Midlands And Batayia Coast
Renowned as much for the seas of bright color that blanket the region during the autumn wildflower season as for its beautiful coast, this region depends on fishing, agriculture, and tourism to earn its keep. The Branch Hwy marches north from Perth a few dozen kilometers inland from the coastline of the Indian Ocean, while the wheat-growing Midlands extend for hundreds of kilometers to the east. The Batavia Coast stretches from just north of the Pinnacles up as far as the red cliffs of Kalbarri, and takes its name from the most famous of the many shipwrecks that litter its waters. A handful of small fishing towns dots the shore, and there’s good swimming all along. While swarms of tourists descend upon the Midlands during wildflower season, Geraldton’s high season is the summer when the windsurfing is at its best, and Kalbarri’s is the winter.
Related Travel Information
The Northeastof Tasmania
Tasmania's Northeast is blessed with a sunny disposition. Folks here grow up listening to Melbourne radio, drinking Boag's beer, and disdaining the political antics of the South. The midlands offer wool, the north coast wine, and the sun-coast water, all a gently civilized counterpoint to the state's famed wilderness. The priceless coastal pockets of Mount William, Freycinet, and Maria Island National Parks are worlds away from the mountainous World Heritage Areas of the south and west. In the middle of miles of flatness, Ben Lomond rises to survey the entire region; its ski slopes provide a bit of
Coorow
Located 262 km north of Perth on the Midlands Road, Coorow is a typical northern wheatbelt town with a tiny service centre which includes a hotel, a caravan park, a single main street and the inevitable bulk handling grain silos and railway line.
The Coorow area was first settled in 1852 when William and Sara Long arrived in the district. They raised sheep and horses. The horses were shipped to Singapore where they were used by the British forces and the wool was taken by dray to Dongara and Perth.
The name 'Coorow' was first used by Surveyor John Forrest
Mingenew
Mingenew is located in the heart of wheat belt and wildflower country on Midlands Road, five hours' drive north of Perth. Mingenew is a typical northern wheatbelt town with a railway line, a bulk handling wheat silo, a single pub which has motel-style accommodation, a couple of service stations and a caravan park. Mingenew has a wealth of assets not always obvious at first glance. The change of seasons brings on a whole new landscape including climatic changes. There are a number of drives well worth undertaking throughout the year to gain a real perspective of Mingenew.
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South Coast
The coastal towns south of Sydney, strung together by the Princes Hwy, are far less tourist than their northern counterparts. While industry dominates many of the larger towns such as Wollongong and Bega, the smaller coastal towns in between are some of New South Wales' undiscovered treasures. With a string of beautiful beaches on one side and mountainous escarpment on the other, the South Coast is certainly worth a visit. Cool winters cause the area to be particularly deserted between June and August; the windy coastline retains a certain charm.
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
