Queensland Short Breaks and Holidays

Posts Tagged ‘family holiday’

After six days in the outback, Darwin was a welcome sight, we were all looking forward to a shower, change of clothes, and a scrumptious dinner at one of Darwin’s restaurants.

Darwin, located on the “top end” owes it’s modern look to Cyclone Tracy which devastated the city in 1974. It is the Capitol of the Northern Territory, located at the very northern tip of the continent, it is 925 miles north of Alice Springs, 100 miles west of Kakadu and 158 miles west of Jabiru. The city has a small town feel, being very flat and condensed because of this it seemed small, however it was by far the largest city we had seen in days!

Darwin is particularly suited for families and couples, accommodations are plentiful, most hotels are 3-5 star and of post Tracy construction. Being fringed with beaches, including Mindil and Fannie Bay, Darwin is located on a bit of land overlooking the Timor Sea and surrounded by mangrove swamps. Box jellyfish are the main attraction Oct. to May and should be avoided at all costs.

Shopping is nondescript, they offer a good place to shop for aboriginal art as well as a refuge from the summer heat. Darwin is a jumping off point for excursions into the outback including Kakadu National Park, Melville Island, Arnhem Land Aboriginal Reserve, as well as tours featuring crocodile , waterfalls and bird life.

Foregoing the shopping and since we had already visited all of the aforementioned sites , it was time to hit the beach for a little relaxation. What a beauty!! Miles of sand and sun,not to mention the topless ladies, a sight to behold! The rest of the day was spent photographing the beautiful water, sand and sunset! Because of the stingray problem, not many people were in the water, but we didn’t mind, there was just too much beauty to photograph to worry about swimming.

As the sun was setting it became time to head back to the hotel, only problem was, no one could remember where we were staying! Looking at the key didn’t help much,as there was no name on it. Luckily , we thought it might be a Six Flags Hotel, flagging down a cab driver, he took us straight to our hotel.

Several members of our group were waiting as we arrived, we had bid farewell to them this morning as they were going for another day of sightseeing, however after traveling for about 10 miles, the bus broke down and they returned to our hotel.

The bus had developed engine problems two days earlier in the bush, there was a smell of hot metal and it over heated before stopping, I didn’t think at the time there was a snowballs chance it would start again, however it did and safely brought us to Darwin before breathing it’s last gasp!

We had all donated money for beer and food before leaving Alice, so it was decided to take the remaining money and dine out, an Indian restaurant was selected, the next two hours was spent pigging out on Barramundi, crocodile, Prawn, and Shrimp, all of which was washed down with $50 a bottle wine, what a meal!!

Off for an evening of partying at the Sportsman’s Bar, a local waterfront hot spot, jitterbugging until 4 AM, then back to the hotel for a nap and arising in time for a 7:30 AM flight to Cairns.

Gary has traveled to many parts of the world, see more articles and photos at:
http://www.travelnsnap.com

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Situated just off the Bruce Hwy in Queensland, Hervey Bay is the gateway to World Heritage listed Fraser Island. Known as the world’s largest sand island stretching over 123km in length, its unusual formation of sand and rainforest make it a special source of adventure for visitors to explore. Well known among fisherman and 4WD enthusiast’s, the wonderfully coloured sand cliffs, unique fresh water lakes and diverse flora and wildlife will leave you feeling captivated and in awe.

The abundance of fresh water lakes, crystal clear creeks and streams provide the ultimate swimming experiences during a hot summer’s day. Scenic 4WD circuits and walking tracks in the southern half of the island take in some of the largest of the lakes.

Fraser Island is an ultimate environment for the photographer as it is home to more than 230 species of birds and around 25 species of mammal present on the island. Isolation has ensured that Fraser’s dingoes are the purest breed in eastern Australia and consequently no domestic dogs are permitted on the island. Caution should always be taken with the dingoes as some are extremely tame and should not be trusted. Feeding is not recommended!

The annual migration of humpback whales from Antarctica, see’s many of the magnificent whales shelter to the waters of Platypus Bay after calving to relax and play before returning to the rich feeding grounds of the Antarctic.

Fraser is more than a unique environment for visitors; it was home to aboriginal tribes who lived on the island for over 5,500 years, their heritage is evident in archaeological sites seen on the island.
Judged of such significant value, it is also one of the areas worldwide to be World Heritage listed and protected.

It is therefore the responsibility of all visitors to preserve this wonderful gift of nature in the best possible way.

Use the existing campsites.

Drive responsibly and carefully and display patience and courtesy to other island visitors.
Use rubbish bins provided. DO NOT LITTER!

Do not use soaps, detergents, toothpaste or sunscreens in lakes and streams; this will contaminate the water ways.

Apply sunscreen after swimming in the lakes and use a hat and t-shirt to protect you whilst in the water. The lakes do not get flushed regularly as they are a closed environment and therefore concentrations of pollutants can build up over a period of time.

Use the firewood provided at campsites any gathering of timber from the park is prohibited.
Observe fire bans and extinguish all embers of your campsite upon leaving your site. Remember one campfire could destroy many hectares of this world heritage environment.

Remember the golden rule of protecting your environment and don’t destroy what you came to enjoy. Take only photographs and memories and leave only foot prints.

Speed limits are 35kmh on the inland roads and 80kmh on the Seventy-Five Mile Beach. Normal road rules apply. All vehicles travelling to Fraser Island must first obtain an official permit. The permit must be attached to the windscreen at all time. Campers other than those using commercial camp sites must have a camping permit which should be attached to the tent and in clear view for inspection by the Park Ranger.

Fraser Island is a wonderful experience that should be observed but always be respected.

Australian Freelance Writer and Journalist
Since 2004
jamiestone4870@hotmail.com

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