Friday November 27, 2009
We've never really seen 12 of the Twelve Apostles off the Victorian coast. At least I haven't. In 2005 one of them crumbled into the sea, and another was lost this year.
Actually, they say only seven remain, but they are not expected to diminish as one of Victoria's most popular attractions along the Great Ocean Road. You won't get lost on the Great Ocean Road, but getting to the Great Ocean Road may be another matter.
The Great Ocean Road marks the 77th anniversary of its official opening this month.
Photo: Some of the Twelve Apostles © Tourism Victoria
Monday November 23, 2009
I tend to get questions about sightseeing in Sydney like: "After the Opera House, what?"
If it's going to be your first time in Sydney — like when it's my first time in many cities in Europe — a good first approach is to take a hop-on-hop-off bus tour to, well, discover the lay of the land and see what attractions are there.
When you find attractions that intrigue or interest you, then you can plan to spend more time there.
In any case, these should give you a running start on Sydney sightseeing. Enjoy your visit, mate.
Photo: Sydney Opera House photographed from The Rocks © Larry Rivera, licensed to About.com, Inc
Saturday November 21, 2009
If you start your Melbourne sightseeing at Flinders St Station, you'll find close by the imposing Anglican cathedral, St Paul's, whose foundation stone was laid in 1835.
The cathedral's architecture is described as a revival of the style known as Gothic transitional, partly early English Gothic and partly Decorated Gothic.
Melbourne, Australia's second largest city and the capital of the state of Victoria, is a fascinating blend of old and new. There is much of Australia's past in the Victorian and Gothic architecture in many Melbourne buildings even as they sit alongside more modern steel and glass structures in a city that is, as well, a mixture of styles.
St Paul's Cathedral is one of Melbourne's most distinctive landmarks.
Photo: St Paul's Cathedral © Tourism Victoria
Thursday November 19, 2009
Drive north from Brisbane and all along the north Queensland coast, you'll find jump-off points to many coastal and island attractions.
From the Capricornia Coast, for instance, you can head across the water to Heron Island, one of the coral sand islands at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef.
North of Capricornia lies the Whitsunday Coast where you find Mackay, gateway to Eungella National Park, Hatton Finch Gorge and, across the water, Brampton Island, another of those popular Queensland island resorts.
Drive further north and you reach Airlie Beach and Bowen. From Airlie Beach you can take a ferry to Hamilton Island. The town of Bowen is noted for being a film location for the Baz Luhrmann epic Australia starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman.
Then there's Townsville, Queensland fourth largest city. And not too far north is Cairns, Australia's most popular jump-off point to the Great Barrier Reef.
Photo: Finch Hatton Gorge near Mackay © Tourism Queensland
