Travel advice, ideas & expert tips

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…

Killen Falls near Ballina, New South Wales.

Killen Falls, Tintenbar: swimming, parking, walk and how to get there

Killen Falls on Emigrant Creek is a 15-minute drive from Ballina via Tintenbar, or a half-hour drive from Byron Bay via Bangalow and Newrybar. Once there, enjoy the swim. The most famous waterfall in the Northern Rivers region near Byron Bay is Minyon Falls in…

Broken Head Beach near Byron Bay, New South Wales.

Broken Head Beach, Byron Bay: swimming, surf and camping in the nature reserve

Broken Head Beach, Byron Bay, has lifeguard patrols in the summer holidays and occasionally good surf. You can camp just behind the beach at the Broken Head Holiday Park. Where is Broken Head Beach? Broken Head Beach near Byron Bay, New South Wales, is where…

Camel-riding on Birubi Beach, Port Stephens.

Birubi Beach, Port Stephens: camel riding, sand dunes and things to do

Camel riding in Port Stephens takes place at Birubi Beach in Anna Bay. Oakfield Ranch operates 20-minute Port Stephens camel tours during the day, plus special sunset camel rides on Fridays and Saturdays. Birubi Beach in Anna Bay, Port Stephens, is the main entrance point…

Trigg Beach in Perth, Western Australia.

Trigg Beach, Perth: surfing, rips and the infamous Blue Hole

In Perth's northern suburbs, Trigg Beach is one of the city's best surfing beaches. Swimmers should watch out for rips around Trigg Island, however — the beach is one of the most hazardous in Western Australia. Trigg Beach, Western Australia, is one of the best…

Cape Schanck walks, Victoria: boardwalk, lighthouse and Bushrangers Bay Track

The Cape Schanck walks at the southern end of Victoria's Mornington Peninsula include the boardwalk near the lighthouse and the 2.6km Bushrangers Bay Track. Cape Schanck at the bottom of Victoria's Mornington Peninsula is home to some of Australia's most dramatic coastal scenery. There are…

Thirroul Beach in Wollongong, New South Wales.

Thirroul Beach, Wollongong: surf, Olympic-sized pool and dog rules

Thirroul Beach is a surf beach in northern Wollongong with a free Olympic-sized saltwater pool next door. Swimmers should stay between the flags, and dog owners should check the timed rules. In northern Wollongong, Thirroul Beach offers good surf conditions, an Olympic-sized pool, a beach…