Travel advice, ideas & expert tips

One of the Murrays Beach sea caves in the Jervis Bay Territory.

Murrays Beach, Jervis Bay: white sand, calm water and the walk to Governor Head Lookout

Murrays Beach in Booderee National Park is a sheltered, north-facing beach of white sand and calm water. A short bush walk leads to Governor Head Lookout, with views of the Bowen Island penguin colony. Why visit Murrays Beach in Jervis Bay? Jervis Bay is known…

Walking at Cape Woolamai, Phillip Island.

Cape Woolamai walks, Phillip Island: Pinnacles, Beacon and Old Granite Quarry

Three signposted clifftop walks at Cape Woolamai combine into an 8km circuit of the Pinnacles, the Beacon and the Old Granite Quarry. From late September to April, up to a million shearwaters nest along the route. The best Cape Woolamai walks on Phillip Island head…

Squeaky Beach on Wilsons Promontory, Victoria, Australia.

Squeaky Beach, Victoria: why the sand squeaks and how to get there

Squeaky Beach in Wilsons Promontory National Park has fine white quartz sand that squeaks underfoot. The beach is unpatrolled, and the surf can be dangerous. Squeaky Beach, Victoria, is one of the most stunning beaches in Australia. Inside the Wilsons Promontory National Park, Squeaky Beach…

Stanwell Park Beach in Wollongong, New South Wales.

Stanwell Park Beach, Wollongong: rips, surfing and paragliding from Bald Hill

Stanwell Park Beach is the northernmost patrolled beach in Wollongong, New South Wales. It offers strong surf, serious rips and tandem paragliding from Bald Hill. Where is Stanwell Park Beach near Wollongong? Stanwell Park Beach north of Wollongong, New South Wales, is one of the…

The ocean pools at Austinmer Beach, Wollongong.

Austinmer Beach, Wollongong: ocean pools, parking and rip warnings

Austinmer Beach is a compact Illawarra surf beach with two rock pools and a children's playground. It is a short walk from the train station, but swimmers must stay between the flags. How to get to Austinmer Beach from Austinmer Station Austinmer Beach, NSW, is…

Karen the koala at Caversham Wildlife Park near Perth in Western Australia.

Are koalas stoned?

The stoned koala myth may be amusing, but it’s not true. Koalas sleep for so long because their diet isn’t very nutritious. Why koalas are harder to spot than kangaroos Of the two blue riband Australian cute animals, koalas are considerably harder to spot in…

Richmond, Virginia, from the James River.

Washington DC to Richmond VA drive: Distance, time & best stops

Great road trip stops on the Washington DC to Richmond VA drive include the Arlington National Cemetery, Fredericksburg VA and Kings Dominion. The distance from Washington DC to Richmond by car is 109 miles, with a 1h46m driving time. The Washington DC to Richmond drive…

Cape St George Lighthouse, Jervis Bay: the story of Australia’s most cursed lighthouse

The sandstone ruins of the Cape St George Lighthouse in Booderee National Park are peaceful today, but they hide a grim past. Built in the wrong place in 1860, the lighthouse brought shipwrecks and family tragedies. The sandstone blocks of the Cape St George Lighthouse…

Fort Christian in Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas.

Fort Christian, Charlotte Amalie: Ticket prices, hours & parking guide

Updated in November 2026, this Fort Christian guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking, transport, accessibility and what to see. Fort Christian is a 17th-century Danish fort and museum on the waterfront in Charlotte Amalie, on St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. Admission is…

Blackbeard’s Castle, Charlotte Amalie: Ticket prices, hours & parking guide

Updated in November 2026, this Blackbeard's Castle guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking, transport, accessibility and what to see. Blackbeard's Castle is a 1679 Danish watchtower and National Historic Landmark on a hilltop above Charlotte Amalie, on St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands,…