Oz Travel-Bytes #7 |
(Oct 2000) |
| Dear World Explorer,
Once again it is that time, yes its time to delve into the recesses of the Travellers Club and explore the areas that few travellers explore, and unite in the knowledge that has mystified many who have trampled this fascinating track. In the last edition we went into detail about the many sights seen up the West Coast and into the Northern Territory. Well with the weather on the turn and the spring weather in full bloom it is now time to focus on the areas south of Perth and across the Nullarbor Plain into South Australia. The south west region is as sparse as it is beautiful, and our focus today will be to highlight some of the main attractions, but in no way can we detail all of what this area has to offer, we want you to discover this yourself when you visit Western Oz. We will also talk about a couple of the very brave and somewhat crazy explorers that were responsible for the opening up of the land we today call Australia. I will continue this particular theme for the next two editions and hope that it gives you another perspective when you are travelling across this huge land. Rottnest Island and a Fantastic Marine Encounter However, before we get into it I want to share with you a fantastic trip I did to Rottnest Island on the weekend. For those of you who are new to this newsletter, Rottnest Island is a 40-minute ferry ride from Perth and is a sanctuary for many animals including the very unusual "Quokka". (A marsupial related very closely to the Kangaroo). Now Scotty and I were just finishing our first dive on the Western side of the Island when we heard the distinctive bellow of that giant of the oceans, the whale. We quickly gathered the gear and race over like a couple of Greenpeacers to observe this spectacle. We were lucky to get close enough to see this majestic animal come right out of the water and dive under again performing a fantastic tail dive. After this we decided to explore the rest of the Island, and while checking out a small cove came across a pod of about 50 dolphins, a pod this large is unusual. What a show it was as the males were all courting the young females and performing all sorts of tricks. We literally had to move on from this show as time was getting on. As if all this wasn't enough we then came across a large colony of seals feeding in the currents, another great show. With summer approaching Rottnest Island is a haven for locals and a must for visitors. A return ferry ride is $38.00 and overnight packages with 2 days bike hire start at $75.00. Email us for more info about Rottnest Island. The South West region of Western Australia hosts an endless variety of activities from wreck diving to wine tasting, and with some of the most glorious beaches in the world it is a mistake to not include it as an essential part of your West Oz journey. The following is a brief on some of the more popular attractions and I hope you contact us if it is not enough information for you. The surfers amongst you will know the Margaret River for it's world class surf beaches such as Prevelly and Yallingup and the tranquil clear waters of Geographe Bay. However Margaret River boasts several sophisticated small towns and numerous wineries with elegant restaurants or cafes. The region consists of lush green valleys and thick forests as well as a series of amazing caves to explore. Most tours will spend the afternoon exploring the region and spend the night there as well, some even include surfing lessons, they mostly will also include some canoeing and aboriginal culture as this area plays a significant role in the history of these fascinating people. Tours that include Margaret River here. The towns of Pemberton and Walpole are the gateways to experience these ancient giants. The Karri, Jarrah and Marri forests of the region are some of the most ancient trees in the world, some are over 450 years old and stand over 100 metres in height. One of the more popular activities is the Tree Top Walk near Walpole where you can walk through the high canopy of these giants on a specially made scaffold. This region is also very dense in vegetation and hosts more vineyards to discover. All of the tours will visit this region and include the Tree Top Walk. Quite amazing….. Set on the King George Sound and Royal Princess Harbour, Albany is the oldest town in Western Australia, with a proud fishing and whaling history. However the history of the region dates back to the grand days of Napoleon. In fact if it had not been for Napoleon calling his troops back from this region to assist in the French Revolution between 1789-1793 we would all 'Parlez Francais' here in West Oz. As you travel in this region you will see a very obvious French history, I mean really the names of the towns and rivers etc say it all. Albany is also famous for its geological features as well, such as the Natural Bridge and the blowhole entertaining visitors. It is also the gateway for the Stirling Ranges which hosts one of the highest peak in the region, Bluff Knoll which is a stiff but rewarding hike. Combine all this with glorious beaches in Denmark such as the Green Pools and Williams Bay and it is easy too see why this region is very popular with Perth locals as an escape destination. Tours that include Albany here. Now for one of my favourite areas. As long as you have the time, no journey to the South-West is complete unless you have wandered down the spectacular beaches with there white sands and ice blue waters. One in particular stands out in my mind, Lucky Bay at Cape Le Grand National Park. This is rated as one of the top 10 beaches in the world and even with such notoriety you can walk for hours without seeing a soul. The area is also known as the Bay of Isles and these Islands can be seen close up on a day cruise or admired from the beaches with also boast some great surfing and recreational entertainment. Tours that include Cape le Grande here. The South -West region and all its beauty is best seen aboard one of the many tours available from Perth. Most tours will finish in Perth but it as possible to continue across the Nullarbor to Adelaide without returning to Perth. Tours range from 2 Days through to the big 7-Day adventure. All tours are priced around $100.00 per day and will include all meals and accommodation and in most cases also include all activities, except the all-essential cold beer at the end of the day. Click here for tours that travel from Perth to Adelaide. Try and book at least 2 weeks in advance for summer tours between November and May. Those of you planning to travel across to Adelaide, short of flying you will have to pass through the Nullarbor Plain on the Eyre Hwy, and become part of a select club of Travellers to see and experience this lonely stark and beautiful region. In Latin the name "Nullarbor" means 'no trees' and in certain sections that is an apt description. The highway is named after the explorer, Edward John Eyre, who in 1841 barely survived thirst, hunger and treachery by guides to make the first East-West crossing of the continent. Along the highway expect to see exceptional scenes of the rugged Aussie coastline, aboriginal communities (access is restricted to these of course), ghost towns of years gone by, deep caves (world diving record was set in the Cocklebiddy Caves in 1984), and intriguing Australian history and characters. Tours across the Nullarbor operate from October and should be organised well in advance, prices start from $693.00. Now for something completely different. Over the next few issues I will be introducing you to a handful of early Australian explorers responsible for the discovery and settling of this grand continent. While I am aware that the Aboriginal peoples were here long before that, these men dared to do what others said could not be done and that in itself is worthy of recognition. This edition we will have a brief look at one of the most famous explorers ever, Captain James Cook. Captain Cook will always be remembered for being the first man to land on the East-Coast of Oz and claiming this and many more new found lands including New Zealand, Hawaii, Tonga and Fiji for King and country. He was born in Yorkshire on 27th Oct.1728 from humble stock, and through a passion for sailing and exploring worked his way through the ranks of the Royal Navy to command his own survey vessel, unusual for an enlisted man. His first mission in 1755 was to map the estuary of the St. Lawrence River prior to a naval assault on Quebec. After performing well at various scientific expeditions Cook was asked to command his first mission to track and time the passing of Venus across the sun, this was important to acquire the distance of Earth from the sun used for navigation. It was aboard the Endeavour in 1769 with a young scientist named Joseph Banks that Cook first discovered and mapped New Zealand and the East Coast of Australia, then named "terra australis incognita" (no mans land). On this journey he and Banks came back with 1000's of new plants and animals never seen in Europe before and he was hailed a hero. Over the next 10 years Cook attempted 2 more perilous journeys and became the most travelled man on Earth and contributed endlessly to both science and the discovery and charter of the worlds lands and seas. He was killed on the Hawaiian Islands in 1779 over a series of disputes with the locals. He was hacked to death by a mob of over 20,000 warriors and after some negotiation his next in command recovered his hands and skull. These were later placed in a coffin and with much ceremony buried at sea in Kealakua Bay in Hawaii. As you are travelling through Oz and NZ you will see many towns, plants, rivers and mountains named after Cook and Banks, and even perhaps also in your own country as well. Thanks for your support folks and please contact us with any questions regarding travel in Australia. Remember that Christmas is always a busy time to travel in Oz and your tours and travel should be made well in advance. Until next month, Travel Safe. Pete, Kevin, Paul & Scotty |
|