Places to go...Chillagoe smeltersAt Chillagoe, 200km west of Cairns, the remains of extensive smelters give a hint of a rich past.
The quiet side of FleurieuTake the less-travelled road on the western side of South Australia's Fleurieu Peninsula to enjoy dramatic scenery and some lovely little towns.
Ranges and reflectionsThe best known attraction in Mitchell River National Park is the mysterious Den of Nargun. A fair dinkum 4WD trackThe old Maytown to Laura coach road is a real challenge, even for experienced four-wheel-drivers .
Things to do...Far-north Queensland adventuresThere are tropical adventures galore in amongst the rainforest, rapids and reefs of far-north Queensland. Gold detectingGet some inspiration to head off on search for gold with the first part of our beginner's guide to gold detecting. Tropical hazardsThese handy tips could help you stay safe and happy on a Top End holiday.
River peopleThe Murray River's history is punctuated with stories of colourful characters, and many of these people are remembered with a series of distinctive bollards at different towns.
Potting crabsThe right pot, the right baits and the right technique can increase your chances of catching a feed of crabs.
Puzzles!Try our crossword and Sudoku puzzles. |
Caravans, MotorHomes & more...Far & Wide CampersThe Desert Trek from Far & Wide Campers is a camper trailer set up for a family. Rooftop tentsThey're easy to set up, easy to pack away and offer a flexible style of camping. But rooftop tents might not be for every camper. Mitsubishi ChallengerThe new Challenger is a diesel-only proposition, with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo engine. Campsites...Whyalla Foreshore Caravan Park, Whyalla, SA. Resthaven Caravan Park, Paynesville, Vic. Fitzroy River Lodge, Fitzroy Crossing, WA. Beachcomber Holiday Park, Potato Point, NSW. Nature.....In the bushThey're loud and they're green and their croaking chorus begins with the summer rains - this issue we look at green tree frogs. Just for readers...My Favourite PlaceGloucester Tops, in Barrington Tops National Park, is a truly beautiful part of the world, and has won for a reader a great prize from Snowgum.
Readers' lettersEach month, the best reader's letter wins a rugged, 12-volt Panther Versa-Lite. Cooking...Kimberley-coolCreate delicious meals straight out of the pantry using ingredients that are stored 'Kimberley-cool' and out of the fridge. Our selection includes Cheesy Tuna Cakes and Spicy Gado Gado. |
A sense of adventure is a must-have item when packing your bags for far-north Queensland. The coastal trek between the region's unofficial capital of Townsville and the virtually untapped wilderness of Cape Tribulation is bursting with activities that are guaranteed to get pulses racing and senses engaged.
The direct journey is 500km, but to that add another 300km to factor in all the detours to waterfalls, white sand beaches and castles in the rainforest. The best bit of all for the budget conscious: there's no need to hire a four-wheel-drive vehicle - all of these heart-pumping pursuits can be accessed by a modest four-cylinder sedan, plus there's ample camping along the way. Our journey took seven days.
With gold at around $1200 an ounce, there is a strong incentive to take up gold detecting. And while detecting for gold nuggets all around Australia has been going on for the past 30 years there is still a lot of gold being found. Each winter, many eastern state folk pack up their gear and head for the fabled goldfields of Western Australia, or Clermont in Queensland and Tibooburra in NSW, though there are many more great places to find gold.
Of the above, Western Australia is the most popular as you can camp out on most goldfields and it costs you nothing. Camping 'on the gold' is the best way to find the most gold as you can simply step out of your camp and begin detecting. We have camped on hundreds of goldfields over the years and it's not unusual to find gold right in your camp, or very close by .
Even on a scorcher, the shadows that linger around the Den of Nargun are deliciously cool. They have a hint of mystery too 'spirituality even' that feeds my thought that this might actually be the bolt-hole of a legendary half-human-half-stone creature that attacks children who come too close, rather than just a limestone cave hollowed from the base of a cliff by a seasonal waterfall.
After heavy rain, Woolshed Creek must explode over the edge here, but today there is only a trickle running down the cascade's stony face like a rivulet of sweat. I listen for birds but hardly anything stirs .