Other activities in Australia
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Riverlife Adventure Centre
Opened in 2005, this diverse centre offers a wealth of river- and land-based activities. Group kayaking lessons along the Brisbane River are held daily at 1pm ($34), Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7pm ($45), or you can hire your own ($25 for 1½ hours). The paddle and prawns ($69; 1½ hours kayaking followed by beer and prawns on the riverfront deck) on Friday nights from 7pm gets rave reviews. On Thursdays at noon you can participate in traditional Aboriginal song and dance performances (adult/child $45/25) with members of the Nunukul, Yuggera, Yugimbir and Nugi tribes. Performances ($65 per person) are also held on Saturday at 7pm; bookings are essential.
reviewed
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Heysen Trail
Australia’s longest walking trail: 1200km between Cape Jervis on the Fleurieu Peninsula and Parachilna Gorge in the Flinders Ranges. Access points along the way make it ideal for half- and full-day walks. Note that due to fire restrictions, some sections of the trail are closed between December and April.
reviewed
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Riverboat Postman
Departing Brooklyn, the Riverboat Postman is Australia’s last operating mail boat and a decidedly old-school way to get a feel for the river. It chugs 40km up the Hawkesbury from Brooklyn to as far as Marlow, near Spencer, with additional ‘coffee cruises’ in summer.
reviewed
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Mills Charters
Whales pass by Perth on their annual journey to Antarctic waters from September to December, offering a once-in-a-lifetime encounter. Mills Charters runs an informative three-hour whale-watching trip from Hillarys Boat Harbour.
reviewed
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Bogong Horseback Adventures
Bogong Horseback Adventures runs excellent trail rides over the Bogong High Plains, including packhorse rides lasting three to seven days (from $1050).
reviewed
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Bellrowan Valley Horse Riding
Bellrowan Valley Horse Riding is in the hinterland, 30 minutes’ drive from Port Macquarie.
reviewed
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Bay of Fires Dive
The dive shop, Bay of Fires Dive, is the only shop of any kind at the Bay of Fires.
reviewed
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Ocean Safari
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Charles Darwin National Park
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Peninsula Hot Springs
Peninsula Hot Springs is a large, luxurious complex that utilises hot, mineral-rich waters pumped from deep underground. There’s a huge menu of spa, private bathing and massage treatments available.
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Merrick's Learn to Surf
With a string of fine breaks around an unspoilt national park, Noosa is a fine place to catch a wave. The best year-round break is probably Sunshine Corner, at the northern end of Sunshine Beach, though it has a brutal beach dump. The point breaks (First Point to Granite Bay) around the headland only perform during the summer, but when they do, expect wild conditions and good walls at Boiling Point and Tea Tree, on the northern coast of the headland.
Noosa Spit, on the far end of Hastings St, has gentle breaks that are heavenly for the novice - unlike at Sunshine Beach, riders are protected from open water so the rips tend to be less intense. It seems someone is always…
reviewed
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Official Neighbours Tour
The best way to see Ramsay St and have a true Neighbours experience is by taking the Official Neighbours Tour It’s the only licensed tour and is approved by the residents of Pin Oak Ct. If you’re lucky you might see us filming and have the chance to grab a photo and an autograph! Two tours are available: Tour A runs twice daily, Monday to Friday, and visits Ramsay St, Erinsborough High School and includes an exclusive meeting with a Neighbours actor; the second, more comprehensive, tour ($65) visits the street, the school and the outside studio sets of the Lassiter’s Complex, Lou’s mechanics and Grease Monkeys. This tour runs on the weekends and starts at the …
reviewed
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Bedrock Village Caravan Park & Tours
There’s something quite amazing about these giant lava tubes, all 160km or so of them, that run underground and were formed around 190,000 years ago following a three-month eruption of a single shield volcano. The massive lava flows drained towards the sea, following the routes of ancient river beds, and while the surface of the lava cooled and hardened, hot lava continued to race through the centre of the flows, eventually leaving enormous basalt tubes. These days, they’re a rare cool spot in the region, and you can be guided through them with Bedrock Village Caravan Park & Tours.
reviewed
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Charlotte Pass
There are just over 600 beds in the village, which doesn't represent many skiers on the slopes. At the base of Mt Kosciuszko, this is one of the highest, oldest and most isolated resorts in Australia and in winter you have to 'snowcat' (use oversnow transport) the last 8km from Perisher Valley (book ahead).
Five lifts service rather short, but uncrowded, runs and this is good ski-touring country. In summer, it's the start of a number of walks including to the summit of Mt Kosciuszko (18km return), the Main Range (25km return) and the Blue Lake Lookout (10km return).
reviewed
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Broome Bird Observatory
This wonderful bird observatory on the Roebuck Bay shores, 25km from Broome, is a vital staging post for hundreds of migratory species, including 49 waders (nearly a quarter of the world’s total species). An incredible 800,000 birds arrive each year, some travelling 12,000km to get here. Join an excellent two-hour tour ($75); a full-day tour of the freshwater lakes ($150; BYO lunch); or do a five-day all-inclusive course ($1000 including transfers, accommodation and meals). Binoculars available to visitors.
reviewed
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PV Jandra
There are many reminders of the time when the big paddle-wheelers were Bourke's lifeline. The impressive three-tiered wharf at the northern end of Sturt St is a faithful reconstruction of the original built in 1897 and, on the river, the PV Jandra is a replica of an 1895 paddle-wheeler. The one-hour cruise on the Jandra lets you experience the legendary Darling, hear about the local history and see the great range of river birds, like the blue-eyed corellas and pelicans, and their babies.
reviewed
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Monkey Mia
World-famous for the wild dolphins that turn up in the shallow water for feeding each day, the beach resort of Monkey Mia, 26km northeast of Denham, now tops many travellers’ list of things to do. The morning feeding session (around 7.45am) can get packed, but often the dolphins return for a second feeding later in the morning. Aside from dolphins, the resort offers plenty of other diversions, including Aboriginal heritage walks, sailing, camel trips, diving and stargazing.
reviewed
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Puffing Billy
Perennially popular Puffing Billy is a restored steam train that toots its way through the Dandenongs’ picturesque hills. Kids dangle their feet out the windows and passengers pick flakes of coal dust out of their hair when they alight. There are six departures on holidays, three or four on other days, so you can hop-on/hop-off and enjoy a picnic or walk. Puffing Billy train station is a short walk from Belgrave train station on Melbourne’s suburban network.
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PS Emmylou
As you enter the pedestrian-only Murray Esplanade, you can buy tickets for a cruise or to explore the historic buildings along the Esplanade. A paddle-steamer cruise along the Murray is almost obligatory, and at least four steamers offer cruises; head down to the river and check out the sailing times. PS Emmylou is a fully restored paddle steamer driven by an original engine. Overnight cruises are also available.
reviewed
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Spirit of the Coorong
Runs eco-cruises on the Murray and into the Coorong National Park, including lunch and guided walks. The 4½-hour Coorong Discovery Cruise (adult/child $74/55) runs on Mondays and Thursdays all year, plus Tuesdays and Saturdays from October to May. The six-hour Coorong Adventure Cruise (adult/child $88/60) runs on Sundays all year, plus Wednesdays from October to May. Bookings essential.
reviewed
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Yanchep National Park
Popular with day-trippers is Yanchep National Park, 51km north of Perth. It’s a pretty bushland park with plentiful wildlife, including a koala compound. Visitors can explore the limestone Crystal Cave, row boats ($6.50 per 30 minutes) on Loch McNess, or hike some of the nine walking tracks (from 20 minutes up to three days).
reviewed
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Frankland Islands Cruise Dive
Frankland Islands Cruise & Dive runs excellent day tours, and throws in a seafood buffet, stinger/sun suits, snorkelling equipment and sun shades for families. The trip begins with a bus trip to Deeral, where you transfer to your boat on the Mulgrave River. The boat can also drop permit-holding campers off at Russell Island (adult/child $225/125).
reviewed
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Musica Viva
National group Musica Viva stages ensemble music and performances around once a month at Hamer Hall and includes preshow talks. Its Ménage chamber concert series, where pioneering new music is performed in informal venues, is specifically aimed at 18- to 35-year-olds. They also hold midweek morning ‘coffee’ concerts at the Collins St Baptist Church.
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Maribryrnong River Cruises
One- or two-hour cruises are available. The longer cruise goes up the Maribyrnong River to Avondale Heights (you’ll see the Lonely Planet head office on the way). The one-hour cruise heads down to the West Gate Bridge and the docklands. Departures are from the end of Wingfield St in Footscray. Cruises run on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays.
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