Blog Archives

Bowen Visitor Information Centre & the Big Mango

Bowen’s tourist information centre is located around 4km south of Bowen. Apart from the usual collection of tourist brochures, the visitor information centre is also home to the Big Mango.

The 10m-high fibreglass mango made news headlines in February 2014 when it was stolen, although it turns out that it was a publicity stunt for Nando’s who launched their mango and lime chicken shortly after the Big Mango went missing.

Brambuk Cultural Centre

Brambuk Cultural Centre is an excellent place to learn and experience the culture of the Koori communities of southwest Victoria. You can arrange tours of the rock art sites from the centre.

The centre also has an information about Grampians National Park.

BridgeClimb

The BridgeClimb offers a once in a lifetime opportunity to climb the outer arch of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Although expensive and out of many backpackers’ budgets the BridgeClimb is established as Sydney’s top attraction. The BridgeClimb bills itself as an adventure activity although it’s not in the same league as skydiving or bungee jumping. The experience lasts for 3½ hours and gives you a fantastic view of the city and an appreciation of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Pricing varies depending on the time of day with most climbs costing $218–358, although some cheaper options are available. The best times (and most expensive) times are dawn and twilight and the cheapest time is around midday on weekdays (when you can sometimes do the climb for $148–158).

All climbers are fitted with a bridge suit and safety harness and given a safety briefing before heading out on to the bridge. Then small groups of around ten climb a series of ladders to the lower area of the top arch, from where they climb to the top of the bridge. There’s a photo session at the top, then you walk across a walkway to the other side where you descend back to street level. Bookings are essential and don’t go out on the town the night before as everyone is breathalysed before the climb.

Brisbane Airport (BNE)

Brisbane is well connected by air and it is increasingly affordable to fly here.
Brisbane Airport is about 16km northwest of the city centre and is comprised of two terminals – domestic and international – located 2km apart.

The easiest way to the airport is by the Air Train. The Air Train runs to the city centre four times an hour and to the Gold Coast twice an hour. The trip between the airport and the city centre takes 22 minutes and costs $16.50. Many hostels sell discounted tickets for the Air Train.

Alternatively, Con-X-ion Airport Transfers run mini buses into central Brisbane that cost $15–20 each way.

Broadmeadow train station

Broadmeadow station is the closest train station to Newcastle that is served by NSW TrainLink trains on the North Coast Region and North West Region lines. Trains from Sydney to Armidale, Brisbane, Casino, Grafton and Moree stop here.

Newcastle Buses route 226 runs between Broadmeadow station and the old Newcastle station in the city centre. You can also get trains from here to Hamilton Station with connecting buses into the city centre.

Broken Hill bus and coach stop

Buses and coaches stop at the tourist information centre at the corner of Blende and Bromide Streets. Coaches connect Broken Hill with Adelaide, Dubbo and Mildura. Take a coach to Dubbo to connect with coaches to other destinations in New South Wales or Mildura for connections in Victoria.

Broken Hill Heritage Trail

Broken Hill is much more prosperous than most other outback towns and over the years many grand old buildings have been erected. The Broken Hill Heritage Trail is a walking tour that takes you around the city’s most historic buildings.

You can either take a guided tour or follow the trail yourself. Guided tours depart the tourist information centre Mon, Wed and Fri at 9am.