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Australia's best regional town revealed

As the weather starts to warm up and people begin planning their summer getaways, more and more Australians are opting for a quaint country getaway instead of a jam-packed city break. According to Tourism Research Australia (TRA), regional tourism numbers have increased overall in the 12 months leading up to March 2024, with many choosing to explore quieter corners of Australia. As a result of this new travel trend, <a href="https://travel.nine.com.au/destinations/aussie-travel-trends-index-best-regional-town-in-australia-voted-by-travellers-9travel-today-survey/0d308119-ede0-495f-9e71-c3b26b267ccf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">9Travel</a> released their results of the <a href="https://travel.nine.com.au/travel-survey" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aussie Travel Trends Index</a> survey to find out which regional towns are the favourites of Australian travellers, with the top ten towns being crowned. While NSW received the highest number of visitors to regional areas, according to the TRA data, it was in fact Daylesford in Victoria that was voted as Australia's favourite regional town. Located in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range of Victoria, Daylesford is known for its natural mineral springs, Botanical Gardens and quaint city centre. Daylesford and Cairns are the most popular regional towns to visit for around 1 in 4 respondents; followed closely by the Gold Coast, Launceston, Barossa, Bendigo, and Ballarat. Nearly a quarter of respondents, (23 percent) named Cairns as their favourite regional town, Tasmania also received 20 percent of respondents sharing their love for the town of Launceston. Check out the top 10 list of best Australian regional towns below. 1. Daylesford, VIC 2. Cairns, QLD 3. Gold Coast, QLD 4. Launceston, TAS 5. Barossa, SA 6. Bendigo, VIC 7. Ballarat, VIC 8. Orange, NSW 9. Berry, NSW 10. Mudgee, NSW Image credits: Shutterstock

Domestic Travel

What is ‘slot hoarding’ – and is it locking out regional airlines like Rex?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/doug-drury-1277871">Doug Drury</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/cquniversity-australia-2140">CQUniversity Australia</a> It’s been a depressing year for regional aviation. Rex Airlines has just become the second Australian airline to go into voluntary administration this year, after Bonza’s collapse in April. Is Qantas’ chief executive Vanessa Hudson right – that there simply <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/australia-can-t-sustain-more-than-three-airlines-says-qantas-boss-20240714-p5jtlo.html">aren’t enough passengers</a> in Australia to support more than three airlines? That’s certainly a convenient narrative for the members of our domestic airline duopoly, Qantas and Virgin Australia, who now face even less competition. Or did Rex fall victim to other airlines’ strategic management to limit the number of airport slots available to them to successfully fly between the capital cities? This practice is known as “slot hoarding”. On Thursday, the former chair of the the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), Rod Sims, seemed to think so, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/aug/01/rex-airlines-administration-qantas-virgin">telling ABC radio</a>: <blockquote> The government outsources the management of the slots at Sydney airport to a company that’s majority-owned by Qantas and Virgin, it is just unbelievable. </blockquote> It’s certainly not a new allegation. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/jun/06/rex-and-bonza-call-for-immediate-overhaul-of-sydney-airport-laws-to-increase-competition">Rex</a>, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/jun/06/rex-and-bonza-call-for-immediate-overhaul-of-sydney-airport-laws-to-increase-competition">Bonza</a>, and the <a href="https://www.afr.com/companies/transport/accc-warns-sydney-airport-slots-manager-has-conflicts-of-interest-20231220-p5espy">ACCC</a> have all previously raised concerns. So how exactly do airline slots work, and does the system need reform? <h2>What are slots?</h2> Back in the 1970s, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) developed the airline slot system to reduce airport congestion. The aim was to improve the traffic flow during peak travel times at “level 3” high traffic density airports – a category that includes Sydney and Melbourne. Under the system, airlines are allocated a daily number of slots they can use. Importantly, there is a set amount of slots available, as they represent specific time windows for aircraft to take off or land. Airlines <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trb.2018.04.005">schedule</a> their slots ahead of time as part of a yield management program. This plan looks across the whole calendar year, taking into account projected peak and off-peak travel times for business and leisure travellers. An airline owns the time slot it is designated by the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trb.2018.04.005">airport infrastructure</a> capacity, whether it gets used or not. The IATA system relies on what’s called the “<a href="https://australianaviation.com.au/2024/02/80-20-rule-looks-to-survive-government-overhaul-of-sydney-slots/#:%7E:text=Currently%2C%20an%20airline%20can%20keep,calls%20it%20%E2%80%9Ctoo%20generous%E2%80%9D.">80/20 rule</a>”, which states an airline must use 80% of its allocated slots or it will loose its unused slots. The 20% is a buffer. But it has been <a href="https://australianaviation.com.au/2024/02/80-20-rule-looks-to-survive-government-overhaul-of-sydney-slots/">criticised</a> as overly generous. Airlines can also <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1000936123002340">buy sell or lease</a>, slots they are not using due to slow demand or the need for financial gain. These can sell for <a href="https://simpleflying.com/biggest-airport-slot-deals-list/">huge sums</a>. <h2>Can slots be hoarded?</h2> Broadly speaking, slot hoarding is the practice of booking slots for use only to cancel them in bad faith, preventing other airlines from getting access to premium travel times. In June last year, Rex’s then-deputy-chairman John Sharp <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/jun/06/rex-and-bonza-call-for-immediate-overhaul-of-sydney-airport-laws-to-increase-competition">accused Qantas</a> of engaging in the practice: <blockquote> It’s as plain as the nose on your face that Qantas is hoarding slots by cancelling sufficient flights to remain within the 80/20 rule. </blockquote> Slot availability is a particular <a href="https://www.afr.com/companies/transport/accc-warns-sydney-airport-slots-manager-has-conflicts-of-interest-20231220-p5espy">issue for Sydney Airport</a>, because takeoffs and landings are capped at 80 per hour. Sydney Airport Corporation’s executive general manager of aviation, Robert Wood, as well as the airport’s then-chief-executive Geoff Culbert also both expressed <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-21/airlines-qantas-virgin-slot-hoarding-solving-problems/103110390">serious concerns</a> about slot use last year. In February this year, the federal government unveiled a <a href="https://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/c-king/media-release/reforming-sydney-airport-slots-boost-efficiency-competition-and-consumers-outcomes">range of reforms</a> for Sydney airport’s slot system. These included requirements for increased transparency on how slots are used, and new independent audits. Notably though, the government made <a href="https://australianaviation.com.au/2024/02/80-20-rule-looks-to-survive-government-overhaul-of-sydney-slots/">no change</a> to the 80/20 rule. <h2>What needs to change?</h2> A number of further reforms could help make the airport system friendlier to new entrants and more equitable. One possibility is to sell a predefined number of slots to the major participating airlines. Airlines would have to make a business case outlining their proposed needs over the next calendar year. Currently, airlines request slots from the airport slot management team at no cost to the airline, a system which favours established airlines that have met the 80/20 rule. But a key criticism of this proposal is that the cost of purchasing slots <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-21/airlines-qantas-virgin-slot-hoarding-solving-problems/103110390">would be passed down</a> to the flying public, likely resulting in higher airfares. Bidding for slots would also add new cost barriers to entry for would-be startup challengers. Another possibility is to look at <a href="https://doi.org/10.1287/trsc.2019.0926">slot allocation based on fairness</a>, measuring an airline’s needs against airport infrastructure. Airlines that had historically used 80% of their allocated slots would be given priority bidding on up to 50% of the following year’s total airport slot allocation. The remaining 50% of slots could be prioritised for new airlines without an established history, with the goal of awarding them take off and landing times that aren’t necessarily premium, but close enough. Airlines that didn’t achieve this 80% target or were found to be abusing the slot hoarding rules would be removed from the top-tier fairness status and placed in a slot allocation “sin bin” until their performance measures were brought up to standards. Australia has challenges ahead for domestic flights that are already at capacity. Government reforms that provide better oversight of airport usage of the 80/20 rule could help mitigate the risk of anti-competitive behaviour. Australian airlines have the right to compete without feeling unfairly held back, and we as consumers have the right to reasonable airfares. <img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/235960/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/doug-drury-1277871">Doug Drury</a>, Professor/Head of Aviation, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/cquniversity-australia-2140">CQUniversity Australia</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-slot-hoarding-and-is-it-locking-out-regional-airlines-like-rex-235960">original article</a>. </div>

Travel Trouble

Dramatic rescue of hikers stranded overnight in Alpine Region

In a heart-stopping ordeal captured on video, two hikers were airlifted to safety after spending a harrowing night stranded in Victoria's remote Alpine Region. The dramatic rescue unfolded on Mount Bogong, one of Australia's highest peaks, highlighting both the beauty and dangers of wilderness exploration. The two hikers, aged 63 and 71, had embarked on what they likely anticipated as a routine trek through the rugged terrain of the Alpine Region. However, as evening descended, their situation took a perilous turn. Recognising the need for assistance, they reached out to emergency services, prompting a swift response from the police Air Wing and Search and Rescue Squad. Navigating treacherous landscapes requires both skill and intuition, and it appears that these experienced hikers may have underestimated the challenges posed by Mount Bogong's unforgiving environment. Despite their best efforts, they found themselves stranded, facing a night of uncertainty amidst the wilderness. Thankfully, the Search and Rescue Squad quickly established communication with the stranded hikers, assessing their situation and determining that they possessed sufficient supplies and experience to endure the night. While undoubtedly a daunting experience, the hikers remained composed, awaiting the dawn and the arrival of their rescuers. As the first light broke over the Alpine peaks, a plan was set in motion to extract the hikers from their precarious situation. With precision and expertise, the police Air Wing and Search and Rescue Squad orchestrated a daring helicopter rescue operation. Against the backdrop of Mount Bogong's majestic slopes, the helicopter descended, its rotor blades slicing through the crisp mountain air. The video footage captured the tension and relief as the hikers were carefully winched to safety, lifted from the wilderness that had held them captive. Once aboard the helicopter, they were swiftly transported to solid ground, where awaiting ambulance paramedics ensured their well-being. Images: Victoria Police

Travel Trouble

The Bachelor star's stunning regional wedding

The Bachelor's Cass Wood has officially tied the knot with her longtime fiancé Tyson Davis in a beautiful outdoor wedding at Sea Cliffe house in Gerringong. The reality star, who featured in season six of The Bachelor alongside Nick Cummins, took to Instagram to share the stunning photos of the ceremony. "Mr & Mrs Davis - 02.09.23," she captioned the series of photos. In one photo, Cass was glowing with happiness as she looked lovingly at the groom, moments before they shared their vows. The beautiful bride donned an off-the-shoulder gown embellished with crystal jewels and floral detailing that looked straight out of a fairytale. She complimented the look with a simple veil and a natural glam make-up look with her long blonde hair in loose waves. The dashing groom rocked a black velvet tuxedo jacket and bow-tie. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CwuSSb2P_nj/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CwuSSb2P_nj/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Cassandra Wood 🌹 (@casswood)</a> </div> </blockquote> The bride could not hide her tears of joy when she first spotted her equally smitten groom as she walked down the aisle. They also shared a few pictures of them sharing a kiss and pouring the drinks on the champagne tower. The pair also treated their guests to an oyster bar at the reception. The newlyweds were flooded with an outpouring of love from friends fans in their comments. "Congratulations beautiful," Bachelor star, Alex Nation, wrote. "Oh my goodness a real life fairytale!! Congratulations gorgeous girl ❤️" commented one fan. "Congratulations ❤️ you look like a princess," wrote another. "Absolutely stunning. The love for each other is evident," commented a third. Bachelor stars' Brittany Hockley and Natalie Roser, also shared their well wishes to the couple. "Congratulations you two, absolute angel," Brittany wrote. "Congratulations beauty. Looks so so perfect," added Natalie. The couple officially got engaged on Christmas Eve last December, after rekindling their romance in 2019 after Cass returned from filming in Fiji. Images: Instagram

Relationships

Three Aussie regions set to be unliveable

Three major economic centres are set to become uninhabitable by the end of the century as global temperatures are on track to warm by 2.7C. It is predicted that Broome, Darwin and Port Hedland in WA are to be pushed outside the “human climate niche”, referring to the temperature and humidity conditions in which humans can survive. The destinations are just three of the many northwestern sections of Australia facing “niche displacement” in the next 70 years. New research by The University of Exeter, published in the science journal Nature Sustainability in May 2023, calculates the human cost of climate inaction based on current insufficient policies and government inaction. According to the report, two million people will be living with unprecedented mean average temperatures (MAT) above 29C. MAT >29C is the point at which wellbeing scientifically declines, labour productivity and cognitive ability shrinks, negative pregnancy outcomes are emancipated and mortality rates soar. The report calculates that twenty per cent of Australia, around 374,977 Aussies, will be negatively impacted by the 2.7C temperature increase. Those Australians would join a third of the world’s population, including Africa, South America, and South-East Asia. A 3C warmer temperature in Darwin would mean that for 265 days of the year, temperatures would reach above 35C. At 40C, humidity soars and temperatures become lethal, the Australian Academy of Science reports. The University of Exeter report also explained the effects of a “wet-bulb temperature” where temperature and humidity are combined. In temperatures above 28C (WBT) body struggles to cool itself by sweating, and fails to do so in temperatures above 35C (WBT), which can be fatal. By limiting global warming to 1.5C, which is the goal of the Paris Agreement, 80 per cent of those at risk of rising temperatures would remain in their climate niche. However, scientists warn that a 1.5C will still cause severe and irreversible effects on people, wildlife and ecosystems. Global warming currently sits at 1.2C, but new research from The World Meteorological Organisation suggests there is a 66 per cent chance at least one year in the next five will breach the 1.5C threshold. “Despite increased pledges and targets to tackle climate change, current policies still leave the world on course for about 2.7C end-of-century global warming,” The University of Exeter report said. “These results highlight the need for more decisive policy action to limit the human costs and inequities of climate change.” The report also found the impacts of rising temperatures will not be felt equally, as estimates of the human cost of climate change “tend to be expressed in monetary terms”. “(Estimates) tends to recognise impacts on the rich more than those on the poor (because the rich have more money to lose) and tend to value those living now over those living in the future (because future damages are subject to economic discounting),” the report said. “From an equity standpoint, this is unethical — when life or health are at stake, all people should be considered equal, whether rich or poor, alive or yet to be born.” Image credit: Shutterstock

Domestic Travel

WHO reveals new “imminent threat in every region of the world”

<div> <div> <div> <div> <div> Two major public health bodies have now declared measles as an “imminent threat” to the global community. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) feared that a record decline of measles vaccination rates and persistent outbreaks mean that the respiratory virus is an “imminent threat in every region of the world”. WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it was “absolutely critical” that immunisation programs were bought back on track to avoid what he said is a “preventable disease”. “The paradox of the pandemic is that while vaccines against Covid-19 were developed in record time and deployed in the largest vaccination campaign in history, routine immunisation programs were badly disrupted, and millions of kids missed out on lifesaving vaccinations against deadly diseases like measles,” said Dr Ghebreyesus. Measles is one of the most contagious viruses, being transmitted through water droplets released in sneezes and coughs coming from infected people. In fact, the CDC states that nine out of 10 people who are not vaccinated against the disease will become infected in the advent of exposure. Common symptoms include fever, cold-symptoms, conjunctivitis and red and blotchy rashes that first appear around the face and hairline before spreading around the body. The measles, mumps and rubella-containing vaccines administered through childhood are considered the best defence against the disease and significantly reduce outbreaks. According to the WHO, India, Somalia and Yemen are the three countries with the largest measles outbreak. As always, consult your doctor if you’re concerned about measles or vaccination updates. Image: Getty </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

Body

7 of Australia’s so-bad-they’re-good BIG tourist attractions

For every undisputed beauty such as the Great Barrier Reef or Uluru, there are tones that try as they might to appeal to tourists, fail miserably. Then, there’s a list of so-bad-they’re-good tourists attractions of the oversized variety that are successful for all the wrong reasons. This proves that sometimes getting it wrong is oh so right. Here are the seven that are not to be missed. The Big Banana Complete with a banana-themed gift soft, café and plantation tours, it is said that Coffs Harbour’s Big Banana was set up by the roadside in the 1960s to attract the attention of passers by to the banana stall. Needless to say, it has now gone big business with the Big Banana a must-visit stop for travellers visiting these parts. The Big Crocodile An unofficial Australian icon thanks to the late Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin, the Big Crocodile in Wyndham Western Australia was built in 1987 by the kids of the community to remind locals and visitors to be aware of crocodiles in the surrounding waters. The Big Golden Guitar Modelled on the Golden Guitar trophies awarded to the winners at Tamworth Country Music Festival, the Big Golden Guitar is aptly located in Tamworth – the home of country music in Australia. The Giant Koala Located on the Western Highway between Horsham and Stawell in Victoria, The Giant Koala has a souvenir shop inside and a café next door. Standing 14-meters tall, it’s homage to the cute and cuddly Australian animal that spends most of its life asleep. The Big Kangaroo Originally built to entice travellers to stop for a break, the big kangaroo known as Rooey II, is located at Border Village in South Australia, just shy of the border with West Australia. Now holding a can of soft drink, Rooey used to be holding a beer but it was thought that this was sending the wrong message. The Big Lobster Affectionately known as “Larry” to the locals, the big lobster is a major attraction in Kingston, South Australia. It was built to attract tourists to the visitor centre and a restaurant located behind the sculpture. The Big Pineapple Located in Woombye Queensland and known to be one of the world’s largest pineapple, the plantation in which it is housed features a small animal farm and two rides, the Nut Mobile and a train ride. Both rides bring visitors around the plantation with guided tour by the driver. Image: Getty

Domestic Travel

Prime Minister explains media ban on tour of flooded regions

Prime Minister Scott Morrison made his way to flood affected communities on Wednesday after finally leaving isolation. His visit to damaged homes and communities in flood-affected areas of northern New South Wales spread across the media. However, they were banned from accompanying the prime minister out of “respect for the privacy of those I came to speak to”. “In these disasters, not everybody wants a camera shoved in the face while they’re trying to share their heart with you,” he explained, <a href="https://7news.com.au/politics/federal-politics/scott-morrison-explains-why-media-were-banned-from-his-visit-to-flood-affected-nsw-towns-including-lismore-c-6000763" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7News</a> reported. “I came down to listen to them and what they are going through and understand what was needed for their primary production business, paint business, all those householders themselves, what was needed to make sure we can get this town back on its feet, and that is assisting me with other matters. “The primary purpose is to make sure I understand fully what we need to do, and the alignment of what our plans are and our announcements are with the needs here in the community.” Morrison announced a national emergency for the affected towns as well as promising further assistance. “The sheer scale and impact to these areas in northern NSW highlights the need for extra support right now,” the Prime Minister said in a statement. “While people in northern NSW aren’t able to work, are still clearing out their homes and businesses, the extra two lots of $1,000 payments we’re rolling out to eligible families and individuals will give them some certainty as they start to rebuild their lives. “We can’t underestimate the long term mental health toll so many communities will be facing. As well as the new mental health supports we’re announcing, my government will closely monitor the situation to understand what else people need as they recover from these disasters. “Resilience NSW and Deputy Commissioner Lanyon and the Queensland Government and Major General Ellwood will work alongside the Federal National Recovery and Resilience Agency (NRRA) to identify the priorities for the longer-term recovery under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements. “We’ll work closely with the NSW and Queensland Governments to deliver further funding. It’s crises like this that the Emergency Response Fund was established to help support and it will help as part of the initiatives we deliver so communities across NSW and Queensland get back on their feet.” Image: 7News

Most welcoming regions on earth revealed

As international travel is back on the cards, the most welcoming regions in the world have been announced for 2022, with both Australia and New Zealand nabbing spots in the top ten.In a list compiled by <a href="https://www.booking.com/">booking.com</a> of over 232 million verified reviews, travellers have concluded the most hospitable places to add to your travel bucket list. Melissa Ellison, the booking.com Area Manager for Australia, commented on the impressive results saying, "The travel industry has remained vigilant and flexible in light of the continued uncertainty and travel restrictions we've seen over the course of the past year."Despite this she says, "The passion and dedication of our Australian partners to create safe and welcoming travel experiences for everyone across the nation has continued to shine through."The state of Tasmania took out the third place on the list, while New Zealand’s region of Canterbury came in at number six. There are many other stunning locations that have made the top ten list, which should be a must-see destination for keen travellers this year. <ol><li>Gorenjska, Slovenia</li></ol>Located in northwest of Slovenia, the number one winner is located in the picturesque eastern European mountains. The stunning alpine valleys and charming mediaeval towns make the region the most hospitable place on earth for 2022 travellers. <ol start="2"><li>Taitung County, Taiwan</li></ol>The stunning Asian region is located on the Beinan River and showcases an impressive landscape of coastal areas and vast mountain ranges. The accommodating people and immersive culture make Taiwan a must-visit destination. <ol start="3"><li>Tasmania, Australia</li></ol>The island state is known for its rich history and beautiful scenery. Along with the welcoming residents, Tasmania is set to charm any visitors with its iconic museums and galleries, along with the stunning coastal waters. <ol start="4"><li>Burgenland, Austria</li></ol>Otherwise known as “the vegetable garden of Vienna”, Burgenland is an unsuspecting agricultural province in Austria. Mostly known for its stunning vineyards, visitors are sure to fall in love with the charming Austrian region. <ol start="5"><li>Seychelles, Africa</li></ol>Located on the picturesque African coastline, Seychelles boasts mesmerising scenic nature reserves, coral reefs and crystal clear beaches. The tropical destination is sure to win over any traveller with its unyielding beauty. <ol start="6"><li>Canterbury, New Zealand</li></ol>Situated on New Zealand’s South island, Canterbury is surrounded by clear lakes, snow-capped mountains and grassy plains. Filled with charming coastal towns, visitors to Canterbury are among the luckiest of travellers. <ol start="7"><li>Santa Cruz, Argentina</li></ol>A province in Argentina’s Patagonia region, Santa Cruz boasts extraordinary glacial scenery for the most daring traveller. Situated between the Atlantic Ocean and Andes mountains, a visit to Santa Cruz is a once in a lifetime experience.<ol start="8"><li>Nova Scotia, Canada</li></ol>Surrounded by forests, lakes and farmland, this Canadian province is a hub for the arts. Boasting countless music, art and theatre events throughout the year, this coastal town is a must-see for any lover of the arts. 9. Limón, Costa RicaThis Caribbean province is surrounded by dense jungle, mountains and the beaches of Costa Rica. This tropical paradise boasts unmatched beauty and a rich culture for all to enjoy. <ol start="10"><li>La Rioja, Spain</li></ol>This Spanish city is home to more than 500 wineries, making their scenic vineyards a must-see destination for any lovers of wine. The charming city is rich with history, stunning architecture, and countless vineyard activities such as hot-air ballooning and horse-riding. Image credits: Getty Images

International Travel

Green hydrogen is coming - and these Australian regions are well placed to build our new export industry

You might remember hearing a lot about green hydrogen last year, as global pressure mounted on Australia to take stronger action on climate change ahead of the COP26 Glasgow summit last November. The government predicts green hydrogen exports and domestic use could be worth up to <a href="https://www.minister.industry.gov.au/ministers/taylor/media-releases/strong-potential-future-australia-germany-hydrogen-exports">A$50 billion within 30 years</a>, helping the world achieve deep decarbonisation. But how close are we really to a green hydrogen industry? And which states are best placed to host it? My research shows that as of next year, and based on where the cheapest renewables are, the best places to produce green hydrogen are far north Queensland and Tasmania. As ever more renewable energy pours into our grid, this picture will change. By the end of the decade, the north Queensland coast could become the hydrogen powerhouse. By 2040, dirt-cheap solar should make inland areas across New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia the lowest cost producers. <h2>Renewable energy you can store and transport</h2> Why is there so much buzz around green hydrogen? In short, because it offers us a zero emissions way to transport energy. Take cheap renewable energy and use it to split water into hydrogen and oxygen using an electrolyser. Store the hydrogen on trucks, ship it overseas, or send it by pipeline. Then use the hydrogen for transport, manufacturing or electricity production. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/440605/original/file-20220113-19-1sc50s2.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/440605/original/file-20220113-19-1sc50s2.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Diagram of uses of green hydrogen" /></a> Pathways for the production and use of green hydrogen. Author provided All the technology exists – it’s the cost holding the industry back at present. That’s where Australia and its wealth of cheap renewable energy comes in. Making hydrogen is nothing new – it has a long history of use in fertiliser production and oil refining. But until now, the main source for hydrogen was gas, a fossil fuel. In the last few years, however, there has been a sudden surge of interest and investment in green hydrogen, and new technology pathways have emerged to produce cheap green hydrogen. As global decarbonisation gathers steam, Japan, South Korea and parts of Europe are looking for clean alternatives to replace the role fossil fuels have played in their economies. Australia is exceptionally well placed to deliver these alternatives, with world-beating renewable resources and ports set up for our existing fossil fuel exports, such as coal and LNG. In 2019, we sold almost $64 billion of black coal, with most going to Japan, South Korea, India and China. As these countries decarbonise, the coal industry will shrink. Green hydrogen could be an excellent replacement. <h2>How competitive is Australian hydrogen?</h2> At present, Australia is a long way from producing green hydrogen cheap enough to compete with fossil fuels, given we seem to have no appetite for taxing carbon pollution. Does that mean it’s a non-starter? Hardly. It was only a decade ago sceptics ridiculed solar and wind as too expensive. They’ve gone awfully quiet as renewable prices fell, and fell, and fell – as tracked by the <a href="https://www.irena.org/Statistics/View-Data-by-Topic/Costs/Global-Trends">International Renewable Energy Agency</a>. Now renewables are <a href="https://www.csiro.au/-/media/EF/Files/GenCost2020-21_FinalReport.pdf">cheaper than coal</a>. Battery storage, too, has fallen drastically in price. The same forces are at work on the key technology we need – cheaper electrolysers. By 2040, the CSIRO predicts an 83% fall in electrolyser costs, according to its <a href="https://publications.csiro.au/publications/publication/PIcsiro:EP2021-3374">Gencost 2021-22 report</a>. By contrast, gas-derived hydrogen with carbon capture is predicted to reduce in cost only slightly. That means green hydrogen is likely to capture much of the market for hydrogen from 2030 onwards. <h2>Which states could benefit?</h2> My research with the <a href="https://www.swinburne.edu.au/research/platforms-initiatives/victorian-hydrogen-hub/">Victorian Hydrogen Hub)</a> shows as of next year, the lowest cost location for green hydrogen would be Far North Queensland ($4.1/kg) and Tasmania ($4.4/kg) due to high renewable resources. But this picture will change. By 2030, northern Queensland’s coastal regions could be the Australian hydrogen powerhouse due to a combination of cheap solar and access to ports. Western Australia and the Northern Territory could also have similar advantages, though the modelling for these areas has not yet been done. As solar energy and electrolyser costs continue to fall, new states could enter the green hydrogen economy. In CSIRO’s cost predictions, electricity from solar is predicted to become much cheaper than wind by 2040. This means sunny areas like central and northern Queensland ($1.7/kg) and inland NSW, Victoria and South Australia ($1.8/kg) could be the best locations for green hydrogen production. In making these estimates, I do not consider supply chain and storage infrastructure required to deliver the hydrogen. Transport could account for between $0.05/kg to $0.75/kg depending on distance. Comparing my modelling to price thresholds set out in the <a href="https://www.industry.gov.au/sites/default/files/2019-11/australias-national-hydrogen-strategy.pdf">National Hydrogen Strategy</a> indicates we can produce green hydrogen for trucking at a similar cost to diesel within four years. Fertiliser would take longer, becoming competitive by 2040. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/440388/original/file-20220112-21-1jzafzm.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/440388/original/file-20220112-21-1jzafzm.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> The levelised cost of hydrogen at renewable energy zones in Australia for 2023, 2030 and 2040. (source: Steven Percy, Victorian Hydrogen Hub) <h2>Does our dry country have the water resources for green hydrogen?</h2> If we achieved the $50 billion green hydrogen industry the government is aiming for, how much water would it consume? Surprisingly little. It would take only around 4% of the water we used for our crops and pastures in <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/industry/agriculture/water-use-australian-farms/latest-release">2019-20</a> to generate an export industry that size – 225,000 megalitres. Much more water than this will be freed up as coal-fired power stations exit the grid. In Queensland and NSW alone, these power stations consume around 158,000 megalitres a year according to a <a href="https://apo.org.au/sites/default/files/resource-files/2020-04/apo-nid303605.pdf">2020 report</a> prepared for the Australian Conservation Foundation. Coal mining in these two states takes an additional 224,000 megalitres. As the cost of renewable energy falls and falls, we will also be able to desalinate seawater along our coasts to produce hydrogen. We estimate this would account for only about 1% of the cost of producing hydrogen, based on Australian Water Association <a href="https://f.hubspotusercontent30.net/hubfs/14568786/Fact%20Sheets/Desalination_Fact_Sheet.pdf">desalination cost estimates</a>. <h2>How can we get there faster?</h2> This decade, we must plan for our new hydrogen economy. Government and industry will need to develop and support new hydrogen infrastructure projects to produce, distribute, use and export hydrogen at scale. We’re already seeing promising signs of progress, as major mining companies <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-10/qld-palaszczuk-andrew-forrest-hydrogen-gladstone/100527670">move strongly</a> into green hydrogen. Now we need governments across Australia to rapidly get optimal policy and regulations in place to allow the industry to develop and thrive.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/174466/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/steven-percy-611961">Steven Percy</a>, Senior Research Fellow, Victorian Hydrogen Hub, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/swinburne-university-of-technology-767">Swinburne University of Technology</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/green-hydrogen-is-coming-and-these-australian-regions-are-well-placed-to-build-our-new-export-industry-174466">original article</a>. Image: Shutterstock

Domestic Travel

As Aucklanders anticipate holiday trips, Māori leaders ask people to stay away from regions with lower vaccination rates

Despite the emergence of the new Omicron variant, New Zealand will move to a new <a href="https://covid19.govt.nz/traffic-lights/covid-19-protection-framework/">COVID-19 Protection Framework </a> this Friday, with a traffic light system to mark the level of freedoms for each region. Auckland and other parts of the North Island that are battling active outbreaks or have low vaccination rates will start at red, which means hospitality and businesses will be largely open only for fully vaccinated people. The rest of the country will be in orange, which allows for larger gatherings but restricts access for those who remain unvaccinated. From December 15, the Auckland boundary will lift and Aucklanders will be free to travel around the country, despite the ongoing community outbreak in which <a href="https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-data-and-statistics/covid-19-case-demographics#vaccinations-details">23% of cases have been children under 12 and 14% were fully vaccinated</a>. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/434350/original/file-20211129-13-pa5w88.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Map of traffic light COVID-19 Protection Framework" /> Parts of the North Island will continue to have restrictions in place, particularly for people who remain unvaccinated, once New Zealand shifts to a new system on Friday. Provided, <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/" class="license">CC BY-NC</a> To travel outside the Auckland boundary, anyone aged 12 or over will need to be fully vaccinated or have had a negative COVID-19 test within three days of departure. This will reduce the number of infected people leaving Auckland, but cases will spread across the country as people travel to see whānau and go on holidays. As part of our research to build a <a href="https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/news/2021/04/15/super-model-for-team-of-5m.html">population-based contagion network</a>, we used electronic transaction data from previous years to derive movement patterns across the country. We show that during weeks without public holidays, just over 100,000 travellers left Auckland to visit one or more other regions. For the summer period of 2019-2020, close to 200,000 people left Auckland each week, with travel peaking over the Christmas and New Year period. The most common destinations for these trips were Thames-Coromandel (30,000 people), Tauranga (17,000 people) and Northland (15,000 people). <h2>Vaccination remains the best protection</h2> While full (two-dose) vaccination levels in Auckland are almost at 90% — remembering that 90% of eligible people means only about 75% of the total population, with lower rates for Māori — rates are much lower in many places Aucklanders like to visit over summer. This provides much less protection, against both illness and transmission, and any outbreak would be larger and more rapid. Vaccination coverage in these areas is increasing but is unlikely to be at 90% before Christmas. Holiday destinations also have health infrastructure designed for the much lower local population and face additional pressures if visitors get sick. New Zealand’s outdoor summer lifestyle might be an advantage; transmission is greatly reduced outdoors with good air movement. But people should remain mindful anytime they move into an environment with less ventilation, such as using the toilet at the beach or sharing a car. A good rule of thumb is if you can smell perfume in the air then there’s a transmission risk. COVID-19 is passed on through the air we breathe, which is why masking remains important, as long as the mask <a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/proper-mask-wearing-coronavirus-prevention-infographic">fits properly</a>. People planning to travel should reduce their risk of exposure during the two weeks before a trip. <ul> <li> Skip the office party (especially if they are held indoors) </li> <li> consider postponing meetings until after the holidays rather than having them during the days before people are likely to travel around the country </li> <li> if you decide to go ahead, make sure gatherings and parties are outdoors </li> <li> avoid alcohol as it can increase the likelihood of risky behaviour </li> <li> limit yourself to one meeting per week (if someone is infected, you’ll have a better chance to find out and self-isolate before passing it on) </li> <li> use your contact tracer app, always </li> <li> shop online </li> <li> wear a mask anywhere there is a crowd, even outdoors. </li> </ul> <h2>Protecting people in regions with lower vaccination rates</h2> Vaccination is the best step to reduce spread and symptom severity. But it’s not perfect. The risk of “breakthrough” infections depends on the intensity of exposure – short exposure to an infected person is less likely to result in infection and meeting indoors poses a higher risk. When people are vaccinated, we’d expect to see most transmission happening in dwellings where people are together for long periods of time. For anyone with a breakthrough infection, vaccination approximately halves the chance of transmitting the virus. Vaccination also reduces the risk of developing symptoms, and greatly reduces the risk of needing hospitalisation. But having milder symptoms can make it harder to detect cases, which means it remains important to get tested. The most popular places New Zealanders like to visit over summer are remote and people living there haven’t had the same easy access to vaccination as those living in bigger cities. Nearly a third of Northland’s eligible population remains unvaccinated, the East Cape is only 65% fully vaccinated and parts of the Coromandel Peninsula are also sitting well under ideal vaccination rates. These places also have fewer testing facilities, which could mean outbreaks become harder to detect and manage. Many rural communities aren’t connected to town supply, so wastewater testing won’t be as useful, and emergency medical attention is harder to access. <h2>Planning to manage COVID infections</h2> Many residents in these remote towns, including <a href="https://waateanews.com/2021/11/18/border-opening-no-christmas-treat-for-taitokerau/">iwi leaders</a>, are <a href="https://tinangata.com/2021/11/21/painting-a-covid-picture/">asking holiday makers to stay away</a>, regardless of vaccination status. Māori are already disproportionately represented in our COVID-19 statistics and have more young people who can’t be vaccinated yet. By travelling to areas with low vaccination rates among the Māori population we risk <a href="https://www.newsroom.co.nz/people-will-die-at-home-covids-unstoppable-summer">compounding tragedy</a> in places where health services would not cope with the level of illness. Anyone choosing to go on holiday after weighing these factors should have a plan for what they’ll do if they or someone on their group develops COVID-like symptoms while away from their usual health support systems. Questions to ask include: <ul> <li> Where will you go to get a test? </li> <li> What will you do while you wait for test results? </li> <li> Will it be possible for you to self-isolate while you wait for a test result? </li> <li> Where is the closest medical centre? Do they operate after hours? </li> <li> Is there an ambulance service and how far is the nearest hospital? </li> <li> Is there good phone reception? If not, what will you do in a health emergency? </li> <li> How would you manage an outbreak in your holiday accommodation? </li> </ul> Campers should take extra precautions by wearing masks in shared kitchens and bathrooms and using their own cleaning and hygiene products. They should keep good social distance wherever possible and minimise contact with people they don’t know. Family gatherings will also bring together different generations, with elders who may be more vulnerable and younger people who are more mobile and more likely to be infected. A group of New Zealanders who experienced COVID-19 put together a <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1e2v-rOztBgQfFBKHJN0R59RrinRtq2RmjuFhEZP9JfM/edit#gid=0">management kit</a> with a list of things anyone travelling will find useful. We would like to acknowledge the contribution of Kylie Stewart, a member of the team at Te Pūnaha Matatini and the HRC-funded project <a href="https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/news/2021/04/15/super-model-for-team-of-5m.html">Te Matatini o te Horapa</a> — a population-based contagion network for Aotearoa New Zealand.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/172682/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/dion-oneale-1283438">Dion O'Neale</a>, Lecturer - Department of Physics, University of Auckland; Principal Investigator - Te Pūnaha Matatini, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-auckland-1305">University of Auckland</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/andrew-sporle-1151937">Andrew Sporle</a>, Honorary associate professor, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-auckland-1305">University of Auckland</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/emily-harvey-1284406">Emily Harvey</a>, Principal Investigator, Te Pūnaha Matatini, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-auckland-1305">University of Auckland</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/steven-turnbull-1280540">Steven Turnbull</a>, Te Pūnaha Matatini Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-auckland-1305">University of Auckland</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/as-aucklanders-anticipate-holiday-trips-maori-leaders-ask-people-to-stay-away-from-regions-with-lower-vaccination-rates-172682">original article</a>. Image: Phil Walter/Getty Images

Travel Tips

New Zealand family returns home safe after 12 days missing

Image: Waikato Police A family who went missing in a remote area of New Zealand’s North Island three weeks ago have been found. Police gave up on their search for the family after 12 days, with the family’s last sighting coming on September 11th at Marokopa on the island’s west coast. Tom Phillips and his three children, Jayda, 8, Maverick, 6, and Ember, 5, have been located safe and well, according to New Zealand police who confirmed their safety on Thursday. The rescue effort for the family began on the 12th of September, when the Phillips’ car was found on a nearby Kiritehere beach during a poor spell of weather. Police suspended the search last week, after a 12-day operation failed to locate the four. On Wednesday came a major break through after four riding bikes were found on a nearby road at 5:30 am (local time). “This was unusual,” NZ police’s Waikato West area Commander Inspector Will Loughrin said. “We deployed a fixed wing plane and drones, but they were not located.” Instead, the four turned up unexpectedly at the farm the next day. “As Dad said, ‘I just hope he walks in,’ and he has. This is the best-case scenario," Mr Phillips’ sister Rozzi Pethybridge told Newshub on Thursday. Police spent Thursday afternoon questioning Mr Phillips, with Inspector Loughrin answering some questions about their getaway. “We’re speaking with them to clarify their movements,” he said. “The area they were likely living in was around 15km south…they were using a tent. They were in a dense bush area. “We know from the family and our search he was an experienced bushman and had the capability to look after himself." With everyone safe and well, Inspector Loughrin reflected on the remarkable and unexpected end to the lengthy search effort. "It is extraordinary," he said. "It is the scenario we had hoped ... to happen this way, it is fantastic for the family. "It is a family that experienced 17 days of hell. This is a community that experienced 17 days of hell wondering what had happened."

Travel Trouble

BEYOND shocking: Ugly note left on Aldi shopper's car

Image: Getty A woman in regional Victoria returned to her car after a shopping trip at Aldi, only to discover a shocking note left on her windscreen. Taking to Facebook, the Traralgon resident explained that the person who wrote the note must have thought she was flouting lockdown rules based on the dealership stickers on her car. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844117/new-project-11.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/1350ca544ad044fea3ec7e1dd9320f46" /> Image: Facebook As of Friday, those living in country Victoria no longer have strict stay-at-home restrictions after some rules were lifted. However, Melbourne remains in lockdown and based on that – the person who wrote the rude note presumably believed the Traralgon mum was from the city. “Beside my number plate, it has the name of the dealership my car was purchased from, in Melbourne” she wrote in a post alongside a photo of the note. “I’m assuming that’s why this lovely note was left on my windscreen this evening in the Aldi car park. I cannot believe the insanity and nastiness right now”. Many comments have flooded her post, describing the person behind the note as “disgusting”. “That’s shocking. I’m sorry people are so rude”, one person replied. “OMG that’s horrible. I’m amazed we aren’t getting the same thing. We live here yes but we didn’t buy our car here. There is a lot of craziness at the moment” said another, while a third person added its “So Un-Australia”. But it’s not the first-time regional residents have been at the centre of unwarranted attacks by their own people. Another woman from Inverloch said she was abused in Wongthaggi car park because someone thought she was from the city. “We were confused as to why she would think that from just looking at the car”, the woman said in a Facebook group, according to the Herald Sun. “Our car has a Melbourne dealership sticker on the rear window” as do most cars. Senior Sergeant Peter Watson told the publication that abuse towards others needs to stop. “People shouldn’t assume things, cars can be bought from anywhere” he said.

Food & Wine

Don’t kill the mice: PETA cause backlash among Aussie farmers

An animal rights organisation has been called out for demanding farmers stop killing the mice running rampant on their properties in regional Australia. Millions of rodents have been destroying crops and stored hay and grain across large parts of inland NSW and southern Queensland over the last six months, despite floods and tonnes of poisons being deployed to reduce numbers. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Even if grain’s in silos, mice can get to it. Like Tyler Jones discovered in Tullamore when cleaning out the auger and it started raining mice <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/mouseplague?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#mouseplague</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/mice?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#mice</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/australia?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#australia</a> <a href="https://t.co/mWOHNWAMPv">pic.twitter.com/mWOHNWAMPv</a> — Lucy Thackray (@LucyThack) <a href="https://twitter.com/LucyThack/status/1392315030012522497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2021</a></blockquote> A spokesperson for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) pleaded with farmers this week to not kill the animals, arguing that exterminating them promoted the “dangerous notion of human supremacy”. “These bright, curious animals are just looking for food to survive,” PETA Media Officer Aleesha Naxakis told NCA NewsWire. “They shouldn’t be robbed of that right because of the dangerous notion of human supremacy.” Instead of using “cruel killing methods” that subject “innocent mice to unbearably painful deaths”, Naxakis said farmers should employ humane methods to control the outbreak. “We urge farmers to avoid poisoning these animals,” she said. “This cruel killing method not only subjects innocent mice to unbearably painful deaths, but also poses the risk of spreading bacteria in water when mouse carcasses appear in water tanks. “Instead, humane traps allow small animals to be caught gently and released unharmed,” she added. Naxakis’ comments have drawn fierce backlash from farmers and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack, who said PETA were “idiots who have never been outside the city.” “The real rats in this whole plague are the people who come out with bloody stupid ideas like this,” he said, according to <a href="https://www.news.com.au/technology/science/animals/mouse-plague-crisis-peta-cops-backlash-for-telling-farmers-not-to-kill-the-rodents/news-story/f107ba8f8fb80372a4cc9b1e23a164ee">news.com.au</a>. “Their thinking around this is reprehensible, when you have farmers struggling,” he continued. “You have these people who have never left the city and wouldn’t know if their backside was on fire, then all of a sudden they’re telling farmers what to do? “The only good mouse is a dead mouse.” NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro also said the comments from PETA’s spokeswoman were “ridiculous” and an “insult” to farmers currently struggling. “I would laugh if it wasn’t so serious,” Mr Barilaro said. “I will not entertain PETA’s ridiculous concerns. Mice are pests. They are destroying crops and farming businesses, and the mental angst they are causing familiers is real.” Ben Storer, a farmer in north-west NSW, has lost 800 hectares of his sorghum crop and been left with upwards of $200,000 in damage caused by the pests. “Every morning you get up and pull 400 dead mice out of your pool and out of your filters, and you know, that sort of thing takes a bit of a toll on you,” he told <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/may/15/australias-mouse-plague-six-months-ago-it-was-war-now-whole-towns-have-accepted-their-presence">The Guardian</a>. Baiting is the only large-scale method of controlling mice populations, but farmers still feel for the creatures. Farmer Graham Jones said: “People think farmers don’t have a heart, but they love their animals. I’m sure everyone wants to be killing the mice in a human way.” Image credit: 9NEWS

News

Regional NSW on alert after positive test 200km from Sydney

Residents at two popular holiday destinations are on alert after a person who tested positive to COVID-19 visited a local store and a restaurant. New advice has also been issued for those at a local cricket match. An infected person was at the Nostalgia Factor Shop at Kangaroo Valley on December 27. Anyone there between 11:20 am and 11:30 am has been told to get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result. The same goes for anyone who at the Taj Indian Restaurant in the beachside town of Huskisson. People who dined there on December 27 between 4:45 pm and 5:20 pm must get tested. Further, those who played a game of cricket at the Ollie Webb Cricket Ground in Parramatta for almost four hours on December 28 are considered close contacts and must get tested and isolate for two weeks regardless. Those sitting on the grand stand should also get tested and isolate until negative. Here is the list of venue alerts: <ul> <li>Birdie Noshery & Drinking Est, Orange: January 3 from 12 pm to 2pm</li> <li>BWS Berala: Various times from December 22 to 31</li> <li>Coffee Club, Stockland Shellharbour: December 27 from 11.30 am to 12.45pm</li> <li>Gourmet Cribtin, Broken Hill: January 2 from 10 am to 10.40am</li> <li>Earlwood Bardwell Park RSL: December 28 from 8.52 pm to 11.30pm</li> <li>#HairManagement, Bass Hill: December 24 from 11.15 am to 12.30pm</li> <li>La Piazza, Bankstown Sports Club: December 28 from 12 pm to 2pm, and 10 am to 12pm</li> <li>Monkey Mania, Bankstown Sports Club: December 28 from 10 am to 12pm</li> <li>OKS Beauty and Hair, Lidcombe: December 31 from 10.30 am to 12pm</li> <li>Ollie Webb Cricket Ground, Paramatta: December 28 from 7.30 am to 11am</li> <li>Reading Cinema Auburn: December 30 between 10.10 am and 12.10pm</li> <li>Saravanaa Bhavan Indian restaurant, Parramatta: December 28 from 10.20 am to 10.50am</li> <li>St Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church, Wollongong: December 27 from 9 am to 10.15am</li> <li>Sydney Marina Dine In & Takeaway, Pendle Hill: January 3 from 12.30 pm to 12.50pm</li> <li>Sydney Murugan Temple, Mays Hill: January 1 from 12.46 pm to 1.06pm</li> <li>Sydney Marina Dine In & Take Away, Pendle Hill: January 3 from 12.30 pm to 12.50pm</li> <li>Venus Nail Salon, Bass Hill: December 24 from 12.30 pm to 1pm.</li> </ul> The full list of venues, including for casual contacts, can be found <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Pages/case-locations-and-alerts.aspx" target="_blank">here</a>.

Travel Trouble

NSW to allow regional holidays starting from next month

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> New South Wales residents are excitedly planning their next regional trip after NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed that residents are able to travel regionally for holidays. She also confirmed that pubs, clubs, restaurants and cafes are going to be set up to host up to 20 people. “Absolutely,” the Premier said when asked if the number would double within a month. “That’s definitely on the cards. We’re looking forward to continuing to have those conversations with industry and the health experts but we’re also really pleased, can I say, the way in which the community has respected the restrictions.” However, she’s urging residents to take caution. “But please know it won’t be a holiday like before,” Ms Berejiklian said. “We still have to exercise social distancing. We have to book ahead. Please make sure you plan ahead. “Book as many things as possible online and call ahead to the place you’re visiting to see what’s available and what options you have. “Even though restrictions are being eased, the message is that the virus isn’t any less deadly or contagious, it just means we have to live with it.” Not every state is on board with the move, including Tasmania. Tasmania Premier Peter Gutwein has said it’s too early to set a date for when their borders will come down. “If we can continue to follow those rules … I expect that in July we will be able to set a date for when our borders will come down. To set a date now … would not be common sense,” Mr Gutwein said on Tuesday. Federal Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham, despite Tasmania’s concerns, is urging state and territory governments to reopen their borders to domestic holiday takers when it’s safe. “Those states who’ve got border controls in place, assuming we’ve continued to see very low rates of transmission of COVID-19, ought to be looking at opening up their borders,” he told Nine on Tuesday. </div> </div> </div>

Domestic Travel

Get the inside scoop to Switzerland's Lake Geneva region

Home to amazing Swiss food and wine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, world-renowned events and some of Europe’s most spectacular sceneries, Switzerland’s Lake Geneva Region has a lot more to boast than just watches and chocolate - the usual suspects that spring to mind when it comes to this French speaking region of the country. The scenery Surrounded by majestic snow-capped mountains that roll into rows of verdant vineyard-covered slopes, there really is no bad angle when it comes to Lake Geneva. Along the expansive shoreline you’ll find beautiful old towns and villages decorated with multi-coloured geraniums as well as well-preserved cobbled streets. It all adds to the unique charm of this region and keeps history standing still. However, subtle modern elements creep in here and there so you won’t forget you’re still in the 21st century. The contrast of old and new is what makes a visit to this region truly eclectic. Activities One of the major highlights and events of the region is the Montreux Jazz festival, where thousands of jazz lovers descend on the shores to soak in the Swiss summer and enjoy the tunes of the world’s most popular music legends. Down the road is Vevey, gateway to the breathtakingly beautiful Lavaux vineyards. Take in a World UNESCO Heritage Site, while savouring the extraordinary flavours of the region. As Swiss wines are not generally exported due to limited produce, the exclusivity of the produce only adds to the allure. If you simply can't eat and drink any more, then a visit to the Olympic Museum in the historical city of Lausanne is sure to impress any sport lover. The story of the Olympics from the very beginning until today has been painstakingly documented and is presented in an exciting way – worth a visit they say! To learn more about attractions in the Lake Geneva Region and Switzerland, visit <a href="https://www.myswitzerland.com/en/">myswitzerland.com.</a> Fact file The best way to see and experience Switzerland is with a Swiss Pass, which entitles the holder to hop onto any train, bus or boat during the duration of the visit. The Pass also allows the holder free entry to more than 470 museums around the country and 50% discounts on mountain peak rails. Visit myswitzerland.com/rail for more information. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/articles/travel/inside-scoop-to-switzerlands-lake-geneva-region.aspx">Wyza.com.au.</a>

Cruising

Enchanting Yulefest returns to the Blue Mountains this winter

A regional tradition since 1980, mid-winter Yulefest is the season for which Australia’s first tourist destination is most famous. A sprinkle of magic, and maybe even a coating of snow, will fall over the Blue Mountain this July. Bon bons and plum pud among myriad teapots. Belly laughs and classic humour. River cruising, luxury digs and dining accessed by vintage motorcars and modern glitzy wheels. Even a chance of snow flurries around one of the most famous landmarks on the planet. After the exhilarating zing of a chilly day spent exploring the lookouts and bushwalking tracks of the Blue Mountains, shopping at charming villages and visiting attractions, sojourners are warmly invited indoors for steaming drinks, fireside dining and rousing entertainment. Numerous hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, cafes and restaurants celebrate the winter festival, enlivened by warming entertainment. “Yulefest in the Blue Mountains offers the European-style atmosphere people associate with Christmas – a chilly landscape outside and cosiness inside with roaring fires, hot food and drinks, traditional decorations and festive music, but without the stress and frosty relatives. Sometimes there’s even snow," explained Meagan Iervasi, who is the Guest Services Manager of Escarpment Group. Book your Yulefest bed, table and experience early so you’re not left out in the cold. Here are some of the top treats to look out for. Blue Mountains Limousine and Vintage Cadillacs Vintage vroom or modern glitz: you choose how you make a grand entrance this Yulefest. Guests will be collected from and returned to any location between Hazelbrook and Mt Victoria in the Blue Mountains. Your local driver, dressed in formal attire, will roll up in a stretch limo or LaSalle model Cadillac. Arrive the long way round after exploring the breathtaking scenery of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area or cruising upmarket Leura Mall for head-turning effect. Bookings available between 4pm and midnight any Friday and Saturday during July. Minimum two passengers per trip. Prices start from $59 per person. Go to <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://bluemountainslimo.com.au/" target="_blank">bluemountainslimo.com.au</a>, email <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="mailto:info@bmlimo.com.au" target="_blank">info@bmlimo.com.au</a> or phone Robert on 0400 500 542 or Don on 0455 352 976 for more details and bookings. Bygone Beautys Treasured Teapot Museum and Tearooms, Leura Dine among one of the world’s largest private collections of teawares, including more than 5,500 teapots from all over the world and spanning five centuries, most of which were collected within Australia. At the Yulefest luncheon, guests can tuck into a traditional Northern Hemisphere Christmas-style feast with all the trimmings (bon bons, serviettes and table decorations). Begin with a canape platter and soup, followed by a traditional roast with seasonal vegetables. Top it off with a plum pudding or pavlova dessert, tea/coffee and homemade shortbread. To book, call (02) 4784 3117 or email <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="mailto:info@bygonebeautys.com.au" target="_blank">info@bygonebeautys.com.au</a>. Find more information at <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://bygonebeautys.com.au/" target="_blank">bygonebeautys.com.au</a>. Mountain Whispers, Leura and Katoomba French champagne on ice, handmade chocolates, and scattered fresh rose petals. A private chef to cook a three-course festive dinner and a personal waiter to serve it. Wait, there’s more. Round out the day with an in-house massage and/or facial in opulent surrounds. Whether it's a romantic getaway, or an escape with great friends, every minor details matters at Mountain Whispers MW Collection. “While Christmas is about family, Yulefest is a great time to take a mid-year break to focus on romance or time with your friends to indulge and escape the daily grind,’’ says owner of the Mountain Whispers, Lorraine Allanson. Each of the multi-award winning, self-contained heritage properties promises a luxurious getaway in total privacy and comfort for couples and small groups. Choose between the emaculate Varenna, Leura Rose and Strawberry Patch in Leura and The Gatsby and Chatelaine in Katoomba. Find more information at <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://mountainwhispers.com.au/" target="_blank">mountainwhispers.com.au</a> or call 1300 721 321. The Goon Show LIVE! Dinner and a show The cult comedy tour de overacting incorporates loads of sound effects, silly voices and a platoon of crazy characters which promise to have audiences belly laughing all evening. It regales the stories of Neddie Seagoon, a good-natured and hairy sort, albeit short and rotund and the victim of a terrible weakness – greed. Coupled with his innate gullibility, Neddie’s covetous nature makes him easy prey to confidence schemes courtesy of the conniving cads Grytpype-Thynne and Moriarty. Peppered with one-liners, the high energy show will feature characters including the world’s most famous idiot Eccles (yes, even more infamous than Neddie), the squeaky-voiced boy-scout Bluebottle (who reads his stage-directions out loud), Major Dennis Bloodnok a devout coward, and Miss Minnie Bannister the sexy senior citizen who lives in sin with crumbling, fumbling old man Henry Crun. The dinner and show will be held in le Salon Grand at the Palais Royale, Katoomba, each Saturday night from June 29 to July 20. A a special afternoon tea on will be held on July 14. Tickets cost $135 for Saturdays, $80 for Sundays. Afternoon tea, seniors and group discounts available. For bookings and details, visit <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://deephill.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=64cc2a5bb3b194bece5e88667&id=988d4bbceb&e=a63adc298f" target="_blank">www.goons.com.au</a>. Nepean Belle river luncheon cruise, Jamisontown `Tis the season to cruise the tranquil waters of the Nepean River aboard the regional aquatic icon on your way to or from the Blue Mountains. The heritage-style Nepean Belle paddlewheeler will be festooned with decorations. Guests will board to the strains of popular carols against the picturesque backdrop of the Blue Mountains escarpment. Tuck into a two-course Yulefest fare with all the trimmings. Begin with a shared platter of succulent roast turkey with fruit seasoning, a tender roast pork with apple sauce and gravy, garnished with honey-roasted vine tomatoes and accompanied by creamy sautéed potato; a selection of hot seasonal vegetables; steamed broccoli, carrots and peas; and a Greek salad with feta. A dessert platter of festive favourites will follow, with White Christmas, chocolate rum balls, fruit cake, chocolate mud cake and rich butter shortbread biscuits, washed down with your choice of freshly brewed tea or coffee. On weekdays, tickets cost $59 per adult, $53 per senior, $39 per teen (13-16 years), and $20 per child (3-12 years). On weekends, $65 per adult, $58 for seniors, $39 for teens, $25 for children. To make a booking, visit <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://nepeanbelle.com.au/" target="_blank">nepeanbelle.com.au</a> or call (02) 4733 1274. Hydro Majestic Hotel, Medlow Bath A night in Vienna: In the lead-up to Yulefest, relish the romance of Austria’s operatic golden age against the magnificent backdrop of the Megalong Valley. On June 22, enjoy an unforgettable evening of entertainment, led by Opera Australia, Oper Köln, Opéra Comique & Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris and English National Opera tenor, Brad Cooper. The Wintergarden Restaurant performance will be matched with a five-course degustation dinner. Tickets cost $135 per person. Bookings can be made by calling (02) 4782 6885. Sink into the refined 5-star surrounds to nibble on delicate finger sandwiches, fluffy scones with homemade jam and fresh clotted cream, and a selection of Yulefest sweet treats beside a cosy fire place. For the ultimate Yulefest decadence, the hatted restaurant in the historic home of former Chief Justice of NSW Sir Frederick Darley will serve five and seven-course degustation dinners each Friday and Saturday throughout July with special winter flavours. Can’t decide which events to attend? We can help craft customised itineraries for Yulefest travellers, including flights, accommodation and attractions. Get in touch today on 1300 404 606 or email <a href="https://www.mydiscoveries.com.au/stories/yulefest-2019-blue-mountains/info@mydiscoveries.com">info@mydiscoveries.com</a> Written by Editorial Staff. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.mydiscoveries.com.au/stories/yulefest-2019-blue-mountains/">My Discoveries</a>.

Domestic Travel

Why the Kimberley region is an icon of the outback

Travel writer David McGonigal shares his insider tips for exploring the stunning WA Kimberley region. Few Australian towns have developed more in recent decades than Broome. However, just 10 minutes outside town little has changed in 50,000 years. The colours of the Kimberley are a constant. They are a brilliant pallet of red soil and blue sky, golden beaches and aquamarine sea. So are the strong characters that inhabit this harsh and largely empty landscape. I wrote after my first visit 30 years ago: “It’s a truly beautiful part of the country that in many ways epitomises the image of Australia that Australians like to present to the world.” That hasn’t changed and is more important than ever as the rest of Australia becomes more urbanised. The Kimberley’s main travel season is April to September, when the days are warm and the skies are clear. Kimberley towns Kununurra began in the 1960s as the centre of the Ord River Irrigation Scheme. There’s a <a href="http://www.visitkununurra.com/">wide range</a> of accommodation options and many charter flights over the Bungle Bungles and Argyle Diamond Mine. These days it is a modern town with full facilities. <a href="http://www.experiencewyndham.com.au/">Wyndham</a> was born as the port for the Halls Creek gold rush in 1886. It is a sleepy town of 800 people on Cambridge Gulf and the view from Five Rivers Lookout is spectacular. <a href="http://www.hallscreektourism.com.au/">Halls Creek</a> is the northern end of the Canning Stock Route and the Tanami Track and an entry point for Wolfe Creek Crater and the Bungle Bungle Range. The nearby ruins of Old Halls Creek date back to the first discovery of gold in WA in 1885 when 15,000 optimists were living here. As its name suggests, Fitzroy Crossing came about from people waiting for the flooded Fitzroy River to drop so it was safe to travel across the causeway. Of course, the inevitable delay required a drink and that gave rise to the 1897 Crossing Inn. Geikie Gorge is close by, but this is also a good base to explore Mimbi Caves as well as Tunnel Creek and Windjana Gorge. <a href="http://www.derbytourism.com.au/">Derby</a>, established in 1883, is the Kimberley’s oldest town and remains an important administrative centre with a population of 4,500. The famed hollow boab prison tree stands about 7km from town. Derby has the Kimberley’s main Royal Flying Doctor Service base. <a href="http://www.visitbroome.com.au/">Broome</a> is one of Australia’s most important tourist towns. Originally a pearling community it now has a wide range of hotels and resorts and tourist operators. Expect to see expensive jewellery such as pearls and Argyle diamonds on display in the shops. You can still ride a camel along Cable Beach and Sun Pictures outdoor picture gardens is always packed on Saturday nights. Travel by road Trans-Kimberley options are either the Great Northern Highway or the Gibb River Road, or ideally both. The highway comes into Broome from the south along Eighty Mile Beach then passes through Derby, Fitzroy Crossing, Halls Creek, Wyndham and Kununurra before becoming the Victoria Highway to Katherine and Darwin. It’s just over 1000km from Broome to Kununurra. The renowned 700km back-country journey along the Gibb River Road begins outside Derby to the south west and ends near Wyndham. The main side trip is up to Kalumburu and/or Mitchell Falls. The dirt road up the Dampier Peninsula from Broome passes by the Aboriginal communities of Beagle Bay (don’t miss seeing the pearl-shell altar in the church), Middle Lagoon and Lombadina before arriving at Cape Leveque and One Arm Point. Sunset at Cape Leveque turns the blood-red ridge behind the white sandy beach to crimson. The Aboriginal-owned resort of <a href="http://www.kooljaman.com.au/">Kooljaman</a> offers five levels of accommodation and a camp ground. Purnululu National Park is the site of the wonderful orange-and-black banded beehive domes of the Bungle Bungle Range. It is only open between April and December and the rough 53km access road can be negotiated only by 4WD vehicles and single-axles off-road trailers. There are no shops in the park but there are scenic flight options. The Gibb River Road heads north from Derby past <a href="http://www.mowanjumarts.com/">Mowanjum Art and Cultural Centre</a> and the old Derby Leprosarium on the way to the turnoff to Windjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek. Like Geikie Gorge these cut through the ancient coral reef of the Napier Range. The whole Gibb River Road is a grand outback experience and the swimming holes, stations (some offer accommodation) and camping sites along the way provide an unforgettable experience. The road has improved a lot in recent years and opens in April or May when the rivers have dropped and Main Roads has graded it to repair the ravages of the Wet. Around midway along the road there’s the turnoff to Kalumburu and the Mitchell Plateau. The 270km road to Kalumburu is only slightly worse than the Gibb River Road – the track out to Mitchell Falls is considerably worse. For National Parks information go to the <a href="https://parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/">official website</a>. Aboriginal tourism Since the late, renowned Sam Lowell OAM began taking tours in 1981 the Kimberley has been a great place to discover the unique perspective of the original Australians. That can be done in many ways including staying at the multi-award-winning <a href="http://www.kooljaman.com.au/">Kooljaman</a>. At Geikie Gorge, the <a href="http://www.darngku.com.au/">Darngku Heritage Cruises</a> provides a special insight into Aboriginal heritage and visits places not accessible to the regular visitor. To explore the opportunities <a href="http://www.kimberleydreamtimeadventures.com.au/">Kimberley Dreamtime Adventure Tours</a> offers several tours out of Broome. Of course, there are also opportunities to buy Aboriginal art in the area where it was created. There are many galleries throughout the Kimberley. Just ask the local tourist offices. Exploration by air The distances in the Kimberley are vast and the population sparse so air travel is a logical option. Two sights are best seen from an aerial perspective: Wolfe Creek Meteorite Crater and Bungle Bungle. The WA government set up the <a href="http://www.westernaustralia.com/en/Attraction/Kimberley_Aerial_Highway/56b2690cd5f1565045dac438">Kimberley Aerial Highway</a> linking charter flights to ground operator tours. Several cattle stations across the Kimberley welcome fly-in visitors. For remote coastal luxury there’s <a href="http://www.farawaybay.com.au/">Faraway Bay</a> where you have to fly in because any other access is impractical. The resort takes pride in its cuisine and the setting is superb. The Kimberley overall offers grand settings and a sense of space that is unique. No matter how you travel, time in this special part of Australia reveals much of what makes Australia special. For general information visit <a href="http://www.westernaustralia.com/">www.westernaustralia.com</a> Have you visited the Kimberley region? Join the conversation below. Written by David McGonigal. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/articles/travel/why-the-kimberley-region-is-an-icon-of-the-outback.aspx">Wyza.com.au.</a>

Domestic Travel

This might be the most beautiful region in Australia

I'm a passenger in a helicopter, levitating metres above the Kimberley's rusty red surface, a landscape so ancient and grand it's barely buffeted by the whirring blades. Then, without warning, the ground disappears; it's as though we've stepped off the edge of a skyscraper. Seemingly in slow motion, our chopper pin-drops, plummeting down the stark, 80-metre face of a waterfall, chasing thousands of droplets as they splinter into a cloud of flossy, white mist. Just as my reeling brain catches up, the pilot – he's German, and oh-so-precise – scoops us safely towards the horizon line, careering through the red curtain chasm before veering towards a giant column of rock, then banking hard right and performing a cheeky fly-by of our gleaming cruise boat. The extremes of Mother Nature and man's place as an eager spectator within it are what this eight-day trip of a lifetime is all about. Aboard a 26-metre luxury catamaran in the liquid-filled Kimberley, 14 of us are combing the Western Australian region's countless islands and raggedy coastline in pursuit of some of the country's most epic waterfalls. While most visitors opt for the easy-going temperatures of a northern winter, we're deliberately here at the tail end of summer's stormy Wet season, which peters out in March. About 1400 millimetres of rainfall are recorded across the region annually, and for a couple of months after the tropical rains subside, water culminating in rivers and streams drives in giant volumes towards the outer crust of Australia. It's this dramatic spill – and maybe an electric storm or two – that we're chasing. <img width="500" height="333" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/39494/image__500x333.jpg" alt="Image_ (386)"/> Admittedly, the air is heavy with humidity and while liberal amounts of SPF15+ are applied, its greasy sheen can't block out the searing heat. A belly flop off the deck is no answer either – crocs patrol these waters – but our skipper has other, better solutions as he navigates the 1000 nautical miles of coastal crevices and island outcrops between Broome and Wyndham. Chris "Trippy" Tucker has been exploring the region for nearly 30 years. Though waterfall-focused trips are still largely a novelty for punters, April is his favourite time in the Kimberley, when waterworks spurt and the weather fines up. "People go to the gorges and see their first big waterfall and their faces light up with this expression of happiness – that's just great," he says. We don't have to wait long. After a night of ploughing north up the Dampier Peninsula our aptly named vessel, The Great Escape, reaches the thousand islands of the Buccaneer Archipelago. Illuminated by the warm dawn light, some are Utah-esque in formation, and all are banded with a tie-dye of burnt orange, weathered beige and rhinoceros grey, immersed in an opaque, cornflower-blue ocean. Dinghies whisk us to Crocodile Creek, a rock-carved oasis fed by a splattering waterfall. Only a day in and I'm happily make-up free, casually clad and a million mental miles away from the stresses of the office. I feel a long-forgotten sense of peace as I fold my body into dark folds of rock at the waterfall's base. With no one but us around, it's pure bliss. But apparently this fall is a baby compared with the others we're yet to see. <img width="500" height="375" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/39495/image__500x375.jpg" alt="Image_ (387)"/> We head off through the islands, scattered as thick as the Milky Way, tracing an edge of a flaming rocky escarpment that twists and turns like angel hair pasta. As we progress eastward, rock morphs from blocks at home in a cubist painting, to the rounded crags of an old man's pockmarked face. As we anchor for the night, a handful of guests zoom off with rods in hand. The prized barramundi eludes them – for now – so pink snapper is instead panko crumbed and served with chilli mayo by the on-board chef, who has swapped a Margaret River winery for his floating digs. The following afternoon we witness a waterfall of a very different kind. Each day, Montgomery Reef is revealed by the retreat of some of the largest tropical tides in the world. As metres worth of water suck away like a reverse flood, white water gushes down the sides of Australia's largest inshore reef, making it appear as though it's rising from the ocean. Any sea life not savvy enough to vacate in time is stranded. The coral, we're told, secretes a sort of natural sunblock equivalent to SPF45, protecting it from the sun. When we first skirt the reef in aluminium runabouts, it is little more than a dark line in the ocean. But as we motor along, spotting turtles as they raise their heads to breathe, water increasingly pours off the sides, making the sea bubble. By the time we buckle in to the chopper for an aerial view, the mottled reef has emerged. "It's like a reverse Atlantis," says our chopper pilot, Bernd Banke, renamed "Scorcher" by the Aussie crew. "I didn't even know it existed." Before we reach what many regard as the region's highlight, the towering, 80-metre King George Falls, we're granted a spectacular electrical storm – but only after a day of wilting through the still, oppressive humidity of "the build-up". Brooding, bloated clouds hover over a blaze of red rock at sunset, and as the sky darkens, shoots of fork lightning reach for earth. The light show spreads to a huge, marshmallow cloud, with white fingers clawing through it. Forks turn vertical, tearing across the sky like shooting stars, or crackling through clouds in myriad directions. Sitting on the protected back deck of the boat (having been evacuated from our beach bonfire dinner), we're captivated by every flash. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/somszPegeD0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> By Wednesday morning, we're wending our way gently through the enormous ochre walls framing the King George River. High tide allows us to follow the serpentine of what was once a great, forceful waterway that rose and fell over millennia, carving this track through the sandstone. Gravity-defying ledges that must weigh tonnes jut out from above, and only the most tenacious of plants succeed in clinging to the rockface. Then, we turn and the twin falls emerge. Wrapped in red, the rock has been stained black beneath the slapping water, creating a backdrop that further defines the cascades. Again, Trippy nuzzles the boat into the spray, and we squeal like children as we're drenched to the skin. Have you ever been to the Kimberley region? Written by Fleur Bainger. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a>.

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