October 23rd, 2006

Crikey! Poor Steve!

Before his untimely death that rocked Australia as a nation, Steve and his wife Terri Irwin set up an organisation called Wildlife Warriors to help wildlife in Australia and overseas. As in all of the press here today- Terri and their daughter Bindi Irwin are continuing the conservation work and their zoo.

If you are looking for a way to pay tribute to the passing of a crazy nutter- who loved his animals and did indeed bring their conservation to the public eye…you can make an online donation to their organisation via www.wildlifewarriors.org. Alternatively, call 1800 334 350 (international +61 7 5436 2026) or email donations@wildlifewarriors.org. Read the rest of this entry »

October 23rd, 2006

Sydney- Crown Street in Surry Hills

Surry Hills is one of those challenging areas of a big city. Fun shops- bohemian cafes well kept areas… right next to the areas you shouldn’t go alone late at night. The neighborhood is developing an arty feel and emerging from it’s seedy reputation…. slowly.

Crown street- is an area worth an afternoon wander. Benzin Thai- featured earlier, is located on Crown. Fun second hand stores, café’s, ethnic eateries, boutique shops and a few old buildings of historic significance line the sidewalks. Read the rest of this entry »

October 22nd, 2006

Achtung! Upcoming Music Festivals!

Legs 11 http://www.legseleven.com.au/
27 October –The Domain- $74 plus booking
Support Breast Cancer and have an upmarket festival experience- Sarah Blasko, Tex Perkins

Homebake http://www.homebake.com.au/
2 December- The Domain- already sold out

Festival of the Sun http://www.fotsun.com/
15-16 December- Port Macquarie- $95
Augie March, The beautiful girls and more- laid back and you can camp on site!

Peats Ridge- http://www.peatsridgefestival.com.au/home.asp
29 Dec- 1 January Glenworth Valley- $150
Only festival that promotes sustainability- the event is run on biodiesel! Food boths have organic produce.

The Big Day Out http://www.bigdayout.com/
27th January- Sydney and other cities …sold out… kind of
The violent femmes, Tool… HUGE festival. you can go online and sign up for a lottery. Every Thursday- they will draw another 1000 people who can only purchase 2 tickets. The lengths people have to go to thwart scalpers!

October 22nd, 2006

BlueBelle Cafe and Cottage Nursery, DeepWater, NSW ‘Bring us a Shubbery!’

Adorable! Fresh Baked Goods! Locally made Art! Clean Toilets! All of the perfect reasons to take a Driver Reviver stop at the BlueBelle Café and Cottage Nursery in Deepwater, NSW.

DeepWater is a tiny little village between Glen Innes (Celtic Standing Stones) and Tenterfield (wineries) in the Northern part of NSW known as New England. A cheery pot bellied stove kept court over the dining room which was overrun by stuffed animals, paintings, preserves, marinated olives, and linens- all locally made. Read the rest of this entry »

October 22nd, 2006

Australian Tourism Funnies! Watch out for the Drop Bears!

The questions below about Australia are from potential visitors. They were posted on an Australian tourism website and the answers are the actual responses by the website officials, who obviously have a sense of humour.

Q:Does it ever get windy in Australia? I have never seen it rain on TV, how do the plants grow? (UK).
A: We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around watching them die.

Q: Will I be able to see kangaroos in the street? (USA)
A: Depends how much you’ve been drinking.

Q: I want to walk from Perth to Sydney -can I follow the railroad tracks? (Sweden)
A: Sure, it’s only 3000 miles, take lots of water.

Q: Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Australia? (USA)
A: A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe. Aus-tra-lia is that big island in the middle of the Pacific which does not… oh forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in Kings Cross ……Come naked. Read the rest of this entry »

October 20th, 2006

Australia Forum Threads for the week of October 16, 2006

Check out these topics currently being discussed on the Australasia forum at BootsnAll:

• Anyone who’s not from Australia thinks those kangaroos are just soooo cute… Until they jump out in front of your car at night, that is. Kings of the Sun points out that “kangaroos can pack more than a punch!” It’s certainly something to be aware of if you’re driving late at night!
• Lancashirehotpot may have been joking when he said he wanted to get from Sydney to Melbourne by donkey, but he is looking for some comparison info on taking the train or the bus.

Please contribute your thoughts and comments to these threads! And if you’re not already a member, sign-up here - it’s free!

October 18th, 2006

Tenterfield NSW Food and Wine Festival

November 4th, 2006 “Pop the cork raise your glass & salute great tasting wine and food!” Apparently it isn’t just good food month in Sydney! If you are going to be anywhere near Tenterfield NSW…don’t miss this event! Tenterfield has been one of my favourite little country New South Wales towns. I spent some serious quality time at two of the local vineyards where the were so hospitable and the wines were so nice- I went into buy a few bottles of wine and ended up with 2 cases! Tenterfield is in far north NSW. It is tidy, cute, vibrant, and definitely worth a visit!

www.tenterfieldfoodandwine.org.au

November 5th- Dragonfly Centre for Health and well being is offering “Pamper Day” in conjunction with the festival. Massages, yoga, pedicures, and a vegetarian picnic lunch are only a few things on offer- for more information call 02 6736 5598

November 5th The Tenterfield Golf Club is also offering a Sunday Golf Special. $10 per person for 18 holes! call 02 6736 1480.

November 11th Kurrajong Downs Winery is hosting their “Twilight in the Vines” featuring Paul Griffith and his 15 piece Big Band. Tickets on sale at the visitor center- 02 6736 2900.

October 18th, 2006

Save Graythwaite! A few off the beaten path ideas to enhance your travel experience: North Sydney

Go to www.graythwaite.org.au and add your support! The only green space near the commercial high-rise center of North Sydney is under threat of development. North Sydney community Center is waging a battle to save the parkland. It gives the thousands of people who commute in everyday an area to get away from the noise and traffic that converges on the CBD. Add your voice! Save Green Space!

One of the things the North Sydney Council provides are community education programs. If you are travelling through Australia- these free lecture series are a great way to get to know a little bit more about the local flora and fauna that you are seeing. Two such nights are coming up. 24, October from 7-9 pm at the Lane Cove Council Civic Center – staff will tell how a community plant nursery and eco garden got started and how it is progressing. They will give ideas on how to make your own garden space eco friendly. (RSVP and info- 02 9911 3579)

7 November at the Hunters Hill Community center 7-9pm, Arthur White will be giving a presentation on what frog species are found in the lower northern Sydney area. He’ll have a few live frogs along to have a look at and will give information on identifying the little hoppers for yourself. (RSVP and info- 02 9879 9439)

The Seven Bridges Walk: October 29th for more information click here

Read the rest of this entry »

October 18th, 2006

Armidale NSW- Women’s Comedy Festival

Going to be near Armidale Friday October 27-29th? Ready for some laughs? Armidale Ex-Services Memorial Club is hosting the Armidale Women’s Comedy Festival! www.womenscomedyaustralia.com

With titles like “What the Frock do we know…Now,” The festival features several local women along with national acts. The main events are Friday and Saturday with the Gala Comedy show Saturday at 8:00 pm. Sunday sees a few nippers (kids) give stand up comedy a go along with a Kids Comedy Circus. The evening shows look to be adult oriented but certainly Sunday looks to be a family friendly event. Tickets range from $12 each to $55 for a festival pass. Put on by Regional Arts and Regional Flagship events- it promises to be full of laughs! Read the rest of this entry »

October 18th, 2006

Cycle your way into History- Ride to the Gong!

Are you feeling fit and up for a challenge? Sunday November 5, 2006 Grab a bike and take place in Sydney’s biggest and best cycling and fundraising challenge: The Portfolio Partners MS Benefit Bike Ride. Sydney to the “Gong” (Woolongong) There are two different lengths- 90 KM and 56 KM. The path takes you from Sydney through the scenic Royal National Park and down the coast across the new Sea Cliff Bridge. The website is: www.gongride.org.au you can visit the website for registration, course maps and other relevant information.