Australian Places to Visit Before You Turn Sixty-Five
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How many Australians have speared a trevally with a traditional owner in the aquamarine waters off Arnhem Land, slept in a swag under a canopy of stars in the Simpson Desert, watched flocks of red-legged jabiru rise from billabongs thick with purple water lilies or found the perfect 65 Robinson Crusoe tropical isle? Many of us leave it until we’ve qualified as grey nomads* and are already retired. Australia has a wealth of travel adventures from pristine wilderness to the isolated outback and T+L, in consultation with a panel of experts, has found them. AustrAliAn PlACEs So, don’t wait – go now. tO VISIT BEFOrE YOu TURN SIXtY-FiVE * grey nomad say: gray ‘nohmad noun colloquial: 1. an older person, often retired from full-time work, BY susAn gOugh hEnlY who travels around the country, living in a caravan or motorhome. definition: macquarie dictionary 107 in selecting our 65 remarkable, Aboriginal community; You must see Australia because thE SpeciAlists and often secret, places we have Tasmania’s Overland Track “It’s our own backyard but there On thE wAtEr sought the guidance of experi- and exploring the south- is still so much that is unknown.” Drew Kluska, founder of Bruny Island, TAS enced trailblazers and special- west wilderness. Outback Encounter, and Tonia Cochran of Inala ists who have seen australia. You must see Australia because BARRY dAViEs Charlie Carlow, founder Nature Tours conducts bird- “It is vital to show your children Lamington Plateau-based Barry of Wilderness Australia, watching and wildlife tours have distilled the essence of THE TRAILBlAZERS so they can understand their Davies is a freelance, certified while Bruny Island Charters Australia to offer their well- offers a dramatic boat trip to a own country before they head eco-guide who leads walking, heeled, mostly international, seal colony. Bruny Island is 40 BArBArA AND off across the world.” bird watching and other special- clients opportunities to stay kilometres south of Hobart, JOHN SULLIVAn interest tours throughout in intimate properties and accessible by ferry (www. Queenslanders Barbara and GILL AND BARRY Australia and the world. He experience unspoilt locations brunyisland.net.au); Inala with locals. Both of these John Sullivan spent more than BrACkEn operates tours through his Nature Tours, 320 Cloudy travel innovators drew inspi- Bay Road; 03 6293 1217; a decade living in the United Sydneysiders Gill and Barry company, Gondwana Guides. ration from the African safari www.inalabruny.com.au; States and Europe before set- Bracken have retired to a vine- He won the Ecotourism Associa- experience. The irony is, says Bruny Island Charters, tling in Sydney. Barbara is the yard in the Hunter Valley. tion’s Australian EcoGuide of Kluska, they are showing visi- 03 6293 1465; www.bruny chief executive of a trade pub- Barry was a leading orthopaedic the Year Award in 2005. tors a side of Australia that charters.com.au; Accommo- most of its residents have lishing firm and John runs his surgeon while Gill worked Next trips Norfolk Island; a dation: Morella Island never seen. own real estate company. They in finance. They have combed seven-day walking trip along Retreats, 03 6293 1131; “Australia has some of the . www.morella-island.com.au. have explored Queensland, Australia in their 4WD the rabbit-proof fence through last great wildernesses on soo the High Country, the Flinders exploring the Flinders the mountains of the Scenic Rim earth and there is a certain Strahan and the Gordon Ranges, the Simpson Desert, Ranges and the Red Centre, in southern Queensland. eccentricity about the loca- River, West Coast Yacht jennifer tions and characters that : the Red Centre, the Top End and crossing the Simpson Desert You must see Australia because Charters, TAS give the country a particular page Sail across Macquarie the Kimberley in their 4WD. and driving from Sydney to ”It is rich with ancient stories, charm,” says Carlow.” We try Harbour on the 20-metre Next trips The Gulf Country; up Perth. They’ve also done fascinating wildlife, colourful Roaring 40s kayaking takes place at Breaksea Island, TAS, seen here from Mount Stokes. to translate what is uniquely ketch, Stormbreaker, and up the Oodnadatta Track and the extensive long-distance landscapes and characters. Australian and take off the previous the Gordon River where you . Tanami Track to Halls Creek. sailing trips and cruised the It is unique.” rough edges.” stay the night. Enjoy the rain- You must see Australia because north coast of Australia from forest’s mirrored reflections flowers “The sheer remoteness can’t Broome to Cairns. long after the cruise ships have left. 03 6471 7422; be replicated anywhere else in Next trips Max Davidson’s tAsmaniA reveal human habitation for BriCkEndOn, Longford www.tasadventures.com/wcyc the world.” Arnhem Land safaris; Cocos thE LodgE At 30,000 years). Why here Stay in the historic mcgregor (Keeling) Islands off Australia’s TarrAleah In the know From the base of coachman’s or gardener’s Myall Lakes, NSW jodie iAn AND SIMOnE CARSOn north-west coast. Why here Located on the edge a comfortable bush camp, cottage at this working farm The largest coastal lake system Ian Carson, chairman of a major of the Tasmanian wilderness, Roaring 40s Kayaking offers run by the same family for in NSW and an important from turnaround company, and his this Art Deco lodge, originally kayaking in a vast drowned river seven generations. water bird habitat makes this a perfect area for meandering wife, Simone, recently returned built to house Tasmania’s hydro valley surrounded by jagged In the know Kids love to feed the by houseboat. Luxury House- from a 10-week trip with their eucalyptus electricity officers, now show- mountains. There’s also walking ducks, goats and chickens and boat Hire, Bulahdelah; ; three children circumnavigat- cases contemporary Tasmanian across dramatic ridges, button- play old-fashioned games in 02 4997 4380; www.luxury ing Australia from Cairns to design, local gourmet special- grass plains and ancient forest. the original farm village with its houseboat.com.au morton Melbourne. Two years ago they ties and a wide range of wines Essentials 03 6267 5000; www. barn, chapel, henhouse, bakery Great Barrier Reef with created Second Bite, a non- and single malt whiskies, not to roaring40skayaking.com.au and woolshed. megan Enterprise Charters, QLD profit organisation that recycles mention sensational fly-fishing, Essentials 03 6391 1383; www. This 17-metre luxury cruiser, surplus food from markets. bushwalking, mountain-biking Pepper Bush brickendon.com.au; 20 minutes with a master and two twin styling Next trips Camping with an ; and wildlife. AdventurEs drive south-west of Launceston. cabins, offers private cruis- ing on the reef, with exquisite prior In the know Enjoy the view over Why here Tasmania is your oyster food and snorkelling. You forested green hills and valleys with Craig Williams at the helm. nEw sOuth wAlEs choose wherever you want to amanda from the cliff-top hot tub. This local bushie is an expert on : go between Port Douglas and Essentials 03 6289 1199; the Tasmanian wilderness and MungO NatiOnAl PArk Lizard Island. 07 4098 5279; www.tarraleahlodge.com; crafts trips tailored to your inter- Why here The moonlike land- www.stargatemarine.com opposite . a two-hour drive from Hobart ests, be they bushwalking, wine- scape of Mungo National Park, Kimberley coast, Coral or Launceston. tasting or wildlife-viewing. part of the Willandra Lakes Princess Cruises, WA bennett In the know He is particularly World Heritage area, contains “The Coral Princess Cruise we South-wEst fond of showing people the traces of Aboriginal inhabitancy did from Darwin to Broome richard / wildErnEss reclusive platypus, the eastern going back 40,000 years, mak- was stunning, right at the top Why here This is one of the most quoll and virgin old-growth for- ing it the oldest known site of of our favourite Australian remote places on the planet, ests, but be sure and ask for his human occupation in Australia. journeys anywhere,” says Gill kayaking Bracken. Visit a Wandjina art S doubly inscribed on the World bush-tucker recipes such as In the know Take a tour with site at Bigge Island, fly to the 40 Heritage list for its values both Tasmanian three-spice trout Aboriginal guides from Harry Mitchell Falls by helicopter, natural (it is one of three remain- with lemon myrtle, mountain Nanya Tours to visit places witness the tidal rush at Hori- roaring ing temperate wilderness areas pepper and native kunzea. like the Walls of China. Stay at zontal Falls. 07 4040 9999; in the Southern Hemisphere) Essentials 03 6352 2263; the Aboriginal-owned Mungo www.coralprincess.com.au courtesy and cultural (indigenous sites www.pepperbush.com.au Lodge, which is reopening in ∫ 108 109 sAFARIS April 2008 after a complete stretch of white sand fringing RemotE AboriginAl Art Davidson’s Arnhem Land refurbishment. the aquamarine sea. communitiEs by Air Safaris, NT Essentials Harry Nanya Tours, In the know Women learn about Why here Visit Balgo Hills, Davidson’s is number one on the list for everyone who has 03 5027 2076; www.harry basket-weaving and men about Fitzroy Crossing, Maningrida, explored the Top End. nanyatours.com.au; Mungo spearing fish. And more often Ngukkur, Tiwi Islands, Yirrkala “A major highlight is the rock Lodge, 03 5029 7297; than not, you’ll enjoy a big feast and Haast’s Bluff to learn about art and the birdlife is extra- www.mungolodge.com.au; of fish, oysters and mud crab. each culture and buy art directly ordinary,” says Ian Carson. 110 kilometres from Mildura Essentials Port Bradshaw, Opposite from left: the from the artists.