Latest news with #AussieOutback
Daily Mirror
10 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'Outback killer' to make 'explosive' deathbed declaration after murdering Brit
Bradley John Murdoch has reportedly been moved to palliative care and could make a shocking revelation about the murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio before he dies An Aussie Outback killer who brutally killed a British backpacker could soon make an "explosive" statement as he nears death. Bradley John Murdoch, who is dying from terminal throat cancer, is serving a life sentence for killing Peter Falconio and attacking his girlfriend, Joanne Lees, on a remote highway in the Northern Territory back in 2001. Mr Falconio, 28, and his partner, both from Yorkshire, were on a road trip in their VW Kombi campervan between Alice Springs and Darwin when they were flagged down by Murdoch and attacked. Mr Falconio was fatally shot in the head while Ms Lees was chucked in the attacker's car with her wrists bound with cable ties. Miraculously she managed to escape and hid in the bushes for five hours before flagging down a passing truck. Now, nearly 24 years on, Murdoch is nearing death himself after he was diagnosed with terminal throat cancer in 2019. He was moved to palliative care from Alice Springs Correctional Centre earlier this month and according to true crime author Robin Bowles, who sat down with the killer a few years ago, he could make an 'explosive' statement in his final words. She told 7NEWS: 'I know what they are, and they will be explosive. It's a shame they weren't able to be released earlier. You can't sue a dead man, so if he's making the claims, and he's died - the proverbial might hit the fan.' Murdoch has never revealed the location of Mr Falconio's body and in a desperate attempt to find the tourist's remains, Australian police this week announced a huge 500,000 Australian dollar (£238,670) reward for information that leads to the discovery of the British backpacker's remains. Police said ahead of the 24th anniversary of the murder next month they held out 'hope' that someone would now come forward. Acting Northern Territory Police commander Mark Grieve said: 'In what will be the 24th anniversary of (Falconio's) death this July, being next month, we're asking for anyone who may believe they have information that can assist to please come forward and contact police. It's never too late to reach out, and at least start that conversation with police, because you just never know how beneficial that information that you may hold may be. We recognise the passage of time that's transpired, however, it's never too late to reach out and start that conversation with police." Murdoch, 67, has always denied the killing and protested his innocence during the 2005 murder trial. After seven weeks he was found guilty of murdering Mr Falconio and assaulting and attempting to kidnap Ms Lees. Northern Territory Police have previously searched swathes of land close to the crime scene but Mr Falconio's remains have never been found. Murdoch was spotted on CCTV at a petrol station in Alice Springs - about 190 miles south of the crime scene - in the hours after the attack. He is then said to have driven around 800 miles through the night and the following day across the inhospitable Tanami Track, reaching Fitzroy Crossing in Western Australia at about 8pm. He was arrested and charged with the murder of Mr Falconio 16 months after the attack, thanks to DNA evidence and Ms Lees identifying him. Ms Lees, who has since returned to the UK, told Australian current affairs programme 60 Minutes in 2017 she still wanted to "bring him home". "Pete lost his life on that night, but I lost mine too," she said at the time. "I'll never be fully at peace if Pete's not found, but I accept that that is a possibility."
The Irish Sun
19-06-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘G'day mate' – Watch Donncha O'Callaghan & Tommy Bowe's hilarious skit as Lions fever ramps up before Aviva Stadium game
DONNCHA O'Callaghan can't wait to say "G'day" to the Lions Tour officially kicking off on Friday - even if his Aussie accent could do with a little refinement. Andy Farrell's charges begin their 10-game slate 2 The Munster great went on the 2005 and 2009 tours Credit: @donnchaocallaghan 2 Similarly, Tommy Bowe was a two-time tourist in 2009 and 2013 Credit: @donnchaocallaghan Ahead of the 2025 edition of the rugby tradition getting officially underway he and fellow Irish legend Tommy Bowe were joined by Lions' CEO Ben Calveley In order to promote that chat Donncha donned his best Aussie Outback hat and channelled Mick Dundee, Alf Stewart and whomever else you're having yourself. Farrell yesterday The headline item from it was that Read More On Irish Sport The prop has not played since to Northampton because of a calf injury. He is joined in the replacements by Rónan Kelleher, the only other Leinster player involved because they were involved in There are still three Irish players in the starting XV with 2021 tourists Bundee Aki of Connacht and Munster's Tadhg Beirne included, along with Finlay Bealham Aki and Bealham's provincial teammate Most read in Rugby Union Farrell has not included any Bath representatives with the side involved in the Premiership final against Leicester Tigers on Saturday. Lions captain 'I live life on the edge' - Watch Peter O'Mahony storm off after wife Jessica startles him while gardening 'Maro has led the group well during our time in Portugal and then Dublin this week. "This is also our first opportunity to show what the 2025 Lions are about and what we want to stand for as a team. 'We know that Argentina will challenge us up front and out wide - so Friday night will be a tough contest, but also a great occasion for all the fans.' After their first outing on Irish soil, the Lions will travel to Australia ahead of the three-Test series against the Wallabies. Lions: M Smith (England), Freeman (England), Tuipulotu (Scotland), Aki (Ireland), van der Merwe (Scotland), F Smith (England), Mitchell (England), Genge (England), Cowan-Dickie (England), Bealham (Ireland), Itoje (England), Beirne (Ireland), Curry (England), Morgan (Wales), Earl (England). Replacements: Kelleher (Ireland), Schoeman (Scotland), Furlong (Ireland), Cummings (Scotland), Pollock (England), Williams (Wales), Daly (England), Hansen (Ireland).
Los Angeles Times
31-03-2025
- Los Angeles Times
Take Flight Over Australia
Taking an Outback trek in Australia is definitely on a lot of people's wish list for a wild vacation, but maybe the 'trek' part is the tricky part for some. But if you're not as spry as you used to be, or just don't feel like backpacking across vast open spaces, how do you refine and elevate the walkabout? In the air, of course. The so-called flying safari may have been perfected in Africa, but the vast Australian Outback is an equally great place for hopping around in an aircraft while flying over some of the planet's most incredible landscapes. A two-or three-week aerial itinerary can include many of Down Under's iconic natural, wildlife and cultural experiences as well as global treasures enshrined as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It doesn't have to be totally in the air. Each stop offers the option of renting a vehicle to drive through the country's national parks and other nature preserves. And there's plenty of adventure along the way – hiking, biking, swimming, boating, nature or wildlife photography and maybe even a little 'shrimp on the barbie' for dinner. Here's one way to undertake a classic Aussie Outback flying safari: Broome and the Bungle BunglesThe town of Broome in Northwest Australia started life as a 19th century pearl diving center and gained fame during WWII, as it was attacked four times by Japanese aircraft. Nowadays, it's a busy little tourist hub renowned for camel rides along Cable Beach, tiny treasures and exotic edibles at the waterfront Moon Night Markets and flicks at the historic Sun Pictures open-air movie theater. Located along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, Broome is also a great place to watch and photograph migrating birds. For mammal fans, whale-watching excursions leave port between June and October, when around 20,000 humpbacks cruise the warm tropical waters off Broome. A flock of local operators offer scenic fixed-wing, seaplane or helicopter excursions over the thoroughly wild and largely roadless Kimberley region east of Broome. These flights offer bird's-eye views of remote landmarks like the Horizontal Falls and four-level Mitchell Falls. But the ultimate airborne excursion from Broome is either a day trip or overnight amid the Bungle Bungle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Purnululu National Park. This oddball mountain range features beehive-shaped peaks streaked with different colors. Many of the day trips from Broome offer time on the ground for a hike through Echidna Chasm or other amazing slot canyons. Getting There: Qantas and Virgin Australia offer daily flights between Broome and Perth. Where to Stay: Cable Beach Club (Broome); Bungle Bungle Wilderness Lodge glamping. Darwin & The Top EndThe 'Top End' is what locals call the northernmost part of the Northern Territory, a sprawling region that includes the Indian Ocean coastline, several major national parks and what many Aussies from outside the region consider the country's most unique city – Darwin. Named for the famed naturalist, Darwin lies closer to Indonesia and New Guinea than any other Australian capital city. The climate is totally tropical, think hot and muggy even at the best of times. An 1870's gold rush sparked creation of the town and an influx of migrants from around the world. It's still multicultural, as reflected by the variety of international foods and handicrafts sold at the famous Mindil Beach Sunset Market – Indonesian, Korean, Sri Lankan, Vietnamese, Thai, Greek, Spanish, Italian and even Mexican. After feasting on those exotic edibles, you can climb into the acrylic 'Cage of Death' at Crocosaurus Cove and get lowered into a pool inhabited by a huge saltwater crocodile – adult males can weigh in at 3,000-plus pounds. For those who want to swim in the ocean, Darwin boasts several 'croc-free' beaches (you don't want to swim just anywhere in the Northern Territory, for safety's sake). The city also offers sunset cruises and various WWII historical sites and relics. The Top End is also home to two of Australia's most stunning nature reserves. Located in a two-hour drive or puddle-jumper flight from Darwin, Kakadu National Park is renowned for towering waterfalls, masterpieces of ancient rock art and wildlife ranging from wallabies and bandicoots to dingoes, river sharks and saltwater crocs. Aboriginal guides lead boat, foot and vehicle tours with various themes through this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nitmiluk National Park is a three-hour drive from Darwin along the fabled Stuart Highway. Despite its spectacular red-rock location, the main theme is water: paddling adventures or scenic boat cruises through Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge or swimming at Leliyn (Edith Falls). Nitmiluk Tours offers one- and two-day canoe rentals for self-guided journeys through the gorge. Getting There: Air North offers daily flights between Broome and Darwin; Qantas serves Darwin from other major cities in to Stay: Adina Darwin Waterfront; Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel; Cicada Lodge (Nitmiluk). Alice Springs and The Red CentreThat town called Alice has been a magnet for mavericks of one sort or another since the middle of the 19th century. We're talking cowboys and sheep ranchers, gold miners and outlaws, lone-wolf artists, writers and others who felt the urge to get as far away as possible from civilization. Visitors find it still marches to the beat of a different drummer than other Aussie cities, only nowadays you're likely to find more people flocking to iconic events like the Henley-on-Todd Regatta boat race in a dry riverbed (July) and the 10-day Parrtjima – A Festival of Light presented by the region's Indigenous Arrernte people (April). Outstanding galleries make Alice one of the best places Down Under to purchase authentic Aboriginal art, with many of the works rendered by local masters. Araluen Arts Centre presents a wide range of Indigenous visual and performing arts from around the Northern Territory. Two other 'must see' attractions are the Megafauna Central museum, which showcases the huge animals that roamed the area eight million years ago, and the Kangaroo Rescue Centre, which looks after injured and orphaned Outback critters. Because there's no regular air service, this final leg of the Aussie flying safari is on the ground – a five-hour drive across the Red Centre desert from Darwin to Uluṟu and its giant orange rock. You can rent a vehicle and drive yourself or hop aboard one of the luxury coaches that make the journey each day. Formerly known as Ayers Rock, Uluṟu is an instantly recognized symbol of Australia. Formed around half a billion years ago, the massive inselberg (island mountain) rises 1,141 feet above the surrounding desert — nearly as high as the Empire State Building. Uluṟu and a nearby rock formation called Kata Tjuṯa (The Olgas) form a joint national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site owned by the local Aṉangu people and jointly managed with Parks Australia. Hiking is the main activity, especially the six-mile trail around the base of Uluṟu. Visitors can browse exhibits, watch presentations on 'bush tucker' (that is, native plants) and other Outback topics and sign up for ranger-guided activities at the park's Cultural Centre. The good news is that you don't have to repeat the five-hour journey across the desert to depart. Several airlines offer flights from nearby Ayers Rock-Connellan Airport to major cities around Australia. Getting There: Qantas and Air North offer daily service between Darwin and Alice Springs. Where to Stay: Squeakywindmill glamping (Alice Springs); Longitude 131° (Uluṟu).
