Getting Down under » About Australia

Emigrating to Australia – An Exciting Venture

Jo Alelsto — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 01:14:07 +0000

The welcoming country down under beckons you to check out vast landscapes, rugged mountains, pleasant, sunny climate and rich culture. Australia definitely has the best ingredients to make a comfortable and convenient life. Perhaps these are some of the reasons it has remained a favorite tourist destination.

The wonders in this country have just lured many visitors from different nations. However, while visiting for a great vacation is a good option for a million people or so each year, emigrating to Australia is a wise choice for hundreds of thousands of migrants. Immigration is no surprising thing. It has been happening for a long time.

Australia is one of the least heavily populated countries. People actually get much relief after seeing crowded streets and overpopulated cities elsewhere.

Sunny weather welcomes anybody who visits the country in the south, which has a warm climate that spans from tropical forests of Queensland to the subtropical New South Wales. Nonetheless, there really is a broad range of climates in this continent, from the hot, dry desert conditions in the western regions to the cold snowy peaks of Victorian alpine areas. One may travel from west to east to see a dramatic change of landscape, wildlife and vegetation.

The country is not selective towards immigrants. In fact, it fosters tourism, urging people from different countries to come and visit. There is no issue with regards to religious faith, race, skin color, ethnicity, or nationality.

Currently, there is a shortage of workers in Australia and this is good news for people who are looking for overseas employment because the country welcomes those with the right experience and skills. Skilled and well-experienced professionals, administrators, managers, and trade persons are needed due to domestic labor force shortage. The country is also interested in business immigrants who can make possible positive contributions to economic growth.

Note that it serves a home to twenty thousand people doing business and these people come from over a hundred different places all over the world – a proof of the economic strength of Australia whose resilience astounds people from developed nations in the west. There is no debate over the economic power of the country, which remains stable despite today’s global economic dip.

On the other hand, one can enjoy the lifestyle in Australia. People are responsible workers but spend ample time for family bonding and recreation. A typical professional can work conscientiously on weekdays but spend great leisure on weekends. There is no need to be too workaholic.

Holiday destinations include the Blue Mountains, Ayers Rock, Kangaroo Island, Great Barrier Reef, Fraser Island and various national parks. Furthermore, sparkling rivers, fascinating flora and fauna, magnificent mountains, captivating countryside scenery, and amazing beaches and shores make this 7.68-million-square-km country the perfect tourist destination.

More than a tourist haven, Australia has dazzling cities, efficient transportation systems that enables fast travel to far cities, and generally high standard of living. People moving to Australia are often greeted by multifaceted culture, rich cuisine, and facile lifestyle and convention.

Author: Jo Alelsto

Perths Public Transport Network – My First Impressions

Mark — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 05:33:55 +0000

Not so long ago I wrote a high level overview of Perth’s public transport system.

To be honest, this information was very much gleaned from research I had done on the web so now that I’ve been here for a couple of months and experienced some of Perth’s transport system first hand I thought I’d write a new entry to give you an idea of what to expect from Perth’s transport options if your thinking about coming to this part of Australia.

Since arriving in Perth at the end of December I’ve found myself using Perth’s public transport system a lot more then I’d have ever of imagined.

When we were renting in the Northern Suburb of Mindarie Keys, I think I only drove into the CBD once (on my first day) and to be honest, I was pretty surprised at how busy the freeway was at about 7am.

Many years ago the freeway in Perth was described as a new freeway looking for cars (or something like that) and even now, when driving on the freeway outside of rush hour it’s a positively pleasant place to be and that’s how I remembered it from our time in Perth last February.

The freeways in Australia are generally much wider then the motorways you’d find back in the UK and when you combine such a decent sized freeway in an area with the population of Perth your left with quite a lot of room to drive during the quieter times of the day.

At rush hour time (say between 7 – 9 am and 4 – 5 pm) you’re left with something a little more familiar. Traffic queuing nose to tail which gradually gets worse as you get nearer to the Central Business District (CBD).

During the morning, traffic leaving the CBD is pretty none existent. In the evening, traffic volumes entering the CBD also very low.

Like anywhere else in the world, Western Australians seem to use the freeway network in the main for one thing, getting to work. So, after spending two hours driving, or perhaps more to the point standing in stationary traffic I decided to investigate other alternatives.

As Mindarie keys was still about 30 minutes drive from the CBD during â€˜off-peak’ times my only real alternative was the train.

Unusually, (although in hindsight an excellent idea when building a new infrastructure) the main rail line from the northern suburbs to the CBD runs down the centre of the freeway with stations dotted at intervals along the way.

The closest station to Mindarie was the one at Clarkson; just over 5 minutes drive away. As we were hiring a car, the missus kindly got up with me in the morning to drop me off at the station in Clarkson and picked me up again in the early evening.

This wasn’t as big a bind as it sounds as the in-laws were visiting at the time so this meant we could leave them, and our son soundly sleeping whilst we made the early morning trek to the station.

The stations are clean and roomy with ticket dispensers on the wall as you enter.
Tickets are costed on the number of zones you’ll be travelling through. As Clarkson was literally at the end of the line we were classed as zone 4 with tickets from this zone costing in the region of about $4.70 (just under 2.00 uk pounds at time of typing) for a one way ticket to the CBD.

Like most rail authorities. Transperth operate a number of ‘packages’ which enable you to buy in bulk and save on your individual rail journey. A day return ticket for example could be yours for about $7.50. Buying journeys in batches of 20 – 40 would reduce this cost even further.

There are plenty of Electronic boards by the platforms advising you when the next train is due and I’ll tell you what, I have never seen a more frequent train service.

There are trains departing from every station in the Northern Suburbs to the CBD every seven minutes! This was a great plus point for me as it practically meant you never had to be worried about missing your train.

Worst case scenario would be that you’d arrive in work six minutes 59 seconds later then planned and this really was a worse case scenario as during the time (all be it two weeks) that I caught the train from Clarkson to the CBD, every train was on time!

The trains themselves are clean roomy and air conditioned with an automated tannoy announcement advising you which train station you are approaching next.

There is also an LCD display advising the same should you miss such an announcement.

On the down side, the trains get fullâ€¦very full and very quickly.

Through speaking to local Aussies, this is one of the main reasons why the trains are so frequent. They are struggling to cope with the numbers of people using them.

A number of years ago, the trains, with two carriages ran every 20 – 30 minutes. The rail authorities found that these trains were getting increasingly full, so added another two carriages to handle the extra strain.

These four carriage trains then became increasingly full so we are now at the point where there are more trains running more frequently.

Similarly to the freeway network, during the peak times trains are full, during the daytime however there’s plenty of room on board.

Thankfully, leaving from Clarkson I always got a pick of the seats as the Clarkson station was effectively the first stop. As we progressed down the line, it only took another two to three stops before the trains became standing room only. Not quite the unhealthily close proximity to armpits full that I’ve experienced on the underground in London but not far from it.

There is talk that the rail authority is now looking at adding more carriages to the trains running every seven minutes in the hope that this would help alleviate the strain.

Unfortunately this would also necessitate a redesign of the station platforms that are only long enough to accommodate four carriages at the moment so there’s some interesting times ahead me thinks.

Would I use the train network longer term – too right!

At the end of the day, it’s only 25 minutes from Clarkson to the CBD and travelling at 100 kph down the centre of the freeway smiling at drivers, sat stationary and becoming increasing vexed at the lack of movement leaves a bloke feeling pretty smug and very satisfied with his choice of transport.

Nowâ€¦let’s talk about Cats.

Don’t worry, this isn’t as big a tangent as it may look and I’m not simply digressing again to our ferry feline chums imprisoned at Byford.

The CAT is an acronym stemming from Perth’s Central Area Transit system.

The Perth CAT is a set of three bus routes in the centre of Perth, a bus route in Fremantle, and a bus route in Joondalup. Nothing particular fascinating there however unlike Perth’s other transport services; all CAT routes are fare-free.

Since we moved to the suburb of â€˜North Perth’ just before Christmas I’ve found that the CAT provides a great way of travelling into work.

Now if I was feeling a little more energetic I’m sure I could probably walk into work within about 30 – 40 minutes but having said that, even when taking into account the relatively cool morning temperatures brought on by the adoption of daylight saving, the temperatures at 7am are still hitting the mid to high 70’s during the summer months.

I’m sure neither I nor my work colleagues for that matter would appreciate the litres of sweat I’d loose during the trek so I’m happy enough walking the couple of blocks to the nearest cat stop.

The three CAT routes going into and around the CBD are split into blue, red and yellow routes.

At any one time there are in the region of 22 busses ferrying people around the routes with the service operating from just before 7am in the morning and finishing at about 6:30pm.

There is also a later service running until around 1am for those revellers wanting to party the night away on a Friday or Saturday night.

In a similar guise to the rail service, the Perth CAT service is as regular as clockwork with a service being available approximately every 7 minutes.

Quite cleverly, at each stop is a small LCD display which tells you when the next CAT will arrive. This display updates in real time with the busses beaming updates to each stop via a centralised computer system as they travel along their route.

This means that if the display says the next CAT will arrive in two minutes, you know that the next CAT will arrive in two minutes. You can even see where your current next bus is online.

The CAT fleet consists of very new, modern, single decker busses, most of which run on low emission bio fuel/gas. Every CAT bus I have been on has been clean, fully air conditioned and a pleasure to ride on. Damn, dare I say the bus drivers are also friendly!

In a similar fashion to the train service, an automated announcement, coupled with an LCD display advises you which stop is approaching next.

Unfortunately however, like the train service the busses can get pretty full at peak times with standing room only being the case at the very busiest times of the day.For me though, I’ve had no issues finding a seat as I tend to travel outside of the peak times anyway.

It’s been a fair few years since I caught a bus on a regular basis and I must say I’m pretty impressed.

When I said goodbye to the company car last year I was pretty excited about treating myself to one of the large V8 5 litre Aussie monsters that I’d read so much about on the web before flying out.

At the moment though, living so close to the city with great (and free) public transport I can’t really see it happening.

I’d always be an advocate of using public transport if:

1) It provides a suitable alternative to owning a car
2) Its reliable and clean and
3) Its reasonably priced

The state of the current public transport system in the UK meant that I drove my own car everywhere.

The Perth public transport system seems to be ticking many if not all of these boxes so for this Car mad Pom, I’ll be sticking to the busses for the time being.

Now as far as a car for the missus is concerned? That’s another story

The sunshine state of Australia

Mark — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 15:01:33 +0000

Blessed with nature’s most remarkable gifts, Queensland is Australia’s second largest state; inhabiting 25% of Australia’s land mass.

Queensland has fifteen exceptional regions, where people can travel, be with their families and spend a memorable holiday. Its capital, Brisbane is an excellent base for tours. One of the famous holiday destinations at Queensland is the Gold Coast.

Famous of its attractive beaches, theme parks and resorts. Just a little farther north is the Sunshine Coast, undoubtedly, one of Queensland’s most scenically beautiful regions.

A couple of hours away from Sunshine Coast is Queensland’s whale watching capital, the Fraser Coast, having the world’s largest sand island.

Immerse yourself with Whitsunday’s breathtaking views. See the beauty of different corals at Bundaberg. Experience bush walking and bird watching at Toowomba. Witness the superb touring region of the Western Downs and how about enjoying the delicious fruits of Southern Downs?

Take a glimpse at the stunning beaches of Townsville. See the reefs, islands and mountains of Tropical North. Spectacular rainforest and national parks can be seen at Mackay. Also, don’t forget Queensland’s home of hidden treasures, Capricorn.

Take a tour on historic towns and diverse landscape at Outback Queensland. Stopover at the Centre of the Southern Reef, Gladstone, it has sub-tropical climate with islands, waterways and beaches.

Whether you are after beach adventures, walking through historical forest or theme parks, snorkeling under the sea or just having a great holiday of your life, there are definitely great treasured memories ahead of you at Queensland.

Article Source : www.nationalvisas.com.au

Coober Pedy – The Opal Capital Of Australia

Mark — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 14:59:55 +0000

Coober Pedy is without a doubt one of the most unique outback destinations in Australia.

Set in a stark arid landscape often compared to Mars, this outback mining town where many people live underground is the source of most of the world’s precious opal production.

Coober Pedy is located about 850 kilometres north of Adelaide in remote outback Australia.

The name Coober Pedy comes from a local indigenous language, Kupa meaning ‘white man’ and Piti meaning ‘hole’, and translates as ‘white fellas hole in the ground’, reflecting the fact that Coober Pedy is the Opal Capital of Australia and the world. It also reflects the fact many residents live in homes excavated underground due to the extreme climatic conditions of the area.

Opal mining commenced in Coober Pedy in 1915 and continues today. In that time the outback town has evolved in to one of the most unique places in Australia and perhaps the world.

A cosmopolitan town of 3,500 inhabitants from over 45 different nationalities, it is today a relaxed and friendly town characterised by cultural tolerance, diversity and acceptance.
Apart from opal production, Coober Pedy is known for its unique style of underground living.

Visitors can find a range of underground accommodation in addition to above ground accommodation for those who prefer it. There are many often luxurious underground homes to explore in addition to underground shops, museums, art galleries and mines.

Coober Pedy enjoys a typical semi-desert climate.

Between April and October the weather is pleasant, with mild daytime temperatures of 16 to 20 C but cold desert nights. From November to March, summer temperatures are hot and range from 35 to 45 C, and occasionally reach as high as 50 C.

No wonder the locals prefer to live in the relative comfort of underground homes! Annual rainfall is unpredictable and minimal at an average of around 175 millimetres.

Opal was first found on the surface at Coober Pedy in 1915, while the New Colorado Prospecting Syndicate consisting of Jim Hutchison, his son William Hutchison, P Winch and M McKenzie were searching unsuccessfully for gold south in the area.

The Flinders Ranges – An Accessible Australian Outback Destination

Mark — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 14:56:53 +0000

The Flinders Ranges are one of South Australia’s most popular outback tour destinations, and are world-renowned for their rugged mountain landscapes, spectacular gorges, sheltered sandy creeks lined with majestic River Red Gums, and their abundant flora and fauna.

An authentic Australia outback destination, the Flinders Ranges are nevertheless easily accessible from the South Australian capital of Adelaide.

The Flinders Ranges are a perfect location in which to witness and marvel at nature on a grand scale.

Home to magnificent, rugged and uncompromising landscapes, they are truly a destination where you can get away from it all.

Though they seem a million miles from the hustle and bustle of city life, the southern areas of the Flinders Ranges begin only 220 kilometres from Adelaide. Wilpena Pound is around 450 kilometres (five hours drive) from Adelaide.

Many different routes are available to explore the Flinders ranges, and all offer excellent scenery. To fully appreciate the area, a few days at least are necessary. For those without transport there are several Flinders Ranges tours operating from Adelaide.

The Flinders Ranges National Park is situated in the Flinders Ranges between the outback South Australian towns of Hawker and Blinman. Covering over 950 square kilometres, the park is about 450 kilometres north of Adelaide and offers a broad range of outdoor activities for all ages and tastes including camping, bushwalking, scenic touring, photography, birdwatching and Aboriginal and European tour activities exploring the history and cultures of the region.

The Flinders Ranges join the Gulf of St Vincent to the South Australian outback. The landscape of the region is truly spectacular, particularly in spring when wildflowers are blooming and carpet the countryside.

Bush walking is a popular and rewarding activity in the ranges, including walks around the Arkaroola Mt Painter Wildlife Sanctuary, the Heysen Trail, Mt Remarkable National Park and Wilpena Pound.

The indigenous Adnyamathanha people have lived in the northern Flinders Ranges for many tens of thousands of years, and the ranges remain of enormous cultural significance to them. Adnyamathanha (hills or rock people) is a term now used to describe the Pangkala, Pilatapa, Yadliaura, Kuyani and Wailpi peoples, the traditional indigenous owners of the Flinders Ranges.

These groups share a common identity based on the Yura Muda, the culture and language of their ancestors.

While European geologists explain the formation of the Flinders Ranges in scientific terms, the Adnyamathanha understand the landscape through the Yura Muda dreamtime stories, which invest the physical landscape with spiritual significance.

The Flinders Ranges appear are mentioned in the journals and diaries of many Australian explorers.

Matthew Flinders explored the upper reaches of Spencer Gulf in 1802. Sturt and Eyre traversed the area during their journeys north in search of an inland sea. Pastoral runs were established at Arkaba, Wilpena, Aroona and Oraparinna from 1851.

By 1863, European settlement extended far beyond the ranges, and copper mining was booming in the region. No rain fell in the Flinders Ranges area from 1864 to 1866, when the saltbush plains were stripped bare and huge losses among both stock and native fauna occurred. Many pastoral runs were deserted and mining virtually ceased.

The deserted runs were gradually reoccupied and stocking rates reduced. Today, the pastoral industry remains viable with greatly improved practices and sustainable stocking rates.

Kangaroo Island – An Australian Island Paradise

Mark — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 14:54:18 +0000

Kangaroo Island has been described as one of earth’s last unspoilt island refuges, and with very good reason.

This idyllic island located off the coast of South Australian is an idyllic tour destination for those seeking sun, surf, and everything that goes with them, including swimming, fishing, sailing and scuba-diving. Islands are almost always special places … isolation, solitude, the ocean … just think of places like the West Indies, Hawaii, the Maldives, all of which have unique characteristics and special natural environments that have evolved through thousands of years of isolation. Australia ’s Kangaroo Island is no exception.

Kangaroo Island is about seven times the size of Singapore and around 155 kilometres in length, with the town of Kingscote being the island’s capital and main settlement. Wildlife is abundant on the island, where koalas laze in the gum trees and seals laze on the beach.

In addition, kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas, platypi and goannas all thrive on the island.
A wide range of tours are available on Kangaroo Island, enabling you to relax while someone else does the driving. In addition, guides can provide a great deal of information about Kangaroo Island on the way.

Both coach tours and four-wheel drive tours are available, with most tours collecting passengers from their accommodation, the airport or the ferry terminal. Bike riding and hiking are also possible for those with the energy, but beware that Kangaroo Island is large and the necessary level of fitness is required for these options.

Large luxury vehicle and passenger ferries operate between Cape Jervis on the South Australian coast and Penneshaw on Kangaroo Island (travelling time 45 minutes).

There are four departures daily, with extra services at peak times. Bus connections are available to/from Adelaide to Cape Jervis, and to/from Penneshaw to American River and Kingscote on the island. Regional Express operates a 30-minute air service from Adelaide to Kingscote Airport, located 13km from Kingscote.

Because of its relative isolation, Kangaroo Island has experienced much less impact from European settlement than than the South Australian mainland. Half the bushland on Kangaroo Island remains untouched since the time of British navigator Matthew Flinders named the island in 1802, and more than a third of the Island has National Park or Conservation Park status.

This pristine bushland supports a rich wildlife population of wildlife and makes Kangaroo Island on of the best places in Australia to see wildlife in its natural environment.

Kangaroo Island was separated from mainland Australia about 10,000 years ago. In that time, some species have evolved differently from their mainland counterparts.

This is evident for example in the Kangaroo Island Kangaroo (a subspecies of the Western Grey Kangaroo common in south-eastern Australia) which is today smaller, darker and has longer fur than its mainland counterpart.

The now endangered Glossy Black Cockatoo is also a unique Kangaroo Island sub-species, as is the small marsupial carnivore the Sooty Dunnart.

Similarly, King Island’s plants have evolved in isolation to the point where at least 45 species are endemic (found only on Kangaroo Island) including several eucalypts. The total absence of feral creatures such as foxes and rabbits helps ensures the integrity Kangaroo Island’s bushland ecosystems.

In recognition of Kangaroo Island’s unique plant and wildlife species (some of which are either threatened or unique to the island), National and Conservation parks were declared across the island very early in the history of its European settlement.

Kangaroo Island’s National Parks provide access to spectacular coastline scenery, unique geological formations, fascinating history and abundant wildlife. There are four major parks: Flinders Chase National Park (walking trails and spectacular rock formations), Kelly Hill Conservation Park (limestone caves and hiking), Seal Bay Conservation Park (Australia’s largest accessible colony of sea lions) and Cape Willoughby Conservation Park (first lighthouse in South Australia).

Miguel Scaccialupo writes regularly on Outback Tour topics, including Alice Springs Tour destinations and Kangaroo Island Tour itineraries.

The Enchanting South West of Australia

Mark — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 14:51:54 +0000

Australia’s South West offers some of the most diverse travel experiences in Western Australia, ranging from towering forests and whale watching to fine food and wine and world class surfing. Approximately four hours south of the state capital Perth, Margaret River is the popular centre of this fascinating region famous for its world-class wineries, top surfing and fun family holidays.

The Margaret River Wine Region is famous for its abundance of mouth-watering fresh produce and wines. Whether you enjoy full-bodied wines, fruity olive oil, premium cheeses or delicious hand-made chocolates, Margaret River is a gourmet food lovers paradise.

Visitors can indulge in a rich smorgasbord of culinary delights at a host of world-class wineries and restaurants dotted throughout the region. The Margaret River Wine Region includes the area between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin and east to Busselton, covering a cluster of towns each with their own distinctive traits.

Margaret River is also famous for its world class waves, and has more than 40 locations offering excellent surfing in conditions ranging from powerful reef breaks to gentler beach breaks. Margaret River’s surf is among the most consistent in the world, and the region is also among the scenic and laid back surfing destinations in the world.

Swells are consistent at Margaret River due to the thousands of kilometres of uninterrupted Indian Ocean seas between Africa and Australia. The massive surf along the Margaret River coastline has made the town a surfing mecca, and host to a world-class surfing competition, the Salomon Masters.

The seaside town of Busselton is home to the longest wooden jetty in the southern hemisphere, and provides excellent fishing. The jetty has been described as Australia’s greatest artificial reef and is home to an astonishing array of vividly coloured sealife including corals, sponges, fish and invertebrates.

Busselton’s calm waters are a playground for all manner of aquatic activity, including water-skiing snorkelling and scuba diving. The Busselton underwater observatory allows visitors to view one of Australias most fascinating artificial reefs without getting wet.

The south-west is a paradise for scuba divers. Divers can explore the HMAS Swan wreck, which is also visible to snorkellers from above the ocean surface. In Busselton, the Jetty and Underwater Observatory provide amazing views of the colourful world beneath the water.

In Albany more fascinating diving experiences are available including the HMAS Perth wreck. Albany is famous for its whaling history, now preserved in a seaside whaling museum. Whale watching boat trips operate along the Southern Ocean coast up to Augusta on the Indian Ocean coast.

Dunsborough is located on the coast of Geographe Bay, and is home to sheltered beaches and beautiful forests criss-crossed by scenic walking trails. It is also home to a renowned diving location, the HMAS Swan wreck. Augusta is the most south-western point of Western Australia, where the Southern Ocean meets the Indian Ocean. Whales can be easily spotted off the coast from the historic Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse at Augusta from June to December.

Miguel Scaccialupo writes regularly on Outback Tour topics, including Alice Springs Tour destinations and Kangaroo Island Tour itineraries.

Tasmania – The Australian Island State

Mark — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 14:46:37 +0000

Tasmania is Australia’s island state, separated from the mainland by the 240 kilometre expanse of Bass Strait.

A land of wild and beautiful landscapes, Tasmania boasts a comfortable temperate climate, quality wine and food, rich history and a leisurely, relaxed lifestyle.

Tasmania is home to one of the world’s 10 best beaches (Wineglass Bay), the world’s best small town (Strahan) and is rated third in the world for wise management of the natural environment.

More than any other state in Australia, Tasmania enjoys four distinct seasons, each with its their own special characteristics.

Both local Tasmanians and visitors enjoy the state’s temperate maritime climate. Summer is a festive season when the Launceston Festivale and the Hobart Summer Festival are held.

Autumn is a mellow season with calm, sunny days when the native deciduous beech trees and European trees blaze with a riot of red, orange and gold colours. Winter days are crisp and clear with a dusting of snow on mountain peaks. Spring is cool and refreshing, with gardens bursting back to life as Tasmania celebrates the Blooming Tasmania festival.

Tasmania’s capital Hobart is an intriguing blend of the old and the new, a city defined by the river and sea. Hobart’s maritime focus can be appreciated with a harbour cruise or drive to the top of Mt Nelson or Mt Wellington – suburbs line the Derwent River, city buildings are clustered around the historic docks and the Derwent estuary broadens into Storm Bay.

Only twenty-five kilometres from Hobart is the historic town of Richmond, home to the old Richmond Gaol and part of Tasmania’s early convict origins. The nearby vineyards and wineries of the Coal River Valley are home to many of Tasmania’s superb cool-climate wines. Hobart is an ideal base from which to explore southern and eastern Tasmania.

Hobart has more summer daylight hours than any other Australian capital city. Tasmania is the southernmost of the eight Australian states and territories, and enjoys over 15 hours of daylight on the summer solstice (22 December).

This is 2.5 more hours of daylight than Darwin (Northern Territory) receives and 1 hour more than Sydney (New South Wales) receives on the same day. Experts at the Launceston Planetarium claim that the day is even longer if twilight periods at dawn and dusk are taken into account.

On the other hand, Tasmania receives less daylight than mainland Australian states and territories in winter. Hobart has around 9 hours daylight in winter, 1 hour less than Sydney and about 2.5 hours less than Darwin.

The Yarra Valley – A Premier Australian Wine Region

Mark — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 14:43:53 +0000

The Yarra Valley is located a short 90 minutes north-east of Melbourne, the capital of the southern Australian state of Victoria, and is an idyllic destination for a day tour or weekend getaway.

The Yarra Valley’s rolling green hills are brimming with vineyards, boutique wineries, orchards, cheesemakers and quality restaurants, and the whole region is quite simply a gourmet’s delight. Whatever your interests, Melbourne’s Yarra Valley has something for everyone.

The Yarra Valley is home to many excellent food and wine festivals. In January, raspberry lovers can enjoy the Kinglake Raspberry Fair, while May offers the Kellybrook Cider Festival and the Grape Grazing Festival. In November, the Victoria Strawberry Festival is held in Seville and the Country Harvest Festival is held at the Warratina Lavender Farm. In December, the Victorian Cherry Festival is held at Wandin.

The Yarra Valley is home to at least 23 wineries which are open to visitors and where you can sample their award-winning produce. The wineries range in scale from large operations such as Rochford’s Eyton and Tarra Warra Estate to small boutique wineries such as Ainsworth Estate in Seville and Warramate Wines near Healesville.

If history interests you, the historic Yering Station-Yarrabank winery near Yarra Glen claims to be the first vineyard established in Victoria.

Pioneer history can also be experienced with a visit to Gulf Station, an early farm in Yarra Valley now managed by the National Trust.

Lovers of Australian animals can pack a picnic lunch and visit the world famous Healesville Sanctuary to view a large variety of native animals including kanagroos, wallabies, wombats, emus. echidnas, goannas and platypus.

On a sunny day the Healesville Sanctuary is a great place for a picnic, and there are plenty of picnic shelters for damper weather. Opposite the Healesville Sanctuary is the Galeena Beek Living Cultural Centre, where you can learn more about the cultural heritage of indigenous Australians from the Melbourne region.

Healesville is delightful country town nestled in the Dandenong Ranges and is a haven for lovers of art, crafts and cafes, making it the perfect place to while away a relaxing day. Healesville is surrounded by charming picnic places, including the Maroondah Reservoir Reserve, which has barbecues and bush walking tracks along the Badger Creek. Visitors of a literary or historical bent can visit the magnificent two hectare Singing Gardens of early Australian author C.J. Dennis, located near Toolangi. C.J. Dennis lived in Toolangi from 1915 until his death in 1935, and wrote his famous work The Sentimental Bloke there.

The Yarra Valley Regional Food Trail allows you to independently explore 14 ‘farm gate taste and buy’ gourmet experiences and 11 ‘pick your own’ produce farms. With more than thirty top quality eating places dotted throughout the Yarra Valley, there’s plenty of gourmet experiences to choose from. And all that is before you even consider the Yarra Valley’s world-renowned wineries!

Whether you love fine food and wine and abundant fresh farm produce, are seeking a relaxing, therapeutic or romantic getaway, or are inspired by natural beauty and want to walk through towering eucalypt forests, an unforgettable experience awaits you in Melbourne’s idyllic Yarra Valley.

Miguel Scaccialupo writes regularly on Outback Australia Tour topics, including Alice Springs Tour destinations and Yarra Valley Tour itineraries.

Broome – The Pearl Capital of Australia

Mark — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 14:41:16 +0000

Broome is a remote outback town situated on the Indian Ocean in northwest Australia. It is the largest town in the vast Kimberley region to the north of Western Australia, and has become a very popular travel destination in recent years. This popularity is due to Broome’s unique history, unique blend of cultural influences, it’s magnificent beaches and landscapes and it’s fantastic tropical climate.

Broome is situated between the vast Great Sandy Desert and the azure blue Indian Ocean, along the pure white sands of Cable Beach.

Often referred to as the gateway to the Kimberley, Broome owes its existence to the discovery in Roebuck Bay in 1861 of the Pinctada Maxima, largest pearl oyster shell in the world. News of the giant oyster shells spread rapidly and pearl divers of all nationalities flocked to Broome to make their fortune, including Malays, Japanese and Chinese, who joined local Aboriginal pearl divers in the sometimes dangerous but rewarding quest for high quality pearls. Broome’s pearling industry still produces the worlds finest pearls today.

Broome has a tropical climate with hot summers and warm winters. Like other tropical areas of Australia, Broome’s year has two distinct seasons, the Wet and the Dry. Broome’s wet season officially commences in October but rain is rare before before December.

Most of Broome’s annual rainfall occurs from January to March and is sometimes accompanied by thunderstorms and tropical lows or cyclones. Daytime temperatures during the Wet average 33 C with the overnight temperatures averaging 25 C.

Being located on a peninsula, Broome’s tropical climate is moderated by reliable afternoon sea breezes during the warmer months. The Dry commences in April, when temperatures in Broome average 25 C to 30 C with overnight temperatures of around 12C. Rainfall is rare in Broome at this time of the year.

Broome provides enjoyable outdoor activities for all ages and tastes. Start exploring with a leisurely stroll along Cable Beach, a 22 kilometre stretch of pristine white sand overlooking the Indian Ocean. While there, you may have a chance to witness Broome’s large tidal movement, often over 10 metres. At the end of the day, relax with a cool drink on Cable Beach and witness a spectacular Indian Ocean sunset.

The more adventurous can experience the adventure of a lifetime with an extended cruise along the rugged and spectacular Kimberley Coast north of Broome, or with a 4WD Safari inland into the rugged and majestic Kimberley Gorges. Broome also offers excellent fishing, so take boat and go catch yourself a tasty meal off the shores of Roebuck Bay or Cable Beach, or from the Deep Water Jetty in the Port of Broome.

Enjoy the quiet serenity of Buddha’s Sanctuary, where you can reflect, meditate and enjoy the ornamental gardens and visit the pavilion which is home to a magnificent 4 metre crystal Buddha.

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