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Lennox Head and Ballina on the NSW Far North Coast

Nestled in tropical New South Wales, Lennox Head and Ballina are home to some of Australia’s most stunning stretches of coastland and the country’s most gorgeous beaches.  About 200 kilometres down the coast from Brisbane, sitting on Australia’s most easterly point, Ballina has long been a magnet for surfers, with its natural beauty and ideal rolling waves.  Today, it is attracting visitors because of its rich fishing, its incredible number of unspoiled soft sand beaches, great whale watching and a distinctive fresh local approach to cuisine.  There’s so much more to Ballina than just the nearby Big Prawn traveller attraction!

Lennox Head

Just north of Ballina is Lennox Headland with the village of Lennox head just a little north of the Headland situated at the southern end of Seven Mile Beach. It has a small but growing rapidly population. With tourism being the main source of income.

For thousands of years, the Aboriginal people hunted and fished the rich waters along these shorelines.  The 1st English settlers came into the region for the beautiful cedar forests, making a fortune selling the raw material back to Victorian England.  They made their homes in what’s now East Ballina, attracted from the region’s many oysters, fertile land and its many fresh water lakes and rivers.

These days, that love of fresh seafood remains a big part of living in Lennox Head and Ballina, which explains why the Big Prawn was built in Ballina in 1989, attracting notice and tourism for one of the best areas of being in this coastal community.  Vacationers who love to fish can choose from deep-sea fishing excursions and brilliant freshwater choices. Everyone who loves to eat can take pleasure in a few of the freshest and most wonderful seafood dishes, prepared in the region’s world class dinning establishments.

The Big Prawn

Aside from the seafood, visitors flock to the area because of its stunning headlands, hours of sunshine, fresh ocean breezes, and rugged waves.  It’s easily accessible, just 200 kilometres south of Brisbane, and sitting right on Australia’s Pacific Highway.

Regardless of whether you’re intending to surf, swim or just sit and relax, there are all kinds of great Ballina and Lennox head accommodation options available all across the region.  You can camp in the countryside, or select a caravan park right near the beach.  You can find a delightful bed and breakfast, as well as many holiday homes in the area.  From families to friends, from surfers to seniors, there are lots of options in this area of the far north coast of New South Wales for all kinds of holidays you can dream up.

One of the biggest draws in the area would be the surfing, but there has been lots of growth of other water sports and activities within the region.  Fisherman flock to Richmond River, and youngsters love heading out on boat tours to observe the humpback whales frolic and dolphins play.  Nonetheless the largest draw in Ballina and Lennox Head are the beaches, the endless powder soft sand that keeps going and going.  The beachfront stretches more than 30 kilometres along the coast from Ballina to Lennox Head.  You will discover dunes, sheltered coves, striking reefs, and views that seem to go on without end.

Not all of regions charms are on the coast. Probably the most interesting places near Ballina is Lake Ainsworth, which is nicknamed the Coca-Cola Lake because the nearby tea trees has given the water a brownish hue.  Locals say the water helps heal cuts and abrasions, and might help relieve the pain of sunburn.

Visitors who have an interest in the history of this region can go to see the Ballina Naval and Maritimes Museum, or if you’re interested in the legacy of local plant life, you’ll be able to stop at the Thursday Tea Tree Plantation, and the Macadamia Castle in nearby Knockrow.

You can spend a day on a new beach in thei sreagion on every single day of your holiday, surfing, swimming, snorkelling, splashing or even snoozing.  It doesn’t matter what you plan to do for your perfect tropical holiday, you’ll find precisely what you need on the Ballina and Lennox Head Coast coast.

St Helens Tasmania, a Fishermen Paradise

St HelensYou can be forgiven if you have never heard of St. Helens, Tasmania. Even though it is the largest town on the northeast coast of Tasmania, St Helens boasts a population of just 2000. Established in 1830, when tin was discovered in the nearby Blue Tier Mountains, the town quickly became a fishing port, thanks to its sheltered location on Georges Bay and its abundance of fish. Today, the town continues to lure fishermen from all over Australia and, increasingly, the world, but that is just one of the reasons why it is so easy to find a St Helens  accommodation in this stunningly picturesque town.

While its unspoiled natural beauty and mild climate attract visitors all year ’round, St Helens really comes to life in March each year, when the St. Helens Gaming Fishing Classic is held. As the records tumble and fishermen from all over the world learn about the St Helens Fishing boastsabundance of game fish in the waters off north-eastern Tasmania, the Fishing Classic is increasingly achieving world renowned status. Over 20 Australian records have been broken here over the years and a further half dozen world records for southern bluefish tuna.

Aside from the fact that 120kg (nearly 265lbs) blue fin tuna are regularly caught off the shores of St. Helens and that marlin fishermen have caught as many as 200 of these elusive trophies in a single season, another remarkable fact about fishing in St Helens is that you needn’t look very hard to find them. You can be doing serious deep water fishing within half an hour of leaving the boat ramp on one of the many chartered fishing vessels that are available in the area.

As the largest town in north-eastern Tasmania, St Helens also serves as the place where northern Tasmanians go for entertainment. The biggest event of the year is the annual Suncoast Jazz Festival, held here each year in June. The biggest names in Australian jazz turn up each year, both to entertain the crowds and to play with each other. One of the highlights of the festival is the "mix and match" registration system, which teams individual musicians with each other for 30 minute sessions. For 16 hours a day in late June, music fills the air in St. Helens. Close your eyes and you could be in New Orleans! The grand finale of the Suncoast Jazz Festival is a huge public concert and street parade.

Needless to say, you can enjoy some of the finest seafood in the world in St. Helens. Aside from seafood, though, St. Helens offers an abundance of other culinary delights. Apples, blueberries and raspberries are free for the picking in surrounding areas and many of the vegetable dishes on offer are locally grown in the rich soil of the surrounding region. Wine lovers will not be disappointed, either, since many award winning cool climate wines are produced in the region.

St. Helens, Tasmania may have a small population, but it is large in attractions in the Freycinet area. While the fisherman in the family is out breaking world records, everyone else can enjoy the magnificent scenery while bushwalking and feasting on wild blueberries. Back in town, you can spend hours browsing in the quaint shops, enjoying fresh and delicious food (St Helens is famous for its "Elephant Pancakes" – both sweet and savoury) or just relaxing in this wonderful and unspoiled corner of the world.

Kangaroo Island: a Magical Australian Experience

Kangaroo IslandIn 1802 a British and a French explorer set foot on Kangaroo Island, an island in the south of Australia. They discovered the land, naming areas and mapping it out. The island was full of kangaroos, an animal they had never seen before. At first the men and their crews easily hunted these large, dark animals since the kangaroos were not scared of the humans, using the kangaroo meat regularly for steak and soup. The island’s name comes from the abundance of the animals that were seen on the land.

Today Kangaroo Island is the 3rd largest island in Australia and is known for a lot more than just kangaroos, which are no longer hunted. Beaches, wine and honey production, wildlife, nature, and lighthouses are just a few of the reasons that each year over 140,000 tourists are drawn to the island, making reservations at the Kangaroo Island accommodation options. With so much to do, at least a few days are needed to see one of the country’s most popular vacation spots.

As in most of Australia, surfing and beaches are a main attraction on Kangaroo Island. Each part of the island has different conditions, some stronger than others. All the beaches have one thing in common; they are beautiful, clean, and well taken care of by locals, which is something they expect from visitors as well. Enjoy fishing, sailing, scuba diving, surfing, and swimming. The water off the island is always very cold, so when participating in a water sport a wetsuit is recommended. Researching the different conditions is a good idea, as choppier waters, such as in the south, are better suited for more experienced surfers and swimmers.

Agriculture is a large part of the Kangaroo Island economy. The island was proclaimed an Australian wine region in 2001, although wine has been produced on the island for many years before that. 494 acres of vines and 30 growers result in 18 home made brands. Some of the wines are exported to Asia, the United States, and Europe. Visitors to the island can tour the various vineyards for wine tasting, beautiful views, restaurants, and to learn about the individual wines.
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In addition to wine, honey is widely produced on Kangaroo Island. All of the bees on the island are Ligurian Bees, a gentle Italian bee that was first brought to the island in 1884. The island’s honey producers are proud to make delicious pure strained honey from the Ligurian Bees. Other bees or bee products are prohibited to enter the island, in order to prevent disrupting the natural bee population. Visit Island Beehive for more information about tours, bees and the process of extracting honey.

Besides kangaroos, Australia is known for several other unique animals, many of which reside on Kangaroo Island. Due to the isolation of the island foxes and rabbit are easily kept off the land, allowing the other animals there to thrive without being hunted or disturbed. Walking trails and guided tours, including at night when some of the animals are most active, are available in the National Parks. The most common animals that will be spotted are Kangaroo Island Kangaroos, Tammar Wallabies, Australian Sea Lions, New Zealand Fur Seals, Heath Goannas, Echidnas, and Koalas. These animals are observed from a distance so as not to interrupt their normal activity.

Kangaroo Island is fortunate enough to have a beautiful and natural environment that is well taken care of. In fact, over one third of the island is declared as National Park or Conservation, protecting the natural habitats and the animals that live there. The natives expect that all visitors have the same pride and respect for the land as they do. They ask that visitors take care to walk on beaches as opposed to driving, unless necessary, to cooperate with tour guides and follow the rules, not to litter, to wash shoes off after a wildlife tour to avoid passing along fungus, and to observe wildlife from a distance for the animal’s safety and your own. Take advantage of the beautiful environment including the beaches, the National Parks, and the wine vineyards.
The Cape du Couedic Lighthouse on Kangaroo Island

The island’s beautiful lighthouses are as much a part of history as they are a tourist attraction. Kangaroo Island holds the first lighthouse in South Australia, which was built in 1852, and since then two more have been built on the island. Each is beautiful in its own way and each has a unique history. Tours of the lighthouses and museums are given daily.

Kangaroo Island is a breathtakingly beautiful and unique part of Australia that is waiting for your visit. Look into Kangaroo Island accommodations to get started on your Australian adventure.

Other Kangaroo Island Resources
Parndana Wildlife Park
Australian Wildlife Walkabouts
Kangaroo Island on Hubpages
Kangaroo Island on Squidoo