Australia is a natural wonderland of beautiful beaches, crystal blue waters, amazing ancient rock formations and pristine rainforests.
Australia has 16 world heritage listed properties with its historic townships, bustling cities, vivid landscapes and exotic flora and fauna all adding to its unique appeal.
Australia's exotic flora and fauna cannot be found anywhere else on this planet and our lifestyle is the envy of the world and is second to none!
Mary is in tears. She has lost the farm house where she grew up in the foothills of the Grampians. Not only that, but the farm next door went up, too. Both were destroyed by the January bushfires in Victoria.
John is 19. Two years ago he left school, and he is still unemployed, still at home with his mum and dad, who wants him out of the house. He is driving through the smoke back to the end of the road where the day before he had thrown a lit match onto a patch of dry grass and watched it go up and the flames speed away.
I am standing on the patio watching the smoke from the barbecue drifting towards the doors, and trying to keep my kids away. They want me to be hold them over the plates to see the fire below. They love fire.
There is a special place in the Australian psyche for fire. Alongside an atavistic fear of an essential, elemental thing that cannot be predicted or easily controlled, there is also a kind of familiarity. The domestication of fire goes hand in hand with the way we were brought up, the inferno calls forth the mighty barbecue.
Growing up anywhere in Australia in the ’60s and ’70s you could see the smoky haze of the weekly burn-off hanging over the streets. In every backyard of every suburb, red-eyed fathers stoked the flames with any bit of combustible garbage within reach. We would even looked in every corner of the yard or even nicked some of our next door neighbors rubbish just to burn it! Were we out of our minds?
We had public incinerators, too. Finely and expensively constructed buildings of civic significance. Walter Burley Griffin designed a number of these around Australia in the 1930s. Bizarrely enough, one of his, in Sydney’s Willoughby, was destroyed by fire in 1996 before being restored. Another, in Moonee Ponds in Melbourne, is now the Incinerator Arts Complex, while one in Ipswich’s Queens Park has been turned into a theatre. (Visiting these one has to overcome the urge to “rush into a crowded fire and shout ‘Rubbish!’”
To be fair, the ’60s and ’70s were the years before recycling and knowledge about carbon dioxide emissions, when the incinerator was seemingly a labour-saving device like any other. But unlike toasters and washing machines, the labour it saved was an exclusively male preoccupation: burning was a man’s business, carried out with suitable solemnity every weekend.
I recall that parental instructions to dispose of rubbish beside the incinerator were as frequent as the admonition to stay away from it at other times. Ours was a sturdy besser-brick construction surrounded by piles of garden refuse and timber. I received a painful injury as a child when playing on this pile: an upturned nail embedded itself deep into my foot, and along with it the meaning of the admonition.
In the late ’70s most city councils banned the burn-off after advice from medical lobbies about the effect of poor air quality on people’s health. The smoke gradually cleared from the suburbs. But what happened to the rituals of the burn-off, and the desires of men to stand around a blazing fire in the open air?
Surely there’s no connection between everyday suburban-male pyromania and that of the deranged criminal fire-starters of the summer? Matthew Willis, a researcher with the Australian Institute of Criminology, has adapted an FBI criminal profile to that of the bushfire pyromaniac: a lone male, around nineteen, unemployed and unskilled, with inadequacy issues that are often a result of an unstable childhood. The cookie-cutter criminal profile. Technically, pyromania is a more specific problem: an ‘impulse control disorder’, as the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) says, but it is also a metaphor for a helpless attraction to fire and the demise of the back yard incinerator.
Summer in Australia has always been the fire season. So the proximity of pristine bushland to so many suburban areas in Australia is both a blessing and a curse, as any firefighter will tell you. A childhood friend of mine would casually light fires while walking home from school through the bushland that surrounded it. One of his fires nearly took off, and only the efforts of a number of senior students saved the situation. My friend just laughed and ran off into the bush. I followed the trail of burning grass and bushes to the top of a waterfall, where he mercifully dropped the remaining matches in the water. I can still feel the relief I felt then. But I don’t remember questioning his motives. I felt I understood his need to light fires, and putting them out again seemed a perfectly natural sequence of events.
This is not a defence of pyromania, but a suggestion that fire is not an accidental element: it corresponds to a need within us. After all, fire, in the right hands, is an ecological tool, as indigenous Australians knew perfectly well. Virgil wrote, “Often too it is good to set fire to a sterile field and to deliver the light stubble to the crackling flame.” These words can equally be understood as an ecological moral or a hearty evocation of the pyromaniac’s craft at the back yard incinerator with dad.
In 2000 we welcomed another kind of pyromania to our towns and TV screens: the torch relay and opening ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Not the first torch relay in games history – that honour belongs to the 1936 Berlin games – but surely the most exhaustive. The itinerary took the sacred flame from Mount Olympus right along the east coast of Australia into Homebush, and included a stretch underwater. A victory, orchestrated against nature, of one element over another.
But a healthy Prometheus complex isn’t the same as real pyromania. Olympic custodians of the flame don’t disseminate flames at random; they only hand it on to select persons. The pyromania I am defending is perhaps best exemplified by the torch relay for the 1956 Melbourne games. As it came through Sydney, a group of university students lit their own torch some blocks away from the town hall and sent one of their number to pass the flame to the lord mayor who, in the tumult, didn’t notice that anything was awry until the silver paint came off on his hands. Ron Clarke was still a couple of miles away. The students lit their own flame, as they always do, and then appropriated a major event and made it new, at least for them. Not custodians of the flame, but pyromaniacs.
I guess the real difference between them – as between the criminal arsonist and the bloke at the backyard barbecue – is that, as Matthew Willis says, “For the pyromaniac, the fire is not a means to an end but an end in itself.” Bear this in mind, men of Australia, and don’t burn the snags.
The Speedo brand is one of the most popular swimsuit and athletic companies in Australia. Speedo is known around the world and is the best selling swimwear for athletes. However, there isn't too much that people actually know about Speedo and the history of Speedo.
This company has come out with innovative technology that has caught the world by surprise, helping to make champion swimmers even faster with their cutting edge and revolutionary technology in swimwear. You can find Speedo all over the world and it is the ultimate leader in swimwear brands.
The Beginnings of Speedo
The history of Speedo began on the famous Australian shore of Bondi Beach in 1928. The first swimsuit released was the Racerback suit which allowed swimmers free motion over their body. The first big splash for Speedo was when the amazing Swedish swimmer, Arne Borg donned the Speedo suit and set a world record. This was the big break out moment for world recognition for the bathers company.
Speedo Technology Throughout the Years
Speedo has come up with incredible water sport technology for their swimsuits. They defy all of their competition as they are always the first to come out with the newest and best technologies for their designs.
In the 50s, Speedo invented a swimsuit and created it all out of Nylon. Then in the 70s Speedo was the first to produce a swimsuit designed out of an Elastane and Nylon combination.
Speedo has become so immensely popular that they sponsored the entire Australian Olympic Swim team in 1956 while the games were being held in Melbourne. Then in 1968, 27 out of the 29 Olympic gold medallists won in Speedo gear. Even the greatest swimmer of all time, Michael Phelps made his history wearing Speedo two times, once in 2004 while becoming the only swimmer to earn 8 medals at the Olympic and again in 2008 when he won all 8 gold Olympic medals.
Speedo has had a long and prosperous history that continues today. The history of Speedo has forever been graced with the highest quality technology for performance swimsuits which is noted by all of the historic champions that have worn this brand.
Since chlorine began to stain swimsuits, Speedo was the first in history to develop chlorine resistant fabric which was released in the early 90s. The latest swimsuits to be produced by Speedo were in 2000 with the Fatskin swimsuit which was inspired by shark's skin, and in 2008 with the LZR Racer which are worn by all of the top swimming athletes around the world.
The Choice of Champions
It is true that only champions wear Speedo as the history of Speedo tracks. Speedo was first seen in the Olympics a few years after their beginning in 1932. The Australian swimmer, Claire Dennis, happened to also win the gold medal that year in her Speedo at the Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Zodee is Australia's leading online retailer for women's designer lingerie and swimwear . We also stock a large range of bonds baby, children's clothing, boys wear & baby clothing. Shop with confidence and select from major brands including Elle Macpherson Intimates, Speedos, Seafolly, 2 Chillies and more!
Warbirds Downunder air show is the only major air show of its type in Australia.
On the event day, the doors open for visitors to enjoy the Museum's and guest's exhibits and aircraft, as well as vintage and military vehicles. The children will enjoy Kids Korner, jumping castles and other activities.
Aerial action commences late morning through to late afternoon showcasing the Museum's world class collection of aircraft in flight, Navy helicopters and RAAF jet fighters.
Local schools and sporting clubs will run the food court offering a vast food selection for 10,000 to 12,000 visitors.
At the close of the day, visitors are invited onto the tarmac to talk with the pilots and engineers and get up close to the aircraft. This is the favorite part of the day for many visitors.
The Sydney Festival 2014 program has been revealed and what a January it’s going to be!
From huge free outdoor concerts in The Domain to the world premiere of Band of Magicians in Parramatta, the Australian exclusive of Dido & Aeneas and of course, the return of the Rubber Duck, there really is something for everyone!
FESTIVAL VILLAGE
Festival Village is the all new Festival home. In the beating heart of Hyde Park, the Village is an oasis of eats, beats and other treats. It's the perfect place to kick back in the afternoon sun or kick on into the balmy summer nights.
Expect a mix of free and ticketed events for all ages at all hours. Take your seat in The Spiegeltent, or take a bounce on Sacrilege, a life-size inflatable Stonehenge. You can also take it easy with friends.
FAMILY FUN
Sydney Festival plays host to some great events for families this January. From music and dance sessions for the littlies to workshops for bigger kids; from slapstick and buffoonery to circus treats for all the family, we’ve got your kids’ school holiday entertainment covered. The family program includes the awe-inspiring magic supergroup Band of Magicians, Sacrilege - a life-size inflatable Stonehenge, charming traditional circus with La Cucina Dell’Arte, beatboxing virtuoso Tom Thum and ingenious cardboard creations with Boxwars.
BIG ART INSTALLATIONS
The Rubber Duck returns! It’ll be making a splash at duck-feeding HQ in Parramatta. In what will be the unmissable photo opportunity of the Festival, Merchants Store comes to Darling Harbour. It may look like an ordinary building from afar, until you spot the people dangling from the windows, climbing up the walls and crawling over the roof. Discover it for yourself!
Take part in Roman Ondák’s Measuring the Universe at Parramatta Town Hall for Kaldor Public Art Projects and marvel at the scale of Christian Boltanski’s Chance at Carriageworks
THEATER & DANCE
Catch the world premiere of brand new Australian works at Sydney Opera House with Black Diggers, the ANZACs untold story directed by Wesley Enoch, and Am I, the new dance work from Shaun Parker & Company. The festival within the Festival, About an Hour, returns to Carriageworks and of course Sasha Waltz & Guests’ spectacular Dido & Aeneas is on at Sydney Lyric at The Star.
WIN THE ULTIMATE SYDNEY FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE
Kick off the Sydney Festival in style with the ultimate Festival weekend! Join us Friday 10 January for Amadou & Mariam’s extra-sensory experience Eclipse at Sydney Town Hall before jumping over to the Festival Village for Scotch & Soda in the Spiegeltent. You could spend Saturday night at Summer Sounds in the Domain for a VIP experience at Chaka Khan.and Novotel Sydney on Darling Harbour both will keep you well rested with a Darling Harbour.
Four thousand people crammed the forecourt to watch the Sydney Symphony Orchestra perform Beethoven Symphony No. 9 - the classical piece which opened the venue 40 years ago - along with the Sydney Philharmonia choir and Opera Australia soloists.
Chef Matt Moran marked the occasion by unveiling an enormous cupcake, while Jimmy Barnes led a rousing happy birthday singalong.
Its hard to believe that in 1966 the Opera House was embroiled in scandal.
As well as a cost blowout, the criticism of the structure was so harsh, architect Jorn Utzon submit his resignation as designer of the Opera House - yet it went on to land a world heritage listing in 2007.
Utzon never returned to see his masterpiece, dying at 90 years of age, but yesterday his mother and son attended it's anniversary to see a commemorative flotilla, the Royal Australian Navy Band, Australian Girls Choir and Surf Life Saving NSW.
Some of the world's biggest names have taken to its many stages, among them Joan Sutherland, Oprah Winfrey, Hugh Jackman, Luciano Pavarotti and Sammy Davis Jr.
Sydney's eastern suburbs to commemorate the Bali bombings' 11th an
Aniversary.
Eighty-eight Australians were killed when bombs detonated at two popular nightclub spots in Bali's tourist hub Kuta.
Forty-three of those who died on October 12, 2002 were from NSW and 20 from Sydney's eastern suburbs, including Coogee, Maroubra, Malabar and Matraville.
A large crowd is expected to descend on Dolphin Point at Coogee on Saturday morning for the annual Bali Memorial Commemoration Ceremony.
Randwick City Council mayor Scott Nash described the annual ceremony as a special event for the local community, particularly those affected by the bombings.
"Our community has a strong condition of uniting to support each other in times of tragedy and hardship," he said in a statement.
"On this day, as we do every year, we will come together to show our support and care for the victims of the families and survivors.
"And to remember those who we lost."
The ceremony, which will include tributes from family members, performances and a minute silence, will start at 10am
Prince Harry smiles from onboard the HMAS Leeuwin as the ship tours Sydney Harbour as part of the International Fleet Review - See more at: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/prince-harry-boards-hmas-leeuwin-as-international-fleet-review Prince Harry, third left, with Governor-General Quentin Bryce (in blue), Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Vice Admiral Ray Griggs on board the HMAS Leeuwin.
Thousands of people crowded the Sydney Harbour shoreline to catch a glimpse of Prince Harry and celebrate the centenary of the fledgling Australian navy fleet's first arrival to the famed waterways
SYDNEY Harbour glistened today as thousands poured into the city to get a glimpse of the International Fleet Review - and if they're lucky, Prince Harry too.
With drinks and ice creams in hand, spectators filled up major vantage points this afternoon as helicopters and navy planes buzzed overhead and the temperature hit the high 20s.
The Sydney Opera House and East Circular Quay vantage points have hit capacity, the Transport Management Centre said at noon. But that didn’t stop huge groups of people walking off trains and buses to watch the celebrations and hopefully catch a glimpse of special guest Prince Harry.
The 29-year-old royal is being taken around the harbour in HMAS Leeuwin to inspect warships, which are taking part in the International Fleet Review.
On his first official trip to Australia as a representative of the Royal Family, Prince Harry, or Captain Wales as he is known when on military duties, was met by Navy Vice Admiral Ray Griggs and given a royal salute by officers before boarding the ship this morning.
He was joined on HMAS Leeuwin by Prime Minister Tony Abbott, NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell, acting Opposition Leader Chris Bowen, Governor-General Quentin Bryce and other dignitaries.
Among the royal enthusiasts is 20-year-old Victoria McRae who was towed out of Sydney Harbour by the Water Police after she got on a kayak and waved a flag saying “I (heart) you Harry'' and added her mobile phone number to it.
She will now try and find the charming young prince among the thousands of people lined up all around Sydney Harbour.
“He's an eligible bachelor, I thought I might be in with a chance,'' Ms McRae said.
The Prince, who a rrived in Sydney last night on a commercial Qantas flight and is staying at an inner-city hotel, is expected to meet spectators at an unconfirmed location later this afternoon.
It is the first time he has visited Australia in 10 years, and his visit will last just two years - the shortest trip yet by a royal to the country
The Fleet Review marks 100 years since the Royal Australian Navy fleet sailed into Sydney Harbour and a procession of boats from around the world are taking part in the celebrations.
About 1.7 million people are expected to attend the review, which runs until Friday and involves 37 warships, 16 tall ships, 60 aircraft, 8000 sailors.
POP and rock legends have joined forces to sing a new anthem for Australia.
Legends of the Southern Land is so rousing and spirit-building that Channel 9 snapped it up before its official release to use as a theme for the NRL finals.
It will debut on the network on Monday.
Legends of the Southern Land is performed by pop and rock greats Swanee, Marty Rhone, Ray Burgess, Tommy Emmanuel and John St Peeters.
Tell us below what you think of the new anthem
"It's a song about Australia for Australians," said St Peeters, who co-wrote it with musician Michael Yule.
St Peeters said the anthem, which came to him in a dream, was aimed at giving the nation a positive boost.
The song says: "We're the hard-working battler and the common man, we're the legends of the southern land. We're a proud population, time to make a stand, we're the legends of the southern land."
"I want Australia to sing this song and feel good about it. I want to hear it at the SCG, the MCG, World Cup, everywhere," St Peeters said.
"If you're an Aussie, sing it!"
Rhone, who had hits in the 1970s with Denim And Lace and A Mean Pair of Jeans, said he connected with the feel-good spirit of the song.
"We don't acknowledge our own. We pull them down," Rhone said.
The songs and music that has come from people's experiences of living and surviving in the Australian bush has become known in Australia as 'bush music'. Bush songs have been devised by ordinary everyday people and are a record of the colourful slang of bush life.
The convict songs of the early days of the Australian colonies became the foundation of Australia's bush music. Bush ballads recorded the harsh way of the life and contemporary events and experiences; the lives and loves of bushrangers, bolters, swagmen, drovers, and shearers. Later new themes emerges based on the experiences of war, railways and unions.
The most famous of these bush ballads is Waltzing Matilda, Australia's unofficial national song about a swagman shearer. Many songs and lyrics, written down for private use, were later assembled and published byA B (Banjo) Paterson as Old bush songs (1905). They were always handed down as part of an oral tradition, similar to folk music.
Bushranger ballads
Unknown artist, Ben Hall, the bushranger, c. 1860s. Image courtesy of the State Library of Queensland: 195452.
Convicts invented songs about bushrangers, who were often escaped convicts. There is a cluster of ballads about the young Irish convict-turned-bushranger 'Bold' Jack Donohoe, who was shot dead in 1830. These ballads continued to be sung as anthems of defiance for decades. In the shearers' strike of 1891, Bold Jack Donohoewas sung to voice the feelings of the shearers against the squatters and the government. The most popular ballad about Jack Donohoe may have been 'The wild colonial boy'.
The bushranging ballad Streets of Forbesrecords the slaying of bushranger Ben Hall by police troopers in 1865. It is generally believed to have been devised by John McGuire, Ben's brother-in-law and neighbour, after he saw Ben's body being paraded through Forbes:
Ben went to Goobang Creek, and that was his downfall For riddled like a sieve was valiant Ben Hall 'Twas early in the morning upon the fifth of May When seven police surrounded him as fast asleep he lay.
The characters are real and the names are important as they provide the details of the event of the death of Ben Hall, confirmed by an oral history account by Bob Bolton.
Overlanders - stockmen's and drover's songs
Yandilla, sheep shearing, ca 1894, slide: lantern, b&w. Image courtesy of National Library of Australia: nla.pic-an24284753.
After the gold rushes, shearers and drovers composed ballads and songs which became part of the oral tradition of Australian bush music. Click go the shears, perhaps the most widely sung shearer's song, borrows its tune and a little of its text from an American popular song of the Civil War.
Out on the board the old shearer stands Grasping his shears in his long bony hands Fixed is his gaze on a bare-bellied 'joe' Glory if he gets her, won't he make the ringer go.
Click go the shears boys, click, click, click Wide is his blow and his hands move quick The ringer looks around and is beaten by a blow And curses the old snagger with the blue-bellied 'joe'.
Stockmen and drovers, known as 'overlanders', developed pride in the skills which required them to drive sheep and cattle over long distances. This is expressed in many of their ballads and songs such as Ogilvie's Kings of the Earth; 'We are slaves of the saddle and bridle Yet Kings of the Earth when we ride!'. Favourite Australian bush songs (1964) compiled by Lionel Long and Graham Jenkin documented the best known handed down versions of droving songs. These included The drovers dream, The drovers song, and The Queensland drover, with its stirring chorus:
Pass the billy round boys! Don't let the pint-pot stand there! For tonight we'll drink to the health Of every overlander.
With federation of the colonies in 1901, Australians began showing pride in their own music and this is reflected in their adoption of Waltzing Matilda as an unofficial national song. Waltzing Matilda, an Australian slang term which means to carry one's swag from camp to camp, tells the story of a swagman who steals 'jumbucks' (sheep) from a farmer.
Written by Banjo Paterson in Queensland 1895, Waltzing Matilda was inspired by the death of swagman-shearer during the shearers' strikes of the 1890s. It was put to music by Christina Macpherson of Dagwood Station, near Winton, Queensland. The tune was adapted from the traditional Scottish tune Craigielea which she had heard at the Warrnambool Races in Victoria in 1894.
The bush remained a favourite subject of Australian songs, although it was often portrayed as a place people had left and longed to return to. The most famous song of the inter-war years was Jack O'Hagan's On the road to Gundagai(1922).
Bush music collection and revival
In the 1880s and 1890s, Australian writers like Banjo Paterson and Henry Lawson popularised a tradition of bush ballads in the publicationOld bush songs, which is still a strong influence on Australian folk and country music today. Classic bush ballads included The wild colonial boyand The Eumeralla shore.
An Australian bush music revival began in the 1950s when John Meredith recorded old-timer singers born in the late 1800s, singing and playing old bush songs. For four or five years he collected songs from Sydney and in a limited region of central-western New South Wales, around the Lachlan River. Systematic field recordings were also carried out in Victoria by members of the Folk Lore Society of Victoria.
The first bush songs recorded were mainly from Jack 'Hoopiron' Lee (b. 1876) and his mate, Joe Cashmere, a fiddle player and bush poet, both from Booligal, on the Lachlan. They included The backblocks shearer, Wild rover no more, The drover's dream, Andy's gone with cattle, Bold Jack Donohoe and Moreton Bay. In November 1954, 'Duke' Tritton (b. 1886) turned up in response to an article in The Bulletinabout 'missing' verses, songs and bush ballads - having worked as a shearer out west, then droving, fencing, labouring, boxing and singing.
The Bushwhackers
The Bushwhackers at Dame Mary Gilmore's ninetieth birthday, 1955, photograph: b&w. Image courtesy of National Library of Australia: nla.pic-an24376912.
In 1954, Meredith assembled a small group to sing the songs he had collected and The Bushwhackers were born. The group play button accordion, the lagerphone, bush bass - a one-stringed tea-chest, guitar and mouth organ. Duke Tritton then has a second career through the Bushwhackers as a singer, on radio and in public.
The Bushwhackers first disc - The drover's dream, (1955) is released by the newly formed Wattle Records and Films (founded by Peter Hamilton and Edgar Waters), ultimately selling 20,000 records after the first pressing of 200. The first LP recording of Australian bush music is Australian bush songs (1956) by Englishman A L Lloyd, based on songs Lloyd learned in his youth in central western New South Wales. This gained Australian bush songs wide exposure and influenced the repertoire and singing style of bush music revival singers in the 1970s.
Indigenous bush music
As part of the 1950s Australian bush revival, an itinerant Aboriginal worker, Dougie Young, recorded his songs with Wattle Recordings in 1963. One of Dougie Young's songs, The land where the crow flies backward, was taken up by white singers of the folk song revival movement. Aboriginal folk singers have also preserved white Australian song texts such as The old bark hut. The close relationship between Aboriginal and white stockmen is commemorated in The dying stockman:
Give Wongi my saddle and blanket, Give Billy my bullets of lead That these two dark friends of my childhood May remember a stockman who's dead.
Overlanders - stockmen's and drover's songs
In 1971 The overlander song book was published. This reflected the systematic recording of songs collected in far north Queensland by Ron Edwards. Comparatively, very little collecting was done in other parts of Queensland, the Northern Territory or Western Australia. The big book of Australian folk songs is virtually a revised edition of The overlander song book and shows the rich bush and folk song tradition that existed in North Queensland, with much local material. This repertoire of bush music was influential in shaping the development ofAustralian folk music and the folk revival of the 1970s.
What is it about 'the bush' that is so special to Australians? The bush has an iconic status in Australian life and features strongly in any debate about national identity, especially as expressed in Australian literature, painting, popular music, films and foods.
The bush was something that was uniquely Australian and very different to the European landscapes familiar to many new immigrants. The bush was revered as a source of national ideals by the likes of Henry Lawson and Banjo Paterson. Romanticising the bush in this way was a big step forward for Australians in their steps towards self-identity. The legacy is a folklore rich in the spirit of the bush.
Folklore, 1790s - 1890s
Many Australian myths and legends have emanated from the bush. Early bushranging- ranging or living off the land - was sometimes seen as a preferred option to the harsh conditions experienced by convicts in chains. Later bushrangers such as Jack Donohue, Ben Hall and Ned Kelly were seen as rebellious figures associated with bush life. Their bushmanship was legendary as well as necessary.
The bush has evoked themes of struggle and survival epitomised in tales of bushrangers, drovers, outback women and lost children. The bush has also been seen as a source of nourishment and survival. These two opposing elements were often brought together by the activities of the Australian 'black trackers'.
The skills of Indigenous people in 'the bush', especially their tracking abilities, was seen as miraculous and became legendary in the minds of European Australians. Indigenous people's knowledge of the land, at the core of their spiritual beliefs, is expressed in stories, arts and performance - music, songs, dance and ceremony.
1. You’ll need your camera and your swimming costume on the famousbondi bronte coastwalk
This walk promises two hour’s worth of spectacular coastal views and a cool swim to end.
2. If breezy cliff tops and jaw-dropping views sound tempting, spare an hour for the bracing 3 kilometreThe Federation Cliff Walk - Dover Heightsfrom Vuacluse to Bondl in New South Wales, finishing with a coffee at the end.
3. Visit the Conservation Hutin Wentworth Falls, New South Wales and decide between up to six walking tracks for all levels of fitness.
4. Experience untouched coastal beauty by walking from Coles Bay to Wineglass Bay in Tasmania - arguably the best-known natural attraction on Tasmania’s spectacular east coast.
5. The popular Dubuji Boardwalk in Queensland’s Daintree National Park winds its way through a coastal mangrove, surrounded by enormous fan palms, tropical birds and a diverse variety of plants and animals.
6. Explore the majesty of Uluru on the 9.4 kilometreBase Walk. The walk is dotted with interpretive displays, as well as a network of waterholes and lush woodlands - one of the last things you’d expect to see in the stark desert landscape.
7. Take in the rugged beauty of Tasmania on the Organ Pipes walk, Mt Wellington. The Organ Pipes consist of dolerite rock columnar cliffs which were formed during the Jurassic period.
8. The Shelly Beach Circuit is one of the best short walks on the Great Ocean Walk in Victoria. The easy walking track traverses through fern gullies, coastal scrub, along Shelly Beach and across rocky platforms to Elliot River.
9. A hearty hike featuring sweeping views, the Manly to Spit Bridge walk in Sydney offers a different view of Sydney Harbour’s foreshores. Allow half a day to complete this (so you can finish up with fish’n’chips at the Spit).
10. Walk around an outdoor art gallery in Western Australia, at Inside Australia – Antony Gormley sculptures. The artwork is a collection of 51 black steel sculptures standing over 10 square kilometres of the white salt plain of Lake Ballard, which takes around two hours to walk around.
11. The spectacular towering vertical walls and pockets of lush vegetation make Kings Canyon, Northern Territory a sight to remember. The Canyon Walktakes 3-4 hours and includes a steep climb to the top of the Canyon, but it’s all worth it for the views.
12. A 30 minute walk through ancient Antarctic Beech forest in Mudgeeraba, Queensland leads to Best of all Lookout, which lives up to its name by providing a panoramic view across Mount Warning to Byron Bay and Coolangatta.
13. Bathers Way is a 5 kilometre coastal walk in Newcastle, New South Wales, stretching from the lighthouse at Nobbys Head to Merewether. The walk strings together many of the city’s prime historic attractions and best beaches.
14. Walk along Perth’s famous treetop walk, the Lotterywest Federation Walkway, and take in spectacular views of Perth City, the Mt Eliza escarpment and surrounding rivers. A 222 metre long elevated section with a 16 metre above ground suspension bridge also offers a bird’s eye view of a canopy of tall eucalypts.
Free Gardens
15. The Royal Botanic Gardens are the largest of three major botanical gardens open to the public in Sydney. The beautifully maintained gardens include one of Sydney most spectacular vantage points, Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, situated on the edge of the gardens.
16. The Centennial Parklands are 220 hectares of open space in Sydney, a few kilometres south east of the CBD, which provide the perfect setting for a day outdoors. Watch the continuous stream of runners, rollerbladers, cyclists and horse riders go past while you relax on the grass with a picnic.
17. The City Botanic Gardens in Brisbane are the city’s oldest park, originally planted by convicts in 1825 with food crops to feed the prison colony. The gardens include ancient trees, rainforest glades, exotic species and attractions including Bamboo Grove, Weeping Fig Avenue, Mangrove Boardwalk and ornamental ponds.
18. Mount Lofty Botanic Garden, South Australia overlooks the Picadilly Valley and features picturesque walking trails, mass displays of flowers and a heritage rose garden.
19. Attracting over 1.6 million visitors annually, the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne is a treasured part of Melbourne's cultural life that offers diverse plant collections, year-round events and child-friendly activities.
20. Visit the historic rose gardens around Old Parliament House in Canberra, which provided a place for politicians to relax and roses to decorate their offices. Among the stunning displays are rose bushes that commemorate Australians from all walks of life.
21. The Adelaide Botanic Gardens are among the most beautiful in Australia. See water lilies as tall as you are (maybe taller), lush grass, tree-lined walkways and native birds.
22. Relax in the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, a significant natural and cultural heritage landscape which is home to extensive Tasmanian native collections and ever-evolving specialised gardens.
23. Explore and unwind at the Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra. Take a guided tour or enjoy a coffee at Hudsons Cafe. Listen to the sounds of the native birds, watch the water dragons’ sunbake and relax to the sounds of live music.
24. Have a wander around the Roma Street Parklands in Brisbane, Queensland - the world's largest subtropical garden in a city centre. The parklands are home to grassy picnic spots, subtropical plant displays, colourful flower displays, fern groves, rocky peninsulas, barbeque areas and playgrounds for kids
Free Festivals and Events
25. Celebrate youth and culture at the Australian Open of Surfing, held over nine days at iconic Manly Beach in Sydney, New South Wales each February..
26. Boats have been built from many materials but only Darwin has beer can boats. Watch them battle it out at Mindil Beach, Northern Territory to win the greatest recycled race in the world, the Darwin Beer Can Regatta in July.
27. Get in early for the best free waterfront vantage points in Sydney, News South Wales on . The world renowned celebrations include multi-coloured fireworks displays, which explode off the Sydney Harbour Bridge and six barges around the harbour.
28. The Adelaide Fringe Festival has a number of free events spanning comedy, cabaret, dance, theatre, film, music and visual arts. The festival is held over 24 days and nights in February and March each year.
29. Expand your horizons at the Biennale of Sydney. Every two years this free event brings large scale installations and artworks to venues across Sydney. Jump on the free ferry to Cockatoo Island from Circular Quay to see striking artworks by some of the world's leading artists, sculptors and innovators.
30. See an incredible display of more than one million bulbs and annuals timed to bloom on cue at Floriade, in Canberra held annualy from mid September to mid October. The flowers provide a stunning backdrop to this festival featuring live entertainment, children’s activities, horticultural displays and demonstrations, exhibitions, food, craft and shopping.
31. If you’re into cycling, pack a chair and nab a spot on the picturesque Santos Tour Down Under route in Adelaide, South Australia. Held every January, the week-long festival of cycling and entertainment features not only the six-stage race but also the opportunity to ride a stage of the event yourself.
32. Take in the culture of the Brisbane Festival in Queensland, where acclaimed international and Australian productions sit alongside free outdoor events and home grown performances each September. A highlight is the Riverfire fireworks festival, part of the closing extravaganza.
33. In August enjoy the best of Indigenous and contemporary Australia at the Darwin Festival, with free concerts, theatre, dance, music and more all taking place at outdoor venues across the city. Don't miss the Santos Opening Concert at the Amphitheatre in George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens.
34. One of the top 10 music festivals in the world, the Tamworth Country Music Festival is a combination of tents, buskers, big hats, friendly locals, guitars and stars. Enjoy the welcoming and friendly spirit of the Australian bush at the wholehearted celebration of country music in late January.
35. Catch the Canberra Festival Balloon Spectacular in March and see a stunning array of hot air balloons launch daily at dawn and float over Canberra’s iconic national attractions and Lake Burley Griffin.
36. Enjoy a cultural hit at Parramasala, a celebration of South Asian culture in Sydney, New South Wales that is held each November. Parramasala attracts performers from across the globe and offers a diverse program of theatre, dance and music.
37. Whether you’re into art, dance, theatre, music or film - the Melbourne Festival in Victoria has something for everyone, including free events across the city. The Melbourne Festival takes place in October and is one of Australia’s flagship international arts festivals.
38. Situated between the red sands and the clear blue skies, experience a festival with a difference at the Alice Desert Festival, Northern Territory. Join the locals to share stories and songs and celebrate the unique lifestyle of Central Australia’s arid region in September.
39. Hobart is home to the quirky Australian Wooden Boat Festival, a spectacular four day celebration of maritime culture and craftsmanship. An extensive program of entertainment, music, demonstrations, displays, and sensational food added to the vibrancy of the event.
40. Embrace a Queensland winter (where the average daily temperature is 20 degrees Celsius!) at the Noosa Winter Festival held in May. Apart from enjoying the two-day multi-sport festival spectators can also explore the festival village complete with live bands and entertainment.
41. Join the flocks of visitors for Australia’s most famous outback race meeting, the Birdsville Races. Held on the edge of the Simpson Desert in outback Queensland, the combination of the barren landscape, red dust, quirky characters and outback sun make for a race day like no other!
42. Flock to Sydney Festival, a bold cultural celebration of quality art and big ideas in Sydney every January.The Festival opens each year with the unique Festival First Night - a feast of free music, dance and visual spectacle on the streets and in the parks of central Sydney, attracting over 200,000 people.
43. WOMADelaide brings together the world of music, arts and dance into one joyful festival at Adelaide’s beautiful Botanic Gardens. Apart from stage performances there are also workshops, cooking classes, parades and roving performers.
44. If you’re a food lover then don’t miss Crave Sydney International Food Festival, a month long celebration of all things gourmet held each October. With activities such as the Night Noodle Markets, large scale food events, Breakfast at Bondi and family days out – there’s something for everyone.
Free Culture
45. The Art Gallery of NSW is Sydney’s biggest art gallery and houses an amazing collection of paintings, sculptures and much more.
46. Stroll through the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra and see the portraits of over 400 people who've shaped the nation. The works of art reflect Australia's history, diversity and culture.
47. The Art Gallery of South Australia boasts an outstanding collection of 38,000 pieces of art comprising Australian, European, North American and Asian works including paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings and photographs.
48. St. Mary’s Cathedral stands in the centre of Sydney as a Christian statement of grace and beauty. The magnificent structure was built in 1865 on the site of the first Catholic Chapel in Australia and is open everyday of the week.
49. Appreciate art and surrounds at the two National Gallery of Victoria spaces in Melbourne - the iconic original houses international art and the newer part is a light-filled home of local works.
50. Take a tour of Parliament House in Canberra, learn about parliamentary processes and gaze at the impressive architecture. There’s plenty to keep you occupied - watch parliamentarians in action at Question, head to the roof for panoramic views and marvel at the 81 metre flagpole with an Australian flag bigger than a double-decker bus.
51. Explore Tasmania’s history and the secrets of the universe at Australia's largest regional museum, the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery in Launceston, Tasmania. It is free to the public and even has a planetarium inside.
52. Be moved at the Australian War Memorial, one of the world's great museums where the sacrifice of Australian men and women who served in war is commemorated. Pay your respects and reflect on the events that helped shape Australia.
53. The Ian Potter Centre at Melbourne's Federation Square was the world's first major gallery dedicated exclusively to Australian art and its collection represents some of Indigenous art’s major historical and contemporary moments.
54. The Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney, New South Wales has a lively and varied program of exhibitions. Free guided tours are conducted every day in the galleries, on the destroyer Vampire and in the Maritime Heritage Centre.
55. Check out the Museum of Brisbane, home to a host of exhibits that celebrates the communities and culture of Brisbane through an original and contemporary blend of social history and visual arts.
56. Enrich your understanding and experience of Indigenous art and culture with a visit to the Aboriginal Art Gallery Kings Park in Perth. The gallery, which has been established for 16 years, exhibits the works of Aboriginal Artists from Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
57. Explore the interactive and informative exhibits at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra, ACT. The National Museum of Australia is devoted to telling great stories about Australia and Australians. See objects such as Australian cricket legend Greg Chappell's cricket cap, a preserved thylacine or as it is more commonly known an extinct Tasmanian Tiger and Captain Cook's magnifier.
58. The John Temple Gallery in the quaint town of Westbury in northern Tasmania contains beautiful panoramic photography of Tasmanian and Australian landscapes ranging from wilderness to poppy fields to coastal views. You can also purchase the art work either framed or un-framed.
59. Watch one of the world's strongest robots make Australian coins at the Royal Australian Mint in Canberra. See displays including the 1930 penny, rare gold sovereigns and even some forgeries in the museum gallery.
60. Visit the only Gothic cathedral in the world still under construction using traditional medieval building techniques atSt.John’s Cathedral in Brisbane, Queensland.
61. The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory includes an excellent exhibition of Aboriginal bark paintings and a collection of stone axes – some of which are thought to be 22,000 years old.
62. Visit the Newcastle Region Art Gallery to check out more than 3,300 works of art which present an overview of Australian art from colonial times to the present day.
63. Admire art in the outdoors along the Yarra River in Melbourne, Victoria. The river winds through the heart of the city, providing a vibrant background for sculptures, paintings and architecture.
Free Fun
64. It’ll cost you to climb it, but crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge on foot is completely free – and what a great photo opportunity!
65. In the tradition of the world's busiest public spaces, Federation Square in Melbourne buzzes with a daily program of events, restaurants and cafes and bold galleries. Grab a coffee and take a stroll to absorb the atmosphere.
66. Snorkel in Sydney’s rock pools, which are abound with sea-life. Try Gordon’s Bay for gropers and Cabbage Tree Bay in Manly for colourful fish species.
67. Visit the Canberra District wineries, which are small enough to enjoy an intimate cellar door experience and meet the winemaker, yet large enough to find all the varieties of a premium wine growing region.
68. Spot an elusive platypus in the wild. Good spots include the Southern Blue Mountains of NSW, Eungalla National Park near Mackay in Queensland and the Warrawong Earth Sanctuary in the Adelaide Hills. The best time of day for spotting is after dawn and dusk, when they are at their most active.
69. Trawl Melbourne’s lane ways and experience the atmospheric buzz of the city. Jammed with restaurants, bars, clubs, hole-in-the-wall cafes, boutiques and street art, get lost in the maze of laneways and take part in people watching.
70. Do it yourself whale-watching, grab your binoculars and scan the seas at North Head Lookout in Manly and Cape Solander on the southern side of the Botany Bay entrance when the whales are migrating north from the Antarctic in winter. Or hike around the harbour – whales have been spotted on the Federation Cliff Walk, the Bondi to Bronte and the Manly to Spit walk.
71. Fishing is the number one sport in Australia and there are amazing locations nationwide to indulge in the popular pastime. Hotspots include Port Lincoln in South Australia, The Snowy Mountains in New South Wales and Port Philip Bay in Victoria.
72. Walk all the stairs of the Sydney Opera House in New South Wales. A walk around the house is a must for all visitors to truly admire the architectural beauty of this Australian icon.
73. Australia is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and better yet, they are all completely free! Take your pick from the range of stunning beaches around the nation and sunbathe until your heart’s content.
74. Take in Melbourne like a local – from a tram! The City Circle tram not only allows you to have a tram ‘experience’ it also offers a running commentary on the places of interest along its route, all completely free of charge.
75. The House of Anvers in Latrobe, Tasmania, contains a real chocolate taste sensation. Watch the qualified confectionery staff tempering, moulding and enrobing fine coverture chocolates, truffles, pralines, fudges and indulge in free tastings!
76. If you’re an animal lover don’t miss the daily Pelican feeding at The Entrance, New South Wales from the waterfront in Memorial Park.
77. Go bird watching at Lake Monger, located just ten minutes from Perth city. The lake is home to thousands of magnificent waterbirds including the famous black swan, which is the emblem of Western Australia.
78. Famed for spectacular sunsets, there are an abundance of locations around Australia which are perfect to take in a spectacular end to the day. Tops spots to enjoy watching the sun go down include Cottesloe Beach in Perth, Mindil Beach in Darwin, Uluru in the Northern Territory and Cable Beach, Western Australia.
79. Take a road trip around New South Wales and visit all the Big Attractions along the way (perfect for a quirky photo opportunity!) including the Big Oyster in Taree; Big Banana in Coffs Harbour; Big Prawn in Ballina; Big Avocado in Murwillumbah and the Big Bull in Wauchope.
80. You’re guaranteed to spot a koala at the Daisy Hill Koala Centre, 25km from Brisbane in Queensland, a bushland retreat for koalas and other native animals.
81. Adelaide is a great city to see by bicycle, with wide streets and beautiful parks to explore. You can hire bikes for free from the local council at numerous spots around the city, all you need is a current passport or drivers licence and they’ll provide the rest.
82. Check out a wide range of Australian native animals at the Rockhampton Zoo, Queensland. Don’t miss the daily feeding times and take the elevated walkway through the koala compound.
83. Take a stroll around the Mindil Beach Sunset markets in Darwin on a balmy evening. Shop for souvenirs, get a massage, watch the buskers and performing artists or simply take in the atmosphere.
84. Take a dip in Newcastle’s famous Bogey Hole – an ocean pool which was cut into rocks by convict labour in 1819. Perfect for those who don’t like to get sand on their feet!
Free Natural Wonders
85. Witness the annual Staircase to the Moon in Broome, Western Australia. Between March and October each year, when conditions are just right, this natural phenomenon occurs when the full moon rises over the exposed mudflats of Roebuck Bay at extremely low tide creating the optical illusion of a staircase reaching for the moon.
86. See the famous Devils Marbles near Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory. The precarious piles of huge granite boulders, wide open skies and golden sunlight make it an unforgettable place to visit.
87. Visit Cape Tribulation in Far North Queensland, where the Daintree rainforest meets the Coral Sea, the only place on earth where two area of World Heritage List sit side by side.
88. Marvel at The Pinnacles Desert in Western Australia. Consisting of thousands of natural limestone pillars, some standing as high as five metres, they were formed approximately 25,000 to 30,000 years ago and create one of the most unique natural scenes on Earth – especially beautiful at sunset.
89. Visit Remarkable Rocks, the aptly named eroded granite rock formations on Kangaroo Island, South Australia. Likened to sculptures by modernist Henry Moore, this ‘outdoor art gallery’ features giant chunks of ‘broken’ granite balancing on top of a huge granite dome, 75 metres above the sea.
90. Venture up The Nut, a 143 metre high volcanic formation that overlooks the historic village of Stanley on Tasmania’s north-west coast. It takes approximately 20 minutes to walk along the track to the summit of The Nut. Once there, it offers the most spectacular views across Bass Strait beaches.
91. Take a long soak under the stars in the naturally heated Artesian Bore Baths, Lightning Ridge, New South Wales. Renowned for its therapeutic power in soothing aches and pains, the average temperature of the water is 42 degrees celcius and the baths are open 24 hours a day.
92. Check out the surf – that’s not made of water - at Wave Rock, Western Australia. A unique rock formation sculptured by time and the elements, Wave Rock stands at 15m high and 110m long. Its colour variations, created by spring water trickling down, are spectacular and visitors are able to walk beneath the ‘wave’ taking in the splendour from all angles.
93. Experience the mystery of the Blue Lake in Mount Gambier, South Australia. Every year when spring arrives, the Blue Lake celebrates with a brilliant change of colour – from a sombre blue/grey to stunning deep turquoise.
94. Known as one of the world’s last ocean paradises, the World Heritage Listed Ningaloo Reef is in abundance with tropical fish, colourful coral and the world’s largest fish, the Whale Shark. It's one of the biggest fringing reefs in the world and unlike many others, you can get to it just by stepping off the beach.
95. Drive along the Great Ocean Road in Victoria and marvel at the stunning coastline, carved from thousands of years of battering by the Great Southern Ocean. Some of the major sandstone formations created by erosion include The Twelve Apostles, London Bridge and Lord Ard George.
96. Take in the wonder of Tasmania’s giant Eucalyptus trees. The Eucalyptus Regnans can stand at up to 100 metres and are the world’s largest flowering plant and hardwood tree.
97. South Australia’s Painted Desert is an amazing sight – rocky outcrops of large and small hills emerging out of a flat desert landscape. The ‘painted’ element refers to the rock’s vivid colours of ochre yellow, oxide red and deep, rich brown contrasting with crisp whites and jet blacks.
98. The magnificent Horizontal Waterfalls at Talbot Bay, Western Australia is created by massive tidal movements, among the biggest in the world. The white water ocean banking up against one side of a narrow cliff passage creates the waterfall effect, a sight enhanced even more by the red rock cliffs and turquoise water.
99. Meet the Dolphins of Monkey Mia in the Shark Bay World Heritage area. As many as seven wild bottlenose dolphins regularly visit the beach, moving up and down the shoreline within arms reach of the crowd whilst being fed.
100. One of Australia’s most remarkable outback landscapes, the massive Wolfe Creek Crater National Park, lies on the edge of the Great Sandy Desert in Western Australia. The second largest crater in the world, visitors can go bushwalking and see the crater from the rim – prepare to feel dwarfed by its huge size!
