Australia by Red Nomad OZ
Hay Plain, via Deniliquin, New South Wales

Hunting the Wild Plains Wanderer – Deniliquin, New South Wales

They’d scented fresh blood. And in the deathly silence of twilight as dusk fell over the moonlit plain, I could hear them coming for me. A million manic mosquitoes, and I couldn’t move a muscle. Actually, that’s a lie. I COULD move – but I’d chosen not to. For 3 good reasons. Firstly, listening for the call of the enigmatic[…]

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Dugouts, Dirt and Dunnies! 3 reasons to visit Andamooka, South Australia

I don’t know if anyone ever struck it rich in the old days – or even the new days – by hitting a seam of opal while sinking a dugout dunny shaft. But if it’s going to happen anywhere, the chances of it happening in Andamooka are better than average. As long as the hole is at least 3 metres[…]

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Exmouth Beach, Western Australia

Aussie ABC: T is for Towns Part 2

Australian Country Towns don’t come much smaller than some of these! But each town on my A-Z list within my Aussie ABC punches above its weight with attractions you probably won’t find anywhere else. My list of HOT Aussie Towns from N-Z here in Part 2 have attractions so COOL you’ll want to see them all. And if you missed[…]

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The Bizarre Back-of-Beyond Bakery – Farina, South Australia

STOP PRESS!  2020 Farina Bakery Update:  Due to COVID-19 the Farina Bakery South Australia will NOT be operating in 2020.  However, the Farina historic township and Farina campground will be open and can be visited in line with South Australian state government border closures and travel restrictions.  The sign shimmered through the haze of dust and heat like a mirage.[…]

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Yes, that's a Cane Toad in his mouth!  Thommo at Kununurra Agricultural Show

I was a Cane Toad Race Virgin! Kununurra, Western Australia

The pairing of Australians and Cane Toads works well. Almost as well the pairing of pavlova with pepperoni!  Although, come to think of it, while the Cane toad is an introduced species, so are its colonial counterparts … but I digress! 77 years after ‘experts’ deliberately introduced the Cane Toad (Bufo Marinus) into the wild, this alien animal has infested[…]

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The Big Murray Cod car-surfing, Swan Hill, Victoria

Only in OZ #21 – Big Murray Cod, Swan Hill, Victoria

The huge fish levitating planking looming above the cars parked opposite the Swan Hill Visitor Information Centre ALMOST made up for Pilchard’s refusal to take a detour via the tiny town of Tittybong. Just so I could say I’d been there … But the thrill of ALMOST visiting Tittybong dissipated as I sniffed out a story here on the Victorian side[…]

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Moon Rocks in Main Street, Richmond, Queensland

Only in OZ #19 – Moon Rock-Throwing World Championships, Richmond, Queensland

I’ve yet to meet a Calcareous Concretion I didn’t like. Although there’s some confusion about exactly where that magical Moon Rock meeting is likely to be. My first sighting in Outback Queensland’s Richmond was supposed to be ‘unique to the Richmond Shire’ according to the town guide. BUT … I’d clocked up several hundred Moon Rock sightings before heading a[…]

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Wycliffe Well Amenties Block, Northern Territory*

Wycliffe Well Roadhouse – The Best Alien Pit-Stop this side of the Galaxy!

What’s a weary Aussie traveller to do after a few hours and a few hundred kilometres on the road? Stagger from the car – reeling from too much sitting and legs crossed from sipping water water – and head straight for the loo, of course! Or the nearest tree, rock or shrub. Finding a good place to do your business[…]

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Between Boulia and Bedourie, Western Queensland Outback

Aussie Icons #6 – Min Min light, Boulia, Queensland

The benign, blue sky stretches away to infinity around western Queensland’s Boulia, mostly unrelieved by clouds, birds or planes. Unremarkable – at least by Outback standards – Boulia’s boundless blue backdrop is the ultimate Big Sky luring travellers to the Outback. But it’s not the splendidly panoramic sky of daylight hours that attracts visitors to this remote capital of the[…]

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Under the Canopy - Tree of Knowledge, Barcaldine

Aussie Icons #5 – Tree of Knowledge Barcaldine Queensland

When the 200-year-old Tree of Knowledge was poisoned shortly after being included on the National Heritage List on Australia Day 2006, I was appalled. Yet another historic Aussie landmark fallen victim to the disregard sometimes shown for our heritage. But although the tree’s demise was disappointing, I was also resigned to its fate. Because when a tree dies, it’s gone for[…]

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