Exploroo Blog

If you find yourself traveling down the east coast of Australia on the picturesque Bruce Highway, take some time and explore Frank Guerra’s hometown, Innisfail! Located just over 1,000 miles away from Brisbane, this traditionally agricultural region is branching out and developing burgeoning fishing and tourism industries.

With a very small population of just under 10,000 people, Innisfail offers a quaint village feeling with friendly people and lots of sights to see and exciting activities to partake in.Innisfail is well kwown for 3 great rugby league players lional Williamson, Kerry Boustead and Current Australian representative player Billy Slater in 2008 he was voted best player in the world, to catch up with the local rugby league team go to http://www.brothersinnisfail.com.au/

Originally inhabited by aboriginal people for thousands of years, a shipwreck off the coast in 1872 forced Europeans ashore to seek shelter. Dazzled by the beauty of this area as well as it’s abundance of natural resources, the Europeans decided to settle here. The settlers started developing the sugar industry, which was the driving force behind the eventual development of this town. More and more European immigrants began to settle here, helping to further develop the sugar cane and banana industry. There are large populations of Italians, Greeks, and many other ethnic groups who form a diverse and culturally compelling community here.

If you are an avid fisherman, or just want to spend some time on the water, Innisfail does not dissapoint. Located near two major rivers and relatively close to the ocean, Innisfail offers some of the best freshwater as well as saltwater fishing anywhere in Australia. You can charter a small fishing boat with a guide to take you offshore, but there are also numerous locations on shore that offer action packed fishing.

A great attraction to visit while around the Innisfail area is the Paronella Park. Just outside of town, this Spanish inspired tourist location has survived fire, several floods and a cyclone to continue wowing visitors with it’s beautiful botanical gardens and multiple waterfalls. This is a beautiful place to wander through and soak in the sights. You can go exploring alone, or take one of the many daily guided tours of the grounds.

Innisfail gained worldwide notoriety when in 2006, Cyclone Larry ripped through the town causing severe damage. Not only were many homes severely damaged or destroyed altogether, the banana and sugar crops, which are the main economic drivers of this small community, were wiped out.  And the town has since made a very strong recovery.

Innisfail is a great town to visit. To really understand what Australia is all about and to appreciate locations off the usual tourist path, you should really spend some time in small towns like Innisfail. You will gain a greater appreciation of the history and importance of the area!

It’s always a great time to plan a trip to Australia. The weather is beautiful, the beaches are amazing, and there is always something exciting to do. There’s no reason not to go and enjoy yourself!

Before you leave, though, it is probably best you learn a little bit about Australia and what to expect on your trip. This way, it will be easier for you to immerse yourself into the local culture and experience the beauty Australia has to offer as if you were a local, and not one of those uneducated tourists who just visit the major attractions and miss out on the vibrant local culture. (You know who I am talking about, the people with huge cameras, floral print shirts and multiple colorful drinks with tiny umbrellas in them!)

What is the social scene like in Austalia?
Australians love to have fun, all the time! Whether it is a major holiday or just another Wednesday night, there’s bound to be a party somewhere! Depending on your interests of personal tastes, you can head to a big city like Sydney and experience the cosmopolitan charm of the land down under, or you can head closer to the outback and enjoy a more traditional experience. (Maybe even Vegemite and some ‘Roo meat!)

An even better idea is to try and meet some people who will be traveling to the same area of Australia as you before you leave and make plans with them. That doesn’t mean you will have to spend the whole trip with them, but meeting up with someone who has traveled to Australia before and knows their way around can really add to the overall experience. There’s nothing like meeting up with someone who knows the best small pub on the outskirts of Sydney that no other tourist knows about and mingling with the locals all night long. Those are life experiences you can tell your grandkids about!

A very easy way to meet people who will be traveling to Australia and make plans to meet up is to head over to the social networking travel website, Exploroo! There, you will find a vast array of active travelers who share their photos of past trips, write in their blogs about their experiences and possible future travel plans, and are looking for people just like you to meet up with on their next trip to Australia.

If you are planning a trip to Australia, it is best to educate yourself on their local culture and meet up with more experienced travelers who can guide you around the best spots that guidebooks never mention.

Do you like fish and other marine wildlife? Do you want to see something so large and beautiful it will make your jaw drop? If so, and you are traveling to the state of Queensland in Australia, you must visit the Great Barrier Reef.

Known as one of the seven natural wonders of the world, The Great Barrier Reef is the largest underwater coral reef system on the planet. Contrary to popular belief, the Great Barrier Reef is not just one giant piece of coral, but a system of almost 3,000 individual reefs and 1,000 small islands. It is over 1500 miles long and houses over 1000 different species of wildlife. It truly is an incredible sight!

One of the great features of the Great Barrier Reef is the diverse marine wildlife that calls this area home. From rare and colorful fish, to ancient sea turtles and various species of whales, the Great Barrier Reef is a great place to visit for someone who is interested in rare and endangered wildlife.

One of the best ways to actually see some of this wildlife is to go scuba diving. You can swim right up to some of the wildlife and get an up close look at some of the most rare species of fish and turtles on earth. If you have never taken scuba lessons or just don’t like swimming, don’t worry. You can go on a glass bottom boat, which gives a fantastic view from above, all while keeping you dry and safe.

Want to get a birds eye view of the Great Barrier Reef? No Problem! There are numerous companies that arrange helicopter tours over the reef and the surrounding area. Remember, you can see the Great Barrier Reef from outer space, so imagine what it looks like from just a few thousand feet above the water. I promise, it is like nothing you’ve ever seen!

It would be a huge mistake to take a trip to the Great Barrier Reef and not visit some of the surrounding islands and shorelines. Beautiful beaches filled with even more interesting species of wildlife (some exclusive to this area of the world) create a beautiful tropical setting for spending an afternoon wandering around or working on your tan.

If you are visiting the Queensland area of Australia, you must take the time to go visit the Great Barrier Reef and the surrounding islands and beaches. You won’t be sorry!

The Australian outback has some of the most beautiful and unique geological features found any where in the world. The outback is a splendid mix of flat, dry land with diverse vegetation and wildlife and areas with giant protruding rocks and interesting land formations. The Olgas, and the nearby Ayers Rock are two of the most famous land formations in the Australian outback.

The Olgas are located about 365km’s southwest of Alice Springs. This group of 36 rock formations, composed of mostly basalt, granite and sandstone, rises 1066m above sea level at its highest point.

Ayers Rock is located 335km’s southwest of Alice Springs. Like the Olgas, this rock formation is made primarily of sandstone. While not as tall as the Olgas, Ayers Rock rises 863m above sea level.

The land formations are beautiful to look at, but the surrounding vegetation and wildlife should not be ignored. There are usually locals around who are more than willing to tell you about the surrounding area. From rare and almost extinct plants to species of animals that only live in this part of Australia, the surrounding Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park has something interesting for everybody. And if you are worried about the heat in the Australian outback, just make sure you don’t visit this area in the middle of the day. It can get pretty warm, but if hot temperatures are not for you, just visit these areas in the morning or in the beginning of the evening. The climate should not deter you from visiting this beautiful site, though.

There are a few things that you should know about Ayers Rock and the Olgas before you go and visit. Since these rock formations (especially Ayers Rock) are spiritual symbols to the local aboriginal people, you must treat them with respect and not just as a tourist attraction. There are a few places you can take pictures of Ayers Rock, but many places forbid or strongly frown upon photography. Also, it is best to just look at the rock formations from the pre built observation decks, and not try to climb them. Not only is it a safety issue, but the local aboriginals don’t want tourists crossing a sacred dreamtime track that the path crosses. These limitations do not decrease the amount of enjoyment you will receive from viewing these incredible masses of land. It is just good taste to respect the locals and their traditions.