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When it comes to poisonous snakes in Australia, their reputations are more myth than reality. We try to set the record straight. Australia tops the list of countries for having the most dangerous animals. Up near the top of this list are snakes. There are about 170 species of terrestrial snakes and 32 seas snakes. Of these snakes, 104 are venomous, 40 to humans, but only 12 are likely to inflict a bite that could kill you. We are fortunate here in Australia to have a very effective first aid treatment for snake bites. On average, we see 3000 snake bites a year, with an estimated 300 lives saved by antivenom. We have an antivenom program thanks to The Australian Reptile Parks venom milking program, which has been running since the 1950s and continues to be the sole provider of snake venom in this country. Due to this program, Australia only sees an average of 2-3 deaths per year from snake bites. Most species during our winter months in the cooler climates of Australia will become inactive. The duration of inactivity depends on the species and where they live. Some snakes like the Tiger Snake and Copperhead are tolerant of colder conditions, so they may still be active during the cooler months. Most snakes are more active during the warmer…
RECIPE BY PAT CALLINAN, IMAGES BY TOMMY SALMON ADVICE: RECIPE This dish is a hearty campfire delight, although it was admittedly cooked on the gas burners of the EzyTrail Ceduna. It’s a relatively simple cook, aided by a nice splash of Greenskin Wine (which is undoubtedly too fancy for cooking, but we had it in the pantry!). For the uninitiated, Greenskin Wine is quality Aussie wine that comes in 750ml sachets that don’t leak or split. And the upside is they can be stacked more efficiently than regular bottles, and weigh a lot less (so travel better). THE PROCESS Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper and sear until brown and almost cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan, and then brown the onion and garlic, and add the chicken stock, white wine and mustard powder. Cook for around 10 minutes or until reduced. Add the chicken back to the pan, until cooked through. Reduce heat, and stir in the cream and lemon juice being careful to simmer, and not boil the sauce. Serve over a bed of brown rice, and garnish with fresh lemons and basil or coriander. Enjoy! INGREDIENTS 1kg chicken breasts1 x brown onion4 x cloves of garlic1 cup chicken stock1 teaspoon of mustard powder1 x cup of white wineJuice of two lemons¼ cup cooking…
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WORDS AND IMAGES BY KEV SMITH TRAVEL: NEW SOUTH WALES Coffs Harbour, home to the legendary Big Banana and world class beaches. It prides itself on natural wonders, clean coastal air, and it’s a Mecca for 4X4 clubs. But what makes Coffs stand apart from its east coast brethren is its proximity to the Great Dividing Range. Nowhere else do the mountains hug the sea as they do here, creating quite the adventure playground. Those mountains formed over 30 million years ago via active volcanoes, especially the Ebor volcano some 100km inland from Coffs. The volcanic explosions created rugged valleys and mountain ridges, spectacular rivers and stunning areas of prehistoric like rainforest pockets. But for 4WDers it has given us the perfect playground to explore. Do your research before hitting Coffs, as the tracks are like a giant maze crisscrossing through the forest areas. It can be as hard or as easy as you make it. Camping options are excellent, from free camping in State Forests, booking online in NPWS through to caravan parks in town, or there’s plenty of luxury options. 1. HISTORY IN THE HINTERLAND The discovery of Timber (mainly Red Cedar) along the north coast opened up many areas deep into the thick forests. With this, the flow-on effect carried on with the discovery of gold, towns…
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WORDS AND IMAGES BY BEN CARCELLER TRAVEL: QUEENSLAND The Temple, in Portland Roads, Cape York is a boutique accommodation destination for those that love a great view, music, and the chance to stay in a piece of WWII history! The main bar area at The Temple is the main attraction, and the bar is built around a gun emplacement built into the side of the Iron Range high above the open sea! This particular gun emplacement housed a 60-pound gun, pointed at the sea. The bar isn’t the only thing open to the ocean, the main bathroom, and the shower in the penthouse room also being open to the wide-open views of the ocean. If you’re a bit of a WWII history buff, there are also several other observation posts, ammunition stores, and other remnants of wartime history in various states of restoration. Portland Roads in general was an important part of Australia’s defence, with airstrips and jetties constructed by the defence forces, and many military personnel stationed here. Jayson Watkin purchases the block that The Temple is built on in 2014 from Gregor Hardy, who sailed to Portland Roads in the 70’s, had a mining lease on the area and eventually secured freehold over the land in the 90’s and had a basic residence built over the gun emplacement…
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WORDS BY CARAVAN COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, IMAGES BY TOMMY SALMON ADVICE: CARAVAN TYRES Professional automotive engineer Colin Young P.Eng from the Caravan Council of Australia reckons many have got it wrong Tyres play a critical role in determining the Handling and Stability characteristics of all caravans on the road. On a few frightening occasions, the tyres selected by a ‘van manufacturer have been dangerously “under-engineered”, in that their Maximum Load Rating was less than the Maximum Load that the tyres could legally (as per the GTM Rating) be subjected to! In far too many cases, the tyres selected by the ‘van manufacturer have been hideously “over-engineered”, in that their Maximum Load Rating was much higher than the Maximum Load that the tyres would ever be subjected to! While there may be some other opinions on how much a tyre should be loaded to, for caravan tyres it is reasonable to have the maximum Load applied to a tyre, at around 90 – 95% of the Rating. Certainly, it should not be around 50 – 60%. “BIGGER ain’t always BETTER”… certainly applies to caravan wheels and tyres. If you are not happy with the way your ‘van handles on the road, or if you have any other concerns about your ‘van’s Tyre Size or Inflation Pressures, you should discuss the issues…
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