Australia Australia is an amazingly diverse country. Its
multicultural society is comprised largely of immigrants from Europe and
Asia, but the country's Aboriginal minority has a very significant voice
as well. Many visitors are surprised to learn that Australia is almost
as large as the U.S. mainland in terms of geographic area. However, Australia's
vast expanse is inhabited by only about 20 million people, as opposed
to the 270 million that populate the U.S. The majority of Australia's
Sydney Opera House. (Sydney, Australia)
relatively small population is concentrated in the
major east coast cities of Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane, leaving
most of western and central Australia sparsely populated. As a result, there
is a lot of untouched, rugged and wild outback to explore!
Australia's most renowned icons include the rugged
red dust "Outback," the Sydney Opera House, the Great Barrier
Reef and Ayers Rock/Uluru. However, the traveler who ventures beyond these
touchstones will quickly learn that Australia has so much more to offer.
We invite you to come to Australia to experience its unique Aboriginal
culture, its cosmopolitan cities, its vast outback, its lush rainforests,
its island hideaways, its coral reefs and its beautiful beaches, some
of the most spectacular in the world. There will never be a dull moment
as you explore this vast and diverse land.
Sydney Sydney is often mistakenly identified as Australia's
capital. This confusion largely arises due to
Rugged cliffs near Bondi Beach. (Sydney, Australia)
Sydney's status as Australia's most globally visible
city and as a result of its host city role in the recent
Summer Olympic Games. While Canberra is actually Australia's capital, Sydney
is Australia's oldest settlement, the capital of New South Wales and Australia's
largest city, with approximately 4 million inhabitants. Sydney is truly
one of the world's most beautiful cities, sited on its spectacular harbor
with water views from almost every vantage point! Sydney life revolves around
the water, as evidenced by its famous surfing beaches, numerous sailing
venues, and the ferries that deliver the morning's commuters to their downtown
offices each day. Sydney also boasts two of the modern-day seven wonders
of the world - the Sydney Harbor Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. We invite
you to come on one of our Australian tours, where the thrills will include
an opportunity to tour the opera house and to climb the harbor bridge!
Darwin Although Darwin is the capital of the Northern
Territory, it is still a veritable "frontier town" with a transient
and small population base of approximately 90,000. Darwin has an incredibly
diverse population, with 45-60 ethnic groups represented. Its proximity
to Asia has resulted in a significant Asian population. This, in turn,
has led to strong identification with Asia and a large degree of racial
tolerance. As trade with Asia becomes more important to Australia, Darwin
is well placed to play a major role. Darwin is increasingly becoming known
as Australia's "Asian Gateway City".
Darwin is also the gateway
to the Australian region known as the "Top End," which includes
the
4WD crossing at Jim Jim Creek. (Kakadu, Australia)
famous Kakadu National Park and Litchfield National
Park. In addition, Darwin is the starting point for many outback safaris
to Western Australia and the Kimberleys. After Darwin was devastated by
Cyclone Tracy in 1974, much of the city was rebuilt in sturdy concrete designed
to withstand future natural disasters.
Kakadu National Park Kakadu National Park is one of Australia's most
famous outback destinations and merits an entry on the World Heritage
Commission list, in recognition of its natural and cultural significance.
Kakadu and its fantastic waterfalls and waterways is home to an amazing
array of birds, crocodiles, kangaroos, wallabies, wallaroos and barramundi.
In fact, it is estimated that as many as one-third of Australia's bird
species can be found here. Most of Kakadu (including some very valuable
uranium mines located on the eastern side of the park) is owned by local
Aboriginal communities who in turn lease it back to the Australian government
for use as a national park. There are innumerable Aboriginal rock sites
scattered throughout this important land, which displays 40,000 years
of Aboriginal culture and history. Kakadu is easily accessed from Darwin
by road or by air. However, Kakadu, at 125 miles by 60 miles Australia's
largest national park, is so huge that more than one day is needed to
fully enjoy it. During the rainy season, many of Kakadu's roads are impassable
by vehicle so the best time to visit Kakadu is during the dry season,
which lasts from April through September.
The Kimberleys The rugged Kimberley region, located at the northern
end of Western Australia, is one of Australia's last frontiers….one
of its last wilderness areas as yet unspoiled by mass tourism. It is incredibly
remote, sparsely populated and rife with beautiful rivers and spectacular
gorges. It is also home to the famous Bungle Bungle (Purnululu) National
Park, an amazing geologic formation comprised of hundreds of rounded outcroppings
striped like tigers in bands of orange (silica) and black (lichen). We
invite you to travel with us down the famous "Gibb River Road"
to visit its spectacular rivers, gorges and working cattle stations. The
wildlife indigenous to the region includes freshwater crocodiles, wallabies
and wallaroos. The Kimberleys is affected by the rainy season and, accordingly,
the most popular time to visit is during the dry season between April
and September.
Lake Argyle Lake Argyle is a body of water nine times the
volume of Sydney Harbour. It was formed by the
Adcock Gorge. (Kimberleys, Australia)
damming of the Ord River in the Carr Boyd Range.
Water from Lake Argyle is released into Lake Kununurra, which supplies the
irrigation channels needed by 80 or so Ord River farms.
Bungle Bungle National Park Known as "Purnululu" by the local Aborigines,
and located approximately 150 miles (250 kilometers) south of Kununurra,
Bungle Bungle National Park offers a remote wilderness experience. The
Bungle Bungle massif is an imposing sight. The orange and black stripes
across the beehive-like mounds are encased in a fragile skin of silica
and lichen.
Gibb River Road The rugged country traversed by the Gibb River
Road is punctuated at regular intervals by inviting
Bungle Bungles. (Kimberleys, Western Australia)
creeks, shady campsites, gorges and waterholes,
many of which we will visit on our tour.
El Questro Station More than 1,000,000 acres in size, El Questro
Station was originally a cattle station. However, it ceased its cattle
operations in 1991 and now operates as a tourist attraction offering a
truly outback experience.
Tunnel Creek Tunnel Creek, which flows through a water-worn
tunnel beneath the limestone of the Napier Range, forms part of the oldest
cave system in Western Australia. It is located 112 miles (180 kilometers)
from Derby. Our tour of the area will take us on a flashlight-aided wade
down the creek for about 0.6 miles (1 kilometer).
Broome Broome is a small outback town with a population
of approximately 10,000, situated on the northern coast of Western Australia.
Broome is known as a destination point for travelers coming from Darwin
bound for the rugged Kimberleys outback. Broome is also the former pearling
capital of the world and is known for its beaches, particularly Cable
Beach, renowned as one of the world's finest. Visitors to Broome should
not miss the opportunity to shop for some of its world-famous "Broome
Pearls" or "South Sea Pearls." A stay of a few days --
or even more -- in Broome will not leave you disappointed!
Tasmania As Australia's only island state, Tasmania was
originally settled as a British penal colony. Its location close to -
but still separate from - the Australian mainland made it an ideal location
for a convict settlement. Tasmania, with its rolling green hills, rugged
coastlines and spectacular mountains and forests, is a unique part of
Australia, often coming closer to resembling New
Port Arthur. (Tasmania, Australia)
Zealand or England than it does the rest of Australia.
Tasmania's isolation has helped to preserve its rich colonial heritage and
its beautiful wilderness areas. Tasmania's population is concentrated on
the north, east and southeast coasts, where the countryside is rich and
fertile and the coastlines are accessible. These parts of Tasmania have
old-fashioned farms and villages. The western and southwestern parts of
Tasmania are much more wild, wooded, rugged, untouched and, as a result,
very sparsely populated.
Hobart Hobart is the capital of Tasmania and Australia's
second oldest and southernmost capital city. Hobart has retained much
of its rich colonial heritage, including beautiful Georgian buildings
and a picturesque harbor lorded over by beautiful vistas of Mount Wellington.
Hobart has a very relaxed atmosphere, perhaps attributable to its small
population of approximately 125,000 people. Hobart is not like any other
Australian capital city; in many ways, it resembles English port towns
more than it does the modern cities of Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
Those visiting Hobart will come away with a unique understanding of Australia's
colonial past.
Freycinet Peninsula The Freycinet Peninsula, on Tasmania's magnificent
eastern coast, is an ideal location for adventure activities set in the
splendor of the spectacular granite peaks and pristine wilderness coastline
of Freycinet National Park. The Freycinet Peninsula is home to one of
Australia's most famous hikes, a trek that leads to the turquoise waters
of "Wineglass Bay" and its beautiful and secluded white sand
beaches. Visitors to the Freycinet area can also take a challenging hike
to the top of Mount Amos. Along the Mount Amos trail can be seen several
typical species of Australian
Group atop Mount Amos, Freycinet National
Park. (Tasmania, Australia)
wildlife, such as the Tasmanian devil, the wallaby,
the potaroo and the koala.
Cradle Mountain Located high in the mountainous terrain of northwestern
Tasmania, Cradle Mountain National Park has been recognized by the World
Heritage Commission as one of the most precious places on the planet.
Primeval forests, vast button-grass plains, soaring mountains and deep
crystal lakes are some of the scenic wonders that visitors to the region
can enjoy.
Alice Springs Alice Springs, with a population of approximately
25,000, is the largest town in the center of Australia. Alice Springs
was founded in 1870 as a staging point for the overland telegraph line,
although its present-day traffic is largely comprised of tourists visiting
nearby Ayers Rock (Uluru) and those passing through on trips between Darwin
to the north and Adelaide to the south. Alice Springs is truly an "outback
town," built in the 19th century on the banks of the Todd River,
which is generally only a dry riverbed. The river was named after Charles
Todd, an early Superintendent of Telegraphs in Adelaide, and the town
itself was named after Alice, his wife.
Ayers Rock / Uluru Ayers Rock/Uluru is a sacred site to the Anangu
Aboriginal people and is probably the most
Ayers Rock. (Red Centre, Australia)
famous icon of the Australian outback. A part of
the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, it is the second largest monolith in
the world. Ayers Rock is listed as a World Heritage Commission site not
only for its importance as a natural phenomena, but also for its cultural
significance.
Visitors have historically sought to climb Ayers Rock,
but in recent years a large number of visitors have respected Aboriginal
wishes and opted to observe the rock from the ground. Our guides will
give you all the relevant information so that you can make an informed
decision about whether or not you want to climb the rock. The gorgeous
sunrises and sunsets at Ayers Rock are not to be missed, but you should
be aware that, owing to its status as one of Australia's most visited
tourist destinations, the most popular viewing points are often frequented
by several large tour groups at any given time.
Olgas / Kata Tjuta The nearby Olgas/Kata Tjuta rock formations are
every bit as impressive, but not nearly as famous,
4WD action. (Red Centre, Australia)
as Ayers Rock/Uluru. The Olgas, comprised of some
26 domes, have even greater cultural significance to the Aboriginals. There
is absolutely no climbing permitted in the Olgas at the request of its Aboriginal
owners.
Kings Canyon / Watarrka Kings Canyon is nearly 900 feet (275 meters) deep.
A 4-5 mile (6-8 kilometer) walk around the canyon yields spectacular views
of the canyon, the surrounding desert and special features such as the
"Lost City," the "Amphitheater" and the "Garden
of Eden."
MacDonnell Ranges The MacDonnell Ranges form an imposing red barrier
for 250 miles (400 kilometers) across the vast central Australian plain,
extending in an east-west direction from Alice Springs in the center.
In the part that stretches 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of Alice Springs,
the MacDonnell Ranges offer spectacular landscapes and gorges.
Cairns Cairns, the northernmost major city on the eastern
coast of Australia, is situated right in the middle of it all. To Cairns'
north lie the rainforests of Cape Tribulation and Daintree National Park,
to its west lies the rugged outback, to its south lie the impressive Atherton
Tablelands, and in the ocean to the east lurks the world-famous Great
Barrier Reef.
Atherton Tablelands Shaped by ancient volcanic activity in
the mountain ranges surrounding Cairns, the Atherton Tablelands is a mosaic
of lush tropical rainforest and rolling farmland, dotted with volcanic
lakes and beautiful waterfalls. The tablelands are located approximately
43 miles (70 kilometers) southwest of Cairns.
Cape Tribulation Cape Tribulation is a remote community located
in the heart of the Daintree National Park, 93
Diving with giant cod at Cod Hole (Great
Barrier Reef, Australia).
miles (150 kilometers) north of Cairns. Cape Tribulation
has gained renown as the place where many rare and primitive rainforest
plant species have been first identified. It is also the only place in Australia
where the Great Barrier Reef meets the Tropical Lowland Rainforest.
Daintree National Park The Daintree is Australia's oldest living rainforest,
home to plants and animals that have not changed in 100 million years
or more! The rainforest is the home of the Gugu Yalandji Aboriginal people.
It received its European name in honor of Sir Richard Daintree.
The Daintree River flows, from its origin in the mountains
of the Daintree National Park, for more than 60 miles (100 kilometers)
eastward to the Coral Sea. Visitors explore this beautiful river with
its mountain backdrop by guided boat cruise, searching for wildlife such
as birds and estuarine crocodiles along the way. It is also home to the
most diverse mangrove system in Australia, making it a popular rest-stop
for many species of migratory birds.
Mossman Gorge Mossman Gorge is located in the southernmost tip
and most accessible part of the Daintree National Park. The gorge is a
popular destination for day-trippers who want to explore the rainforest
and swim in the postcard-perfect crystal clear waters.
Port Douglas Originally established as a port to service the
gold-fields north of Cairns during the late 19th century, Port Douglas
is now a vibrant township with a holiday atmosphere. The streets are lined
with colorful shops, cafes, and restaurants.
Great Barrier
Reef The Great Barrier Reef, comprised of nearly 3,000
different reefs, is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. It
is the largest living organism on earth. The reefs of the Great Barrier
Reef form a chain hugging the northeast coast of Australia, stretching
for 1,200 miles. In fact, the Great
Relaxing on the dive boat. (Great Barrier Reef,
Australia)
Barrier Reef Marine Park is close to half the size
of Texas! The oldest sections of the Great Barrier Reef are as many as 10,000
years old. The reefs sit on a shelf, with an average depth of 130-180 feet
(40-60 meters), perched on the edge of the continental drop to the deep
ocean floor. This national treasure, which has been declared a World Heritage
Area, is home to over 400 species of coral, 4,000 species of mollusk and
1,500 species of fish.
Our Great Barrier Reef trips depart Cairns for the
cruise to Lizard Island to the north. A typical three-night expedition
travels along the outer Great Barrier Reef, beside a section of ten reefs
known as the Ribbon Reefs. These reefs are closely grouped and form a
narrow chain offering the very best of Great Barrier Reef diving. The
culmination of the expedition will be at the legendary Cod Hole, which
is home to a family of large potato cod and Maori wrasse.
From June through August, Minke whales are seen on
most every expedition. These curious creatures approach moored vessels,
making close passes at divers. There is no need to swim in search of them
- they will approach the patient diver. Humpback whales are also regulars
in July and August. In November, and sometimes even into December, the
incredible orgy of mass coral spawning occurs. If we are fortunate enough
to witness that phenomenon, we will all agree that we have witnessed a
sight never to be forgotten.
Coral Sea Outside the Great Barrier Reef, where the ocean
floor drops to depths of over 3,250 feet (1,000 meters), lies the Coral
Sea. Approximately 150-200 miles from the shore of the Australian mainland,
sheer, isolated and remote pinnacles of reef rise to the surface of the
sea. The underwater visibility in the area is astonishing, with average
visibility ranging as high as 120 feet (40 meters). The vertical walls
of these pinnacles, plunging down towards the ocean floor, are
Diving with Coral. (Coral Sea, Australia)
encrusted with plate and stag horn corals clouded
by small anthias and damsels. The sheer walls, sporting huge mammoth gorgonian
fans and large soft coral trees, witness the occasional shark cruising by
in reconnaissance mode.
Many of the reefs have sheltered lagoons or sand cays
that allow for calm anchorages. The cays serve as havens and nesting sites
for four species of turtles and many birds, including boobies, noddies
and terns. Turtle mating and nesting starts in October, and the first
of the hatchlings appear in January and February.
Few dive boats venture to the Coral Sea. Our expeditions
depart weekly throughout the year from Townsville and travel through the
night to reach the Flinders Reef complex. The Flinders Reef adventure
builds to a climax with a shark dive at the Scuba Zoo, thus ending a diving
experience packed with a wealth of marine life.
Yongala Wreck The Yongala was a luxury passenger freighter that
sank in a cyclone in 1911, resulting in the loss of 121 lives. It lies
on its starboard side at a depth of 100 feet (30 meters), with the uppermost
deck only 50 feet (15 meters) below the surface. The wreck is in excellent
condition, with 75% of the deck and hull structure intact. It is protected
by Australia's Historic Shipwrecks Act. Most divers agree that the wreck
provides a concentration of large exotic marine life unlike any they have
ever seen. Huge schools of fish, giant bull rays, eagle rays, turtles,
sea snakes, shovel nose sharks and bull sharks are among a myriad of other
marine life that congregate at the Yongala wreck.
People Australians enjoy a relaxed, open-air lifestyle
that is evident in the warm welcome they extend to all visitors to their
country. Australia, settled as a European convict settlement in the 1800's,
has
Our guides. (Australia)
evolved into a modern society with a population
of about 18.8 million people, highly concentrated in the east coast cities
of Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane. Most of the center and western
part of Australia is sparsely populated.
Australia is a multicultural society, comprised primarily
of immigrants and their descendants. Before World War II, the Australian
population was primarily made up of Europeans and native Aboriginal indigenous
peoples. In recent decades, however, there has been an increase in Asian
migration, including a significant influx of Vietnamese refugees after
the Vietnam War. The Aborigines currently comprise a small portion of
the population, only about 1 or 2%. In recent years, the Aboriginal people
have successfully reclaimed land taken decades and centuries earlier by
the white settlers. In some cases, this has resulted in friction between
Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians.
Temperature/Weather Australia's weather can be quite hot during the
summer months (December - February), yet it still
Campfire. (Australia)
remains quite mild during the winter months of June
through August. In this regard, Australia's climate is quite similar to
that of California - hot in the summer, and not too cold in the winter.
Certain areas of Australia (largely the "Top End" areas around
Cairns, Darwin and Broome) are plagued by an annual rainy season during
the Australian summer (which is the U.S. winter). During the Top End's rainy
season, the dangerous "box jellyfish" are out at the beaches and
the outback roads are virtually impassable. These months are excellent times
to outback in the "Red Centre" or to disappear into the wilds
of Tasmania. At other times of the year, we highly recommend a visit to
the "Top End" and the "Kimberleys" for the ultimate
outback experiences and interactions with local Aboriginal people.
Reading List In order to make the most of your trip to Australia,
the following reading lists will help you gain a better understanding
of the landscape, culture and people. Here you can also purchase any books
you might need for your Global Adrenaline trip!
Global Adrenaline, Inc.
1640 North Wells Street, Suite 207
Chicago, Illinois 60614
USA
Tel: +1-866-884-5622 (toll free in USA)
Tel: +1-312-863-6300 (outside USA)
Fax: +1-312-873-4440
Email: info@GlobalAdrenaline.com
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