Hormart Expeditions - One-stop expedition directory - Recent listing in AUS- places

Blue Mountains National Park - world heritage-listed, ecotourism and camping, New South Wales

Sat, 18 Sep 2021 02:51:57 +0000

Explore World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains National Park, home of the famous Three Sisters in Katoomba. Discover iconic lookouts and waterfalls, historic walking tracks, mountain biking, Aboriginal culture, adventure sports, and camping - right on Sydney's doorstep.

Pack a picnic and enjoy a day trip to marvel at the Three Sisters rock formation from Echo Point, in Katoomba. Take in sweeping views of sheer sandstone cliffs and hazy blue Grose Valley declared wilderness area from Govetts Leap, in Blackheath. At Wentworth Falls you're spoilt for choice with world-clas lookouts, walks and waterfalls.

This certified Ecotourism Destination is a walker's paradise, boasting over 140km of tracks and trails.

Mountain bike riders can tackle the famed Woodford-Oaks trail, scenic Narrow Neck, or Faulconbridge Ridge trail. There are also great opportunities for adventure sports tours, including abseiling, rock climbing and canyoning.

Within 2 hours' drive from Sydney, you can be camping by majestic eucalypts at Euroka, or watching a spectacular sunset at Perrys Lookdown. Seek solitude at remote Acacia Flat, or 4WD to Mount Werong or Burralow Creek, for a night of stargazing and wildlife spotting. [source]

Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLXWnJ8kBYk

The Rocks Ghost Tours, 1994 - paranormal experience, ghost tours and history tours, The Rocks

Sat, 18 Sep 2021 02:30:46 +0000

In 1994 Brian & Colleen Harrison decided to reveal the gruesome bizarre stories buried in The Rocks. These stories were passed down through the generations of Brians family who had ran boarding houses in The Rocks. Together with his wife Colleen, a descendant of Sophia Lett who owned the Punchbowl Inn they embarked on creating The Rocks Ghost Tours.

Over the years many customers have reported strange phenomena, sent photos and related many ghostly experiences to the Ghost Hosts.

We approach the future with enthusiasm for our company and our aim is to write a book with the untold ghost stories of The Rocks.

Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HheQe1HmYpg

Adelaide Gaol, 1841 - former Australian prison, Adelaide

Fri, 17 Sep 2021 08:50:10 +0000

Adelaide Gaol is a former Australian prison located in the Park Lands of Adelaide, in the state of South Australia. The gaol was the first permanent one in South Australia and operated from 1841 until 1988. The Gaol is one of the two oldest buildings still standing in South Australia, the other being Government House which was built at the same time. The prison is now a museum, tourist attraction and function centre. [source 1]

In 1840, George Strickland Kingston was commissioned to design Adelaide's new gaol. The architectural plans for Adelaide Gaol were based on the latest in European gaol designs and were said to be radical for the time.

The original cost estimate for Adelaide Gaol was £17,000, but by 1841 costs had already reached £16,000 with only half the planned works complete. The final bill was more than double the original quote and the expense of construction sent the fledgling colony of South Australia bankrupt.

As a result, Governor Gawler, who was considered responsible for this situation, was recalled to England and replaced by Governor Grey. Governor Grey halted work and Adelaide Gaol construction languished for over six years. [source 2] Read more of this

Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKM4YDNYwGY

Mount Coot-tha - mountain, suburb of the City of Brisbane, Queensland

Fri, 17 Sep 2021 07:37:51 +0000

The mountain is 302 metres above sea level and has the highest peak within the urban footprint of Brisbane. It forms the eastern extent of the Taylor Range and is a prominent landmark approximately six kilometres (4 mi) to the west of the Brisbane central business district.

Coot-tha meaning Honey Mountain is a derivative of the indigenous term which replaced the name One Tree Hill when the area was declared a park in August 1883. It was suggested by Henry Wyatt Radford, the Clerk of the Queensland Legislative Council.

During World War II, the mountain was used as a military base by the RAAF and the US Navy. It was converted to a vast explosives depot and at one stage held more than 120,000 tonnes of explosive weapons. When darkness fell the lookout bristled with search lights in an amazing display as soldiers kept an eye out for enemy planes.anti-aircraft guns and searchlights were located on the lookout. Mount Coot-tha was also the site of US Naval Ammunition Depot (Navy 134) supplying submarines at the Capricorn Wharf at New Farm (Teneriffe) in Brisbane

Mount Coot-tha has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

Sir Samuel Griffith Drive: Mount Coot-tha Forest
Sir Samuel Griffith Drive: Mount Coot-tha Lookout

[source]

Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgE1QmK-LA4