Ozzie Obzervations
Lizards, Leeches and Cane Toads
For a fun-filled day with the family, why not play "spot the lizard" at Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens in Brisbane? The gardens are crawling with water dragons (over 800, so we were told) most of which are extremely hard to find due to their excellent camouflage. The little dragons seem quite harmless, obviously not of the fire-breathing variety.
If water dragons do not provide enough excitement, you might want to head for one of the many parks near Melbourne. There you will meet a somewhat larger lizard called the Australian goanna or monitor. Goannas are powerful, large and have claws, teeth and tails (you wouldn't want to meet one of these guys in a dark alley).
They also have a keen sense of smell and can be quite aggressive in their foraging. Unless you plan to share your lunch with a roaming goanna, best to leave your unattended food locked up in the esky or in the boot of the car.
Rainforest walks
Another wonderful day can be spent walking in one of the many rainforests. Before starting your rainforest adventure make sure you pack lots of water, something to eat and some salt (leftover from your fish and chips luncheon at the beach). You will find the forest peaceful and with any luck you may see a koala or two high up in the eucalyptus trees.
While on your bushwalk you may encounter a variety of wildlife that live in harmony with the cuddly koala. Indigenous tree snakes love to dangle from the branches above you. Pythons blend in so beautifully with the landscape that you could trip over one without realising it.
The infamous redback spider likes to lurk under dunny seats (subject of the famous Aussie song Redback on the Toilet Seat) and in woodpiles. Their bites can be deadly.
Leeches and ticks
Then there are the leeches. Best to wear long pants while walking the rainforest as leeches love to suck the blood from bare legs. You don't feel leeches biting because they inject an anesthetic before attaching themselves. To detach the little scoundrel, sprinkle it with salt.
After your bushwalk it is a good idea to check yourself for ticks. Ticks are a common nuisance and not lethal if found and removed quickly. Ticks are readily visible on white or light-color clothing. If bitten, care should be taken to remove the tick's head as well as its body.
Aside from snakes, spiders, leeches and ticks, isn't the rainforest grand? It is said that Aerogard works well to keep the pests away although I found out personally that there is just no deterring some crawly things from biting.
Which leads us to the tenacious Aussie flies and mozzies.
The Aussie salute
If you plan to spend any time in the Australian outdoors, make sure you carry plenty of insect repellent, mosquito netting and some cork bobs for your Akubra.
You will become well practised in the Aussie salute in no time at all. Hard to say if the flies are programmed to go for the nose or the mouth first but all the hand waving in the world does not seem to shoo them.
Remember that song about the old lady swallowing the fly — well, it happens here in Australia on a daily basis.
And you can skip this
Warning: The following passage may be offensive to some.
A common sight in the northern outback of Queensland is the venomous cane toad.
The toad was introduced some years ago in an attempt to control the cane beetle, which at the time was devastating the cane crops.
Now the farmers are making a desperate attempt to control the cane toad, which is in turn devastating the indigenous wildlife.
Many Fridays nights are devoted to "toad popping," a game devised to help rid the area of the pesky cane toad.
All you need is a car full of petrol and accurate steering skills to join in the fun. The driver who pops the most toads wins. Good, messy fun.
- Driving in Australia and Other Aussie Experiences
- U-Turns and Highways
- Billy Tea, Beet Root, Bacon, Beer
- Spyders, Sausage Rolls
- Does the Water Go Counter-clockwise?
- Big Things in the Big Country
- Clubs and Culture
- Birds, Fish and Crawly Things
- Lizards, Leeches and Cane Toads
From our Forum: "Favorite sign - WRONG WAY GO BACK ... Uh ... mind if I ask how many times you ... uh ... encountered that one??? [very big grin]" — Joseph
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Barbara and Dennis Giesbrecht live near Vancouver, BC, in Canada. They arrived in Australia in January 2002 to participate in a teacher exchange program for the 2002 school year. They returned to Canada in mid-December 2002. Ozzie Obzervations provide a humorous glimpse of everyday life in Australia as seen through the eyes of these two Canucks.
