by Aaron Spence | Mar 5, 2007 | Panoramas
See this Virtual Tour in FullScreen High Definition mode. QuickTime [1.2MB] Opens In New Window + Audio DevalVR [1.2MB] The Gold Coast Seaway is the northernmost tip of the mainland beaches. Across the channel is South Stradbroke Island which extends a further 22km (13 miles) The seaway was built in 1986 to stablise what was a very dangerous bar, and incorporates the worlds 1st permanent sand bypass system. You can see pipes from the system on the pier in this virtual...
by Aaron Spence | Mar 4, 2007 | Panoramas
See this Virtual Tour in FullScreen High Definition mode. QuickTime [1.2MB] Opens In New Window + Audio DevalVR [1.2MB] The Gold Coast runs Australia’s largest professional Lifeguard service employing 120+ staff & operating 46 towers. Tower 45 sits on the spit, very close to the northern end of the Gold Coast beaches, 35km (22 miles) from where we started at the Qld/NSW border. Surfers Paradise can be seen in the distance, as well as the sand bypass system pier, which pumps sand across the Gold Coast Seaway. We’ll check out the seaway...
by Aaron Spence | Mar 3, 2007 | Panoramas
See this Virtual Tour in FullScreen High Definition mode. QuickTime [1.8MB] Opens In New Window + Audio DevalVR [1.8MB] Surfers Paradise is at the heart of the Gold Coast, both geographically & for tourism. We’re on the beach outside the Cavill Mall which is the centre of Surfers Paradise. Check out the waves right now with some real time beachcam video...
by Aaron Spence | Mar 2, 2007 | Panoramas
See this Virtual Tour in FullScreen High Definition mode. QuickTime [1.4MB] Opens In New Window + Audio DevalVR [1.4MB] Danger Point, overlooking Duranbah Beach, was named by Captain Cook in 1770 (Mr Cook was credited with discovering Australia). It was so named to warn later mariners of dangerous coral reefs off the coast. For his trouble the Captain Cook Memorial was built here 200 years later. You wouldn’t know to look at it, (I didn’t and I was there) but the memorial is in fact a lighthouse. The memorial lighthouse also marks the state border between the Gold Coast, Queensland & Tweed Heads, New South Wales. You can see a diagonal line under the monument, that is the border, which means this Gold Coast virtual tour, wasn’t shot on the Gold Coast...
by Aaron Spence | Mar 1, 2007 | Panoramas
Only a short distance from yesterdays Kirra Point Virtual Tour is Rainbow Beach & Snapper Rocks. From here it’s a short walk up the headland to Point Danger & the NSW...
by Aaron Spence | Feb 28, 2007 | Panoramas
See this Virtual Tour in FullScreen High Definition mode. QuickTime [1.4MB] Opens In New Window + Audio DevalVR [1.4MB] The Gold Coast is beautiful beaches, fantastic year round weather, tropical rainforests, laid back lifestyle & 9x more water ways than Venice. (260kms (160miles) of navigable waterways) With a population of less than 500,000 it is a small city with all the facilities of a state capital, and more. In this Virtual Tour at Kirra Point we can see from the Qld/NSW border all the way to the lights of Surfers Paradise 20km (12 miles) away. Greenmount & Kirra beaches are on each side of the...
by Aaron Spence | Feb 27, 2007 | Panoramas
See this Virtual Tour in FullScreen High Definition mode. QuickTime [1.8MB] Opens In New Window + Audio DevalVR [1.8MB] This amazing spot is down a long narrow ‘goat track’ with no signage or information at the obscured entrance. We’re in Leura across the road from the Toy Museum and only 1 ridge over from Echo Point where we visited a couple of days ago. This is our last Blue Mountains Virtual Tour for the time being. I didn’t have much shooting time in the mountains as I was attending a Bible College class reunion. I hope to get back to the Blue Mountains again this year to do a whole lot more panos for you Blue Mountains Reviews, Links, Websites – Click...
by Aaron Spence | Feb 26, 2007 | Panoramas
See this Virtual Tour in FullScreen High Definition mode. QuickTime [3.6MB] Opens In New Window DevalVR [3.6MB] Leuralla is a toy & rail museum in the Blue Moutains. It’s a lovely spot, just across the road from more stunning views of Jamison Valley, which we’ll see tomorrow. Check out their website, linked above, for a sample of what’s inside this magnificent property. I hope to shoot a lot more of this place next time I’m in the mountains. Blue Mountains Reviews, Links, Websites – Click...
by Aaron Spence | Feb 25, 2007 | Panoramas
See this Virtual Tour in FullScreen High Definition mode. QuickTime [1.5MB ] Opens In New Window DevalVR [1.5MB ] Today we’ve moved a short distance from yesterdays post, but the view has changed dramatically. Instead of an info. board below us, now there is a cliff that drops 150m to Jamison Valley. Quite some time ago a little known scientist had this to say about the place, “Below is the grand bay or gulf, for I know not what other name to give it, thickly covered with forest. The point of view is situated as it were at the head of the Bay, for the line of cliff diverges away on each side, showing headland, behind headland, as on a bold Sea coast.” Charles Darwin. It doesn’t seem to have changed much in the last 170yrs. Blue Mountains Reviews, Links, Websites – Click...
by Aaron Spence | Feb 24, 2007 | Panoramas
See this Virtual Tour in FullScreen High Definition mode. QuickTime [2.1MB ] Opens In New Window DevalVR [2.1MB ] Echo Point is one of the best known and most photographed landmarks in New South Wales. At 170m high Echo point is the tourist hub of the Blue Mountains and is visited by over 3 million people every year. The Point is located just outside the township of Katoomba, the capital of the Blue Mountains. In this virtual tour we’ve overlooking the Jamison Valley, I’ve shot right over the top of the info board so you can identify the landmarks, just as if you were there We’ll take a closer look at the valley tomorrow. Blue Mountains Reviews, Links, Websites – Click...
by Aaron Spence | Feb 23, 2007 | Panoramas
See this Virtual Tour in FullScreen High Definition mode. QuickTime [2.3MB ] Opens In New Window DevalVR [2.3MB ] The Blue Mountains is a wonderful place 1.5hr drive west of Sydney. We’ll spend the next few days here having a look around. Govetts Leap, near Blackheath in the Blue Mountains, provides a spectacular point to view the Govetts and Grose gorges. The vertical cliffs drop 160 metres, with the floor of the gorge lying over 400 metres below the lookout. In 1846 Travel writer G.C. Mundy wrote of Govetts Leap:” It is Certainly one of the grandest freaks of nature I have seen in any country – quite beyond the power of pen or pencil to delineate” Blue Mountains Reviews, Links, Websites – Click...
by Aaron Spence | Feb 22, 2007 | Panoramas
See this Virtual Tour in FullScreen High Definition mode. QuickTime [1.7MB ] Opens In New Window DevalVR [1.7MB ] This is Macquarie St, the main thoroughfare through Hobart City. Travelling all the way down the street will see you arrive at the Cenotaph of the War Memorial we looked at last week, while turning down Murray St, will take you to Salamanca Markets and the waterfront where we’ve spent a lot of time at this destination. St Davids Cathedral sits on opposite street corner. It was built between 1868 and 1936 taking 68yrs to complete the architects original vision. While across the road is the Tasmanian Treasury Building built in 1841, and used as a police station until 1858. I hope you’ve enjoyed a small look at Hobart, it’s a wonderful city. There is far more to see in and around Hobart, and we’ll be checking out some local places like Port Arther & Russell Falls later. I’ve had a request to look at the Blue Mountains west of Sydney next, so that’s where we’ll start tomorrow. Following the Blue Mountains we’ll be checking out some of my home town… The Gold Coast. Hobart Reviews, Links, Websites – Click...
by Aaron Spence | Feb 21, 2007 | Panoramas
See this Virtual Tour in FullScreen High Definition mode. QuickTime [1.6MB ] Opens In New Window DevalVR [1.6MB ] Behind Salamanca Place is Salamanca Square, where you can sit by the cooling fountain with a cup of coffee and a muffin and listen to a guitar or a flute player. You can even use ‘the facilities‘ if you need to go. I found them via our National Toilet Map See Full Size Google Map with all Hobart Virtual Tours – Click Here.INSERT_MAP Hobart Reviews, Links, Websites – Click...
by Aaron Spence | Feb 20, 2007 | Panoramas
See this Virtual Tour in FullScreen High Definition mode. QuickTime [1.3MB ] Opens In New Window DevalVR [1.3MB ] We visited Constitution Dock last week, here is another view on the other side of the Dock looking back towards the city. See Full Size Google Map with all Hobart Virtual Tours – Click Here.INSERT_MAP Hobart Reviews, Links, Websites – Click...
by Aaron Spence | Feb 19, 2007 | Panoramas
See this Virtual Tour in FullScreen High Definition mode. QuickTime [2.8MB ] Opens In New Window DevalVR [2.8MB ] The Hobart Gasworks, pictured here, was first turned on in 1857. It produced gas made from British coal that brought the town’s street lamps to life & replaced a handful of whale-oil lamps. These days it’s a Rum distillery & Museum, restaurant & a couple of other shops. The huge water tank like structure across the road, is actually an 1100 seat concert hall & convention centre belonging to the, attached, Grand Chancellor Hotel. Hobart Reviews, Links, Websites – Click...
by Aaron Spence | Feb 18, 2007 | Panoramas
See this Virtual Tour in FullScreen High Definition mode. QuickTime [1.5MB ] Opens In New Window DevalVR [1.5MB ] We started Hobart on Mt Wellington, and here is another virtual tour, this time from the peak. It allows you to see a lot more of the region around Hobart. The mountain peak is 1270m (4166ft) high, while the communications tower (the big white one) is 130m high. Hobart Reviews, Links, Websites – Click...
by Aaron Spence | Feb 17, 2007 | Panoramas
See this Virtual Tour in FullScreen High Definition mode. QuickTime [1.3MB ] Opens In New Window DevalVR [1.3MB ] Here on the corner of Collins and Murray St we’re in the heart of the city cbd. Hobart is a quiet and peaceful city, it’s certainly safe to walk around anytime. With heaps of parks, waterfront & a lot of history, Hobart is a wonderful city to visit. (Or live) See Full Size Google Map with all Hobart Virtual Tours – Click...
by Aaron Spence | Feb 16, 2007 | Panoramas
See this Virtual Tour in FullScreen High Definition mode. QuickTime [2.5MB] Opens In New Window DevalVR [2.5MB] While I’m sure there is a prettier round-a-bout somewhere in the world, this one is ‘pretty’ special. Oh and it’s not really a roundabout. When driving, it looks like one, sounds like one, tastes like one, but it has traffic lights so beware. I almost got into trouble a couple of times going around the ’roundabout’ only to slam on the breaks when I realised I had a red light. [Update] It was pointed out to me that some might think the fountain is the middle of a tiny roundabout. But in this Virtual Tour everything you can see is in the middle of a big roundabout. Have a look at the map below. The monument in this place is to the Mayors of Hobart from memory, again I can’t find any info about it. The water surges through the fountains up the pole for a while, then comes bucketing down the centre opening. You can also see the glass panels in the bottom of the dish, which allow you to see…. the water Hobart Reviews, Links, Websites – Click...
by Aaron Spence | Feb 15, 2007 | Panoramas
See this Virtual Tour in FullScreen High Definition mode. QuickTime [1.5MB] Opens In New Window DevalVR [1.5MB] Please forgive the rather lame title, but this beautiful street is the ‘Bus Mall’. With it’s ornate buildings & paved street it’s the prettiest bus mall I’ve ever seen. The mall is on Elizabeth St, just a couple of blocks from the Pier which we featured 4 days ago. The most impressive building in the street is the Post Office which features the Clock Tower. Built in 1905 at a the time when there was strong expenditure constraints imposed by the new Commonwealth Government, the clock and tower of the GPO were funded by the people of Hobart See Full Size Google Map with all Hobart Virtual Tours – Click Here.INSERT_MAP Hobart Reviews, Links, Websites – Click...
by Aaron Spence | Feb 14, 2007 | Panoramas
See this Virtual Tour in FullScreen High Definition mode. QuickTime [1.6MB] Opens In New Window DevalVR [1.6MB] Constitution Dock is surrounded by some of the biggest tourist attractions in Hobart and is home to the finish line of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht race, the nearby area is noted for its tantalising cafes and restaurants. Also in this area is Sullivan’s cove which features specialty shops, restaurants and a whisky distillery. The area is on the water and walking along the water front taking in all the historical surroundings, makes for a very pleasant day. I’m also looking for information about the interesting sculptures in the foreground of this pano ’cause I didn’t have time to stop and smell the (proverbial) roses on this shoot. When I find the info, I’ll update this post. Hobart Reviews, Links, Websites – Click...
