Review: 1015 Things to See and Do in Australia
A Guide to the Best Places to Visit and Experience in Australia
Sep 14, 2008
In a country that has stunning beaches, snow fields, tropical rainforests, vast deserts and everything in between, travellers in Australia can easily find themselves overwhelmed. Many tourists simply focus on the well-known cities of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, the tourist playground of the Gold Coast and iconic landmarks such as Uluru (Ayers Rock).
While these areas do showcase many wonderful aspects of Australia, they are a superficial at best introduction to the wide variety of landscapes and experiences that are available. In 1015 Things to See and Do in Australia (New Holland, 2008) award-winning journalist and experienced travel writer Bruce Elder offers a smorgasbord of Australian locations, experiences and activities to tempt any traveller.
Top 50 Attractions in Australia
Elder begins with a selection of Australia’s Top 50 attractions, which he asserts offer a true sample of all Australia has to offer. Largely focused on the country’s natural wonders, such as Uluru, Ningaloo Reef, Cradle Mountain and The Pinnacles, Elder has also included man-made wonders such as the Sydney Opera House, the Australian War Memorial and Dubbo’s Western Plains Zoo.
Encounters with Australia
The 1015 locations and activities promised by the title are divided into six sections offering a variety of “encounters”:
Encounters with the Ocean: including beaches, coastal features, lighthouses, surfing, diving and fishing.
Encounters with Nature: including trees, waterfalls, lakes, gardens, canyons and gorges, astronomy, zoos, caves.
Encounters with Travel: including long roads, ferry trips and rail journeys.
Encounters with People: including tourist traps, festivals, film locations, vineyards and food experiences, Aboriginal Australia, multicultural experiences, Aussie pubs and literature.
Encounters with History: including museums and collections, gold rushes, architecture, Aboriginal art sites, bushrangers and convict heritage.
Encounters for Yourself: heart stoppers and great walks.
Experiencing the Diversity of the Australian Landscape and People
Elder has captured the diversity and richness of the Australian landscape, people and culture. With suggestions for everything from Aboriginal cave paintings in the rock art galleries of Kakadu to the German settlement of Hahndorf in South Australia, not only is the diversity of the Australian landscape celebrated, but also the mixture of people and cultures.
A visit to major tourist attractions such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House is recommended with equal enthusiasm as the Menindee grave of Dost Mohammad, an Afghan camel driver who accompanied Burke and Wills on their fateful expedition in 1860-61.
There is something for everyone, with recommendations offered for experiences as diverse as the tranquil Japanese Gardens at Cowra to the mandatory visit to an Aussie pub (21 suggestions are given including the eccentric Ettamogah Pub in Albury and the isolated Birdsville Pub in Queensland).
A minor disappointment is that the index does not group entries for a particular area and there is no map to illustrate the general distribution. In a country with distances as vast as Australia, this unfortunate oversight might prevent travellers from realising that a visit to Fort Scratchley and Nobby’s Beach in Newcastle has them within easy travelling distance to the Hunter Valley wineries, Barrington Tops national parklands and the Australian Reptile Park and Wildlife Sanctuary at Gosford.
A Practical Guide to Experiencing Australia at its Best
Even the most jaded traveller could not help but have their interest sparked by even a quick flick through the pages of 1015 Things to See and Do in Australia. Entries include a brief description of the location and, where possible, website or phone contact details. This book is an indispensible guide for anyone who wants to experience the best Australia has to offer.
Bruce Elder has more than 34 years experience as a travel journalist and has personally visited and experienced the locations he recommends. His passion for Australia, its landscape, culture and people is evident on every page.
1015 Things to See and Do in Australia (ISBN: 978-1-74110-6480, 431 pages)
Related article: Caravanning Australia by Lee Atkinson
