Just to get away from politics for a while - I thought
it would be interesting to share with others some memorable
places of interest - places that you'd like to re-visit
frequently.

I love Brunswick Street, Fitzroy here in Melbourne.

Its a spirited, combination
of old and new, rich and poor, with a very wide choice of
restaurants. Commercially, the contradiction of Brunswick
Street can be seen - with whimsical ventures like the Fitzroy
Nursery and its fantastic Art Nouveau-kitsch gates, sitting
next to many old-style and new - businesses. Brunswick Street
is open Saturday and Sundays, and its the best place in
Melbourne to find unconventional and imaginative clothing and
gifts, many of which are made in over-the-shop work rooms.

People flock from all over Melbourne to eat - Portugese,
Thai, Italian, French, Indian, Afghani, Malaysian, Japanese,
and African food in the street's United Nations of eateries.

What are some of your favourite places?

Thanks Lexi, I actually think its a good idea to get away for a while.
And like the thread .
Cathrine Hill Bay love it quite and calm still but not for long, it was a coal miners coastal town.
Now? if plans go ahead you could once have bought the village,pub and all, for the price of a house.
Seal Rocks, nice place about to follow,such is life.
I like mountains, in the wilderness, about the place Malcolm Nadean was found.
Will find new peaks and new views just sit and try the ham radio .
The Blue Nob, Australia must have 100 of them, we name too many places the same.
But out the back of Mount George on the mid north coast of NSW, long trip but returning via Ellinbouro falls? no better trip any place.

Dear Belly,

The Great Ocean Road offers wonderful rewards.
At almost every curve or crest another spectacular
fan of land a seascape spreads before you. Places
like Torquay, Bells Beach, Anglesea Lorne, all
have their own attractions.

Then there's
the stretch of the Great Ocean Road from Apollo Bay
to Cape Otway that leads through the deepest and wettest
section of the Otway Ranges.

The Otway National Park
with its high rainfall species (mountain ash, manna gum,
myrtle beech and a vast range of ferns and mosses) engulfs
you with its characteristic dank smell. As well there is
such a wide variety of native fauna - bandicoots,
possums, platypuses and echidna, as well as a rich variety
of bird-life - white goshawks, yellow-tailed cockatoos,
jet black gang-gangs - just another great area to visit.

AWL (Aren't we lucky) in this country.

Australia before Whitlam.

Lexi, some of my special places are:

Mt Zero – The Australian Wildlife Conservancy property close to Townsville, where I have done many botanical expeditions and discovered a host of new plants.

The Pinnacles near Townsville, where I found a new species – Dubouzetia saxatilis, (which is still only known from the one locality despite my wide searches for it in the region) about 24 years ago and made many subsequent trips,

Castle Hill right in the centre of Townsville, where I go running most days and perving on the great abundance of young nubile leotard-clad lovelies!

Um….Hinchinbrook I, where I made lots of trips in the early 90s, did a lot of botanical collecting and mapped the vegetation.

White Mountains National Park, which was a new frontier when I first went there in ~1990, with amazing gorges with tree ferns way out in the semi-arid zone,

Girringun National Park (formerly Lumholtz NP) in the north Queensland Wet Tropics, where I discovered (as far as I know I sent the first specimen to the Qld Herbarium) a new plant now called Acacia lumholtzii and an as yet unnamed species of Kunzea.

Boodjamulla National Park (formerly Lawn Hill NP) in far northwest Queensland which I explored pretty thoroughly and did the vegetation mapping for.

And then there’s the Stirling Range in southwest WA, Cradle Mountain in Tas, Geikie Gorge and Purnululu NP in the Kimberleys,

Mt Warning, Byron Bay and that whole region, The Great Ocean Road where I spent some time very recently….

and soooooo much more

Oh and I forgot to mention hootin rootin tootin loosa goosa Noosa!

Wonderful place ……… with a great nudie beach and Alexandria Bay!!

AT Alexandria Bay!

AAaaarrrGH!

Ludwig, you dirty old man you!

My memories of Castle hill was goat hunting on it at about 8 years old, from our home, one of the last in Stanley street where it starts the climb. They go a bit further up today. In 3 years we never saw a goat, but hay, so what.

One really lovely place is Whitehaven beach, on Whitsunday Island, with Hill Inlet at it's northern end, a total gem. There are regular tourist trips from a number of resort Islands to Whitehaven, so all can enjoy it, although they don't go up hill inlet, it's a bit tricky, & you have to work the tides.

There are many truly beautiful places throughout the Pacific islands, but one of the most spectacular is in the Duke of York Islands, between New Island & New Britain in PNG. Not an atoll, but made up of about a dozen islands, there is a spot in the inner lagoon from which no exit is visible.

With virtually no tidal range, deep water right up to a sandy beach, backed by groves of coconut palms, it is a perfect spot to drop a stern anchor, nose up to the beach, with a line to a palm, & step ashore.

The Rabaul yacht club used to have a bar-b-que weekend there each year, rather grandiosely named the Duke of York's Ball. Each yacht was heavily loaded transporting members, who would sleep ashore after the festivities

As we were getting ready to go to my first one, three middle age ladies appeared in ball gowns, & dancing pumps, looking to go to the "ball". Undeterred when they discovered the truth, they came with me, & had a "Ball" regardless.

Our spot was completely isolated, but the most striking thing was the next morning, when we were woken reasonably early by the hymns from a village church, just 100 yards across the inlet. The voices were beautiful. To wake up to them, lying on a sandy beach, under the coconut palms is something I will never forget.

Dear Ludwig and Hasbeen,

Thanks for sharing your memorable places.
They sound wonderful.

Another favourite of mine is the city of
Ballarat. We often spend a week-end there -
at the old historic Craig's Hotel. Like so
much of Ballarat, it has the aura of solidity.
Beautifully restored to its Victorian splendour.
It's good to see Lake Wendouree full of water
again. Then there's The Avenue of Prime Ministers
where the Right Honorables sit very comfortably.
I was surprised at how small Kevin Rudd's head
was compared to Malcolm Fraser's. Not sure what
that means. Then of course there's the Gold Museum
and Sovereign Hill.

It's great being a tourist - and I do intend to
bring my grandchildren there once they're a bit older.

Another great spot that all can enjoy is Henning Island in the Whitsundays.

On the eastern side of Whitsunday passage, near Dent & Hamilton, it is only small, has a lovely little sandy beach, with the anchorage in front of it better than it looks, as it is protected by strong tidal currents.

It has a small soak, which always had enough water to have a nice fresh water shower, always important on a yacht with limited fresh water, & a large number of goats.

I had an amazing experience there once. A mackerel had committed suicide on my trailing line. We & a couple of friends on another yacht decided to bar-b-que it that night on Henning, one of the few where mozzies & sand flies are not a problem.

After having a shower we were walking around the foreshore, when we surprised one of the herds of goats. As they scattered one very small young kid ran into me, & kept trying to run through me.

I picked it up. As it was terrified & trembling I cuddled it, trying to calm it, as we walked. As the herd had disappeared I did not know what else to do with it.

Within a few minutes it had calmed, & when I put it down it stayed within a foot or so of my legs. I believe it thought I was mum. It followed us back to the beach, & stayed by me, right through our dinner.

Continued

Continued
About 8 or 9PM it's mother found us, & was calling to the kid from the near darkness. The poor thing was torn. It would walk a few steps towards the calling, then run back to snuggle up to me. It took quite a few minutes before it ventured far enough to recognise it's mother, & we could hear them moving away.

We do get our magpie young eating from our fingers, & I have had many foals I have breed following me around, looking for a bit of bread, or apple, but this is the only wild animal that took me as a protector.

I gather Henning now has a camping area on it, & wonder how it may have changed. I'll bet the oysters are gone. However the beach is rather coarse sand, & does not have the problem with stone fish, or sting rays that many beaches in the area do. It is also sheltered from the prevailing south easterly trades, that do get a bit strong, so it will always be a good spot.

Dear Hasbeen,

What an amazing experience. And Thanks for sharing it
with us. I'm glad though that the kid was eventually
re-united with its mother. I guess we often forget
that there can be a strong connection between ourselves
and other animals. In our modern world we often feel
insulated from nature. We forget all too easily sometimes
that we too are animals, ultimately dependent on the
environment for our survival as any other species.

The Dandenong Ranges are world-renowed for specialised nurseries
and many fine gardens. Sherbrooke Forest Park is great for
its scenic walking tracks and wildlife - especially the
endangered lyrebirds. There are great stands of mountain
ash and gullies of giant tree ferns. Then of course among
the many tourist attractions of the Dandenongs, a great
favourite is the William Ricketts Sanctuary, where the sculptor
Ricketts has paid homage with a mystical complex of works
depicting the area's strong Aboriginal heritage.

We met Ricketts a few years ago - a quietly-spoken gentle man -
with an "other worldy" air about him and eyes that seemed to
be able to see into your soul. Not much seemed to be hidden
from this man.

My best places would not be as good as your ocean road Lexi.
The trip I told you of is one I have taken many on it is about 160klm, maybe a bit more.
I like the rain forest and stop to wander in.
Take photos of stag horns as wide as a car,and never tell any one how to find them.
QLD was great but not game to put some great places here they have changed no doubt.
Cathrine Hill bay and the park to the south of it? not likely to go back.
Bit difficult but in truth it has become a gay beat.
Now no comment on others sexual choices.
But if you stumble on a pair,and you will, you are told to go away its not your area.
Now that once favorite spot is best left alone.

Dear Belly,

You reminded me of even more memories that I
thought I had tucked away and forgotten.

I remember sailing on a P & O Cruise decades
ago - on our way to the US via Vancouver, Canada.
It was winter, the sea was rough and I was feeling
a bit sea-sick.
We were still out at sea - it was late at night
and I was standing on deck - when the fragrance
of pine filled the air. It was over powering and
took my breath away. I learned later that it was
the Forested Stanley Park that I could smell.
I've loved the various fragrances of trees every since.

Agde, on the Cap D'Agde in southern France. It's the oldest settled City in France, by the Greeks, in about 670 BC.
The City caters for seven million tourists a year. Has No crime. (only two policemen) One hotel holds 55000 people, one holds 44000 people two others that hold 22000 people each & the two camping areas (caravan Parks) hold 22000 people each. Oh, the Hotel rooms are not rooms, they are units. There are Banks, Shopping Centres, Supermarkets, Resturants & Night Clubs.
Oh, did I mention it's a Nudist Resort. Nobody wears clothes.

Dear JayB.,

Wow. Sounds great!

I've never been to a nudist resort.
Although I have been swimming in the ocean naked -
in my "salad days" (when I was fresh and green). ;-)

It was wonderful. Felt like velevet.

What a pleasant topic !

Believe it or not, my wife and I love Broken Hill. Best not to plan a visit during the height of summer. That said we found the town and environs really nice.

We both love Australian Art. I have little knowledge on the specific subtleties or the nuances of a particular artist, but we both know what we like, without understanding why we like it. And Broken Hill just happens to be the titular home of, the 'Brushmen of the Bush'.

Such names as Kevin (Pro) Hart, Jack Absolom, Howard Steer, and Eric (dec) and Roxanne Minchin, to mention just a few. These talented individuals manage to engage and capture the very heart and the singular beauty and magic of the Australian outback.

My wife and I, often we'd stand at the rear of the Silverton Pub, watching the setting sun. The kaleidoscopic colours are so, so, brilliant, as the sun settles slowly beyond the horizon. The many hued colours intensify, and then darken to a deep blue, then finally to an inky blue, black.

Yes folks, to many, I suppose Broken Hill could be determined tame. But to me, I think it's almost heaven on earth.

Dear o sung wu,

I can identify with you and your wife's love of
Broken Hill. And your love of Australian Art.
Pro Hart is a favourite of mine as is Norman
Lindsay. I love Lindsay's "The Spinx."
I bought a print of it from The Fine Art Gallery,
in Ballarat (a few years ago).

Some of my friends think I'm a bit quirky - but I love
visiting the less conventional museum - the "Old
Melbourne Gaol," a sullen bluestone building on the
corner of Russell and Franklin Street in Melbourne.

It opened in 1845 and was Melbourne's principal gaol
until the end of last century, when the authorities
decided to shift the palace of woes to Pentridge
Prison at Coburg. During its time as a penal institution
104 hangings took place in the Gaol, the most
notorious being that of bushranger Ned Kelly in 1880.

It's now a National Trust Museum, where you can see a
death mask of Kelly, as well as a suit of bushranger's
armour that is probably his, plus many other grim reapings
from Victoria's penal past.

I'm fascinated by our history - and each time I manage to
learn something new.

Lexi, what is it with you galls, that makes you want to cavort naked in the Oggin.

As you know I used to run boats "up the reef". We could take 250 out to the reef on the biggest boat. I did find it amusing that many southern bells would buy more demure bikinis while in the more conservative Whitsundays. They felt uncomfortable in those see through crocheted things they wore on Sydney beaches, in family resorts.

However this did not stop them wanting to go naked in nature, out the reef.

I installed a large pontoon base, which had a swim platform about 8 meters long. It was a large grate at water level, allowing every one to get in or out of the water, only about 5 meters off the drying reef.

I found it amusing that quite a few young women, who obviously sunbathed topless on southern beaches, did not get their tops off on the pontoon. They would get into the water, than take their tops off, [& sometimes their bottoms], handing them to someone, or tying them to the grate, before swimming off.

Equally amusing, when a group did this, was the sight of a mixture of tanned & untanned bottoms bobbing along on top of the very clear water, when they started snorkeling.

Perhaps Lexi, you could suggest why it was only the ladies who indulged in this communing with nature. Not ever did I see a bloke do the same trick, although sometimes they were standing on the grate, holding their ladies gear.

Hello there Lexi...

Yes I'm also a big fan of Pro Hart with all his vibrant blue's and lovely pastal colours.

He actually had an old Rolls Royce, which he decided to paint several of his favourite bush scenes, thereon ? He was a very well known figure around Broken Hill, and was considered very much a 'favourite son' of the town. I think David, his son, has also followed in his father's footsteps ?

Norman Lindsay was a great Aussie artist too. If my memory's correct, didn't he belonged to the famous 'Heidelberg School' of artistic style (I think) ? As did Sidney Nolan, and Russell Drysdale.

My wife and I have also visited the Old Melbourne Gaol. A gloomy, draughty, cold institution that would've driven the inmates mad with the dreadfully small cells in which they're were incarcerated.

I don't really know, but hasn't it been said, the gaol's allegedly haunted ? Not that I generally go along with such myths, but the place is so gloomy, you'd never really know, would you.

Dear Hasbeen,

I don't know if I can offer you a satisfactory explanation
of why some women behave the way they do - and some men don't.
I can only speak for myself. When I went swimming nude - it
was late at night with other females. We were on holidays at
Bateau-Bay, and the guys had stayed behind playing cards near
the cabins. As I said - it was a wonderful experience -
and felt like velvet. I certainly would not have done anything
so daring with men around. And I suspect many women feel
the same way. No matter how good our bodies may be - we're
still not prepared to expose them. Call it ego, shyness,
or the way we were brought up. And perhaps men feel the same
way about their bods? But, I don't really know. I've never
sun-baked topless on a public beach or even been tempted to do so.
So there you have it.

Dear o sung wu.,

Thanks for the information about the artists.
I think you're right about the Heidelberg School.

And I think you're right about the gaol being haunted.
With all those hangings and other atrocities that must
have gone on there - it wouldn't surprise me. They say
that Pentridge had hauntings - so I guess it makes sense
that the old gaol would too. I know I wouldn't
like to spend the night there.

My husband worked in an old National Trust building in
St. Kilda, here in Melbourne, that had been converted into
offices - and he experienced a few "unusual" experiences
working there late one night. He walked down the stairs of
the building and distinctly hear footsteps behind him.
When he stopped the footsteps stopped. And when he began
walking the footsteps would start up again. He kept
turning around but couldn't see anyone. He told his co-workers
about it the next day and they said they had experienced
similar things as well. They found out later that the
building had once been a very famous brothel - and several
people had been murdered there.

I still get goosebumps - when I hear stories about that place.

While touting the hills of Townsville, I quite enjoy spending a bit of time at the lookout (if you can call it that) at Hervey Range. Just by the 'Welcome to Townsville' sign. There's nothing special about the place physically, but if you get there at just the right time of afternoon/evening, you can enjoy a little bit of solitude while listening to the wind rushing through the trees and grasses, while the sun slowly goes down behind you and the lights gradually come on in Townsville, way off in the distance. From up there, you can appreciate the dwarfish size of the other peaks around the place and watch the various birds of prey gliding just over the edge. For some reason, it's always uplifting for me. A bit of a slog by bike, or a good workout for your engine if you're that way inclined.

What I like about it is that it's one of the few places in Townsville that are accessible by road (with a road bike or simple passenger car) where you can be completely alone, if only for a little while.

Dear Otokonoko,

Thanks for sharing Townsville with us. And I can
identify with yout wish for solitude at times.

There are so many great outdoor areas in this country.
In Victoria as I've already mentioned
there's the spectacular stretches of coastline
along the Great Ocean Road, then there's the
alpine beauty of north-east Victoria, the "wide-brown
land" of north-west Victoria, and the aquatic attractions
of Port Phillip Bay.

A favourite region of mine is -
East Gippsland - a dazzling lush area stretching from
the ocean to the snow-fields and up to the NSW border.

Here - under reasonably visionary policies, where a
conservation strategy in place means an expansion of
the national parks system. Rivers, inlets, freshwater lakes
and ocean beaches provide numerous camping and fishing
spots, and there's also an abundance of bush-walking
trails.

The area also features sub-alpine rainforests and gnarled
trees thousands of years old.

I suppose before I leave this thread and being from
Melbourne - I should ask - "What would Melbourne
be without its trams?"

Our entire population would have been deprived of a
picturesque and relatively pollution-free form of
transport. Those who really get hooked on trams
cen even dine on one. The Tramcar Restaurant,
the world's first travelling tram restaurant, even
has special stabilisers giving the smoothest of rides
for passengers - and their wine glasses.

<< … cen …>> ??

That’s a new one for me!!

D’Oh sorry Lexi, Just being a dork!

I’m good at that you know!

Um, yeah, trams in Melbourne.

I drove through the centre of the city earlier this year.

Boy do I hate city driving, but I braved it in order to visit the botanic gardens… and then hightailed it up Sydney St and outta there real quick… or I should say; rather slowly…or um… very sloooowwwwly actually.

But it was an interesting experience, with all that traffic and innumerable traffic lights,,,, and those trams!

Now that really was something entirely new for little ol’ norf Qweeenslander me. Like visiting a different country!!

A nice meal with a top drop of red on a tram that runs so smoothly as to not spill a full glass of vino. Now that is just so far out of my brain-space as to be never thought of before!

But I’ll have to give it a burl on my next visit… which will hopefully be next summer.

Thanks for the thought.

( :>)

Dear Ludwig,

I hope that you do come back to Melbourne - and not
only for the tram restaurants. Melbourne has always
cherished its reputation as a city which takes its
eating very seriously. Many feel that Melbourne
remains the gastronomic capital of Australia.
And I'm sure you'll find a restaurant that matches
your taste and your wallet. There's plenty to
chose from.

On Tuesday evening we celebrated my daughter-in-law's
birthday with dinner at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne.
We started at the Ru Co Bar and ended up with dinner
at their Colins Kitchen Restaurant. It was superb.
And much to our delight - Tuesday nights - were
dicounted prices. Wahoo. The food was great - and the
setting - luxurious - and made the evening even more special.
As I said - we are spoiled for choice here in Melbourne.

Wow, jayb.

>>One hotel holds 55000 people<<

Must be a challenge when they all want their breakfast at the same time.

My "must visit" spot is a tiny, family-run restaurant, just around the corner from the Trevi fountain. First found it by sheer accident when I was in Rome for a couple of days on business, many years ago. Been back three times since. Mamma still does much of the cooking, and brings it herself to your table. Papa still sits by the cash register, reading Il Messaggero and grumbling about the football results. More recently, also bemoaning the fact that he has to go outside to smoke. Possibly the only exercise he gets, from the look of him.

Never had gnocchi like it, before or since.

Dear Pericles,

I'm a big fan of Italian cooking.
But I've got to admit not of gnocchi.
Simply because the way they seem to make
it here in Oz - is so saturated with tomato
sauce. I do believe however that the version you ate
must have been superb.

Georges Restaurant here in Camberwell has the
best veal dishes, and their lasagna simply melts in your mouth.
Yum.

I also love Russian food. A few years ago - the well-known -
"Vodka, Borsch, and Tears," Restaurant in Prahran had
the best cabbage-rolls. Not sure if their standard has
dropped though - because they are under new management,
and we haven't been back for a while.

I might make some beef strogonoff this week-end,
- being the start of winter,
here in Melbourne -
along with chicken broth and dumplings to warm the
soul. (sigh).

Pericles: >>One hotel holds 55000 people<<

Must be a challenge when they all want their breakfast at the same time.

The hotels are not like ours. The units are all self contained. 1 to 8 person units with bedrooms, lounge, kitchen & bathroom, toilets. They are small, but each has a balcony. The Hotels don't have a dining areas like we have in Australia, although they do have a number of Restaurants. We had a wonderful 2 weeks there. There was lots to see, Canal Du Midi, Sete, & lots of little villages. Vin du Pays, (Local wine) & local cheeses, Narbonne, & Carcassonne. I visited the Black Cathedral (It’s made of black volcanic rock) as I walked in, the organ started to play. It was the first time it had been played in 700 years. It had been fully restored. Apart from the Organist I was the only one there. It was very special. The Altar piece is carved out of one piece of Alabaster & it is massive, about 5 metres long, 8 high & about 2 metres wide. Beautiful.
Agde was the only port for bringing Tin in from the British Isles, BC, as China had closed its boarders around 400 BC. They are always finding Greek, Carthaginian & Roman statues in the bay & river. It’s worth a visit even if you don’t stay in the Naturist Quarter.