go-see-do guide for adventurous travellers
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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With an official population of two, tiny Toompine is barely a blip on the radar! And yet, all roads seem to lead there in the western Queensland Outback. A simple distance measurement between the outback towns of Eulo, Thargomindah and Quilpie yields Toompine’s coordinates almost exactly. Is that enough reason to visit? Of course not! But finding out why the[…]
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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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Outback Road heading west from Windorah, Queensland If you liked ‘My FavouRED OZ Things #1’, you’re going to LOOOOOOOOVE My FavouRED OZ Things #2!! But … you won’t find it here (although there’s a teaser photo above …) I’m guest posting over at Jim’s wonderful blog Holes in My Soles! But wait! There’s more!! My guest post introduces Jim’s ‘Magnificent Monday’ –[…]
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What is it about the great Australian Outback’s magical aura that inspires – actually, compels – visitors to attempt to capture its essence? Is it the amazing colours and contrasts? Perhaps the unique light artists spend a lifetime trying to capture?? The spectacularly varied subject matter??? Whatever it is, it’s almost impossible to take a bad photo. So photographers like[…]
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Lake Pamamaroo Sunset #1 Ever wondered what happens when an amateur photographer points an automatic film camera directly at the sun and presses the shutter? Well, wonder no more! It might be amateurish, but I kinda like it … although I would, wouldn’t I?! Yes, I’m the photographer, and this amazing sunset on the first night of my virgin visit[…]
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Cockroaches, cane toads and camels are generally considered physically and/or temperamentally unsuited to commercial racing. But here in OZ, the absence of animals traditionally raced, such as horses and dogs, is no hindrance to holding a race meet… Although all these races are held in Australia, I’ve yet to experience the pleasures of cane toad or cockroach racing. But …[…]
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The Australian landscape has provided the inspiration behind many creative and artistic endeavours. Some, for example, use their powers for good, and write poetry, books or music. Others, on the other hand, produce blog posts about Australia’s Scenic Public Toilets. BUT … there are those who capture the essence of OZ by creating artistic installations that reflect and define the[…]
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Studded with campfires in the late evening dusk, the creek banks were alive with the sounds of trucks thundering across the bridge, beer cans popping and that combination of braggadocio, loud laughter and hi-jinks peculiar to any random group of three Aussie males on a boy’s own adventure. Yes, Cooper’s Creek earned its Aussie-rite-of-passage status in the June 2009 week[…]
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Well OK, it’s not actually a ‘paddock’ as such. And it’s certainly NOT just a plane! It’s a fully operational Qantas 747 Jumbo Jet (aka 747-200 VH-EBQ for those who care about such things!), the centrepiece of the Qantas Founders Museum – today celebrating 90 years of Qantas. It’s parked on a fenced off section of of the Longreach Airport grounds,[…]
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