Oct 7, 2013
May 23, 2010
Labels: Australia
Mar 25, 2010
Jul 23, 2009

Jun 1, 2009

Labels: Australia

Sea World is a marine mammal park on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. It includes rides, animal exhibits and other attractions, and promotes conservation through education and through the rescue and rehabilitation of sick, injured or orphaned wildlife.
Labels: Australia

Labels: Australia
Apr 18, 2009

Mar 13, 2009
Lake Mountain is a cross-country ski resort in Victoria 90 km from Melbourne. It is the most popular ski resort in Australia in visitor numbers due to its proximity to the populous city of Melbourne, mainly from casual visitors.
There is no actual lake at Lake Mountain, the area was named after George Lake, who was the Surveyor-General of the area including the mountain. The Lake Mountain Alpine Resort is situated in a saddle between Lake Mountain and Echo Flat and provides access to a 37km cumulative trail network through the surrounding Yarra Ranges National Park. It is an exclusively cross-country skiing resort, but the majority (80%) of the visitors to the resort throughout the year are a family demographic, with family groups being the main constituents. There are up to seven toboggan runs, though two main runs, which are open to the public. The first and most popular is directly adjacent to the Lake Mountain Alpine Resort Day Visitor Centre, while the second brachiates off of the first for a longer and somewhat steeper slope. Snowboarding is not permitted.
The centre was opened on the 12th of June, 2004, a public holiday celebrating the Queen's Birthday. It cost $3.7 million along with the refurbishment and restructuring of two other buildings, a toilet block & visitor's locker room area, and the Ski Patroller's Centre, the main area for the coordination and first aid treatments employed by the Ski Patrollers.
It has several other facilities, such as two fully equipped conference centres and a licenced cafe' bar. The Heights Bar and Cafe' remains open all year round, to accommodate bushwalkers and bike riders.
In 2005, the Ski Patroller's Centre was equipped to operate as "Snow Gum Lodge" during the off-season, generally available between November and May, for secluded and private overnight stays. It is the only accommodation on-mountain.
| Lake Mountain | |
|---|---|
A ski trail at Lake Mountain with recent snowfall |
Labels: Australia
Feb 11, 2009

Koala's
How the koala got its name...
The word koala is an Aboriginal word meaning "no water". This refers to the koala's ability to obtain most of its moisture requirements from gum leaves.
Appearance...
Koalas similarities to a teddy bear often gave them the name "koala bear", but there is no relation to the bear family. Koalas have soft thick fur often grey or brown in colour with a white belly, a large hairless nose, round ears and almost no tail. They have only one pair of lower incisors in the lower jaw and only one well-developed pair in the upper jaw (there are no canines), though if they are sufficiently provoked by an over friendly human the Koala will not hesitate to use them.
Lifestyle...
Koalas sharp, strong, curved claws , long toes and strong grip enable them to spend most of their time asleep in a fork of a eucalyptus tree. At night they move about and feed, most of their activity takes place just after sunset.
Koalas are skillful climbers, getting up tree trunks by clasping them with the sharp claws of their 'hands' and then bringing the hindfeet up together in a bounding movement. When walking on a branch koalas grip with the first toe of the hindfoot and with the first two digits of the 'hand' opposed to the other three.
Diet...
Koalas only feed on leaves of certain types of eucalypt. Eucalyptus leaves have a very high fibre and low protein content. They contain strong smelling oils, phenolic compounds and sometimes even cyanide precursors which makes them unpleasant or even poisonous for most mammals. A fully grown koala eats a bit more than one kilogram of leaves a day. To cope with this diet, koalas had to make several adaptations, most notably develop an enlarged caesum - first part of the large intestine, in which microbial fermentation takes place.
Breeding...
Koalas in the forest live a solitary life, with their population well spread out. Breeding occurs in summer; most mature females produce only one young each year. This may weigh less than half a kilogram at birth and will remain in the pouch for the first six months, then it will spend a further six months riding around on its mothers back. After leaving the pouch, the koalas feed on a mixed diet of milk and leaves, they are not fully weaned until they are 12 months old. When fully grown a koala measures from 64 to 76 cm and will weigh around 7 to 14 kilograms.
Where to find koalas...
If you are patient and have a good eye, koalas can be found all down the east coast from Townsville to Melbourne. If you wish to see them in the wild there are certain parks where the rangers mark sightings each day, i.e Tidbinbilla wildlife reserve in Australian Capital Territory.
Boomerangs are curved pieces of wood used as weapons and sport equipment. Boomerangs come in many shapes and sizes depending on their geographic or tribal origins and intended function. The most recognisable type is the returning boomerang, which is a throwing stick that travels in a elliptical path and returns to its point of origin when thrown correctly. Although non-returning boomerangs (throw sticks or kylie's) were used as weapons, returning boomerangs have only ever been used for leisure or recreation. Modern returning boomerangs can be almost any size or shape and are made from a variety materials. Davro Boomerangs, based in Scotland, produce traditionally shaped two winged wooden boomerangs, however an example of a more modern approach are Rangs Magic boomerangs which are tri-blade in design and made from specialist foams and polymers. Rangs Magic boomerangs are made in the UK and are sold internationally and are now the largest selling boomerang brand in the World.
Historical evidence also points to the use of non-returning boomerangs by the ancient Egyptians, Native Americans of Californiaand Arizona, and inhabitants of southern India for killing birds, rabbits, and other small animals.[1] Indeed, some boomerangs were not thrown at all, but were used in hand-to-hand combat by Indigenous Australians.[2]
Boomerangs can be variously used as hunting weapons, percussive musical instruments, battle clubs, fire-starters, decoys for hunting waterfowl, and as recreational play toys. The smallest boomerang may be less than 10 cm from tip-to-tip, and the largest over 2 meters in length.[3] Tribal boomerangs may be inscribed and/or painted with designs meaningful to its maker. Most boomerangs seen today are of the tourist or competition sort, and are almost invariably of the returning type.
Labels: Australia

The Sydney Opera House is one of the most recognizable buildings in the world. In addition to representing Sydney, the opera house has also become a symbol for the country of Australia throughout the world. Resting majestically on Bennelong Point as it reaches into Sydney Harbour, the Sydney Opera House is truly an unforgettable sight. The original plan to build the opera house was put forth in 1950, and designed by John Utzon. Interestingly enough, his vision was more advanced than architectural and engineering abilities of the decade, and it wasn’t until 1973 that his ideas were finally put into place. The doors were opened by Queen Elizabeth II on October 20thof that year, with its opening show, War and Peace.
Today, the Sydney Opera House provides over 200,000 tours each year, and has over 1000 rooms. A diverse mix of dance, theatre, and musical performances are presented year round, and locals, as well as tourists, make up the over 2 million guests this Australia opera house entertains each year.
Transportation to the opera house in Sydney is generally quite convenient from any place in the city. Many hotels offer shuttle service to the Australia opera house. Or buses, commuter trains, and harbor ferries all makes frequent stops at the Circular Quay, an area for public transport services that is a quick five minute walk to the opera house in Sydney. Car parking is also available for a fee. Guests will find the Sydney Opera House Car Park at the northern end of Macquarie Street, which is fully covered.
If your opera house plans leave time for a meal, there are also a few restaurants and bars on the opera house grounds. The Opera Bar offers a stunning view of the harbor, as well as an array of creative cocktails and delightful cuisine. This is also the best place to stop for a quick snack. Another great option for food is the Guillaume at Bennelong, with service before performances, as well as late night for patrons looking to catch a meal after a show. There are also bistro and espresso stand options, open during the day, as well as during performance intervals.
To book the performance of your choice, it is generally recommended to purchase tickets in advance. Tickets can be purchased online, or at the Sydney Opera House box office during the day. If you plan to attend more then one show, be sure to take advantage of the discount offered to patrons who purchase tickets to three or more shows all at once. Families traveling to the opera house in Sydney will also find an excellent group of performances for children. The 2006 year marks the first year of the International Children’s Film Festival, showcasing a wide range of fascinating, and often educational, performances for children.
Whether or not you plan to take in a show, this Australia opera house is certainly a must see when traveling to Sydney. Tours are available daily for a moderate fee. The opera house in Sydney has over 1,000 rooms, and is truly a marvel in architectural design and engineering.
Labels: Australia



