On The Trail of Possum Magic: When a Storybook is Your Guide

My family and I arrived in Sydney and set up housekeeping for nine nights in a beachside apartment in Manly. My friend, Tony Bassett, an ex-pat living in Australia, welcomed us with a basket of Aussie treats: sea-salt potato chips, Tim Tam biscuits, and a library book for my son.

The book is called Possum Magic. It truly was magical because once we read it, my four-year-old and I embarked on a mission: our vacation goal was to eat our way through a Land Down Under... Read more

Australia's Coober Pedy: A Gemstone in the Desert

Surfers in Byron Bay - photo by Kent St. John

In a land as rich with eccentricities as the Australian Outback, Coober Pedy manages to stand out. To escape the heat of summer, the cold nights, and occasional dust storms, the first settlers lived in underground “dugout” homes. Fittingly, the town’s name was changed in 1920 to Coober Pedy from the Aboriginal words kupa piti, which loosely translates as “white man in a hole.” Read more

Byron Bay: Australia’s New Age Wonder Beach Town

In Australia, Byron Bay is an beach town icon and conjures up great memories for Aussies who have visited there. Surfers, hippies, new agers and the well-to-do, all return repeatedly and each find their slice of heaven. Many have stayed and built lives amidst the visual splendor of the location.

Near the town is an area of hill towns called the hinterlands, pastoral hills covered with macadamia plantations and, it is said, numerous pot plots. In a country known for its laid-back friendly attitude, this New South Wales destination kicks it up a notch... Read more

A view of Sydney from the harbor - photo by Kent St. John

Read more GoNOMAD stories about Australia:

Darwin, Gateway to the Outback

Riding the Ghan Railway Between Darwin and Adelaide

Newtown, Sydney's Trendy Heart

Pittwater, Australia: A Place to Kayak, Hike and Enjoy Nature

Australia's Great Ocean Walk: Victoria's Magnificent Trail

Australia's Great Ocean Road: From Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles

Australia: Visiting Three Queensland Islands

Rafting the Nymboida River

Melbourne, Australia: Where Footy is King

Sydney Beyond the Guidebooks

Caravans, Footpaths and Walkabouts: Top Australia Transport Picks

Melbourne: The City of Arts, Sport and Fun

Younger Travelers Heading for Australia

Nimbin, New South Wales, Australia: GoNOMAD Destination Guide

Tasmania, Australia: GoNOMAD Destination Guide

After 70 Years, The Ghan Arrives in Darwin from Alice Springs

Find unique Australia hotels and interesting tours in Australia.