Noosa, Australia

Beautiful beech in Noosa.

Noosa is situated at the most exclusive end of the Sunshine Coast about 140 km (90 mi) north of Brisbane, and is an area where many celebrities have a home. It sits within a beautiful headland with the mouth of the Noosa River west of the town, a stretch of beach to the east, and the small but charming Noosa National Park covering the headland itself, an area of 23 sq. km (9 sq. mi).

Noosa has been popular with the surfing fraternity for about 40 years, since the big waves that crash into the headland first came to their notice. Today all kinds of water sports are pursued upon the river and its creeks as well, such as windsurfing, kayaking and jet skiing. It is an ideal place for boating, or you can just take it easy and go fishing at the river mouth.

Location map.

Main area.

The headland and cliffs in the national park rise to 200 m (660 ft.) and overlook sheltered bays and splendid ocean views. The park contains high dunes and coastal heath as well as different types of grasslands and scrub, forest and rainforest. In all, 13 separate plant communities have been defined in this small area, and various walking trails have been formed, such as the palm grove route and the coastal route. You may see koalas clinging to the eucalyptus but the main focus of the park’s diverse habitats is the 121 different species of bird that make their homes here.

Welcome to Noosa.

Noosa coastline.

Kakadu National Park, Australia

Kakadu National Park from the air.

Kakadu National Park is an area of 20,000 sq. km (7,720 sq. mi) lying about 150 km (90 mi) east of Darwin, and is the largest national park in Australia. It includes the whole of the South Alligator River, which is actually home to a large crocodile population, and various other habitats including heathland, eucalyptus woods and rainforest.

Two different species of crocodile live here — Johnston crocodiles, which live in fresh water and mainly eat fish, and estuarine crocodiles, which are a very different thing. These creatures are the largest reptiles in the world, and can live in both fresh and salt water. They can grow up to 6 m (20 ft.) in length, can be extremely dangerous and occasionally kill careless tourists.

Kakadu map.

The park is home to a huge range of flora and fauna — more than 10,000 species of insects, 25 per cent of Australia’s freshwater fish, kangaroos, wallabies, dingoes, water buffalo and many more. There are also about 5,000 sites of Aboriginal art, from many different eras. The town of Jabiru, on the eastern side, is near the Ranger Uranium Mine, and has a small airport from where it is possible to arrange scenic flights across the park in helicopters or light aircraft. The area is far too large to see in one day, but there are camping sites and resorts where you can base yourself for longer stays, and the Park Headquarters and Visitors Centre is full of useful information.

Aboriginal painting in Kakadu.

Wetland area.