In the tropical Australian north, fly or drive down from Darwin to visit one of the Northern Territory's visually stunning national parks, Katherine Gorge, also known as Nitmiluk.

Or take the Ghan from Adelaide (or down from Darwin). Katherine Gorge is a stop on the Adelaide-Darwin rail line.

Swim, canoe, cruise, fish, walk, go on a scenic flight — there are a number of activities to tempt you at the Gorge.

Photo: Katherine Gorge © Australian Tourist Commission

A century and twenty-nine years ago, Australia's most famous bushranger, Ned Kelly, was hanged in Melbourne. He had been caught in a shootout in the Victorian town of Glenrowan and went to trial in Beechworth, east of Wangaratta. He was then brought to Melbourne where he was hanged on November 11, 1880, inside what is now the Old Melbourne Gaol.

Photo: Giant Ned Kelly statue in Glenrowan, Victoria © Tourism Victoria

The neogothic Christchurch Cathedral at Cathedral Square is the imposing midtown landmark in New Zealand's largest South Island city, Christchurch.

You can climb up Christchurch Cathedral to viewing platforms 30 metres up the 63m-high spire for a bird's-eye view of Christchurch city. While there, examine the Christchurch Cathedral bells at close hand.

Earthquakes have rocked Christchurch and damaged the cathedral spire on a few occasions, toppling it down once to Cathedral Square.

Take time to discover the charms of this most English of New Zealand cities with a photo tour. Click on each picture to view the next image, from Cathedral Square to the malls and the gardens and the old gothic-style buildings, and then head off to Mt Cook, Queenstown and Milford Sound.

• Go on a Photo Tour of Christchurch
• Tour the South Island in Five Days
• South Island Interactive Map

Have you been to Christchurch? You may want to share your comments with us...

Photo: Christchurch Cathedral © Larry Rivera licensed to About, Inc

November 11 is Remembrance Day, also known as Armistice Day. It is, of course, the anniversary of the end of World War I 91 years ago, and it is a day for remembering those who died in the wars.

In November 1997, then Australian Governor-General Sir William Deane formally proclaimed November 11 Remembrance Day and urged all Australians to observe one minute's silence at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month each year to remember those who died or suffered for Australia's cause in all wars and armed conflicts.

While Remembrance Day is thus observed in Australia, the better-known "remembrance" day in Australia (and New Zealand) is actually Anzac Day on April 25 each year.

Ceremonies take place on November 11 at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra and in many other cities and towns. Across the country Australians observing the day pause for a minute's silence at 11am in remembrance of the fallen.

• Australian War Memorial
• The Anzacs: We Will Remember Them

Photo: Australian War Memorial in Canberra, courtesy Canberra Tourism & Events Corporation

It's Fremantle Festival time from November 7 to 15, a whole week of celebrations and fun bookended by two weekends.

The 2009 Fremantle Festival is a celebration of the unique, stimulating and colorful culture that enriches Fremantle and invites participation of all cultural, ethnic, arts and community groups.

The festival traditionally includes a number of free events, and this year these include the Fremantle Proms festival opening event, Norfolk Lane Youth Festival, Wardarnji Aboriginal Cultural Celebration, and Carnival Day.

The Fremantle Fringe Festival takes place during the entire Fremantle Festival period.

• Fremantle: Perth's Seaport
• Fremantle Activities and Attractions
• Fremantle Aboriginal Heritage Walking Tour
• Find Suitable Accommodation in Fremantle
• Where to Stay in Perth

Photo: Merrymakers at the Fremantle Festival © Tourism Western Australia

Shocking has won the 2009 Melbourne Cup, with Crime Scene second, and Mourilyan third.

Pre-race favorites Alcopop, Viewed and Roman Emperor were unplaced.

• Shocking Win

Changingoftheguard has been scratched from the Melbourne Cup, leaving 23 horses to vie for the Cup to be run at 3pm today, November 3, Australian eastern daylight saving time. (It's already November 3 in Australia.)

Changingofthe guard is trained by David Hayes and was to be ridden by Glen Boss who rode Makybe Diva to her three successive Melbourne Cup triumphs.

At 7.30am today, Viewed remained favorite for the Cup, followed by stablemate Roman Emperor and the lightly raced Alcopop. In the afternoon, Viewed and Alcopop were neck-and-neck in favoritism.

It's the day before the running of this year's Melbourne Cup and betting support for 2008 Melbourne Cup winner Viewed, trained by Cups King Bart Cummings, has pushed the seasoned track veteran into outright favoritism.

The lightly raced Alcopop, with four wins from his last four starts, is second favorite while Cummings' Roman Emperor is third favorite.

Cummings, with 12 Melbourne Cup wins under his belt, has three runners in this year's big race: Viewed, Roman Emperor and longer-priced Allez Wonder.

Viewed and Alcopop shared favoritism for this year's Melbourne Cup after the runners were announced after the last race on Victoria Derby Day.

Viewed is last year's Melbourne Cup and this year's Caulfield Cup winner. The less-credentialed gelding, Alcopop, has won his last four starts and is becoming a sentimental choice in Tuesday's big race.

The runners:

Number, Horse (Barrier), Trainer, Jockey, Weight

1. Viewed (9), B Cummings, B Rawiller, 58kg
2. C'est La Guerre (7), J Sadler, N Hall, 55.5kg
3. Fiumicino (24), M, W & J Hawkes, S King, 55.5kg
4. Master O'Reilly (16), D O'Brien, V Duric, 55kg
5. Mourilyan (14), H Brown (Dubai), G Schofield, 54.5kg
6. Roman Emperor (15), B Cummings, H Bowman, 54kg
7. Ista Kareem (23), C Alderson, L Nolen, 53.5kg
8. Crime Scene (11), S bin Suroor (GB), K McEvoy, 53kg
9. Munsef (5), I Williams (GB), Z Purton, 53kg
10. Zavite (3), A Cummings, M Zahra, 53kg
11. Alcopop (12), J Stephens, D Tourneur, 52.5kg
12. Harris Tweed (20), M & B Baker (NZ), C Newitt, 52.5kg
13. Kibbutz (8), J McLean, C Symons, 52.5kg
14. Newport (18), P Perry, P Wells, 52.5kg
15. Warringah (17), C Waller, D Oliver, 52.5kg
16. Gallions Reach (6), R Yuill (NZ), D Dunn, 52kg
17. Spin Around (4), S Cooper (NZ), M du Plessis, 52kg
18. Basaltico (10), L Cumani (GB), D Nikolic, 51.5kg
19. Capecover (19), A Fieldes (NZ), N Harris, 51.5kg
20. Daffodil (21), K Gray (NZ), C Munce, 51.5kg
21. Shocking (22), M Kavanagh, C Brown, 51kg
22. Allez Wonder (13), B Cummings, Ms M Payne, 50.5kg
23. Changingoftheguard (1), D Hayes, G Boss, 50.5kg
24. Leica Ding (2), D Weir, C Williams, 50.5kg

Monaco Consul has won the Victoria Derby, followed by Extra Zero, second, and Viking Legend, third.

Pre-race favorites for the Derby were Rockferry and Monaco Consul followed by Onemorenomore. Early favorite Shamoline Warrior, winner of his last two starts, was scratched

The Victoria Derby is run over 2500 metres at Flemington Racecourse.

Victoria Derby Day is the last major race meeting in Melbourne before the Melbourne Cup.