When asked questions like that I rely on google and Wiki

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drop_Bear

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunyip

Wiki has them listed as mythalogical creatures but that is their opinion only, they obviously haven't sat quietly in the bush at night near a billabong.

Brendan

A billabong is a small lagoon type body of water created when the bend in a river is cut off from the rest of the flow.

Hi,

I have always had Australia on my wish list of places to see. Friendly people, beautiful country, sounds like a great place to visit!! I've had a fondness for the country and people since my 5th grade Aussie teacher taught me how to sing Kookaberra, Waltzing Matilda, and Wild Colonial boy. It must have planted in my head that these Aus people must possess a wonderful sense of humor. Seeing Rolf Harris sing "The Three Legged Man" must have also played a role too, as well as listening to Six White Boomers played on the radio at Christmastime. I'm still waiting to hear "With a Swag Upon My Shoulder", although I don't drink the stuff myself. Yes, that all convinced me..Aus is the place to go!

On a more serious note - from all those that I've known to have visited your country there is been nothing but rave reviews regarding the people and of the landscape. It is one place I plan to see someday.

Chrystal

Wow - you brought back so many memories of singing those songs.

Have you ever heard the naughty songs? HAHAAAAaaa ... ah dear... I shouldn't be so amused, should I?!

Gee guys, Australia sounds like a really fun time - as long as you know that visiting automatically makes you become part of the food chain.

I mean really: Saltwater Crocodiles, Great White Sharks, Deadly Octopi and dangerous Jellyfish, I guess swimming is not a good idea.

Wait, one could always take a stroll, right?...NOT! Aggressive and venemous snakes along with poisonous spiders await unsuspecting tourists, and what about the bloody Scorpions?!

But why worry? Heck, you'll probably pass out from the scorching sun and never feel a thing anyway.

Yep, got my plane ticket, suit of armour, first aid kit, spear-gun, M16 assault rifle, sunglasses and sunscreen. Okay, guess I'm ready to go visit Tim and Sue-Anne.

Oh, and if you go swimming, watch out for the Bondi cigars. Harmless, but you don't want to touch one.

Spent 4 months there when I was stationed with the Marines. It was for Operation Tandem Thrust (insert your own joke here, I don't make up the names, folks) and we spent the majority of our time on liberty in Rockhampton and Brisbane just before we went back to Japan. Australia is a beautiful country, the wife and I are saving up for a trip back there.

Like Kid Iowa I was also stationed In Japan with the Marines. Met a few Shelias from down under while I was there. And these girls were Mucho Keen!!

I would love to visit Australia. Very much. Just seems like a beautiful Country filled with a lot of nice folks. I'll bet the golf courses are beautiful as well. I've always wanted to go. Cost is probably the one thing holding me back. Maybe one day I'll stow away on a tramp steamer and make my way over there.

Vandy

Don't start with the Golf Courses! For a while Hobson was an annual visitor purely to play golf!

My 2 week tour of Australia and New Zealand was one of the greatest lecture tours I ever did ... the scenery was incredible and the magic was great (and they seemed to enjoy my lecture as well!), but what I remember most was how fun-loving the people were ... I had such a good time hanging out with the locals and I even did a gig for company banquet that was quite a hoot ...

My youngest daughter knows EVERYTHING about Austalia and wants to go with me the next time I go ... maybe I can sneak her in my luggage!

I understand it's beautiful there. Also, it's an English speaking country. Apparently it's a deadly country too! This topic should be named, "Will you come to be buried down under?"
My wife, who teaches, and my son, have the summer off. Here in New Hampshire, we have about two and a half months of summer weather and four months of winter weather. I'd have to convince my wife to leave the short summer here to go to the winter there. If there's good skiing there, that might be possible. My wife and son are crazy about skiing.

Are you in the warm Northern regions of Australia?

The expense and long trip tend to make other locations easier too.

Considering the situation is somewhat symmetrical for you, thanks for coming "up over!"

We're actually in Melbourne, and the temperature can vary from 41 degrees (106 F)down to 6 degrees (43 F)... on the same day. It's an amazing place.

But you're right, it is such a huge country that travelling between two major cities like Melbourne and Sydney is a 10 hour drive. So the 14 hour direct flight from Melbourne to LA isn't really that bad. (Though I guess if you're used to 2 or 3 hour flights it might seem a bit much).

The 25 hour flight from Melbourne to Europe... that's another story completely!

Bill,

You can get to some of Australia's best Ski fields within a few hours of Melbourne - one of the few places around the world where you could visit the surf and ski on the same day.

As someone who has only recently come to love skiing (with a passion, if not any skill) I can heartily reccomend Mt. Buller and to a greater extent Mt. Hotham as exceptional holiday venues for any level of skiier.

Come on down - you won't regret it for a minute.

Tim's right - the place is huge, but that just means you rarely get the ludicrous amounts of tourist crowds you get in other venues around the world. That is a BIG plus, believe me.

M@

I got banned from Mt Buller on our honeymoon.

I know I'll regret asking...but...why?

M@

Funny you should ask Mat... as you might assume, I'm not a very good skiier, but I gave it a try. Imagine the scene, headed down "Bourke St" (the crowded run for beginners) and I picked up just a little too much speed when I really hadn't mastered the art of stopping... or even slowing down.

I was weaving around people all over the place, trying to avoid a major collision. Suddenly, I saw a little two year old on skis in front of me and I had absolutely nowhere to go - so I jumped. I actually jumped over the head of this little kid at who knows what speed. I didn't touch him but I think he got a fright and sat down and started crying.

An official Mt Buller Ski Nazi grabbed me, pulled me aside and told me to take off my skis and get off the mountain. He though I was some expert skiier recklessly showing off.

Probably better I did go back to the hotel. Earlier that day I almost accidentally went down a black run.

If you want to go "outback" DON'T do it in our summer. Winter is great for that trip.

We have a very small population (22 million) on an island that's almost the size of the USA. So crowding is rare, except in peak hour in the city - which is like 5:00am morning traffic in Seattle (Crikey - what a busy city THAT is!)

As both an Australian Magician and a Scuba Diver I can tell you the sea life isn't nearly as dangerous as your average magic club meeting!

You are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO right!

I want to do the effect that Sylvester the Cat always found himself in trouble with and place a mouse in a packing crate and produce a Giant Mouse ALA Kangaroo.

I am working on the Cut & Restored Southern Death Adder.

Michael

Austrailia sounds really interesting, I'd love to visit. What's stopping me? Highschool.