Australia by Red Nomad OZ

Australia’s Scenic Public Toilets #14 – Mallanganee, New South Wales

Last Updated on August 18, 2019 by Red Nomad OZ Along with most of the rest of Australia, we’ve never been to Mallanganee.  Or at least not the actual township. The Bruxner highway, linking the New England Ranges Region with the Northern Rivers Region through the Richmond Range bypasses Mallanganee nestled in the valley below.  And, as we’re generally en[…]

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OZ Top Spot #8 Noccundra, Queensland

Last Updated on March 3, 2017 by Red Nomad OZ Thank god for Kerry Packer*! When his Consolidated Pastoral Company purchased nearby Nockatunga station in 1990, the Noccundra Hotel, part of the lease, was almost certainly saved from the oblivion often suffered by historic (aka ‘old’) buildings in areas without a critical voting mass. Outdistancing its surrounding very remote localities[…]

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Weird Stuff #5 – Mareeba, Queensland

Last Updated on March 18, 2019 by Red Nomad OZ The spectacular Gouldian finches* caged for the breeding program at the Mareeba Wetlands Visitor Centre are great, but there’s WAAAAAY more birds to be seen out and about around the lagoon or on one of the walks in the 5000 acre reserve. So, bins** in hand, we took the Pandanus walk, its[…]

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The Red Devil, Minlaton, South Australia

Aussie Icons #3 – The Red Devil

Last Updated on March 3, 2017 by Red Nomad OZ According to my train buddy* G, the longest ever recorded chicken flight lasted for 13 seconds.  Ironic then, that one of Australia’s most unsung aviators drew his early inspiration from experiments with measuring chook** wingspan relative to their flight! A world exclusive wasn’t what I expected when I visited Minlaton on South[…]

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Signs #13 – ‘Droughts and Flooding Rains …’*

Last Updated on April 19, 2017 by Red Nomad OZ The Mid Murray Council ‘s having one of those years.  Years of drought (and arguably a bit of un-Australian upstream behaviour!) has seen the Murray River, lifeblood to South Australia’s fruit bowl the Riverland, fall to the lowest levels in decades.  So low, in fact, that parts of the river banks are[…]

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Track on the Whispering Wall Dam Wall, Adelaide

Only in OZ #13 – The Whispering Wall, Adelaide, South Australia

Last Updated on June 15, 2017 by Red Nomad OZ Compared with other states, South Australia works hard to preserve the sanctity of its reservoirs. Their waters are generally unsullied by boating, skiing, fishing or swimming activities – and poorly maintained facilities tend to discourage visitors from lingering. But the Barossa Valley Reservoir’s Dam Wall is an exception. A short[…]

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Aussie ABC – C is for Crocodile!

Last Updated on August 18, 2019 by Red Nomad OZ Books of etiquette and protocol offer no guidance on what to wear to a crocodile viewing. So who’s to say that the young woman outfitted as the diabolical love child of Heidi and Morticia Addams was dressed inappropriately for our Adelaide River ‘Jumping Croc’ tour near Darwin?   The fitted[…]

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Truck Stop, Coober Pedy, South Australia

Only in OZ #12 – Driver Reviver Rest Stop, Coober Pedy, South Australia

Last Updated on August 3, 2015 by Red Nomad OZ South Australian traveller ‘Rest’ stops are a perfect amalgam of political correctness, public safety and parsimony.  Endless signs lining outback highways encourage drivers to stop, take a break and revive – and to facilitate the traveller take-up rate, rest stops like this one are provided!  Just the inducement needed to pull[…]

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Mining Machinery, Irvinebank

Off the Tourist Trail #6 – Irvinebank, Queensland

Last Updated on March 3, 2017 by Red Nomad OZ As an antidote to the Atherton Tableland mist and drizzle, Irvinebank was working just fine. A few kilometres beyond Herberton, we’d crossed the range to clear skies, warmth, and a spectacular setting – another universe far, far away from yet another day of dampness. Just what Dr Pilchard ordered! Sadly,[…]

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Australia’s Scenic Public Toilets #12 – Largs Bay, South Australia

Last Updated on March 20, 2015 by Red Nomad OZ Much of the appeal of Australia’s Scenic Public Toilets lies in their surroundings. Australia’s amazing coastal, rainforest, outback, regional, beach, bush and desert attractions often feature conveniences set amongst magnificent scenery – and sporting world class views. BUT … sadly, the actual amenities blocks usually don’t score highly in ANY[…]

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