Although the Ostrich and the Emu are the Australian birds that are the best known, the Cassowary is no less, even more impressive, and at about six feet in height and weighing about one hundred and thirty pounds, Cassovary is the third tallest and second highest living bird. It is smaller than the Ostrich and the Emu. The Cassowary is covered in black feathers, and is brilliantly colored in blue and read on its neck and head.

The Cassowary has been around on earth since millions of years, from the times of Gondwanaland and Laurasia. They have many family members in distant continents.

The flightless bird is mainly found in the tropical forests of New Guinea and it’s nearby islands and northeastern Australia. Cassowaries eat fruits mostly, but actually all species are omnivorous and eat shoots, grass seeds, fungi as also invertebrates and small vertebrates.

Although the Cassowary is heavy and can not fly, it runs at a swift speed of 30 miles ( 50 kilo meters ) per hour, and it can swim pretty decently too.  Its head is wrapped in a bony helmet, and is a bright cobalt blue in color while the majestic double wattle is red. The body is rounded and the legs are ostrich like, and the feathers are black and impressive.

Generally Cassowaries are gentle and shy creatures, but if upset; they are capable of meting out punishment in the form of a powerful kick, and the dagger like 5 inch second talon (the inner one) which it sports, can be a lethal weapon.

The Southern Cassowary is an endangered species in Australia. The decline of the Cassowary is mainly due to loss of habitat, and fragmentation of the habitat. Motor vehicles, dog attacks, hunting, and natural causes are the other major reasons for the rapid decrease of the number of Cassowaries.

An important thing to remember is that Hand feeding cassowaries is actually kindness turning into cruelty, because the birds are lured into human habitats, the urban and suburban areas, where the birds are in danger of vehicles and dogs.

Feral pigs are another bane to cassowary’s existence, as they destroy nests, eggs but the worst thing is that they also compete for food, and as they are much more in number, this is damaging to Cassowaries.

The Australian government says that there are about fifteen hundred birds in the Australian region, but they can also be spotted in Papua New Guinea.

The majestic Mount Otemanu standing tall against the sky, the azure waters of the lagoon, the pure snow white sands, extraordinary coral reefs, all this and more have made Bora Bora a veritable paradise.

Bora Bora is part of the Leeward group of the Society Islands of French Polynesia. It is located about 230 kilo meters (140 miles) northwest of Papeete. The volcanic island has a well sheltered lagoon, and the waters from the nearby islets do not come in. There is an immense scope for water sports, like scuba diving, snorkeling and various other activities.

Also, the imposing Mount Otemanu (height of 728 meters above sea level) and its smaller brother Mount Pahia are also excellent places to have some excitement. These mountains are amazing to climb, and trekking is another fun thing to do. There are innumerable opportunities for amazing photos, and the magnificent mountains, and the heavenly lagoon makes for a truly out of body experience.

Historical monuments are not what you could call the best known of Bora Bora’s attractions, but actually very less people know that there are actually quite a few interesting World War I I monuments and remains, like emplacements and bunkers are located here, and evidence of U S presence can also be located. On top of all this, there are some ancient archeological Polynesian relics that are very important from an archeologist’s point of view.

Bora Bora Lagoonarium is a really great spot for diving. This is an enclosed aquarium like water body and does not allow passage out of the environment. Diving is the best loved activity here, and the commercial aquarium is home to dolphins, sharks, turtles, sting rays, and thousands of other sea animals and other marine wealth. The feeling on coming face to face with these sea creatures is indescribable. All dives to this spot will be accompanied by a certified professional diver.

If diving is not your cup of tea, there is the Aqua scope, a semi underwater water craft designed and built by a close associate of the legendary Jacques Cousteau. This has been a hot attraction with thousands of travelers worldwide.

The Bora Bora Islands have more than 20 miles of perimeter. Bikes and dune buggy’s are available for rent, and exploring these areas are a rewarding pastime.

Horseback riding is another preferred activity along the islets of Bora Bora. Biking is also done. A Jeep tour of the island is an excellent way of exploring the area.

1 Visit the Sydney Opera House

Considered by many to be a modern Wonder of the World, the legendary Opera house sits on Sydney Harbour at Bennelong Point. The structure is iconic and is symbolizes the city of Sydney. The Sydney Opera house was designed by Jørn Utzon and opened its doors in October 1973.

The Opera House hosts opera, ballet and symphony orchestra performances by various companies. A tour of the Opera house includes the architecture, the history and the various hidden mechanisms of the Opera house.

The daily life, behind the scene workings and backstage, are able to be accessed.

2 The Great Barrier Reef

One of the seven wonders of the natural world, The Great Barrier Reef is one of Australia’s most beautiful locations. The world’s largest coral reef contains a cornucopia of marine wealth. The reef consists of over 3 000 individual reef systems and coral rays. There are hundreds of little islands that are breathtakingly beautiful.

The reef is home to numerous varieties of dolphins, dugongs and green turtles. There are more than 1500 species of fish, 4000 types of molluscs and 200 species of bird.

3 Go Outback Australia!

The Australian Bush is in a class of its own, with an abundance of natural beauty and vast variety of flora and fauna. Bushwalking is a perfect way to get to know the Bush, plus a large amount of adventure and fun. Bushwalking involves hiking through the forests, sleeping below the stars and generally get one with nature.

There are several excellent bushwalking spots in Australia are Victoria, Tasmania, Queensland and New South Wales. Actually, in Australia, one can find the Bush anywhere if you drive in the direction opposite to that of the ocean.

The best time to visit the bush in Northern Australia is the wet period between May and November. In Northern Australia, March to September is more suitable.

Remember that the temperature at night in deserts gets extremely low all year long.

4 Ancient Cave Paintings

Australia has some of the oldest examples of cave paintings in the world. There are cave paintings as old as 10 000 years. There are a lot of ancient cave art to be found in Central Australia, Kakadu, Cape York, Pilbara, Arnhem Land. The largest collection of art (300 000 paintings in more than 2 000 sites) can be found near Dampier, on the Burrup peninsula in W A.

5 Make friends with Kangaroos and Koalas

The Lone Pine Sanctuary is the world’s largest and first Koala sanctuary, and is the perfect place to meet koalas and kangaroos.

You can even hold a Koala and feed the Kangaroos. The creatures are gentle and friendly.

For those who do not want to endure the hardships of hikes that span more than one day, and are not comfortable with setting up camp at nights, one day walks are an excellent alternative. These are some spots where you can hike to and return in one day.

While undertaking walks, always carry drinking water with you. The sun can get a bit harsh, so wear a hat, and apply sun screen. Strong shoes that provide adequate support are also essential.

Ormiston Gorge and Pound

The Ormiston Gorge and Pound are located in the West MacDonnell National Park. It is about 135 kilo meters from Alice Springs. Ormiston is one of the most impressive gorges in the Mac Donnell ranges. It is a quite flat and simple walk way. The total length of a typical trail is about 8 to 9 kilo meters.

Do not miss the waterhole located at the south end of the gorge. This has water almost throughout the year, and the rock walls of the gorge appear to be shining due to the sunshine.

Carnarvon Gorge

Carnarvon Gorge is located 593 kilo meters northwest of Brisbane. It is in the Southern Brigalow Belt in Central Queensland. The Gorge was formed mainly by erosive activity and is around 30 kilo meters long, and has a depth of six hundred meters at the mouth.

It is a popular destination because of its easy accessibility and diverse nature.

A walk along the Carnarvon Creek is perfect, as there are a host of attractions on the way. There is a pond about halfway the walk, and can be bathed in to refresh yourself. On the way, the Cathedral Cave and the Art gallery are famous for their amazing rock stencils.

The walk is about 10 kilo meters, and can be a test of endurance.

Flinders Chase Coast

Flinders Chase is located in the western part of Kangaroo islands. Flinders Chase National Park is about 110 kilo meters west of Kingscote. It is accessible by Playford Highway or South Coast Road.

Ravine des Casoars is the starting point for the day walk. Onwards, the route is atop the eroded cliffs at the mouth of the creek, and ends in West bay. On the way is Vennachar point which has a famous ship wreck.

The area is filled with a wide variety of fauna, which includes goannas, koalas, kangaroos, tammar wallabies and cape Barren geese.

The total walk will go upto 19 kilo meters and is rather rough terrain. You must be sure that you can make it before you set out.

Location

Lord Howe is located about 600 kilo meters in the east off the main land of Australia, in the Tasmanian Sea. Lord Howe Island is shaped like the crescent moon. It is about 10 kilo meters long and 1.5 kilo meters wide at its widest point. The formation of this island is interesting; Lord Howe is actually the top of an underwater volcano (extinct now, thank goodness!) and seamount that projects above the sea level.

Things to Do

Lord Howe abounds with things to do. There is a multitude of activities including bush walking, mountain climbing, exploring the area and the reefs, bird watching, surfing, scuba diving, snorkeling, and even some swimming if you have got any energy left.

The coral reef is a perfect place to dive, and has numerous world class sites. The waters are crystal clear. Snorkeling in the beach is another activity and you will spot many vibrantly colored fish.

Mt Grover nearby is an excellent spot for bushwalking and trekking.

Fishing is an activity of choice of many. You can charter a boat for deep sea, rock or shore fishing in the island, and it is certain that you will catch some thing, such is the marine wealth. Spear fishing is banned.

Lord Howe is the perfect spot for bird watching.

Lord Howe, a main breeding space for various species of sea birds. The Providence Petrel, the Kermadec Petrel, Black winged Petrel, The Flesh footed Shearwater, Wedge tailed and Little Shear waters, White bellied Storm petrels Masked boobies, Red tailed Tropic birds Sooty tern Common and Black Noddies, Grey Tern let are the different sea birds that breed over here.

Lord Howe Wood hen, Golden Whistler, Silver eye and Currawong are the land birds that breed here.

Exploring the lands flora and fauna is another excellent activity.

Lord Howe is a special terrestrial eco region called as the Lord Howe Island subtropical forests. In the palm forests species of glowing mushrooms can be spotted; the glow is extremely bright. Various exotic animals are endemic to this island.

How to get there

Lord Howe Island is approximately a two hour journey by air from Sydney or Brisbane. Regular flight services are available from Sydney, Brisbane and Coff’s harbour.

Best time to visit

Lord Howe Island can be visited at any time of the year, and the climate is pleasant through out.

Places to Stay

There is a lot of hotels and resorts over here, and accommodation will not be any problem  at all if booked early enough.

Arajilla Retreat

02 65 63 20 02

relax@arajilla.com.au

Pine trees

(61) 02 65 63 21 77

Capella Lodge

(61) 02 99 18 43 55

The quantity of tourist crowds here is modest and the Magnetic Island has not yet become an over populated tourist destination. The permanent residents are also quite few in numbers (about 2500). The island has excellent beaches that cater to all manner of tastes and preferences. Some are modernized, with large number of hotels and resorts attached, while quite a few others are isolated and reachable only by long hours of hiking.

The Beaches

A total of 23 beaches and 22 bays are located in Magnetic Island.

The Horse shoe river is in the North and the other beaches in the following list are situated clockwise in clockwise direction.

• Horse shoe Bay

• Balding Bay (un official nudist beach)
• Radical Bay
• Gowrie Bay
• Florence Bay
• Arthur Bay
• Whitfield Cove
• Alma Bay
• Geoffrey Bay
• Nelly Bay

• Rocky Bay
• Picnic Bay
• Cockle Bay
• Bolger Bay
• Young Bay and West Point Beach
• Rolling stone Bay
• Hunting field Bay
• Five Beach Bay
• Wilson Bay
• Joyce Bay
• Norris Bay
• Maud bay
• Lovers Bay

Among these, Nelly, Picnic, Arcadia and Horse shoe are residential bays. It is possible to access the beaches in these areas easily. To access the others, you can rent a boat or yacht or else you can hike via the steep walking trails. Balding bay is an un official nudist beach.

Activities

Molke Diving site

The Molke wreck dive site is a perfect spot for novice divers. The cargo boat that was wrecked here seventy years ago is fairly battered.  Bat fish, Squirrel fish, Butterfly fish Damsel fish, Cray fish, Nudibranchs and Groupers can be spotted here. This site is free.

Also several package tour operators offer dives in various sites.

info@adrenalindive.com.au

info@pleasuredivers.com.au

These e mail addresses may be of assistance.

Sailing, snorkeling, Jet Ski tours and Kayaking are other popular activities

Sailing

All types of sea faring vehicles are available on rent such as yachts, catamarans, sail boards, canoes and aqua bikes. Sailing is excellent at the calm waters.

Kayaking

A guided kayak tour is an excellent way of taking in the marine wealth. Coral reef fish, dolphins, turtles and sea eagles are to be seen.

Fishing

Guided fishing tours are also available.

Riding, tennis, bowling and golfing are the other activities you can indulge in,

The various clubs make visitors feel very welcome indeed.

Places to visit

The Fort Ruin

The remains of a World war two fort, which was used to protect Townsville from attack, exists at Radical Bay turn off. Fantastic views of Arthur bay and Horse shoe bays can be had.

The Australian Institute of Marine Science (A. I. M. S.)

A leading institute in the field of tropical marine science, the Australian Institute of Marine Sciences (A. I. M. S.) focuses on extensive research. Public tours are offered. The staff offers guided tours of the institute. Data projection presentations and research data are also available.

Cuisine

Excellent sea food can be had at the various restaurants and bars located at the island.

Accommodation

There are a lot of resorts and hotels over here and if booked in advance,no problems will be faced.

Bungalow bay

info@bungalowbay.com.au

Magnetic International resort

reservations@magneticresort.com

Island leisure resort

islandleisure@bigpond.com

Bushwalking, which is the Australian name for hiking through the forests, is a way of escape from the rat race and a source of endless adventure and thrill combined. Hiking through the mystic Australian bush, will give you that feeling of total oneness with nature that is so rare nowadays.

Stunning views, picturesque waterfalls and beautiful rainforests are all worth Bushwalking miles for.

Australia has many excellent destinations for Bushwalking aficionados, and is patronized by tourists and naturalists all over the world.

The most popular spots suitable for bushwalking in Australia are Victoria, Tasmania, Queensland and New South Wales.

Where should you go?

Victoria

Mt Bogong and Mt Feathertop are the most preferred bushwalking tracks in Victoria. Mt Feathertop is the second highest mountain in Victoria. The period between April and June is the most favorable time to go to Victoria.

Tasmania

Tasmania is famous for being the most mountainous island in the world. Tasmania is one of the most popular bushwalking spots. There are mountains upto 1600 m in height. Overland Park is a very popular destination. The area which consists of Walls of Jerusalem, Cradle of Mountain, Wild Rivers and so on is part of The Wilderness World Heritage area. These places are extremely beautiful. The best time to visit Tasmania would be March and April.

Queensland

Queensland is also high on the list of favored bushwalking spots. Areas like Girraween National Park, Lamington national Park, Sundown National Park , Cooloola national Park, Carnarvon Gorge, Boono national park and so on are the best spots in Queensland. Mt Barney, the highest in Southern Queensland, measures 1354 m in height and is a perfect place for bushwalking.

Queensland has a tropical climate, and the period between April and September is highly preferred by visitors.

West Australia

Kimberly, The Bibbulmun track, Pilbara and Bungle range are well known as the most preferred bushwalking tracks. Also, the Yanchep National Park is another beautiful place, filled with exotic plants and animals.

Important

It is highly important while bushwalking, that nature is not disturbed in the process of hiking and camping in the wilderness. Traces of passage and your camp should not be left behind. Never litter rubbish anywhere in the wilderness and do not bury waste as animals could find it. Always use fuel stoves and never use camp fires. The pleasure that you derive from bushwalking comes with a responsibility to protect wilderness and animals.

There are many tourist sites to visit in Port Douglas. These places are simply very interesting. There are lots of activities which you can indulge in here. From diving and snorkeling and the various woods and the cruises.

Places to visit in Port Douglas

There are some great places to visit in Port Douglas. These places are considered to be some of the most amazing places to visit here.

Cooktown is known to be one of the most exciting and promising places to visit in Port Douglas. Some of the interesting places to visit here is the Cape Tribulation, Daintree Coast and the Outback of Far North Queensland. There are some interesting adventures which you can engage in here.

The Agincourt Reef which is off Port Douglas is one of the major areas of tourist interest. This place is situated on the Great Barrier Reef and there are many smaller reefs in this region. There are at least 16 different dive sites in the region.

The Hot Air Balloon ride is one of the topmost tourist attractions in Port Douglas. You can have a great time here by lazing around and have champagne for breakfast and enjoy yourself.

Cape Tribulation is a small village which is known to be one of the most beautiful places to visit here. The Daintree River is simply remarkable and the clear blue water is an ideal place where you can ferry around and visit the island of Cape Tribulation.

The Daintree National Park is another place where you can visit here. This place is known to be a heritage site in Australia. The Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics are the other regions which are of prominent importance and are known to be great The Alexandra Range is another place which is one of the most amazing sites of tourist interest in the country.

Cow Bay is another place near the coast where you can visit. The ferry takes you to the Daintree river and you can enjoy yourself here.

Flames of the forest is one of the most important and the most amazing place to be in. This place is known to be one of the most loved tourist spots in the country. This place is approximately around ten minutes from Port Douglas and is known to be a popular place.

These places are known to be some of the best places to visit in Port Douglas. This small port is quite popular as a major tourist destination in Australia.

There are a number of tourist sites which are connected through the Great Ocean Road and are known to be one of the best ones.

Places to visit around the Great Ocean Road

Geelong and Bellarine Peninsula are known to be one of the most remarkable tourist sites here. This place is popular for being one of the best historic seaside villages and amazing breathtaking natural beauty. This place is known to be the gateway to the Great Ocean Road and is a great escape for the golf lovers and the ones who would like to spend some great moments on the beach.

Portland is located to the south west of Victoria and is also a place which is situated on the Great Ocean Road. This place is known to be one of the major tourist destinations in Australia. The beach here is simply amazing and has a colorful history attached to it. The waves here are an ideal spot for surfing and scuba diving.

The most famous and the popular attraction here is the 12 apostles. These apostles are a collection of limestone rocks which are situated at the shore of the Port Campbell National Park by the Great Ocean Road.

The twelve apostles on the Great Ocean Road

The twelve apostles are an interesting and the most attractive sites of tourist interest on the Great Ocean Road. This place is known to be one of the most amazing sites of tourist attraction and attracts almost two million visitors all the year round.

History and formation of the twelve apostles

The formation and the history behind the formation of the twelve apostles has an amazing story behind it. The nine apostles were said to have been formed approximately 10 to 20 million years ago by erosion. The harsh weather conditions from the southern side of the ocean led to the erosion of the rocks and the soft limestone formed caves in the cliffs which then formed into arches. This place was known as the “Sow and the Piglets” and after some years got nicknamed as “The Apostles” for the sheer purpose of tourism.

The Twelve Apostles are a collection of eight miocene limestone rock stacks. Helicopter tours are conducted around the place and also between Princetown and Peterborough which are located on the Great Ocean Road.

Apart from the Twelve Apostles, there are also some tourist destinations which lie on the Great Ocean Road which are of major tourist importance.

Apollo Bay is another tourist destination which is of prominent importance on the Great Ocean Road. This place is situated in the heart of the Great Ocean Road along the foothills of the Otways. The beach is known to be a popular tourist attraction all through the year. The beach here is an ideal spot for kayaking, swimming, surfing, fishing or horse riding along the beach.

Port Campbell is another destination which is of great tourist interest and is known to be one of the major attractions other than the twelve apostles. This place is popular for the most spectacular coastline scenery in Victoria. The Port Campbell National Park and the Twelve Apostles are most popular ones. This place is sheltered by the cliffs and the Norfolk pines and is famous for the rich wildlife found in the area. There are a number of interesting places to visit here. From restaurants to bakeries and other tourist destinations like the Loch Ard Gorge, Gibson Steps and the Bay of Islands are some of the other places.

Queenscliff is another place of great tourist interest in the Great Ocean Road. This is a historic village which is situated almost 100 km from Melbourne and is on the shores of the Port Philip Bay. The Port Philip Bay is one of the most amazing sites to visit in here. You can find the best diving sites and the reefs and some shipwrecks which took place in the region ages back. From fishing to piers, beaches and boats there are many things which you can do here.

These are some of the interesting places on and around the Great Ocean Road. This place is simply amazing and is known to attract tourists from all over the world. The best activity which any tourist can engage in here is to drive down this long road and visit the tourist destinations nearby the road.

Sophisticated, progressive, dynamic and diverse is the way Brisbane is known all round the world. Tourists from all over the world love visiting this place because of the immense diversity in the lifestyle here.

Tourists know this place to be one of the most loved destinations to visit. This place houses all the very best that you can find in the region. From the best food to the best wine and the best entertainment and arts there are many aspects of this place that you will enjoy to the fullest.

There are some amazing locations where you can visit here. These locations are known to be simply amazing destinations to visit. The Anzac Square Memorial is known to be one of the most unique and the most amazing museum where you can explore galores. This memorial is set amidst the hustle and bustle of city life.

The Whale Watching Cruise is another major attraction where you can head in for. The cruise takes you along the Gold Coast and you can get to watch some of the amazing whale here. This is one of the most amazing destinations to visit in Brisbane.

The Beaudesert Historical Museum is one of the most finest museums to visit in Brisbane. This museum is considered to be one of the largest museums in the town and is also one of the largest in Queensland. This museum houses more than 10,000 artefacts.

The Boutique Market is known to be one of the most happening places to visit in Brisbane. This place is simply the most remarkable tourist destination in Brisbane. This market is one of the most loved markets in the world and is also one of the best ones. This market is known to be one of the most frequented flea markets in the town and tourists love visiting this place.

The Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre is another interesting place of tourist attraction where you can visit. This place is ranked amongst the top three convention centres world – wide.

Apart from this, there are certain places where you can head onto some adventure tours which takes you to some of the most deadliest and the most adventurous places where you can dive in with the whales and also get to climb to some of the tallest peaks in Australia. There are a number of islands in Brisbane and you can have a great time, spending some great time here.

Brisbane is known to be one of the most amazing tourist destinations to visit in Australia. This place is simply remarkable and is known for its happening tourist locales.