National Parks Archives - Page 5 of 7 - Australia by Red Nomad OZ

Thylacoleo carnifex, Australia's lion! Naracoorte Caves, South Australia

OZ Top Spot #12 – Naracoorte Caves National Park, South Australia

January 6, 2012 Red Nomad OZ Fossils, Naracoorte, Naracoorte Caves, National Parks, South Australia, Things to do, Thylacoleo Carnifex, Travel, World Heritage

The dim yellow light cast a long dark shadow flickering balefully over the seeping rock as we descended deeper into the gloomy cavern. Treading carefully over the uneven rock floor, we dodged the oozing columns towering high above as we rounded the corner to leave the daylight behind. Channelling ‘Becky’ to Pilchard’s ‘Tom Sawyer’ in a weird re-enactment of Mark[…]

The 3-Car, 2-Beach, One Fine Day!

December 8, 2011 Red Nomad OZ Innes National Park, National Parks, South Australia, Things to do, Travel, Yorke Peninsula

Sometimes, not planning turns out best. And sometimes the planets align and fabulous weather, bizarre experiences, brilliant destination and perfect moments all come together on one fine day … Fine in every sense! And the sky! The glorious sky!! Yes, Innes National Park at the very southern end of South Australia’s York Peninsula was already one of my favourite places.[…]

Brachina Gorge, Flinders Ranges National Park, South Australia*

Aussie ABC – G is for Gorge

December 4, 2011 Red Nomad OZ Aussie ABC, Brachina Gorge, Cania Gorge, Carnarvon Gorge, Golton Gorge, Gorges, Katherine Gorge, Kings Canyon, Lawn Hill, National Parks, Northern Territory, Queensland, Redbanks, Standley Chasm, Trephina Gorge, Victoria

Gorging yourself silly in OZ doesn’t mean what you’re probably thinking it means. For a start, I’m not even talking about food – although you haven’t lived until you’ve eaten at a fine OZ bakery – but I digress! No, I’m talking about gorges. OZ is riddled with them. And in some parts, you can’t swing a long-tailed[…]

Walk Mount Zero!

November 28, 2011 Red Nomad OZ Bakery, Grampians, Mt Zero, National Parks, Scenic Public Toilets, Travel, Victoria, Walks

Hollow Mountain and Mt Stapylton from the Mt Zero Summit, Northern Grampians, Victoria Hauling myself up the rocky drop-off towering above my head, I desperately clung to the cold hand rail, slippery with drizzle, hoping like hell my arms wouldn’t give way. Vertigo kicked in as I scrabbled for a foothold. Looking neither to the right (dizzying drop off) or[…]

Favourite Place #7 – Halls Gap, Grampians, Victoria

November 2, 2011 Red Nomad OZ Bakery, Grampians, Halls Gap, National Parks, Travel, Victoria, Walks, Wildflowers, Wildlife

Halls Gap, Lake Bellfield and surrounds from Boroka Lookout What do you call a town set amidst a 360ºpanorama of staggering beauty? A town with not only a clutch of Australia’s most scenic public toilets in and around it, but (arguably) the most spectacular caravan park and bakery settings in OZ?? Not just ANY old bakery, but (arguably) the best in[…]

Off the Tourist Trail #7 – Uralla, New England, New South Wales

September 22, 2011 Red Nomad OZ Bakery, Bird watching, Bushranger, National Parks, New England, New South Wales, Things to do, Travel, Uralla

Fred Ward Memorial Statue, Uralla Before Uralla, the thought of being tried by a jury of my peers gave me an attack of the screaming horrors. But in the spiritual home of bushranger Fred Ward I found an inarguable defence. Captain Thunderbolt, Uralla, NSW For here in Uralla, halfway along the Thunderbolt Way – shortest route from Sydney to the[…]

Green Island from the Jetty, via Cairns, Far North Queensland

Return to Green Island – via Cairns, Far North Queensland

August 15, 2011 Red Nomad OZ Cairns, Far North Queensland, Green Island, National Parks, Queensland, Rainforest, Random Adventures, Things to do, Travel, World Heritage

We Arrive on Green Island Although it was 20 LOOOONG years since our last Green Island National Park visit, Pilchard’s first action on our return just MAY have been a little bit extreme. I mean, propelling a perfectly good hat into the sea wasn’t some kind of superstitious ritual, was it? Did he perhaps think it meant we wouldn’t have[…]

Aussie ABC – B is for Bushranger!

March 12, 2011 Red Nomad OZ Aussie ABC, Big Things, Bushranger, Mt Moffatt, National Parks, Travel

Kenniff Monument, Mitchell QLD What do Aussies call a person who a) makes a living from criminal activity; b) is on the run from the law; c) is likely armed and dangerous; d) lives outside mainstream society; and e) has probably killed – most likely police officers? WRONG! Not a murdering psychopath!! Guess again! NO! Not a terrorist! And[…]

Off the Tourist Trail #4 Pentland, Queensland

January 21, 2011 Red Nomad OZ Bird watching, Forest Den National Park, Moorrinya National Park, National Parks, Overlanders Way, Pentland, Queensland, Torrens Creek, Travel, White Mountains National Park

We needed warmth NOW. We’d left the cold south a few weeks ago, but hadn’t yet hit the tropics. You KNOW you’re not warm enough when even the thermal pools feel cold … The solution? Head further north – and QUICKLY! Our map (no, I DON’T mean ‘GPS’) showed a road heading north from Blackall, up through historic Barcaldine to Torrens[…]

Only in OZ #10 – Fort Bourke Stockade, Bourke, NSW

January 15, 2011 Red Nomad OZ Bakery, Bourke, Gundabooka National Park, National Parks, New South Wales, Outback, Travel

Surprisingly little is known about Fort Bourke Stockade, the only defensive fort in Australia, but this has been no barrier to building a lifelike facsimile near Bourke, in outback New South Wales. Although its a) true dimensions; b) exact location; and c) the building materials used in its construction are not recorded, this tiny stockade is apparently a ‘real life’ replica! Built in[…]