December 22, 2005

Wonders of Australia and some of things you can expect to find there.

Ayers Rock
Ayers Rock, in the heart of Australia, rises 348 meters into the air and that is only one third of it. The other two thirds lie beneath the earth’s surface.

If you enjoy mysteries, Ayers Rock is definitely a place you will enjoy. There are several questions that visitors ask upon seeing this wondrous sculpture of nature; why is the rock red and what secrets are hidden within?

The Anangu Aboriginal people treat the rock as a mother and have the answers to these questions and others. They will escort you on a walking tour around the rock and open your eyes to a culture that has been part of the region for centuries. Listen carefully to the bewitching tales of their ancestors, which will fill you with wonder.

An hour’s drive from Ayers Rock is Kata Tjuta, where you can view thirty six exquisite red, stone-shaped pillars covering 3,500 hectares, some that stretch into the sky for over 500 meters. Mt. Olga is the tallest at 546 meters.

Both Ayers Rock and Kata Tjuta present wonderful photography opportunities with the changing of light and shadowy precipices. Together they form Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, a sacred region of the Anangu people.

Accommodations within the park’s boundaries range from rustic to luxurious. You will love exploring this awesome area, so stay as long as you’d like and enjoy all the wonders the area has to offer.

The Bungle Bungles
To view a stunning array of beehive shaped geological formations that range in colours of black, green and orange, be sure to visit the Bungle Bungles in Purnululu National Park. They are located in Western Australia, 250 kilometers south of Kununurra. Their origin goes back millions of years and their existence was hidden by the locals until the mid 1980’s.

The beehive shaped pinnacles are veiled in mystery and intrigue. The landscape is haunting and awe inspiring with the collection of thousands of these peculiar rock formations that are located within the boundaries of Namburg National Park in the Red Desert. Some of the formations are only the size of a pen, while others stretch several meters into the sky.

The origins of the pinnacles are not known, but many stories have formed around their existence over the years. Some believe they are the remains of an ancient Dutch city. Others think they are petrified remains of an ancient forest. The most likely, but not proven, theory is that they are hard limestone deposits that formed around the tap roots of trees and were formed within ancient sand dunes. They only became visible when softer limestone deposits eroded and left them standing.

Whatever the true story may be, the Bungle Bungles are a natural wonder that you won’t want to miss if you’re traveling to Western Australia.

The Sydney Opera House
Though this isn’t a natural wonder, it is something that you won’t want to miss if you’re going to be in Australia. Designed by Danish architect, Jorn Utzon, the Sydney Opera House is one of the world’s leading performing art centers. Though construction began in 1968, the opera house didn’t open until 1973. It is made up of close to 1,000 rooms and is home to the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the Australian Ballet, Opera Australia, the Sydney Dance Company and the Sydney Theatre Company.

Despite the fact that a vast ocean separates Australians from the opera houses of Europe, they are some of the most dedicated opera fans in the world. Classical music is also popular and there are six major symphony orchestras and several world class opera companies that perform in the Sydney Opera House. The Concert Hall is the largest in the Opera House, seating almost 3,000 people.

The Sydney Opera House is located on Bennelong Point, which was once a tram terminus. The lack of decoration on the Opera House’s surface and its organic shape has made it timeless architectural wonder. People from countries around the world visit Sydney, just to stand and gaze in wonder at the awesome spectacle. At night, when the lights flood the façade, the view is likely to steal your breath away. This is one man made wonder that you won’t want to miss.