Australian Geographic

RAINFALL PROVED A mixed blessing for two of our correspondents while on assignment for this issue. Nature photographer Isaac Wishart found that two years of abundant La Niña rains have delivered fungi aplenty in the moist, dark environments where he

MANAGING DIRECTOR Piers Grove EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Chrissie Goldrick CREATIVE DIRECTOR Mike Ellott SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT EDITOR Karen McGhee GROUP PICTURE EDITOR Nicky Catley CHIEF SUB-EDITOR Maggie Cooper STAFF WRITER Esme Mathis COPY EDITOR Jo Hartman

The Wilderness Society has launched its new Karajia Award for Children’s Literature, celebrating First Nations children’s authors and illustrators across Australia. In Mirning Country, Karajia is a holder and teller of ancient stories, carried from w

This city was indirectly named after a British champion bare-knuckle fighter. The Thompsons of Nottingham had a son in 1811 to whom they gave the portentous Biblical name Abednego. He became a famed pugilist in the 1830s and his fans called him Bendi

Conservationists have welcomed the cat containment policies proposed by Phillip Island’s Bass Coast Shire Council. As well as killing native wildlife, domestic cats significantly contribute to stray and feral cat populations. From next year, cat owne

A new simulation program, virToad, developed by researchers at Melbourne’s Monash University, allows conservationists to test cane toad management strategies virtually before implementing them in the field. It simulates the vulnerabilities of cane to

SHOT IN 1992 by photographer Michael Amendolia, a regular AG contributor, this iconic image of ophthalmologist Fred Hollows is one of the most recognisable in Australia. Fred travelled to Hanoi 30 years ago to train Vietnamese eye doctors in modern c

The dugong, one of few herbivorous marine mammals, is shy and elusive. But that doesn’t mean they’re impossible to spot. One of the best ways to see them is on an organised tour in Moreton Bay Marine Park, near Brisbane, which is home to hundreds of

For the first time, Tim Faulkner will be sharing lessons and stories from his conservation career in his upcoming memoir, Tim Faulkner’s Aussie Ark. Tim is co-owner and a director of the Australian Reptile Park, and managing director of conservation

IT’S RUGGED out Bungonia way, near Goulburn in south-eastern New South Wales. The tiny town is surrounded by forest and steep gorges and pockmarked with some of the mainland’s deepest cave systems. If a large new mammal species was ever to be discove

During the 2022 federal election, the expression “loose unit” was bandied about by political enemies. To my delight this turns out to be an Australian coinage – first recorded in 2009 (and applied that year to Pauline Hanson). It’s clearly from the e

The CV of BTG, as he’s known, is impressive – former paratrooper, Russia’s cosmonaut program graduate, Polynesian rock-lifting champion, photographer, conservationist. Need we say more? Come on a wild ride as Sophie shares the epic story of her 5000k

By Danielle Clode Despite their iconic status, koalas remain a mystery. Often affectionate in captivity, they seek out human assistance when in need of water or care yet can also be fierce and belligerent. They are beloved worldwide and feature in po

After winter, the Milky Way lies low in the west, with Scorpius’s Scorpion diving headfirst into the horizon, followed by Sagittarius’s teapot. Escape to the country to see other distinctive but fainter constellations. Low in the north lies the great

In July, Paul Pritchard and his team, Larapinta Adaptive, successfully traversed the Tjoritja/West MacDonnell Ranges in an expedition sponsored by the Australian Geographic Society. They are the first all-abilities adaptive team to complete the 223km

Australian Geographic Binoculars These high-quality binoculars are perfect for outdoor activities, from bird and whale watching, to live sports, camping, travelling and more. OR CHOOSE Australian Geographic Botanical Garden Spade and Glove set Invite

EVERY SUBSCRIBER to this journal automatically becomes a member of the not-for-profit AG Society. Your subscription helps us fund Australia’s scientists, conservationists, adventurers and explorers. To subscribe, call 1300 555 176 Who are the Austral

IT’S NO SECRET THAT Australian-born Hamilton Hume and Captain William Hovell, a former British sea captain, weren’t the best of mates. They saw themselves as rivals and quarrelled for much of their 1824 journey from Appin to Port Phillip Bay (now Por

Just south of Berrima is the Mackey VC Rest Area. At first glance it looks like any other roadside stop along the Hume Highway, with a toilet best avoided unless absolutely necessary and the ground strewn with fast-food wrappers. However, if you walk

Gum Swamp attracts many different species of birdlife all year round; it’s a very popular location for the birdlife – and the enthusiasts who wish to observe them. It can be found just a few kilometres south of the town of Forbes, just off the Newell

This epic 15-day exploration traverses record-breaking canyons and gorges, national parks and World Heritage sites. It’s nature writ large – no wonder television and movie directors find inspiration here (as you will too). And then there are the citi

Experience one of the world’s greatest full-day oceanic expeditions departing from Bremer Bay in Western Australia. Led by expert marine biologists, the tour includes encounters with killer whales, with behaviours likely to be witnessed ranging from

8 When did Australia become a federation? 9 Leadbeater’s possum is the faunal emblem of which state or territory? 10 In the 19th century, which European explorer traced the courses of the Macquarie, Bogan and Castlereagh rivers, and followed the Murr

• The Dhauwurd Wurrung were the area’s original inhabitants. • The first European at Lady Bay was French explorer Nicolas Baudin in 1802. • Whalers and sealers used the bay in the 1830s. • Lady Bay was surveyed and named by whalers in 1844. • Europea

IN A COUNTRY that enjoys such a high standard of living, it’s a source of shame that a significant part of our society suffers serious disadvantage based on ethnicity. We Australians pride ourselves on the notion of a fair go and a willingness to spr