Merimbula is a small town in the New South Wales region of Australia. It’s located about two and a half hours south of Sydney, nestled between the Sapphire Coast to the west and Bega Valley to the east.

Merimbula has been a popular tourist destination for over 140 years. The name Merimbula is derived from a local Aboriginal word meaning ‘two lakes’, a reference to Merimbula Lake on the southern side of the town and the smaller Back Lake on the northern side. These calm waterways on Australia’s Oyster Coast are popular with adventurous types who like to sail, kayak and stand-up paddleboard.

Beaches are a major attraction. Surfers like the 6km Merimbula Main Beach – when the swell is pumping, the sandbank at the northern end of Main Beach creates a good break. Short Point has consistent surf and million dollar views. Bar Beach is great for snorkelling, and shallow Spencer Park Beach and playground is ideal for families.

Discover a colourful array of sea creatures at Merimbula Aquarium, located on a horizontal rock shelf that juts out to sea. Wildlife abounds at Potoroo Palace, a sanctuary where you can amble amid kangaroos and touch a snake. An exciting range of tours is also available, from fishing charters to whale-watching cruises, diving and snorkelling.

Charge your fitness tracker as there are lots of walking trails around Merimbula, too. The lakeside Merimbula Boardwalk is sign-posted with information on the local marine life. Listen out for the lyrebirds along the 1.2km Goodenia Rainforest Walking Track. Just north is Bournda National Park and shimmering Wallagoot Lake.

Sample local seafood and produce at a range of restaurants, like Dulcie’s Cottage, housed in a 1925 weatherboard. Check out the events calendar for a colourful line-up of local festivals and shows, including Eat Merimbula.

Shopping in Merimbula is relaxed and laid-back. The town’s shopping centre features fashion, homewares, kids stuff and goodies from around the world.

If accommodation is what you need then you’ll find something for every budget from the Merimbula Inn to more affordable B&Bs scattered throughout town.

There’s also plenty for kids to do with playgrounds scattered along Main Beach and Spencer Park just waiting for them to explore every inch of it.

You can find everything from interesting eateries like Dulcies Cottage which has been open since 1925 up until contemporary dining spots like Cafe 44 on offer here too.

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Onslow in Western Australia is a sleepy little town where people go to fish and to have quiet holidays by the sea.

It is a beautiful coastal town with a sunny climate and is the gateway to the Mackerel Islands. The best time to visit the area is from April to September. The peak season to stay at the Mackerel Islands is from March to October.

Many visitors to the Ningaloo region like to extend their holiday to explore Onslow and the Mackerel Islands. 

The quieter months provide some amazing nature experiences, especially turtle hatchings. It is warmer during this time and there is a risk of cyclone activity between November – April; however Onslow and the Mackerel Islands have tight procedures and policies in place should this occur during your stay.

Historically it was created as a mixture of pearling, farming and gold mining. Because it lies on the coast 82 km from the main North West Coastal Road, it is a true Cinderella. Only those who know of its charms tend to divert from the long journey from Perth to Broome.

Onslow is Cyclone City

Onslow has become known as ‘Cyclone City’ as, since its establishment in 1883, it has experienced major cyclones. The town was hit in 1909, 1918, 1926, 1934, 1953, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1975, 1995 and 1999. The 1963 cyclone had winds which were measured at 232 km/h. The cyclones have occurred with such regularity that they have had profound effects on the town. It was forced to relocate after the 1926 cyclone and the frequency of cyclones in the 1960s forced the reconstruction of the local jetty to be abandoned.

The town was founded and named after Sir Alexander Onslow (1842-1908), the chief justice of Western Australia in November, 1885. When it was moved a new town, called Beadon was gazetted and locals wanted the name to become Ashburton. However Onslow eventually won out.

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Barcaldine in Queensland has an interesting and famous history.  The name Barcaldine originates from the Oban region in Scotland and is pronounced bar-call-din.

Beginnings of the Australia Labour Party

Barcaldine is a hugely important and symbolic destination for visitors and travellers. If you are interested in the history of working people in Australia, you will find this fascinating. It was here in 1891 that shearers, confronted with lower pay, went on strike, joined together in a camp. They held meetings under “The Tree of Knowledge” – all played an important role in the formation of the Australian Labor Party.

Today the town celebrates its historic radicalism with:

• a Workers Heritage Centre,
• a Heritage Listed Shearers’ Strike Camp Site and
• a beautifully re-created ‘Tree of Knowledge’.

The History of the Tree of Knowledge

The Tree grew outside the Railway Station for about 180 years until 2006. It was when sadly, it was poisoned by an unknown culprit. The famous tree has been preserved and placed under an award winning structure. The structure gives the illusion of a canopy over the Tree. The best view of the Tree and the memorial is at night when it is beautifully lit by special lighting. A visit at night will be a highlight of your trip.

The town is central to the 53,677 square kilometres Barcaldine Regional Council. The Council includes the towns of Alpha, Jericho, Aramac, and Muttaburra.

Barcaldine is a great place to spend a few days experiencing, exploring and relaxing. Its rich history is on full display at the Barcaldine and District Historical Museum and the Australian Worker’s Heritage Centre.  The main street reflects the love of arts and culture by community members with murals, musical instruments, beautiful gardens and the windmill.

Take a stroll along Lagoon Creek or the Botanical Walk and be mesmerised by the native fauna and flora.

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Colac in Victoria is situated between Geelong and Camperdown on a huge rich volcanic plain. The area is mainly used for agricultural and pastoral purposes, and is surrounded by many large lakes and volcanic craters.

Colac is blessed with fertile volcanic soil

The fertile volcanic soil has helped produce an agricultural, pastoral and dairying district. The area is noted for its onions, potatoes, cattle, pigs, sheep and milk products. Colac is located on the southern shore of Lake Colac, one of more than 50 lakes in the district. It’s an ideal place for bushwalks, pleasant walks through the impressive Botanic Gardens and along the shore of the lake. It is also an ideal destination for those wishing to explore the beauty of the Otway Ranges and their forests.

Colac Town Centre

Colac’s busy commercial centre is primarily based around Murray Street. It features a few buildings of historical significance including:

• The post office (built in 1876),
• The Shire Hall (1879), and
• The former Regent Theatre (1925).

Fronting Murray Street within the heart of Colac is Memorial Square. This block of parkland has been dedicated to those who served in the First World War. It features a striking stone memorial, fountain, rotunda, playground, BBQ facilities and expanses of lawn.

Beautiful Lake Colac

Colac fronts the southern shores of Lake Colac – the largest natural freshwater lake in Victoria. This lake is popular with swimmers and boating enthusiasts. It includes a number of foreshore walking trails, jetties and boat ramps. There is a bird reserve in the wetlands off The Esplanade which attracts a diverse range of bird life to the lake. Located on the lake foreshore is the Tachyglossus mosaic which was developed by local artists and the community. It represents local indigenous flora and fauna and symbols of the region.

The Colac Botanic Gardens are perched on an elevated 12 hectare allotment above the lake and were established in 1910. The gardens contain many historical trees, shady picnic areas, a playground and cafe. From the gardens, scenic views across Lake Colac can be enjoyed.

Attractions beyond Colac

A short drive north-west of Colac, via the villages of Cororooke and Coragulac, is the Red Rock Scenic Reserve. A couple of lookouts provide views over the Red Rock extinct volcano and Lake Corangamite – Victoria’s largest inland lake. There are also good views south-east across farming land towards Lake Colac.

Access to the Great Ocean Road, the Great Otway National Park and Cape Otway from Colac is via the road south to Lavers Hill.

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Taree in New South Wales is a historic town on the banks of the beautiful Manning River. Nestled in the heart of the beautiful Manning Valley, this is an ideal place to enjoy cruises, boating fishing, and riverside walks. Delicious oysters are also farmed in the river and the nearby Great Lakes.

Established in 1854 as a private town, it was proclaimed a municipality in 1885 and a city in 1981. It derives its name from the Aboriginal tareebin, or tarrebit, referring to a local wild fig.

Taree is situated on the Sydney-Brisbane rail line and the Pacific Highway 80 miles (130 km) northeast of Newcastle. There is also a small regional airport. It is the principal city of the Manning River district, which yields dairy products, timber, fish, vegetables, and corn (maize). Industries include meat and dairy processing, sawmilling, the manufacture of wood products, and boatbuilding. Taree has a tourist trade based on the nearby mountains and coastal scenery. The city has a regional art gallery that hosts cultural programs and touring exhibitions.

The town is a major service centre on the New South Wales Mid North Coast. It is idyllically located at a point where the Manning River is wide and deep. The town is located 16 km from the mouth of the Manning River and is surrounded by rich rural farmland. This fertile land supports dairy farms, beef cattle, and the timber industry still prosper. It is an ideal place to stop and take a leisurely walk along the river or have a picnic in the riverside parklands.

You’ll find plenty of cafes, pubs and restaurants in Taree, serving fresh produce and seafood from the area. The Sicilian Restaurant offers inspired Italian dining experiences. The Manning River Hotel is a family-friendly hotel that serves hearty meals. Enjoy a meal after a round of golf at one of five courses.

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Derby in Western Australia is the ideal destination for a coast to outback gorge country adventure in one of the last true wilderness areas on Earth. It’s the western gateway to the legendary Gibb River Road – Australia’s unique four wheel drive experience – and a short hop to the horizontal waterfalls and the ancient canyons and caves of Tunnel Creek and Windjana Gorge.

A three hour drive north-east of Broome leads you to Derby and the land of the boab trees. With flights direct to Broome from Perth, Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane, it’s very accessible.

Derby – a pioneer in the Kimberley

Derby was the first town settled in the Kimberley. Since then its residents have embraced life beside the largest tidal movements in the southern hemisphere. With a variation of over 11 metres, these extreme tides have created the most extraordinary phenomenon, the Horizontal Waterfalls.

On a scenic flight, you can gaze in awe at this unique spectacle. You will also view the 1,000 islands and islets of the Buccaneer Archipelago. For a closer encounter, jump aboard a sea safari or crabbing tour departing from the jetty.

Heading 150 kilometres east you’ll enter the Kimberley’s Windjana Gorge, where you can cruise the Lennard River and marvel at the sheer 100 metre walls carved over hundreds of millions of years.

Continue on to Tunnel Creek and take a torch-lit walk through Western Australia’s oldest cave system. You are able to venture 750 metres into a subterranean world of bats and freshwater crocodiles.

The caves are also famous for being a hide-out for Derby’s local legend – Jandamarra, the Aboriginal outlaw. Leading a resistance group against European encroachment on tribal lands, he was eventually tracked down and killed near Tunnel Creek.

The Prison Boab Tree outside Derby dates back to the time of Jandamarra. During these times many Aboriginal prisoners were chained here en-route to the lockup. More insights can be found at Wharfinger’s House Museum and the Royal Flying Doctor Base and School of the Air.

Accommodation in Derby Western Australia includes:

Station stays,
Wilderness camps and lodges in stunning Kimberley landscapes, as well as
Hotel, motel, bed and breakfast and
Camping options.

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The town of Broome in WA is surrounded by the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean. White sandy of Cable Beach contrasts with the red rocks of Gantheaume Point and the sands of Roebuck Bay. Broome’s two main areas are Chinatown in the heart of old Broome, and Cable Beach, home to resorts and restaurants.

Broome’s natural environment draws visitors from around the world. The amazing turquoise waters and the intensely coloured red earth leave an indelible impression and continue to inspire artists and photographers. Roebuck Bay is a haven for thousands of migratory birds, and the waters around Broome attract fishing enthusiasts keen to try their hand at catching some of the tropical species.

Whales, dolphins and turtles all populate local waters. The dinosaurs that roamed the ancient lands have left their mark with their footsteps. You’ll find these preserved in reef rock in Roebuck Bay and along the coast towards the Dampier Peninsula.

Learn about the rough and tumble early days of pearling, when Broome’s name was known the world over for the size and quality of its mother of pearl, and browse the jewellery showrooms to discover the exquisite Australian South Sea Pearl. Evidence of the past can be seen around the town, including restored pearling luggers, the world’s oldest outdoor picture gardens and heritage buildings.

Broome is also the gateway to further adventure in the Kimberley region. Extended tours and cruises depart from Broome as well as car and campervan hire. 

When to travel to Broome WA

The warm and dry winter months, from May to October is the Kimberley’s Dry Season. This is the most popular time to travel. A smaller number of visitors choose to travel in the quieter months between November and April, during the Wet Season. Some tours and accommodation options may not be available at this time of year.

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Denham WA, is a seaside town an easy 2 hour flight north of Perth. Captain Henry Mangles Denham charted this region in 1858 aboard the HMS Herald and gave the town his surname.

Once a pearling port, this friendly coastal town is the main population centre (of approximately 1000 residents) of Shark Bay. It offers safe swimming beaches, restaurants, a golf course and the Monkey Mia Airport.

The seaside town, gateway to the Shark Bay area, provides many accommodation options for couples and families. The town has resorts and hotels plus campsites and tourist parks. Kids will love the shipwreck themed playground at Denham’s foreshore. They can then enjoy a nearby pontoon to jump off and swim around the bay.

Add a flip-flop, jandal or holiday footwear to the “Thong Shack” – ask a local where it’s located on Denham beach.

The 5km Nicholson Point trail meanders from Denham across shrub lands to Little Lagoon. Here you will find a large range of plant species and bird life. Denham’s Discovery Trail will take you past sites of interest in town, covering 2.3km.  

The shallow waters and summer winds make Shark Bay the ideal place for kite-surfing for beginners and experts alike.  Book a lesson or join a kite surfing safari, departing from Denham.  Divers are spoilt for choice in Shark Bay. The jewel in the crown has to be a day at Steep Point exploring Monkey Rock. The crystal waters of Dirk Hartog Island offer excellent snorkelling conditions.

Popular experiences available from Denham and it’s numerous boat ramps are:

• boating,
• diving,
• snorkelling,
• watching marine life,
• fishing (outside sanctuary zones),
• windsurfing and
• swimming.

The Shark Bay World Heritage Area was the first location in Western Australia to receive UNESCO status in 1991. The area meets four of the ten required natural criteria and remains one of only a handful of places in the world to achieve this high criteria status level. 

The colourful and diverse landscapes, rare flora and fauna and world-class examples of Earth’s ecological processes, all contribute to the region being World Heritage listed. The area contains plant species that are unique and considered new to science. Five of Australia’s 26 species of endangered Australian mammals, and 35% of all of Australia’s bird species live here.

The 12 species of seagrass found in Shark Bay cover over 4,000 square kilometres. This equates to approximately the size of the Perth metropolitan area! The seagrass supports a high diversity of fauna such as dolphins, fish, turtles and crustaceans. This sea grass is a vital food source for one of the most stable dugong populations in the world. Presently over 10,000 dugongs inhabiting the Shark Bay region.

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Jurien Bay in WA is a seaside resort town devoted to recreational fishing, tourism and professional cray fishing.

A very sleepy coastal village, the town became a major port from rock lobster fishing in the 1950s. This led, inevitably, to holiday makers. Today it is home to an impressive marina and popular with travellers wanting to enjoy the attractions of the area.

The town is situated at the southern end of Jurien Bay, which stretches over 9 km from Island Point at the south to North Head. The waters of the bay are sheltered by a string of islands and reefs which lie just off the coast.

The town has been built on low lying sand ridges beside the beach. It is characterised by holidaymaker and weekend angler cottages.

How did Jurien Bay get it’s name?

In 1801 a French expedition led by Thomas Nicholas Baudin and Louis-Claude Desaules de Freycinet mapped and named much of the coastline. Two ships – Le Geographe and the Casuarina – sailed up the coast of Western Australia. They mapped and collected samples of the local fauna and flora as they progressed.

Freycinet, a brilliant cartographic surveyor, took soundings and surveyed Jurien Bay. He named the bay after Charles Marie, Vicomte Jurien, of the French Naval Administration.

Why go to Jurien Bay?

This is a town where holidaymakers come to fish and swim on the superb and peaceful beaches. Most find it an enjoyable time away from more crowded holiday resorts.

For swimmers there is the quiet option of the beach at the marina/harbour. The more adventurous choose the surf beaches which stretch to the north and south of the town.

The area is characterised by beautiful white sandy beaches and quietness. This is ideal for families and those not wanting the hustle and bustle of more high profile beach destinations.

Learn more about Jurien Bay

There is so much to learn about, see, do and experience in Jurien Bay. Start with the Turquoise Coast Visitor Centre – it is an excellent resource for everything Jurien Bay has to offer!

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Narrandera in NSW is a substantial and gracious rural centre. It is positioned exactly halfway between Wagga Wagga and Griffith where the Sturt and Newell Highways intersect. Situated on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River it is enriched by its many historic buildings and cedar-lined streets. The town has been declared an urban conservation area by the National Trust. Tthe surrounding district has been developed as a conservation area for birds and koalas.

In Narrandera, part of the beautiful Riverina, you can visit koalas in their natural habitat. Enjoy the water? You can explore fascinating heritage and enjoy fishing, kayaking and swimming. There are orchard tours, cycling and walking trails by the river, and two of Australia’s iconic ‘big things’. 

The region is renowned for fresh produce, acclaimed wines, country charm. Natural attractions, including native animals and sandy beaches can be found on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River. 

Wildlife Encounters

For extraordinary wildlife encounters, the Narrandera Nature Reserve is the place to go. As part of the Murrumbidgee Valley National Park and home to hundreds of koalas. Known locally as the Koala Reserve, the koalas munch on the river red gums, and doze on branches overhanging the river. 

The fun and exciting events calendar includes the thrilling Narrandera Rodeo in February. Glimmering chrome fills Narrandera over Easter as vintage cars come to town for the annual Narrandera Rod Run Event. The tasty Narrandera Farmers’ Market is monthly.

For Aviation Enthusiasts

Whilst in Narrandera NSW don’t forget to visit the Tiger Moth Memorial, commemorating the RAAF No. 8 Elementary Flying School. 

In August 1940, an air school was established at Narrandera on the site of the present airport by the Royal Australian Air Force. The school was the No. 8 Elementary Flying Training School. Over the next five years during World War II, 3,818 pilots commenced their flying training on DH82 Tiger Moth Aircraft. 

The memorial features a DH82 Tiger Moth Aircraft as used at the training school. A comprehensive collection of model aeroplanes, and a range of photographic and other memorabilia can also be viewed..

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