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Western Australia
Western Australia CITY

A seaside haven at the heart of wildflower country, Green Head brings you the best of both worlds. To the east, flora hotspot Lesueur National Park showcases some of the richest plant diversity on Earth with 820 native flowering species. While on its shores, a playful colony of Australian sea lions invites you into their world for a close encounter. Getting there is part of the adventure when you follow the 415 kilometre Indian Ocean Drive from Yanchep, just north of Perth. The journey takes three hours, but you can take your time to enjoy some of the breathtaking beaches along the way, or stop to gaze in awe at one of Australia's most unique landscapes, the Pinnacles Desert. If you're hitting the wildflower trail in spring, make Green Head your base beside Lesueur National Park. Grab your camera and snap the striking Grevillea, Leschenaultia, orchids and pearl flowers, some of which occur nowhere else on Earth. Keen birdwatchers may also spot some 100 plus species here, including the rare Carnaby's black cockatoo. More fauna encounters can be found by joining a boat tour of the surrounding islands for some fun interaction with the friendly breeding colony of Australian sea lions. Closer to town, Dynamite Bay and a string of white sandy beaches offer some of the best windsurfing conditions in Western Australia, not to mention excellent beach fishing, swimming, snorkelling and diving. These coastal waters have seen a lot of action since the first known European visitors arrived in the 1600s, sailing the trading routes from Holland to Indonesia. Several Dutch ships were wrecked on the reefs, including the Gilt Dragon and Waeckende Boey. You can retrace the steps of more recent visitors, taking the four wheel drive track to Stockyard Gully National Park. Part of the old north stock route used in the 1850s, livestock and stockmen took shelter in the caves here on their journey from Geraldton to the markets in Perth. More comfortable accommodation can be found today in Green

Tasmania
Tasmania

Situated on the banks of the tranquil Huon River and surrounded by the colours of fruit-filled valleys and the peaks of the World Heritage Area, Huonville is a great base for exploring far-south Tasmania. The Huon Valley generates more than half of Tasmania’s apples. In season you can test your tastebuds on more than 500 varieties, together with apricots, plums, cherries, pears, mushrooms, honey, wine and seafood. Better still, visit in March when the annual Taste of the Huon brings growers together to celebrate their harvests. Get your heart racing on a jet boat ride up the Huon River or explore it at a more leisurely pace in a paddleboat. A cruise on the Southern Contessa will take you 30 kilometres (18.5 miles) along the river, into the habitats of pelicans, sandpipers and many other waterbirds. Fishing is popular in the valley’s many open watercourses, or you can barbecue your own catch at the Snowy Range Trout Fishery. Further south are Tasmania’s magnificent southern forests, where you can stroll through the canopy of a mature forest high above the confluence of the Picton and Huon rivers on the Tahune Forest AirWalk. You may even find your own piece of Huon pine on your travels through the valley. Although these slow-growing trees are now protected, timber on the forest floor is can be used as craft wood for hundreds of years and pieces are available in stores in Huonville and further down the valley. The French explorer Bruni D’Entrecasteaux named the Huon River in 1792, after Huon de Kermandec, captain of one of his ships. The town today has a population of approximately 1,700. Huonville is a 40-minute drive south of Hobart along the A6 highway. Its maximum average daily temperature is approximately 12 degrees Celsius (53.5 degrees Fahrenheit) in June and 21 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit) in January.

South Australia
South Australia CITY

Nuriootpa means ‘the meeting place’. There is no better place to meet and start exploring the Barossa than here. Surrounded by vineyards, the town's vine-lined main street becomes an amazing array of colours during autumn. This is the business centre of the Barossa, with an impressive range of facilities and services, iincluding the Barossa Community Store. Nuriootpa is home to some of the region’s best-known cellar doors including Penfolds, Elderton and, just a few kilometres from the town, Wolf Blass Visitor Centre. Dine in at one of the many eateries, or ‘dine out’ and enjoy a delicious picnic of local produce. There are some great spots to relax and soak up the fresh country air, including Coulthard and Tolley Reserves, or take a leisurely stroll along the Linear Path. If you have a green thumb, be sure to visit Barossa Bushgardens to see how you can use local plant species and native Australian plants to create a stunning garden at home.

New South Wales
New South Wales

Nestled between a tranquil inner-harbour beach on one side and a popular Pacific Ocean surf beach on the other, Manly combines a laid-back attitude with a sophisticated dining scene and stylish Sydney shopping. Take a picturesque 30 minute ferry ride across Sydney Harbour to Manly and get off onto the palm-tree lined Corso. Join the Steyne promenade where you can walk, roller-blade or cycle from Manly to Freshwater Beach. Head to Oceanworld Manly with the kids, enjoy the sea breeze at its many casual dining spots, take a ghost tour at Q Station, hire a bike or join a social game of beach volleyball. A beachside suburb, Manly offers many water sports including swimming, surfing, windsurfing, parasailing, snorkelling, kayaking and scuba diving.

Queensland
Queensland

Each Outback town has its own story to tell, each built around its own piece of Australian history. In the comprehensive listing of Outback towns you will find information on the history, places to stay, facilities in each town such as fuel and shopping, attractions, nearby national parks and tour companies. This information will help you plan your holiday so you don't miss a thing. South West and Channel Country. From amazing spring wildflowers to the Channel Country, this is an area of diverse landscapes. Fossick for opals at Yowah, Cunnamulla and Quilpie, explore the universe's wonders at Charleville's Cosmos Centre, seek out birdlife in saltwater and freshwater habitats and relax at the Great Artisan Spa in Mitchell. Central West and Matilda Country. Australia's most famous song, Waltzing Matilda, was written and first performed in this part of the Outback. Australia's international airline, Qantas, was founded here. The shearer's strike in Barcaldine in 1891 led to the formation of the Australian Labor Party. All this incredible history has been recorded in towns such as Longreach, Winton, Blackall and Barcaldine. North West and Dinosaur, Fossil and Mining Country. One of the oldest areas on earth, the North West has an impressive record of the dinosaur era. Check out the Interpretive Centres in Mount Isa, Richmond and Hughenden. Take a tour of an underground mine in the eye-opening mining city of Mount Isa. Nearby Cloncurry commemorates the ground-breaking work undertaken by Dr John Flynn and the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

New South Wales
New South Wales

Kiama Downs is a scenic and peaceful local township a few minutes drive north of Kiama. It is linked by cycleways and footpaths to Bombo Beach in the south and Minnamurra River in the north. Five minutes north is Jones Beach, a popular surfing beach with a north-easterly aspect. For your safety the local Surf Lifesaving Club patrols the beach. Pack a picnic lunch and take a walk from Jones Beach south to the stunning Cathedral Rocks, a distinctive rock formation that has been shaped by years of weathering and erosion. Enjoy the stunning views that this rocky outcrop provides and don't forget your camera - this is a great spot for a picture!

New South Wales
New South Wales

Venture just a short way from the main streets of Cobar and you'll discover a small town with a wealth of charming attractions. The Cobar Regional Museum is regarded amongst the best in New South Wales, thoroughly covering the area's fascinating past. Old mining remnants and historic buildings also mark out the area and Aboriginal rock paintings provide a glimpse into the storytelling traditions of the country's native population.

Queensland
Queensland

Montville was first settled in 1887 and is today known by some as the creative heart of the Sunshine Coast. This charming village perched on the Blackall Range is home to a range of quality art galleries that exhibit, and sometimes produce, works of great interest to all art lovers. Shoppers also love the many craft shops, fashion boutiques and gift shops that exhibit a staggering range of affordable, locally made items. Close to Montville is the Kondalilla National Park. Kondalilla is aboriginal for 'rushing waters' and is home to scenic walks and spectacular waterfalls. It is ideal for a picnic, a swim, or just to escape into the cool rainforest. Visitors to Montville can also access the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk. A 58 kilometre walk through the hinterland that is easily accessed from Montville. One of the most popular sections is the Lake Baroon - Kondalilla Falls section. A range of accommodation options are available, from romantic cottages right in the rainforest to holiday apartments and luxurious hotels.

Queensland
Queensland

Mungallala, said to mean 'food and water' is the site of a cypress sawmill, located about half way between Mitchell and Morven where the Warrego Highway crosses the Mungallala Creek. Mungallala originated as a railway town and is a wonderful place to stop for lunch and experience the workings of an outback town. One of the interesting natural features of the area is a stand of Ooline trees. On the road between Mitchell and Mungallala, the Warrego Highway crosses hills which are wooded by a specimen of a rare tree commonly known as Ooline (Cadelia Pentastylis). It is said to be a remnant of rainforests of a previous age. For the self-sufficient traveller there is a rest area provided on the western side of town. This is the approximate site where the Cobb and Co. coach horses were changed on the journey to and from Charleville before the coming of the railway in 1885.

South Australia
South Australia CITY

On the 'foot' of Yorke Peninsula, Marion Bay is the gateway to Innes National Park. With surf and swimming beaches and a variety of fishing available, visitors are sure to enjoy this small town. Marion Bay has a small population of approximately 130 people. This swells to 500-900 during holiday periods. The beaches at Marion Bay offer the best of both worlds - a sheltered swimming beach, popular with families and a surf beach on the other side. Fishing is available for everyone offering boat, jetty, beach, rock and surf fishing. Being on the foot of the Yorke Peninsula, Marion Bay experiences high winds of a south-easterly nature during the summer months. The best times to visit are the months of March, April and May, when the winds die down and the seas are calm with a mild temperature. Summer months can become very hot and winters can be bitterly cold. Marion Bay has a moderate rainfall and generally does not receive as much rain as Adelaide or surrounding districts.