The Red Centre - Australia's Timeless Land

Uluru (Roderick Eime)

Australia is a vast continent of 7,682,300 square kilometres (more than one and a half times the size of Europe).

From west to east, it stretches 4,000 kilometres from Steep Point in Western Australia to Cape Byron in New South Wales, and from north to south, it is 3,180 kilometres from Cape York in Queensland to Wilsons Promontory in Victoria.

If Ernest Hemingway visited Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang. A town shrouded in mist, like a forgotten memory. I stepped off the boat, onto worn wooden planks, and into the stillness. The Mekong River slid lazily by, a serpent of silver and brown.

The history of Sydney's North Fort

Completed in 1938, North Fort is testimony to the ingenuity of the builders and the dedication of the gunners that served at North Fort from the outbreak of World War II continuously to the early 1960’s. Although not firing a shot in anger during World War II, the guns were a significant deterrent to any potential attacks on Sydney Harbour by a Naval force. The Fort consisted of two 9.2 inch coastal guns which could rotate 360 degrees and had a range of 27km. The guns were supported by two search light elements and three 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns.

On 31st May 1942, these searchlights played a vital role in defending Sydney Harbour from attack by 3 Japanese midget submarines. One week later, on the 8th June, Sydney Harbour and the surrounding areas of Bondi, Rose Bay, Woollahra and Bellevue Hill, were shelled by the Mother Submarines. Similar searchlights were used to defend Newcastle against attack at the same time.

Defence personnel in AA rangefinder training c.1942

In addition to the artillery and fortress engineer personnel, North Fort was manned by a company of the 7th Volunteer Defence Corps and C Company, 2nd Garrison Battalion, a total of over 250 servicemen and women.

The North Head Battery, together with the 9.2 inch batteries at Newcastle, Cape Banks (La Perouse), Wollongong, Rottnest Island (Freemantle), and East Cape ( Darwin), combined with a number of 6 inch batteries to form an integrated coastal fortress system. In a mood of anti-militarism following World War II, in 1962 all but the battery on Rottnest Island were dismantled and the armaments sold off as scrap metal.

Loading 9.2 in shells at North Head 1944 (AWM)

Once a highly restricted military base, North Fort was opened up again as the home of the Royal Australian Artillery National Museum in 1990 (part of the network of Army Museums under the control of the Army History Unit based in Canberra). From the outset it was supported with volunteers by the Royal Australian Artillery Historical Society (now Company) and with technical assistance by the school of the Royal Australian Artillery which was relocated to North Head at the end of World War II where it stayed until the move to Puckapunyal in December 1997.

In early 2009, the name of the Museum was changed to "Australian Army Artillery Museum" in line with a revised naming policy for all Army museums by Army History Unit.

NOTE: The Australian Army Artillery Museum North Fort is now permanently closed

Halong Bay: Vietnam's UNESCO jewel

Halong Bay, a mystical seascape of limestone pillars and emerald waters, is Vietnam’s jewel and a place that feels both otherworldly and intimately tied to the rhythms of nature and history.

Make a splash at these amazing hotel swimming pools across Asia

Hotels love to boas about their pools, amongst other things. Here's a round-up of stunning swimming pools at hotels across Asia. Dive right in!

‘Teen Jok’ Owns the Pool

The tiles of Meliá Chiang Mai’s swimming pool are fashioned in a striking textile pattern to reference the local Chiang Mai culture. The tiling is a contemporary interpretation of textile patterns the locals call “teen jok”. Similar patterns are also evident on the exterior facade of the hotel visible from the swimming pool, which is adjacent to a shallow pool area for kids. The watery playground is home to two water slides, a rain curtain, water fountains and a giant tipping bucket. The large outdoor swimming pool on the hotel’s second floor anchors Tien Pool Bar, which also has a design that pays tribute to Chiang Mai. The pool bar’s distinctive red brickwork references Chiang Mai’s venerable landmark Tha Phae Gate.

The Anam Cam Ranh: Grounds for a Glorious Resort

Traveloscopy regular correspondent, John Savage, compares his green thumb to that of Vietnam's first five-star colonial beach resort. Our verdict is in. 

How many gardeners does it take to ensure the 12 hectares of gardens, grounds and lawns surrounding the stunning five-star The Anam in Vietnam’s Cam Ranh Peninsula remain pristine?

Bhutan: An untapped summer travel destination

Summer in Bhutan: A haven for nature, culture  and adventure seekers 

Must-do activities to experience the essence of summer in the Kingdom of Bhutan 

Welcome to Bhutan, a year-round haven nestled in the Himalayas. This summer, from June through August, experience the country's warm embrace, where temperatures linger pleasantly between 15 and 30 degrees Celsius, complemented by gentle rainfall. Whether guests are drawn to serene natural settings or seeking thrilling adventures, Bhutan in summer is a tempting destination for every traveller.