"Then it’s time to hop aboard the most impressive train of all: the Indian Pacific. A two-night journey west to Perth includes top-quality dining, stark desert scenery, and dinner in a remote ghost town. It’s a fitting finale to an almost 8000 kilometre rail odyssey..."

Detailing how to catch trains from Far North Queensland through NSW, Victoria and South Australia, all the way to Western Australia.
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Images available.

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"I get the feeling the World of Whisky tour is popular with blokes. There are twelve of us on the tour tonight, standing in the broad plaza outside Perth’s former General Post Office. Presumably women enjoy whisky too, but they’re somewhere else on this Wednesday evening. No matter, we’re men with a mission – to learn more about the many and varied varieties of whisky..."

Joining a specialty small bar tour of central Perth, Western Australia.
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"When people talk of the magnificent beaches of Western Australia’s south-west, Bunbury isn’t usually high on the list. But this busy port city is wedged between ocean and estuary and is home to plenty of fine recreational waterfront. Add to this a revitalised food scene and you have a beach destination that’s well worth a look..."

"It’s amazing how far a fib can get you. When Swan River Colony founder James Stirling wanted to people his new settlement, he told some big white lies about its fertile farmland and perfectly comfortable climate. The reality, at least at first, was somewhat different. Or so says Ryan Mossny, the energetic young Canadian who leads the daily Urban Adventure Tour of the Perth CBD..."

"'All the world’s a stage,' wrote William Shakespeare, but he might as well have said 'All the world’s a beach.' Through Asia, Australia and the Pacific there are beaches of every type, hosting every attraction. Whether you’re after a rest, a meal, a party or a spot of retail action, there’s a sandy shore out there for you. Here’s a selection of the best..."

Detailing a number of fine beaches, including three in Western Australia.
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Images available.

"There’s no reason why flashpacking should only be an urban experience. This accommodation is located within Monkey Mia on Shark Bay, a place famous for its human-dolphin interaction. A subset of the larger Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort, Dolphin Lodge is a good compromise for people avoiding the expense of resort life, as it offers affordable accommodation which allows for self-catering."

Detailing upmarket 'flashpacker' hostels across Australia and New Zealand.
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Images available.

"Beyond the revelry, Fremantle has always attracted writers. From big-name bestsellers like Tim Winton to Miles Franklin Award winners such as Xavier Herbert, there’s apparently something about the narrow streets and salt air that sparks creativity. 'It has its own culture, its own feel,' says Silvey. 'It feels a little bit spiritual, and it's a really vibrant, caring community. Artists tend to cluster around these sort of places.'"

"Morgan takes us past landmarks illustrating his life in Freo: his primary school; the former Caledonian Hall where he learned to play the bagpipes; and the old Fremantle Prison which he once passed through en route to a juvenile correctional institution. So he was a bit of a bad boy, and he famously liked the ladies. 'His Mum still lives in a nearby suburb,' says Morgan. 'She was the only woman in Perth that he didn't sleep with.'"

"The combination of the narrow roadway, the al fresco seating, and the heritage facades with their first floor balconies, makes for an intensely atmospheric street - particularly on a sunny afternoon when the Fremantle Doctor, the dependable daily sea breeze, is blowing off the Indian Ocean. But coffee isn’t the beverage I’m seeking today."

A journey through the microbreweries of Fremantle, Western Australia.
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Images available.

"Sharyn McCaskey leads the Torchlight Tour of Fremantle Prison in Western Australia, and shares numerous ghost stories as she leads visitors through the convict-built facility. 'He’s a big burly man,' she says of a prisoner who came back as a surprisingly solid spectre. 'He walks up to ex-prison officer guides and says 'Excuse me boss, can you tell me where everybody is?''"

Delving into the paranormal via ghost tours across Australia. 

"Suddenly, we’re all amazed to see a dolphin appear. Transfixed, we watch as it turns, dives then reappears even closer, its body visible through crystal clear water between patches of seaweed. It’s the crowning moment of an superbly relaxing stay on Rottnest Island. Even better, I realise... it’s a Monday. How good is that?"

Relating the attractions of Fremantle and Rottnest Island in Western Australia.

"Why do people get so passionate about creating boutique beers? 'Because it just tastes so good,' laughs Clancy’s Fish Pub manager Jane Dickson. 'It’s an ever-evolving thing. It’s your personal opinion and no one can say you’re wrong.'"

I investigate the numerous microbreweries of Fremantle, Western Australia. 

"Which brings me to the spectacularly-named Spike Dessert, owner of The Hoochery. 'I was on a business trip to Adelaide, and went out of the city to visit all the little wineries,' he recalls. 'I thought ‘Gee, that looks like a great thing! We’ll have a cellar door winery in Kununurra!’ But it took me a couple of hours or so to realise we didn’t have any grapes. So we decided we’d make a cellar door distillery instead.'"

Revealing the artisan distillers of Australia, from rum makers to sake brewers. 

"It’s not your typical country town. Sure, there’s an old-fashioned petrol station in the main street, an imposing pub and a riverside park maintained by a service club. But as Margaret River becomes ever more popular with the city dwellers of Perth and their interstate cousins, its streets are lined with classy restaurants and shops selling every kind of indulgence."

Profile of the Margaret River region of Western Australia, with a focus on its indulgences. 
Available for republication (print only).

"Dolphins are the environmental flag-bearers of our times. As a symbol of our relationship with nature, they’re popular with everyone from new agers to suburban grandmothers. Bunbury isn’t notable for its tourist attractions, acting more as a gateway for favoured destinations further south. However, the sheltered waters of Koombana Bay offer a dolphin experience unique to the south-west of the state."

Swimming among the dolphins off the coast of Bunbury, Western Australia.
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"'Not just a one horse town'. That’s what the local business directory says about Capel, in the south-west of Western Australia. But at first glance, you’d be doubtful. The one horse is in fact Rogan Josh, winner of the 1999 Melbourne Cup. He lives in a paddock on the main street next to the local pub, with a big sign pointing out his identity.Capel may not have many famous locals, but it knows how to look after them."

Profile of a lesser-visited small town in southwest Western Australia.
Available for republication (print and Web).

I also have a selection of high-quality digital images available, depicting a variety of international locations. 

If you'd like to republish one of these pieces, or would like a new piece written about the same location, please get in touch via the contacts below.

articles by subject:
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postal:
Tim Richards
507/225 Elizabeth St
Melbourne VIC 3000
Australia

email:
tim@iwriter.com.au

phone:
0411-242327
(international +61-411-242327)

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