

Swinging a feral cat ANYWHERE in the middle of South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula without hitting a stony peak, hill, bluff, outcrop, mountain, cliff, dome or rock-face is almost impossible.

Take the small town of Darke Peak – population 50 – for example.

We’d followed the 8-peak Darke Range to the west all the way into Darke Peak township named for – yes, you guessed right, the range’s highest point, Darke Peak.

To the east loomed the great domes of Carappee Hill, the Eyre Peninsula’s highest point at 495 metres above sea-level.

Behind us was Caralue Bluff – an impressive wedge of rock where only a short climb up the base gave even more impressive views of the Darke Range AND Carappee Hill.

Because of the mostly flat country around them, the rocks don’t look very big from afar, but the closer you get, the less likely a stroll to the top seems. Despite enticements like seeing the grave of first European explorer to the area Charles Darke, or standing atop the regions highest point, or finding yet another opportunity to prove I really AM an amateur when it comes to landscape photography!!

Luckily for us, the flat country means the great views don’t require great height.

BUT even more luckily, at the small township of Darke Peak there’s a killer view without climbing AT ALL!

Because THIS little town has a true-blue two-loo view!

It’s also got two pubs. First, there’s the Darke Peak Hotel, apparently first in South OZ to serve Queensland brew XXXX (that’s pronounced ‘Four-ex’ in case you didn’t already know).

Then there’s the Hellbent Hotel right across the road – originally constructed in the early hours of New Years Day 1980 so the locals could continue to commemorate the new decade after the Darke Peak Hotel closed for the night!

There’s no record of what happened to the original, but the Hellbent Hotel was upgraded and reopened for the Darke Peak Legends weekend, 2009.

Perhaps it’s unsurprising that at one time, Darke Peak held the record for the per capita highest beer consumption rate in South Australia.

And with a record like THAT, it’s perhaps also unsurprising that the town has TWO loos!

Right next to the Hellbent Hotel and with a fine view of the nether regions of Erica the Emu (see below), the Colman S**tter (just insert ‘hi’ if you’re having trouble with the asterisks) is a classic example of what happens to old dunnies when they die.

It’s unclear if the Colman is still operational – the tin walls and ‘dunny’ can; the wooden seat; and the ‘privacy’ screen are all classic Australiana of yesteryear – but I’m betting NOT!

Happily for visitors wanting to answer nature’s call, there’s a far more modern alternative a few steps away behind the Darke Peak information pavilion.

Built in the proud tradition of the two giant silos it faces at the Darke Peak railway station, this mini silo-shaped dunny is a masterclass in monastic minimalism, inside AND out. But there’s NO doubt THIS loo’s in use – or was that just me

Darke Peak Dunny #2 isn’t a one-trick pony when it comes to the view. From the prison cell-like comforts of the little silo loo, cunningly hidden under a giant pine tree just off the main road, I could see the silos, railway (complete with train), the Darke Range, the Hellbent Hotel, Erica the Emu, the Darke Peak Hotel and the Colman S**tter.

It just might be the only place in OZ where you get a tour of the town’s main attractions just by using the dunny!

And that trumps visiting a bunch of rocks any day, right??!!

Want MORE?

• Darke Peak
• Eyre Peninsula, South Australia
• MORE Scenic Australian Public Toilets
• My Book: Aussie Loos with Views!

Previous Post:  Why Port Clinton is a TOP Aussie Town!

NEXT Post:  10 TOP Things to do in Port Augusta!

The post Darke Peak and the True Blue Two Loo View! 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.

Don’t miss any more RedzAustralia posts!  Register for RedzAustralia email updates HERE!

Previous Post:  Random Adventures in the Scenic Rim (Part 1)

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The post Red’s TOP 10 Aussie Pests (and where I found them)! appeared first on Australia by Red Nomad OZ.

The creativity gene passed me by. So did most (all?) of the essential abilities and skills required for success at the Arts. And being described as ‘artisan’, ‘inventive’ or ‘patient’ is about as likely as me ever winning the Archibald Prize.

So back in the dark ages when I picked up my first (film) camera and peered through the viewfinder, I had an epiphany. I could actually see things through it I’d never noticed without it.

I’d found a portal into the secret world of … well, whatever I was looking at. Without it, the world was flat and ever-so-slightly dull. But through the lens, colours seemed brighter, patterns appeared, and details became endlessly fascinating.

And the magic of the minutiae came zinging down the lens like a coded message glimmering through the mirage that separates me from that other world.

Sometimes so close I can almost understand it.

Or at least attempt to catch it.

The urge to explore the language of that secret world – where nothing speaks more strongly than the trees – casts a spell so compelling I spend hours trying to capture it. And for one brief moment I can channel what it is to be a true artist.

And when the trees speak their secret language in the shimmering sunlit swirls of melaleuca reflections in a tannin-stained lake, time passes too quickly before the moment is gone forever.

The interior tells of times gone by too in the red rings of age, the cracks of weathering and a record of the blades that saw this monster fall.

And on the surface, the bark and its startling abstractions of texture, colour and pattern. Are any two the same? Who knew the native Australian Eucalypt is the only genus in the world with species representing all regions and habitats from sea level to the snow line?

Above, a leafy canopy throws a filter over the sky, rendering the harsh sun bearable through its colours and patterns. And the tree’s secret language translates the play of light into a message of comfort and peace.

The trees, with their movement, their life and their magic, surround a wind-rippled pool and turn its darkened depths into a scene of such perfect abstraction I’d never have had the imagination or patience to paint.

Limbs bleached by the sun and weathered by rain radiate from the trunk of a tree, hugging the earth where it fell. Am I the only one to see its dramatic design in this lifetime? Its remnants will still mark the land once I too am dust.

No, age is no barrier to the language of trees. Weathered and worn, and now giving life to other living things as they sink into the oblivion of the Aussie bush, their colours now muted as they blend with the forest floor.

A strangler fig grows large as the tree it grasps grows weak in the brutal cycle of the natural world where each has a role in creating that dynamic collective of flora and fauna we call the rainforest.

And even where the trees don’t grow, they influence the landscape as their image flickers over forest streams, throws a backdrop for the birds and ripples round the river banks creating the glorious watercolours of the Aussie bush.

Then the trees speak again in the random structures of their fallout. How would that bushland look without the attractive asymmetry of random trunks, the enigma of interwoven branches, the harmony in the patterns they create?

A sensation of colour marks the entrance of spring.

And against that blue BLUE Aussie sky, the trees speak of growth, of survival, of life.

I may never fully decipher the secret language of the trees. But what I see through my lens is a glimpse of its meaning.

Want MORE?

• Australian Watercolours made EASY!
• More Natures Abstracts on Flickr
• More Natures Abstracts on Pinterest

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Most Aussies speak English – but with a twist that turns it into Australian English, otherwise known as ‘Strine’.

Strine?

Say ‘Australian’ REALLY quickly without any too much emphasis on diction or correct pronunciation – an Aussie will be able to say it in just one syllable – and you’ll get a word that sounds almost like Strine. Get it?

We’ve got our linguistic laziness to thank for giving us the ability to mimic almost any other accent – an ability that doesn’t seem to work in reverse. Adapting our untrained vocal muscles and off-hand pronunciation to a new set of words is easier for an Aussie than it is for speakers of more rigorous languages to adapt to Strine.

Those lazy habits are also evident in idiomatic Aussie slang. Learning the local lingo – or at least a few key words and phrases – can be fun. But if you’re struggling with Strine (especially those words that sound almost – but not quite – like English) here’s a simple starter guide of Aussie slang from A-Z (with footnotes to the Aussie Slang rules’ at the end of the post).

See how many YOU understand!

Avagoodweegend (#1):  Usually heard on Friday arvo (#2) and literally means ‘Have a good weekend’.

Barbie: Shortened form of Barbecue. No self-respecting Aussie would put a ‘shrimp’ on the barbie when there’s a snag (sausage) in sight! A barbie is usually preceded by a trip to the Boozer (pub) for some – yes, that’s right – booze!

Cuppa:  A cup of tea. How much easier is it to say ‘Cuppa?’ Than ‘Would you like a cup of tea?’ Unless the queen is visiting, of course! Sometimes offering a choice – ‘Cuppa, or a Cold One?’ – is appropriate so your guests can choose between tea or a cold beer.

Dunny: When nature calls, you’re caught short, or you want to spend a penny, just ask ‘Where’s the dunny, mate?’ and you’ll get directions to the nearest toilet! If you’re lucky, it’ll be a Scenic one!

Esky: Take your Cold Ones to the Barbie in an Esky and this handy insulated container will keep them cold! It’d be a rare Australian home without at least one.

Flat Out (#3): Very busy, moving very fast or going like the clappers! A short version of the phrase flat out like a lizard drinking (see below) meaning belly down, getting on with it.

Galah (#4): These colourful Australian native birds (see top photo) aren’t known for their stupidity or foolishness. But a person with these characteristics is often dubbed a silly Galah! Go figure!!

Happy as Larry (#5): Very happy, even though no one actually remembers who Larry is/was and why we are measuring our happiness against his.

Iffy: Dodgy. Not quite above board. Unclear. Can describe people, activities or situations.

Joe Blake (#6): Snake. Continuing the proud tradition of stealing borrowing from the Brits that triggered a mass banishment to the colonies in the first place, us Aussies have adopted rhyming slang as our own. Not to be confused with Mad as a cut snake which describes an angry or deranged person.

Knock: A useful word with multiple meanings. To knock is to poke fun at; a knocker is one who knocks; to knock back is to refuse; and to knock off is either to steal something or finish work. Or both.

Lurk: A strategy to outwit your boss, or find a way around rules and regulations is a good lurk. Knowing all the lurks is a valuable ability, especially if it also benefits your mates.

Mate: Friend, buddy, chum, pal. Oddly enough, most of these are also dog food brands. The most common Australian phrase, and the most mispronounced (by new chums) is G’day, mate! Your friends can also be your Scumbag mates – either a compliment or term of derision depending on who’s doing the calling!

Ned Kelly: Bushranger known for courage under fire. A brave person is as game as Ned Kelly. However, a person who tries to ‘put one over’ (ie trick or cheat = highway robbery) is also known as a ‘Ned Kelly’

On ya: Or more commonly, on ya, mate! Abbreviated form of ‘Good on you’.

Perish: Die, or come close to death through starvation or poverty. Doing a perish is the activity leading to the ultimate conclusion of starvation or poverty.

Quack: Doctor. Originally applied to an unqualified doctor, it’s now applied to ANY doctor.

Ranga: Redhead (see below).  But a redhead can also be called Blue (#7)!

Smoko: Pronounced ‘Smoke-oh’, it refers to morning or afternoon tea

time when taking a break meant boiling the billy (ie making a cup of tea over an open fire) and having a cigarette.

Tucker: Food. Qualifiers can be used to define food types such as good tucker for food that’s bonzer; or bush tucker for food with native ingredients, or that has come from the land.

Up yourself: An insult applied to a person who think s/he is better than others, or is showing off.

Veg Out: Relax. Pronounced ‘Vedge’, and refers to vegetables which are known for their lack of intellectual ability. A veggie or vego is either a person of limited intelligence or a vegetarian.

Wombat: A wombat is an Aussie animal who eats roots and leaves. It’s a derogatory term when used by females to describe a male with these habits – root being a euphemism for sexual intercourse. It’s often a term of admiration when used by a male to describe another male. Go figure.

XXXX: A well known brand of Aussie beer promoted by the jingle ‘I can feel a 4X coming on’. Pronounced ‘Four-ex’, it’s not to be confused with a popular brand of US condoms.

Yakka: Work. Hard yakka = Hard work.

Zonked: Tired. Also Knackered.

What have I missed? Do YOU have a favourite slang term?? Or a phrase you’ve heard for which you’d like a translation???

Let me know in the comments below!

Aussie Slang Rules:

These are just a few of the general rules applicable to Aussie slang – but be warned! Every rule has its exceptions and often, neither the rule NOR the exceptions actually make sense!

Rule #1 – Run words together quickly and don’t worry about keeping syllables separate

Rule #2 – Shorten a word (including names) and add ‘o’ (or another vowel) at the end

Rule #3 – Take a phrase with intrinsic meaning and render it incomprehensible by only using the first two or three words!

Rule #4 – Adopt native animal characteristics to describe human traits – or show them to be the opposite.

Rule #5 – Long forgotten people’s peculiarities live on in the words and phrases once used to describe them. Don’t try to understand.

Rule #6 – Rhyming slang is the exception to Rule #2. If it rhymes, it’s acceptable for a word or phrase to be MUCH longer than the original

Rule #7 – A word with the opposite meaning can be used to describe a person or thing.

WANT MORE?

Once you’ve mastered the beginners version try these for a more comprehensive slang workout:

• Australian Slang Dictionary
• Going Rank Glossary of Australian Slang
• Australia Travel Search Dictionary of Australian Slang
• Australian Words via Australian National University (thank you Karol!)

And … check out A-R in my Aussie ABC HERE!

I used Aussie English -an explanation of the Australian Idiom by John O’Grady; and The Ringers Book of Outback Terms and Phrases, produced by Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame and Outback Heritage Centre as references in preparing this post.

Next Post: The Secret Language of Trees  

Previous Post: Cruising with Crocodiles on Australia’s WILDEST River

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

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

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

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

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

1. Bruny Island

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

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

MORE about Bruny Island

2. Cradle Mountain

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

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

MORE about Cradle Mountain

3. Tasmanian Wombat

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

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

MORE about Wombats

4. Balls Pyramid

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

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

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

MORE about Balls Pyramid

5. Lord Howe Island Phasmid

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

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

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

MORE about Lord Howe Island

6. My TV Interview

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

I’ll leave you to judge it for yourself!

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

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

MORE about Aussie Loos with Views!

7. Sunrise over Lake Moogerah

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

And found out.

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

MORE about the Scenic Rim

8. Carrs Lookout

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

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

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

9. The Roxy Theatre and Café

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

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

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

MORE about the Roxy Theatre, Bingara

10. Birdlife Australia Gluepot Reserve

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

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

This is Outback Australia at its BEST!

MORE about Birdlife Australia Gluepot Reserve

11. Point Danger Gannet Colony

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

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

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

MORE about Point Danger Gannet Colony

12. The Granites

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

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

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

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

MORE about the Coorong

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

Watch this space!

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

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