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Brisbane and its water
The residents of Brisbane are lucky in that they have the Brisbane River winding through the city and the beaches of Moreton Bay on their eastern side. That means fishing and boating are both popular pastimes. However the proximity of the river means that part of Brisbane are more likely to flood during a cyclone or extended periods of wet weather. This is not as bad as it might have been due to the hilly nature of the city. Mount Gravatt, Highgate Hill and Mount Ommaney are just three of many higher areas. Brisbane can boast the wettest day in Australian history with 465 millimetres falling on the city on…
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What about Melbourne, gardens abound?
Those who would like to live in a city with plenty of gardens should check out Melbourne for their future home. Melbourne was built in those delightful days when town planners believed every family should have a quarter of an acre to go with their home. This meant that as the city grew, it sprawled out more than up, and to make it even better, the subsequent suburbs were provided with tram and train services. Thus Melbourne became known as garden city and the state of Victoria where it is found, The Garden State. This is not only due to the larger house blocks of course, but also the numerous…
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Tourist Attractions in Sydney
The city of Sydney can boast many attractions for the tourist to visit and enjoy. Not least is the Harbour Bridge, from which Sydney draws its nickname Harbour City. The Sydney Harbour Bridge was finished in 1932, right in the middle of the great depression. Two other long established attractions are Taronga Zoo and Luna Park, with its big, smiling face arching over the entrance. The Opera House is a famous attraction right on the foreshore of the Harbour and its five theatres host an amazing variety of performers, while at Darling Harbour you can visit the underwater aquarium and enjoy other attractions such as the Japanese Gardens. Sydney also…
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What about smash repairs?
If you are in the unfortunate position of needing smash repairs for your vehicle, be sure to get several quotes before you choose a repairer. The written quote should include a full description of all work that needs to be done and the estimated cost. The quote should also be signed. But there are other factors to consider other than price. You may need someone who can pick up your smashed vehicle and deliver it back to you when finished. If this service is offered for free, so much the better. You might need a smash repairer with a towing service. A 24-hour service will get your car off the…
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The Sutherland Shire
Sylvania Waters is a suburb in the Sutherland Shire that is unique in that many of its residential buildings are set on artificial islands. One of these was used in the filming of Superman Returns. The area became infamous when a reality TV series about a family living there was screened internationally. Apart from that, there is a state of the art athletics track used to host many national events, a Tennis Court Complex and it is the home of the Southern Districts Rugby Club. The tiny suburb of Waterfall marks the southern border of the Sutherland shire. At 200 metres, it is the highest place above sea level in…
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New England (North-West)
New England is a beautiful and intriguing area of NSW, higher than the coast and so much colder, with some areas receiving snow during the winter – others whitened by frost. Driving through the New England area the tourist will notice many huge rock formations – or just single, huge rocks sitting out in the middle of the paddocks. The New England region encompasses Tamworth and Armidale to the north and Walcha and Nowendoc further south. It is bounded by Werrikimber Mountain to the Great Dividing Range. The eastern fringe is bordered by several well-known national parks such as Washpool, Guy Fawkes, Dorrigo, New England and Oxley National Parks. Much…
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The Illawarra Region
The Illawarra region is on the south side of Sydney and extends to the Shoalhaven region. Wollongong, Shell Harbour and Kiama are three of the major cities. The whole area is basically a narrow plain, bounded by the Pacific Ocean on one side and Mountainous escarpments on the inland side. In the middle is Lake Illawarra that was formed due to sedimentation of a bay. It is more like a coastal lagoon than a lake, as it is no more than 2/3 metres in depth. It was first named Tom Thumb’s Lagoon by early explorers. The city of Wollongong is said to be the fourth largest urban area in Australia.…
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Parramatta History to Present
Parramatta was built around the same time as Sydney on the banks of the Parramatta River. The aboriginals called the place Barramatta, or “place where the eels lie down”, due to the proliferation of eels in the area. Even today there are many eels around the river and they have become an emblem of the Parramatta Eels football team. Nowadays Parramatta is classed as a suburb of Sydney, even though it is 23 ks west of Sydney’s CBD. When the early settlers arrived in Sydney food was limited and the soil around Sydney too poor and sandy for much in the way of agricultural pursuits. It was decided than that…
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All about the Hunter Region
More commonly known as the Hunter Valley, the Hunter Region is one of the most beautiful areas of NSW, Australia. The Hunter River is the biggest water source, but it has many tributaries and there are many other rivers and streams. The Hunter region is well known for its wonderful wines. Both red and white grape varieties seem to do well in the diverse geography. Coal-mining, dairy farming and beef cattle are other major industries. While Pokolbin is the known area for many wineries, Pokolbin is not a town, but rather a region between the two towns of Cessnock and Branxton in the Lower Hunter. Wineries abound in the region…
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Australian High Interest Savings Accounts November 2019
With the interest rates on the chopping block it is useful to review your savings accounts. Here is a quick summary of Australian bank accounts that are paying some of the best interest rates as at 7th November 2019. These bank accounts can change their rates so make sure you check what the current rate and conditions are before opening an account. UP Saver 2.25% (0.50% BASE + 1.75% BONUS) Requirement for bonus: Account holder must complete 5 transactions on debit card from linked everyday account from UP. No bonus on balance over 50K Website: https://up.com.au/life_savers/ MyState Bonus Saver 2.25% (0.55% BASE + 1.70% BONUS) Requirement for bonus: Account holder…