TRAVEL TUESDAY 557 - LORD HOWE ISLAND, AUSTRALIA

“I thought to live on an island was like living on a boat. Islands intrigue me. You can see the perimeters of your world. It's a microcosm.” - Jamie Wyeth

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Located 780 km northeast of Sydney, Lord Howe Island is a UNESCO World Heritage-listed paradise. It limits tourist numbers to 400 at any one time to preserve its pristine environment. Accessible via a 2-hour flight from Sydney, the island is famous for its beaches, the world’s southernmost coral reef, and hiking trails.

Getting to the island is entirely by air. QantasLink offers daily, year-round flights from Sydney (under 2 hours). Additionally, Eastern Air Services operates flights and charters departing from Port Macquarie, the Gold Coast, and Newcastle. Once you arrive, there are no private cars, and most of the terrain is pedestrian-friendly. The primary mode of transportation is hiring bicycles or walking.

Because the island is relatively small (about 10 km long), everything is easily accessible. The best time to travel there is during the shoulder seasons—September to November and March to May. These months offer the perfect balance of warm, pleasant weather (averaging 20˚C to 22˚C) for hiking, while the ocean remains warm enough for swimming and snorkeling.

Home to more than 130 species of birds, it is a haven for birders. Highlights include seeing red-tailed tropicbirds performing courting rituals near the Malabar cliffs and watching countless shearwaters return at dusk. The trek up the towering Mount Gower is world-famous, offering breathtaking views of the subtropical landscape. You can drop into the Lord Howe Island Museum to learn about the region's unique biodiversity, history, and scientific specimens

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 552 - ULURU

“Since the beginning, Native Peoples lived a life of being in harmony with all that surrounds us. It is a belief that all humankind are related to each other. Each has a purpose, spirit and sacredness. It is an understanding with the Great Spirit or Creator that we will follow these ways. And in this understanding we believe we are related to all other living species.” - Denis Banks

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Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, is a large sandstone rock formation in the southern part of the Northern Territory, central Australia. It lies 335 km south west of the nearest large town, Alice Springs, 450 km by road. Kata Tjuta and Uluru are the two major features of the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park. Uluru is sacred to the Anangu, the Aboriginal people of the area.

The area around the formation is home to a plethora of springs, waterholes, rock caves and ancient paintings. Uluru is listed as a World Heritage Site. Uluru is an inselberg, literally "island mountain". An inselberg is a prominent isolated residual knob or hill that rises abruptly from and is surrounded by extensive and relatively flat erosion lowlands in a hot, dry region.

Uluru is also often referred to as a monolith, although this is a somewhat ambiguous term that is generally avoided by geologists. The remarkable feature of Uluru is its homogeneity and lack of jointing and parting at bedding surfaces, leading to the lack of development of scree slopes and soil. These characteristics led to its survival, while the surrounding rocks were eroded.

I took the this photo of Uluru on board a plane while we were flying to Singapore. Even at cruising altitude, we were thoroughly awe-struck by its sheer size and majesty. The weathering of iron-bearing minerals in the rock by the process of oxidation gives the outer surface layer of Uluru a red-brown rusty colour, making for spectacular photos at sunrise and sunset when the reddish sun accentuates the rock's colour.

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 551 - MT CONNER, NT, AUSTRALIA

“I was lucky enough to grow up in Western Australia and know that the Australian Outback is vast and spell-binding and heart-stoppingly beautiful, and the characters that inhabit it are unique and hilarious and tough and cheeky.” - Tim Minchin

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Mount Conner – also known as Artilla (or Atila), or tongue-in-cheek as Fooluru (or Fuluru) – is a mesa located in the southwest corner of the Northern Territory of Australia. Mount Conner is located 75 kilometres southeast of Lake Amadeus, in the locality of Petermann. It lies within the Curtin Springs cattle station in Pitjantjatjara country, close to the site of the Kungkarangkalpa (Seven Sisters) Dreaming. Its height reaches 859 metres above sea level and 300 metres above ground level.

Mount Conner was named after M. L. Conner by explorer William Gosse in 1873. Its Aboriginal name is "Artilla" or "Attila", believed to be associated with the "terrible ice-man" story. It is also known by locals as "Fool-uru" or "Fuluru", owing to tourists sometimes confusing it with Uluru. Former schoolteacher Ellis Bankin is thought to have mistaken Mount Conner for Uluru when he was travelling to the latter in 1936. He died and was buried near Mount Conner after suffering from exhaustion.

The summit of Mount Conner, along with the summits of low domes in the Kata Tjuta complex and summit levels of Uluru, is an erosional remnant of a Cretaceous geomorphic surface. It is considered to be a classic example of an inselberg created by erosion of surrounding strata.

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 550 - KATHERINE GORGE, NT, AUSTRALIA

“We from the south are becoming more and more conscious of the Northern Territory, and are realising what a remarkable future the Territory has... the people of the out-back work under difficult conditions, and their efforts; skill and cheerfulness will make the Territory a great producing area. You are not forgotten.” - Robert Menzies

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Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge is a stunning 13-gorge system carved by the Katherine River through ancient sandstone in Nitmiluk National Park, Northern Territory. Located 30 km northeast of the town of Katherine, it is celebrated for its towering cliffs, Aboriginal rock art, and diverse outback wildlife.

The best way to experience the area includes: River Cruises, that range from casual sightseeing, sunset dinner and to cultural cruises. Renting a canoe gives you the freedom to paddle through the serene gorges and swim in hidden spots. Helicopter scenic flights provide a spectacular aerial view of the entire gorge system. The park also features a variety of trails, including the multi-day Jatbula Trail and shorter walks to Sweetwater Pool.

The gorge is a 3.5-hour drive south from Darwin along the Stuart Highway. The best time to visit is during the Dry Season (April to October), which is ideal for swimming and canoeing, as the waters are placid and accessible. The Traditional Owners of the land are the Jawoyn people, with Nitmiluk translating to "cicada place" in their traditional language.

Katherine is the town in the Northern Territory closest to the Gorge. It is situated on the Katherine River, after which it is named, 320 kilometres southeast of Darwin. It is the fourth largest settlement in the Territory, it is known as the place where "The outback meets the tropics". Katherine had an urban population of 9,643 at the 2021 Australia Census.

Katherine is also the closest major town to RAAF Base Tindal, located 17 km southeast, and provides education, health, local government services and employment opportunities for the families of Defence personnel stationed there. In the 2016 census, the base had a residential population of 857, with only around 20% of the workforce engaged in employment outside of defence, the majority commuting to work in Katherine. Katherine is also the central hub of the great "Savannah Way" which stretches from Cairns in north Queensland to Broome in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 548 - MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA

“Railway termini are our gates to the glorious and the unknown. Through them we pass out into adventure and sunshine, to them, alas! we return.” - E. M. Forster

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Flinders Street Station is Melbourne's iconic central railway hub and a primary cultural landmark located at the corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets. Completed in 1909, its distinctive yellow facade and green copper dome make it one of Australia’s most recognisable buildings. Here is Platform 1, which is the longest railway platform in Australia and the fourth longest in the world, stretching 708 metres.

Flinders St Station serves the entire metropolitan rail network and regional V/Line services to Gippsland. It is the busiest suburban station in the Southern Hemisphere, handling over 1,500 trains and 110,000 commuters daily.

The third floor of the Station houses a grand, abandoned ballroom that was a popular dance hall in the 1950s and 60s. In the late 1980s, heating was installed under the stone steps at the main entrance of the Station to keep commuters warm while they wait. Local lore tells of a ghost named "George," often spotted holding fishing gear on Platform 10.

A row of 13 indicator clocks above the main entrance of Flinders St Station shows the next departure for each line. This is Melbourne's most famous meeting point, often accompanied by the phrase: “Meet me under the clocks.”

As of late 2025, the station connects to the new Town Hall Station via the Flinders Link underground walkway, allowing for seamless interchange with the new Metro Tunnel. The station includes takeaway kiosks (coffee, sushi, hot food), public toilets, and Travellers Aid for travel assistance. A historic hat shop  “City Hatters” located in the station since 1910, was originally the station master's office.

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 533 - SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

“Sydney in general is eclectic. You can be on that brilliant blue ocean walk in the morning and then within 20 minutes you can be in a completely vast suburban sprawl or an Italian or Asian suburb, and it's that mix of people, it's that melting pot of people that give it its vital personality.” - Baz Luhrmann

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Sydney is known as the Harbour City and with good reason as it is built around a magnificent natural harbour. It is the largest, oldest and most cosmopolitan city in Australia with an enviable reputation as one of the world’s most beautiful cities. It is full of history, culture, art, fashion, cuisine, design and within the city or a short distance from it are areas of great natural beauty.

The city is set next to kilometres of ocean coastline and sandy surf beaches. Recent immigration trends have led to the cities reputation as one of the most culturally and ethnically diverse cities in Australia and the world. The city is also home to the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, two of the most iconic structures on the planet. 

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 518 - MOOLOOLABA, AUSTRALIA

“All we need, really, is a change from a near frigid to a tropical attitude of mind.” - Marjory Stoneman Douglas

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Mooloolaba is a coastal suburb of Maroochydore in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. It is part of the Maroochydore urban centre. In the 2021 census, Mooloolaba had a population of 8,202 people. Mooloolaba is bounded on the east by the Coral Sea, on the south by the Mooloolah River, on the north by Alexandra Headland and to the west by Buderim.

Mooloolaba derives from the Aboriginal word mulu, meaning snapper fish, or mulla meaning Red-bellied Black Snake. Originally known as Mooloolah Heads, the name was changed to Mooloolaba by Thomas O'Connor in 1919 when he subdivided land for sale there.

Mooloolaba Harbour (near the mouth of the Mooloolah River) is the home of a large fleet of fishing vessels, as well as being the northern base for the pilot vessels that control shipping through Moreton Bay and the Port of Brisbane. Due to its sheltered location in the lee of Point Cartwright, it is an all-weather harbour favoured by recreational sailors.

The esplanade facing Mooloolaba beach is a centre for tourist activity, containing the Sea Life marine park, as well as many souvenir and clothing shops, bookshops, galleries and restaurants. Behind the apartments facing the Mooloolaba Beach are camping grounds, backpacker hostels and canal villas. It is also a tourism destination, with cruise ships regularly anchoring outside the port.

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ON THE BANKS OF THE MURRAY

“At the touch of love everyone becomes a poet.” - Plato 

This week, Poets and Storytellers United has as its theme “A Perfect Afternoon”. I am taking poetic licence here and saying that my perfect afternoon needs to extend into a perfect evening, and an even more perfect night. So humour me, please!

On the Banks of the Murray

Ohhhhh!
Such beauty,
All quiet,
On a still summer night…

On the banks of the Murray,
On a summer’s hot night.
There’s no need to hurry,
All the stars shine so bright.

On the banks of the river,
With you on my side,
And the moon solid silver,
All our secrets confide.

“I love you so”, I say
“I love you more”, you reply.
We look at the sky and we sigh,
And kind fate we obey.
Our lips no kiss will deny,
As our hearts upward fly.

On the banks of the Murray,
As the heavens rotate,
And the small hours scurry,
A gold morn’ we await.

On the banks of the river,
In a tender embrace,
We both warily shiver,
Lest the gods deny us grace.

“I love you so”, I say
“I love you more”, you reply.
We look at the sky and we sigh,
And kind fate we obey.

Ohhhh!
“I love you so”, I say
“I love you more”, you reply…

Here’s the poem set to music and you can find all my music in my “Otidorchestre” channel or listen to it on YouTube, Spotify,  Amazon, Deezer, Flo, Pandora, and other music sharing sites.

PS: Some of you have said that the song does not appear at the link site. Type: "Otidorchestre" and do a search. Sometimes there is a slight delay from my posting it to its publication at the music sharing sites. Generally YouTube is the most efficient.

TRAVEL TUESDAY 501 - MT HOTHAM, AUSTRALIA

"We build statues out of snow, and weep to see them melt." - Walter Scott

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Mount Hotham is a mountain located in the Victorian Alps of the Great Dividing Range, in the Australian state of Victoria. The mountain is located approximately 357 kilometres north east of Melbourne, 746 kilometres from Sydney, and 997 kilometres from Adelaide by road. The nearest major road to the mountain is the Great Alpine Road.

The mountain is named after Charles Hotham, Governor of Victoria from 1854 to 1855. Mount Hotham's summit rises to an altitude of 1,862 metres. Mount Hotham Alpine Resort, a commercial alpine resort, is located on the slopes of Mount Hotham summit and nearby mountains. Administratively, the mountain is within Mount Hotham Alpine Resort unincorporated area, land which is managed by Alpine Resorts Victoria. This unincorporated area is surrounded by Alpine Shire.

Snow occurs frequently and heavily, and sub-freezing maximum temperatures can be recorded throughout the year— even in high summer. However, due to frequent winter cloud and the mountain’s exposed position, a temperature below −10 °C has only once-occurred since records began in 1990. Mount Hotham receives an average of 66.1 snowy days annually. It is the coldest weather station on mainland Australia by maximum temperatures.

During the declared snow season (usually from the King's Birthday long weekend in June till the first weekend in October), the village and resort are busy with tourists. Visitors need to purchase an entry permit to enter the resort during winter. The resort entry fee contributes to essential services for guests around the mountain, including ski patrol, the free village buses, snow clearing of car parks in the village, waste management and environmental initiatives.

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 448 - PALM COVE, QLD, AUSTRALIA

“We evolved in a tropical climate where the smells of plants and flowers were all around us. We spent a lot of time in the trees with a lot of sunlight and no clothes.” - Helen Fisher

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Palm Cove is a beach community in Far North Queensland, Australia located 27 kilometres north of the city of Cairns. It is named after the palm trees that line the beach. At the 2006 census, Palm Cove had a population of 1,215.  Palm Cove is located in Far North Queensland on the Australian coast. Arlington Reef is the closest section of The Great Barrier Reef to Palm Cove being around 30 km offshore. The reef shelters the inshore waters from the Coral Sea swells creating relatively calm waters between the reef and the beach. To the west of Palm Cove is the Macalister Range National Park which is part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage area.

Since Palm Cove is located in a tropical climate, the average summer temperature is between 24˚C and 33˚C; average winter temperature is between 14˚C and 26˚C.  The major industry for Palm Cove is tourism. Palm Cove is also a tourist destination due to its proximity to the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. Palm Cove is the location of many world-renowned resorts and hotels such as the Drift Resort, Alamanda, the Mantra Amphora Resort, Peppers Beach Club, and the Reef House.

The pristine beaches and Palm tree lined paths are used by joggers, walkers and cyclists and netted life guard patrol swimming enclosures offer safe access to the sea all year round. The Palm cove jetty is one of the region’s most popular fishing spots where anglers regularly catch species such as mackerel, Giant Trevally or “G.T's” and shark.

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 437 - STORY BRIDGE, BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA

"Sometimes you get the best light from a burning bridge." -  Don Henley

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The Story Bridge is a steel cantilever bridge spanning the Brisbane River that carries vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian traffic between the northern and the southern suburbs of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is the longest cantilever bridge in Australia. The bridge is part of Bradfield Highway and connects Fortitude Valley to Kangaroo Point.

It is named for John Douglas Story (7 August 1869, Edinburgh, Scotland — 2 February 1966, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia). Story was a prominent Queensland public servant who entered the Queensland Public Service and was Under-Secretary for the Department of Education between 1906 and 1920. He was the Public Service Commissioner from 1920 to 1939. Story worked for the establishment of the University of Queensland and was a government representative on the University senate.

Before the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 1932 the Government of Queensland asked John Bradfield to design a new bridge in Brisbane. The Queensland Government appointed John Bradfield on 15 December 1933 as consulting engineer to the Bureau of Industry who were in charge of the construction of the bridge. In June 1934 Bradfield's recommendation of a steel cantilever bridge was approved. The design for the bridge was based heavily on that of the Jacques Cartier Bridge in Montreal, completed in 1930.

On 30 April 1935 a consortium of two Queensland companies, Evans Deakin and Hornibrook Constructions, won the tender with a bid of ₤1,150,000. Construction on the bridge began on 24 May 1935, with the first sod being turned by the then Premier of Queensland, William Forgan Smith. Until it was completed the bridge was known as the Jubilee Bridge in honour of King George V. It was opened on 6 July 1940 by Sir Leslie Orme Wilson, Governor of Queensland and named for John Douglas Story, a senior and influential public servant who had advocated strongly for the bridge's construction.

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 435 - FREMANTLE, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

“The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore.” - Vincent Van Gogh

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Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour is a commercial marina in Fremantle, Western Australia, adjacent to the more recently constructed Challenger Harbour. It provides large sheltered mooring areas, wharf space for vessels up to 60 metres, refuelling facilities and support services to the Fremantle fishing industry. The harbour was built in 1919 when a 300-metre breakwater was constructed to provide an anchorage for fishing vessels. South Jetty was immediately adjacent and included a fish market which was removed in 1929.

A southern breakwater was constructed in 1962 and land reclaimed to house fishing companies and service industries. Between 1969 and 1972, up to 120 fishing boats were housed in the harbour and in 1982, construction of a boat lifting facility commenced. Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour is now surrounded by a well established tourism precinct, and over a dozen restaurants and a brewery are immediately adjacent.

Western Australia`s early fishermen worked hard and often in dangerous conditions. They helped create an internationally respected modern industry and gave Fremantle much of its character and charm. There are two life-size bronze sculptures of fishermen, a map of the coastline showing traditional fishing grounds and a short history on the industry`s history. Twelve timber columns on the jetty carry the names of the 608 fishermen who pioneered the industry at Fremantle.

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 433 - ADELAIDE

“Summer in Adelaide: the nourishing and destructive golds, the soft fruit and the fire.” ― Kerryn Goldsworthy

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Unley Park is a southern suburb of Adelaide in the City of Unley. Its postcode is 5061. It is located on the north side of Cross Road and east of the Belair railway line. Access via public transport is from the Unley Park railway station and the Unley Road "Go Zone". 

It features Victoria Avenue—Adelaide's wealthiest street, containing many large and luxurious houses built between the two World Wars. Here is one of the stately mansions on Victoria Avenue.

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 431 - KANGAROO ISLAND, AUSTRALIA

"Two kangaroos were talking to each other, and one said, ‘I hope it doesn’t rain today. I hate it when the children play inside.'" - Henny Youngman

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Kangaroo Island is Australia's third-largest island, after Tasmania and Melville Island. It lies in the state of South Australia 112 km southwest of Adelaide. Its closest point to the mainland is Snapper Point in Backstairs Passage which is 13.5 km from the Fleurieu Peninsula. Once occupied by Australian Aborigines, the native population disappeared from the archaeological record when the land became an island following rising sea levels several thousand years ago.

It was subsequently settled intermittently by sealers and whalers in the early 19th century, and from 1836 on a permanent basis during the establishment of the colony of South Australia. Since then the island's economy has been principally agricultural, with a southern rock lobster fishery and with tourism growing in importance. The largest town, and the administrative centre, is Kingscote. The island has several nature reserves to protect the remnants of its natural vegetation and native animals, with the largest and best-known being Flinders Chase National Park at the western end.

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 427 - SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

“One of the great things about Sydney is that it has a great acceptance of everyone and everything. It's an incredibly tolerant city, a city with a huge multicultural basis.” - Baz Luhrmann

Welcome to the Travel Tuesday meme! Join me every Tuesday and showcase your creativity in photography, painting and drawing, music, poetry, creative writing or a plain old natter about Travel.
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Sydney is known as the Harbour City and with good reason as it is built around a magnificent natural harbour. It is the largest, oldest and most cosmopolitan city in Australia with an enviable reputation as one of the world’s most beautiful cities. It is full of history, culture, art, fashion, cuisine, design and within the city or a short distance from it are areas of great natural beauty, The city is set next to kilometres of ocean coastline and sandy surf beaches. Recent immigration trends have led to the city’s reputation as one of the most culturally and ethnically diverse cities in Australia and the world. The city is also home to the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, two of the most iconic structures on the planet.

The Greater Sydney area is a vast sprawling metropolitan area with the suburbs spreading up to 100km from the city centre. The traveller visiting the suburbs will find less crowded beaches, parks, cheaper shopping, commercial centres, cultural festivals, and hidden gems. The Eastern Suburbs are between the City and the sea, and include the world-famous Bondi Beach and other city beaches, which are strong drawcards for visitors and residents in the city during summer.   The City Centre is the busy centre of government and finance, but also home to many famous attractions, fine restaurants, and shopping. Just to the west of Circular Quay, is the Rocks, the first colonial village of Sydney and the iconic Harbour Bridge, which are now a cosmopolitan and touristic area.

Immediately to the west of the CBD is Darling Harbour, an extensive leisure and entertainment area. You can see restaurants, boardwalks, aquariums, wildlife, and museums by foot or with the public transport. In the City South district is the Haymarket, Chinatown and Central Station, being an area home to markets, cafes, Chinese culture and cuisine, and some cheaper accommodation and shopping. In the City East region, are Kings Cross, Darlinghurst, Surry Hills, Woolloomooloo and Moore Park. It’s here where you can sample the busy nightlife, trendy coffee shops, fashion and entertainment. The City West area is best seen in early morning, with a trip to the bustling fish markets, and then exploring the Powerhouse Museum, finding a maritime pub or visiting the Casino.

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 426 - NITMILUK NATIONAL PARK, AUSTRALIA

“We are all visitors to this time, this place. We are just passing through. Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow, to love… and then we return home.”

– Australian Aboriginal Proverb

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Nitmiluk National Park is in the Northern Territory of Australia, 244 km southeast of Darwin, around a series of gorges on the Katherine River and Edith Falls. Previously named Katherine Gorge National Park, its northern edge borders Kakadu National Park. The gorges and the surrounding landscape have great ceremonial significance to the local Jawoyn people, who are custodians of Nitmiluk National Park. In Jawoyn, Nitmiluk means "place of the cicada dreaming".

Katherine Gorge, a deep gorge carved through ancient sandstone by the Katherine River, is the central attraction of the park. Katherine Gorge is made up of thirteen gorges, with rapids and falls, and follows the Katherine River, which begins in Kakadu. During the Dry Season, roughly from April to October, the Katherine Gorge waters are placid in most spots and ideal for swimming and canoeing. There may be freshwater crocodiles in most parts of the river, as they nest along the banks, but they are harmless to humans.

Saltwater crocodiles regularly enter the river during the wet season, when the water levels are very high, and are subsequently removed and returned to the lower levels at the onset of the dry season. Thus, swimming in the Wet Season is prohibited, as crocodiles don't respond to swimmers' questioning them if they are fresh or saltwater ones. Cruises of various lengths go as far as the fifth gorge.

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 422 - ECHUCA, AUSTRALIA

“What, sir! Would you make a ship sail against the wind and currents by lighting a bonfire under her deck? I pray you, excuse me... I have no time to listen to such nonsense!” -  Emperor Napoléon Bonaparte (when told of the benefits of steamships).

Welcome to the Travel Tuesday meme! Join me every Tuesday and showcase your creativity in photography, painting and drawing, music, poetry, creative writing or a plain old natter about Travel.

There is only one simple rule: Link your own creative work about some aspect of travel and share it with the rest of us.

Please use this meme for your creative endeavours only. Do not use this meme to advertise your products or services as any links or comments by advertisers will be removed immediately.

Echuca is a town located on the banks of the Murray River and Campaspe River in Victoria, Australia, 214 km North of Melbourne. The border town of Moama is adjacent on the northern side of the Murray River in New South Wales. Echuca is the administrative centre and largest settlement in the Shire of Campaspe. At June 2022, Echuca had a population of 15,038. Echuca lies within traditional Yorta Yorta country. The town's name is an Aboriginal word meaning "meeting of the waters".

Echuca is situated close to the junction of the Goulburn, Campaspe, and Murray Rivers. Its position at the closest point of the Murray to Melbourne contributed to its development as a thriving river port city during the 19th century. By the 1870s Echuca had risen to prominence as Australia's largest inland port. Echuca was both a key river port and railway junction. Steam-driven paddleboats would arrive at the 400-metre long redgum Echuca Wharf, unloading it to be transported by rail to Melbourne. Wool, wheat, other grains, livestock and timber were the most common cargoes. The wharf has been listed as a Heritage Place on the Australian National Heritage List. This industrial boom led to a rapidly expanding population, at one stage in excess of 15,000, with more than a hundred hotels rumoured to exist in the Echuca district at one time.

An iron bridge was constructed over the Murray River in 1878 by the NSW Railways Department. The expansion of the railways from Melbourne to most parts of Victoria, as well as improvements to roads and fickle river conditions all combined to lessen Echuca's importance, and by the 1890s the paddle steamer fleet was in decline. An economic depression and the collapse of several banks virtually ended Echuca's role as a major economic centre, and its population began to disperse. Currently Echuca is a popular holiday destination all year round. Echuca is also a major regional service economy. Agriculture is very important to the region. Dairy, wheat, sheep, pig, and cattle farms are all within close proximity.

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 421 - SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

“Sydney is rather like an arrogant lover. When it rains it can deny you its love and you can find it hard to relate to. It's not a place that's built to be rainy or cold. But when the sun comes out, it bats its eyelids, it's glamorous, beautiful, attractive, smart, and it's very hard to get away from its magnetic pull.” - Baz Luhrmann

Welcome to the Travel Tuesday meme! Join me every Tuesday and showcase your creativity in photography, painting and drawing, music, poetry, creative writing or a plain old natter about Travel.

There is only one simple rule: Link your own creative work about some aspect of travel and share it with the rest of us.

Please use this meme for your creative endeavours only. Do not use this meme to advertise your products or services as any links or comments by advertisers will be removed immediately.

Sydney is known as the Harbour City and with good reason as it is built around a magnificent natural harbour, which is not only perfect for shipping, but gorgeous to look at from all angles. Sydney is the largest, oldest and most cosmopolitan city in Australia with an enviable reputation as one of the world’s most beautiful cities.

It is a city full of history, culture, art, fashion, cuisine, design and within its confines, or a short distance from it, are areas of great natural beauty. The city is set next to kilometres of ocean coastline and sandy surf beaches. Close by are mountains full of natural wonders, small, charming towns and everywhere a welcoming and easy-going population that is full of energy and joie-de-vivre.

Immigration trends have led to the city’s reputation as one of the most culturally and ethnically diverse cities in Australia and the world. The city is also home to the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, two of the most iconic structures on the planet.

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