Sights in Australia
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Victorian Goldfields Railway
If you're in town on a Wednesday or Sunday, ride the beautifully restored steam train along the original line through the Muckleford forest to Castlemaine (and back). For a little extra, go 1st class (adult/child/family $40/23/93, Sunday only) in an oak-lined viewing carriage.
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Town Centre
Stirling Tce is noted for its Victorian shopfronts, Old Post Office and Courthouse. On York St you'll see St John's Anglican Church and the Town Hall. A guided walking- tour brochure is available from the visitor centre.
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The Waterfront
Hobartians flock to the city's waterfront like seagulls to chips. Centred on Victoria Dock (a working fishing harbour) and Constitution Dock (chock-full of floating takeaway-seafood punts), it's a brilliant place to explore. The obligatory Hobart experience is to sit in the sun, munch some fresh fish and chips and watch the harbour hubbub. If you'd prefer something with a knife and fork, there are some superb restaurants around here too – head for nearby Elizabeth St Pier.
Celebrations surrounding the finish of the annual Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race revolve around Constitution Dock at New Year. The fabulous food festival, The Taste, is also in full swing around this…
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The Esplanade
Darwin's Esplanade is a long, straight street with flashy hotels on one side and the lush waterside Bicentennial Parkon the other. The park runs the length of the Esplanade from Doctors Gully to Lameroo Beach, a sheltered cove popular in the '20s when it housed the saltwater baths, and traditionally a Larrakia camp area. Shaded by tropical trees, the park is an excellent place to wander.
At the Herbert St end, there's a cenotaph commemorating Australians' service to the country's war efforts. Also honoured are 200 Remarkable Territorians: hand-painted tiles in panels dispersed intermittently along the Esplanade commemorate some of the Territory's 'quiet achievers',…
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Super Pit
The view is staggering, with building-sized trucks zigzagging up and down the huge hole and looking like kids' toys. It's quite beautiful in its own way, with nature's palate of red, black and grey revealed on the exposed rock faces. The information displays are fascinating. Boulder's Super Pit Shop has more displays and sells small nuggets.
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Sun Pictures
Sink back in a canvas deckchair in the world's oldest operating picture gardens and enjoy the latest movies. The history of the Sun building is the history of Broome itself – don't miss the informative history tours .
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St Kilda Pier
The breakwater near the pier was built in the 1950s and is now home to a colony of over 1000 little penguins (they're hiding there between the bluestone breakwater). Visit the penguins as the sun goes down (volunteers are on hand to shine a red light on them), or see them from a prime location on an eco stand-up paddleboarding trip. If you're taking photos of the little blue bundles don't use your flash.
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St John's Church
The first Roman Catholic church in Australia was built in 1836.
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St John's Church
The first Roman Catholic church in Australia was built in 1836.
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South Beach
Sheltered, swimmable, only 1.5km from the city centre and on the free CAT bus route.
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Sir Dudley de Chair Lookout
Further along Scenic Dr, this pretty spot has a panoramic view and is near the Hermit's Cave.
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Shark Bay World Heritage Discovery Centre
One of WA's best museums has engaging, informative displays on Shark Bay's ecosystem and its Indigenous people, early explorers and settlers.
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School of the Air
For a back-to-school experience, sit in on a class that broadcasts to kids in isolated homesteads.
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Rundle Street Market
Over in the East End, Sunday's Rundle Street Market is a string of food stalls, fashion, buskers, jewellery, arts and crafts.
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Royal Flying Doctor Service
See how the flying doctors look after the outback, with tours at 10.15am, noon and 2pm.
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Riverina Grove
This produce mecca has everything from marinated feta to homemade jams and chutney.
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Rio Vista & Mildura Arts Centre
Chaffey's grand homestead, the historic Queen Ann–style Rio Vista, has been beautifully preserved and restored with each room set up as a series of historical displays depicting colonial life in the 19th century, with period furnishings, costumes, photos and a collection of letters and memorabilia.
In the same complex, the Mildura Arts Centre and theatre was closed for major redevelopment at the time of writing and due to reopen late in 2011.
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Richmond Arms Hotel
1888.
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Restorers Barn
Collectors love the barn, a big shed in town dripping with interesting bric-a-brac, collectables and tools.
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Reef Teach
Before heading out to the reef, take your knowledge to greater depths at this excellent and informative centre, where marine experts explain how to identify specific types of coral and fish and how to treat the reef with respect.
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Reef HQ Aquarium
Townsville's excellent aquarium is a living reef on dry land. A staggering 2.5 million litres of water flow through the coral-reef tank, which is home to sharks, rays and over 100 fish species, plus brilliantly hued coral. Kids will love seeing, feeding and touching turtles at the turtle hospital. Talks and tours throughout the day focus on different aspects of the reef and the aquarium.
Adjacent to the aquarium, you can continue to experience life underwater at the IMAX cinema.
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Radical Bay
Radical Bay once housed a resort, and a replacement is in the pipeline. In the meantime it's a peaceful spot. You can walk across the headland to Horseshoe Bay, taking a detour down to the unofficial nudist beach of Balding Bay (3.4km return).
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Questacon – National Science & Technology Centre
The hands-on National Science & Technology Centre is a child magnet, with its lively, educational and just-plain-fun interactive science and technology exhibits. Kids can explore the physics of sport, athletics and fun parks, cause tsunamis and take shelter from cyclones and earthquakes. Exciting science shows, presentations and puppet shows are included in the admission price.
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Queensland Museum
This museum occupies imaginations with all manner of curiosities. Queensland's history is given a once-over with an interesting collection of exhibits, including a skeleton of the state's own dinosaur, Muttaburrasaurus, and the Avian Cirrus, the tiny plane in which Queensland's Bert Hinkler made the first England-to-Australia solo flight in 1928.
The museum also houses the Sciencentre, with over 100 hands-on, interactive exhibits that delve into life science and technology in fun, thought-provoking ways.
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Public Sculptures
Enlivening Fremantle's streets are numerous bronze sculptures, many by local artist Greg James . Perhaps the most popular, certainly with black-clad pilgrims, is the statue of Bon Scott (1946–1980) strutting on a Marshall amplifier in Fishing Boat Harbour. The AC/DC singer moved to Fremantle with his family in 1956 and his ashes are interred in Fremantle Cemetery.
Others include To the Fishermen, also by James, andMark of the Century, by Robert Hitchcock.
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