Outdoor sights in Australia
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Fawkner Park
This huge expanse of green is loved and used by the area’s sport folk and lapdogs alike. Walkways lined with elms, oaks and Moreton Bay fig trees provide structure to the otherwise open fields. Barbecues and charming little pavilions are available for public use.
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Uluru (Ayers Rock)
Nothing in Australia is as readily identifiable as Uluru. No matter how many times you've seen it in postcards, nothing prepares you for the hulk on the horizon - so solitary and prodigious. Uluru is 3.6km long and rises a towering 348m from the surrounding sandy scrubland (867m above sea level). If that's not impressive enough, it's believed that two-thirds of the rock lies beneath the sand.
Sacred sites are located around the base of Uluru; entry to and knowledge of the particular significance of these areas is restricted by Anangu law. The landscape of Uluru changes dramatically with the shifting light and seasons. If your first sight of Uluru is during the afternoon, …
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Sydney Harbour
Sydney's stunning harbour has melded and shaped the local psyche since the first days of settlement, and today it's both a major working port and the city's sparkling playground. Its waters, beaches, islands and shorefront parks offer all the swimming, sailing, picnicking, walking and real-estate fantasies you could wish for.
The best way to view the harbour is by private yacht (yeah, right). Lacking this, just take a harbour cruise or catch any one of the many ferries that ply its waters. You can also fly above it via a scenic flight. The Manly ferry offers vistas of the harbour east of the bridge, while the Parramatta RiverCats cover the west. You can also visit some of…
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Kaiser Stuhl Conservation Park
The 390-hectare Kaiser Stuhl Conservation Park has some excellent walks. Fantastic views exist from the top of the Barossa Ranges. Abundant native flora, such as banksias, acacias and grevilleas, and birdlife can also be enjoyed. In particular, look out for Nankeen kestrels and brown hawks. Western grey 'roos also bound through this park.
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Marramarra National Park
The 118-sq-km Marramarra National Park, south of the Hawkesbury, has vehicle access south of Wisemans Ferry. There’s free bush camping on the river at Gentlemans Halt and Marramarra Creek.
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Noosa National Park
You'll find the main entrance to Noosa National Park on Hastings St. The 2km-long park has fine walks, great coastal scenery and a string of popular bays for surfing on the northern side.
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Central Station
In the middle of the island is Central Station, the starting point for numerous walking trails. Signposted tracks head to the beautiful McKenzie, Jennings, Birrabeen and Boomanjin lakes.
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Twelve Apostles
The Twelve Apostles draw tens of thousands of visitors every year. Close to the Great Ocean Road, these lonely rocky stacks were formed some 20 million years ago, created as the sea gradually eroded the soft limestone cliffs between Port Campbell and Princetown. Timber boardwalks run around the cliff tops, providing viewing platforms and seats.
One of the Apostles toppled into the sea in July 2005 - bringing the number down to eight. In January 1990 a nearby formation called London Bridge - a natural arch linking the mainland to offshore rocks - also collapsed. Two tourists left stranded on the arch had to be rescued by helicopter.
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Royal National Park
The traditional lands of the Dharawal people, the 165-sq-km Royal National Park was established in 1879, making it the second-oldest national park in the world (the oldest is the USA’s Yellowstone). The park features vertiginous cliffs, secluded beaches, coastal scrub, heathlands, lush rainforest, isolated seaside communities and raucous flocks of yellow-tailed black cockatoos. Other local residents include echidnas, swamp wallabies, lyrebirds and kookaburras (and a few snakes – watch your step). The park begins at Port Hacking, 30km south of Sydney, and stretches 20km further south. The park’s main road detours to Bundeena, a small town on Port Hacking – a world away fro…
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Kata Tjuta (The Olgas)
A striking group of domed rocks cluster together to form small valleys and gorges known as Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) about 30km west of Uluru. Many visitors find them just as captivating as their prominent neighbour. The tallest rock, Mt Olga (546m, 1066m above sea level) is approximately 200m higher than Uluru. Kata Tjuta means 'many heads' and is of great tjukurpa significance, so climbing on the domed rocks is definitely not on.
The main walking track here is the unmissable Valley of the Winds, a 7.4km loop trail (two to four hours) that traverses varying desert terrain and yields wonderful views of surreal boulders. It's not particularly arduous, but take plenty of water…
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Brisbane Forest Park Information Centre
North-west of Brisbane lies the D'Aguilar Range, which includes Brisbane Forest Park. Hidden within this 28,500 hectare natural bushland are remote gorges, expanses of subtropical rainforest and scribbly-gum woodland. The birdlife is prolific and Brisbanites come here by the dozen to take advantage of this natural playground. There are numerous walking trails varying in length and degree of difficulty. The Information Centre sits at the park entrance and has information about bush camping (per person/family $5/19) and maps of walking trails, but it does not sell camping permits. If you plan to camp then you must get your permit through the EPA (ph 13 13 04; www.epa.qld.go…
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Dampier Peninsula
Red soil, turquoise waters, living Aboriginal culture, crocodiles, flooding monsoons: the Dampier Peninsula has everything people come to the Top End to see. It's not the most easily accessible place on earth, however, and you'll need to plan your trip well.
A centre for the pearling industry in the late 19th century, the Dampier Peninsula is nonetheless largely unspoilt, a glorious wedge of Australia's virgin tropical north. Approximately half of the peninsula is still Aboriginal land - the home of the Nimanburru, Jawi, Nyulnyul, Bardi, Ngumbarl and Jabirrjabirr language groups. Many Aboriginal communities offer cultural, fishing and mud-crabbing tours, as well as accomm…
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Springbrook National Park
Springbrook national park is perched atop a 900m (2952ft) high plateau, which, like the rest of the McPherson Range, is a remnant of the huge volcano that once centred on Mt Warning in NSW. The park's vegetation is cool-temperate rainforest and eucalypt forest, with gorges, cliffs, forests and waterfalls, numerous walking tracks and several picnic areas.
The village of Springbrook is balanced right on the edge of the plateau, with several waterfalls (when there's enough rain) that tumble more than 100m (328ft) to the coastal plain below. There are several places where you can get the giddy thrill of leaning right out over the edge, including Purling Brook Falls, at the Gw…
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Sydney Harbour National Park
Sydney Harbour National Park protects large swaths of bushland around the harbour shoreline, plus several harbour islands. In among the greenery you’ll find walking tracks, scenic lookouts, Aboriginal carvings, beaches and a handful of historic sites. The park incorporates South Head and Nielsen Park south of the harbour, but most of it is on the North Shore – including Bradleys Head, Middle Head, Dobroyd Head and North Head. Free brochures, including self-guided tours, are available from the park office in Cadman’s Cottage in The Rocks, which itself is part of the park.
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Royal Park
Royal Park's vast open spaces are great for a variety of activities. You'll find you quicken your jogging pace when you hear lions roaring behind you. Royal Park contains the Royal Melbourne Zoo, a number of sports ovals, netball and hockey stadiums, a golf course and the Games Village. The village housed athletes and officials participating in the 2006 Commonwealth Games, and is gradually being turned over to public and private housing. Neighbouring the Village is Trin Warren Tam-boore, a new wetlands area with boardwalks and interpretive signs for spotting native plants and animals. In the park's corner closest to the University of Melbourne is a garden of Australian na…
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Flinders Chase National Park
Occupying the western end of Kangaroo Island, Flinders Chase National Park is one of SA’s top national parks. Much of the park is mallee scrub, but there are some beautiful, tall sugar-gum forests, particularly around Rocky River and the Ravine des Casoars, 5km south of Cape Borda. Sadly, around 100,000 acres of bush were burned out by bushfires in 2007. Many walking tracks and campsites are closed for rehabilitation, but there’s still plenty to see and do. Contact the park visitors centre or DEH in Kingscote for updates on closures.
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Wollemi National Park
Reaching from north of Bells Line of Road to the Hunter Valley, Wollemi National Park is the state’s largest forested wilderness area (nearly 5000 sq km). Access is limited and the park’s centre is so isolated that a particular species of tree, the utterly rare Wollemi pine wasn’t discovered until 1994. But don’t expect to find any yourself – their location remains strictly under wraps. An equally secret site is a huge gallery of ancient Aboriginal rock art, uncovered in 2003.
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Lane Cove National Park
This 601-hectare park, 11km northwest of the city centre, is a great place to stretch out on some middle-sized bushwalks. It’s home to dozens of critters, including some endangered owls and toads. If you visit in spring, the water dragons will be getting horny and the native orchids and lilies will be flowering. There’s a boat shed on Lane Cove River that rents out row boats and kayaks, but swimming isn’t a good idea. You can also cycle and camp, and some sections are wheelchair accessible.
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Canberra Space Centre
The Canberra Deep Space Communications Complex was opened in 1965. Pride of place goes to Deep Space Station 43, a 70m-diameter dish that has communicated with the likes of Voyager 1 and 2, Galileo and various Mars probes. There are displays of spacecraft and deep-space tracking technology, plus a piece of lunar basalt scooped up by Apollo XI in 1969. A theatrette continuously screens short films on space exploration and the Moon Rock Café serves drinks and lunches.
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Point Gellibrand Coastal Heritage Park
Along the waterfront of this expansive stretch of parkland, the roadway has intermittent information panels. These explain the area’s significance as the first disembarkation point for early Victorian settlers. Historic buildings also dot the area, such as the convict-built Timeball Tower, once used to calibrate ships’ gauges, and the remains of Fort Gellibrand, which staged many a mock battle. Access to the park is via Nelson Pl.
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Federation Walk
The ocean side of the spit, which extends north from Main Beach, is home to uncrowded beaches and excellent surf. From here you can see across the channel to South Stradbroke Island and it's a popular fishing spot. A fig tree opposite the entrance to Seaworld marks the start of the Federation Walk, a pretty 3.7km trail that winds its way through patches of littoral rainforest and down to the Gold Coast Oceanway.
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St Kilda Botanic Gardens
Only a few blocks from Acland St, the Botanic Gardens are an unexpected haven from the St Kilda hustle. Wide gravel paths invite a leisurely stroll, and there are plenty of shady spots to sprawl on the open lawns. There are local indigenous plants and a subtropical rainforest conservatory to ponder, as well as the springtime splendour of the Alister Clarke Rose Garden. The duck pond is a favourite for children.
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Edinburgh Gardens
Established European elms line the tranquil walking paths of this 140-year-old parkland. Not far from the North Fitzroy cafe strip, these gardens are an ideal place to laze about. On weekends, wedding parties invade the rotunda while picnic blankets are spread, Frisbees flung and barbecues fired up. Should the mood take you, there's a lawn bowls green next door .
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Balloon Aloft
There's nothing like the feel of a crisp, clear morning and the sound of... quiet. For a different view of the nation's capital why not leave the politicians' ballyhoo behind as you float in a hot air balloon on all their hot air, taking in the mountains, valleys, rivers and lakes from above. Be prepared for an early morning start, but the views are worth it.
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Illawarra Escarpment
Southwest of Wollongong, the Illawarra Escarpment is a state recreation area. There is no vehicle access but the spot is good for bushwalking. The park is a number of separate sections from Bulli Pass to Bong Bong; it isn't very large but the country is spectacular. Contact the Wollongong NPWS office for information on bush camping.
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