Capricorn and Whitsunday Coasts

From the Tropic of Capricorn, the Bruce Highway worms its way north through sugar cane fields and along the tropical coast. Between Rockhampton and Towns-ville, some oceanside towns have morphed into backpacker havens like Airlie Beach, while others, such as Mackay, still grimace at the sight of sandals and an unwashed t-shirt. The isolated Eungella National Park, within easy reach of Mackay, rewards its few intrepid visitors with tumbling waterfalls and elusive platypuses. The offshore islands vary in size and flavor, each with its own beaches and maze-like walking trails. Great Keppel Island, almost within sight of Rockhampton's shore, lacks roads entirely; the ferry lets passengers off on the beach. Much farther north off Airlie Beach, the Whitsundays are a blizzard of islands with rare, non-figurative Aborigine art and the astoundingly pure Whitehaven Beach. All along the coast, there's plenty to see under the water as well, with the Great Barrier Reef close at hand.

Featured Destinations from Australia

Ulladulla

Ulladulla A small fishing/resort town it has some of the best surfing beaches on the south coast. The town is a holiday centre during the summer months with great fishing spots and a stunning golf course overlooking the ocean. The many caravan parks, motels and fresh seafood make it a perfect

Kings Park

Kings Park Opened in 1872 it has developed as a beautiful park in the centre of Perth and extends to 400 hectares. The tree-lined Fraser Avenue leads to the heart of this 400-hectare park, where the War Memorial stands. The trees beside the road are karri, native to the state

Jenolan Caves

Jenolan Caves The amazing limestone and crystal formations of Jenolan (Je-NO-lan) Caves, on Jeno¬lan Caves Rd, 45km south of the Great Western Hwy from Hartley, have beguiled vis¬itors since they were first introduced to the general public in 1838. One can reach the caves by bus from Katoomba. The cave system

Blue Mountains

Blue Mountains For the first 25 years of British colonization, the unscalable walls of the Blue Moun¬tains, just 100km from the coast, contained the growth of the new colony and the exploration of Australia. Numerous expeditions approached the mountains only to come away stumped. Because the so-called mountains are actually a

Australia : The Northeastof Tasmania

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

Tweed Heads

Tweed Heads Tweed Heads is a wonderland of tourist attractions catering for the needs of everyone. Within a one hour drive of Tweed Heads are a number of National Parks including Mt Warning, Nightcap and Border Ranges, National Parks, all lying to the west. Each of these parks feature some

Katanning Historical Museum

Katanning Historical Museum This Museum was the first permanent school in Katanning and was opened in 1899. The town was growing rapidly at this time, and it was soon outgrown. The school was moved to the site of the present Katanning primary school. The display are numerous.

Wiluna

Wiluna Wiluna is an outback town with friendly people and a real bush atmosphere. The town is the starting or finishing point for the Canning Stock Route (an 1,800 kilometre track from Wiluna to Halls Creek) and is located on the Goldfields Highway, joining Meekatharra, Leonora and Kalgoorlie. The town prospered

Melbourne Zoo

Melbourne Zoo Opened on this site in 1862, Melbourne Zoo is the oldest zoo in Australia. It is believed to be the eleventh oldest zoo in the world. It offers more than 350 animal species from Australia and around the world are on view just 4 km from the centre of

Mount Tomah Botanic Gardens

Mount Tomah Botanic Gardens Mount Tomah Botanic Garden is the spectacular cool-climate garden of the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney. Located in the northern Blue Mountains the Garden features plants from the southern hemisphere and many beautiful regions of the world. At 1,000 metres Mount Tomah overlooks the Greater Blue Mountains World