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Michelle Hespe’s
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11. FISHING FOR BARRAMUNDI IN THE BUSH Northern Territory
I was lucky enough to spend a few days glamping at Wildman Wilderness Lodge in the Mary River National Park, READ THE FULL STORY HERE on the fringes of Kakadu. During our stay the local guides took us out barramundi fishing in the billabongs, and at one stage I had a big one on the line. I was super excited as I’d never caught a barra before, and as a lover of fishing it’s one of those bucket-list things. Then a huge saltwater croc came along and took it, along with half my line! Absolutely gutting – but equally amazing.
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12. MAKING A SPLASH OFF LIZARD ISLAND Queensland Visiting Lizard Island was a long-held dream of mine. It lies READ THE 27 kilometres off the north Queensland coast, and to get FULL STORY HERE there you take a breathtaking one-hour flight from Cairns. The island isn’t tropical, rather more rugged Aussie bush with a rocky coastline dotted with palm trees. It’s home to Lizard Island Research Station (owned by the Australian Museum), the major research facility on the Great Barrier Reef which attracts marine scientists from all over the world. The island is famous for its dive sites, especially Cod Hole, where you can scuba-dive with potato cod. These friendly giants love playing with divers and are always up for a photo. Rex flies to Cairns, from where charter flights operate.
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13. EXPLORING BROOME & THE HORIZONTAL FALLS Western Australia
TOP OF THE WISH LIST: Hiking up Mount Gower on Lord Howe Island, NSW. At 875 metres, the mountain is Lord Howe’s highest peak, and the trek to the top is rated as one of Australia’s best day walks. It’s a challenging eight-hour return trip, complete with rope-assisted climbs and dizzying drops.
Tropical weather, azure ocean and rust-red cliffs, great food READ THE and an abundance of history and outdoor activities combine FULL STORY HERE to make Broome one of the best destinations in Australia. I walked in dinosaur footprints, watched the staircase to the moon (which occurs when a full moon rises over exposed tidal flats at Roebuck Bay), went on a pearl tour, drank mango beer at Matso’s and rode in a hovercraft. To top it off, I flew out to the Kimberley to experience the ride of my life, shooting through the Horizontal Falls in a speedboat. Sir David Attenborough described the falls – which are caused by tidal movements between gorges – as one of the world’s great natural wonders, and he’s a man who should know. IMAGES: Ant Ong, Tourism and Events Queensland, Tourism Western Australia, Mark Fitzpatrick and Destination NSW
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