Local Knowledge
Great Barrier Reef -
All the islands and a map
Whitsunday Islands
- the Vacation Capital of the World for those who love Paradise
in the form of white sand, turquoise waters and civilization
right nearby.
The comparative cost of some essentials of life.......
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Av. price in Australia US$
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$1.50 - $2 per Stubby at the Bar
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Local Trivia
* Australia is the world's largest island and the world's smallest, flattest,
lowest & driest continent (excluding Antarctica).
* The largest cattle station (ranch)
in the world, Strangeray Spring, is located in South Australia.
It's about the size of Belgium.
* Planning an engagement? Then you
need to plan a trip DownUnder. Why? Australia is the world's
largest diamond-producing country. The
Argyle Diamond Mine in the far north of West Australia, is
the world's largest diamond mine.
* Western Australia, with almost 21
thousand miles of coastline, is the largest state in the largest
island in the world.
* Why doesn't Qantas have a "U"
in it? It's an acronym for Australia's first airline: Queensland
And Northern Territory Air Service. By the way, that's our
local airline. They ran the world's first commuter air service
from Longreach (in the Far Outback) to Winton, just down the
track, in tthe early 30's.
* How many bolts are in the Sydney
Harbour Bridge? Four! The bolts hold the bridge to the stone
pylons on each end. Rivets are used on the rest of the bridge.
Crocodile Dundee (Paul Hogan) used to work as a painter on
the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
* Australia and Greece are the only
two countries in the world to have competed in every modern
Olympic Games. Melbourne is also the second largest Greek
city, after Athens!
* The highest average monthly temperatures,
and longest hot spells have been recorded at Marble Bar, in
the north of Western Australia, which has had 160 consecutive
days over 37.8ºC/(app)100F. In terms of average annual
temperatures, the hottest place is Wyndham, also in Western
Australia.
* The biggest stadium in Olympic history
- seating 110,000 spectators-is at Homebush Bay site of the
Sydney Olympics in 2000, which if you missed, you can get
out on video.
* Koalas, kangaroos, wombats and possums,
all carry their young (called Joeys) in a pouch. A Koala's
pouch is "backwards"-it faces down! Strong muscles
around the mother's pouch prevent her offspring from falling
out. She also makes several differnt milks in her poiuch -
one for the pre-born and one for the postg born Joeys. They
can hold thei embryos in suspension if there is a drought.
How far is it? (approximately)
Sydney-Cairns = Miami-Boston
Sydney-Perth = Los Angeles -Toronto
Melbourne-Adelaide = Dallas-New Orleans
Darwin-Alice Springs = Chicago-Denver
Melbourne-Sydney = San Francisco-San Diego
* Uluru (Ayres Rock) is 650 million years old, 5.5 miles
around, 2.2 miles long and 1.5 miles wide---Above the Surface!
Two thirds of the rock is below ground.
* Salt Water Crocodiles can grow up
to 20 ft long, weigh as much as 3 tons and live to be 75 years
old. When it wandered the planet with the dinosaurs 65 million
years ago it looked as it does today. Eats people like Jurrasic
Park !
* August to October whales heading
south to Antarctica with their calves rest at Platypus Bay,
Fraser Island, just north of Brisbane, Queensland. Amazing
day trips get you amongst the mothers and calves.
* The Sun Outdoor Picture Theatre in
Broome is the oldest operational outdoor movie theatre in
the world.
* Australia is approximately the size
of the Continental US, but contains total population about
equal to the population of the state of Texas.
Average daily high and low temperatures
around Australia in January. (F)
Darwin 90/77
Sydney 78/65
Melbourne 78/57
Brisbane 85/69
Perth 85/64
Adelaide 85/61
Courtesy of: Australian Tourist Commission,
Australia's Northern Territory Tourist Commission,
Queensland Tourist & Travel Corporation
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