Things to Do in Australia

One of Tasmania's highlights is its historic Georgian-era towns, and Evandale is no exception.

With its Main Street lined with National Trust-listed buildings, the immaculately preserved little town offers a glimpse into centuries gone by. The best way to explore Evandale is to take a stroll past heritage buildings like St Andrews Church, Blenheim, the Royal Oak and the saddler's shop.

Evandale comes to life on Sundays for the weekly market, featuring local produce and crafts.

The annual Penny Farthing Championship turns back the clock each February and brings more camera-toting visitors than usual to the little town. Participants dress for the occasion in late-Victorian dress, and Evandale's Main Street becomes the route for penny farthing races.

There are some historic grand homesteads in the countryside surrounding Evandale, revealing glimpses into colonial days. Visit 19th-century Clarendon Homestead to admire neoclassical Georgian architecture and stroll through manicured formal parklands.

Pubs, bakeries and cafes are another Evandale attraction, the ideal pit stop for local produce, coffee, Tasmanian wines and gourmet cakes. You'll also find antiques stores and local crafts shops.

Tasmania's apple orchard, the Huon Valley is a lush and pretty region on Hobart's doorstep.

Centering on the little riverside town of Huonville, on the Huon River, it's a region of hillside orchards and villages. The large orchard industry now embraces berries, vineyards and stone fruit, and the towns offer tearooms and antique shops.

Book a jet-boat ride on the river, sample hundreds of varieties of apples, drop into a cellar door for some wine tasting, go fishing or relax at a country-style cafe.

The Huon Valley also makes a great base for exploring Tasmania's wild national parks and going for a stroll on the Tahune Forest AirWalk.

While it might look wide and inviting for boats, the Tamar River is a treacherous channel that's rife with rocks, patches of reef, and shifting sandbars that will swallow vessels that don't know exactly where they're going. Luckily for mariners on Tasmania's north coast, a pilot station at Low Head still operates and helps assist boats headed up the Tamar River toward Launceston. Established here in 1805, the Low Head Pilot Station is Australia's oldest continuously inhabited pilot station, and the museum is set in "Pilot's Row""” a string of buildings that were built by convicts in the middle of the 19th century. When visiting Low Head Pilot Station today, you can learn about everything from signaling and lights to the tools used in navigation, as well as look at some early maps that were drawn when much of modern Tasmania had yet to be explored.

Hyde Park is Australia's oldest park and a welcoming green space in the heart of Sydney's city center. Divided into northern and southern sections by Park Street, Hyde Park contains several important monuments and statues, themed gardens, water features, the Archibald fountain and the ANZAC Memorial Building and visitor center.

Although gazetted as a public park (common) in 1810 by Governor Macquarie and named after Hyde Park in London, today's park was not recognizable in its current form until 1927, when architect and landscape artist Norman Weekes won a competition to beautify the area. Prior to this, the park was used as a sports field, a racecourse and a venue for bareknuckle fights!

The tiled central avenue that cuts through the park from Macquarie Street to the ANZAC Memorial is lined with Hill's Figs and is a lovely place to seek shade on a hot day.

Hyde Park plays an important role in a number of cultural events throughout the year and is the venue for the Sydney Festival, Australia Day, ANZAC Day and the Food & Wine Fair.

Hyde Park runs parallel to George St and is bounded by Elizabeth St to the west and College St to the east. If traveling by train, get off at either the St James or Museum railway stations.

In a beautiful marquee under the brilliant stars you will dine in the rainforest at Flames of the Forest.

The rainforest setting will influence both the meal and the entertainment. The meal will feature heavily produce from the surrounding area and the rainforest itself. Ingredients like banana prawns and lemon myrtle pepper the delicious and adventurous menu and fine local wines are carefully chosen to complement the meal.

The entertainment takes the form of a cultural experience where local Aboriginal men will come and share the history and their personal stories about the local area.

The sounds of the rainforest will be all around you as you indulge in one of Australia's finest gourmet and cultural experiences.