Kangaroo Island an Australian Island Paradise

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Kangaroo Island has been described as one of earth’s last unspoilt island refuges, and with very good reason. This idyllic island located off the coast of South Australian is an idyllic tour destination for those seeking sun, surf, and everything that goes with them, including swimming, fishing, sailing and scuba-diving. Islands are almost always special places … isolation, solitude, the ocean … just think of places like the West Indies, Hawaii, the Maldives, all of which have unique characteristics and special natural environments that have evolved through thousands of years of isolation. Australia ‘s Kangaroo Island is no exception.

Kangaroo Island is about seven times the size of Singapore and around 155 kilometres in length, with the town of Kingscote being the island’s capital and main settlement. Wildlife is abundant on the island, where koalas laze in the gum trees and seals laze on the beach. In addition, kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas, platypi and goannas all thrive on the island.

A wide range of tours are available on Kangaroo Island, enabling you to relax while someone else does the driving. In addition, guides can provide a great deal of information about Kangaroo Island on the way. Both coach tours and four-wheel drive tours are available, with most tours collecting passengers from their accommodation, the airport or the ferry terminal. Bike riding and hiking are also possible for those with the energy, but beware that Kangaroo Island is large and the necessary level of fitness is required for these options.

Large luxury vehicle and passenger ferries operate between Cape Jervis on the South Australian coast and Penneshaw on Kangaroo Island (travelling time 45 minutes). There are four departures daily, with extra services at peak times. Bus connections are available to/from Adelaide to Cape Jervis, and to/from Penneshaw to American River and Kingscote on the island. Regional Express operates a 30-minute air service from Adelaide to Kingscote Airport, located 13km from Kingscote.

Because of its relative isolation, Kangaroo Island has experienced much less impact from European settlement than than the South Australian mainland. Half the bushland on Kangaroo Island remains untouched since the time of British navigator Matthew Flinders named the island in 1802, and more than a third of the Island has National Park or Conservation Park status. This pristine bushland supports a rich wildlife population of wildlife and makes Kangaroo Island on of the best places in Australia to see wildlife in its natural environment.

Kangaroo Island was separated from mainland Australia about 10,000 years ago. In that time, some species have evolved differently from their mainland counterparts. This is evident for example in the Kangaroo Island Kangaroo (a subspecies of the Western Grey Kangaroo common in south-eastern Australia) which is today smaller, darker and has longer fur than its mainland counterpart. The now endangered Glossy Black Cockatoo is also a unique Kangaroo Island sub-species, as is the small marsupial carnivore the Sooty Dunnart.

Similarly, King Island’s plants have evolved in isolation to the point where at least 45 species are endemic (found only on Kangaroo Island) including several eucalypts. The total absence of feral creatures such as foxes and rabbits helps ensures the integrity Kangaroo Island’s bushland ecosystems.

In recognition of Kangaroo Island’s unique plant and wildlife species (some of which are either threatened or unique to the island), National and Conservation parks were declared across the island very early in the history of its European settlement. Kangaroo Island’s National Parks provide access to spectacular coastline scenery, unique geological formations, fascinating history and abundant wildlife. There are four major parks: Flinders Chase National Park (walking trails and spectacular rock formations), Kelly Hill Conservation Park (limestone caves and hiking), Seal Bay Conservation Park (Australia’s largest accessible colony of sea lions) and Cape Willoughby Conservation Park (first lighthouse in South Australia).

Kangaroo Island an Australian Island Paradise

Tasmania the Australian Island State

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Tasmania is Australia’s island state, separated from the mainland by the 240 kilometre expanse of Bass Strait. A land of wild and beautiful landscapes, Tasmania boasts a comfortable temperate climate, quality wine and food, rich history and a leisurely, relaxed lifestyle. Tasmania is home to one of the world’s 10 best beaches (Wineglass Bay), the world’s best small town (Strahan) and is rated third in the world for wise management of the natural environment.

More than any other state in Australia, Tasmania enjoys four distinct seasons, each with its their own special characteristics. Both local Tasmanians and visitors enjoy the state’s temperate maritime climate. Summer is a festive season when the Launceston Festivale and the Hobart Summer Festival are held. Autumn is a mellow season with calm, sunny days when the native deciduous beech trees and European trees blaze with a riot of red, orange and gold colours. Winter days are crisp and clear with a dusting of snow on mountain peaks. Spring is cool and refreshing, with gardens bursting back to life as Tasmania celebrates the Blooming Tasmania festival.

Tasmania’s capital Hobart is an intriguing blend of the old and the new, a city defined by the river and sea. Hobart’s maritime focus can be appreciated with a harbour cruise or drive to the top of Mt Nelson or Mt Wellington – suburbs line the Derwent River, city buildings are clustered around the historic docks and the Derwent estuary broadens into Storm Bay. Only twenty-five kilometres from Hobart is the historic town of Richmond, home to the old Richmond Gaol and part of Tasmania’s early convict origins. The nearby vineyards and wineries of the Coal River Valley are home to many of Tasmania’s superb cool-climate wines. Hobart is an ideal base from which to explore southern and eastern Tasmania.

Hobart has more summer daylight hours than any other Australian capital city. Tasmania is the southernmost of the eight Australian states and territories, and enjoys over 15 hours of daylight on the summer solstice (22 December). This is 2.5 more hours of daylight than Darwin (Northern Territory) receives and 1 hour more than Sydney (New South Wales) receives on the same day. Experts at the Launceston Planetarium claim that the day is even longer if twilight periods at dawn and dusk are taken into account. On the other hand, Tasmania receives less daylight than mainland Australian states and territories in winter. Hobart has around 9 hours daylight in winter, 1 hour less than Sydney and about 2.5 hours less than Darwin.

Rainfall in Tasmania varies dramatically from region to region. Hobart is Australias second-driest capital city after Adelaide, while on the West Coast an annual average of 2400 millimetres ensures that temperate rainforests thrive. Minimal artificial light makes Tasmanias night sky an exceptional location for stargazing, including the wonder of the magnificent Aurora Australis.

Devonport is a diverse and interesting region, home to charming historic towns, beautiful beaches and forests, fine foods and the magnificent craggy peaks of Cradle Mountain. Cradle Mountain is a dramatic mountain peak in the northern section of the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, a World Heritage Area. The mountain is one of the most popular features in the park, and is surrounded by stands of native deciduous beech trees, rainforest and alpine heathlands. Icy streams cascade down the mountainsides, and ancient pines are reflected in the still glacial lakes. The walk to the top of the mountain (1,545 metres) takes eights return. Lake St Clair is the deepest in Australia (190 metres), having been excavated by glaciers about 10,000 years ago during the last Ice Age. Towering cliffs rise sheer from the waters of the lake, in which fishing and boating are allowed.

The east coast of Tasmania is a region of agreeable contrasts – sunshine and sea, wine and wildlife, rugged cliffs and glorious beaches. A centre of fine food and wine, the area is famous for its fresh, natural produce. It is also home to a series of excellent national parks, including Douglas-Apsley National Park with majestic rivers, eucalypts and Oyster Bay pines, Freycinet National Park which is renowned as a bushwalkers’ and sea kayakers’ paradise, and Maria Island National Park rich in history, scenic walks and fauna. The east coast’s history is told by its place names. Schouten Island and Maria Island were mapped by Dutch navigator Abel Tasman, while the Freycinet Peninsula was charted by Frenchman Nicolas Baudin. Welsh settlers named the town of Swansea, while Triabunna and Wielangta recall thousands of years of Aboriginal presence in Tasmania.

Tasmania the Australian Island State

Asia Boom Us Bust Buffeting Australian Economy

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SYDNEY (AFP) Boom in Asia and bust in the United States are buffeting Australia’s economy, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd warned Monday as he outlined plans to rein in inflation.

In his first major speech on the economy since his Labor party swept John Howard’s conservatives out of office in November, Rudd pledged to slash government spending to produce a huge budget surplus.

The target would be a surplus of 1.5 percent of gross domestic product in the financial year to June 2009, he said — about 18 billion dollars (15.8 billion US dollars).

At the same time, the government has vowed to honour election pledges for 31 billion dollars in tax cuts.

Rudd told business leaders at a breakfast meeting in Perth that Australia faced “conflicting economic currents.”

These were: “A global economy (led by the United States) which appears to be slowing. An ongoing terms of trade boom driven by Asia Pacific economies. And significant domestic inflationary pressures at home.”

Accusing the outgoing government of having allowed these pressures to build, Rudd said his five-point plan included incentives to encourage private savings while tackling skills shortages and infrastructure bottlenecks.

Rudd, who described himself as a fiscal conservative during the election campaign, said producing the budget surplus — up from the 1.0 percent target of the previous government — would require discipline.

“That will require a determined, disciplined approach to spending and a hardline-approach to savings,” adding that his “razor gang” would cut wasteful spending.

Inflation is expected to exceed the Reserve Bank of Australia’s target range of 2-3 percent this year, raising the prospect of further interest rate rises by the central bank.

Rates are at an 11-year high of 6.75 percent after two 25 basis point increases last year, and the effect on mortgage-belt voters is believed to have played a part in the ouster of the previous government.

Rudd noted that the downturn in the economic outlook in the US, Europe and Japan comes as strong growth in the Asia-Pacific region is continuing to drive demand for Australia’s rich mineral and energy resources.

“Over coming years, developments in China will increasingly shape both global and Australian economic conditions,” he said.

“The Indian economy has become one of our fastest growing export markets and is expected to continue to post impressive rates of economic growth.

“Combined, China and India accounted for around 40 percent of Australia’s export value growth in 2006-07.”

This economic expansion in the region had heightened the need for careful management of the domestic economy, he said.

“And the most pressing economic challenge domestically is inflation.”

Asia Boom Us Bust Buffeting Australian Economy