The magnificent Watarrka National Park lies about 323kms southwest of Alice Springs. Home to Kings Canyon and George Gill Range western edge, this park is often referred to as Kings Canyon. The name comes from the Luritjja word for the umbrella tree that can be found growing everywhere.

Important as a conservation area, Watarrka National Park provides habitat for more than 600 plant species and a wide variety of native animals and birds. The location of the park is responsible for the diversity of landscapes and environments within the park. With the MacDonnell Range and the Simpson Desert contributing to areas of the park, the flora and fauna is reflective of those areas.

Mother Nature has been generous to this area and, over the millenniums, carved the masterpiece of Kings Canyon. Bright red sandstone cliff face rises over 270 meters above the floor of the incredible chasm known as Kings Canyon. Rugged rock of the canyon forms a stunning landscape that leaves you awestruck as you look over the rim. When looking up from the bottom, it is impossible not to feel overwhelmed by the magnificence of the canyon.

A remarkable oasis called the Garden of Eden is a sheltered valley that that has lush vegetation of ferns, cycads and palms. The pool in this “Eden” provides a perfect opportunity to sit and cool off. Swimming in the pool is not encouraged because of environmental reasons but many visitors do anyway. I have to recommend that you not swim but just relax and drink in the beauty.

There are four walks in the park with the Kings Canyon Rim Walk being the most popular. The walking tracks are well marked and people are asked not to stray off them. You are also asked not to leave litter behind.

Kings Canyon Rim Walk is a 6km walk that requires walkers to be of average fitness in order to tackle it. This walk takes you along the canyon rim letting you soak up the gorgeous vistas that spread out in front of you. There is initial climb that is steep but then it levels out somewhat as it leads you to “The Lost City”, a group of sandstone domes. About halfway along, you can descend into the “Garden of Eden” and relax a bit before continuing on this delightful track. Since you must follow the track in a clockwise direction so you won’t meet any foot traffic.

If you are seeking a gentle stroll, consider the Kathleen Springs Walk. This walking track is 2.6km (return trip) and accessible to those with mobility problems. Along the way there are displays and signs that tell about the area.

An easy walk of 2.6km (return walk), the Kings Creek Walk takes you along the canyon floor to a lookout that provides amazing views of the sheer canyon walls that tower over you. There are displays and signs that provide information on the vegetation you are seeing.

For experienced walkers, the Giles Track offers a two-day walk that connects two tracks, the Kathleen Springs Walk and the Kings Canyon Rim Walk. The walk takes you along range tops. Although the track is marked, taking a map and compass with you is a must. Reedy Creek campsite provides a pleasant place to stay for the night. With a distance of 22km each way, this is not a trek for those that are not used to such rugged walks.

You’re guaranteed to catch a fish at Port Douglas – just as you’re guaranteed to get seasick on a game fishing boat. This is unquestionably one of the best sport and game fishing locations on the planet.
Port Douglas is nestled between the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. It offers hundreds of popular reef and estuary fish species for both sport and table fishing.
The best time of year for game fishing is between October and December. You can expect to see Tuna, Sailfish, Dolphin Fish, Wahoo, Giant Trevally and of course, the formidable Pacific Black Marlin.
Reef fishing is best around June to October. You can expect to catch Coral Trout, Red Emperor, Nannygai (Sea Perch), Cobia, Cod and Mackeral. The charter boats usually go out about 15 – 25 miles off shore for a full day at sea. (Note: some reef areas have fishing restrictions).
River/Estuary fishing has the longest season from October to April. Expect to pull in a barramundi or two (but be warned, there are bag limits). Estuary fishing is calm and relaxed which makes it more suitable for the inexperienced angler and kids.
If you still want more after a long successful day at sea you can fish from the shore. Just follow the locals to their favourite haunts and only use live bait such as prawns, squid and pilchards.

From 1915, when the first opal was discovered, until the present; the tiny Outback town of Cooder Pedy has been famous for its high quality opals and has become a tourist destination. You will be utterly amazed at the amount of interesting things there are to do and see in and around this remote town with its population of under 4000. For a small town, it packs a big wallop.

The distances that this unique town is from major cities will stun you. Roughly halfway between Alice Springs and Adelaide, the term “in the middle of nowhere” is a term that could aptly be applied to Coober Pedy. Known as the opal capital of the world, Coober Pedy is the largest opal-mining town in Australia.

The Australian Outback is renowned for its unforgiving environment and searing temperatures. Cooder Pedy is no exception. With temperatures of over 100F most of the year, except in the winter when the temperature drops to the 90F range, many residents of this small town have adapted their lifestyle to accommodate those grueling mid-afternoon temperatures.

Underground homes are the norm, as opposed to the exception here. Abandoned mines have been converted to subterranean abodes that remain at a fairly constant temperature year round, negating the need for air-conditioning. Other homes have been purpose built in underground for about the same cost as a traditional above ground house. The underground world scenes in the movie “Mad Max – Beyond the Thunderdome” were filmed in one of the best known homes in Coober Pedy, Crocodile Harry’s Underground Nest.

The first church to be built underground in Coober Pedy was the little church of Saint Peter & Paul’s Catholic Church. Starting out as a non-denominational place of worship, this unique church became a reality through the sweat of the community. Other churches have since followed suit providing residents with a comfortable place to worship.

Some shops, art galleries, and hotels incorporated the underground lifestyle into their business. The Desert Cave Hotel, Comfort Inn Coober Pedy Experience Motel, Desert View Motel, Radeka’s Dugout Motel, and The Underground Motel all offer the opportunity of living underground, albeit only for the length of your visit. Radeka’s was originally an opal mine that was converted to a motel in the mid-1980s. If your taste runs to B&Bs, there are dugouts B&Bs as well.

You can stroll to the Temptation Café and have a bite to eat in one of only three underground cafes in the world. Once you leave the delightful café, you can go “noodling”, or searching for opals, in the public area. Who knows, you may find a decent opal to memorialize your visit to this amazing town…others have.

When you are thinking about a ski vacation, Tasmania isn’t the usual destination that comes to mind. Whether you are a downhill or cross-country skier, skiing in Tasmania is a great experience so put it on your winter vacation list.

If you don’t mind that there are few ski resorts, that hills aren’t jammed with skiers, or that you may be skiing on pristine snow; Tasmania is the place to go. There are few areas for downhill skiing in this Australian state and the scenery is stunning. The combination makes for a very memorable vacation.

With most of Tasmania designated as national parks, it is no surprise that the skiing in within parks. Ben Lomond National Park, Mt Field National Park, and Cradle Mountain offer some of the best skiing opportunities. In Tasmania, the ski season is July to September so you can enjoy a great winter vacation in the middle of the summer if you are visiting from the west. So that the terminology doesn’t confuse you, locals refer to ski slopes as ski fields.

With its spectacular scenery, the major downhill skiing destination in this magnificent island state is located in Ben Lomond National Park. This is the only ski resort that offers the amenities that most of us are used to when we head out for a day of downhill skiing. In addition to 2 Poma lifts and 3 T-bar lifts, there are equipment rentals and sales, as well as Ski instruction available during ski season. There is a restaurant and a few rooms to rent at the Creek Inn and there are some amenities in Alpine Village at the bottom of the slopes.

The road known as Jacob’s Ladder is a steep winding road that has a strict 30km/hr speed limit. Although the road has been upgraded, it is still advisable to drive it with caution. Wheel chains will be needed during the winter. A booth at the bottom of Jacob’s Ladder is where you pay your park fees.

Although skiing is the park’s primary attraction, there is a lot to see if you want to cross country ski. The cross-country skiing trails are not formal trails and are marked with ski poles. The rugged beauty of this park will take your breath away and cross-country skiing is a leisurely way to see the sights.

Just one of eleven reserves and national parks that preserve and conserve vast tracts of the Australian Alps and the largest of the Alps parks, Kosciuszko National Park has been designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Some three million visitors are drawn to this park for the year round recreation it offers.

Australia’s highest mountain, Mount Kosciuszko, and the renowned Snowy River are located inside of Kosciuszko National Park. There is so much to do and see in this spectacular park that you may never want to leave it.

Walking the Bicentennial Trail is just one way to be able to absorb the magnificent beauty of Australia. This trail is for cyclists, walkers and horse so motorized vehicles are not permitted. If you intend to tackle this trail for any distance, you must be prepared as there are no facilities along the way. You must be self-sufficient and pack in what you need.

The Australian Alps Walking Track is much shorter at 650km and will take you over some of the most fantastic terrain that the Australian Alps have to offer. If you were to walk the length of it, you would walk through four national parks and three states. For this walk you will want to take a GPS with you as parts of the trail are not marked and it would be easy to get off track. As with treks on the Bicentennial Trail, make sure that you are well prepared because town are few and far between.

Before you set off on your fishing vacation to Kosciuszko National Park, make sure that you know where you are allowed to fish so that you don’t run afoul of the law. There are some extraordinary fishing opportunities in the park but you must have a fishing licence. Lakes Eucumbene and Jindabyne are open for fishing all through the year but fishing is not permitted in some areas. Yet other areas are closed from June to October. Most of the recreational fishing is for trout and Atlantic salmon.

Exploring the Yarrangobilly Caves is an incredible experience. These limestone caves were created millions of years ago and are open to the public year round. If you are adventurous, the self-guided tours might appeal to you. If you have a thirst for information, guided tours are available. Swimming in the 27°C thermal pool is a unique experience and you can swim here no matter the season. There are change rooms, toilets, and picnic facilities available here.

If you are planning to go on a horseback vacation through the park, you must be aware that horses are not permitted in many areas of the park. The 5330km Bicentennial Trail stretches from Cooktown in the north to Healesville in the south and is very popular with riders. As well, Long, Cooleman, Kiandra, Currango, Tantangara, and Nungar Plains offer terrific recreational riding opportunities.

There are scads of different types cycling opportunities to experience. Mountain biking, extreme mountain biking, and cycling on steep paved and unpaved roads are among them. Cycling is a great way to see the park however there are some rules that apply. Walkers and horses have the right of way on trails and cyclists are not allowed on walking tracks. Walking tracks are usually covered with tarmac, boardwalks, or gravel.

During the winter, there is an abundance of skiing and snowboarding. If you are a cross country skier, you will be thrilled at the amount of country that you can see. There is a network of cross country trails to entice you. Charlotte Pass, Thredbo and Perisher Blue offer amazing snowboarding and downhill skiing.

The alpine environment is fragile so you, as on any exploration into nature, must be respectful and carry out your garbage. Try to leave nothing behind but your footprints. Make sure you have all the applicable permits and a list of the rules that will apply to you. Ending your vacation because of violations would make it memorable but not in the way you intended.

With its natural habitat along the coast of New Zealand and southern Australia, these tiny penguins provide hours of pleasurable viewing for visitors. These cute, little penguins have a number of names that they are known as. Among those names are Little Penguins, Blue Penguins, and the Māori name of Kororā. The Penguin Parade at Phillip Island Nature Park is a wildly popular tourist attraction. The location of the Sydney colony is a well-kept secret in order to help it as the colony struggles for survival.

Standing at about 17 inches tall, these tiny, indigo and white fairies are avidly protected by conservationists. Vulnerable to seals in the water and foxes, cats and dogs on land; 11 Fairy Penguins were mauled in July 2009 by a land predator. With only 60 mating pairs remaining in the colony at Manly and North Head, the death of this many penguins is a devastating blow. Snipers have been utilized by the National Parks and Wildlife Service to protect the Fairy Penguins from further predator attacks during the night. In the past, sheepdogs were deployed to act as penguin guardians on Middle Island when foxes depleted the colony there by about 90%. With a life expectancy of 6 – 7 years, breeding starting at about 3 years of age, and usually one chick per season; it is easy to see why the colonies are at risk and must be lent a bit of human support to protect them.

Phillip Island Nature Park is an incredible conservation park that offers the only commercial viewing of penguins in their own element, the wild. An area has been set up with concrete stands and lighting to allow visitors the opportunity of watching a natural penguin ritual, the penguin parade. Dusk brings with it the return of the penguins to their colony. After a day of ranging some 50 km through the water searching for fish, hundreds of Fairy Penguins waddle ashore and march across the sand of Phillip Island to their burrows. These penguins tend to use the same burrows for years.

The viewing area at Phillip Island is designed to allow spectators a memorable experience without disturbing the penguins or their burrows. For their part, the Fairy Penguins seem oblivious to the humans in their proximity. The steady stream of penguins heading for their homes for the night is quite the scene and one that will remain with you for years to come.

Fraser Island is the perfect holiday destination for those that enjoy hiking. Here you will experience breathtaking scenery, unique and rare flora, as well as the other wonders of this island. The wonders of the island are best experienced on foot rather than in a 4WD.

Hiking along the Forest Lakes Hiking Trail provides a terrific opportunity to see the incredible sights of Fraser Island up close. Depending on your hiking ability and the time you spend exploring, the trail circuit takes around eight days to complete. One of the most significant challengers hikers must overcome is that of having to carry all the supplies that are needed on their back. You must take drinking water with you since there are no facilities along the trails to get potable water.

Currently more than 90 kms of hiking trails wind throughout Fraser Island with several campsites strategically placed. When planning your trek along the Fraser Island Great Trail, make sure to get your camping permits and book your campsites in advance. Make sure to take all of your camping necessities with you because there isn’t a store around the corner to buy what you need at. Be advised that when there is a high fire risk, the trail and walk-in camps are closed so check the Parks website before you decide to take time off of work for a hiking vacation.

Although Fraser Island is rich with birds, wildlife and vegetation; you do have to be aware of the dingos. These are wild creatures and, although they may look thin and hungry, they are not. Feeding or approaching these animals may cause them to be aggressive and they can be dangerous. Never hike alone for safety reasons and always store your food in the storage available at the campsite. If you are on the trail after dark, you may be viewed as prey so it is advisable to plan to be in camp before nightfall.

There are many trails and they vary in length and difficulty. One of the longest trails is Lake Mckenzie to King Fisher Bay. This scenic 12.7 km walking track will take about 10 hours to complete. At the end of the day, you may want to treat yourself to a stay at the award winning, eco-sensitive Kingfisher Bay Resort.

Eli Creek to the Eli Creek Boardwalk is about 200 meters and is one of the shortest walks. From the Boardwalk, you can gaze into the creek and spot the eels that slip through the water so quietly or quietly watch some of the 354 species of birds that inhabit the island.

Lose yourself in the beauty and tranquility of this unique vacation destination. Plan a getaway to Fraser Island and experience all the incredible environments it offers.

What makes Australia one of the top 10 tourism hot spots? Many whom have been there will tell you that the wildlife was the reason for their choice in destination. Travel Agencies are covered in posters or brochures calling out the Crocodile Dun Dee in all of us. With such a vast species of wildlife in Australia, the largest group called the marsupials claims most of land. This wondrous group of animals includes the wombats, wallabies, Tasmanian devils, as well as the beloved Kangaroos and Koalas.

Those young and young at heart always seem to enjoy the ever popular marsupials as they dine on their eucalyptus. These adorable koalas are nocturnal making their lazy day behavior that much more cuddly and cute to all who have the chance to see them. We often hear the term koala bears when in fact; they are not bears at all. Rather they are related to the kangaroo. These adorable creatures can to live up to 17 years if it weren’t for the fact that they are in danger of extinction. Yes, extinction. This is due to their natural habitat being destroyed all around them.

Like the beloved koala, kangaroos are just as amazing with 40 wonderfully different species. These kangaroos are enormous and are the world’s largest marsupial. Many kangaroos are taller than the average human. One amazing fact is that kangaroos are not able to walk backwards. Hence, they are often used as the symbol of Australia signifying moving forward and never moving back.

One of the rarest animals in Australia is the bandicoot. These insect and plants eating creatures are very small when in comparison to the great kangaroo. The Looney Toon cartoon character that we all loved and adored called the Tasmanian Devil, was responsible for the popularity the real animal was rewarded. Despite all the popularity, these animals live alone only coming out at night to feast.

Snakes cover much of the land in Australia with about 140 species. Thank goodness only ten percent are actually poisonous. If you’re looking for danger, you’ll find it in the thick Australian rainforest. This is you’ll find some of the deadliest and most poisons snakes in the entire world. If you would like a piece of danger from afar, be sure to listen out for the Dingo dog. Although a dog, you won’t hear it bark. You will however, hear howls from many miles away similar to that of a wolf. These wild dogs feast on our beloved kangaroos and wallabies.

Let’s not forget about the aquatic animals of Australia. You won’t find these animals anywhere else in the world thus adding to Australia’s uniqueness. Why are there so many amazing and exotic animals in Australia? This is greatly due the fact that Antarctica and Australia were once connected. The continent of Australia drifted away about 55 million years ago. Once Australia was out there on its own, nature took its course and an evolutionary process begun. This process alone brought about the vast variety and diverse number of animal species.

As much as Australia is known for all these wonderful and amazing species, many are in danger of extinction due to the increasingly degrading forest and rise in population. This is why so many advocates of animal welfare are working with the Australian government. Their goal is to hold fast and preserves these treasures. For, they are not only treasures to their native land of Australia. They are now considered to be national treasures as well.

Before you pack those bags and head out for your Australian getaway, take a minute to learn about these fun facts that you are sure to find handy on your memorable vacation. These fun facts are sure to be a hoot that I bet you didn’t know about. So, it’s time to clear your throat and polish up on your Australian accent mate!

There is an array of exotic delicacies to choose from when in Australia. From basic pancakes served during dinner to a meal called the “bush-tucker”. Beware; this dish includes kangaroo, turkey and lizard meat which are popular amongst the locals. Eat it if you dare but, be sure to pack your Tums. When in doubt, pick the pancakes. Breakfast for dinner doesn’t sound too bad now does it?

When in Australia, visitors should be sure to visit the Great Barrier Reef. This reef is the largest in the world. It is a major tourist attraction and for good reason. You can actually mail your postcards directly from the reef itself. The reef has a mailbox that tourist can use when they ferry out to it. How cool is that?

Australia has one of the flattest terrains around and is the only country that takes up the entire continent. No wonder why we get confused. Is Australia is a continent or a country? I don’t doubt that you are aware that Australia has many species of animals but, did you know that there are about 1500 hundred species of spiders in Australia? Yes, I said 1500 hundred. That number is sure to bring out the arachnophobia in all of us. Oh yeah, and the Tasmanian devil’s jaw is just as strong as a crocodile. There go those Looney Toon images where the Tanzanian devil is just running around looking confused. Oh contraire, when they bite down, they mean business. But the koala bears are still cute and cuddly right? Don’t be so sure and don’t distract them from eating their favorite eucalyptus leaves they get really cranky.

It sounds like all fun and games with these facts but, they can prove quite useful when navigating around the country. Don’t be surprised and please don’t complain if you receive a plastic bill. There is no joke being played. You will avoid a potential argument if you simply remember that Australian money is actually made of plastic. Now when it comes to fashion and hairstyles, everyone has their own “flair” sort of speak. If you’re looking to get a trim, I’d advise that you make it very clear as to what you’re expecting in your haircut. The outdated Mullet and Mohawks are common haircuts and considered to be sexy and cool to those in Australia. If not careful you may walk out thinking you got stuck in a time warp.

Going to Australia to party with the locals? Yeah, well I hope you have big wallet. Alcohol is ridiculously expensive landing you in the poor house before you know it. It doesn’t mean that you can drink but, be wary of what you order. If you wish to save some green, you could always try the “goon”. It is much cheaper than the alcohol you are used to but it is still potent. This local “goon” is an Australian wine that is pretty decent considering.

So go ahead and finish packing. Now that you are equipped with some new facts about Australia, you can rest assure you won’t’ get yourself into too much trouble and you won’t die of culture shock. Finding your way shouldn’t be a problem anymore but, you can always rely on a little help from some friendly blokes to point you in the right direction as well.