Australia
Glenelg is a beach-side suburb of Adelaide – the capital city of South Australia. Glenelg is located on the shore of Holdfast Bay in Gulf St Vincent and is often referred to by the locals as “The Bay”. It has a long, sandy beach, an amusement centre with waterslides and arcade games, boutiques, and laid-back pubs and cafes. You can swim with dolphins, enjoy a twilight cruise, hire a bike, play beach volleyball, or enjoy a barbeque. Accommodation includes apartments, hotels, motels and B&Bs.
The Flinders Ranges is an area approximately 400kms north of Adelaide. It contains the protected areas of the Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park and Bunkers Conservation Reserve. Taking a train ride is one of the many things to do along the way – the Pichi Richi Railway runs beautifully restored steam and diesel locomotives and timber carriages along the last remaining operating portion of the historic narrow-gauge Ghan railway line. There are many 4WD tours in the region, scenic flights (small planes, helicopters and hot air balloons), guided walks, and various accommodation experiences that range from five-star luxury to bush camps. Clean air and a lack of ambient light ensures magnificent star gazing. As a child, Billie’s Mum lived in the Flinders Ranges.
https://www.frc.sa.gov.au/tourism
Broken Hill is an inland mining city located in the far west of New South Wales, very near the South Australian border. Its hills once held the richest deposits of silver, lead and zinc the world has ever seen. Some mining still takes place in “The Silver City” and it remains Australia’s longest running mining town. Broken Hill is also Australia’s first heritage listed city. The vibrant colours of the landscape attract many artists, and their works can be found in Broken Hill’s many art galleries. Not to be missed are the Living Desert Sculptures. The remoteness of the colourful landscape is one of the reasons many movies and television series have been made in and around Broken Hill. Makayla Perry’s art is amazing - @aboriginal_art_mp.
https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/outback-nsw/broken-hill-area
The Indian Pacific is one of the few truly transcontinental passenger trains in the world. It travels between Australia’s east and west coasts – Sydney on the Pacific Ocean, and Perth on the Indian Ocean.
https://journeybeyondrail.com.au/journeys/indian-pacific/
Known as the ‘largest floral show on earth’, Western Australia’s wildflowers include more than 12,000 species, with over 60% of these being found nowhere else in the world. The six-month flowering season begins in the north in June and July, and by October and November, has moved south throughout the forests and coastal heaths of the south west. There are many wildflower scenic drives, walking trails and tours to be experienced.
https://www.westernaustralia.com/en/things_to_do/forest_and_flowers/pages/wawildflowers.aspx#/
Broome is one of Australia's most fascinating towns. It is rich in Aboriginal, Japanese, Chinese and outback culture. Among other things to do, you can take camel rides at sunset along Cable Beach, discover dinosaur footprints on ancient rocks, shop for pearls, take a tour of a working pearl farm, and cruise the Kimberley.
https://www.australia.com/en/places/broome-and-surrounds/guide-to-broome.html
The Northern Territory of Australia is well-known around the world for its Aboriginal culture, wildlife and dramatic landscapes. There’s much to see and do during a visit to the ‘top end’. You can fish for barramundi, meet Aboriginal artists and watch them work, cruise Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge, take guided walks and see ancient Aboriginal rock art in Kakadu National Park, watch iconic Uluru (Ayers Rock) change its colours at sunset, walk through the domes of Kata Tjuta (the Olgas). You can also explore the escarpments and swimming holes in and around Tjoritja (West MacDonnell Ranges) near Alice Springs, visit the Mindil Beach Sunset Markets in Darwin, swim under the waterfalls at Litchfield National Park and catch a sunset at Karlu Karlu (the Devils Marbles). Billie fished at King Ash Bay, which is situated in the heart of Gulf of Carpentaria fishing country.
https://northernterritory.com/
Mareeba is a town in Far North Queensland, located near the junction of the Barron River, Granite Creek and Emerald Creek. The town's name is derived from an Aboriginal word meaning meeting of the waters. You can take food and wine tasting tours, go four-wheel driving through Barron Gorge and Kuranda National Park, visit the Cillagoe Caves, take a ride on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, visit Mareeba’s Heritage Museum and the Kuranda Markets. Mareeba has perfect conditions for hot air ballooning at sunrise.
https://www.queensland.com/en-au/destination-information/mareeba
The Great Barrier Reef is located in the Coral Sea, off Queensland’s coast, and is the world's largest coral reef system (an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometres). It is made up of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands. It is home to whales, dolphins, porpoises, sea turtles, birds and sea snakes, and more than 1,500 species of fish. There are many activities to be experienced while visiting ‘the Reef’, including swimming, snorkelling, sky diving, glass bottom boat tours and sailing.
http://www.greatbarrierreef.org/
Bondi Beach is arguably Australia’s most iconic beach. Surf Life Saving Australia is active at this beach, particularly due to its famous ‘Backpackers Rip’ at the southern end. The northern end is relatively gentle, and the surf life-saving yellow and red flags define safe swimming areas. There is an underwater shark net, however it does not stretch the entire beach. Pods of whales and dolphins have been sighted in the bay during their migration. Fairy penguins can also sometimes be seen swimming close to shore and amongst surfers. Bondi Beach hosted the beach volleyball competition at the 2000 Summer Olympics, and is the end point of the annual ‘City to Surf’ Fun Run. The Bondi Icebergs Swimming Club dates back to 1929 and owes its origins to a band of dedicated local lifesavers who wished to maintain their fitness during the winter months. There is also a skate park which has been rated 4 out of 5 stars by Skateboard Australia.
Canberra, located in the Australian Capital Territory, is the capital city of Australia and is Australia’s largest inland city. Lake Burley Griffin is in the city centre, and many of Canberra’s attractions lie along its shores, including the National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, National Library, National Museum, Questacon, and both the old and new Parliament buildings. A visit to the Australian War Memorial is a must do. Other worthwhile attractions include Mount Ainslie Lookout, the Botanic Gardens, Black Mountain Tower, the Australian Institute of Sport, and the Royal Australian Mint. Canberra hosts many festivals, including the popular Floriade that celebrates the city's many spring blooms.
Puffing Billy is a narrow-gauge heritage steam railway in the Dandenong Ranges in Victoria. Most trains start from Belgrave and travel to Lakeside, or to the terminus at Gembrook, and return. The railway operates between three to six services daily except on Christmas Day.
Ballarat is Australia’s third largest inland city and is located in the Central Highlands of Victoria. Gold was discovered in August 1851, and the resulting Victorian gold rush transformed Ballarat from a small sheep station to a major settlement. The city is famous for the 1854 tax-revolt known as the Eureka Rebellion. Ballarat is also known for its history, culture and its well-preserved Victorian era heritage. Ballarat is most notable for the award-winning open-air museum known as Sovereign Hill, a recreated 1850s gold mining settlement.
https://www.sovereignhill.com.au/
Eaglehawk Neck is an isthmus that connects the Tasman Peninsula to mainland Tasmania. Referred to by the locals as ‘the Neck’, this narrow stretch of land is around 400 metres long and under 30 metres wide at its narrowest point. The area features rugged terrain and several unusual geological formations. One of these formations is the Tessellated Pavement, an area of flat rock that, although it looks like it has been manmade, has been formed by erosion.
https://eaglehawkneck.org/attractions/
Tasmania’s climate and conditions are similar to the famous lavender regions of Provence, France. One of the most widely known herbs, lavender is known for its beauty, fragrance and medicinal and culinary value. There are several opportunities around Tasmania to experience the beauty of lavender.
https://www.discovertasmania.com.au/about/articles/lavender-in-tasmania
