Tauranga, New Zealand Webcam
November 29, 2009
Tauranga is the most populous city in the Bay of Plenty region, in the North Island of New Zealand. Due to its sheltered position, Tauranga enjoys a warm, dry climate.
The Port of Tauranga is New Zealand’s largest export port, with brisk but seasonal shipping traffic. It is a regular stop for both container ships and luxury cruise liners.
The coastal suburb Papamoa and neighbouring town Mount Maunganui are some of the more affluent areas around Tauranga. The region’s beaches attract swimmers, surfers, kayakers and kitesurfers.
Tauranga has many outlying islands and reefs that make it a notable tourist destination point for traveling scuba divers and marine enthusiasts. Extensive marine life diversity is available to scuba divers all year round.
Greater Tauranga is a very popular retirement and tourism destination. It features many natural attractions and scenery. Cultural attractions include the Tauranga Art Gallery which opened in October 2007.
Mackay, Queensland Webcam
December 17, 2008
Mackay is a city on the eastern coast of Queensland, Australia, about 603 miles north of Brisbane, on the Pioneer River. Mackay is the sugar capital of Australia because its region produces more than a third of Australia’s cane sugar.
Captain James Cook, reached the Mackay coast on 1 June 1770 , and during this trip the Endeavour’s botanist, Sir Joseph Banks, briefly recorded seeing Aborigines.
Two young men, John McCrossin and Scottish-born John Mackay, assembled a party of eight, including an Aborigine named Duke, and left Armidale, New South Wales in January 1860. After exploring almost to the mouth of the river, which they named the Mackay, the members of the party began the trip back to civilisation. On the return journey, they all suffered from a fever that claimed the life of Duke.
In 1918, Mackay was hit by a major Tropical Cyclone causing severe damage and loss of life with hurricane-force winds and a large storm surge. The resulting death toll was further increased by an outbreak of Bubonic plague.
Tasmania Bridge Webcam
March 24, 2008
The Tasman Bridge is a five-lane bridge crossing the Derwent River, near the CBD of Hobart, Tasmania. The bridge has a total length (including approaches) of 1,395 meters (4,576 ft) – longer than the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It provides the main traffic route from the CBD (on the western shore) to the eastern shore – particularly Hobart International Airport and Bellerive Oval. It has a pedestrian foot way on each side, but no dedicated lane for bicycles. However, steps to the pedestrian foot way have recently been replaced with on-ramps.
This is a sunrise in Hobart captured a few days ago, and I found a small traffic cam for a portion of the bridge.
