Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
take the easier shady route along
the bottom. Don't forget your lip-
stick, guys. See “Kings Canyon” in
chapter 7.
•
The Northwest Cape
(WA): This
treeless moonscape of red anthills,
spiky spinifex, and blazing heat
seems to go on forever, so it's all
the more amazing to find a beau-
tiful coral reef offshore. Drive the
rugged hills in a four-wheel-drive,
dodging kangaroos on the way;
swim with giant manta rays;
snorkel right off the beach; scuba
dive coral outcroppings; and laze
on blindingly white beaches. This
is where the Outback meets the
sea. See “The Midwest & the
Northwest: Where the Outback
Meets the Sea” in chapter 9.
•
Coober Pedy
(SA): It may be hot
and dusty, but you'll get a true
taste of the Outback as you tag
along with the local mail carrier as
he makes his rounds to the area's
remote cattle stations (ranches).
It's a 12-hour, 600km (372-mile)
journey along sun-baked dirt
roads. See “Outback South Aus-
tralia” in chapter 10.
5 The Best Beaches
•
Palm Beach
(Sydney): At the end
of a string of beaches stretching
north from Sydney, Palm Beach is
long and white, with good surfing
and a golf course. See chapter 3,
“Sydney.”
•
Hyams Beach
(Jervis Bay, NSW):
This beach in off-the-beaten-path
Jervis Bay is said to be the whitest
in the world. You need to wear
sunblock if you decide to stroll
along it, because the reflection
from the sun, even on a cloudy
day, can give you a nasty sunburn.
The beach also squeaks as you
walk. See “South of Sydney Along
the Princes Highway” in chapter 4.
•
Four Mile Beach
(Port Douglas,
QLD): The sea is turquoise, the
sun is warm, the palms sway, and
the low-rise hotels starting to line
this country beach can't spoil the
feeling that it is a million miles
from anywhere. But isn't there
always a serpent in paradise? In
this case the “serpents” are north
Queensland's seasonal, potentially
deadly marine stingers. Come
June through September to avoid
them, or confine your swimming
to the area in the stinger net the
rest of the year. See “Port Douglas,
Daintree & the Cape Tribulation
Area” in chapter 6.
•
Mission Beach
(QLD): Azure
blue water, islands dotting the
horizon, and white sand edged by
vine forests make this beach a real
winner. The bonus is that hardly
anyone comes here. Cassowaries
(giant emulike birds) hide out in
the rainforest, and the tiny town
of Mission Beach makes itself
invisible behind the leaves. Visit
June through September to avoid
marine stingers. See “The North
Coast: Mission Beach, Townsville
& the Islands” in chapter 6.
•
Whitehaven Beach
(Whitsunday
Island, QLD): It's not a surf
beach, but this 6km (3
3
⁄
4
-mile)
stretch of white silica sand on
uninhabited Whitsunday Island is
pristine and peaceful. Bring a
book, curl up under the rainforest
lining its edge, and fantasize that
the cruise boat is going to leave
without you. See “The Whitsun-
day Coast & Islands” in chapter 6.
•
Surfers Paradise Beach
(Gold
Coast, QLD): Actually, all 35 of
the beaches on the 30km (19-
mile) Gold Coast strip in south
Queensland are worthy of inclu-
sion here. Every one has sand so
clean it squeaks, great surf, and
fresh breezes—ignore the tacky
high-rises. Surfers will like
