Avalook at Australia News

Issue Number 7, 14 January 2000

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ISSN 1443-0797

Editors: Eric Lindsay and Jean Weber
info@avalook.com.au

In this issue...

Places: Cape York Peninsula
Transportation: Australian railway timetables
Birdwatching Australia
The official word on visiting or migrating to Australia
The official word on Australian customs requirements
Odd places: Paronella Park
Australian science and technology on the Internet
Odd stuff: Brisbane stories
Queensland houses
Subscription information

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Places: Cape York Peninsula

The Cape York Peninsula is located in the northeastern corner of Australia, starting a bit south of Cairns and extending about 750 km to its tip in the north. It covers about 207,000 square kilometres -- a little smaller than the state of Victoria! The Coral Sea is to the east of the Peninsula, the Torres Strait to the north, and the Gulf of Carpentaria to the west.

Cape York is one of Australia's few remaining large wilderness areas, with few inhabitants or facilities. Access is by dirt road, air, or (along the coast) sea. The numerous rivers vary from almost dry in May-November to overflowing in December- April, when the road to the Cape becomes impassable.

We've added a lot of information to our page about Cape York:

http://www.avalook.com.au/northqld/capeyork.htm

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Transportation: Australian railway timetables

Thinking of travelling around Australia by train? This item is now part of the Land Transportation page.

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Birdwatching Australia

A directory of Australian birdwatching tours, clubs, freelance guides, bird-oriented accommodation, and reference information. Includes recommended books and ordering info. Looks like a great site, if you're interested in birds.

http://www.ausbird.com/

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The official word on visiting or migrating to Australia

The Australian Department of Immigration has a website with sections on visas for visitors, immigrants, workers, business people, self-funded retirees (from other countries) wanting to live in Australia, and related matters. Note: the rules change frequently, so check this site if you've found in the past that you are ineligible for the type of visa you want.

http://www.immi.gov.au/

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The official word on Australian customs requirements

You can find the Australian Customs Service website here:

http://www.customs.gov.au/

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Odd places: Paronella Park

A strange but fascinating place, situated on the old road (Bruce Highway) between Tully and Innisfail, North Queensland.

The park was started by a Spanish immigrant in 1929. He and his wife built a house, a castle, a grand staircase down to the river, and a lovers' tunnel and hall. The park was opened to the public in 1935 and was quite successful. Some of the concrete-block constructions are now overgrown with moss and other rainforest plants, and have a somewhat spooky appearance.

The park has been used as a location for various films and TV shows, and the hydroelectric power system still works. It's now associated with a caravan park, campground and tearooms. We think it's well worth a visit, but be warned that it's located in one of highest-rainfall areas of Australia, so your photography might suffer. On the other hand, the rain adds to the ambience of the rainforest setting.

Find out more from their website, or make a booking through their email address:

http://www.paronellapark.com.au
info@paronellapark.com.au

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Australian science and technology on the Internet

This part of the National Library site is a comprehensive index of Australian science-related sites. It covers universities, journals, and research centres in every discipline. The site is pitched more at the serious scientist or student than the general public.

http://www.nla.gov.au/oz/sciencew.html

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Odd stuff: Brisbane stories

For something quite different, try this site, which looks at the lives of Brisbanites, from environment to books to art galleries to boats to how people live, this is definitely not your usual "tourist" site.

http://brisbane-stories.powerup.com.au/

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Queensland houses

For some more of the "real Australia" try this Queensland Museum site. The old-fashioned "high-set" Queensland house (so called because it's perched on 8-foot-high posts) was built that way to get above floods and keep out vermin. The laundry room (and sometimes the bathroom and toilet) are usually on the lower level and built of concrete blocks, thus providing a handy cyclone shelter for the family. Many people survive quite severe cyclones by hiding in the laundry while the house above blows away or falls down around them.

Restored "Queenslanders" are quite beautiful and often ornate.

http://www.Qmuseum.qld.gov.au/

While you're at this site, you could wander around and check out some of the other interesting material the Queensland Museum is making available.

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© Copyright 2000-2002 Eric Lindsay and Jean Weber. All rights reserved.

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