Australia still top dogs despite Ashes woe
Australia’s domination of world cricket was seriously challenged in 2005 for the first time this century after the most dramatic series in living memory.
England’s 2-1 victory over Ricky Ponting’s team wrested the sport’s oldest prize out of Australian hands for the first time since 1989.
Although Ponting’s men recovered quickly to crush West Indies 3-0 and consolidate their position at the top of the world rankings, the defeat by England showed up clear chinks in their armour.
Elsewhere in 2005, the global pecking order remained largely unchanged with South Africa, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, New Zealand and West Indies vying for the minor placings and Zimbabwe plunging further into trouble on and off the pitch.
In the Ashes series in England the hosts fought back from heavy defeat in the first test at Lord’s to force a nail-biting victory at Edgbaston.
Australia clung on for a draw at Old Trafford but England would not be denied at Trent Bridge, where they scrambled home by three wickets after being set just 129 for victory.
More: today.reuters.co.uk
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Valley Of The Giants
Major Activity : Tree Top Walk
This famous area of australia is known for its tree top walks. The area offers 650 metre long tree top walk gently that accends into the tree tops 45 metres above the forest floor. Descend to the boardwalk below and explore the 'Ancient Empire', a grove of veteran tingle trees. Take a birds eye view of the towering tingle forest from a spectacular lightweight bridge through the forest canopy.
Access by Car: The Valley of the Giants is 430 kilometres south of Perth and 100 kilometres west of Albany.
The Top End
A lush tropical crown atop a vast interior desert, the winterless Top End enjoys per¬petually warm weather; seasons here are divided only into the Wet and the Dry. Dur¬ing the May-to-October dry season, backpack-toting pilgrims descend on the city of Darwin to worship its twin deities: a cloudless sky and a shirtless culture. While enjoying the budding metropolis itself, travelers also use this oasis of civilization as a base from which to explore the region's prime natural wonder—Kakadu National Park. A spectacular rainforest reserve crawling with exotic antipodean wildlife, Kakadu is Australia's largest national park and is
Walpole
Tiny and friendly, Walpole is experiencing a tourism boom because of its proximity to Walpole-Nornalup National Park and the recently constaicted Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk 14km out of town. The friendly, volunteer-run tourist bureau, on the north side of the liighway, hands out information on the surrounding tingle and karri forest and the beautiful coast of Walpole and Nortia-lup Inlets, and sells Tree Top Walk tickets (open daily 9am-4pm, 5pm in holiday sea¬son). Walpole's post office and grocery store can be found across the street, alone with a handful of shops and balcony cafes.
The Top Deck Cafe
West Cape Howe National Park
Claimed by many as Austalia's best crag, West Cape Howe offers kilometers of high quality routes and still much potential for new climbs. The areas are described from west to east.
Location: West Cape Howe National Park is about 35 km south west of Albany. It is the southern most point of WA.
Climbing: Mostly one pitch routes with some two or three pitch routes up the 85m. Many require an abseil approach to ledges or hanging belays above the sea, however there are also many walls where you can walk down to the base.
Top-roping from the cliff
Gippsland
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