General Chat

If you were visiting Australia for the first time, what would be the places you would want to see, or things that you would want to do, to get a feel for the country, its lifestyle and the people?

And for Aussies, where would you take a visitor to show them
your favorite parts of the country?

Have a good day all!!

Sue....in West Australia.

Hi SusanWA. This is probably not the reply you envisaged on this thread however it was sent to me by a strange English woman!! I know she won't mind me repeating it here. And it is true, all true!!

These were posted on an Australian Tourism Website and the answers are the actual responses by the website officials, who obviously have a sense of humour.

Q: Does it ever get windy in Australia? I have never seen it rain on TV, how
do the plants grow? (UK).
A: We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around watching them
die.

Q: Will I be able to see kangaroos in the street? (USA)
A: Depends how much you've been drinking.

Q: I want to walk from Perth to Sydney - can I follow the rail-road tracks (Sweden)
A: Sure, it's only three thousand miles, take lots of water.

Q: Is it safe to run around in the bushes in Australia? (Sweden)
A: So it's true what they say about Swedes.

Q: Are there any ATMs (cash machines) in Australia? Can you send me a list
of them in Brisbane, Cairns, Townsville and Hervey Bay? (UK)
A: What did your last slave die of?

Q: Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Australia?
(USA)
A: A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe.
Aus-tra-lia is that big island in the middle of the Pacific which does
not... oh forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in Kings
Cross.

Q: Which direction is North in Australia? (USA)
A: Face south and then turn 180 degrees. Contact us when you get here and we'll send the rest of the directions.

Q: Can I bring cutlery into Australia? (UK)
A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do.

Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys' Choir schedule? (USA)
A: Aus-tri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-man-y, which
is...oh forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in
Kings Cross, straight after the hippo races.

Q: Are there supermarkets in Sydney and is milk available all year round?
(Germany)
A: No, we are a peaceful civilization of vegan hunter/gatherers. Milk is
illegal.


And in answer to your query.

I would take them way outback. Innaminka, Cooper Creek, Birdsville and make them camp out for a night under the stars. There is no way to describe it if you haven't done it!!

AuntySherlock, bloomin beauty.

I take them to the Dubbo open range zoo and show them how a zoo is supposed to look. Then on to the Warrenbungles, then to White Cliffs.

Most tourists only see the coastal side of Australia, I would take them over the mountains on the east coast and into the deserts. Very stark and very beautiful. There are stars at night, fresh air and lots of heat.

I have seen kangaroos in my street.

Gail

LOL Aunty Sherlock...:-)))

Yes, camping outback is an amazing experience, and one which unfortunately many visitors fail to do- keeping to the cities and the major tourist attractions. Time, I guess, is a major factor, and you do need a few weeks, rather than a few days, to get around.

The night sky in the outback, away from towns and cities, is a truely amazing sight which would be sure to impress a visitor (if they hadn't been put off already by the flies and bitey things...!!)

Sue........

I agree, Gail!!.....

I often feel that people in other countries must think that the bridge and the opera house are the only things we have in Australia! Also, they must wonder why we are so proud of the bridge, as it is nothing spectacular compared with other bridges either here or elsewhere. My first trip abroad was by ship and after two years, to come into that harbour in the early morning, was the most beautiful sight I have ever seen - but then, I was coming home!

The biggest problem for visitors to Australia, is that there is so much distance to travel if they want to see the sights. It's great if they can see the sights in one state, then hop on a plane and move to another state to see sights there, etc., and I agree that many of the sights require the viewer to 'rough it' in the open country. Unfortunately, even then, they should have locals with them. All too often, those who come here and try to make their way on their own, get caught without emergency equipment, water, etc. They have no idea of how vast and lonely the country can be.

I have to say that I have taken visitors to see the Opera House and the Bridge because they're beautiful and they loved it. I would also take them to the Blue Mountains and to some of the typical country towns with the old pubs, beautiful post offices and courthouses like Mudgee and Gulgong.

Sue xx

Great idea Sue, beautiful country around here.

Gail

My best friend came out to Australia30yrs ago,and loves it.She has just become a Aussie.She has taken her visitors to all the touristy places in Sydney,Canberra,Blue Mountains ..But I live in Queensland we dont have as much History,Depends on what you are looking for,Easy going kick back life style with sunshine beaches with sand soft and white,crystal clear ocean islands where you can snorkle,fresh sea food to eat,natural Rainforests,Lots of pubs,Attractions,Australia Zoo just north of Brisbane,Underwater world,Koala Parks,Theme parks,wet'n'wild,Movie world,Dreamworld, Mt Tambourine,(have a lovely pub) watch the hanggliders,Or Go digging for saphires,or( opals in N.S.W.)*Have plenty of time and money!Hire a campervan,fly,or bus it,or train long distance,Take a trip to the out back,Each state has lots to see and do.Have a cold beer!

I would show my visitors the sights of Melbourne,and drive them around
the historic buildings there, and to the giant fern trees of the Dandenongs,then go for a trip down the Great Ocean Road,
to admire the coastline with all the fascinating rock formations,like the Apostles etc.Then Port Fairy,to see the old bluestone buildings,and then on to historic Portland where I grew up,and on to Bridgewater Beach,the petrified forest,the Blowholes,Bridgewater lakes,the sanddunes,the caves,etc.

Going north,I would show them Lord Howe Island,arguably the most beautiful island in the world,and the colourful fish of the Great Barrier reef,then a cruise down the Hinchinbrook channel,to visit beautiful tropical islands like Magnetic,Dunk,Bedarra and Orpheus,to name a few.

There are many,many more,but those are my favourite places.

Margot.

If anyone asked me - I would say get away. It's a beauty corker place to go. It is such a vast country and so many options.
Of course if you stop at Tasmania on the way you may not ever want to leave there. For such a small place in where you can actually travel by car there is such a varied countryside and there is every Australian critter imaginable for the wild life/ornithologist. Plenty to eat and nothing like a curried scallop pie.

Persephone

I have that list Aunty Sherlock - I had forgotten about it.

My favorite places are...

Victoria...Geelong then down to the The Great Ocean Road, the beaches are spectacular. Ballarat, full of history, Daylesford, Castlemain, and the surrounding area's.
In the north, Bright, very picturesque. Mt Beauty, the Ovens River is great for water rafting, that's if there is still water in it??
The lake district in Gippsland, Lakes Entrance, Lake Tyres, The Buccan Caves, Metung.
Phillip Island, The penguins, San Remo.
Portsea, Sorrento, Queenscliff.
Melbourne, is great shopping plus so much to see and do - great places to dine out etc..

Carole in Victoria, Australia.

If I was coming I'd want to go north to the Northern Tropics......and into Melbourn and have meal on the travling bus resturant with family

How about Broken Hill? The long road to it with red soil both sides and kangaroos and emus trying to race the cars. When I was there, it rained and the gutters filled up in the main street, so that people could not cross the road. Council workers came along and moved gangplanks out for them to cross from one side of the street to the other. Do they still do that?

A truck goes up and down that long road, every day, removing the dead kangaroos which have been hit by vehicles.

Allan I was going to add an explanation about Kings Cross but I thought, Nah!! let it be a surprise!!

Kings Cross is always a surprise.

Also meant to say have had the occasional kangaroo in my back yard. When there is not much food around they do come in. Next door neighbour has trouble with the roos eating the dogs biscuits if they are left out. We also at times have wombats, huge things too. Plenty of native birds and a flock of wood ducks the come in every year, and satin bower bird flocks early in the morning and late afternoons. Yes, even platypus in the river nearby in the late evening.

Couple of weeks ago had a pony trot into our yard, stayed for the day ( I supplied it with water) then the owner finally found it and took it home.

Oh! This year we have had five brown snakes and one black in our yard.

Gail

Dear SusanWA

Hello

I would like to visit Ayers Rock and the aboriginal places to learn about
the mythology and culture of the area.

Take care.
Very best wishes
xx