Australia by Red Nomad OZ

Random Adventure #7 – Taking the Train to Tumoulin

1925 D17 Class Steam Locomotive ‘Capella’ in Tumoulin, Queensland Over 100 years ago on 31 July 1911, regional Parliamentary representatives invited to the Herberton-Tumoulin railway line opening were too busyto attend according to a local historian. Exactly 100 years later – and how things have changed!! Crossing the trestle bridge, Tumoulin to Ravenshoe So, on 31 July 2011, during a[…]

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Looking South over 4 mile Beach, Port Douglas

7 Days in … Cairns!

Cairns is one of the best Australian travel destinations – and I’ve got the photos to prove it! This laid back city 2000 km north of Brisbane between World Heritage Listed Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef, has come a long way from its sugar-cane farming roots to become Far North Queensland’s tourist hub. Cairns has just as much to[…]

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RED Alert #4 – Adventure Before Dementia goes WEST!

WARNING: My REDAlert #4 guest has photos that’ll make you turn GREEN! Don’t believe me? Well … read on and see if I’m right!! Diane’s wonderful ‘Adventure Before Dementia’ blog has MANY great shots – but I was particularly interested in her REDphotos from places in Western Australia (WA) and South Australia (SA) I’ve yet to see! Pindan Country, Gantheaume[…]

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Eromanga Distance Sign, Outback Queensland

Signs #19 – Where’s the Ocean? Eromanga, Queensland

There’s only one town in Australia furthest from the sea – in EVERY direction! Surprisingly, to me at least, it’s NOT in Central Australia! Australia’s weird continental shape means the geographic centre is relatively close to the Great Australian Bight to the south, and the Gulf of Carpentaria to the north. No, the title of furthest from the sea currently[…]

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Looking towards the coast from the Eungella Plateau, Queensland

Aussie ABC – H is for Holiday

‘Now you’ve ‘done’ Australia, are you going overseas?’ If Pilchard and I had a dollar for every time we’ve been asked that question, it’d pay for a round-the-world ticket! BUT … the answer would still be the same …   Don’t get me wrong. I’ve got nothing against the concept of ‘overseas’ – after all, I was born, and have[…]

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Horseshoe Bay from the Nelly Bay to Arcadia Track, Magnetic Island, Queensland

Walk Nelly Bay to Arcadia! Magnetic Island via Townsville, Queensland

‘What goes up must come down,’ she twanged, immediately identifying a) her astonishing originality and b) her country of origin. Suitably dressed for a dusty, rocky climb through clinging vines, a charred mountainside and tropical humidity in a white ‘resort’ dress and gold sandals, this gem fell from her pinkly glossed lips and dropped like pearls of wisdom before swine.[…]

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Red Alert #1 – Holes in my Soles goes to AFRICA!

Developing ‘My FavouRED OZ Things’ was ALMOST as much fun as finding a new OZ Scenic Public Toilet!!  So much fun, I didn’t stop at one … and ‘My FavouRED OZ Things #2’ became an entertaining (for me!) way of fulfilling my guest post promise on Jim’s wonderfully diverse travel blog ‘Holes in my Soles’! Q:  But what’s BEYOND the marvellous RED of OZ??[…]

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Plesiosaur at the Stone House Museum, Boulia

Aussie ABC – F is for Fossils!

The ancient landscape of OZ, eroded by time, long disappeared sea beds and a harsh climate has given rise to weirdly unique and bizarre creatures. Well … their remains, anyway! I knew this. But I DIDN’T know the present day Outback fossil fields near northwest Queensland’s Richmond, would engender a creature more fantastic than any of them. And I was[…]

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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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SkyWatch at Lake Pamamaroo OR 13 photos of the same thing … Menindee Lakes, NSW

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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