5th International Congress on
Developmental Origins of Health & Disease

DOHaD Touring

Out West, Aussie Style
An article about Western Australia from The New York Times.

Western Australia

The Stunning South West. www.australiassouthwest.com

The South West of Western Australia offers not only spectacular scenery, but also many of Australia’s and the World’s finest wines.  The Margaret River region in particular is host to stunning coastal vistas, world class surfing, delightful wineries and heavenly cuisine, it is an idyllic destination just three hours drive south of Perth. Travel a further two hours south to the historical former whaling township of Albany and you’ll find yourself surrounded by dense coastal forests hundreds of feet tall, which stand in stark contrast to the pristine white beaches and azure waters of Western Australia’s southern coast.

Broome and The Kimberly. www.australiasnorthwest.com

On the Western coast of the Kimberley Region, only a two and half hour flight north of Perth, the exotic pearling town of Broome offers a wide range of accommodation from eco-resorts to the world famous Cable Beach Club Resort. And it’s at Cable Beach with its 22 kilometres of white sand and warm, crystal waters, where you’ll find an ideal place to watch the sunset on a balmy, tropical night. With flame red cliffs contrasting the bright turquoise waters to pearl diving sagas and dinosaur footprints, the history of Broome is as captivating as the scenery. The Kimberley itself is one of the world’s last great wilderness areas and with an estimated population of just 30,000 it has fewer people per square kilometre than almost any other place on earth. The Kimberley has two distinct seasons – the dry and the wet. During the wet season, from November until April, heavy and short downpours occur in the evening or late afternoon, providing a refreshing change to the heat of the day.

The Northern Territory

Ayers Rock / Uluru.

Rising from the broad desert plain in the red centre of Australia, Uluru/Ayers Rock is Australia's most recognisable natural icon. The famous sandstone monolith stands 348 metres high and is located 440 kilometres south-west of Alice Springs in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Seeing a sunset at Uluru is a truly breathtaking experience, especially in the wet season as the rock changes colour with the changing light. To the west of Uluru/Ayers Rock is Kata Tjuta, also known as The Olgas. This massive pile of natural rock domes dates back 500 million years.

Both Uluru and Kata Tjuta have great cultural significance for the Anangu traditional landowners, who lead walking tours taking in the local flora and fauna, bush foods and the Aboriginal Dreamtime stories of the area.

Darwin.

Darwin, the Northern Territory’s capital city, is a vibrant destination renowned for its tropical climate and colourful characters. It’s a lively harbour city with an enviable outdoor lifestyle, where, even in the Tropical Summer, almost everything is done outside – eating, drinking, shopping and movie-going. Here, it’s not unusual to watch TV from the hammock instead of the lounge room.

From October to March, Darwin is refreshed by a predictable daily ritual of sunshine and afternoon showers. The weather is best described as 'sultry' - it's warm, but the tropical rains are cooling.

It’s is also the perfect time to escape the crowds. Darwin slows to a relaxed pace so travellers can exchange traffic jams and sand-filled bathers for a less hectic itinerary; sampling a smorgasbord of Asian dishes at weekend markets, watching storms roll in over the harbour from beachside pubs, swimming beneath cascading waterfalls and falling asleep to a chorus of green tree frogs. Waterfalls flow freely, floodplains rejuvenate, flowers bloom and cracking thunderstorms light up the sky like a pyrotechnic display.

North Queensland

Townsville and The Great Barrier Reef.

Surrounded by a rich hinterland of tropical rainforests and waterfalls, Townsville is also close to historic gold mining towns, the outback, islands, and of course, the Great Barrier Reef.

The town itself provides a snapshot of all these local features, with its world renowned Reef HQ, the world's largest living coral reef aquarium, the Billabong Sanctuary, where you can learn all about Australia's fascinating native wildlife, and many other cultural and heritage attractions like the Brolga Dreaming Aboriginal Centre.

Catering for sophisticated palates and elegant tropical fun, this cosmopolitan city boasts an array of world class cafes, bars, restaurants, nightclubs, casino and shops. Which ever one you choose, you'll experience Townsville's friendly and unique, relaxed tropical ambience.

So whether you're looking for an action packed tropical holiday, or just want to laze on a warm secluded beach, you can find all this and more on your holiday in Townsville.

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