Australia Travel Blog

Locally known as ‘The Rock’, Ayers Rock is a single stone, larger than an island, lies in the Great Western Desert close to the geographic center of Australia. It is one of the most popular destinations for people vacationing to Australia.

Nothing fuels the flames of New Zealand and Australian ‘Trans Tasman Rivalry’ more than the Aussies taking claim to Kiwi icons. The Kiwi's gripe list is large and ranges from the pavlova (a desert), Phar Lap (a Horse), Split Enz (a Band) to the more recent icons of Russell Crowe and Oscar nominee Keisha Castle-Hughes. But now a great-granny from New Zealand may just have the ultimate bargaining chip to get them all back because she says she's in possession of one of Australia's most sought after relics: Ned Kelly's skull. 

Looking for something interesting for the family to do while in Sydney? Just north of the city is a place worthy of a mention. Housing New South Wales largest crocodile, some ferocious Tasmanian devils, the continent’s most venomous snakes and lets not forget the Goliath bird-eating spiders - The Australian Reptile Park maybe of interest.

Australian English is also referred to as "Strine". The word derives from saying the word "Australian" through clenched teeth - a local accent that some scholars claim arose from the need to try and keep ones mouth closed when speaking, in order to keep the flies out…….  

The Bureau of Meteorology in Australia runs a photographic competition each year. The winning pictures go into a calendar, alongside their stories exploring Australias Seasonal Changes. The calendar showcases a carefully selected portfolio of images representing the diversity of Australias highly variable weather and climate. The calendar, now in its 28th year, is published by the Bureau of Meteorology and the Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society. 

Meet the Peacock spider - this 5mm Long showoff; raises his abdomen vertically, expands his flaps and displays them like a peacock's tail. But the brilliant colouring is not just for decoration.

The Great Barrier Reef is the most extensive coral reef system in the world, and it can be found in the Coral Sea which is located off the coast of Queensland, Australia.
With over 1,500 species of fish, about 400 species of coral, 4,000 species of mollusc, 240 species of birds, and a lot more, no other place in the world contains such biodiversity. It measures around 2,600 km, and it’s proved by astronauts that they can see the Great Barrier Reef from space.

The Bureau of Meteorology in Australia runs a photographic competition each year. The winning pictures go into a calendar. The calendar showcases a carefully selected portfolio of images representing the diversity of Australia's highly variable weather and climate. The calendar, now in its 28th year, is published by the Bureau of Meteorology and the Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society.   

Above: Aurora Australis (the Southern Lights) over Casey station, Antarctica.

In days gone by it was easy to dismiss Darwin as a frontier town full of brawling fishermen, longhaired hippies and red neck truckers - crawling with monster crocodiles. The locals were considered genuine, open and friendly. They spoke their mind and knew how to drink a lot of beer... hey, give them a break - it does get hot in Darwin... (Can’t say it sounded all that bad)

Humour is a funny business:

The British poke fun at the Welsh and the Americans give it to the Canadians - and so on and so forth… The Trans-Tasman rivalry between Australia and New Zealand has never been stronger - Australians are the butt of Kiwi humor and vice versa, but when all is said and done its fair to say we…err…. um … are moderately fond of each other. Although it all seems good-natured and friendly with plenty of back-slapping banter on and off the field, if you look closely enough there can be some good old petulance to be seen.