Located a 40-minute drive from the centre of Canberra, ACT Australia, the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex (CDSCC) is an important part of NASA’s tracking network. Construction at the site in the Tidbinbilla Valley commenced in June 1963 and operations started in December 1964. Chosen due to it’s proximity to Canberra Tidbinbilla’s surrounding valley walls also shield it from stray radio signals.
Since it’s early beginnings, CDSCC has been integral to the success of the moon landings and space probes sent to the outer planets. As these probes travelled further from Earth, antennae have been upgraded and additional ones of greater diameter and therefore able to receive weaker signals added.
How to Get There
Driving is the only real option to get here, as there is no public transport. The complex has a large car park outside the front gate.
What to See
During our visit (February 2024) the visitor centre was closed so access into the site was unavailable. Despite this, the information board around the car park gave a great history of the CDSCC. Relocated near the entrance, several decommissioned tracking dishes are impressive because of their size. These dished are visible from the access road as you drive in.
Deep Space Station 43 (DSS-43)Deep Space Station 46 (DSS-46)Information BoardsDeep Space Stations 43 and 46
What Did We Think?
The setting of the huge dishes in the Australian bush is impressive and a great sight to see. Had the Visitor Centre been open the visit would have been better, but was interesting and education nonetheless. A great place to drop into, especially if you have visited Mount Stromlo or are on your way to the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve.
Located near Hyde Park in the centre of Sydney, the Australian Museum is a wonderful place to spend a few hours wandering around the amazing displays. Designed by colonial architect Mortimer Lewis, the current building opening in 1857, although the museum’s collection dates back to 1827.
An extensive refurbishment in 2021 has resulted in updated and refreshed exhibits, bringing the museum into the 21st century.
Getting There
The Domain carpark is the closest secure parking spot to the museum, being only a ten-minute walk away.
Using Sydney’s public transport system is easy, with the Museum, St James and Town Hall train stations all within a ten-minute walk of the museum. Bus stops along Elizabeth Street, next to Hyde Park are another great option to get there.
What to See
Ground Level
200 Treasures
Located on the ground floor the 200 Treasures represent people and objects, that tell stories about Australia and the world.
The displays range from Zulu shields and Pacific Island sculptures, to a skeleton man on a skeleton horse.
Skeleton Man on a Horse
Zulu Shields in Treasures of the Museum
Australian Museum Sydney
First Nations
The First Nations display is part of the recent Museum refurbishment, giving an excellent overview of indigenous Australians before colonisation.
We loved the range of boomerangs, shields and spears on display, along with their descriptions on information panels.
Wild Planet
In Wild Planet, animals from Australia and around the world are on display. Two huge elephant skeletons show the size of these animals. Overhead, an even bigger sperm whale skeleton looks down from the ceiling.
Over 400 animals are displayed here, including extinct and endangered species. This was a great place to learn about the animals and their habitats. Not only do the displays details the animals, but also explain how they are impacted by human activity.
Cassowary
Giraffe and Zebra
Giraffe
Adult and Juvenile Elephant Skeletons
Level 2
Birds of Australia
Australian birds have a whole section to themselves because of their vast numbers and beauty. The displays vary from the giant emu and Cassowary to seabirds and colourful parrots. The parrot display shows the huge range of colours to be found in these birds.
These displays are a great opportunity for people who don’t leave the city to see the colour of the outback.
King Parrot
Surviving Australia
Specialising in the creatures of Australia, this section takes you from ancient megafauna to modern spiders and snakes.
A model of an ancient diprotodon let you see how massive these giant wombat-like creatures were. Nearby the extinct Thylacine, or Tasmanian Tiger exhibit explains how the mammal went extinct on mainland Australia. The introduction of the dingo outcompeted them for food, driving them to extinction. Surviving until the 1930s in Tasmania, hunting by farmers caused them to die out there too.
An excellent stop for tourists or locals who want to see some of Australia’s more dangerous animals. Displays of dangerous snakes, spiders and saltwater crocodile allow you to see them up close, but in complete safety.
Diprotodon
Thylacine or Tasmanian Tiger
Pacific Spirit
Pacific Spirit celebrates the culture of the Pacific Islands. Wonderful exhibits showcase the unique culture of these people, with masks, headgear, ceremonial poles and jewellery.
Dinosaurs
Having loved dinosaurs since being a kid this was one of my favourite exhibits. From T-Rex and velociraptors, there are many dinosaurs on display. One of Australia’s first discovered specimens is on display, muttaburrasaurus. Prior to its discovery in Queensland (near the town of Muttaburra!), very few dinosaur traces were found in Australia.
Muttaburrasaurus
Muttaburrasaurus Skeleton
The Hobbit Homo Floresiencis
The discovery of homo floresiencis on the Indonesian Island of Flores caused a huge stir in the world of archaeology, because of its diminutive stature. Controversy about its place in the human family tree still rages in the scientific community. The museum has a small case displaying the hobbit as it has been called. This is not an easy display to find, because it is hidden away under a staircase, going up from the Wild Planet gallery.
Homo Floresiensis
Mineralogy
The mineralogy collection is the oldest rock and mineral collection in Australia, and the mineral component is the largest of any Australian collection. The meteorite collection is the oldest and second largest in the country. With nearly 80,000 specimens, only a few can be on display, however, these are some of the best available.
Australian Christmas Beetles
Circle Stone Money
Refreshments
Two eating areas provide a chance to re-fuel while at the museum. A family friendly kiosk on level 2 is great for a quick snack or light meal. The roof-top restaurant has views over Hyde Park and Sydney Harbour while you dine.
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
In addition to being a great beach, Dudley Beach has a rock platform containing a fossilised forest which is visible at low tide. The area contains the remnants of tree branches and stumps, which are all that remains of an ancient forest.
Getting There
Located south of Newcastle, Dudley Beach has a large well maintained car park, which makes access to the beach easy. From the car park, a sandy trail leads down to the beach.
If you intend seeing the fossilised forest, make sure to check the tides, because the rock platform is only exposed then. Unfortunately, at times, shifting sand occasionally covers the fossils. Even then, you are able to explore the rock platform and beach, which are worth visiting themselves.
Dudley Beach
Access Down to the Beach
Dudley Beach
Rock Platform
The wave cut rock platform where the fossilised forest sits is underwater at high tide. This makes the rocks slippery because many are covered in algae. Only visit at low tide and take care, so as to avoid a fall.
The platform’s surface has many small tidal rock pools, often the home of shellfish and crabs. Some are colourful, making them worth looking for.
Wave action has cut several large crevices into the rocks. These can provide some interesting photos during big swells as the waves crash through them.
Located above the rock platform, eroded cliffs show the effects of wind, rain and waves, with interesting forms weathered into their faces.
Waves on the Rock Platform at Low Tide
Large Crevice in the Rock Platform
Green Algae on the Rock Platform at Low Tide
Exposed Algae on the Rock Platform at Low Tide
Small Tidal Pool
Large Crevice in the Rock Platform
Eroded Sandstone
Dudley Beach Fossilised Forest
The fossilised remained of the forest can be found on the rock platform at low tide. The most obvious remains are the tree stumps sticking up, as they rise above the level of the platform. Closer examination however reveals fossil branches and pieces of wood, stained with iron can be found.
Fossilised Wood
Fossilised Wood
Remains of Fossilised Tree Trunks
Remains of Fossilised Tree Trunks
Fossilised Tree Branch
Fossilised Tree Branch
The Fossilised Forest at Dudley Beach
Baby Blow Hole
On the far side of the rock platform, a crevice funnels waves so that a cavity has formed. This has broken through to the surface and in the right tidal conditions forms a small blowhole. Certainly not spectacular with water only shooting up a metre or two, but interesting. The Kiama blowhole would have looked like this once.
The Baby Blow Hole Dudley Beach
What Did We Think?
Dudley Beach and its fossilised forest was a fun visit. Not only did we find the fossils, but we saw a baby blowhole forming. A great beach, with good parking and added attractions.
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
