Australia is a paradise for birdwatchers, offering a stunning variety of endemic and rare bird species found nowhere else in the world. From tropical rainforests and coastal wetlands to vast

Australia is home to some of the world’s most unique and fascinating wildlife, and each state and territory has chosen an animal emblem that reflects its natural heritage and ecological significance. These emblems are more than just symbols – they represent the rich biodiversity and cultural identity of their regions.

The name Captain Thunderbolt echoes through Australian history, synonymous with daring escapes, audacious robberies and a touch of romantic mystique. But who was this legendary figure, and what is the true story behind the myth? This article delves into the life and times of Captain Thunderbolt, exploring his exploits, his impact on colonial Australia and the enduring fascination with his legacy.

It’s fair to say that I enjoy a good walk. Whether I’m out scrub with my husband Scott on hunting trips, exploring the local reserves with our dog, or hoofing it to the pub for a Sunday sesh, I’ll take a walking option whenever it’s available.

Australia has produced extraordinary individuals who have left a lasting impact on the world. From humanitarians and scientists to revolutionary leaders and cultural icons, these Australians have shaped history in profound ways.
Here are five iconic Australians whose legacies continue to influence the country and beyond.

In the annals of Australian history, there’s one conflict that continues to fascinate and amuse: the Great Emu War of 1932. Unlike most wars, this one didn’t involve enemy soldiers or political coups, it involved birds. Big, fast, unrelenting birds. And yes, Australia lost.

When Easter rolls around, many Australians opt for a native twist on the traditional festivities. Instead of the familiar Easter Bunny, we celebrate the Easter Bilby – a small, nocturnal marsupial with long ears and a pointed snout. But why the bilby? Let’s delve into the story behind this uniquely Australian tradition.

Intrepid chef Analiese Gregory has traversed a global culinary ramble to finally live out her own personal version of a ‘walk on the wild side.’
Among the stopping-off points have been cooking stints at renowned restaurants ranging from London, Morocco, France, Spain and Sydney. Then, in a dramatic twist to her career script, she opted to take a gamble and relocate to the remote rural surrounds of Tasmania.

However, far from cruising along in a potential backwater Analiese has reinvented herself as a foodie authority rejoicing in the joys of the natural produce and potential foodstuffs to be harvested on the Apple Isle.

This spawned a best-selling book, How Wild Things Are: Cooking, Fishing and Hunting at the Bottom of the World detailing her passion for ground-breaking recipes. When this established Analiese as one of Australia’s newly influential kitchen savvy voices, it was followed up by a well-received series of eight episodes on the SBS food channel titled ‘A Girl’s Guide to Hunting, Fishing and Wild Cooking’.

Australia’s vast and challenging landscapes have long fascinated explorers. From the dense rainforests of the east to the harsh deserts of the interior, early European explorers undertook dangerous and ambitious expeditions to map the land, discover water sources and open new trade routes. These explorers played a crucial role in shaping modern Australia, but their journeys were often marked by hardship, conflict and even death.

Australia is a land of rich storytelling, shaped by ancient Aboriginal Dreamtime tales, European settlement and mysterious folklore. From legendary creatures lurking in the bush to ghostly shipwrecks and lost gold, these myths and legends continue to captivate Australians and visitors alike.

Australia’s diverse geology offers some of the world’s most captivating gemstones. These natural treasures tell stories of Earth’s geological past, formed over millions – and sometimes billions – of years. Here are five iconic Australian gemstones, exploring how they form and the best places to discover them.

Mud crabs are often ranked at the very top of culinary lists. Catching a feed of muddies is a great way to live like royalty and feel proud of yourself. With mud crabs selling for about $50 each or more, this also saves your hip pocket. There’s a great deal of fun watching your crab pot rise into view as you pull it in up through the water and spy two or more bucks captured in there.

The world’s longest golf course is a lot longer than you might think. And it is in South Australia and…Western Australia. Spanning 1365km, Nullarbor Links officially opened in 2009 and follows Eyre Highway crossing the Nullarbor Plain at the Great Australian Bight.

A road trip from Adelaide to Darwin is one of Australia’s most iconic journeys, weaving through the country’s Red Centre and covering roughly 3000km of diverse landscapes. This adventure isn’t just about the destination – it’s about the breathtaking stops along the way, each with its own unique charm. From rolling vineyards in Clare Valley to the majestic formations of Uluru, this trip offers a spectacular blend of nature, history and culture.
Whether you’re an experienced road tripper or a first-timer seeking to explore Australia’s vast Outback, this guide will help you plan your adventure. Buckle up and get ready for an unforgettable journey through the heart of Australia.

Modern four-wheel drives are capable machines and tackle most remote travelling. However, exploring the backblocks of our desert country and coastlines has its limitations on four wheels. Those almost impassable tracks by four-wheel drive with a breathtaking view hidden around the bend, can be claimed on a mode of two-wheel transport referred to as adventure riding.

Australia is a land of breathtaking natural beauty, offering a diverse range of landscapes that are perfect for exploring on foot. Whether you’re new to bushwalking or simply looking for an easy trail that showcases the country’s incredible scenery, there are plenty of beginner-friendly walks that provide the perfect introduction to the great outdoors. Here are the top five Australian bushwalks for beginners, each offering stunning views, accessible paths and a rewarding experience for walkers of all ages and fitness levels.

There’s a lot of exploring to do when you’re out caravanning across the countryside; bush tracks, winding beach paths and scenic hill climbs. But sometimes these unexpected side treks can be too far to walk and inaccessible for vehicles. Bikes are the obvious solution, but traditional bikes take up a lot of room and space is a premium in any recreational vehicle (RV) or caravan set-up.

It’s always been a great feeling to pick up a new four-wheel drive from the dealership and head home, all the while planning the next big escape to the bush. I should know, I’ve owned enough new 4×4 vehicles over the years: two Daihatsus, a Datsun Patrol (before they became Nissans), Toyotas ranging from HiLux dual cabs, to my current Land Cruiser Prado and a couple of Nissan Patrol Wagons to boot. Suffice to say that my penchant for pristine four-wheel drives has managed to keep my bank balance at the lower end of the scale for most of my life.

Australia’s diverse landscape is reflected in the unique floral emblems chosen by each state and territory. These flowers symbolise the natural beauty and distinct characteristics of their regions, representing the rich botanical heritage of the continent. Whether you’re a botany enthusiast or simply curious about Australia’s natural wonders, this guide will take you on a colourful journey across the country.

Great Australian Outdoors issue 5 has been out for about a month and the feedback has been fantastic. People love the magazine’s fresh look and informative content. If you haven’t had a chance to pick up the magazine, don’t stress; we have you covered. Check out the preview to gain a glimpse of just some of the great articles. Destinations include our mega-adventure of Northern Queensland’s Atherton Tablelands, strolling around Tassie’s Central Highlands, cruising down the Murray, an Outback bath in Charlotte Plains and a quick trip to Texas… Queensland. As usual, we highlight the importance of protecting our great land from introduced species, big and small, and nurturing those native animals that make it unique. Our feature stories will keep you well informed as we navigate the family road trip, add eel to the dinner plate, switch the bitumen for a dirt trail and seek safety in the bush. Tons of reviews will ensure you’re well-prepared for your next trip away. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Grab your copy now to get the full experience of the Great Australian Outdoors.

Lonely Planet has embarked on an exciting new chapter in travel, transforming Australian journeys with their reimagined range of travel guides that offer a fresh, modern approach.
Recently unveiling an array of new titles to us and others in the industry at Sydney’s Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre, we got hands on with their comprehensive guides, pocket editions, and planning maps, to discover Lonely Planet isn’t merely updating old content. These new Australian guides mark a significant evolution to offer a vibrant and immersive journey that caters to contemporary needs.
Each guide brings a distinctive style and character, packed with novel experiences, insider tips, and diverse perspectives on travelling within Australia.

The magnificent mighty Murray River is Australia’s longest waterway, stretching some 2508km from the Victorian High Country to the Great Australian Bight in South Australia. It marks the border between New South Wales and Victoria and is a crucial source of irrigation for many farming and agricultural communities along its banks.

“Our land abounds in nature’s gifts…” That was Peter Dodds McCormick’s observation when he penned the lyrics to Advance Australia Fair in 1878. Australian scientist Vic Cherikoff is a pioneer of the Australian wild food industry and enthusiastically affirms McCormick’s words. For the past 30 years he has been studying and promoting the tremendous health benefits of wild foods and encouraging people to incorporate as many as possible into our diets. He is a research scientist of more than 40 years, with a Bachelor of Applied Science and the equivalent of three degrees in Biochemistry, Industrial Microbiology and Environmental Biology.

Game meat was a regular feature on the menu and a favourite among guests at Daniel Alps at Strathlynn’s restaurant and cooking school. Though he has moved on from the restaurant to run Alps and Amici Foodstore and Kitchen, Daniel Alps’ tips and tricks for cooking with game are timeless.

Based in Western Australia, Global Gypsies have been successfully running small group tours across Australia and overseas for more than 20 years. Their nature-based treks are popular with tourists and locals, combining a real sense of adventure with a fabulous historical insight of the area, wrapped up in a safe and enjoyable package that just about anyone fully equipped can enjoy.
They also offer professional training in four-wheel driving (Super in Sand and Best in Bush), towing (including a DVD) and tour guiding.
However, if ever the Global Gypsies’ motto ‘Independent, but not alone’ has the most relevance, it’s with their award-winning Australian Tag-along Tours. Participants experience the best of both worlds here, with independence and comfort coming from exploring in your own 4WD plus confidence and security coming from being a part of a small convoy led by expert guide Jeremy Perks. He has extensive 4WD and tour guide experience, is a qualified mechanic, holds a remote area first-aid certificate and possesses in-depth knowledge of the wild Outback regions.

How often have you been studying a distant feature or animal and wished you were a bit closer to see more detail? If you think about it, I’ll bet it’s more often than you previously thought.
Even with 20/20 vision, it’s still difficult to see fine detail at long range. This is where a good pair of binoculars come in to their own. By ‘good’, I refer to ‘high-quality optics’ designed for specific purposes, which in my case is mainly hunting where I use binoculars with a built-in rangefinder.

Anyone venturing out on a trek into the great outdoors via a camping excursion or a hiking proposition will know the importance of proper preparation and possessing the right gear.
This should involve the correct choice of sturdy attire, footwear, handy utensils, logistical knowledge and letting people know your intended route and schedule before setting off.

In today’s world even when we escape from it all, we like the option to remain connected. Additionally some of the comforts of home can make your time away even more enjoyable. Fortunately the modern campsite has the option of being ‘electrically powered’.

In the late 1970s I found myself in the Great Sandy Desert on one of a series of gridlines bulldozed through the scrub to aid the seismic search for underground oil and gas reserves. It was a sad moment, because on the same track a few months earlier were found the bodies of two young men whose four-wheel drive ute had become bogged.

A decade or so back our small group of trout fishers gathered for our annual get-together on Lake Eucumbene in the NSW Snowy Mountains. Most afternoons we would assemble for a chat and enjoy a relaxed happy hour over drinks and snacks. It was on such an afternoon that we were seated around an aluminium table at one of the group’s caravans when the owner disappeared into his van, returning shortly with a small motley-looking bag which he proceeded to drop onto the table with a resounding metallic clang.

In this issue, we accentuate our great outdoors with 194 pages of ‘destination, exploration and conservation.’ A whole gamut of destinations have been explored, covering all compass points around this vast island. The plight of wildlife is put under the microscope in our extensive foray into conservational issues. And if you are planning an ambitious travel itinerary, there are tips to take on board among a raft of feature articles.

I am constantly surprised at how indifferent and unaware of birds most people are. I think birds are marvellous little creatures. They have always fascinated me. A garden, no matter how beautiful, would be a sad place without birds. Most people are busy leading hectic lives and don’t have time to notice the birds sharing their world. And birds are everywhere, once you start observing them.

Experience Australia’s unique Outback with the Prostate Cancer Rally and drive research and awareness for one of Australia’s most common types of cancer.

Get in early to be one of the first people to receive the latest edition of Great Australian Outdoors magazine, out early next month. From cover to cover Issue 4 emphatically accentuates our great outdoors with 194 pages of ‘destination, exploration and conservation.’

There is no point trying to pull the wool over the eyes of hunters in New South Wales. That’s because intriguing statistics released by the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) indicate that participation in hunting has soared to levels that eclipse the economic level of the traditional sheep farming trade.

Australia’s colonial history is full of legendary adventurers, explorers and bushrangers but the romance and aura of the nation’s remote regions didn’t end with WWII, as a host of men and women made their mark on the country and added to the great outback folklore in the process.
Here are the stories of but a few of them:

The highly acclaimed Great Australian Outdoors magazine and Field to Fork – Second Helpings cookbook have been announced as finalists in the 2021/22 Real Media Awards.
The awards, run by industry group Real Media Collective, celebrate effectiveness, craft, creativity and innovation across a wide range of print, marketing and brand publishing.

Australia’s population is ageing continually and the numbers of elderly citizens with extra leisure time on their hands is growing accordingly. This band of mature fun-seekers have sought out travel as one of their premier pastimes. The retired getaways have even earned a branding name for themselves – the grey nomads.

I have found a growing band of people taking to the sky to see the great Australian outdoors from a totally different perspective.
But already you’re asking: ‘How does this story relate to me? I don’t fly or own an aeroplane.’

I have had driving lights (spotlights) on my 4×4 vehicles for many years, as the standard headlights can only be described as barely adequate at best. Anyone who has done much night driving outside of our major cities and towns will attest to the ever-present threat of ‘kangaroo strikes’.

Off the back of an international award win putting Field to Fork – Second Helpings game meat cookbook among the best in the world, the conversation of sourcing game meat for the table is piquing the interest of Australia’s media.

Nobody tells you that a helicopter creates a cyclone; that even 30 metres away, the growling wind means you have to cling to a swaying tree trunk as its leaves swirl viscously overhead. Nobody explains that the roar of the blades choke the surrounding rainforest into silence.

Seafood. Australians love it. And why not! We are surrounded by the sea, with a variety of glorious river systems weaving paths across the sunburnt land, carving their way out to the ocean. The food sources derived from water are abundant and astoundingly varied, with over 2000 species of fish alone.

Recently my workplace asked me to do a first-aid course. This was partly so our office could have an extra First Aid Officer and so that I could write this story. As fate would have it, in the time between registering to take part in my first-aid course and the actual course, I was on my lunch break when a young man collapsed on the side of the road.

This year has been difficult for so many people, businesses and industries and the tourism sector is no exception. It started off with the devastating summer bushfires which ravaged much of Australia before a global pandemic shut down travel and brought the tourism industry to a halt.

An often-overlooked safety measure before hitting the road is checking tyre pressure, in both your car and caravan. A road trip in Australia will provide the opportunity or even necessity to traverse an array of surfaces, from bitumen through to mud and perhaps even snow.

Our Field to Fork – Second Helpings cookbook has received one of the highest honours in food culture by being named as one of the top two meat cookbooks in the world.
This latest accolade for the Field to Fork franchise was announced at the 27th Gourmand World Cookbook Awards in Umea, Sweden in early June.

In recent years vacuum food sealers have become common, useful household appliances. The special bags used in vacuum sealers provide a superior barrier to conventional plastic bags. This refrigeration of food within an impervious and robust bag has worthwhile benefits, significantly extending storage life.

One of the common activities for people visiting coastal towns is a spot of fishing. Many such municipalities are situated in sheltered locations that have jetties or piers. These quays provide an opportunity to spend a few relaxing hours enjoying the therapeutic background sound of water lapping against pylons, watching the changes in colour of the sea and sky as day turns into night, and quite possibly obtaining a decent feed of wild seafood.

Our cookbook encouraging the sustainable harvest and cooking of game meats including camel, snapper and crocodile has been recognised with an international award.

With movement restrictions still in place, you probably can’t go travelling in a caravan, but you might be able to build on instead. According to Goldstar RV, a caravan project might be just what the doctor ordered.

The dry season in the Australian tropics starts after the monsoon or wet season, generally from mid-May onwards and can last into January if the wet is late.