Australia by Red Nomad OZ
Storm clouds gather over the West MacDonnell Ranges via Alice Springs, Northern Territory

Aussie ABC – A is for Alice Springs!

All roads lead to Alice Springs – as close as a fart in an outhouse to the centre of OZ!  It’s not the country’s official geographic centre – but go on! Have a look at the map of Australia – how do you find the centre of THAT?! But exact centre or not, no town defines OZ quite like Alice[…]

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The Big Koala many years ago, Dadswells Bridge, Victoria

Only in OZ #9 – Big Koala, Dadswells Bridge, Victoria

Well, now that Oprah-mania has died down we’re left with images of the Uluru sunset thing, the Opera House mega-thon and the koala hugging! But I bet she didn’t hug THIS koala! Dadswells Bridge has the dubious honour (conferred by moi) of having one of the most grotesque and unashamedly unattractive ‘attractions’ I’ve encountered in Australia.  Conversely, however, that in itself makes[…]

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Off the Tourist Trail #3 – Woomera, Outback South Australia

Woomera? Or Stepford?!?!? Was our July 2008 visit during a particularly slow time, or are the wide, open streets normally this neat, quiet and uninhabited? I guess we’ll find out next time we visit – and there WILL BE a next time, because this unusual outback South Australian town just off the Stuart Highway en route to Roxby Downs and[…]

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Sunset over the Richmond River, 10 Budget Travel Tips

7 Days in … Ballina, NSW

Thank goddess for Byron Bay! The Byron tourist magnet sucks a conglomerate of backpackers, yuppies, new age-ists, surfers, whale watchers and regular local and overseas tourists into its vortex, leaving the fabulous, diverse and bakery-filled Ballina region relatively uncrowded. This is good. This 7 day teaser is only an introduction – complete with ‘bakery alerts’ – as a week isn’t[…]

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Entrance to Innes National Park, Yorke Peninsula, South Australia

Favourite Place #5 – Innes National Park, Yorke Peninsula, SA

It’s a mystery to me why Innes National Park (INP) isn’t on any Top 10 Australian National Parks lists. At the south-western tip of Yorke Peninsula’s ‘toe’ (you’ll see what I mean on the map) its wild and remote beauty is unique. BUT … perhaps the unparalleled coastal scenery, historic buildings, walking trails, shipwreck sites, deserted beaches, fishing, lighthouses, wildlife[…]

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OZ Top Spot #2 Frankland Islands, Cairns, Far North Queensland

We marked our 2009 return to Cairns after 10 years by finding a patch of ‘absolute virgin territory’ – no mean feat given the many attractions we’d seen on several previous visits. BUT … a tour to the sensational Frankland Islands – arguably the most misspelled place name in these parts – was a superb reminder of why we keep coming back to Far[…]

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Only in OZ #3 – The World’s Largest Deckchair, Winton, Queensland

World’s Biggest Deckchair, Winton Outdoor Cinema, Queensland You don’t visit outback Queensland expecting to see the world’s largest deckchair do you?  Of course you don’t!  BUT whether you expect it or not, Winton, smack bang in the middle of Queensland is home to this record breaking construction! Yes, it really IS the world’s largest deckchair – apparently authenticated in the Guiness[…]

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Only in OZ #2 – A Point of Interest, Outback Queensland

Somewhere west of Windorah (Outback Queensland) en route to the little Public Toilet at the End of the Universe where the track heads south to Birdsville, a tantalising tale unfolds. The first hint of something weird afoot is a sign – ‘A Point of Interest – 5 km’.  What a tease!!  As it didn’t actually state what you’d see at the end of 5[…]

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Eulo town sign, Outback Queensland

Favourite Place #2 – Eulo

Eulo?  Where’s Eulo?  Click HERE for the Google map!  Only 68 km west of Cunnamulla, we stopped (in true Grey Nomad style) after less than an hour on the road!!  We’d seen a locally produced brochure listing Eulo attractions, and thought it deserved a look.   Did it ever!  How could anyone pass up the opportunity to see the site of the famous lizard[…]

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View from Baldy Top Lookout, Quilpie, Outback Queensland

Why Quilpie is a TOP Aussie Town

  Spending a fun filled week in Quilpie is easy.  In the photo above, this Outback Queensland opal mining town is visible way off in the distance from landmark lookout ‘Baldy Top’ just out of town.  But just because it (almost) disappears into the distance from any vantage point doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do there. About 955 km (593[…]

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