New South Wales
Wauchope -- 1.. Where do you live (give city, state/province, country, continent)? Wauchope - New South Wales - Australia
2.. What interesting places are there to see near you? Werrikimbee National Park, Bellangry State Forest, Beautiful beaches along Pacific Coast
3.. What is the climate like where you live? Avg. Rain fall - 60 inches per year; Temperate Climate (Currently Winter with temps. ranging from 4 degrees Celsius - to 22 degrees) Highest Summer temp. gets near 40 on perhaps 3 or 4 times a year, humid Winter can get below zero but only a few times. Perhaps 13 frosts in regular year.
4.. What is the land like where you live? Region ranges from Coastal strip to
Mountains. I personally live in
Temperate rainforest.
5.. Are there any interesting plants or animals in your area? Lots of Rainforest soft wood species, Cedar, Tallow wood, Eucalyptus, Carabeen (Red and yellow). Animals, possums, koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, bandicoots, small marsupial mouse, flying fox.
6.. What items (foods, hi-tech, manufactured items, etc.) are produced in your area? Wauchope used to be called "The Timber Town" but over recent years due to "Green" Government policies many mills have shut down. Areas economy was based on timber but now almost depends on tourism to keep going. Some small manufacturing but nothing on large scale.
7.. What natural resources are found in your area? Again - Timber!
8.. Anything else you think might be of interest. Beaches are some of the best in the world. Many international surfing events help in region at various beaches.
Cooranbong -- 1. Cooranbong is a small town of 3000 people near Newcastle, 100 km north of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia.
2. We are 20 km from the sea, and 5 km from Lake Macquaries which is a large saltwater lake with access to the ocean.
3. We have summer temps from 23-35 degrees Celsius, and winter 15-24. More rain falls in summer than winter.
4. We are near the large Hunter Valley, a fairly flat valley that produces truck garden food, and dairy products. The mountains surrounding our valley are up to 1000 metres, and fairly steep sided.
5. The mountains were originally covered in trees, but these were cut for lumber in the 19th century. Most of that area has now been replanted with new growth forests. Kangaroos and wallabies are still common.
6. Newcastle used to have a steel mill, but that has now closed. There are general engineering factories in Newcastle, many products being exported to USA. In Cooranbong is a large food factory operated by Sanitarium Health Foods, a branch of the SDA church. They have a majority of the breakfast cereal market in Australia.
7. Extensive coal deposits are mined both by underground mines and open-cut. Many millions of tonnes are exported each year, mainly to China and Japan. Much of the coal is burned in electric power stations which provide most of the electricity for the whole state.
8. This village was established in 1895 when Avondale College was built here. The college now has university status with over 700 students.
Taree -- 1. We live in the rural city of Taree, which is the main business centre of the Manning Valley. It is on the Mid North Coast of the State of New South Wales, in Australia. (It is about 3 1/2 hours’ drive north of Sydney, where the Olympics were held, recently.) It is a rural city of about 18,000 people, and is situated on a big river, called the Manning River.
2. There are rivers, forests and beaches, a single-drop waterfall, unspoilt stretches of coastline, and some of the tallest trees in NSW. (e.g. Ellenborough Falls, the Waitui Falls, Wallabi Point, containing a salt water reserve which has Aboriginal Sites). Wingham Brush is one of the last 10 hectares of subtropical floodplain rainforest in NSW and is a significant maternity site for the grey-haired flying fox (kind of bat). There are also Lookouts and the Tallest Tree in NSW.
3. The climate is temperate (mild). Summers can be hot and very humid, at times, with temperatures in the upper 20 degrees C - to the 30’s C and sometimes even some days in the 40 degrees Centigrade.
4. This area offers a combination of rivers, mountains, forests and beaches, with more than 26 hinterland towns and villages that are a haven for nature and adventure activities. There are 4 national parks, rare subtropical floodplain rainforests and unspoilt stretches of coastline.
5. The Manning Valley has larger gray kangaroos, koalas, goannas (larger kind of lizard), ringtail possums, wallabies (small kind of kangaroo), marsupial mice, pygmy possums, lizards, tortoises and snakes. There are over 100 species of birds, amongst which is the rare glossy black cockatoo (parrot family). Many different kinds of gum trees, wattle trees, banksia (similar to proteas) trees, and wild fig trees. Whales also migrate up the coast at certain times of the year and at times Dolphins can be seen.
6. Taree is the commercial and manufacturing centre of the Manning Valley. It is a district of farming, dairying, timber, mixed farming and fishing.
7. There are also activities like motor-boat racing, horse riding, swimming, snorkeling etc. Taree is home to an exciting calendar of sporting and cultural evens like a craftathon, A Beef Week, Powerboat racing and an Acquatic Festival. There is also a Non Conventional Homes Tour and the Flair Fashion Awards. There are several craft shops, restaurants etc.