iPhoneography Oz | Australia iPhone Photography Travel Blog

The Roulettes Opening The Australian Grand Prix

2013-05-10T17:40:00.000+10:00

Every week, iPhoneography Oz invites one of its Instagram followers to cover a topic about Australian society. Two months ago Melbourne hosted the Australian Grand Prix, the first round of the Formula 1 World Championship. @anneeadams was there and this is a preview of what she experienced.

iPhoneography Oz: Who are you in less than 140 characters?
anneadams: I'm a semi-retired early childhood teacher. Now I'm an iphoneograher. I love travel, reading, painting and mobile photography.

iOz: Your photo shows The Roulettes opening the Australian Grand Prix. Can you explain what it is?
a: The Roulettes are the Royal Australian Air Force's elite formation aerobatic display team. Their planes are PC-9/A's. They flew past my living room window on their way to perform at the Australian Grand Prix. Their aerial acrobatics were fantastic! I was really happy to get this photo because last year I didn't grab my phone fast enough.

iOz: What is life is like in Melbourne during the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix?
a: Melbourne is really busy and buzzing during Formula 1 week. We have lots of international visitors here. Melbournians really get into the spirit. I can hear the F1 cars from my place and see the crowds of people heading to the track around Albert Park.

iOz: If you were stuck in Australia with an unlimited budget and a week in front of you, what would you do?
a: Unlimited budget - wow!! I'd go to the Kimberley. I'd love to explore this remote and unique area of Australia. I'd stay at Cape Leveque Bush Camp and take a scenic flight over The Bungle Bungles.

iOz: What was one of the best travel experiences you've ever had in Australia?
a: Australia is so vast and so diverse! If I have overseas visitors I love to take them on a road trip down the Great Ocean Road in Victoria. You can enjoy the spectacular 'shipwreck coast' views. My visitors love to see kangaroos and koalas in the wild and I love the eucalypt forests of The Otways. There are pics from these trips on my IG account. For myself, my iconic trip was when I went to Uluru and Kata Tjuta in the Northern Territory. Most Aussies live in coastal cities but the outback is the soul of Australia.

iOz: What's your favourite photo on the blog?
a: Hard to choose!!! I like all the pics of the outback and those of the Australian beaches. How about the one of the Car Eating Cows sign :)

iOz: What kind of photos can our readers see on @anneadams's Instagram feed?
a: My IG feed is very eclectic. It veers between art edits, travel shots, street photography, and views from my daily life. It's like a visual diary. Doing painterly edits is my favourite way to express myself creatively.

iOz: What will you be doing for the next hour?
a: I will be having a coffee in Hawthorn. Melbourne has the best coffee and I love it!!!

iOz: We're switching roles, ask us anything!
a: Have you considered having a presence on EyeEm?
iOz: Travel blogging is really exciting but really time-consuming as well. That's the reason why we only focus on Instagram. However we're always looking for help from new volunteer collaborators. If you have a passion for Australia, contact us!

iOz: A last word?
a: Mobile photography is an absorbing addiction. It's enriched my life. Nowadays I take notice of the beauty around me rather than taking it for granted.

Photo captured by @anneadams. To be featured, follow @iPhoneographyOz and tag your own iPhone photos with #iOz. Any image taken in Australia and tagged with #iOz is eligible.

Climbing Mount Wellington

2013-04-26T23:30:00.000+10:00

Every week, iPhoneography Oz invites one of its Instagram followers to cover a topic about Australian society. Today, meet @tasland perched high above Hobart.

iPhoneography Oz: Who are you in less than 140 characters?
tasland: My name's Anita & I commandeer the Tasmanian Land Conservancy Instagram page. We raise money to purchase and protect irreplaceable parts of Tassie and our "instafeed" shows some of these places amongst other things.

iOz: You were scampering around Wellington Park in Tasmania (photo). What are the pros and cons of such a hike?
t: As a newly arrived immigrant to Tasmania from Melbourne, I was told that there are some key gauntlets to take on that reduce the 30 year waitlist before I'm allowed to call myself a Tasmanian. Visiting Mount Wellington (Kunanyi) not only takes 2 years off the waitlist, but it also stops you from being kicked out of Hobart. If you are living in Hobart, as I am, you're expected to climb "the Mountain" annually as a rite of passage. Not having to leave Hobart is obviously a major pro to visiting Mount Wellington, but the view of the city and surrounds is stunning, the array of rock formations and plants makes for some really interesting Instagram shots/macros and hey, if Charles Darwin did it so should you. There really are no cons, just get yourself up there, the #MtWellington hashtag is a great motivator.

iOz: What are the best things to do in the Hobart area?
t: Go to one of several hiking shops and buy a puffer jacket. Wear it with short shorts to look truly local. See Hobart from the top of Mount Wellington and marvel at the serenity. Visit the Tassie devils at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. Join the @instatassie Instagram group and go on an Instagram PhotoWalk anywhere in Hobart with them. Buy the best sushi ever from Masaaki at the Sunday Farm Gate Market. Visit MONA (.5 years off Becoming A Local Waitlist). Drive to Taroona and buy a coffee and a pie from The Picnic Basket just off Channel Hwy and feel like a true Aussie. Visit us at the Tasmanian Land Conservancy in Sandy Bay because we're really, really, ridiculously nice.

iOz: If you were stuck in Australia with an unlimited budget and a week in front of you, what would you do?
t: Worm my way in on a Nature Photographers Tasmania trip to somewhere like Lake Rhona or any other remote parts of Tassie they visit and capture so beautifully. If you want to really experience Tasmania I think you have to be prepared to rough it and get your hands dirty.

iOz: What was one of the best travel experiences you've ever had in Australia?
t: I moved to Tassie because of the consistent, amazing experiences I had whenever I visited. When I first moved here I got to hike in a remote area near Bronte Park on our reserve called Skullbone Plains and was blown away. Getting to visit places and seeing things you've never seen before is pretty special. Plus I got to see a baby echidna, something I've come to realise isn't really that rare here in Tasmania, but it was for me at the time.

iOz: What's your favourite photo on the blog?
t: I have a soft spot for street art in Melbourne, so was happy to see A Walk Through Melbourne's Laneways in your feed.

iOz: What kind of photos can our readers see on @tasland's Instagram feed?
t: There's very much a bias for nature shots on our feed, most of which have been taken at our permanent reserve properties. There are also some "around the office" shots that get slipped in, like the screen grab I took from a video clip our conservation scientist sent through. It showed a spotted quoll helping itself to some leftover pesto on a recent camping trip… I just thought it was amazing and thought the Instagram community would too.

iOz: Vegemite or Nutella?
t: It's evil to make people choose.

iOz: We're switching roles, ask us anything!
t: How do you know Misspixels? She's one of my all-time favourite iStock illustrators from way back… right up there with Simon Oxley… and that's saying something! :)
iOz: Never met Misspixels before but she's from Montreal, Canada where @iclo used to live before. We interact with her from time to time on twitter!

iOz: A last word?
t: Sharing the beautiful natural values of Tasmania via Instagram through the eyes of the Tasmanian Land Conservancy has been really rewarding and a lot of fun.

Photo captured by @tasland. To be featured, follow @iPhoneographyOz and tag your own iPhone photos with #iOz. Any image taken in Australia and tagged with #iOz is eligible.

Martin Place In The Centre Of Sydney

2013-04-19T23:30:00.000+10:00

Every week, iPhoneography Oz invites one of its Instagram followers to cover a topic about Australian society. Today, meet @paulabroom right in the centre of Sydney.

iPhoneography Oz: Who are you in less than 140 characters?
paulabroom: I'm a mother, artist and environmentalist from UK. I visit family there frequently, but have lived in Australia for 15 years, so have strong sense of dual citizenship.

iOz: Your photos shows a woman waiting to cross at Martin Place in Sydney. Can you tell us a bit more about this national Australian icon?
p: Martin Place is a pedestrian thoroughfare right in the centre of the CBD of Sydney, frequented by city workers rushing to or from work via the train station, or ambling visitors attracted by its delightful collection of old and new buildings. Probably the most famous building is No 1 Martin Place – the old General Post Office building – now decommissioned and converted into smart cafés, restaurants and shops – I remember getting post from its Poste Restante in the early 90s. It is a beautiful neoclassical style sandstone building designed in the late 1800's by an architect called James Barnett. It sits comfortably amongst the newer, corporate buildings around it. Lunchtime has a slower pace in Martin Place than at either end of the day, but generally there is always plenty of activity and bustle going on. All sorts of events take place there from public concerts and community carols around the Christmas Tree, to filming of movies and television shows; large outdoor screens showed off the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics there.

iOz: What does it represent to you?
p: As a young traveler on a working holiday visa in the 1990s, I felt Martin Place represented the gateway to the Central Business District and all things corporate. Nowadays, I don't work in the city but it is still my gateway and I am even more attracted by its busy-ness. I love to take street shots with my iPhone whenever I find myself there.

iOz: If you were stuck in Australia with an unlimited budget and a week in front of you, what would you do?
p: I would love to take my family up to the Great Barrier Reef, - the world's largest coral reef - all the way from Rockhampton, up past Cairns to Cape York. I was lucky enough to snorkel and dive along the reef back in the 90s, and my fear is that, with climate change and the pressures of development along the Queensland coast, we are going to lose this beautiful, natural, living monument. Being in it – swimming, snorkeling, diving – amongst the small and large sea creatures that live there, is truly spectacular and something I will never forget. I really want my children to experience that.

iOz: What was one of the best travel experiences you've ever had in Australia?
p: I've had so many wonderful travel experiences here in Australia it's hard to pick just one – from diving, to white water rafting, horse riding to bushwalking, wine tasting to skiing, driving to camping, beer drinking to sunbathing – there is so much to see and do here. I guess nowadays, traveling with my children, I particularly cherish my experiences with friends who live on the New South Wales far South Coast: Bermagui, Tathra and Merimbula. As yet, that part of New South Wales is largely undeveloped with a slower pace of life than its northern counterpart. I love its expansive, sandy beaches accessible by dirt track known only to the locals; its active art communities that scatter the environs with open studio events that always astound when you come across them; its bushwalks abound from the coast to the inland with an abundance of native flora and fauna that enthralls; the odd local market, quirky shops or even nature parks that you find in some of the local towns; and then that experience you can only have when you know the locals - the small holdings where the community grow their own food and produce, and live a much simpler, slower way of life. And of course, there's always a beer at the end of the day!

iOz: What's your favourite photo on the blog?
p: The Waterfall Way posted on Sunday, January 8, 2012. The photo, although of a gushing waterfall, has a serenity to it that I personally find only in the bush, whilst the text tells of the many UNESCO World Heritage Sites dotted around Australia. I hope through such images, and blogs like yours, we city dwellers, Australians and visitors alike, can start to really cherish and protect those natural features that are uniquely and beautifully Australian.

iOz: What kind of photos can our readers see on @paulabroom's Instagram feed?
p: I have two Instagram accounts. @paulabroom is fairly eclectic – from texture shots, to doorways and shadows, with a more recent evolution to street photography, like "Waiting to Cross at Martin Place" (photo). @theoriginalmiss is my heavy editing account where I'm far more experimental. There are a number of photos on both accounts shot at Martin Place – I really do enjoy people watching there.

iOz: What will you be doing for the next hour?
p: With this balmy weather, I'll be heading down to Bondi with the children for an early dinner and pre-Easter catch up with friends at one of the eateries at the Pavilion.

iOz: We're switching roles, ask us anything!
p: Contentious and I hope you haven't been asked before, but Sydney or Melbourne, and why?
iOz: Absolutely not contentious! Sydney for the amazing Sydney Harbour. Melbourne for its street art and its food (but not its climate). Seriously, we must admit Sydney had some troubles to meet our (high) expectations whereas we were pleasantly surprised by Melbourne. Can anyone out there send us back to Sydney to change our mind?

iOz: A last word?
p: Bondi – said to mean the sound of breaking waves in an Aboriginal language!

Photo captured by @paulabroom. To be featured, follow @iPhoneographyOz and tag your own iPhone photos with #iOz. Any image taken in Australia and tagged with #iOz is eligible.

The Green Rolling Hills Of South Gippsland

2013-04-12T23:30:00.000+10:00

Every week, iPhoneography Oz invites one of its Instagram followers to cover a topic about Australian society. Today, meet @domblissleese on the side of the road in Gippsland.

iPhoneography Oz: Who are you in less than 140 characters?
domblissleese: I'm a city girl who married a country boy & mum of two teenagers. I am obsessed with photography and good coffee and I'm constantly seeking the art & beauty in everyday life.

iOz: Your photo shows a really lovely green countryside where life seems so peaceful. Where is it exactly?
d: This photo was taken by the side of the road near a small town called Korumburra, in South Gippsland, Victoria, approximately 100 kilometres south-east of Melbourne. It is usually a place of green rolling hills, but a lack of rain has left these beautiful hills looking rather dry and brown at the moment. It is a very peaceful part of the world, the silence only broken in the early mornings by the sounds of magpies chortling and cows mooing as they head back out to their paddocks after the early morning milking session.

iOz: What to do in South Gippsland?
d: Without a doubt South Gippsland is a place of natural beauty. It is home to Wilsons Promontory National Park, which has some of the most beautiful beachfront you will ever see. There are also the stunning beaches of Sandy Point, Walkerville and Waratah Bay. There is native wildlife around every corner, kangaroos, koalas, echidnas, wombats and lots more. There are plenty of outdoor opportunities such as hiking, surfing and bike riding, as well as the gorgeous locally produced food and wine to indulge in. There is a strong local slow food culture which can be explored at the local farmers markets held every weekend at the small towns of Korumburra, Koonwarra, Foster and Inverloch. The town of Loch is the place to go for antique shopping and the town of Meeniyan is home to some great galleries and fabulous cafes. If you are planning a holiday, come visit South Gippsland, you won't be sorry!

iOz: If you were stuck in Australia with an unlimited budget and a week in front of you, what would you do?
d: Only a week?! Well I think I would have to say I'd go to Broome in Western Australia. The beaches, shopping for fabulous pearls, dining on amazingly fresh seafood under the stars. It would be my idea of paradise.

iOz: What was one of the best travel experiences you've ever had in Australia?
d: Without a doubt, our best travel experience was when we travelled from our home in South Gippsland across to Western Australia. We travelled with another family for 6 weeks, towing our caravans across the Nullarbor. We saw some amazing things, but the highlight would be seeing around 25 whales; mothers and calves frolicking in the waves under the cliffs at the Head of Bight on the Nullarbor. They were so close we could hear them breathing! It was life changing for us and my kids still talk about it to this day. Lucky Bay in Esperance and also the Margaret River region were also favourite's places.

iOz: What's your favourite photo on the blog?
d: Well I actually have 2. The first is one taken on your sunset kayak tour at 1770. It is a stunning part of the world there and my kayaking obsessed husband would love to do this. The other is the photo taken at Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island. It is breathtakingly beautiful and somewhere I'm yet to visit.

iOz: What kind of photos can our readers see on @domblissleese's Instagram feed?
d: My IG feed is definitely a snapshot of my life; the way I see it and more importantly with whom I share it. Expect lots of scenery shots of the beautiful area I live in, as well as a fair amount of food shots. I'm a passionate home cook, and I like to share my creations with my IG friends. I often add my addiction to caffeine to my feed with odd coffee shot thrown in as well!

iOz: Vegemite or Nutella?
d: Definitely Vegemite. No good Aussie girl would choose otherwise!

iOz: We're switching roles, ask us anything!
d: Travelling Australia for a year would have brought about your own life changing moments. Can you share one with us?
iOz: Not having access to clean water for a couple of days get you out of your comfort zone. Then you suddenly have access to clean water and find yourself enjoying a cold shower. That was one of the greatest life changing moments of our adventure. We came to the conclusion that all you need to be happy is water!

iOz: A last word?
d: Beauty and art is everywhere. Look at life through a lens and from a different angle. You will be amazed at what you soon see.

Photo captured by @domblissleese. To be featured, follow @iPhoneographyOz and tag your own iPhone photos with #iOz. Any image taken in Australia and tagged with #iOz is eligible.

Adelaide's Beaches

2013-03-29T23:30:00.000+10:00

Every week, iPhoneography Oz invites one of its Instagram followers to cover a topic about Australian society. Today, meet @bellacorella wandering around the beach in Semaphore, South Australia.

iPhoneography Oz: Who are you in less than 140 characters?
bellacorella: Sister/daughter. Animal lover, gardener, interested in people's stories. Good at keeping secrets. Novice boogieboarder, mediocre cook and absolute Instagram addict.

iOz: Your photo shows a beach near Adelaide. Are there many beaches in Adelaide?
b: Ha, now you're testing me! Without counting I'd say around a dozen but I think the best ones are just a bit further south of Adelaide and along the Fleurieu Peninsula. Cleaner and less crowded.

iOz: What are your favourite things to see and do in the area?
b: Ride on the ferris wheel (the very same one that Elvis Presley rode on in the film Roustabout), see a movie at the Odeon Star Semaphore Cinemas, soak up the atmosphere along Semaphore Road and nearby Largs Bay, and watch the sunset of course!

iOz: If you were stuck in Australia with an unlimited budget and a week in front of you, what would you do?
b: Probably visit one of the many places in Australia that I still haven't seen - the Top End or Kimberley. With my own personal cook.

iOz: What was one of the best travel experiences you've ever had in Australia?
b: My recent (and 4th trip) to Tassie in January. I revelled in the glorious east coast beaches, Hobart's brilliant MONA/FOMA and the stunning beauty of Bruny Island. You could say I have an enduring love affair with this part of Australia :)

iOz: What's your favourite photo on iPhoneographyOz's Instagram feed?
b: I really like Abandoned Outback Servo by @becbecbecbecbec (that's a lot of becs). It's so evocative of the Australian outback, and I think the coast gets more than its fair share of photographic coverage anyway. Yep, I'm guilty too.

iOz: What kind of photos can our readers see on @bellacorella's Instagram feed?
b: Totally random and very personal stuff that I like, find interesting or funny. Since discovering Instagram (thanks to @janedc9), I'm really seeing my hometown of Adelaide in new and interesting ways, and so far, all except one photo was taken in or near Adelaide. The ferris wheel featured is the one that I mentioned earlier, while the photo of an Italianate style building is the beautiful Largs Pier Hotel in the beachside suburb of Largs Bay.

iOz: What will you be doing for the next hour?
b: Picking the last of my tomatoes and figs before getting ready for work. Enjoying the sound of the rain - so welcome down here. And sneaking one last look at Instagram (I did say I was addicted).

iOz: We're switching roles, ask us anything!
b: You set out to post 1 pic per day during your 12 months travelling around Australia. I'm impressed by your self-restraint but did you succeed? I think I know the answer... Is there anything you would have done differently during your travels last year?
iOz: We made it! It was quite a challenge particularly because of the lack of internet access in rural areas and sometimes because of the lack of interesting things to photograph. As you said we could really see Australia in an interesting way and paid attention to a lot of details. But for sure we will never promise 1 post per day anymore! :)

iOz: A last word?
b: A few words actually. Thanks for iPhoneography Oz; it's a great way for people to indulge their creativity on Instagram and show off some of Australia's less-well known attractions. And thanks for my 15 minutes of fame!

Photo captured by @bellacorella. To be featured, follow @iPhoneographyOz and tag your own iPhone photos with #iOz. Any image taken in Australia and tagged with #iOz is eligible.

Market Shopping Experience In Sydney's Chinatown

2013-03-15T23:30:00.000+10:00

Every week, iPhoneography Oz invites one of its Instagram followers to cover a topic about Australian society. Today, meet @miss_and shopping in the exciting Sydney's Chinatown. She posted this photo of Paddy's Markets, Sydney's biggest markets.

iPhoneography Oz: Who are you in less than 140 characters?
miss_and: Just a person who's interested in the world: people, places, stories. I work in radio broadcasting, make ceramics, take photos.

iOz: Your photo shows a part of the famous Paddy's Markets in Sydney. What can one find there?
m: You can find almost anything at Paddy's Markets. I like the food best, there's a lot of fresh fruit & vegies, spices, sweets, nuts, tea, more. Then there's the rest: clothes, bags, linen, CDs, mobile phone covers, jewellery, shoes... you get the idea. Today the markets have a distinctly Asian flavour as they're right next to Chinatown. They date back to the 1830s, and the name probably has an Irish connection.

iOz: What's your favourite part of Sydney's Chinatown?
m: The food! There's a wide range of Chinese cuisines, but these days many other wildly different Asian flavours too - Vietnamese, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian, Indonesian. You can spend up big or keep it cheap 'n' cheerful. For a moment's peace in the madness, visit Kimber Lane where the street art lifts you literally into the clouds.

iOz: If you were stuck in Australia with an unlimited budget and a week in front of you, what would you do?
m: A day and a bit at each at the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Cradle Mountain in Tasmania, and Uluru in the Northern Territory - to get a feel for all there is in Australia. Or maybe I'd just spend the week on the Ningaloo Coast in Western Australia swimming with the whale sharks...

iOz: What was one of the best travel experiences you've ever had in Australia?
m: Driving around Tasmania with a friend. Staggering natural beauty, lots of seafood and cheese, terrific wine in the Tamar Valley.

iOz: What's your favourite photo on the blog?
m: I love Kristina's pic and post about Melbourne's lane ways. If you opted not to spend a week swimming with whale sharks at Ningaloo, explore Melbourne's streets - they're full of street art, great restaurants and bars, and other surprises.

iOz: What kind of photos can our readers see on @miss_and's Instagram feed?
m: Whatever catches my eye: street art, buildings, alleyways, sky, clouds. Bright colours. Lots of pictures from Canberra, our beautiful national capital and my current home.

iOz: Vegemite or Nutella?
m: Sorry to be unAustralian... but Nutella every time! Must be my European mum's influence.

iOz: We're switching roles, ask us anything!
m: Beer or wine?
iOz: Wine without hesitation. Especially since we visited a few amazing places in Margaret River, The Barossa, McLaren Vale, Coonawarra and many more along our travels. By the way if you have some Bundaberg Rum Royal Liqueur served with cream, we'll have some thanks!

iOz: A last word?
m: Gorgonzola. What a great word.

Photo captured by @miss_and. To be featured, follow @iPhoneographyOz and tag your own iPhone photos with #iOz. Any image taken in Australia and tagged with #iOz is eligible.

Kakadu National Park Looking Spectacular In The Wet Season

2013-03-08T23:30:00.000+10:00

Every week, iPhoneography Oz invites one of its Instagram followers to cover a topic about Australian society. Today, meet @kaminipal. She posted this photo of the Kakadu National Park looking spectacular in the Wet Season.

iPhoneography Oz: Who are you in less than 140 characters?
kaminipal: Wanderlust, Scientist, Photographer.

iOz: Your photo from the Top End is fantastic. How would you describe the Kakadu National Park?
k: It's breathtakingly beautiful! The landscape, nature, fauna and flora is serene and captivating. You really get to see the true beauty that Australia has to offer in such places.

iOz: How much time should one spend in the area to be sure not to miss a thing?
k: It depends what you would like to do. The Top End has a lot to offer if you like nature. They have some great National Parks like the Kakadu. I think a week to two weeks on a road trip would be sufficient to touch base with a few of these places and take in the beauty the Northern Territory has to offer.

iOz: If you were stuck in Australia with an unlimited budget and a week in front of you, what would you do?
k: The Kimberley and Broome are on my next places to hit in Oz. I love nature so I would love to take in the most of by going to Karijini National Park, Bungle Bungle Range, watch the sunset over Cable Beach, see the Staircase to the Moon at Roebuck Bay and of course with a unlimited budget I'd love to go swimming with the whale sharks out at Ningaloo Reef. Could only imagine the amazing pictures from such a adventure!

iOz: What was one of the best travel experiences you've ever had in Australia?
k: Yes, the trip to the Top End was certainly one of the best I've had in Australia. I really wanted to see the true Australian outback, the true beauty of the outback and it gave me that opportunity.

iOz: What's your favourite photo on the blog?
k: Love the collection of photos from Coral Bay in Western Australia, snorkelling and ped biking.

iOz: What kind of photos can our readers see on @kaminipal's Instagram feed?
k: My instagram feed is photos of my life, experiences and travel adventures. The world through my eyes.

iOz: What will you be doing for the next hour?
k: Heading back to Sydney from a weekend of adventure at Jenolan Caves.

iOz: We're switching roles, ask us anything!
k: What motivated you to start a photography blog of Australia?
iOz: The desire to share our adventures and show Australia through a perspective that differs from traditional guide books or travel blogs.

iOz: A last word?
k: "There is only you and your camera. The limitations in your photography are in yourself, for what we see is what we are." -Ernst Haas

Photo captured by @kaminipal. To be featured, follow @iPhoneographyOz and tag your own iPhone photos with #iOz. Any image taken in Australia and tagged with #iOz is eligible.

Are Milkshakes The Best Post Beach Treats?

2013-03-02T23:30:00.000+10:00

Every week, iPhoneography Oz invites one of its Instagram followers to cover a topic about Australian society. Today, meet @picturepostie. She posted this photo of post beach treats at Sebastian's Food & Wine in Melbourne area. Actually tell us why you want to try these milkshakes in the comments below and you may win 2 free milkshakes at Sebastian's Food & Wine!

iPhoneography Oz: Who are you in less than 140 characters?
picturepostie: An Aus iPhone photo printing app! Edit & order phone/Instagram/Facebook pics for quality photo & canvas prints delivered to your door. App free in iTunes!

iOz: A milkshake as a treat after a trip to a popular beach on Port Phillip Bay. Knowing that it's winter for most of our readers in the Northern Hemisphere, aren't you ashamed?
p: Actually isn't winter the best time for milkshakes? Keeps them nice and cold!

iOz: Australia has (a lot of) milkshakes and thickshakes. What's the difference?
p: Thickshakes have double ice cream to make them thicker! You need a thicker straw too!

iOz: If you were stuck in Australia with an unlimited budget and a week in front of you, what would you do?
p: Woah, just 1 week, what a stressful thought, there's so many awesome places to see! I've never actually been to Ayers Rock or the Kakadu! I know, what kind of Aussie am I? I'd visit these places and take lots of photos on my iPhone, so I could print them later through Picture Postie!

iOz: What was one of the best travel experiences you've ever had in Australia?
p: Jervis Bay on the South Coast of New South Wales, just a 3 hours drive south from Sydney. The sand is the whitest in Australia apparently and we saw dolphins!

iOz: What's your favourite photo on the blog?
p: Surfing in Agnes Water from about 5 weeks ago.

iOz: What do you like to take pictures of the most on Instagram?
p: Things you find on your daily travels, those little gems that put a smile on your face!

iOz: What will you be doing for the next hour?
p: Catching the train home from work! I wish I was more exciting!

iOz: We're switching roles, ask us anything!
p: Can you please tell everyone about our new Australian iPhone App?! People seriously LOVE it so we just want to be able to let everyone know! Even people in the Northern Hemisphere might have Australian friends to tell!
iOz: We'd like to try the app first. Why not exploring a partner arrangement between Picture Postie and iPhoneography Oz?

iOz: A last word?
p: Download Picture Postie, you'll love it!

Photo captured by @picturepostie. To be featured, follow @iPhoneographyOz and tag your own iPhone photos with #iOz. Any image taken in Australia and tagged with #iOz is eligible.

Mysterious Sunset Over The Derwent River

2013-02-22T23:30:00.000+10:00

Every Friday, iPhoneography Oz invites one of its Instagram followers to cover a topic about Australian society. Today, meet the talented @mattglastonbury. He took this amazing photo of a mysterious sunset near Hobart in Tasmania.

iPhoneography Oz: Who are you in less than 140 characters?
mattglastonbury: Creative, mobile photographer, web designer, good person. Care to other people, loves to help. Enjoy learning new subjects and love animals (in the words of my gorgeous wife @miaglastonbury, she's still learning English).

iOz: Your photo shows a mysterious sunset over the River Derwent near Hobart. Is it the best sunset view in Tasmania?
m: No... so far, the best view for sunsets would have to be Carlisle Beach, which is aptly named Sunset Beach by the locals, just outside of Dunalley (area devastated by bushfires in January), about an hour drive from Hobart.

iOz: If you could recommend only one of the following options would it be a day cruise along the River Derwent or a 2-hour Sydney Harbour cruise?
m: It would have to be the Sydney Harbour, since the Derwent is too short for a day cruise! But, if they were the same distance, I would probably choose more natural surroundings over buildings.

iOz: We've been told that he's having a lot of fun around Australia: where's Wally?
m: Wally is everywhere you go, you just need to see your surroundings differently to see him!

iOz: What was one of the best travel experiences you've ever had in Australia?
m: Most of the best travel experiences I've had, have been in Tassie. That's why we came to live in Hobart. The best would have to be staying in a real canvas Teepee with a central fire down at Cockle Creek, which is the most southern point of Australia.

iOz: What's your favourite photo on the blog?
m: Becoming a Mum in Australia seems to be the best one out of the first few pages, I couldn't find all the photos.

iOz: What kind of photos can our readers see on @mattglastonbury's Instagram feed?
m: A couple of continuing themes like sunsets, close-ups of seagulls or ducks in funny positions, liquid/water, beach-life, and random stuff that's interesting to me.

iOz: Vegemite or Nutella?
m: Vegemite for sure, and pass me the Cashew Nut Spread as a base... Nutella? Oh man!

iOz: We're switching roles, ask us anything!
m: Would you like me to design a website for you?
iOz: Since you asked, of course! Any ideas to improve iPhoneography Oz? We are also working on our next project and might need a web designer too...

iOz: A last word?
m: Mobile Photography evens the playing-field, forces you to be more creative, and allows for an always-on photography experience... that's why I love it.

Photo captured by @mattglastonbury. To be featured, follow @iPhoneographyOz and tag your own iPhone photos with #iOz. Any image taken in Australia and tagged with #iOz is eligible.

Becoming A Mum In Australia

2013-02-18T23:30:00.000+10:00

Every Monday, iPhoneography Oz invites a blogger to cover a topic about Australian society. Today, meet Audrey from France who lives in Sydney. She created and manages the useful website Maman a Sydney, an online interactive community for all French speaking mums (and dads) who live in Sydney and wider Australia.

This is a guest post by Audrey of Maman a Sydney.

According to an article in The Economist Intelligence Unit, Australia is the second best country (after Switzerland), for where a baby might be luckiest to be born in 2013… But becoming a mum on the other side of the world, 17,000 kilometres away from our family and values, from what we know and what we believe in, is not as dreamlike as one may imagine. From understanding how the Aussie Medicare system works, to finding a day-care, or even when giving vegemite to our little ones, being a maman a Sydney (mum in Sydney) is surely a fascinating journey! Adam (photo) loves the Lane Cove National Park, where he picks up sticks to show me cockatoos and lorikeets hiding in the gum trees. He can spend hours on Balmoral Beach in Sydney North, collecting shells and little stones…

Hometown: Valdeblore, France.
Most awkward Australian moment: The first time I got to work and said (absolutely naturally): "G'day mate!" to my manager...
Favourite Australian place: Lane Cove National Park where I live, running on the Harbour Bridge at the earliest hours of the morning for the Sydney Marathon, that incredible walk to Barrenjoey Lighthouse just north of Palm Beach in Sydney North, Jervis Bay on the South Coast for a sunset walk, skiing in the Snowy Mountains, those contrasts of blue and orange in Australia's North West, meditation in Cape Tribulation...
Worst Australian place: Canberra... no comment!
Vegemite or Nutella: a bit of both under whipped cream on salty crackers, yummy!

What do you think? Did you become a mum or a dad in a foreign country? As a foreigner how do you raise your children in Australia? What tips would you give to someone who is raising a kid in Australia? Let us know in the comments below!

Photo captured by @barucchi. If you would like to guest post for iPhoneography Oz, send us a message and we will give you the details about how YOU can allow the iOz community to experience a preview of Australian society.

Along The Esplanade In Cronulla

2013-02-15T23:30:00.000+10:00

Every Friday, iPhoneography Oz invites one of its Instagram followers to cover a topic about Australian society. Today, meet @kristievasili. She took this beautiful photo along the esplanade in Cronulla.

iPhoneography Oz: Who are you in less than 140 characters?
kristievasili: I am like everybody else... a spiritual being, having a human experience. A lover of nature, Coldplay, chocolate, photography, tea, learning new things.

iOz: Your photo shows a beach near Sydney. Surpisingly enough, it wasn't taken at the famous Bondi Beach. Can you tell us a bit more about this place? Where is it?
k: This photo was taken along the esplanade in Cronulla, in Sydney South. It is about 30 minutes from Sydney City maybe... I am not so good with direction! It is a beautiful area, and a nice place to be on my day off. The walk along the esplanade at South Cronulla is lovely.

iOz: What do you like about this beach?
k: I like that it can be quiet, not too busy. I love being in nature, so the scent of the salt filled air, the sand, the water washing over my feet... all good things! Oh, and there's an amazing ice cream place close by... Cronulla Park Ice Creamery, I believe! The passion fruit gelato is delish!

iOz: If you were stuck in Australia with an unlimited budget and a week in front of you, what would you do?
k: Hmmm I would love to see a few places, so it is a toss up between Uluru, and exploring the many Whitsunday Islands.

iOz: What was one of the best travel experiences you've ever had in Australia?
k: Whitehaven Beach is definitely a stand out. Dunk Island as well. Whitehaven is ridiculously beautiful... pure white, soft, squeaky sand with clear, fresh water. I love that it is unspoiled. Dunk Island as well, just a few kilometres off the mainland coast from Mission Beach... that was a trip taken a couple of years ago, before Cyclone Yasi in 2011. It was very peaceful, and pretty, and would love to go back.

iOz: What's your favourite photo on the blog?
k: I love 'The Natural Beauty of the Whitsundays'. Such a great shot! Makes me wanna go back!

iOz: What kind of photos can our readers see on @kristievasili's Instagram feed?
k: Lots of nature pics, Coldplay pics from time to time, photos related to my work also (as a tai chi and meditation teacher at Karuna Wellness Centre).

iOz: What will you be doing for the next hour?
k: Tea and sleep.

iOz: We're switching roles, ask us anything!
k: Where have been your 3 favourite places that you have visited in Australia?
iOz: It's really hard to answer since we have been completely amazed by Australia! So let's say, Western Australia and particularly the Coral Coast. Then, Kangaroo Island and the Flinders Ranges in South Australia, Uluru, Port Douglas and the Whitsundays in Queensland... is that alright, do we have 3 places?

iOz: A last word?
k: Thanks again for sharing my photo :) PEACE x

Photo captured by @kristievasili. To be featured, follow @iPhoneographyOz and tag your own iPhone photos with #iOz. Any image taken in Australia and tagged with #iOz is eligible.

A Walk Through Melbourne's Laneways

2013-02-11T23:30:00.000+10:00

Every Monday, iPhoneography Oz invites a blogger to cover a topic about Australian society. Today, meet Kristina from Germany who has recently moved to Melbourne. She writes the blog Le fabuleux destin which tells her adventures in Australia and around the world. She loves to capture the hidden laneways of Melbourne, she enjoys drinking a flat white in the sunshine and has recently started to learn surfing.

This is a guest post by Kristina of Le fabuleux destin.

Melbourne is famous for its laneways, great coffee and its colourful street art. One of my favourite pastimes is to explore not only Melbourne's CBD, but also the numerous suburbs which all feature great street art – sometimes in prominent places, sometimes down small alleys or in hidden courtyards. Start your quest in the city centre in Hosier Lane opposite Federation Square – the most famous street art lane of Melbourne. Don't miss the cool picture in Chinatown at the back wall of a car park (photo) - it is one of my favourites. Take your time to venture out to Fitzroy, Collingwood, Brunswick, Richmond, Northcote or Footscray and keep your eyes open for some real gems. When your legs get tired of too much exploring, settle down in one of the many cafes along the way, sip a flat white and recover from the urban adventures.

Hometown: Frankfurt, Germany.
Most awkward Australian moment: Numerous misunderstandings of the Aussie accent which did lead to very awkward conversations and questions!
Favourite Australian place: Mornington Peninsula, Cradle Mountain in Tasmania, Margaret River region.
Worst Australian place: Chinese restaurant in Hobart - just awful!
Vegemite or Nutella: Nutella, no question.

What do you think? Have you been to Melbourne? What are the best things to do in Melbourne? Could you give us a reason why Melbourne is the world's most livable city? Let us know in the comments below!

Photo captured by @lefabuleuxdestin. If you would like to guest post for iPhoneography Oz, send us a message and we will give you the details about how YOU can allow the iOz community to experience a preview of Australian society.

Foggy Morning On The Gold Coast

2013-02-08T23:30:00.000+10:00

Every Friday, iPhoneography Oz invites one of our Instagram followers to cover a topic about Australian society. Today, meet @sweetocean_. She took this beautiful photo of a foggy morning on the Gold Coast.

iPhoneography Oz: Who are you in less than 140 characters?
sweetocean_: (145 characters, couldn't cut more!!!) I'm a lover of the ocean, passionate about our mother earth. I'm a dreamer, a free spirit. I'm a walker, a diver, a writer, a reader, a photographer. I'm a crazy mother and wife.

iOz: Your photo shows a foggy morning at Nobbys Beach (located south of Surfers Paradise). Isn't Queensland "where Australia shines"?
s: Queensland shines no matter fog, rain or wind! Today we had a 20 minutes of torrential rain; a combination of blue sky with grey clouds where mixing afterwards with a mega strong sunset light and a huge rainbow showed up, wide open, from one extreme to the other extreme of our 42 kilometres of beach, on top of the ocean... That's how Queensland shines!

iOz: It actually looks pretty spectacular. What's your favourite Gold Coast beach?
s: I would say Currumbin.

iOz: If you were stuck in Australia with an unlimited budget and a week in front of you, what would you do?
s: Without hesitation, I'll go to Lord Howe Island!

iOz: What was one of the best travel experiences you've ever had in Australia?
s: It was absolutely magical to see The Twelve Apostles at the Great Ocean Road, from above, in a tiny helicopter.

iOz: What's your favourite photo on the blog?
s: One of your photos at Coral Bay.... looks like such a dreamy place for snorkeling!

iOz: What kind of photos can our readers see on @sweetocean_'s Instagram feed?
s: Gold Coast beach culture.

iOz: Vegemite or Nutella?
s: 100% Nutella

iOz: We're switching roles, ask us anything!
s: How have you being able to travel for a year in Australia and around 20 other countries!?
Are you being sponsored or did you win the lotto? If you are being sponsored how did you make it happened?
iOz: It's all about saving money and spending it wisely. Of course you can't travel for free but it's possible to travel without spending a fortune. Do you know what? Travelling long term is most probably cheaper than living a "normal" settled life. Actually since you're asking, we might write an article and tell you exactly how we spent our budget.

iOz: A last word?
s: Love.

Photo captured by @sweetocean_. To be featured, follow @iPhoneographyOz and tag your own iPhone photos with #iOz. Any image taken in Australia and tagged with #iOz is eligible.

The World's Largest Rubber Duck

2013-02-04T23:30:00.000+10:00

Every Monday, iPhoneography Oz invites a blogger to cover a topic about Australian society. Today, meet Béatrice from Montreal, Canada. She writes the blog Eille la cheap !, a lifestyle blog for women who have too many interests and who wish to live a perfect life without breaking the bank. Just like us, she has enjoyed spending time in Sydney, particularly at Sydney Festival 2013.

This is a guest post by Béatrice Bernard-Poulin of Eille la cheap !

Some of you may have seen this photo circulate on the web, after all, it is quite amusing! As part of the Sydney Festival, which lasts for three weeks every January, many activities took place all over the city of Sydney. From music to art and participative activities, there was something for everyone. I totally fell in love with this installation in Darling Harbour, that simply represents... a rubber duck, a ducky you bring into the tub. But in a gigantic version... the world's largest Rubber Duck! The artist who created this installation is Florentijn Hofman from the Netherlands. The inflatable duck is five storeys high and has been travelling the world since 2007.

Hometown: Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Most awkward Australian moment: Spraining my ankle really, really bad after 9 days in Sydney, in 2010. Not necessarily awkward, but I got made fun of a LOT after this one.
Favourite Australian place: I can't decide between Hobart and Sydney...
Worst Australian place: Adelaide. Nothing to do or see there.
Vegemite or Nutella: Nutella! Not even a question. Vegemite is the absolute worst thing.

What do you think? Have you been to Sydney Festival? What are the best Sydney events? In summer, what are the things to do in Sydney that you would recommend? Let us know in the comments below!

Photo captured by @beatricebp (Android). If you would like to guest post for iPhoneography Oz, send us a message and we will give you the details about how YOU can allow the iOz community to experience a preview of Australian society.

Tour Down Under: Discovering South Australia's Gems

2013-02-01T23:30:00.000+10:00

Every year, between January and March, Australia hosts some of the first stops on the world sport calendar. Of course there are the Australian Open (Tennis) and the Australian Grand Prix (Formula 1) which are held every year in Melbourne. Each January, there is also the Tour Down Under (Cycling), which attracts thousands of visitors from across the world as it makes its way around South Australia. The young cycling race, in comparison with the legendary Tour de France, began in 1999 (Lance Armstrong was already using performance-enhancing drugs at that time) and has since grown considerably to become the biggest cycling race in the southern hemisphere. First event on the UCI WorldTour calendar, the Tour Down Under welcomes every year the world's best professional cyclists for the kick off of the cycling year. Adelaide Hills, the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale: since the Tour Down Under visits astounding beaches, world famous wine regions and charming country towns before the big finale on the streets of Adelaide, it is such a great opportunity for visitors to discover South Australia's gems in a week-long festival of cycling. Blending sport and tourism, this cycling event is definitely part of the things to do in Adelaide.

What do you think? Have you followed the Tour Down Under race? What is your favourite Australian sporting event? Let us know in the comments below!

Photo captured by @photographiqueau. To be featured, follow @iPhoneographyOz and tag your own iPhone photos with #iOz. Any image taken in Australia and tagged with #iOz is eligible.

iPhoneography Oz Is Dead, Long Live iOz

2012-12-05T23:30:00.000+10:00

39,014 km, 340 days, nearly 4,800 photos captured with an iPhone including more than 800 photos edited via instagram. These are the standout figures of the iPhoneography Oz road trip around Australia which ended today in a Brisbane Airport parking space (photo)... where it all began on January 1st. From Brisbane to Cairns via Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart, Adelaide, Perth and Darwin, we traveled across the continent visiting Australia's landmarks and going off the beaten tracks too. We obviously have a lot of memories associated with this trip. We will need a little time to digest all these encounters, these discoveries, these idyllic and breathtaking landscapes. And all of the trials and tribulations that went with it too. In the end, like after any experience, we have grown, we are more open-minded and especially keen to continue our travels and visit more countries. Australia is a unique country and we hope that everyone gets the chance to visit Australia the way we did it for almost 12 months. We will not bore you with an endless thank you speech but we still want to express gratitude to all those who participated directly or indirectly to the realization of this great adventure: our partners who believed in the project and allowed us to have extraordinary experiences, and all of you who have been reading the blog and following us on social media. Note that you were doing all of this reading and following from 112 different countries!

Apart from fixed pages (About, Media, Contest, etc..), the most popular articles of iPhoneography Oz English version were:

Running The Sydney Marathon In A School Dress, the challenge successfully taken up by Sarah our first guest-blogger
Explore The Secrets Of Sydney Harbour, a memorable cruise the day before our participation in the Sydney Marathon
Sydney Olympic Stadium Tour, where we walked on Cathy Freeman's steps
Visit The Tamar Valley With Prestige Leisure Tours, a beautfiul day in the vineyard of Tasmania
Bay of Fires: Tahiti Look Alike In Tasmania, the title speaks for itself
One Of The Best Places In The World To See Migrating Whales, where we attended an amazing natural show
Crime In Newcastle, one of our worst experiences in Australia
Is Mission Beach The Most Beautiful Beach In Australia? What do you think?
Bed & Breakfast In Scottsdale - Part. 1, a really lovely place to stay in Tasmania
Gourmet Experience In The Grampians, when lost in the middle of nowhere, we stumbled upon the largest olive grove that we have ever seen.

In one year, iPhoneography Oz has created a community of nearly 4,000 fans interested in travel, photography and obviously Australia. It would be a huge shame to end it on that note, so we are determined to continue this adventure... powered by you from now on! Here's how:

1/ iOz on Facebook & #iOz on twitter: we plan to organize virtual recurring events to have conversations about travel, Australia and mobile photography. Travel to Australia? Immigrate, live and work in Australia? Study in Australia? Tips for customized holidays in Australia? Facts about Australia? Photography techniques? Together, we will answer all these questions and many more. Do not forget to use #iOz to tag your Australia-related tweets to get the attention of other #iOz community's followers. Share stories. Ask questions. Ask for travel related help. Join the fun, be social and let's tweet about our passion for Australia!

2/ #iOz on instagram: Are you in Australia? Do you have an iPhone? Then submit your own iPhone photographs through your instagram account using the hashtag #iOz. Every day, from all the submited photos, we will pick a winner and repost the "iOz of the day" on the different iOz accounts on social media. Its author will be invited to write an article or be interviewed on the iOz blog.

3/ Guest-Blogging: Do you have a blog? Do you have your visa for Australia, are you on a flight to Australia or are you already in Australia? Would you write a post on the iOz blog? If so, contact us soon!

4/ Promotion and Advertising: Would you like to promote your products and services through iOz? Whether it is for writing sponsored articles, running contests, press trips, ads banners or something else, please contact us immediately. We are particularly interested in tourism businesses (tourist activities, travel agencies, accommodation, restaurants) and event organizers based in Australia.

5/ Suggestions: since everything moves and everything changes all the time, we are always open to new opportunities. Know that we are always delighted to read your ideas and suggestions in order to improve your iOz experience. This community is yours too! Send us your comments at any time via this form.

Thank you for being there!

Join the iOz community on facebook, twitter or instagram.

Jet Ski Tours On The Sunshine Coast

2012-12-04T23:30:00.000+10:00

We have already tried several water sports since the beginning of our adventure (which is nearing the end...), be it surfing, kitesurfing, surf kayaking, sailing and snorkelling. There was at least one more activity we did not want to miss on the Sunshine Coast. And this activity is riding a Jet Ski. Whoever has never tried it before should do it as soon as possible! In Maroochydore, Maroochy River Jet Ski Hire & Tours is a small family business yet one of Australia's most experienced water sports businesses. Their guided jet ski tours are for people of all ages and experience (no license or experience is required for jet ski rentals). Beginners can ride their Sea Doo through the Sunshine Coast hinterland on the beautiful Maroochy River (photo). The more experienced might prefer the thrill of the ultimate jet ski adventure on the Coral Sea. We have tried both and in all cases, it is a barrel of fun. Jet skiing allows you to explore the Sunshine Coast from a whole different angle. Maroochy River Jet Ski Hire & Tours will soon offer the Flyboard, a new insane activity! Unfortunately, we will not be able to attend this premier, the official launch which will be held on February 2. Is there anyone who would be kind enough to cover the event for iPhoneography Oz?

Have you tried Jet Ski or Flyboard before? What is your best Jet Ski memory? Your worst? Tell us your stories in the comments below!

iPhoneography Oz was a guest of Maroochy River Jet Ski Hire & Tours.

Kitesurf Lesson On The Sunshine Coast

2012-12-03T23:30:00.000+10:00

We have been waiting for weeks and months to have an introduction to kitesurfing (or kiteboarding), this water sport is halfway between surfing and windsurfing. It is now something that we can tick off our bucket list after our recent return to Noosa on the Sunshine Coast, where we left in February (it also means that our adventure is coming to an end). But let's focus on the topic of the day! We had our first kitesurfing lesson with the experienced instructors of the Adventure Sports Kitesurfing School in Noosa (which is also a kite shop). This first lesson is an introduction to kiteboarding in order to learn the behaviour of the power kite, thus there is no board at this stage. But let us tell you something: even without the kiteboard, the sensations are excellent on the water when you start feeling the power of the wind (which can easily have you airborne in no time at all). The lesson takes place on a huge lake nearby which offers ideal conditions for kitesurfing (and the water is so warm!). Depending on your budget, a one on one lesson is preferable rather than a group lesson. With this option you have the kite for the entire lesson and do not have to wait your turn. Honestly, we just want more and cannot wait for our next session of kitesurfing training!

Have you heard about kitesurfing before? Which are the extreme sports that you want to try? What would you recommend to a beginner who wants to learn how to kitesurf? Let us know in the comments below!

iPhoneography Oz was a guest of Adventure Sports.

Bundaberg, Home Of Australian Rum

2012-12-02T23:30:00.000+10:00

Bundaberg is a small town surrounded by fields where sugar cane is grown. Brisbane is 4 hours drive south. The town is best known for having given its name to one of Australia's most iconic brands. Each year, more than 100,000 tourists and rum fans make the journey to this part of Queensland, home of Australian rum. Bundaberg Distilling Company is the place where you can explore more than 100 years of rum making expertise. The facility is open to the general public. On site, you can go for an interesting self guided tour with interactive and sensory display. Or you can go for the BDC Distillery Experience, a guided expedition deep into the working distillery. This second option is a real gem. Not only you can explore the entire rum-making process, but you can also relax in the Bundy Tasting Bar and sample rum delivered direct from the Distillery (Bundaberg Rum Royal Liqueur served with cream is simply to die for). Seriously a trip to Bundaberg is not complete without a stop at the Distillery, consistently ranked among the favourite tourist destinations in Queensland.

Do you belong to rum aficionados? Have you tasted any Bundaberg Rum before? What is your favourite Bundaberg Rum? What is your favourite rum-based cocktail recipe? Share it with us in the comments below!

iPhoneography Oz was a guest of Bundaberg Distilling Company.

Introductory Course In Surf Kayaking

2012-12-01T23:30:00.000+10:00

We have often talked about surfing on the blog (it was only yesterday that we mentioned our last surf lesson). Today we join 1770 Liquid Adventures to surf waves... on a kayak. A whole heap of great fun, that is what surf kayaking is! The tour also includes a more relaxed pace of cruising through the beautiful waterways of Seventeen Seventy and complimentary drinks and snacks on a wild secluded beach. 1770 Liquid Adventures offers a few different tours, but we highly recommend the Sunset Kayak Tour, which finishes by sea kayaking facing an amazing sunset (photo). Actually, it is the only place on the east coast of Australia, where you can actually watch an ocean sunset from a kayak! For a fleeting moment, we travel back in time imagining just what James Cook saw when he discovered Queensland...

Have you ever surfed on a kayak? What are the activities you have taken part in Seventeen Seventy? What would you recommend to do or see in the area? Let us know in the comments below!

iPhoneography Oz was a guest of 1770 Liquid Adventures.

Surfing In Agnes Water

2012-11-30T23:30:00.000+10:00

Agnes Water, in addition to being a quiet and charming seaside community, is the most northern surf beach in Queensland. And as we have come from the north (Cairns), we could not pass up the opportunity to jump in the water and get back on a surfboard again (there are fewer dangerous jellyfish here). The conditions are ideal: beautiful weather, deserted beach and perfect waves to learn how to surf. So we head to Reef 2 Beach surf school for a 3 hours surfing lesson. The least we can say is that beach and surf culture are in the air! The look, the style, the cut, all leat to thinking that our instructors, real surf enthusiasts, are direct descendants of Patrick Swayze in the movie Point Break. From here, we would like to apologize to the other surf schools who introduced us to surfing in Australia, but Reef 2 Beach is by far our best surf experience (this is also the last, as our adventures are coming to an end). This is certainly the cheapest surf school in Australia too: $17 to learn to surf is somehow hard to beat. It is no wonder that Reef 2 Beach's reputation is the size of the continent. Someone in Perth (which is on the complete opposite side of Australia from Agnes Water) recommended the place to us! Book with your eyes closed, you will not regret it and you will have a great time!

What do you think? Did you book a surf lesson while in Australia? Which surf school would you recommend? Let us know in the comments below!

iPhoneography Oz was a guest of Reef 2 Beach.

When James Cook Discovered Queensland...

2012-11-29T23:30:00.000+10:00

We have to admit that British explorer James Cook had a job that was not too bad at all. Not only was he behind the discovery of Australia, but during his northward journey along the east coast that followed, he also became the first "tourist" to set foot in Queensland. On this occasion, Cook discovered a treasure (for the eyes at least). It is partly thanks to James that today, we can explore the charming twin seaside communities of Agnes Water and Seventeen Seventy (named after Lieutenant - not Captain yet - James Cook who came ashore on 24 May 1770). We are about a hundred kilometres north of Bundaberg. Being here, it would be apt to read Captain Cook's Journal During the First Voyage Round the World. The setting is perfect. The Great Barrier Reef is off the coast. The beach in front of us is rather picturesque and particularly appreciated by surfers (Agnes Water is the most northern surf beach on the East Coast of Australia). The climate is perfect today (as well as most of the year with nearly 300 days of sunshine). This location certainly has a high tourism potential. However, there is no commercialization and the area's natural beauty has been preserved, just like at Mission Beach. Ah, it feels so good being here! Only the sound of helicopters landing at nearby luxury villas might disturb our tranquility. We heard through the local grapevine that the passengers are Quiksilver and Billabong's founders who own a holiday home in the area. No matter who they really are, we must be right in thinking that Agnes Water and Seventeen Seventy are, in their own way, a dream destination.

What do you think? Have you ever been to Agnes Water and Seventeen Seventy? What is your dream destination? Let us know in the comments below!

Australian Sugar Cane Industry

2012-11-28T23:30:00.000+10:00

We knew that Australia produces an abundance of surfers. After a road trip through Queensland, we now know that Australia is also a huge sugar producer. As far as vegetation goes, this region of Australia is not exclusive to tropical rainforests. There is an incredible amount of fields where sugar cane is grown (photo). There are so many sugar cane plants that sugar is, after wheat, the second largest export crop in Australia. In addition to this, part of the sugar production destined for the domestic market is used to produce rum. The Australian sugar industry generates more than 40,000 jobs. It could be a good opportunity to find a job in Australia for whoever is here on a Working Holiday Visa.

Have you worked in the sugar industry? What advice would you give to those who are looking for a job and want to work in Australia? Let us know in the comments below!

Sailing The Whitsundays

2012-11-27T23:30:00.000+10:00

Before arriving in Airlie Beach, we have been told various things about the place that sounded comparable to some of the bad aspects of Cairns and the Gold Coast. "Consumerist town" and "the kind of place where people like to party non-stop" were just a couple of opinions that we have heard. That is the reason why sailing the Whitsunday Islands quickly became the best and most appealing option for us. As a result we joined Explore Whitsundays on a cruise around this unique paradise, between Whitsunday Island and the many others islands of the archipelago. We spent two days sailing on Siska, a yacht that won the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. Two days of sun and white sand (Whitehaven Beach is probably one of the most beautiful beaches in the world). Two days snorkelling in the beautiful turquoise water, appreciating the amazing ecosystem of the Great Barrier Reef (there are so many tropical fish to be seen). Two magical days exploring peaceful and hidden inlets. Life can be tough sometimes! Eventually, we returned to Airlie Beach where we spent a bit of time in town and found the place quite pleasant with its shops and accommodation, its lagoon and its relaxed atmosphere, a far cry from what we were expecting. All that to say that any travel to Australia should always include a cruise in the Whitsundays. However, be well informed before booking the cheapest cruise or you might find yourself on a crowded boat with little room to sleep.

What do you think? Have you been on a cruise in the Whitsundays? Which islands of the Whitsundays would you recommend to go? Let us know in the comments below!

iPhoneography Oz was a guest of Explore Whitsundays.

The Natural Beauty Of The Whitsundays

2012-11-26T23:30:00.000+10:00

There are a few islands off the coast of Australia such as Fraser Island, Tasmania and Kangaroo Island just to name a few. And then there are the Whitsundays. This archipelago off the coast of Airlie Beach, consisting of 74 islands, is certainly among the very best on Earth as far as idyllic landscapes go (most probably high on the list of honeymoon destinations too). These islands are part of the Great Barrier Reef, UNESCO World Heritage listed site. People come from all over the world to spend their dream holidays here. As it occurs really often in Australia (except on the Gold Coast), nature has preserved all its rights in the area. Whitsunday Island is the largest of these islands. The most famous too, probably because it is home to Whitehaven Beach (photo). As for the rest, it is self-explanatory. It has taken our breath away!

What do you think? Is there another place than Whitehaven Beach you would rather be right now? Do you think Whitehaven Beach is the most beautiful beach in Australia? Let us know in the comments below!