Australia / New Zealand Travel Information 2007
All Australia / New Zealand feature articles are regularly updated.
12/26/07 - Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2007
The year's bluewater classic, from its Boxing Day start at Sydney Harbour.
12/19/07 - The Best of Melbourne Markets
There is an abundance of Melbourne markets, each of them an interesting reflection of Melbourne's life and culture, writes contributor Brigitte Seum.
12/12/07 - Kevin Rudd: Prime Minister of Australia
Australian Labor Party Leader Kevin Rudd became Australia's 26th Prime Minister after the Labor Party swept into office in the federal elections of November 24, 2007.
How the Australian Prime Minister Is Chosen
12/05/07 - Australia in December
December is a month of holidays. Not only are there two public holidays - Christmas Day and Boxing Day - but quite a number of businesses close down for the Christmas season, and school terms end before Christmas, so it's holiday time for large numbers of Australians.
11/28/07 - Tasmania: Australia's Island State
Tasmania is Australia's only island state located in Australia's southeast across Bass Strait from Victoria.
11/21/07 - Hamilton Island
About 900 kilometres (560 miles) north of Brisbane, in the heart of Queensland's popular Whitsunday Islands, Hamilton Island is one of the more accessible resort islands on Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
11/14/07 - Old Melbourne Gaol
Old Melbourne Gaol is part and parcel of Australian history where convicts were imprisoned and those sentenced to death were hanged.
11/07/07 - Melbourne Cup 2007
It's the race that stops a nation and this year there were more dramas than usual as quarantines and horse movement restrictions were put into effect in parts of Australia as a result of the outbrak of equine influenza.
10/31/07 - Australia in November
November in Australia is best known as the month of the Melbourne Cup. It is, too, the last month of spring and the days of ski and snow are well and truly over.
10/24/07 - Flemington Racecourse: Home Track of the Melbourne Cup
Fleminton Racecourse, six kilometres northwest of Melbourne city centre, is the home track of the Melbourne Cup, Australia's richest and biggest horse racing event.
10/17/07 - Caulfield Racecourse: Home Track of the Caulfield Cup
Caulfield Racecourse, southeast of Melbourne city centre, is best known for being the home track of the Caulfield Cup, a 2400-metre Group 1 handicap race for horses three years old or more.
10/10/07 - 2007 Rugby World Cup: How Australia and New Zealand Fared
The Australian and New Zealand rugby teams were forecast to be prime contenders for this year's Cup at matches played mainly in France and Wales.
10/03/07 - Australia in October
October is the middle of spring in Australia, the flowers are in bloom, the weather is warm, and the sand and surf of Australia's beaches beckon.
09/26/07 - Australian Museum
Established in 1827, the Australian Museum in Sydney is Australia's first museum. It has extensive collections of natural science and cultural artefacts of interest to locals and visitors alike.
09/19/07 - New Zealand World Heritage Sites
Three United Nations-inscribed World Heritage sites are located in New Zealand, some areas of which are easily accessible to visitors to the country. Also see Australia's World Heritage Sites.
09/12/07 - Melbourne's Southbank
Melbourne's Southbank arts and entertainment district lies just south of the Melbourne city centre, and a short walk across the river from Flinders St Station and Federation Square.
Southbank Photo Gallery
09/05/07 - Australia in September
September in Australia is the first month of the southern spring, a season of regrowth and flowers.
08/29/07 - The Ghosts of Port Arthur
With its history of harshness, hardship and death, it is no wonder that the grounds and ruins of the Port Arthur convict penitentiary are believed — or at least rumored — to have their ghosts.
08/22/07 - Princess Theatre - Melbourne
An imposing landmark Melbourne building, the 1488-seat Princess Theatre on Spring St dates from the mid-1880s, the second Melbourne building to bear that name. And yes, with stories of mysterious happenings, they do say there's a ghost at the theatre.
08/15/07 - Green Island
One of the most accessible and popular islands on the Great Barrier Reef, Green Island is a 12-hectare coral cay set in a 710-hectare reef bed just about 30 kilometres from the far north Queensland city of Cairns.
08/08/07 - Jenolan Caves
Jenolan Caves, west-southwest of Sydney, is probably the best known limestone caves complex in Australia. It is part of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage site.
08/01/07 - Australia in August
August in Australia is the last month of the southern winter but in the New South Wales Snowy Mountains and the Victorian Alps, you'd hardly know spring is just around the corner.
07/25/07 - Bindi Irwin: The Jungle Girl
The television series Bindi: The Jungle Girl started screening on the Australian ABC network this month, a week before Bindi Irwin's ninth birthday on July 24. The series was launched in June at Australia Zoo.
07/18/07 - Australia in July
July in Australia is midwinter and is one of the best months for skiing and other snow activities.
07/11/07 - Danish Royal Family: Copenhagen 2007
Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary, the former Mary Donaldson of Tasmania, leave Copenhagen University Hospital in April 2007 with their new-born daughter and son Prince Christian.
07/04/07 - Sydney Opera House: World Heritage Building
On June 28, 2007, Sydney Opera House was inscribed by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's World Heritage Committee as a World Heritage site.
06/27/07 - Mt Wellington
Mt Wellington has good vantage points for panoramic views of Hobart, the Derwent River and the Tasmanian wilderness.
06/20/07 - Melbourne City Tourist Shuttle
The Melbourne City Tourist Shuttle is a free hop on, hop off bus service with stops at a number of Melbourne attractions.
06/13/07 - Queensland Performing Arts Centre
Comprising a concert hall, several theatres, studios, foyers and other entertainment areas, the Queensland Performing Arts Centre at Brisbane's South Bank is a jewel in the crown of Queensland cultural life.
06/06/07 - Australia in June
June in Australia is the first month of the southern winter. But except at high altitudes where you can expect snow, the temperature is not as harsh as you might imagine winter would be.
05/30/07 - Getting to Yarra Valley
If you plan driving to the Yarra Valley wine region, get on the Eastern Freeway and follow it to Nunawading where you can then take Maroondah Highway all the way to Yarra Valley.
05/23/07 - Yarra Valley Wine Region
At 50 kilometres from Melbourne to Healesville, Victoria's Yarra Valley wine region is the closest to the Victorian capital.
05/16/07 - Mornington Peninsula Wine Region
The Mornington Peninsula just south of Melbourne is a wine region noted for its chardonnay and pinot noir, as well as shiraz and the lesser known varieties of viogner and pinot gris.
05/09/07 -
Mornington Peninsula
Curving southward and westward from Melbourne along the eastern coast of Port Phillip Bay, Victoria's Mornington Peninsula, is a region of fine beaches, holiday homes, vineyards and wineries, and a variety of other attractions.
05/02/07 - Australia in May
May in Australia is the month before the onset of the southern winter, a time of fine temperate weather suited to daytrips and various outdoor activities.
04/25/07 - Hook Turn - Doing the Melbourne Hook
If you plan to drive in Melbourne, watch out for the "hook turn" signs - and be prepared to turn right from the leftmost lane.
04/18/07 - Melbourne Theatre Guide
What's playing on the Melbourne stage? The theatre guide lists current and coming plays, musicals and other theatre productions in Melbourne with playdates, venues and booking information.
04/11/07 - Bowali Visitor Centre
Bowali Visitor Centre in Kakadu National Park contains interpretive displays of Kakadu country and ecology, providing insights into the land and its traditional people, as well as giving guidance in exploring Kakadu.
04/04/07 - Margaret River - Wine Region and Surfing Mecca
Not only is the Margaret River region of Western Australia noted for its wines but more than 40 surfing locations along the coast provide conditions ranging from powerful reef breaks to fun beach breaks.
03/28/07 - Australian National Maritime Museum
The Australian National Maritime Museum at Sydney's Darling Harbour is a repository of Australian maritime history comprising documents, relics and maritime craft from various periods.
03/21/07 - Three Practical Steps to Sydney Sightseeing
When confronted with questions on what to do and where to go on visiting Sydney for the first time, here are three practical steps to give you a running start on Sydney sightseeing.
03/14/07 - Rangitoto Island
From the south shore of Auckland's Waitemata Harbour, the island of Rangitoto is quickly discernible — and identifiable — by its symmetrical, elongated shape and its 259-metre volcanic summit.
03/07/07 - St Patrick's Day in Sydney
With Irish Australians comprising close to 10 per cent of Australia's population, it is no wonder that Irish traditions, including the holding of St Patrick's Day parades, continue to the present day.
02/28/07 - Eureka Flag
The Eureka flag was first hoisted at the Eureka Stockade in 1854 and is generally considered a symbol of Australian rebellion.
02/21/07 - Townsville: By Hill and Sea
Considered the capital of the north Queensland region, Townsville, the state's fourth largest city, is some 1370 kilometres north of Brisbane. The city combines the lure of the tropics in a seaside location with the advantages and amenities of urban life.
02/14/07 - Bowen on the Whitsunday Coast
Close to Queensland's Airlie Beach and the Whitsunday resort islands, the seaside town of Bowen is a place for lazy beach holidays with a spot of snorkeling and scuba diving and barbecues in the park.
02/07/07 - Australia in April
April in Australia is mid-autumn with temperatures starting their slide into winter. Even so, in most of Australia the average temperature would still be in the 20°-30°C range. The major fixed-date event in April is Anzac Day on April 25.
01/31/07 - Australian Open 2007
The 2007 Australian Tennis Open, first of the world's four Grand Slam tennis tournaments each year, was played at Melbourne Park with the men's singles final completing the year's Australian Open matches on January 28.
01/24/07 - Australia in March
March is the first month of the Australian autumn. Warm turning to cool weather would be the norm in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the southern parts of Western Australia.
01/17/07 - Australia in February
February is the last month of the Australian summer. Expect generally warm weather in most of Australia tapering to cool as autumn approaches.
01/10/07 - Australia in January
New Year's Day, a public holiday throughout Australia, marks the beginning of a month of arts and sports events that highlight the first month of the calendar year in Australia.
01/03/07 - Sydney Festival 2007
The 2007 Sydney Festival ran for three weeks from January 6, through Australia Day, to January 27. It featured local and international theatre, music, dance, multi-disciplinary and visual arts. The Sydney Festival is one of the biggest arts festivals not only in Australia but in many parts of the world.
More features... continually updated...
2008: What's Up Down Under This Year?
2007: Sydney Opera House Named World Heritage Site
2006: World Heritage Sites, National and State Flowers
2005: From Sydney Festival to Sydney to Hobart
2004: Makybe Diva, Mel Gibson, Merle Oberon, Moomba
2003: A Prince of the Church... a Princess for Denmark...
2002: The Best Time to Visit Sydney, and More
2001: We Explore More of the Wonders of New Zealand
2000: Sydney Holds the Olympics: What a Year That Was!
1999: From Port Arthur Ghosts to Monkey Mia Dolphins
1998: We Begin in Sydney and Move Farther Afield
