Australia and Oceania Off The Beaten Path Tips by unravelau Top 5 Page for this destination

Stanwell Park 35 years ago..wonder how it looks

to-day. So pleased that the slide lasted the distance and that the local camera shop was able to pull off a great print. Lovely area.

This is a snippet taken from the site below:-

Originally inhabited by the Wodi Wodi Aborigines the first Europeans to pass through the area, in 1797, were the survivors of the wreck of the Sydney Cove. Shortly afterwards George Bass travelled down the coast looking for other survivors. He discovered coal near Stanwell Park at Coalcliff.

Website: http://www.visitnsw.com/town/Stanwell_Park.aspx?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=sem_tnsw_sydney_surrounds&2473PSEM&gclid=CL2rrNe99qECFQc

Go to......the Coffs Harbour Oceanarium

I have visited it myself a number of times but by far the most fun time that I had was at the expense of a friend who I captured being sealed by a kiss.......

The Oceanarium or the Pet Porpoise pool as the locals call it guarantees a couple of shows a day with the dolphins as well as some interesting encounters with seals and other aussie natives.

Website: http://www.petporpoisepool.com/

Wollemi Pine leaf fossil

Finding the fossils

Australia, like other really old countries does spend some time and effort to find, highlight and preserve fossils when they're found. I am not what you would call 'up' on this topic but I do love our trees (you might have noticed my hugging habits elsewhere). This leaf fossil is of a comparitively new 'find' as it were, and is having some energy devoted to it now.

The Wollemi pine tree is also known as the dinasour tree because it is reported to have been around during that era. This photo, was taken from an exhibit in Taronga Park Zoo, but I believe that the tree in its natural state can be found in the Blue Mountains. Google has lots of links for the Wollemi pine, the Government one is listed here for your reference.

Website: http://www.wollemipine.com/

Bus window photography -- otherwise you miss it

You cant always stop when on a tour, to take that one photograph that you really, really must have, so it might be worth your while to practice up.

This one in New Zealand and the window wasn't the problem but the telegraph pole was a bit.

Website: http://www.purenz.com/