Aussie Hot Spots

Adelaide & South Australia

2005-11-21T16:27:00.000-05:00

South Australia is made up of the dry hot north and the more temperate south. The green belt includes Adelaide and its surrounding hills, orchards, the Barossa Region and Clare Valley vineyards, the Fleurieu Peninsula, and the Murray River's cliffs and lagoons. Kangaroo Island is just off the coast providing a delightfully antiuqated area to visit. The Coober Pedy offers an experience in Outback living, complete with cattle ringers and opal mines.

Nearly 90% of South Australians live in the area around Adelaide. The city stands on the edge of the harshest, driest land in Oz. The parched interior contains jagged hills and stony deserts. Desolate terrain and temperatures that top 118 degrees Farenheit have thwarted the efforts of the most explorers to conquer the land. Survivors of the region have done so only through drastic measures, such as in the opal-mining town of Coober Pedy, where people live underground!

The deserts of Southern Australia hold great surprises despite their harsh conditions. The deserts offer great clues concerning the country's history long before European settlers. The Flinders Range north of Adelaide hold Aboriginal cave paintings and fossil remains from the ages when the area was a seabed. In 2000, Lake Eyre, a great salt lake, filled with water for the fourth time ever. There is alot to be learned from the deserts of Southern Australia.

Adelaide's urban character combines laid-back living with respect for South Australia's rugged environment. At the end of summer, city parks are crowded with parrots fleeing the parched desert. Bushfires are always a major concern in the area, especially since the Ash Wednesday flames that devastated the region in 1983. Adelaide has a multiethnic population and thriving urban art and music scene.

Well guys...thank you all for exploring Oz with me! I am so excited to go to Australia/New Zealand over winter session. I hope that everyone has been able to recapture their Aussie experience or learn a little something for future travels.

The Great Barrier Reef

2005-11-14T19:11:00.000-05:00

Well since I've heard nothing other than great things about the Great Barrier Reef, I've decided to explore a little further. Most of you who have been to Australia mentioned the reef as one of your favorite places, and those of you whom will be traveling to Ausralia in a little over a month and half, have mentioned how much you're looking forward to visiting the reef. I know that snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef is definitely one of the things I'm most looking foward to on my trip!

The Great Barrier Reef is made up of 3,000 individual reefs and 900 islands. I'm just going to share some information on some of the major islands and about the reef in general. Even if you were to spend your entire time in Australia just exploring this gorgeous phenomenon, it's likely that you would miss something. There's just too much to see and do!

Lady Elliot Island - This island is a 100-acre coral on the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef. Wildlife easily outnumbers the maximum of 105 guests the island can hold. This island is perfect for diving. It is surrounded by the reef and graced with a white coral beach. When the waters are calm, you can see turtles, morays, sharks, and millions of tropical fish.

Heron Island - The waters of Heron Island are gorgeous, teeming with fish and coral. Heron Island is a national park and bird sanctuary, making it a great place to learn about indigenous life on the reef. Thousands of birds live here and are joined by a large number of migrating birds from September through March. Between July and October, humpback whales pass the island on their journey from the Antarctic. The island doesn't offer many activities since its single accomodation accepts only 250 guests and no day-trippers.

Brampton Island - This 195-acre island is proclaimed to be one of the prettiest in the area. The biggest attraction is the water of course, especially snorkeling between Brampton and adjoining Carlisle islands. However, the hilly interior's rain forests are home to kangaroos, rainbow lorikeets, and butterflies. Most of the island is national park, but the resort area is quite lively.

Fitzroy Island - This island is especially popular with day-trippers as it is less than an hour's cruise from Cairns. Fitzroy is a rugged, heavily forested national park. The island is covered in vegetation ranging from rain forest to heath. Of course, Fitzroy is fringed by the reef for snorkeling and scuba diving.

These are only a few of the hundreds of islands that make up the Great Barrier Reef. These pictures don't do justice to the beautiful islands (from what I've heard). I can't wait to see them for myself! The reef is actually 1,640 feet thick in some places. The Reef is made up of zillions of tiny poylps, which have been building up for thousands of years. The Great Barrier Reef attracts thousands of divers and snorkelers every year. They come to see the coral (of course), over 2,000 species of fish, dolphins, dugongs, sea urchins, turtles, as well as 400 species of coral. I don't think words can describe the Great Barrier Reef. I can't wait to explore first hand!

Cairns

2005-11-07T13:35:00.000-05:00

Cairns is actually closer to Papua New Guinea than it is to most of Australia. Cairns is bordered by the Coral Sea to the east and the Great Dividing Range to the west. The area is home to various bird species including night herons, blue cranes, giant sea eagles, and white egrets. During low tide, you may even catch a glimpse of a saltwater crocodile basking on the mudflats. Most people use Cairns as a base for exploring the surrounding ocean and rain forest. A popular drive in the area covers the road from Townsville to Cairns. The Great Green Valley is a beautiful drive through sugarcane, papaya, and banana plantations, passing dense rain forests, white beaches, and bright blue water.

The Esplanade and waterfront are the focal points of life in Cairns. Most of the town's best stores and hotels are found on the Esplanade. This seems to be a gathering place for backpackers too, making it a lively place to hang out. Cairns can trace their beginnings to the place where the Esplanade turns into Wharf Street. This small area was a port for gold and tin mining in 1876. Today, it still serves as a thriving port.

Big-game fishing is a major industry in Cairns. Fish weighing more than 1,000 pounds have been caught in the waters off the Great Barrier Reef. The docks for boats that conduct tours of the Great Barrier Reef are found at Marlin Marina and Trinity Wharf. The actual heart of Cairns is City Place, where much of the town's pubs and shopping areas are found. The Great Barrier Reef is amazing to read about...I can't wait to visit!!

The Great Barrier Reef is made up of 3,000 individual reefs and 900 islands. Amazing! The reef was established as a marine park in 1975 and serves as a home for sea life, turtles, and birds. The reef fringes the Queensland coast. Altogether the reef covers an area bigger than the United Kingdom, forming the largest living feature on earth and the only one visible from space!

I have to say that just looking at all of the pictures and reading about all of these great places makes me so excited for my trip! I love water and sun so I know I'm headed to the right place. I think that the Great Barrier Reef is #1 on my list to see!!

The Outback

2005-10-31T18:39:00.000-05:00

There is a common misconception that the Outback is simply desert land, and although it is vast and rugged, it is still an exciting place to visit. The Outback has several different places to visit depending on your interests. Try your hand at fossicking-searching for gold-in the frontier gem-field towns of Sapphire and Rubyvale or visit Hughenden, known as dinosaur country because of ancient fossils found in the region.

One city to definitely visit is Mount Isa, especially if you enjoy diversity and experiencing different cultures. This city of 22,000 people is home to people from 50 different nations. Mount Isa is also home to Mount Isa Mine, Australia's deepest underground mine. This mine is the largest producer of copper, silver, lead, and zinc in the world. Mount Isa is also home to the largest rodeo in the Southern Hemisphere, which takes place each July.

More to see in the Outback:

Stockman's Hall of Fame - bring to life the early days of white Australian settlements, pay tribute to the pioneers who sought to tame the Australian Outback
gem fields of Central Queensland - world's richest sapphire fields; Gemfest takes place the second week in August, when miners, merchants, and traders swap their wares.
Outback @ Isa Explorers Park - has exhibits of fossil findings and experience an underground mine dressed in a miner's outfit-hard hat, white suit, and headlamp. (How cool is that!?!?)

See...there's more than just desert to see!! Enjoy!!

Queensland the "Sunshine State"

2005-10-24T21:27:00.000-04:00

Queensland has something for everyone...if you're not happy here...then you're not happy anywhere. Queensland is often described as a fusion of Florida, Las Vegas, and the Caribbean. I think I'd love it...since this fusion combines some of my favorite places!! Any outdoor adventure you can describe is here for your enjoyment. Whether you want to soak in the Coral Sea, stroll from cabana to casino, or cruise rivers and rain forests...it's all available in Queensland.

Local license plates deem Queensland the "sunshine state" because of its laid-back stretch of beaches and sun where many Australians and tourists alike head for their vacations. The major attraction to the region is the Great Barrier Reef, which parallels most of the state's edge. The reef stretches 1,178 miles and is described as an ecological masterpiece that supports thousands of animal species. I will have the opportunity to go snorkeling at the reef while abroad...hope I don't run into any sharks!!

Major cities in Queensland include Fraser Island, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Brisband, and Cairns (just to name a few). Don't worry...I'll cover them all in detail in posts to come. Brisbane is considered an up-and-coming city. The city is a formal penal colony turned big country town. The Gold Coast, which I canNOT wait to visit, has 300 days of sunshine a year with an average temperature of 75 degrees. Gold Coast is the most developed tourist destination in Australia, I just want to be there now! The Sunshine Coast is as gorgeous as the Gold Coast, but much quieter. It's a 37 mile stretch of white sand beaches, inlets, lakes, and mountains. Sounds relaxing to me!! I mean look at the picture...how could you not want to be there now?? Fraser Island is the world's largest sand island, but instead of coral reef and coconuts there are wildflower meadows and freshwater lakes. Be careful though; the sharks hunt close to shore!!

There's so much to see and do in Queensland...I'll break it up over the next few posts to let you guys see everything. I can't wait believe how close my trip is...I'm ready to leave NOW!!

Melbourne

2005-10-20T20:29:00.000-04:00

Melbourne is consistently rated among the world's most livable cities. The city sprang up during the gold rush. The heart of Melbourne is an orderly grid of streets where the state parliament, banks, multinational corporations, and Victorian buildings are located.
The city is home to some of the nation's most prestigious schools and universities (it's very important to have attended the right one). Melburnians pride themselves on the face that, unlike Sydney, they live in a city founded by free people, not criminals. For a long time Melbourne's center city was considered inferior compared to Sydney's sparkling harbor. However, during the early '90s there was a large-scale building development along the Yarra Riber transforming the area into a vibrant entertainment district.

Melburnians do love their sports!! They will be hosting the 2006 Commonwealth Games. The city is sports mad! The nation practically shuts down for the Melbourne Cup horse race each year. In January the city celebrates the Australian Tennis Open held in Melbourne Park.

Australian Rules Football.
This game played between teams of 18 is only one of four kinds of football played down under. Aussies also play Rugby League, Rugby Union, and soccer. Aussie Rules also known as "footy" is the most popular version in Melbourne. The sport is beginning to gain an international television audience, revealing the intricacies of Aussie football rules. The ball can be kicked or punched in any direction, but never thrown. Players run around the field making leaps and bounds to catch a kicked ball before it touches the ground, for which the team earns a free kick. Aussie-rules is said to be at its finest in Melbourne. It's actually said that any defeat of a Melbourne team is seen as a sign of strength.

Although Melbourne loves sports...there is more to see and visit...explore the city further.

Canberra

2005-10-10T16:21:00.000-04:00

Many people mistake Sydney as the capital of Australia; however, the true capital of Aussie is Canberra. Canberra gives an overall impression of spaciousness, serenity, and almost unnatural order. The current population of over 300,000 people makes Canberra the largest inland city in Australia. There are no advertising billboards, no bright colors, and very few buildings more than twelve stories high. Canberra is like no where else in Australia...it is an attempt at urban uptopia.

DON'T MISS...

Parliament House - Senate and House have public galleries; best time to observe is during Question Time when the government and opposition are most likely to be at each other's throats.
Royal Australian Mint - can watch Australian coins being minted.
Australian War Memorial - Serves as a memorial to Australians who served their country in wartime and as a military museum; this is a shrine of great national importance and the most popular attraction in the capital.
National Zoo and Aquari um - Explore the underwater world then wander over to the 15-acre wildlife sanctuary to see koalas, penguins, dingoes, kangaroos, and Tasmanian devils!!
And although it wouldn't be #1 on my list...Federal Golf Course - the 18 hole, par 73 is regarded as the most challenging of the city's greens
Balloon Aloft - provides spectacular sunrise views over Canberra or sunrise panoramas over Lake Burley, Griffin, Parliamanet House, and other local sights. (sounds like an awesome way to see everything!!)

How amazing would a hot air balloon rider over the city be??

To learn more about Canberra visit this site or just ask and I'll see what answers I can come up with. Only 82 more days until I leave for Australia....can't wait!!

New South Wales

2005-10-06T01:46:00.000-04:00

Wow! So it sounds like most of you have been to Oz or are going soon. Hearing what you guys have already done makes me even more excited to go. When I write these entries and look at all of the pictures of the places I'm going to visit...I get so excited! Australia definitely sounds like it's going to be an amazing experience. And I think the fact that I've never met anyone who didn't love Oz or anyone who doesn't want to go back is definitely a good thing. Did anyone make it to Fiji while in Australia? That's another place I've always wanted to visit. I'm not sure just how close it is to Oz, but I'm thinking about making the trip since I'll already be half way around the world.

New South Wales is Australia's most populous states with 6.4 million people. That's a whole lot of people!! (It's larger than every state in the U.S. except Alaska!) For most travelers a stop in New South Wales is a visit to Sydney, but there is more to see in the huge state then just Sydney. There are a million and one things to do in Australia...so I'm just trying to touch on the highlights. Most of what I talk about things that I hope to see and places I'd like to visit while I'm in Oz. I have a feeling that my five weeks just aren't going to be enough time to explore everything....oh well....guess I'll just have to go back!!

Echo Point - overlooks the densely forested Jamison Valley. The area was once a seabed that rose over a long period and subsequently eroded, leaving behind tall formations of sedimentary rock.
Zig Zag Railway - travel back in time on the vintage steam engine. The track is laid on the cliffs in a giant "Z" through the Blue Mountains.
Koala Hospital - supports many of these endangered marsupials. You can walk around the grounds and view the recuperating animals.
Sea Acres Rainforest Centre - comprises 178 acres of coastal rain forest, home to native mammals, reptiles, and prolific bird life.
Kosciuszko National Park - occupies 2,612 square miles. Mountain peaks and streams, high meadows, forests, caves, glacial lakes, and wildflowers provide a perfect environment for outdoor sports.

No need to worry...of course there are beaches in New South Wales also! I know for you beach bums like myself...can't go without sand and sun. Just thought I'd give you a taste of what else Australia has to offer. But it wouldn't be Oz without a beautiful beach near by.

Surfers Paradise

2005-09-28T16:36:00.000-04:00

Next stop...The Gold Coast! Who can complain about 300 days of sunshine a year and an average temperature of 75 degress?? I could take some of that weather right now! The Gold Coast is Australia's most developed tourist destination with 35 patrolled beaches and over 277 miles of canals and tidal rivers. The one thing I can't wait for....Surfer's Paradise!!

I love the beach!! I'm addicted to the beach...and I can only imagine that the beaches on Australia's Gold Coast will be even more lovable than the beaches here. Sand, sun and surf is all I need to be happy! Now as for the actual surfing part...I'm not so good at this part. I can stand up on the board, but can't do much more than that. I usually just end up falling over as soon as I get up. But who knows...maybe I'll find a nice surfer boy to give me lessons.

Surfers Paradise is an eclectic collection of highrises overlooking the beach. Beach bums bake in the sun next to signs warning of the risks of skin cancer. I'm not looking for skin cancer...but I do plan to soak up some rays while I'm in Australia! I can't go away for five weeks in the middle of winter and not come back with a tan! But another risk that visitors to Surfers Paradise must be aware of...sharks!!
Swimmers must take precautions when swimming. In some areas nets are placed way out in the water to keep the sharks away from swimming areas. Sharks have attacked surfers in wet suits after mistaking them for animals. Even with all the dangers...I'm willing to take my chances...not much can scare me enough to keep me away from beautiful beaches!!

So what do you think?? Anyone ready to jump on a plane and take off with me!?!?

Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge

2005-09-21T15:29:00.000-04:00

Sydney

2005-09-21T14:04:00.000-04:00

Sydney has long since outgrown the stigma of its convict origins. What Sydney offers are style, sophistication, and great looks. Most tourists spend their time on Sydney harbor's south side, an area bounded by Chinatown in the south, Harbour Bridge in the north, Darling Harbour to the west, and the beaches and coastline to the east. Two of the most famous Sydney icons are the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, but there is more to see in Sydney than just these two sights.

Some things you don't want to miss when in Sydney:

Kirribilli ~ Two of Sydney's most important mansions stand here. The Kirribilli House, which is the official Sydney home of the prime minister. The Admiralty House is the Sydney residence of the governor general, the Queen's representative in Australia.
Taronga Zoo ~ The zoo has taken great care to create spacious enclosures that simulate natural habitats. (of course you can see everyone's favorite marsupial here....the koala!!)
Dawes Point Park ~ Offers wonderful views of the harbor, Fort Denison, and the Harbour Bridge.
Sydney Harbour Bridge ~ The 1,650 foot long bridge is 160 feet wide and contains two sets of railway tracks, eight road lanes, a bikeway, and a footpath on both sides. There are several ways to enjoy the bridge: follow the walkway to the South East Pylon (which houses a display on the bridge's construction and an unbeatable harbor panorama), BridgeClimb Tour (takes you on a guided walking tour to the very top of the bridge), or a self guided walking tour.
Sydney Opera House ~ A loved and potent national symbol, hosting a diverse selection of performance arts and entertainment: dance, drama, films, opera, and jazz.
Koala Park Sanctuary ~ Here you can cuddle a koala or hand feed a kangaroo. The sanctuary is also home to dingoes, wombats, emus, and wallaroos, and there are sheep shearing and boomerang throwing demonstrations.
Bondi (bon-dye) Beach ~ Sydney's most famous beach (where I hope to spend a lot of my time!!). It has something for just about everyone, and the crowds that flock here on a sunny day give it a bustling, carnival atmosphere unmatched by any other Sydney beach.

There are just a few of the attractions that I hope to hit while in Sydney. I am going abroad on the ECON New Zealand/Australia trip so although I won't be spending my entire time in Sydney (we travel all over), I hope to see as much as I can while in Sydney. I know that we're going on a Sydney Harbour cruise and have four free days in Sydney so I'm going to hit as many as the sights as possible. I'm definitely going to check out the beaches (maybe pick up a cute surfer too!!).

Australian Vocabulary: Dag = fashion victim

2005-09-14T15:48:00.000-04:00

A Land of Criminals??

2005-09-14T14:40:00.000-04:00

Just wanted to start off with a little bit of history...explain how this wonderful country came to be. It isn't just about sunshine and fun...

The Aborigines (the native people of Australia) arrived during the Ice Age, before sea levels rose and isolated Australia from Asia. Over 300,000 Aborigines were occupying the land when British captain Arthur Phillip arrived with the first convict settlers in 1788. As Europeans built their penal colony on the shores of Sydney Harbour, the Aborigines were pushed further out to western Australia.

Australia's unique origin as a place of crime and punishment has haunted the country for a century and a half. It wasn't until after World War II that people would even talk about their criminal ancestors. Today, it's something to boast about. People are proud of their criminal ancestry and even try to out do one another with the crimes their family members committed. Tracing one's ancestry back to the First Fleet-the 11 ships that arrived from England in 1788 with convicts-is a badge of honor!!

Immigration influences the Australian culture tremendously. Europeans flooded Australia after World War II, including immigrants from Italy, Yugoslavia, Malta, Eastern Europe, and Greece. During the 1960's and 1970's students from Asia began arriving in Australia to escape their worn torn homes. About half of Australia's current population were either born outside of Australia or have at least one parent born outside of Australia. Just over 2% of the population are Aborigines. The Aborigine population is declining because of the harsh treatment that Aborigines faced when the first immigrants came from Europe.

There is a really good movie called Rabbit Proof Fence which paints a vivid picture of the awful things the Aboriginal people have been through. The movie is about three little girls who are taken from their homes to be trained as domestic servants, but escape and trek across the outback to return to their homes. It's unbelievable what these people have been through. The scary part is that the whole movie is based on a true story. People have really been through this!

So as you can see...Australia doesn't exactly have a bright sunny past. I guess every country began with blood shed...and now some just hide it better than others. When you think of Australia today, you probably don't think about the criminal history or the awful thing that happened to the Aboriginal people...you think of beaches, kangaroos, koala bears, and sunshine! More to come on those things next time....

Australia Vocab:
boofhead : nerd

Intro to Blog

2005-09-07T16:08:00.000-04:00

G'day mate!

Although I have never been Down Under, my intention is to inform visitors of the many attractions that Australia has to offer. I will be studying abroad in New Zealand and Australia over winter session of 2006. My intention is to use this blog not only to inform you of the opportunities that await in Australia, but to also explore for myself the endless opportunities that are awaiting my visit.

Over the course of my blogging I will be including recommended activities, restaurants, hotels, attractions, sites, travel tips, and other related travel information to help any interested tourist have the experience of a lifetime in Oz.

You may be wondering...why Australia?? To be honest, I don't really have an answer. I am not a very definitive person; I couldn't even commit to one college for four years. However, ever since I can remember, I have wanted to travel to Australia. It's a dream I've always had and now I can't believe it's coming true. My desire to travel to Australia definitely has something to do with the sun, sand and surf. I love the beach and all water sports. Australia is renowned for its beaches, especially those along the Gold Coast. The one that I most look forward to visiting is Surfer's Paradise. No visit to Australia is complete without a visit to the Great Barrier Reef off the east coast of OZ...but watch out for the sharks!! Sharks have been known to attack divers and surfers often mistaking them for seals.

Check back often for the latest updates on Aussie Hot Spots and travel tips!

Australians tend to shorten many common words, but others require some lateral thinking...

Australian Vocabulary:

ankle biter : infant