OZtralia.tv Blog

“The World’s Whitest Sand”

By: The OZtralia Producers

While visiting the amazing 74 Whitsunday Islands, you will hands down be amazing by “Whitehaven Beach.” The water here is an amazing shade of blue… and the sand is some of the whitest sand you will ever see in the world. The contrast between the blue water against the sand is phenomenal.

Whitehaven beach is the most photographed beach in all of Australia. You will notice that on the north end of the beach there seems to be a mixture of the sand and water. This is because the tides shifts here and the sand and water create a magnificent sight.

We have experienced Whitehaven beach in many ways. You can visit the beach by sea plane, sailboat, motor boat, or even helicopter.

As you see in the above video, Whitehaven Beach is a sight that you will sure not forget for many years to come.

Queensland’s Capital

By: The OZtralia Producers

Being the capital of Queensland, Brisbane is a great place to hang out and a great base or entry point to experience Australia.

The river side town offers great shopping, year round festivals at Southbank, events, and some of the best night life on the Eastern Coast of Australia. Brisbane has that wonderful big city feel, but also the small town atmosphere that we find very neat.

Be sure to check out the Brisbane Botanical Gardens as they are very impressive and offer a resting place wehre you can walk and just take in your thoughts.

The Fortitude Valley is the place where you should check out if you are looking to have a night out on the town. With that said, be careful. One can get into a lot of trouble down there.

Beautiful… Simply Beautiful.

By: The OZtralia Producers

Established as a National Park in 1939, we highly recommend a stroll in Noosa National Park while on your visit to Noosa, a sleepy resort town on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

Noosa National Park has a border of three beaches: Sunshine Beach, Alexandria Bay, and Main Beach. There are many trails for you to walk by yourself or with a loved one. You will experience dramatic views of the Pacific Ocean and lush green foliage against dark gray rocks.

Travel Amongst The Trees

By: The OZtralia Producers

Just outside of Cairns you will come across a lot of advertisements for the “Sky Rail.”We were not exactly sure what to expect. In actuality, it is exactly what it sounds like.The Sky Rail is a 7.5 kilometer cable car adventure giving you a bird’s eye view of the tropical World Heritage Rainforest.

As you see the the above video, you will travel the canopy of the beautiful Daintree Rainforest via cable car. At the end of the link you will come across Kuranda, a very small town in the mountains. You will be greeted by markets, restaurants, shops, and wildlife experiences for the old and young alike to enjoy.

While on your way to Kanadra, you can stop off at Barron Falls for a pit stop. You will be amazed as the rushing water crashed down 260 meters or 853 feet on the rocks below.You can also experience the Kuranda Scenic Railway which we hear is very nice for the children… We did not get to experience the railway because of the weather. Often times it is closed during the rainy season.

“Where Land and The Great Barrier Reef Meet”

By: The OZtralia Producers

Cape Tribulation is in the Daintree National Park around 110km north of North Queensland’s Cairns. According to the Queensland government, this is one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world. As such, Cape Tribulation was added to the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area in 1988.

The government of Queensland notes the Kuku Yalanji people as being the traditional owners of Cape Tribulation. Captain James Cook was the first Westerner to land here in June 1770. Cook’s ship ran aground on a reef close by Cape Tribulation. The Great Barrier Reef is very close by. Locals say that this is the only place in the world where the Great Barrier Reef “and land meet.”

Australia’s Top Private University in Video

By: The OZtralia.tv Producers

Bond University is universally known as Australia’s top private university in Australia. Unique in its teaching style and structure, Bond has a trimester schedule keeping students on campus virtually year round. Throughout the year, hundreds of study abroad students call Bond home. Bond’s trimester schedule coincides with college timetables in the United States and Europe.

Founded in 1987, Bond is a very new University and the well fished grounds and facilities prove that point. Founded in 1987 by Alan Bond, the University is situated in Robina (sometimes referred to as Varsity Lakes) on Australia’s Gold Coast.

In 2008, Forbes Magazine rated Bond as “one of the most expensive universities in the world,” but we here at OZtralia.tv feel you get what you pay for with this place. Our President and Publisher graduated from Bond and he tells us that it was an amazing experience.

Richard Branson’s Australian Retreat

By: Phoenix Arrien

On a visit to Noosa on the east coast of Australia, I took a cruise through that region’s waterways and we passed a lovely-looking island with house on it. ‘Richard Branson’s island,’ said the guide.

The billionaire Virgin chief is building a luxury retreat for his staff on this island - called Makepeace Island - it is going be a two million pound, nine-hectare estate. Plans for a country club and helipad have been scrapped after environmental concerns.

The locals are still grumbling about the removal of trees and the 85-year-old timber house built in the classic ‘Queenslander’ style including wraparound porches.

Richard brought it for one million pounds in 2003. Nice to know those cheerful Virgin employees will have a swanky holiday hideout. Mind you, Noosa has plenty of swankiness.

More on that hip little town soon.

Green Vacations in Australia

By: Phoenix Arrien

Australia is getting ‘green’…gradually. The sunny north-eastern state of Queensland has recently boasted about Australia’s first 100 percent solar powered and carbon neutral tourism operator.

Hidden Valley Cabins and Tours on the Paluma range - one and a half hours northwest of Townsville - now leads this country in a crucial environmental initiative. Ian and Bonnie McLennan use alternative natural power sources as well as purchasing carbon credits and using to offset any green house gases which are released.

It is a stand-alone operation drawing no support from a power grid. The McLennan’s have introduced a range of carbon-friendly initiatives including replacing conventional light bulbs with energy-saving compact fluorescent bulbs and minimising waste by compacting food and paper products for use in the garden.

Other green initiatives include educating guests and the public on the importance of protecting wildlife; building low impact walking tracks; recycling all aluminium cans, papers and cardboards; planting native trees and vegetation; and building with local timber.

The original Hidden Valley Cabins were established in 1982 to cater for timber cutters, tin miners and graziers in the area. Ian and Bonnie McLennan bought the resort 21 years ago, demolishing the existing buildings and rebuilding the entire resort.

The frame work and roof trusses are made from selectively logged local hard wood and the outside cladding on the buildings is railway sleeper off cuts which were commissioned to be burnt if not purchased by the McLennan’s.

The McLennan’s also undertook substantial revegetation to replace any native trees or plants lost in construction. A swag of awards has found its way to their wall and mantelpiece: Best Hosted Accommodation, Best New Tourism Development 2007 and a finalist in the 2007 Queensland Tourism Awards for best Hosted Accommodation.
Situated near Running River on the western slope of the Paluma range, it is home to varying species of birds, butterflies, wallabies, lace monitors, platypus and nocturnal animals.

If it’s time to experience a sustainable vacation in the tropics of Australia, check out www.hiddenvalleycabins.com.au

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef

Photo Courtesy of Queensland Tourism  

By: Phoenix Arrien

One of the great wonders of the world is Australia’s Great Barrier Reef (GBR). If you haven’t visited this stretch of water running along the northeast coast it may be time to consider a trip.

The colours and textures - greens, reds, oranges and yellows. The smoothness of rocks and knobbly brittleness of the coral. Fish, eels, clams and all sorts of strange and wonderful life. It’s a different world down there.

However the GBR is in trouble. Bleaching due to warmer temperatures and pollution from agricultural run-off is having a terrible effect on this stunning area. It is sad that many of the world’s reefs are vulnerable. Pollution, overfishing, sedimentation and climate change are wreaking havoc.

The Reef Check Foundation is seeking one million signatures for their International Declaration of Reef Rights (www.reefcheck.org/petition/petition.php) so they can present it to the Heads of State of all countries with coral reefs - 101 of them apparently - at the end of 2008.

This year is the International Year of the Reef and as well as signing the petition we can help by:

-         Choosing sustainable seafood

-         Supporting reef-friendly hotels and tourism operators

-         Not rubbish the land because much of it will end up in the ocean including reefs

Reefs can recover in many ways, however it requires us all to be aware of their vulnerability, as well as their beauty.

Green Vacations in Australia

By: Phoenix Arrien

Want to travel to Australia and stay somewhere a little greener? A resort in the sunny north-eastern state of Queensland has become Australia’s first 100 percent solar-powered and carbon-neutral tourism operator.

Hidden Valley Cabins and Tours on the Paluma range - one and a half hours northwest of Townsville - now leads this country in a crucial environmental initiative. Owners Ian and Bonnie McLennan use alternative natural power sources as well as purchasing carbon credits and using to offset any green house gases which are released.

It is a stand-alone operation drawing no support from a power grid. The McLennan’s have introduced a range of carbon-friendly initiatives including replacing conventional light bulbs with energy-saving compact fluorescent bulbs and minimising waste by compacting food and paper products for use in the garden.

Other green initiatives include educating guests and the public on the importance of protecting wildlife; building low impact walking tracks; recycling all aluminium cans, papers and cardboards; planting native trees and vegetation; and building with local timber.

The original Hidden Valley Cabins were established in 1982 to cater for timber cutters, tin miners and graziers in the area. Ian and Bonnie McLennan bought the resort 21 years ago, demolishing the existing buildings and rebuilding the entire resort.

The frame work and roof trusses are made from selectively logged local hard wood and the outside cladding on the buildings is railway sleeper off cuts which were commissioned to be burnt if not purchased by the McLennan’s.

The McLennan’s also undertook substantial revegetation to replace any native trees or plants lost in construction. A swag of awards has found its way to their wall and mantelpiece: Best Hosted Accommodation, Best New Tourism Development 2007 and a finalist in the 2007 Queensland Tourism Awards for best Hosted Accommodation.

Situated near Running River on the western slope of the Paluma range, it is home to varying species of birds, butterflies, wallabies, lace monitors, platypus and nocturnal animals.