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Goldfields

The Goldfields is a region in Victoria, Australia.

Loddon

 * – the state's fourth largest city that started out as a gold-mining town
 * – home to the Pink Cliffs.

Victorian Pyrenees

 * – the infamous centre of the Victorian gold rush, now the state's third largest city

Understand
For a period of time immigrants came from all over the world for the new gold rush in the Victorian hills north of Melbourne. The gold rush has long past (leaving a legacy of architecture in Melbourne and the surrounding towns), but there is much history to experience in this easy day trip from Melbourne.

Get in
The Goldfields is best explored by car. Everything in the Goldfields is a scenic 60-minute trip from everything else.

There are two major freeways running from Melbourne to this region, depending on where you want to go in this region. The M79 Calder Freeway heads northwest up to Bendigo, passing through much of the Macedon Ranges, while the M8 Western Freeway goes up west to Ballarat.

Do
The Ballarat to Skipton Rail Trail is a 46-km route for cycling or horseriding from the city of Ballarat to the town of Skipton along the old Skipton railway line.

Eat
Where you eat and what you eat significantly varies on where you are, but there's not much variety outside of Bendigo and Ballarat.

Drink
The Goldfields region has a large number of wineries and vineyards in the region and it's pretty easy to find one.

Driving
It is advisable for inexperienced country drivers to avoid driving at dusk and dawn, to avoid coming into contact with kangaroos who have been spotted crossing roads as close as the edge of town. If you must travel during these high-risk times, drive carefully and enlist your passenger as a "spotter" for wildlife, particularly kangaroos.

If you plan on driving on any non-major roads, it is advisable to bring water in case you break down and need to stay with your car whilst awaiting assistance. Most roads in the central goldfields are well traveled, and someone will come across you within hours at worst.

Bushfires
During bushfire season (December - February) check the bushfire danger rating daily on the CFA website.

If the danger rating is extreme, be aware of the names of the towns and regions you plan to travel to throughout the day, and keep tuned to 107.9 FM in the small chance that a fire does break out. Any news broadcast regarding a new or existing fire will be preceded by an alarm tone, you won't miss it.

If the danger rating is code red, reconsider your need to travel out of the town. Code red days are only announced once every 10 years or so, and are extremely high risk days for fast moving dangerous bushfires.

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Goldfields–Esperance

Goldfields–Esperance is the largest region of Western Australia, larger than France (including overseas departments, but not collectivities).

Understand
Goldfields–Esperance is one of the largest regions in Western Australia and though the majority of it is sparsely populated, Kalgoorlie and Esperance are major towns supporting significant populations. Despite the region's seeming harshness and remoteness from Perth, many Goldfields–Esperance towns were some of the earliest to be settled in the fledgling colony. Esperance was settled in 1863 for agriculture and Coolgardie sprung up almost overnight when gold was discovered and was the third largest town in the colony by 1892. The gold rush of the late 1800s gave birth to many towns that flourished and faded when the gold ran out. Some such as Kanowna, Dundas and Niagara disappeared back into the dirt leaving little more than broken bottles and rusting wire to signify their existence, while others manage to hang on in a greatly diminished form.

For residents and travellers alike, the Goldfields–Esperance region is generally thought of as having two halves; northern and southern, demarcated with an imaginary line at Kalgoorlie. The northern is typified by desert landscapes dominated by mining, the southern sees trees and green farmland right up to granite bound coast.

Climate
Being both inland and southern, the temperatures daytime vary widely. Summer months can see scorching temperatures exceeding 40°C, and in the night it is not uncommon for temperatures to dip below 0°C. The coastal areas have particularly temperamental weather patterns with cold cloudy and warm sunny skies alternating throughout the day.

Towns
In the eastern Goldfields region of Western Australia, the idea of city, town or locality can be a problem. When you pass through some locations (on some maps they still show up as something significant) in many cases they might have been reduced to a single building.

By car
The Great Eastern Highway is the most direct way to get to or from Kalgoorlie. The South Coast Highway comes from the South West

By plane
Skywest airlines fly from Perth to both Kalgoorlie and Esperance, but not between them. Smaller independent airlines and bus services go to some other destinations.

By train
The Prospector train has daily services between Perth and Kalgoorlie.

By car
Those making the long drive east across the Nullabor on the Eyre Highway will arrive in Norseman.

By plane
To Kalgoorlie, Skywest has services from Melbourne and Qantas from Adelaide.

By train
The Indian Pacific comes from Sydney and passes through Kalgoorlie. Most passengers stay on till Perth but you can get off if you want.

Get around
Distances between towns are usually counted in many hundreds of kilometres with little in between. Nonetheless, a network of highways cross the region with a speed limit of 110km/h for most of their length providing a quick way to get from one place to the next.

Starting in the north, the aptly named Goldfields Highway begins in Meekatharra, passing through Wiluna, Leonora, Menzies and Kalgoorlie, and joins up with the Coolgardie–Esperance Hwy outside of Kambalda. The Coolgardie–Esperance Hwy starts in Coolgardie and makes a near straight line to Esperance on the coast.

Transportation
Most people will drive. Some may ride a bike, but given the distances between towns this is not a method of travel to be taken lightly. Public transport options within the region are fairly limited. TransWA buses only ply between Esperance and Kalgoorlie 3 times a week.

See

 * Wildflowers - at certain times of the year the red dirt is painted with every other imaginable colour.
 * Salt lakes - White and flat and salty.
 * Old buildings - Some classic architecture.
 * CY O'Connor pipeline - It ends here.
 * Wind farm - Outside Esperance is the states largest wind farm.
 * Ghost Towns -
 * Great Western Woodland - largest and healthiest temperate woodlands left on earth.

Do

 * Camping - Numerous camping sites with limited facilities.
 * Swimming - Endless white sand beaches or sheltered coves along the coast with few, if any, people.
 * Fishing - Beach and estuary fishing along the coast.
 * Marroning - Many dams are stocked with these freshwater crustaceans.
 * Gold prospecting - Keep your eyes to the ground. Not all the nuggets have been found yet.
 * Play Golf - The 18 holes of the Nullarbor links starts in Kalgoorlie and has holes in other towns in the region as it continues 1365km over the Nullarbor Plain to Madura in South Australia.

Eat
Country food in Australia is simple and generally consists of steaks, lamb chops, beef and other basics. However, it can be difficult for a vegetarian to find a decent meal in many outback towns because many rural Australians just do not get this "urban affliction" and this is more particularly seen in the region. It is always wise to pinpoint the supermarket and stock up on fruit, vegetables and other vegetarian staples. Be aware, however, that prices for fresh food are likely to be higher as the food has had to travel quite a way and fuel costs are factored into the food.

"Pub grub" is a fairly easy and quick meal for travellers. If it includes a smorgasbord, there should be enough to satisfy all dietary types. Chips, hamburgers and basic fried items are fairly staple pub grub but you will also find some pubs are more innovative and carry local cuisine.

Drink
The pubs at Broadarrow, Ora Banda and Koolkynie would make one of the longest pub crawls you could imagine.

Stay safe
Falling into an abandoned mineshaft is a real danger in the northern parts of the region as the country around Kalgoorlie, Coolgardie, Menzies, Leonora and Laverton is riddled with more than 100 years of mining activity. Most of these holes are not signposted or marked on maps but are readily identified by the white pile of quartz or greenish waste soil nearby. Perfectly normal looking ground may be honeycombed with old tunnels mere meters underground that could subside without warning. It would be prudent to tell someone where you are going if you plan to go out exploring and be careful about where you step.

King waves, as the name implies, are large freak waves common along this part of the Western Australian coast. They are difficult to predict and calm waves do not guarantee that one is not on its way. Many people have swept off the rocks with some ending in death. Some popular spots have float rings placed to assist in rescue. Take the sailors adage; Never turn your back on the sea.

Rips at some beaches can pose a danger even if you are a strong swimmer. Some beaches are signposted but with many hundreds of kilometers of coastline, more are not. If the beach has a reef offshore, a rip might be there.

Water, or a lack of it, has been the demise of many in this region. Make sure you take some with you if you are going away from towns for any length of time.

Go next

 * The South Coast Highway to Albany
 * Hyden

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Goldfields–Esperance


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Gold River

Gold River is a community of 7,800 people (2010) in Sacramento County in California.

By car
U.S. Highway 50 passes through Gold River allowing access from Sacramento to the west and Carson City to the east.

By plane
The closest airport, Sacramento International Airport, is only about a 35-minute drive away from Gold River.

Get around
Car rental locations are available in the surrounding Sacramento area.

See
If you'd like to visit nearby Nimbus Dam in Fair Oaks to the east of Gold River, you can always explore that and the surrounding area. Also close is the American River.

Do
The American River has lots of ways to keep entertained — there are raft rental centers available close to the riverside, and hiking trails that overlook it.

Buy
In the northwestern part of Gold River there is a small shopping center with restaurants, grocery stores such as Bel-Air, pharmacies, and banks.

Drink
Although Gold River is a small area, the restaurants in it usually have some kind of decent bar available. There are McDonald's and fast food restaurants surrounding the area where you can get a cup of coffee or tea in the morning.

Go next

 * Sacramento — via US-50 E

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Goldsboro

There's more than one place called Goldsboro:

United States of America

 * Goldsboro (Maryland) - a town in Caroline County, in the Eastern Shore (Maryland) region of Maryland
 * Goldsboro (North Carolina) - a town in Wayne County, on the North Carolina Coastal Plain
 * Goldsboro (Pennsylvania) - a borough in York County, in the Susquehanna Valley region of Pennsylvania

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Goldsboro (North Carolina)

Goldsboro is a rapidly growing town in Wayne County, on the North Carolina Coastal Plain, near the Research Triangle. The city has nearly 36,000 residents (2016) with a growing commercial and suburban lifestyle. This city is home to F-15E fighter wing housed at Seymour Johnson AFB, and is the hometown of Andy Griffith.

By bus
Goldsboro is served by Greyhound buses from New Bern and Raleigh, with connections to many other cities. Buses stop at 2600 US 117 S, which is far from the main part of Goldsboro and isn't served by local buses, so unless you know someone who can pick you up, you'll have a hard time getting into town.

Amtrak operates a Thruway bus from Wilson, North Carolina. It stops at a much more convenient location, the GWTA Transfer Center at 103 North Carolina Street.

By bus
Goldsboro-Wayne Transportation Authority (GWTA) operates local buses. The fare is $1.

title: Goldsboro (North Carolina)


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Goleta

Goleta (go-lee-ta) is a city a few miles west of Santa Barbara and part of the contiguous urban area of Santa Barbara, within Santa Barbara County, California. This article also covers the unincorporated community of Isla Vista, which is home to the University of California at Santa Barbara.

Get in
Goleta lies just off Highway 101, north of Santa Barbara.

Rail is an option to reach Goleta, as Amtrak serves the city via its Pacific Surfliner service that runs between San Diego and San Luis Obispo via Los Angeles and Santa Barbara.

Santa Barbara Municipal Airport is in Goleta, off Highway 217.

Buses run frequently between Santa Barbara, Goleta and the UCSB campus.

See
There are lots of little parks scattered along Del Playa.

Do
Popular activities include music festivals (usually located in the park), or concerts on campus. Performances are given on and off campus given by the local improv troupe, or by comedians such as Jon Stewart. Visiting the beach and riding beach cruisers are also options to consider.

Drink
Many restaurants serve beer. Many local partake in what is known as "the loop", which is going to all the places in Isla Vista that serve beer, and having a beer. By going to all beer-serving establishments, a loop is made. Del Playa Dr. ("D.P.") is the street closest to the ocean. Here is where the majority of the house parties are. On most nights there will be "Keg Parties", and students walking around.

Go next

 * Santa Barbara - 8 miles east of Goleta, the "American Riviera" is a historic mission city that is an incredibly popular getaway destination. Its wide beaches, highly rated wineries, luxurious resorts, art galleries, and a large variety of excellent dining choices, enable the town of just 90,000 residents to enjoy the sort of cultural and social amenities which are usually found only in much larger cities.
 * Lompoc - 48 miles north of Goleta, Lompoc is nicknamed the "City of Arts and Flowers", with more than half the world's flower seeds grown in the fields around the town. The city celebrates its association with flowers every June during the Lompoc Valley Flower festival. The area is also home to Vandenberg Air Force Base, America's west coast spaceport, where rocket launches can sometimes be seen.
 * Buellton - 35 miles to the northwest, Buellton is home to several Santa Ynez Valley wineries. Visitors will also find the ostrich & emu farm interesting, with the opportunity to get up close and personal with the giant birds.

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Golf

Golf is a game that is variously considered a pastime, recreation, sport, profession, religion or obsession. The ostensible object is to knock a small hard ball into a designated hole, with the minimum number of blows of a stick or club, while avoiding the hazards of the terrain such as vegetation, water, soft ground and loose sand. It is immensely frustrating - your "sweet shot" of the day is often followed by a shank into the brambles - yet irresistible to many. Two features are distinctive: while other games are played on a standardised pitch or court, each golf course is unique, so this is a motive for travel. Second is the "handicap" system that enables players of different abilities to play each other on a roughly equal footing.

This page is about golf from a visitor / traveler perspective. There's a world of difference between playing a course and being a full member of the club that owns it, and the waiting list for membership at the most prestigious clubs is on a geological time scale.

Understand
The remarkable history of golf is that there were furious laws against playing it, seemingly centuries before it existed. Hacking a ball with a stick towards a target is an ancient pastime, and the forerunners of the present game appear in the 13th century Low Countries, though it's not altogether clear whether they were playing golf, ice-hockey, or some hybrid. "Colf" or "colve" is the Dutch word for a stick, club or bat, and the game was banned in Brussels in 1360. Early modern Scotland had strong trading links with the Low Countries so in 1457 golf was banned in Scotland, an edict repeated in later years, for instance by James IV. Yet within a few years he was buying golf clubs and balls, and coming home very late to dinner in a foul mood with his jacket covered in burrs. A game in 1650 near Albany, NY ended in a murderous fight so it was banned all over again, but in the sporting spirit that imbues this game, the combatants apologised to each other before dying.

This early game had no generally-agreed rules, and the courses were entirely natural terrain, often along coastal grasslands. The first maintained or groomed course was in St Andrews in northeast Scotland, playing outward for 11 holes then homeward for a 22-hole course. Some holes were considered too short, so in 1764 these were combined to create a 9+9 course. And since the St Andrews golfers then codified the rules of the game, the 18-hole course became standard, and the Old Course there is considered the traditional home of golf.

Golf spread throughout the British Isles, and beyond in 1829 with the establishment of the Royal Calcutta Golf Club in India. By the end of the 19th century, clubs in Ireland, the United States of America, and Wales had organised the sport for their respective countries, and Scotland and England did so after the First World War. Golf has two global governing bodies, the Royal & Ancient (R&A) at St Andrew's and the United States Golf Association, and these work in partnership, for example in agreeing changes to the rules. This accord means that golf has not suffered the fate of other sports and split between a British version such as rugby or cricket, and an American analogue such as American Football or baseball. Match formats vary but golf is golf wherever you play in the world. Golf strokes have even been played on the moon.

Travel has always been integral to golf: as transport, leisure time and disposable income improved in the 19th / 20th centuries, hotel resorts or "country clubs" were developed that focused on golf, and every travel agent and railway station promoted them through elegant posters. This continues to the present day: one of the first things developers consider when assessing a resort project is the prospects for golf, existing or to be constructed. About the last thing they consider is wider impact on local land usage, labour, water resources and so on, so (greenwash as they might) they may conflict with community interests. This is especially problematic in arid climates.

Golf was an Olympic sport in 1900 and 1904 and then after a 112-year break returned in 2016. However Olympic golf is not as prestigious as the "Majors", and the top players usually skip it. The Majors are the four top men's tournaments: the Masters in April at Augusta, Georgia US, the PGA Championship in May at various US locations, the US Open in June at various US locations, and the R&A Championship in July at various British locations. These are contested between individual players, and matches between national teams are not a big feature of golf, but the Ryder Cup is played in odd-numbered years between the US and Europe including Britain, and the venue alternates between continents. The Solheim Cup, established in 1990, is the equivalent women's match and is also played in odd-numbered years.

Europe
Golf is one of the few things that unites this diverse continent, and a combined European team play the USA for the Ryder Cup every two years. Naturally players from the strongest golfing nations predominate. The British Isles are the main focus of golf in Europe, befitting their lead role in developing the early game and their suitable terrain and climate - mild winters means year-round play. St Andrews is the best known, but virtually every town in the UK and Republic of Ireland is near a course, and their cities may have over a dozen. These are briefly described on the relevant city pages of this guide: click through to the golf clubs' own websites for more detail.

Spain and Portugal are the two best developed on mainland Europe: their interiors can be arid but their coasts are watered by Atlantic weather. Valderrama in Spanish Andalusia is the best known of these.

In France courses are similarly down the Atlantic coast. The Czech Republic has opened courses since the fall of communism, and the Scandinavian countries offer the opportunity of around the clock golf during the summer months.

Scotland
There are over 550 golf courses across Scotland, which equates to 500-and-some venues as the biggest clubs have more than one course. They're mostly coastal and lowland: the Highlands have few simply because they're thinly populated. In 1886 an uprising on the island of Tiree was settled amicably when the marines sent to quell it showed the islanders how to play golf along their machair terrain. Some top examples are:
 * St Andrews where the R&A rule the roost, and only top players and tournaments grace the Old Course, but there are plenty more, accessible and affordable by mere mortals.
 * Carnoustie near Dundee has often staged Open Championships.
 * Gleneagles near Crieff in Perthshire surrounds a wonderful old railway hotel on the fringe of the Highlands.
 * Royal Troon is an Open Championship course on the Ayrshire Coast.
 * Turnberry north of Girvan in Ayrshire is an Open Championship course attached to a world class hotel.
 * Royal Dornoch north of Tain is a notoriously tricky course, but Tain has a famous whisky distillery to console you later.
 * Muirfield is a highly rated championship course in the sandhills of Gullane in East Lothian.
 * Dalmahoy is midway between Livingston and Edinburgh.

See also the Tourist Agency's golf tourism website, which describes several of the courses in Scotland.

England
England has over 1900 golf clubs, and the game is an integral part of national culture, a weekly appointment to thrash undergrowth and send divots flying. Top courses include:

 * Royal Birkdale, Southport.
 * Royal Liverpool at Hoylake in Wirral hosted the Open Championship in 2023.
 * Royal Lytham and St Anne's on the Lancashire coast.
 * Royal St George's at Sandwich in Kent hosted the Open Championship in 2021.
 * The Belfry near Tamworth in the Midlands, was the venue for a number of Ryder Cups.
 * Wentworth near Chertsey has been the venue for the World Matchplay Championship.

Ireland
Ireland was the first country to organise golf on a national level, with the men's Golfing Union of Ireland founded in 1891 then the Irish Ladies Golf Union in 1893. It has lush green terrain (euphemism for rain-swept) and is a popular golf destination. Famous courses include:-

 * K Club is at Straffan near Maynooth, County Kildare. It hosted the 2006 Ryder Cup and has two courses designed by Arnold Palmer.
 * Royal Portrush in Country Antrim in the North is to host the Open Championship again in 2025.
 * Killeen Castle near Trim in County Meath hosted the 2011 Solheim Cup, on a course designed by Jack Nicklaus.
 * Adare Manor in County Limerick is to host the 2027 Ryder Cup.

The Irish golf tourism website gives details of courses in the Republic and in the North.

Wales
Wales like the rest of the UK has a long golf history, and some 180 courses.

Stableford Scoring System originated in Wales, invented by Frank Barney Gorton Stableford (1870–1959) who mostly played in Anglesey, with the system first used in Glamorganshire in 1898. Your score is not how many shots to the hole, but points for holing out above or below par. Crucially, once you're so far above par as to net zero points, you just abandon the hole and go on to the next. So amateurs who fall into a heffalump trap can cut their losses and not abandon the match in disgust. Professionals enjoy Stableford because the points reward bold play and don't overly-penalise an unsuccessful shot.

For a complete list see the A-Z directory. Premier courses include:

 * Aberdyfi or Aberdovey in Gwynedd on the west coast.
 * Royal St David's is in Harlech also on the Gwynedd coast.
 * Conwy in North Wales in 2021 hosted the Curtis Cup, the amateur women's equivalent to the Solheim Cup.
 * Nefyn on the Lleyn peninsula in the northwest.
 * Machynys Peninsula near Llanelli in Carmarthenshire is Wales's only course designed by Jack Nicklaus.
 * Royal Porthcawl hosted the 1995 Walker Cup, the amateur men's version of the Ryder Cup. The defeated USA team included Tiger Woods.
 * The Wales National is a golf resort near Pontyclun, Llantrisant west of Cardiff.
 * Celtic Manor Resort in Newport hosted the 2010 Ryder Cup.

Portugal
Portugal is a major golf destination: think of the country and you picture the greens of the Algarve, where half of Portugal's 75 courses are clustered. Top venues are:

 * Praia d’el Rey Golf & Beach Resort in Óbidos north of Lisbon.
 * Penina Hotel & Golf Resort in Alvor near Portimão in the Algarve.

Spain
Spain has over 400 golf courses, mostly on the coast in Andalusia and Cantabria. You don't want to be striding around a course in the baking summer heat of Extremadura, though one fellow who haunted those plains, Don Quixote, was surely the prototype of a golfer with dreams beyond his abilities.

The best-known course is Valderrama near Sotogrande, which hosted the 1997 Ryder Cup, the first ever held in Continental Europe.

Italy
There are a number of high-quality golf courses in Italy. Italy hosted the 2023 Ryder Cup at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club (also known as Golf Marco Simone) in Guidonia, Rome.

Finland
The Finnish Golf Association (Suomen Golfliitto) has over 130 member clubs, and they have more than 180 golf courses, the northernmost of which is in Kittilä. The first 18-hole golf course of Finland is the Tali course in Helsinki, which was expanded to a full size for the 1952 Olympic games. There are almost 160,000 registered golf enthusiasts in Finland, and the Finnish Golf Professionals organization has about 240 members.

Turkey
Belek near Antalya is the big golf destination, with over a dozen courses. It hosts the Turkish Airlines Open in November, part of the European tour.

Other resorts have courses but not as many as you'd expect, given the potential demand, and not nearly as many as hotel websites would have you believe: "golf" in this context simply means "gulf", an inlet of the sea.

Africa
Golf in Africa was long intertwined with colonialism and apartheid, but has gradually thrown off these shackles. By far the strongest golfing nation is South Africa: the Sunshine Tour is mostly played there, but also hosted by other southern countries. Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia have established golf resorts, like the Algarve but with better kebabs, but are working against the climate.

South Africa

 * Sun City in North West Province has the Gary Player course, which hosts the big-money Nedback Golf Challenge in November. Also designed by Player and managed by the same Country Club is the Lost City course, which in spite of the name is only 2 km further along the road.
 * Johannesburg: Glendower GC in Edenvale east of city centre often hosts the South African Open.
 * Durban: Beachwood Country Club is north side of the city.
 * Port Elizabeth / Gqeberha: Humewood Golf Course is at Summerstrand southeast of the city.
 * Cape Town premier courses are Steenberg and Clovelly, both south of the city.

Asia

 * The Asian Tour is the top tournament for men, played over some 20 courses mostly in the southeast, but excluding Japan which has its own circuit.
 * Japan Golf Tour is played over 20-some courses and seldom ventures beyond Japan. The season is from cherry-blossom time to end of November.

China
The Chinese claim to have invented golf in the 10th century, along with printing, chess, rockets, computing and everything else you can think of. This particular claim is unlikely since their emperors didn't pass laws banning it. Golf here was a colonial pastime, and Mao Zedong denounced it as a "sport for millionaires". (Since the Chinese yuan of his day was hyperinflated trash on a par with the Mexican peso, he may have been saying that golf was affordable by the masses.) Under communism it was disapproved of, or subject to outright bans, on a scale that suggests that all the party officials were playing it, or at least convening at the golf hotel to fix up crooked deals. In 2015 Article 87 of the Communist Party Disciplinary Regulations outlawed holding a golf membership card - this measure was designed to stamp out corruption, but apparently it didn't.

Courses are concentrated around the old colonial stamping grounds of Hong Kong, Macao and Shenzhen, see Golf in China.

Thailand
Thailand has about 250 golf courses, with sixty clustered around Bangkok, and others in resort areas such as Phuket and Chiang Mai. The game was promoted from 1923 by King Vajiravudh (Rama VI), who'd been educated in England. The Thai Golf Association was founded in 1964 and they organised the Thai Open for pro golfers, which was absorbed into the Asian Tour in 1997. However the premier tournament (attracting Official World Golf Ranking points) is now the All Thailand Golf Tour, played through the year at a dozen courses - the Thai climate enables year-round play. Leading courses include Thai Country Club west of Bangkok and Alpine Golf & Sports Club north of the city.

Malaysia
There are over 200 golf courses, and the premier tournament is the Professional Golf of Malaysia Tour, played over some six venues. Most courses are in Selangor State around Kuala Lumpur, and in Johore Bahru near the causeway from Singapore.

Australia
Australia has over 1500 courses. Inevitably the game arrived with prosperous European settlers in the lusher landscapes of Sydney and Melbourne - the first documented games were in 1839 at Grose Farm, now part of Sydney. It spread out to broader income brackets, and onto harsher terrain, to places where you'd better look carefully before reaching an ungloved hand into a hole to retrieve your ball. The governing body is Golf Australia, formed in 2006 by merging the men's and women's associations. The premier tournament circuit is the men's PGA Tour of Australasia, played in the austral summer predominantly in Australia with occasional events in New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Fiji. See Golf in Australia for more, and individual city pages for courses.

New Zealand
There are over 400 courses in New Zealand. Notable examples include Carrington Club on the Karikari Peninsula near Kaitaia, Kauri Cliffs north of Kerikeri, Gulf Harbour and Formosa in Auckland, Wairakei near Taupō, Cape Kidnappers near Hastings, Paraparaumu near Wellington, Clearwater Resort in Christchurch, Terrace Downs in Methven east of Canterbury, and Millbrook Resort in  Queenstown.

Canada
There are over 2300 golf courses in Canada, of which some 900 are nine-hole. They're nationwide but concentrated in the well-populated Quebec-Montreal-Toronto-London corridor. Golf Canada is the governing body and alongside the PGA Tour organizes the Canadian Open, held at Oakdale Country Club in North York, Toronto.

Mexico

 * Not to be confused with Golfo de México, the sea to the east of the country

The warm sunny climate and ample predictable rainfall make Mexico a popular golf destination, especially in winter when North American and European courses become cold and miserable. All the major cities and resorts have courses, many to Championship standards. The premier tournament is the Mexico Open or Abierto Mexicano de Golf, nowadays played in April at Vidanta Vallarta, and part of the PGA Tour with a multi-million dollar prize.

Resort hotels often have packages and access deals with nearby courses. Notable destinations include:

 * Los Cabos (San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas): Cabo del Sol, Puerto los Cabos, Club Campestre San Jose, Cabo Real, and Quivera.
 * Riviera Maya (Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum): Gran Coyote Golf Riviera Maya, El Camaleon Mayakoba, Riviera Cancun, Puerto Cancun, and Riviera Maya GC.
 * Pacific Coast (Puerto Vallarta, Nayarit): Vista Vallarta, Marina Vallarta, Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta.

United States of America
The United States is reckoned to have 15,500 golf courses, far more than any other country. It has a long golfing tradition: the US Golf Association founded in 1894 was predated only by Ireland's Golf Union. As well as being the national association, the USGA co-governs the global game along with the R&A in St Andrews, Scotland. Golf courses are found in all states, even Alaska, but especially in the lush climes of the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida. Most famous, not always for the right reasons, is Augusta National Golf Club, where membership is strictly by invitation, and a bastion of privilege: it only accepted its first non-white man in 1990, and its first women members in 2012.

Three of the world's four "Majors" for top men's professionals are held in the US: the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, and the US Open and PGA Championship which rotate around US courses. (The fourth, the Open Championship, is played mostly in Britain.) The PGA Tour is the premier men's tour globally and the LPGA Tour the premier women's tour - these are predominantly in the US but also visit Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. The PGA Tour Champions for male golfers 50 and older is likewise mostly played in th US.

Those tournaments are for individual players. The Ryder Cup between US and European national teams is hosted by the US every 4 years, specifically in the year after the presidential elections. The next is in Sept 2025 at the Bethpage Black Course on Long Island, NY.

The Solheim Cup is the women's equivalent to the Ryder Cup, hosted by the US in even-numbered years. The 2024 event is at Robert Trent Jones GC in Gainesville, VA, about 40 miles west of Washington DC.

The Presidents Cup pits a US men's team against an international team of non-European golfers, ineligible for the Ryder Cup. This is hosted by the US in the year after it hosts the Ryder Cup, with the 2026 event at Medinah Country Club west of Chicago. (The 2024 event will be at Royal Montreal Golf Club). It's so named because the US President or other national leader is honorary chairman of the event.

Caribbean
Prosperous North American and European visitors have prompted development of golf courses. Notable examples are Tierra del Sol in Noord district of Aruba, Temenos in Anguilla and Half Moon in Montego Bay, Jamaica. US-based tours sometimes come this far south, for example the President's Cup in 2023 in Nassau, Bahamas.

Argentina
Argentina has over 300 courses, concentrated around Buenos Aires but found across the country, and has produced several notable players.

The top tournament is the Argentine Open, played at Nordelta GC in Buenos Aires. From 2024 this forms part of PGA Tour Americas and is played early in the year. But the chronic problem is hyperinflation: in 2023 this is about 100% per annum, which makes Argentina an inexpensive holiday destination but its prize money doesn't attract top-flight international players.

See Golf in Argentina for further details.

Uruguay
Uruguay has golf courses in Colonia, Montevideo, Punta del Este, Fray Bentos, and Carmelo. All but Punta del Este can be reached directly from Argentina.

Buy
A large industry exists to supply golfers with everything they need and a whole lot that they don't. The principal item this industry manufactures is a sense of discontent with your existing equipment: if only you would bin it and buy the new improved wonder-thingy, how much better your life would be, and not just on the course. You'd somehow acquire the charismatic lifestyle of those endorsing celebrities and lithe advert models, and so would your partner.

Golf clubs are a major upfront expense for all players - look after them, make them last, and keep them secure as they are popular targets for theft. Look up prices online and at discount golf warehouses. Large courses have a Pro Shop where, like convenience stores, you're paying more for instant supply.

Eat
Upscale golf courses are often part of a resort complex, with plush hotel restaurants serving all sorts of cuisine.

Medium-sized places usually have a Clubhouse with restaurant that's even more of a social hub than the course itself. People routinely drive out to the Country Club for lunch even when they've no plans to play that day. Check whether as a visitor you have access to these facilities.

Drink
Most Clubhouses have a bar, known as the "19th hole", and resort hotels have several.

There is a tradition that if you ace your tee-shot, scoring a hole-in-one, on completing your round you should buy everyone in the clubhouse a drink to celebrate. This seems to have originated in Prohibition 1920s America, but what's kept it going? No connection with whiskey company sponsorship of golf tournaments, perchance? The odds of an amateur scoring a hole-in-one are 1 in 12,500, and for pros that drops to 1 in 2500. But then do the maths for a big tournament, with over 100 professionals playing multiple rounds: the odds approach 50-50 and buying everyone and their entourage a drink will max out all your bank cards. Tournaments may offer a side-prize to cover this, and companies even offer insurance against the possibility. So there's another piece of merchandise that golfers are persuaded to feel insecure without.

Stay safe
Golf is not exactly a dangerous sport. The main risk is driving to the course on public roads (look at that idiot overtaking!) and driving home again drowsy. Or of succumbing to the same heart attack that would have felled you if you'd stayed home that day watching TV.

Golf can be played in poor weather but not in thunderstorms - you're the tallest object on the fairway and you're wielding a metal club above you.

Respect
The game is invested with a samurai-code of decorum and honour. If your ball has gone into the rough, you may be the only person to see where it's landed. The other players will trust you to play it from precisely where it lies without any semi-accidental scuffs with your shoe to get it from behind a pesky fern. Part of what drives this is that golf clubs were traditionally the weekend version of the Chamber of Commerce or Tammany Hall where alliances were made and business deals stitched up, so you were on your mettle to appear trustworthy, especially if you were as slimy a toad as the rest of the members.

Breaches of etiquette that could get you kicked off the course include:
 * Losing your temper, such as hurling a club or shouting at another player,
 * Damaging the course, or failing to repair the inevitable toll of displaced divots and scrunched up sand bunkers,
 * Playing too quickly so your ball hurtles into the group ahead of you,
 * Playing too slowly so you impede a faster group behind - let them "play through",
 * Dress-code violations,
 * And yapping on your cell phone.

Check the local arrangements for caddies: are you expected to hire one, is it for a fixed fee or tip or whatever.

And whenever the club secretary waxes lyrical about this fine tradition of respect, don't publicly ask when did he first admit women and non-whites to full membership.

Go next

 * As one playing season ends, another somewhere in the world is starting. There's always another resort you can head for and avoid facing the folk back home.
 * Clean your equipment after play - that's commonsense care, and also relevant to biosecurity. Some border posts are antsy about this.

title: Golf


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Golf in Argentina

Golf is a well-established sport in Argentina. It has more than 300 courses according to Asociación Argentina de Golf the governing body. Argentina is a huge country with several climate zones, so the optimum playing season varies. Buenos Aires is best September-April, while in chilly Patagonia it's October-March.

Understand
The top tournament is the Campeonato Abierto, the Argentine Open, first played in 1905 and hosted by Nordelta GC in Buenos Aires. Until 2023 it was part of PGA Tour Latinoamérica, but from 2024 it's merged with the Canada Open to create PGA Tour Americas, with the Latin American matches played Feb-May. This is a qualifying event for Kom Ferry Tour, the developmental circuit for pro golfers who haven't yet made the grade for the US PGA Tour.

Most courses are private, but travel organizations may be able to book you a round.

Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires hosts the majority of the courses in Argentina, including many famous clubs and courses used for major national and international tournaments. Some of the most famous and best regarded are:
 * Jockey Club has hosted many Argentina Opens, several European Tour events and other professional tournaments. There are two 18-hole courses, the Red designed by Alliser Mackenzie in 1928 (6628 yards) and the Blue (6229 yards).
 * Pilar Golf Club has 27 holes, the Blue, White, and Red courses. It was the venue of the Argentinian Professional Championship a few times. It has the only Par 6 hole in South America, at 665 yards.
 * Buenos Aires Golf Club was opened in 1994 to host the Argentina Open and Los Andes Cup, and hosted the WGC World Cup in 2000. The course was designed by Robert Von Hagge in American style, full of uneven areas which forces players to use all parts of their game.
 * Olivos Golf Club is a typical English-style circuit and it can be an easy or difficult layout depending on the setup of the tees and flags. Many famous golfers have played here, including Jack Nicklaus, George Archer, Peter Allis, David Graham, Bob Charles, Tommy Aaron, and many more.
 * Los Lagartos Country Club was built by Alberto and Emilio Serra and opened in 1973. Its American-layout features wide fairways and huge tees and the length of the course makes rough unnecessary, except for tournament play. The well-designed dog legs and the strategic location of the water hazards complicate the game, making this course a challenging one. The 27-hole course is divided into 3 nines: La Vieja, Del Agua, La Larga.

Outside Buenos Aires

 * Los Acantilados in Mar del Plata is a beautiful 18-hole course along the cliffs.
 * Llao Llao is a grand resort in Patagonia.
 * Rosario Golf Club in Litoral.
 * Club del Campo Mendoza is in in Cuyo wine country.
 * Cordoba Golf Club is on a former Jesuit site.
 * Salta Polo Club is 5 minutes from Salta city and surrounded by hills and colourful vegetation.

Go next

 * Uruguay has golf courses in Colonia, Montevideo, Punta del Este, Fray Bentos, and Carmelo. All but Punta del Este can be reached directly from Argentina.

title: Golf in Argentina


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Golf in Australia

This page describes golf in Australia, which has over 1500 courses. The game arrived with prosperous European settlers in the lusher landscapes of Sydney and Melbourne - the first documented games were in 1839 at Grose Farm, now part of Sydney. It spread out to broader income brackets, and onto harsher terrain. The governing body is Golf Australia, formed in 2006 by merging the men's and women's associations. The premier tournament is the men's PGA Tour of Australasia, played in the austral summer predominantly in Australia with occasional matches in New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Fiji.

Destinations

 * Queensland:
 * Brisbane courses include Victoria Park and St Lucia Links.
 * Sunshine Coast: Nambour, Caloundra. Horton Park and Cooroy.
 * Noosa: Noosa Valley, Tewantin, Kabi and Noosa Springs.

 * New South Wales: Sydney Moore Park, Royal Sydney and Monash are all close to the city.

 *  Victoria:
 * Melbourne Sandbelt, a region of sandy soils in the city's southeast suburbs, has many notable golf courses. Pride of place goes to the West Course at Royal Melbourne GC at Black Rock.

 * Tasmania: Courses are grouped around Hobart, along the north coast, and there's one on King Island.

 * South Australia:
 * West Adelaide is a sandbelt with the top courses in the city: Royal Adelaide GC in Seaton, Kooyonga in Lockleys, Glenelg in Novar Gardens, and Grange GC.

 * Western Australia: Courses are concentrated around Perth, notably Royal Perth, Mount Lawley and Maylands.

 * Northern Territory: Alice Springs GC is a desert course that has hosted the PGA Seniors tour, as well as the Masters Games and the NT Open.

title: Golf in Australia


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Golf in China

Whilst there are claims that the game was invented by the Chinese in the tenth century, during the Cultural Revolution, Golf was banned in China for being associated to British colonialism and decadent bourgeoisie. After 1984, however, several courses have popped up around the country. As of late 2009, China has roughly 600 golf courses, more than two-thirds of which have opened since 2004.

Understand
Generally, handicap cards are not required to play on courses in mainland China, however they are required within Macau and Hong Kong. As the courses are fairly busy, the main requirement is to keep up the speed of play. Don't be surprised to be tailed by a marshal if you don't.

Hong Kong

 * The Hong Kong Jockey Club has two 18 hole courses on the island of Kau Sai Chau. The North Course is walking only, and harder than the South Course. A third course on the East of the island is due to open in 2007. The 101M minibus from Hang Hau MTR station terminates at the ferry pier at Sai Kung, from which the ferry departs every 20 minutes. The $45 ferry fare is paid on the return trip. Apart from certain tournaments, handicap certificates are required, the handicap requirement for the North Course is 30.  Hong Kong ID card or Passport number is must be given  when booking, and be shown to the starter.The marshals can be very strict about the pace of play.  On almost every hole a generous drop zone is provided and should be used.

Kunming
Spring City Golf & Lake Resort is only a 45 minute road trip from the International Airport in Kunming. The resort has 2 championship courses - the Mountain course designed by Jack Nicklaus and the Lake Course designed by Robert Trent Jones Junior. Although a smaller resort than Mission Hills, the 2 have regularly successfully competed for China's "Best Course" awards.

Macau

 * Westin Resort on Coloane Island near Hac Sha Beach
 * Caesars Golf at the end of the Cotai Strip

Nan Sha
One resort with two 18 hole courses. The list price is 540 mid-week and ¥1,080 at weekends, but cheaper packages, including ferry tickets from Hong Kong and accommodation are available through agents.
 * Mountain Course tricky, hilly, carts are advisable.
 * Valley Course walking only, easier

Shenzhen
Due to its proximity to Hong Kong, Shenzhen has many golf courses. Noble Merchant and Sand River are very close to each other, a 20 minute taxi ride from both Lo Wu and the Shekou ferry terminal. Noble Merchant is a very forgiving course, good for beginners. By far the most comprehensive golfing venue in Shenzhen is Mission Hills Resort & Spa. Boasting 12 championship courses, this 5-star resort is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Zhuhai

 * Golden Gulf Golf Club. 27 holes designed by Colin Montgomerie. 30 minutes by taxi from the ferry pier, expect to pay around ¥100. The golf club provides some shuttle buses. Not very challenging. Accommodation is available, and packages including green fees, accommodation and ferry tickets can be purchased through agents.
 * Lakewood Golf Club in Jin Ding, Zhuhai. Two international standard 18-holes golf courses

Caddies
On most courses, it is compulsory to use caddies. Some courses prohibit the caddies from collecting tips, but generally a tip of ¥50-100 is expected.

Stay healthy
Drink lots of fluids.

In sunny weather wear long trousers and long sleeved shirts, use sunscreen on exposed skin. Use mosquito repellent.

title: Golf in China


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Golfito

Golfito is a port town in South Pacific Costa Rica. It's across from the Osa Peninsula on the Golfo Dulce.

Golfito has long been known to surfers as the gateway to Pavones, just to the south, and to sport fishermen as the year round sport fishing Mecca. Golfito is also the gateway to Costa Rica's eco-lodges. Eco-lodges are all about being a small hotel or lodge that blends into its environment while offering its visitors an opportunity to view its natural surroundings with the least amount of impact to the environment.

History
The history of Golfito is an interesting one because the conquest of Costa Rica started here in 1519, when the Spaniards arrived from Panama. During colonial times, it was a small, quiet, fishing town few people cared about. Until 1919, most inhabitants where of Colombian (later Panamanian) origin. The town of Golfito, and surrounding communities, boomed during the banana business years (1935-1985), but it fell victim to its mono-business dependency, when United Brands (formerly United Fruit) closed its banana operations, and concentrated only in African oil palm. A major labor strike prompted United Brands to switch completely to palm, which requires substantially less labor. The city is now slowly recovering partly due to tourism. Five years after United Brands's departure the Costa Rican government opened a duty free shopping center in an effort to bring the city back to life.

Today Golfito is a popular destination for Ticos (Costa Ricans) who are looking for a bargain on large appliances and electronics.

By bus

 * Paso Canoas border with Panama (2 hr, ₡650).

By taxi
Taxi Golfito 4X4 provides comfortable and reliable 4x4 taxis with A/C. The posted phone number is +506 8874-9325 English and Spanish.

See

Eat

Sleep
Just to the north in Piedras Blancas National Park there are a handful of eco-lodges. The easiest way to get there is to have the lodge pick you up in Golfito and take you on a beautiful 30-minute boat ride to the lodge where you will be surrounded by nature.

Go next
Just to the south at Pavones and across the gulf at Cabo Matapalo surfers have long known of amazing waves that roll in. To get to Pavones you can either fly into Golfito Domestic Airport or drive to Golfito and continue south about one to one and a half hours.

Tricopa runs two buses a day to San José (₡5,800). They depart at 05:00 and 13:30.

title: Golfito


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Golmud

Golmud (格尔木; Ge'ermu) is a city in Haixi Prefecture, Qinghai Province, China.

Understand
With more than 200,000 people, Golmud is the second biggest city in Qinghai province. The city is worth visiting only if you are en route to Tibet. Golmud is in the middle of dry desert without anything, built up just to mine natural sources as salt, magnesium etc. The population is more than 90% Han Chinese who moved here to work.

The elevation of the city is approximately 2,890 meters. Altitude stress is not the major concern, but dryness is. In the city and surrounding areas, air is extremely dry and sunlight is very strong. Summer is the best season, and winter is excruciating. In summer, tourists flock into the city, packing the hotels, as they see Golmud as the last possible rest stop on the way to Lhasa.

The government tries to complicate trips for foreigners; there are just a few (of course most expensive) hotels where foreigners can stay. It isn't worth staying here longer than to manage permission and leave. Beware you don't arrive on a Friday afternoon because PSB is closed during weekend.

By train
Golmund station (Qinghai Huochezhan) is on Jiangyuan Road and has direct connections with the following major cities:

Beijing (34 hours), Chengdu, (28 hours), Chongqing (28 hours), Guangzhou (46 hours), Lanzhou (16–17 hours), Lhasa (14 hours), Shanghai (37 hours) and Xining (14–16 hours), Xi'an (20–22 hours)

By bus
The following cities are connected to Golmud by direct bus links:

Dunhuang (11 hours), Lhasa (30–42 hours), Mangya (=Huadugou) (10 hours), Delingha (5 hours) - city is closed to foreigners, you can get there from Tianjun, Xining, Ruoqiang (sleeper bus, if you want to enjoy the view on the way, make sure you get a window upper bed).

Get around
Taxis are a cheap and convenient option.

Eat

 * Yak beef
 * Mutton

Drink

 * Homemade Yogurt
 * Soda

Budget
There are a few cheap hotels located around the train and bus stations, but they tend to be noisy and grubby. Hotel business in the city is seasonal.
 * Jindi binguan (金地宾馆), next to the train station, singles from ¥50, doubles from ¥120.

Splurge
Double Tree Hilton. Rooms from ¥1400 to ¥2800 in summer; ¥350 to ¥800 in winter.

Go next
NB: On the way north or south no tickets can be bought without an Aliens' Travel Permit (Lüxing zheng, 旅行证), which are issued by the PSB office for 50Y in a matter of minutes. The PSB Office is on the right side, in front of the gate to the main police building. (Closed on Saturday and Sunday.) make sure you bring a passport sized photo with you if you intend to make the 9am bus to Dunhuang. The PSB opens at 8:30am so its pretty tight, impossible if you have to go off to get a photo done. Going to Xining raises no problems.

title: Golmud


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Goma

Goma is a tourist city that is the capital of Northern province of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the extreme east on the border with Rwanda.

Understand
In 2002 Goma was destroyed by lava from the Nyiragongo volcano which buried most of the town’s streets, particularly the town centre. Since then, Goma has been a city under constant construction. The town is worth a visit. While Goma is reasonably safe, any visits outside of Goma should be researched to understand the state of the fighting that persists in the North Kivu province. In particular any trips out of the city should be planned with caution. The city is also the base to climb the Nyiragongo volcano along with some of the cheapest Mountain Gorilla tracking in Africa. It is also a good starting point to Kinshasa via Beni and Kisangani. Goma's climate is considered as tropical savanna climate

By plane
Alternatively, it is possible to fly to Kigali -in neighboring Rwanda- by direct flights from Europe (France, Belgium, Germany, United Kingdom), United Arabs Emirates then by road to Goma (taxi (70- 100 USD) or collective public transport bus for around(10 USD).

By bus
From Kisoro, Uganda, you can take a minibus in Bunagana at the Uganda border. However, as of May 2015, the road between Bunagana and Rutshuru is not safe. Crossing the border called le petite barriere at Cyanika into Rwanda to reach Goma through Musanze (former called Ruhengeri) and Rubavu (former called Gisenyi) is a much safer and faster option.

From Rwanda there are hourly minibuses from Kigali to Goma, such as Atraco Express and Okapi Car. These will take approximately three and a half hours.

From Butembo you can find a bus in Butembo bus station. They may leave early in the morning.

By boat
There are daily ferries from Bukavu via Idjwi Island. There are several companies that offer the 2-5 hour trip. Prices vary from $10 to $40.

By foot
From Gisenyi both towns are on the border and walking between the two city centers takes no more than half an hour.

Get around
You can use boda-boda (motorcycle taxi) to get around Goma. The normal (local) price is ~500 Congolese Francs for the short ride.

See

 * The Nyiragongo volcano
 * Lake Kivu
 * Gorillas in Virunga National Park
 * The Green Lake.

Buy

 * Traditional jewellery.
 * Congolese wood crafts and canvas drawings. These are available at Ihusi and VIP palace hotels, but if you're looking for a bargain check out the shop on the roundabout near the post in the centre of town.
 * Other items, such as videos of the Nyiragongo volcano eruption, are available at the Don de Dieu shop on Rutshuru Road.

Budget
There are many cheap restaurants which serve rice, meat, chips and beans. In addition, most also serve one of the traditional African staples ugali, which is made primarily from flour and water. Natural yoghurt (called maziwa) is popular, often sweetened with sugar. It's available at many small shops around town for about $0.5

Drink
Goma has many kinds of Congolese beers such as Primus, Mitzing, Amstel, and Turbo King.

The proverbial Congolese nightlife is superb, and Goma is no different. In many nightclubs the tunes are a mix of local and western, and so are the Punters.

Stay safe
The biggest danger in Goma during the day is crossing the busy roads. At night don't walk anywhere besides the main nightclub zone of Blvd Kanyamuhanga. It is advised to not leave valuables in hotels. Rebels have been responsible for killings of gorillas and the security situation remains precarious within the Virunga Park.

An outbreak of Ebola in July 2019 has been brought under control in February 2022.

Go next

 * Rubavu
 * Kisoro
 * Bukavu

title: Goma


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Gomel

Gomel (Belarusian/Russian: Го́мель; also transliterated Homieĺ based on the Belarusian pronunciation) is the second largest city in Belarus (around 500 000 inhabitants), and is the capital of Gomel Oblast.

Understand
Gomel is second largest city in Belarus and one of the main educational centers of country. Modern history of Gomel is highly oriented about the Chernobyl tragedy, since city was on major radiation blow after the accident, and most of the citizens still remember it as a turning point in their lives. City history is strongly connected with the development of Slavic culture in this region, as it was founded at the end of the 10th century on the lands of the Eastern Slavic tribal union of Radimichs and was part of Kievan Rus, later Great Duchy of Lithuania and Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Since it is positioned on the strategic way from the North toward the Black sea, Gomel was often raided by armies from east and west, but despite the raids city gain significant cultural influence from Czarist Russia, Poland, Ukraine and Western Europe, since it was on the important trade route to the Black sea.

Today the most interesting place to visit in Gomel is its palace and park around. Situated on the hill over river Sosz, palace represents the heart of the city from where the rest of the city centre extend in the triangle shape determined with two main streets, Lenina and Sovetska. Like most of the Belarusian cities, Gomel suffered heavy damages during the Second World War, and today’s shape of the city is almost entirely built after the war. Yet still, old palace is renewed according to its pre-war look and today is standing reminder on the fact that there is no bombs and weapons that can destroy its history and significance.

Talk
Russian or Belorussian.

Get in
By train or car from Minsk, Kyiv, and Moscow.

Museums

 * Museum of Military Glory dedicated to the military history of the city of Gomel.
 * Museum of Military Glory dedicated to the military history of the city of Gomel.

Do

 * Football: FC Gomel play soccer in the Premier League, the top tier in Belarus. Their Central Stadium, capacity 14,300, is east side near the river. The playing season is March-Nov.

Go next

 * Mogilev
 * Chernihiv in Ukraine

title: Gomel


text:
Gomel Oblast

Homel Oblast or Homyel’ Voblasc’ is a region in the south-eastern part of Belarus.

Cities

 * — this region's hub, Homel preserves several fine monuments in neoclassical style (late 18th-early 19th century) and a number of interesting buildings from later periods
 * — a historic town with an unusual city hall from the late 18th century and a few old buildings in neoclassical style
 * — the second largest city in the region, and a rather unremarkable one, although you can find several churches and secular buildings dating back to the 18th century
 * — nice old houses and a picturesque cemetery with funeral chapels
 * (Рэчыца) — a couple of churches to see
 * — an old town that is home to the remains of a 12th-century cathedral, one of the largest in ancient Rus'

Other destinations

 * (Belarusian: Красны Бераг; Russian: Красный Берег) — a country estate in art nouveau style
 * — a natural reserve in the region of Polesia, a swampy and woodland area in the southern part of Belarus

title: Gomel Oblast


text:
Gondar

Gondar (also spelled Gonder) is a historic royal city of Ethiopia, in the northern Amhara region. It was the home of many emperors and princesses who ruled the country from the 12th century to the last decade of the 20th century, including Suseneos, Fasiledes, Empress Mentwab, Iyasu I, Tewodros II and Empress Taitu. Leading the list of its attractions is Fasil Ghebbi (the Royal Enclosure), containing several castles and palaces from the 17th and 18th centuries. The city was a battleground in World War II.

By bus

 * There are bus services from Addis Ababa, a trip that takes the whole day. Selam (Dec 2014: 435 birr), Sky Bus and Limalimo (March 2015: 420 birr) companies operate fairly comfortable 'luxury' coaches (bring earplugs for when they play movies).  Minibuses are available that also make the trip in one day; these are more expensive and are usually booked through your hotel.
 * As of January 2018, regular buses do not run out of Bahir Dar. You have to try to catch a seat on one of the buses from Addis. Minibuses that claim to take you to Gonder will instead drop you off near Azezo, about outside of town. Be prepared for an additional 60-80 birr bajaj into Gonder proper.
 * To come from Axum, you must take an afternoon bus to Shire, spend the night there, and take the dawn bus to Gondar. To go to Axum, take the dawn bus to Shire and change there. You can usually get through in a day. The road between Gondar and Shire is one of the most spectacular in Ethiopia.
 * It takes two days to come from Lalibela by bus. Take one of the dawn buses to Gashena and change there to the Bahir Dar bus going west. You can either get off the bus at Nefas Mewcha and take the dawn bus to Gondar the next day, or you can ride it all the way to Bahir Dar and head north to Gondar the next morning. It is possible to travel from Lalibela in one day by bus: go to the bus station just before it opens at 05:30 and ask to go to Gondar. You will need to take a bus to Bahir Dar and change at the major intersection outside Worota (also called Wereta) but the driver will telephone ahead for you and arrange a minibus for those passengers going to Gondar. The minibus may well terminate at Fasilades Bath in Gondar rather than the bus station.
 * To travel to Lalibela, the bus from Gondar to Gashena usually stops for the night in Nefas Mewcha. There are two afternoon buses from Gashena to Lalibela.
 * There are two buses a day from Debark, on the way to the Simien Mountains. These leave around 06:00 and 09:00 in both directions.

Get around

 * The blue and white minibuses run through the city efficiently. There are also some horse drawn taxis called garis. Both are inexpensive.
 * You can contract a small blue coloured taxi for a day or several days during your visit.
 * Tuktuks/bajajs (three-wheeled motor vehicles) are ubiquitous and inexpensive: rides around the city shouldn't cost more than 10 birr -and often should be substantially less- during the day time, and no more than ~25 birr at night (Jan 2015).

See

 * Fasilides' Castle (Fasil Gemb), built in 1640.
 * Iyasu's Palace, the home of Iyasu I, emperor from 1682 to 1706, the son of Yohannes I and grandson of Fasil. An earthquake and bombings by the British destroyed its once ornate and lavish interior, but the structure remains mostly intact and is the largest in the compound.
 * Dawit's Hall, built by Dawit III, emperor from 1716 to 1721 and son of Iyasu.
 * Mentewab's Palace, belonging to Mentewab, empress from 1723 to 1730, the wife of Emperor Bakaffa, Dawit's brother.
 * Mentewab's Palace, belonging to Mentewab, empress from 1723 to 1730, the wife of Emperor Bakaffa, Dawit's brother.

Gorgora
Gorgora is a beautiful small town on the northern shore of Lake Tana about from Gondar. It has some interesting relics from its brief time as Ethiopia's capital, and the lack of tourists adds to their charm. It is also good for bird-watching. There is an early morning bus from Gondar (20 birr) and occasional minibuses.

 * Church of Debre Sina. The inside of this 17th-century thatched-roof church is breathtaking, with every wall adorned with biblical paintings.
 * Monasteries. There are a number of monasteries on the northern part of Lake Tana. Boat hire is best arranged by visiting the Gorgora Port Hotel.

Do

 * Timkat festival, Epiphany, 19 January. Christian celebration with re-enactments of baptism and dancing.

Buy

 * Dashen Bank & Awash Bank has ATMs that accept Mastercard & Visa cards all over the town, one of them at the university.

There is a fairly large market in Gondar, near the bus station, where you can find clothes, spices, etc.

Drink
The pure tej (without sugar - only from honey), tela (korefe, tiru) are the local famous drinks. They are also common throughout Ethiopia, particularly in the Amhara region, although there is some sugar. Factory beers of all kinds are found. It is very common to get Dashen Beer, as Dashen Brewery is in Gondar.

There are bars and clubs with music and dancing on the street running down the slope from Walia Ibex roundabout (with a statue of an ibex in the centre) towards Atse Tewodros Square. The Walya club is on the corner of the ibex roundabout; down the slope there are the Balageru, the Atse Bakafa and others.

Sleep
Prices start at 20 birr for very basic rooms. Timkat in Gondar is the one time and place in Ethiopia when you might really struggle to find a room

 * Meat house is a bar, brothel, butcher, restaurant and hotel with a charming atmosphere. Only 20 birr a night.
 * Roman Hotel. From 60 birr (single self-contained), no water, excellent food, meat during Lent.

Gorgora

 * Gorgora Port Hotel, +251 58 467-0003. Has a relaxed sleepy feel about it. The three bedroom cottages right by the lakeside are highly recommended (300 birr). There are also rooms in the main building single 150 birr, double 190 birr.

Stay safe
There is the occasional scam where a tourist prepays a guide for a Simien Mountain trip and the guide is never seen again. Do not pay cash to guides unless they have a shopfront or you have contacted them after receiving a recommendation from a reliable source!

Go next

 * Bahir Dar – to the south

Simien Mountains are a 3-hour bus journey north of the city. Treks in the mountains can be arranged in Gondar, and you will be approached by many touts offering a wide variety of treks. The advantage of using their services is they may be able to put you in a group of other travellers, which will cut costs, and they can arrange for private transport to and from the park. Tell the touts immediately upon arrival in Gondar that you are looking for a group and they will try to find other tourists. The disadvantage of booking with a tout instead of an agency is that they may put you on a bus to Debark instead of Sankebar (an hour further into the mountains). Make sure you double check with the driver before getting in the car. They can also arrange to drive you to a campsite and pick you up from another, which is useful if you are short of time.

It is also straightforward to arrange everything yourself, and it is certainly cheaper if you aren't splitting the costs with anyone. Debark is the staging point for treks in the Simien Mountains.

Well organised, if expensive, trips to the Simien Mountains can be arranged in Gondar through Seyoum at Explore Abbysinia Travel. His office is underneath the Circle Hotel, facing away from the main road. He can also organise good value guided tours of Gondar, which are worth doing as a guide is effective at warding off unofficial guides and other hassles.

Another option for organized Simien Mountain treks is through Bwahit Travel and Tours run by Ephraim at Fasil Lodge. As mentioned earlier, self-sufficient travelers can independently arrange a tour at the park office in Debark; however given the services (guide, cook, transfers to/from Gondar to the Simien Mountains, etc.) included in the tours organized through Ephraim's company, the prices are virtually the same as if one arranged the same thing independently.

Daytrips to the Simien Mountains from Gondar can also be arranged, but you won't have time to do much other than step out of your 4WD for a few minutes to snap some pictures.

title: Gondar


text:
Gondia

Gondia is a city in Vidarbha close to the Madhya Pradesh state border.

Understand
The city and district is named after the indigenous Gondi people.

title: Gondia


text:
Gondwana Rainforests of Australia

The Gondwana Rainforests of Australia (CERRA) World Heritage Site is made up of a number of non-contiguous areas of national park and reserve land in northeastern New South Wales and South East Queensland. These rainforests are so called because the species found here existed hundreds of millions of years ago when Australia was part of the supercontinent Gondwana. They can be geographically grouped into 8 distinct regions:

title: Gondwana Rainforests of Australia


text:
Gongju

Gongju  (공주,公州), formerly romanised as Kongju, is a city in South Chungcheong province, South Korea.

Understand

Gongju is the former capital of the Baekje Kingdom during Korea's Three Kingdoms period. Whilst the Baekje Dynasty lasted for a total of 678 years from 660 BC to 18 AD, Gongju, referred to at the time as Ungjin, remained the capital for much of that time, with power finally being handed to adjacent Buyeo in 538 AD and staying there until Korea's unification under the southern Silla Dynasty. In the years prior to the Silla invasion many Baekje citizens fled to modern-day Japan.

As such, today, Gongju is a major tourism drawcard of the South Chungcheong area, particularly amongst Japanese tourists of certain ethnic descent, curious about their ancient roots. Or perhaps simply straying from the hot springs resort down the road. Furthermore, it is also one of the many players in the seemingly never-ending struggle to move South Korea's administrative capital out of Seoul, with the greater Gongju are having featured in two of the four top propositions for a new capital.

Tourist Information
Maps and brochures as well as English-speaking staff exist at a tourism information booth outside the main west entrance of Gongsan Fortress, as well as a second at the entrance to the Songsan-ri Burial Mounds.

Orientation
Gongju city proper is bisected east-west by the Geumgang River, with Gongsan Fortress on its southern bank providing a focal point which the city wraps around.

The greater administrative region of Gongju-si on the other hand extends considerably further south, encompassing the entirety of Gyeryongsan National Park and including a few small towns wedged between the reserve and Daejeon to the southeast.

By bus
Intercity buses service Gongju from both Daejeon's Seobu and Dongbu intercity bus terminals every 30 to 50 minutes with all also stopping by the Yuseong intercity terminal en route. Tickets from Yuseong cost ₩2,900 and take about 20 minutes.

Further services run every 45 minutes direct from Seoul for ₩8,600, as well as from Osan, Suwon, Cheongju and Buyeo.

At the other end, Gongju's "old" intercity bus terminal is a mere 200 m south of the main entrance to Gongsan Fortress. Note that in open defiance of the label, the "old" bus terminal is still very much in use and far more central than the primary one, which is on the north bank of the Geumgang River, opposite Gongsan Fortress.

By car
The city is 125 km from Seoul and lies on the Cheonan-Nonsan Highway (route #25); switch from the Gyeongbu Highway (route #1) at Cheonan. Gongju is also accessible via route #36 from Cheongju and route #32 from Daejeon.

By bus
Gongju has its own inner-city (shin-nae, 시내) bus system.

By bike
Gongju has its own public-use inner-city bike system. One set of racks exists outside the Baekje Burial Mounds complex (left of the front gate).

On foot
The primary historical attractions including the Songsan-ri Burial Mounds, Gongju National Museum and Gongsan Fortress can all be easily be covered on foot, and are no more than a 10 minute walk from one another. The first and third of these are some of the Baekje Historic Areas on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

See

Drink
In Singwan many foreigners frequent Iyagi Kage (referred to by foreigners as Art Bar.) It is located above pasta buono on the third floor, across the street from CNA.

Sleep
Gongju provided accommodation to adjacent Daejeon during the Taejon Expo '93, with many of the motels clustered around the (Old) Intercity Bus Terminal.

Go next

 * Daejeon - the nearest major metropolitan city, located on the other side of Gyeryongsan National Park and roughly 20 minutes away by intercity bus.
 * Buyeo - southwest of Gongju and the final capital of the Kingdom of Baekje, and with its own national museum.
 * Cheonan/Asan - on the KTX line just to the north, and home of the Independence Hall, South Korea's largest museum.
 * Nonsan - south of Gongju and on the KTX.

title: Gongju


text:
Gonur Depe

Gonur Depe, or Gunar Tepe, is a city in Mary Province, Turkmenistan.

Understand
Gonur Depe is a Bronze Age archaeological site in Turkmenistan, dating back to the first half of the second millennium BC, contemporary to the Mesopotamian and Indus Valley civilizations. The first agricultural settlements in the Murgab River delta appeared in the 7th millennium BC. The area was later called Margush in old Iranian texts and Margiana by Greek authors. The area of Margiana was 3000 km², it consisted of more than 70 oasis and 150 settlements. Margiana reached its apex in the 16th to 13th century BC.

From the 1970 onwards the site was excavated by the Margiana Archaeological Expedition directed by the Russian archaeologist Victor Sarianidi.

Gonur Depe, the capital of Margiana, was a rectangular fortress with powerful defensive walls, semicircular bastions and adobe buildings. Sarianidi discovered a palace and temples with fire altars. According to Sarianidi Gonur Depe belongs to one of the greatest civilizations of the ancient world (side by side with Mesopotamia, Egypt, India and China) and was the birthplace Zoroastrianism, a religion based on the opposition of good and evil.

Sarianidi also found evidence of a cult based on a drug potion made from poppy, hemp and ephedra. According to the Avesta , the holy book of Zoroastrianism the drink called Haoma represents a deity that can cure all sufferings.

In 2009 a royal tomb was excavated in which the remains of dogs, a cart with wheels having bronze rims and a large bronze cauldron with a diameter of 130 cm and a height of 1 m were found. This cauldron consists of 7 spherical tanks inserted one into the other, so may be a sacred fire krater that represents the cosmos, with the seven cosmic spheres of the sun, moon and planets. Or it may represent the seven worlds of the Avesta.

By car
Gonur Depe is about 60 km north of Mary. There, you can arrange the trip. A 4WD is required. The road follows partly the Kara Kum Channel, but the last 20 km of the road are a very rough track in the desert. It will be a two-hour drive from Mary and you will need about 2 hours for the visit of Gonur Depe. You will have to pay about US$40 for the car and driver and US$30 for the guide. The trip is exhausting.

Eat and drink
Bring your own food and drinks.

Sleep
Next accommodation is at Mary.

title: Gonur Depe


text:
Gonzales

Gonzales is the county seat of Gonzales County, Texas, and one of the oldest cities in Texas.

Understand
A major site in the days of the Texas Revolution, Gonzales is considered the "Birthplace of Texas Independence", as it is where the first shot for Texas independence was fired. Not as well known, and certainly not as publicized, as more major arenas in the Texas Revolution, such as the Alamo and San Jacinto, Gonzales is where the first combat of the Revolution took place. Today, however, it is a small town of roughly 6000 people, where time moves at a much slower pace. Similar to most other towns in this part of Texas, Gonzales is unique because of its heritage and the various sites and events that celebrate this heritage.

Get in
Driving is the only way into Gonzales. US Highway 183 runs north to south through the city, while US Highway 90 runs east to west. From Austin, take US Hwy 183 due south for about an hour. From San Antonio, follow I-10 east to exit 632(US 183 to Gonzales/Cuero), and drive south on 183 for 15 miles to reach Gonzales. From Houston, follow I-10 west to exit 632, and drive south.

Get around
The same means used to get into Gonzales is the best means for getting around Gonzales. The city is small and does not take long to reach the other side of the city. With that being said, walking around the downtown city blocks can be quite pleasant during the Spring and Autumn month.

Go next
Follow US 183 south to the Gulf Coast and major cities like Corpus Christi and Brownsville, passing through beautiful small towns, such as Cuero and Goliad. Taking 183 north will take you towards Austin and the Texas Hill Country. Between Gonzales and Interstate 10, make sure to stop by Palmetto State Park, to see a unique collection of Palmettos. Alt US 90 West will take you towards Seguin and San Antonio. A mile from the park entrance off of US 183, there is an overlook with a breathtaking view of the valley and woods below. Alt US 90 East goes to Houston, while passing through a handful of small towns along the way like Shiner and Hallettsville.

title: Gonzales


text:
Goodland

Goodland is a town in Western region of Kansas.

Eat

 * L & T Family Restaurant LLC, 1016 Main St. Featuring fried chicken and corn dinners.

title: Goodland


text:
Goodyear

Goodyear is a western suburb of Phoenix.

Get in
Although Phoenix-Goodyear Airport is located here, it has no scheduled flights. The airport is used by private aircraft and aviation services. Being a suburb of Phoenix, see that article for directions.

title: Goodyear


text:
Gooi en Vechtstreek

The Gooi en Vechtstreek is the region around Hilversum in North Holland.

Cities

 * — known as the "media city" with forests and modern architecture to explore
 * — low-key destination, but has some quality restaurants
 * — interesting for the Gooimeer, a popular beach for surfing
 * — the rich and famous, luxurious villas and the Singer Museum
 * — well known for the Muiderslot as well as other medieval remains
 * — its 17th-century fortifications are among the best preserved in Europe
 * — partially fortified town close to Amsterdam

Understand
While pretty much unknown to foreigners, Het Gooi is easily the most well-known region of the Netherlands among the Dutch population. It's known for the wealth of its inhabitants, the broadcasting industry and its high property values. Hilversum, nicknamed Hillywood, is the media city of the country and home to the two largest television studios in Europe. Laren and Blaricum are particularly well known, due to the hit-series Gooische Vrouwen, perpetuating stereotypes of the rich and famous living in the region.

A conversation with the average Dutchman about the region will probably bring up adjectives like "arrogant" and "snobby". The typical Gooi "r" is not rolled as it is in standard Dutch pronunciation. This is not a historical dialect, but a modern speech trait that was brought in during the 19th-century by affluent newcomers. Many Dutch people don't like this speech pattern as it would reveal a certain arrogance to the general populace, but it is influential among the upper class nonetheless. Another saying that shows a negative association with the region is Gooisch parkeren ("Gooi parking"), the casual parking of high-priced SUVs outside permitted parking places.

Unlike most of the country, the Gooi area is a slightly hilly area on sand soil. The landscape is characterised by forests and heathland. The Vechtstreek has a more traditional Dutch landscape with polders, flat grasslands, rivers and lakes. On hot summer days, many locals hit the lakes here with their boats.

Get in
The Gooi area is well-connected by the NS railway service. Hilversum is the largest city of the Gooi area and the hub of the region, as it is the only town with an Intercity station (and six international trains from Berlin also stop in Hilversum every day). Weesp, Naarden and Bussum also have a railway station and can easily be visited with so-called "Sprinter" trains. The Vechtstreek is connected to the Amsterdam-Utrecht line, but only Sprinters stop here.

The other areas do not have direct train connections, so you'd need to continue your route by bus. Laren-Blaricum and parts of the Vechtstreek can be reached by bus from Hilversum (though it might be easier coming with your own transport). Huizen is best visited by bus from Naarden-Bussum, while Muiden is best visited taking the bus from Weesp.

Get around
By far the fastest way to get around is by car. Hilversum is an exception as it has limited parking space and there are often traffic jams. A bike is more useful to get around in that town.

Local bus information from Transdev and Syntus Utrecht.

Do

 * This is a great area for cycling. Many visitors spend a full day and cycle from village to village. Hilversum is an obvious starting point, but you can pretty much start anywhere in the area. The Vechtstreek has is particularly scenic with estates, castles, rivers and freshwater lakes. Hilversum and Laren-Blaricum have forests, heathland and affluent, leafy neighbourhoods. Naarden, Muiden and Weesp are known for their fortresses and medieval structures.
 * Some surfing can be done at the Gooimeer in Huizen.
 * Plenty of water sports activities in the Vechtstreek.
 * Play golf on world class courses in Hilversum and Laren.

Eat
The Gooi area has plenty of high-end restaurants. According to the Iens.nl Restaurant Guide, Bussum has three of the best restaurants of the area. Hilversum, as the media city, and Laren and Blaricum as towns for the rich and famous, also offer plenty of quality restaurants. If you're on a budget, you're in for challenge — but there are some budget restaurants in Hilversum for a quick snack.

Drink
For nightlife, Hilversum is the place to go. The bars there differentiate by having different kinds of audiences. There's something for everyone, including hip-chic bars, dive bars, youth bars, alternative bars, all grouped together at the Groest. Bussum has a small community of bars near Naarden-Bussum train station. The other villages have less than a handful of neighbourhood bars.

Go next
You can easily cycle to the towns outside the Gooi area. Baarn is closeby in the east and includes 'Kasteel Groeneveld, a castle open to the public. You can also visited the sand drifts at the Soester Duinen in Soest. The historic cities of Amersfoort and Utrecht are also not too far.

title: Gooi en Vechtstreek


text:
Goolwa

Goolwa is a town on the Fleurieu Peninsula near the mouth of the Murray River (Australia's largest). The town faces both the ocean and the river.

Get in
The Southern Encounter Heritage train runs from Mount Barker in the Adelaide Hills to Goolwa and on to Victor Harbor two Sundays a month.

Premier Stateliner run a connecting coach service to Adelaide and Victor Harbor.

If you're driving, Goolwa is 18 km east of Victor Harbor along Port Elliot Road (B37).

Explore the Murray River

The Murray is an integral part of life in Goolwa. The Murray/Darling River system is Australia's longest, with headwaters in the Snowy Mountains and in south-western Queensland. Goolwa is where the river system finally makes its way through its final lake system into the ocean.

Near the centre of Goolwa, you will find the wharf precinct. The tourist information, the old railway station, and the a historic interpretive walk line the river here. There is a map showing the extent of the lake system at the Murray mouth. There is also a cafe here on the water, and you can see the new Hindmarsh Island Bridge, and the old punt sitting idle underneath it.

The Murray at Goolwa and in Lake Alexandrina is fresh water. The salt water is held back by a series of 5 barrages built across the river and lakes. You can walk out half way across the Goolwa Barrages. You have to enter from the south, there is no access to the barrage (and you can't even really even see it) from Hindmarsh Island. There is a picnic area, interpretive signage, and electric barbecues at the site.

You can see the actual Murray Mouth from Hindmarsh Island in the Coorong National Park. Keeping the mouth open is an environmental activity undertaken by the constant dredging at the mouth. The exercise is undertaken to keep seawater flowing into the lower Murray, and stop the ecosystem from stagnating.

Do

 * Houseboating from Goolwa, all the way back up the Murray.

Eat
The dining room at the Australasian hotel is open Saturdays.

Go next

 * Victor Harbor is a short drive, or a cycle, or a trip on the Cockle Train.

title: Goolwa


text:
Goondiwindi

Goondiwindi is a town in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia. It is the gateway to Queensland as it is right on the Queensland / New South Wales border.

Understand
The name Goondiwindi derives from the Aboriginal word "resting place of the birds".

Get in
The best way to come is through the A39, either from NSW or Queensland. Be aware that during times where Qld has shut its borders to a jurisdiction, passing here may be taking its toll on wait times. But regardless, from Toowoomba, it's a quick short drive from T.

Crisps Coaches runs bus services to Goondiwindi on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. Buses start in Moree from the south, and Brisbane and Toowoomba (both via Warwick) from the east.

The nearest airport to Goondiwindi is Moree Regional Airport.

Get around
Goondiwindi is very walkable. There is also a taxi service.

See

 * - Border Bridge and the “Tree of Knowledge”.
 * - A famous race horse, in the Apex Park on banks of the Macintyre River.
 * Historic Buildings - Anglican Church and Martha's Cottage.
 * There are birds by the thousands most of the year, including Jabiru, Pelicans, Kurrawongs, Top-knot Pigeons, Blue-eyed Honey-eater, Major Mitchell Galahs, *Sulphur Crested Cockatoos, Magpies, Butcher Birds, Lorikeets and the rare Apostle Birds.
 * Historic Buildings - Anglican Church and Martha's Cottage.
 * There are birds by the thousands most of the year, including Jabiru, Pelicans, Kurrawongs, Top-knot Pigeons, Blue-eyed Honey-eater, Major Mitchell Galahs, *Sulphur Crested Cockatoos, Magpies, Butcher Birds, Lorikeets and the rare Apostle Birds.

Do

 * Fishing at the Town Common and Hilton Weir.
 * Swimming at the Town Common, Hilton Weir, or else try Little Bondi (a sandy beach just out of town)

Eat

 * Bao Bao Chinese & Malaysian Restaurant - 127 Marshall Street
 * Cascades Bar & Restaurant - 2 Phar Lap Court
 * Coolabah Tree Cafe & Restaurant - 227 Boundary Road
 * Gather 4390 - 126a Marshall Street
 * The Larder - 121 Marshall Street
 * Laurenz - 1/84 Marshall Street
 * Lucky Thai - 47 Marshall St
 * McDonald's - 15 Cunningham Hwy.
 * New Dynasty Restaurant - 7/13 McLean Street
 * OK Milk Bar - 5 McLean Street
 * O'Shea's Royal Hotel - 48 Marshall Street
 * Porky's Pizza HQ - 130 Marshall Street
 * Queenslander Hotel - 134 Marshall Street
 * Railway Hotel - 69 Herbert Street
 * Red Rooster - 37 Marshall Street
 * Shot 2 U Coffee Shop - 41 Francis Street
 * Sonno's Takeaway - 57 Marshall Street
 * Subway - 5 Wilson Court
 * Sweetaz Bro Cafe & Dessert Bar - 4/99 Marshall Street
 * Taj Indian Kitchen & Kabab Shop - 18 Herbert Street
 * Victoria Hotel - 81 Marshall Street
 * Victoria Hotel - 81 Marshall Street

Drink
Alcohol

 * Railway Hotel (Raily)
 * Victoria Hotel (Vic)
 * The Queensland Hotel (QL)
 * O'Shea's Royal Hotel (Royal)

Coffee

 * The Larder - 121 Marshall Street
 * Laurenz - 1/84 Marshall Street
 * Shot 2 U Coffee Shop - 41 Francis Street
 * Sweetaz Bro Cafe & Dessert Bar - 4/99 Marshall Street

Sleep

 * Best Western Ascot Lodge
 * Border Motel
 * Bronte House Bed and Breakfast
 * Country Roads Motor Inn
 * Goondiwindi Tourist Park
 * Goondiwindi Holiday Park
 * The Jolly Swagman Motor Inn
 * Macintyre Motor Inn
 * O'Shea's Royal Hotel
 * Pioneer Motel
 * The Queensland Hotel
 * The Town House Motor Inn
 * Victoria Hotel
 * Victoria Hotel

Go next

 * Tenterfield
 * Yetman
 * Bingara

title: Goondiwindi


text:
Goose Green

Goose Green is a small settlement on the island of East Falkland in the Falkland Islands. The settlement became the centre of the Falkland Islands Company's sheep holdings in 1922, and was the site of the Battle of Goose Green during the Falklands War.

Get in
Goose Green is accessible both by road and by FIGAS flight.

From Stanley, the settlement is an 80-minute drive via Darwin Rd – it is approximately but with very little in between.

Go next

 * Carcass Island
 * New Island
 * Pebble Island
 * Port Howard
 * Saunders Island
 * Sea Lion Island
 * Stanley
 * West Point Island

title: Goose Green


text:
Gopalganj

Gopalganj is a city on the southern end of the Dhaka Division in Bangladesh.

Understand
Around 300 BCE, the Gopalganj area was a part of the ancient kingdom of Vanga that established itself over parts of present-day Bangledesh and India. Over the centuries, it saw itself ruled by Hindu kings and sultans of various Islamic and then Mughal empires, then finally emerge into the modern age with British colonization and independence movements. What is probably most significant about Gopalganj is that it is close to a village named Tungipara where the "Father of the Nation" of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was born and grew up. Rahman was the first Prime Minister of the country from the time it declared its independence in April 1971 until his assassination, and he is credited with being the driving force behind the Bengal liberation from Pakistan. Gopalganj sits on the Madhumati River.

Get in
Gopalganj for now, takes a rather long 6 hours to reach from Dhaka. But soon the Padma Bridge will be complete, which will significantly cut down the travel time by enabling a direct corridor between Dhaka and much of southwest Bangladesh.

See
There is a park in town called Gopalganj Lake Park that sounds inviting but is really something like a fetid open wastewater tank, so you might want to give that a pass.

Stay
Hopefully circumstances do not require you to stay around here because the choices are not very alluring. If your itinerary takes you on to Khulna or Dhaka, that would probably be much better.

Go next

 * Dhaka

title: Gopalganj


text:
Gopalpur

Gopalpur-on-sea is a beach resort in Ganjam district of Odisha (formerly Orissa). Once a busy sea port, it is now a quiet place. The din and bustle of the temple towns is totally absent and one can really enjoy the roar of the waves and the breeze bustling through the palm trees. With an increase in the inflow of tourists from the late 1970s, Gopalpur-on-Sea enjoyed a slow revival and is today one of the foremost beach resorts in India.

Get in

 * By air - The nearest airport is at Bhubaneswar, 180 km from Gopalpur-on-sea. Bhubaneshwar is a one-hour flight from Kolkata.
 * By rail - The nearest railhead is Berhampur (16 km) on the Kolkata-Chennai line. Berhampur is 608 km from Howrah and 1069 km from Chennai.

Some of the trains which stop at Berhampur are: 6003/6004 Howrah Chennai Mail, 2703/2704 Faluknama Express, 8645/8646 East Coast Express, 2660/2659 Gurudev Express, 2863/2864 Howrah Yeshvantpur Express, 5228/5227 Muzaffarpur Yeshvantpur Express (weekly), 6355/6356 Kanyakumari Express (weekly), Howrah Tiruchirapalli Express (biweekly), 2508/2507 Guwahati Ernakulam Express (weekly), 2530/2509 Guwahati Bangalore Express (triweekly), 5628/5627 Guwahati Trivandrum Express (weekly), 5630/5629 Guwahati Chennai Egmore Express (weekly).

For timings etc. check with Indian Railways.

 * By road – One can drive in to Gopalpur-on-sea from Berhampur (now renamed Brahmapur) on National Highway 5
 * Gopalpur-on-Sea does not have a tourist office but Government of Odisha has a tourist office at Berhampur. It is near the New Bus Stand (1st Floor), Berhampur, Distt Ganjam, Telephone: +91 680 2280226.

Get around
Auto-rickshaws and cycle-rickshaws are available in the area to move around. Buses, minibuses and tourist taxis can be hired from Berhampur.

See
Since the beach faces eastward, sunrises are spectacular.

Nearby there stands a lone imposing lighthouse complementing the scenery at the beach. There are also the crumbling walls and pillars of the jetty.

Do
Just relax!

There is also a Light House on the beach (1965), which offers a spectacular 360-degree view of Gopalpur, the sea and a portion of the Chilika Lake. The Visiting time is 15:30 - 17:30 local time daily. Be on time, they close sharp at 17:30! Nominal fees apply which are displayed there. Avoid carrying bags and umbrellas as they are not allowed atop the Light House.

Buy
There is always something to buy, if you are so keen. Odisha is famous for hand-woven saris and handicrafts.

Eat
Various kinds of fish, roadside fast food including Gupchup, Guguni chat, Soup, Role, Pokoda are available.

Sleep

 * Seaside Breeze, Telephone +91 680 2242075, Rooms ₹400-700.
 * Seaside Breeze, Telephone +91 680 2242075, Rooms ₹400-700.
 * Seaside Breeze, Telephone +91 680 2242075, Rooms ₹400-700.
 * Seaside Breeze, Telephone +91 680 2242075, Rooms ₹400-700.
 * Seaside Breeze, Telephone +91 680 2242075, Rooms ₹400-700.
 * Seaside Breeze, Telephone +91 680 2242075, Rooms ₹400-700.
 * Seaside Breeze, Telephone +91 680 2242075, Rooms ₹400-700.
 * Seaside Breeze, Telephone +91 680 2242075, Rooms ₹400-700.
 * Seaside Breeze, Telephone +91 680 2242075, Rooms ₹400-700.
 * Seaside Breeze, Telephone +91 680 2242075, Rooms ₹400-700.
 * Seaside Breeze, Telephone +91 680 2242075, Rooms ₹400-700.
 * Seaside Breeze, Telephone +91 680 2242075, Rooms ₹400-700.
 * Seaside Breeze, Telephone +91 680 2242075, Rooms ₹400-700.
 * Seaside Breeze, Telephone +91 680 2242075, Rooms ₹400-700.
 * Seaside Breeze, Telephone +91 680 2242075, Rooms ₹400-700.

Go next

 * Chandragiri, Tibetan refugee village, 36 km south of Taptapani.
 * Taptapani hot springs – 67 km from Gopalpur-on-sea, about an hour's drive.

title: Gopalpur


text:
Gorakhpur

Gorakhpur (Hindi: गोरखपुर, Urdu: گۋڙکھ پور) is a city of 675,000 people (2011) in the eastern part of the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is the administrative headquarters of Gorakhpur District and Gorakhpur Division. Located near the Nepalese border, it is on the popular overland route from India to Nepal.

Gorakhpur is famous as a religious centre: the city was home to Buddhist, Hindu, Jain and Sikh saints and is named after the medieval saint Gorakshnath. Gorakshnath Temple is still the seat of the Nath sect. The city is also home to many historic Buddhist sites and the Gita Press, a publisher of Hindu religious texts. The city was also a focal point in the Indian independence movement in the 20th century.

Climate
In the summer the average temperature can go as high as 40°C and during the winters the average temperature can go as low as 4 °C. The best time to visit Gorakhpur is from October to March.

By train
Gorakhpur railway station is connected to all major cities of India. It is the headquarters of North Eastern Railway. Direct trains connect Gorakhpur to Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi and other cities. It has one of the longest train platforms in the world.

By car
Gorakhpur falls on NH 28 and 29. The roadways network connects Gorakhpur to the cities of Uttar Pradesh and to other cities of India. Some important distances are: Lucknow 276 km, Varanasi 231 km, Allahabad 339 km, Agra 624 km, Delhi 783 km and Mumbai 1690 km.

On the basin of the Rapti and Rohini Rivers, Gorakhpur City has the geographical shape of a bowl. The west of the city is guarded by the cool Rapti river, while the east is associated with Sal Forest. The south has the greenish lake of Ramgarh Tal, while the north is the plinth of city's advancement.

Get around
Cycle rickshaws are the major mode of transport in the city. The charges are nominal and can be bargained. Usually a ride of 1-2 km would cost around ₹15. City buses are available.

Do

 * See all the Hindi movies in the town, best theaters are Raj, Jubilee, Vijay Picture Palace, here air conditioning is good.
 * Hire a cycle-rickshaw and travel around slow all around the town. In some places it is better to travel on foot.

Buy
Item selection here is similar to that of other large Indian cities.

Eat
Gorakhpur has fairly good restaurants and eating joints. Apart from the star category hotels there are many restaurants in the city.

Drink
Bar facilities are available in some hotels.

Sleep
There are local hotels near the train station, and you can use the "retiring rooms" of the station if you have a valid ticket, but because this is a very busy station, rooms may not be available.

Connect
As of February 2023, Gorakhpur has a well-established 5G network. Carriers with 5G services in the city include Airtel and Jio. Vodafone Idea has a 4G network as of May 2024.

Go next

 * Sonauli — the busiest border town to go to Nepal (Bhairhawa is the small Nepali town) Very frequent buses will need 3 hours to link Gorakhpur with Sonauli. The UP Government buses will charge you ₹112. The trip from the border to Gorakhpur can be as cheap as 100INR by using private buses. Taxis (and shared ones too) should be available.
 * Kapilvastu — In ancient times the capital of the Shakya Kingdom, of which the Buddha was part of the royal family
 * Kushinagar — This is the place where the Buddha died.
 * Lumbini (Nepal) — Birthplace of the Buddha. Go via Sonauli.
 * Maghar — This is the place where Saint Kabir saheb is believed by his followers to have left this mortal world. Hindus and Muslims made two Memorials of Saint Kabir here just 100 m apart.

title: Gorakhpur