The Land Down Under is also the land of contrasts. Check out some of the most beautiful sights around the country. Words Chris Moss
1 Surf… Bells Beach and
the Surf Coast
Patrick Swayze’s quest for the perfect wave in Point Break ended on Bells Beach on the Surf Coast of Victoria, where the breaks hurl even the best surfers from their boards. The first surfing contest, Rip Curl Pro, was held here and its now an annual event, with a music festival tacked on. Easier breaks and surf schools along the coast also make a good place to learn.
2 Exploration… Akadu National Park, Northern Territory
Alligator Rivers may not be the first place you’d go for a dip, but the spectacular waterfalls with dark plunge pools and sparkling beaches are crocodile- free and perfect after a long bushwalk or drive. Countless animal, bird and plant species inhabit the forest and canyons, where 50,000-year-old Aboriginal paintings survive.
3 Metropolis… Sydney
Romantic views, galleries and the opera house, great bars and excellent shopping all help to make Sydney a world-class city. Make sure the nature tours and gourmet outings around the region leave you time for Bondi Beach, famous for its white sands, parties and sexy surfer boys and chicks.
4 Road trip… the Great
Ocean Road
The Great Ocean Road follows the limestone cliffs towering above the Southern Ocean for 243 kilometres, above beaches on one side and thick bush on the other. Between romantic sunsets, view the rocky giants of the
12 Apostles, the silent rainforest waterfalls of Great Otway national park and the wildlife reserve atop the extinct volcano at Tower Hill.
Read more in the November edition of Living Abroad Magazine
