GREAT SOUTHERN
Stretching from the karri and tingle forests of Pemberton and Walpole, through the rugged Porongurup and Stirling Ranges, to the vast scrubland at the beginning of the Nullarbor Plain, the Great Southern region possesses an expansive beauty. The character of the land and people changes as one follows die South Western Hwy (Hwy 1) east. Albany functions as a sort of urban hub for the sparsely populated southern coast, and by the time you reach Esperance, Perth’s cosmopolitan strivings seem a world away.
The largely agricultural Great Southern is home to a number of respected vineyards, many of which offer complimentary wine-tastings. Tourism is another key money-maker, peaking in the spring wildflower season and in the summer, when the beaches around Denmark, Albany, and Esperance draw tourists like flies to honey. Winters in the Great Southern can be chilly and wet, so bring a good jacket.
Related Travel Information
Great Ocean Road
The entire serene and spectacular southwestern coast of Victoria, from Torquay east to Portland, is encompassed by the Great Ocean Road (GOR) region, though the road itself is just the 200km stretch that links Torquay to Warrnambool before being absorbed by the Princes Highway. The Victoria government, in tribute to Australians who died in World War I, commissioned the coastal highway with the intention of creating one of the world's greatest drives. By all accounts, they succeeded, carving a route that winds between misty temperate rainforests and the unearthly pillars, stone arches, and gorges sculpted by the Southern
Great Eastern Highway
The drive from Perth to Kalgoorie along the Great Eastern Highway is long (nearly 600km) and uneventful. The first hour heading east from Perth winds through the city's suburbs and the Swan River Valley, then up a steep slope into the Darling Range; you may encounter nasty traffic near the city. Road trains rule this highway; beware of wide loads bearing machinery, farm equipment, and even buildings on the truck bed. The last hard stretch between the tiny town of Southern Cross (really no more than a wide spot in the highway) and Coolgardie is 200km of very
Albany
Established in 1826, Albany was the first colonial settlement in what is now WA. Albany is proud of its history; the tourist office has information on the dozens of buildings of historic interest. Though surrounded by gorgeous, uncrowded beaches, the city itself is the commercial center of the Great Southern region. Albany offers all of the conveniences—and annoyances—of a small city, with plenty of shops and cafes, but also increasing traffic and congestion, making Stirling Range perhaps a better choice for an overnight stay.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION Albany's main drag is York St. The tourist office is in the Old Railway
SOUTHEAST OF THE MURRAY RIVER
The majestic Murray River winds west from the Great Dividing Range. Fed by a watershed that spans most of New South Wales and portions of Victoria, the largest waterway in Australia slices through the southeast corner of South Australia and empties into the Southern Ocean. Fruit, especially wine grapes, flourishes along the irrigated river basin, while the Coorong, a 145km stretch of coastal lagoons, supports over 240 species of native birdlife. The towns near the Victoria border can be associated with geographic regions within mat state. The area around Naracoorte is an extension of the agricultural
North Coast of Queensland
The northern Queensland coast sits at the junction of the tropical far north, the rugged frontier of the outback, and the civilized cities of the southern coastline. Waving fields and smoking mills represent the region's greatest industry, sugar cane. Towns-ville, Queensland's second largest city, is the economic and residential center of the area. Off its shores, Magnetic Island offers solitude and koalas in the wild. Between here and Mission Beach, white beaches glow next to crystalline water, across which the Great Barrier Reef beckons. The miles inland hide swaths of rainforest populated by birds, bugs, and bouncing
