11 Feb 09 Help the Victorian Bushfire Appeal

The 2009 Victorian Bushfire Fund to assist individuals and communities affected by devastating bushfires in Victoria has been launched by the Premier John Brumby in partnership with Red Cross and the Federal Government.

Make your donation through the Red Cross Website
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31 Dec 08 Happy New Year 2009

It’s the biggest party night of the year in Western Australia. Remember to book some holidays in Western Australia in 2009, Come and see The Real Thing.

Happy New Year!

23 Dec 08 Rottnest Island Accommodation

Rottnest Island has an ideal location by the Western Australian coastline, a range of fascinating natural attractions and most importantly a good range of accommodation options available to both national and international travelers. This beautiful Island was first associated as a prime holiday destination in 1848, when the Governors of Western Australia used to visit on a regular, leisurely basis. Now it is so well recognized that it is advised to book accommodation well in advance.

Scattered around Rottnest Island there is accommodation choices to suit any budget, ranging from hotels, resorts and beachfront villas with stunning ocean views, to backpacker lodges, cabins and designated camping areas. The main place to find accommodation, along with several good restaurants and cafes, is Thomson Bay.

Rottnest Island is a highly accessible island and is both serviced by air and boat/ferries. Ferry transportation to the Island departs on a regular basis from Perth (60 minutes), Fremantle (30 minutes) and from Hillarys Marina (45 minutes). Flights to Rottnest Island from Perth will only take approximately 15 minutes.

The Rottnest Lodge
Kitson Street
Rottnest Island WA, Australia
Phone: +61 8 9292 5161

Kingstown Barracks YHA Hostel
Kingstown,
Rottnest Island WA, Australia
Phone: +61 8 9372 9780

19 Dec 08 Cocos Islands

The Cocos Islands are a secluded group of 27 coral islands consisting of 2 low lying coral atolls, approximately totaling 14 square kilometers in area and reaching a mere 5 meters above sea level, at their highest point. Situated 2,700 kilometers north west of Western Australia’s capital city of Perth, the Cocos Island group are so isolated, Christmas Island which is located around 900 kilometers west, is their closest neighbor. Proclaimed as an Australian Indian Ocean Territory, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands are shaped like a small horse shoe, have a gorgeous 2.5 kilometers worth of coastline and are completely surrounded by the beautiful Indian Ocean.

Check out the Cocos Islands Photo Gallery

The first of the atolls is North Keeling Island, which is one C-shaped island consisting completely of National Park. The second atoll is known as the South Keeling Islands, encompassing 26 separate islets of which only 2 are inhabited, West Island and Home Island. Covered densely with coconut palms and other tropical vegetation, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands are bordered by strikingly beautiful white beaches and surrounded by the reef filled waters of the Indian Ocean. These Islands are a true place of blissful paradise. They are also home to a largely Malayan population of around 650 permanent residents, who follow a strict religious faith and live mainly in the town of Kampong, on Home Island.

Cocos (Keeling) Islands European history is thought to have initiated in 1609, when Captain William Keeling was the first to sight the islands on his voyage through the Indian Ocean. The Islands then remained uninhabited until they were first settled in 1825 and then eventually became the property of the Clunies-Ross family. Bought to be ruled under the British Empire in 1857, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands officially became a Territory of Australia in 1984.

Now the Islands are experiencing a growing tourism industry to supplement there sole income made from fresh coconuts and copra. The Cocos (Keeling) Islands have an annual rainfall of 2,000 millimetres and average temperatures ranging from 32 degrees Celsius in the summer, to 20 degrees Celsius during winter nights. These Islands are a pleasure to visit, with a small range of accommodation, activities and attractions to keep every guest entertained and well looked after.

05 Dec 08 Marble Bar

Marble Bar is a small mining town located approximately 1,500 kilometers north of Perth and 200 kilometers south east of Port Headland, in the Pilbara District of Western Australia. Rising to 170 meters above sea level and covering a sub-district of over 155,000 square kilometers, Marble Bar is most famously known as the hottest town in Australia. More specifically the town is roughly 300 kilometers north of Newman and the Marble Bar sub-district also includes communities such as Goodabinya, Bamboo Creek, Nifty, Pipunya, Warralong, Punmu, Woodie Woodie and Telfer.

Derived from an undulating landscape of gorges, large rock formations, hills and secluded water holes, Marble Bar is a place of extreme natural beauty. Along with the historic charm of a long mining history and rugged outback stories, Marble Bar has now developed into quite a small, sophisticated mining town. Currently it mines tin, silver, lead, copper, zinc, jade and gold

Originally named after its rich deposits of jasper which at the time were mistakenly thought to be marble, Marble Bar became a well-acclaimed mining town during the late 1800’s. At this point in time alluvial gold was discovered by Francis Jenkins and the population of Marble Bar soon flourished to a total of over 5,000. Officially declared a town in 1893, the population has reduced significantly, to a consistent 410 permanent residents.

Known as the hottest town in Australia, Marble Bar recorded temperatures on or above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Celsius), for 161 consecutive days, over the years of 1923 and 1924. These consistently high temperatures during summer which average a sweltering 41 degrees Celsius should not discourage visitors to Marble Bar, as the temperatures between April and September are pleasantly welcoming.

To experience the character of a small mining town in Western Australia, Marble Bar is the most ideal place to visit. With its small array of accommodation and interesting variety of activities and attractions, travellers will revel in the towns fascinating history and warm atmosphere.

22 Nov 08 Shark Bay

Shark Bay consists of 2 main peninsulas and is situated approximately 850 kilometers north of Perth, in Western Australia, between Carnarvon and Geraldton. It is deemed to be the most western point in Australia and claims a total area of over 2.3 million hectares. With over 1,500 kilometers of coastline, Shark Bay is also renowned for being Australia’s largest marine embayment and prides itself on being listed from 1991 onwards, as a World Heritage Area. With a slowly increasing population of 980 permanent residents, Denham is considered the centre of the Shark Bay Shire. Other towns within the Shire include Monkey Mia, Overlander, Useless Loop, Billabong and Nanga.

Proudly one of only 14 World Heritage Precincts in the World which correspond with all four selection criteria, Shark Bay is a place of incredible natural beauty. Described as an area of extraordinary global significance, the Bays main body of water spans over 8,000 square kilometers and is home to a diverse range of underwater habitats and spectacular marine life. Other features of Shark Bay which make it so naturally magnificent include its peninsulas, secluded islands, hinterland and spectacular coastline.

Inhabited for thousands of years by tribes of Indigenous Australians, Shark Bay has an interesting history and rich heritage. First recorded contact with the coast was by Captain Dirk Hartog in 1616, and the area was only named in 1699 by the explorer, William Dampier on his second voyage to Australia. Other settlements like Monkey Mia and Denham only really became established in the late nineteenth century. Now, Shark Bay enjoys a strong tourism industry and the main economical earns include fishing, agricultural farming, pearling, grit mining and salt production.

For travelers interested in visiting Shark Bay, it experiences an annual rainfall of roughly 230 millimeters and a mild climate all year round. Average maximum temperature in summer only tend to reach 35 degrees Celsius, where as the minimum winter temperatures go as low as 10 degrees Celsius, depending on how far north visitors choose to go.

For locals and international travellers alike, Shark Bay is a truly inspirational location to visit all year round. There is a good range of accommodation on offer and uniquely fantastic activities, entertainment and attractions available to experience.

21 Nov 08 Christmas Island

Christmas Island is an Australian owned territory, found approximately 2,500 kilometers north west of Western Australia’s capital city of Perth. Actually situated closer to the western point of the Indonesian island of Java, Christmas Island has an area of 135 square kilometers, with 63 per cent of the total area covered in protected National Park.

Considered the summit of a submarine mountain which has risen and formed a central plateau, Christmas Island’s borders extend 50 meters beyond the shoreline. This popular holiday Island is home to a wide range of interesting flora and fauna, boasting the last nesting habitat for the Abbott’s Booby and home to one of the largest populations of Robber Crabs. The natural beauty of Christmas Island has remained, even after threats from phosphate mining and super colonies of Yellow Crazy Ants.

Christmas Island’s European history was believed to have started back in 1643, when the famous seaman, Captain Mynors sailed through the area and named it on Christmas Day. After the first recorded landing in 1688, the Island was left untouched until Malay and Chinese settlers claimed the Island their home. Parts of Christmas Island were registered as a National Park in 1980, and extensions in 1989 took the total National Park coverage to 63 per cent.

Now, most of the permanent residents on Christmas Island belong to Chinese, Malay and European cultural backgrounds, giving the Island a strongly Asian feel. The Island’s main economical source is tourism, largely due to its tropical equatorial climate and distinct wet and dry seasons. Christmas Island is an interesting place, providing potential visitors a vast array of activity and attractions options, plus a good selection of accommodation choices.

13 Nov 08 Rottnest Island

Located a mere 19 kilometres west of Perth, Rottnest Island is one of Western Australia’s most treasured holiday destinations. Thousands of visitors choose to experience the pressure-free atmosphere of the Island and take advantage of the many activities, attractions and accommodation options on offer. Measuring only 11 kilometres in length and 4.5 kilometres in width, Rottnest Island is considered to have a semi arid Mediterranean style climate and be proudly known to the local Aboriginal people as ‘Wadjemup’, meaning the ‘land across the water’.

History of Rottnest Island dates back to the Ice Age, when it was believed to be still connected to the mainland. European history started as early as 1627, when Dutch explorers first became aware of the Island’s existence. In 1658 the first recorded Dutch landing took place, but the Island was only given its peculiar name in 1696, when a Dutch explorer known as Willem de Vlamingh named it Rottnest Island after he found it was inhabited by a population of large rat looking creatures. Now one of the Island’s most loveable attractions, these marsupials are known as Quokkas. Resembling a wallaby, they have been a protected species on the Island since the late 1920’s. After the first Dutch explorers, white settlement started in 1830 and the town of Kingston was established. Unfortunately the original farmers on the island failed, after severely changing the Island’s landscape, and in 1838 Rottnest Island was proclaimed the home of a Western Australian Aboriginal penal settlement. History has it, that Rottnest Island was also the location of a prisoners of war camp during World War I, had a military stronghold established in World War II and was a destination for salt gathering.

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12 Nov 08 Kalgoorlie Accommodation

Kalgoorlie is a bustling gold mining town found east of Perth, in Western Australia. Surrounding by the alluring outback, boasting an interesting history and home to Australia’s largest open cut mine, Kalgoorlie has all the essential services and facilities routinely available. Travellers to the area can also revel in the range of accommodation on offer.

Proudly recognized as one of Australia’s largest outback communities, there is plenty of accommodation available in Kalgoorlie. Accommodation includes hotels, motels, caravan parks, inns, apartments, backpacker lodgings and guest houses. There is also an assortment of quality places to dine at, including restaurants, cafes and market stalls on the weekend.

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07 Nov 08 Kalgoorlie Western Australia

The famous gold mining town of Kalgoorlie has an excellent range of activities, entertainment and attractions on offer to all its visitors. Home to historic buildings, the ‘Super Pit’, friendly locals and an outback background, Kalgoorlie is an alluring town which welcomes travellers all year round to the Goldfield Region of Western Australia.

Most famously known for the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Super Pit, gold and other important minerals are mined in the area, making it an ideal location for visitors interested in trying their luck at gold fossicking. Kalgoorlie also offers tours of Hannans North Tourist mine and treks to the first site gold was originally found, at Paddy Hannans Tree. Another feature of Kalgoorlie is the wildflower season. A drive through the beautiful countryside during spring will provide drivers with a rainbow of flowering colour. For those interested in visiting the region during February, there is the unique Undies 500 Car Rally in Boulder to be enjoyed, and markets are held in the same town every 3rd Sunday of each month.

Apart from its major attractions, Kalgoorlie has a great range of other interesting places to visit and things to see. These include the Mundrabilla Meteorite Exhibit, Kalgoorlie Arboretum, Karlkurla Bushland Park, Boulder’s Loopline Tourist Railway, Australian Prospectors and Miners Hall of Fame, WA museum, Boulder’s Pharmacy Museum and the School of Mines Rock and Mineral Museum. Guests of the town may also like to visit the Golden Mile Super Pit Lookout, Hammond Park, The Golden Pipeline Heritage and Discovery trail, or the Mount Charlotte Reservoir and Lookout.

Where ever guests to Kalgoorlie choose to accommodate themselves, there are plenty of activities and attractions guaranteed to be located nearby, or within easy access.