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Background: Aboriginal settlers arrived on the continent from Southeast Asia about 40,000 years before the first Europeans began exploration in the 17th century. No formal territorial claims were made until 1770, when Capt. James COOK took possession in the name of Great Britain. Six colonies were created in the late 18th and 19th centuries; they federated and became the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. The new country took advantage of its natural resources to rapidly develop its agricultural and manufacturing industries and to make a major contribution to the British effort in World Wars I and II. In recent decades, Australia has transformed itself into an internationally competitive, advanced market economy. It boasted one of the OECD's fastest growing economies during the 1990's, a performance due in large part to economic reforms adopted in the 1980's. Long-term concerns include pollution, particularly depletion of the ozone layer, and management and conservation of coastal areas, especially the Great Barrier Reef.




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Picking up our second hire car from St Kilda Europcar, I had to check the number plate to see that it wasn't our original car. Picked up lin and the bags from the Ritz then drove out of Melbourne along the M1 to Torquay, a small town at the start of the Great Ocean Road with a large surfing contingent at the busy beach. We sheltered in front of the sea wall for our lunch before continuing down to the famous Bells Beach. This is renowned for the huge waves that are a magnet for surfers and appears in the late [View Full Entry]

JezLin - Jeremy Houston/Linda Durack | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
821 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 4 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: January 24th 2006 | 62 Views | [diary=36581]

Eco Beach
Koala Spotting
Murray

We got up quite early this morning so that we could get on the road and see the sights. While we were getting ready, we overheard several comments about our van and what is written on the back. One little kid walked past with his dad and asked "daddy, whats the best thing?" According to our rental company, "Kissing is the second best thing you can do with your lips." I guess you can all use your imaginations as to what the best thing is. It does tend to draw rather a lot of attention. Yesterday, we were at a set [View Full Entry]

Sas Sven - Saskia Newbon & Sven Gauggel | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
394 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 7 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: February 11th 2006 | 54 Views | [diary=38331]

Beautiful beach
The 12 apostles
The 12 apostles

By SD
January 14th 2006
12 Apostles Oceania » Australia » Victoria » Great Ocean Road
12 Apostles Set off in the morning from Apollo Bay, to take in the most famous and spectacular part of the GOR, the 12 Apostles. They are amazing, emourmous sandstone structures, all magestically set in the ocean, casting shadows onto the beach. They have to be seen to be appreciated, as the pictures probably don't do them justice. London Bridge was great too, an hour or so on from the 12 Apostles, which is a sandstone structure which in 1998 lost it's arch into the ocean - without warning. No-one was actually hurt in the ca [View Full Entry]

SD - Spence & Debs | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
287 Words | 1 Comment(s) | 4 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: January 20th 2006 | 103 Views | [diary=35935]

12apostles_SpenDebs
12apostles_LdnBridge
12apostles

Another early start to pick up our three day tour down the Great Ocean Road, final destination Adelaide. We managed to get two seats at the back of the bus next to each other after people faffing around over seating. Day One- We headed down to Bells Beach in Torquay, where they hold an annual surfing competition. It was actualy tiny but the surf looked pretty good (like we know anything !!). We had a look at the retail outlets, but didnt bother buying anything. Along the way we also saw the Lighthouse from the kids programme 'Around the Twist'. Pretty [View Full Entry]

Martin Laura - Martin Neville | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
891 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 23 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: January 25th 2006 | 176 Views | [diary=37449]

Start of Great Ocean Road
Wild Koala
Coastline on Great Ocean Road

By SD
January 11th 2006
Apollo Bay Oceania » Australia » Victoria » Great Ocean Road
We drive on from Lorne to Apollo Bay for the next 3 nights and check into the Eco Beach YHA which is only 3 months old. It's very cool with a Scandanavian feel. The rooms and public areas were great, we had a BBQ on the veranda every night, over looking Apollo Bay and chatting to other travellers. Visited Erskine Falls, in the Otways National Park. The fall cascades 30 metres into a lovely fern gully. We also saw chocolate brown kangaroos bouncing around in the park just feet away from our car. 12th - Drive to the [View Full Entry]

SD - Spence & Debs | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
258 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 3 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: January 20th 2006 | 112 Views | [diary=35111]

ErskineFalls
SpenBbq

We leave Melbourne, having hired a car, to take the coastal route to Adelaide, taking in the Great Ocean Road. The route claims to be amongst one of the most spectacualar in the world. Our first stop is Lorne, only about 1.5 hours from Melbourne, stopping en route at Anglesea for coffee. The area is sideside town like, with a great beach and relaxed feel. Accomdation is tight at this time of year on the route, so we are forced experience our first taste of dorm living!! Erm.. it was OK. VERY cheap (equal to 7 pounds each!), but we would [View Full Entry]

SD - Spence & Debs | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
149 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 0 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: January 13th 2006 | 134 Views | [diary=35106]


Factsheet No. 4! The ability to survive bushfire sets Australian native flora apart from that of other countries. Not only can many species survive, but some could not exist without regular fires. Some have the ability to sprout new growth from protected parts of the plant, and others use chemicals from bushfire smoke to initiate seed germination. Eucalyptus trees have learned to thrive through an act of self-immolation. They shed their outer bark, which falls around them in paper-thin strips. This bark acts as kindling, helping to propagate and spread bushfires. Unde [View Full Entry]

Sheila Spanner - Jennifer Macdonald | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
1588 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 34 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: March 14th 2006 | 86 Views | [diary=35128]

Plaza
Christmas Tree
Melbourne Skyline from St Kilda

HEY!!! My last posting before I head home :-( So yesterday was spent tooling around Melbourne, visiting the Queen Victoria Marketplace, a street mall that starts with a B ( I forget the name) - riding the tram through the city and checking out St. Kilda beach! Today I went on the Great Ocean Road Tour, what a long day! Started at 7am and got back at 9:45pm!!! We visited the 12 Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, London Bridge, saw actual koala's in their "homes" sleeping the day away (they sleep for like 20 hours a day!) went to Torquay Beach and [View Full Entry]

dolphinchick - Cheryl Romano | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
323 Words | 2 Comment(s) | 0 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: December 30th 2005 | 95 Views | [diary=33394]


So after two late nights out with Rob, I was very worried that I'd miss my 7 am pickup on Tuesday for the Great Ocean Rd. trip. My alarm clock was so quiet (with no volume control!?!) and I was so paranoid that I barely slept the whole night (or was that because I had no sheets on the bed and there were trains every 15 minutes right outside the window?)...so at 5:30 am I dutifully got up and checked out. I was at the bus station at 6:40; 20 minutes early! I wait....and wait.....and wait some more. I walk around [View Full Entry]

AchtungBaby - Lauren | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
781 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 10 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: December 23rd 2005 | 255 Views | [diary=32402]

Bells Beach
Come on now, is this really necessary? These signs are all along the Great Ocean Rd., no joke.
gorgeous!

By Saffa
December 11th 2005
Melbourne Oceania » Australia » Victoria » Great Ocean Road
Hey All Im in Melbourne. Been out to see Ginny and Roger which was awesome. Staying with my friend Gary for this week and yesterday he took me down the Great Ocean Road. Check out the pics. So Ive been all around the city in Melbourne. Been to the Observation deck and going to see the Gaol tomorrow (thats jail in australian). Had an awesome weekend - went out to meet some of Garys mates on friday night - you saffas wont believe how many places there are to go and how many people there are!!!! Then on saterday night did [View Full Entry]

Saffa - Kate Darwent | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe
252 Words | 1 Comment(s) | 2 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: December 12th 2005 | 102 Views | [diary=30785]

Out with Gary's friends