Google Maps is now featuring Street View portraying block-by-block photographs simulating a virtual walking experience.
Here's some tips from Google Australia for every day use:
- Explore parts of Australia you've always wanted to visit, from tourist attractions, CBDs to the most remote areas.
- Preview your holiday accommodation and see how close it is to the beach and transport.
- Show your overseas or interstate friends and family where you live and work.
- Walk the streets and find that amazing restaurant you forgot the name of. Use driving directions with Street View images of intersections and landmarks to get there.
- Study the geography, vegetation and landscape of different parts of the continent, from the tropical north to the dusty outback.
- Show party guests where the venue is, or teammates where the weekend sportsground is.
- Looking to buy or rent a property? Take a virtual walk-through of the area to check amenities. Save time by not going to open houses that don't meet your criteria.
- Share recommendations with friends about places to stay and how to get there.
- Search for buildings which provide wheelchair access.
- Arrange meeting spots with friends, or just familiarise yourself with a new city or a new part of town you're visiting.
We use maps at work all the time now and I've looked up my own house, and lucky for me I still retain some privacy.
This is a couple of screen captures from Google Maps. The first is a streetscape view of where I live, obscured by trees. This shot must have been taken in summer when there were leaves. The second shot is from further up the road. My neighbour's house in the foreground has been painted white since this photo and looks much better. 
You wouldn't pick my house as a nice yellow colour at the moment. In the last week we've had two massive dust storms that have left everything looking a dirty brown.
We're getting a good bit of rain at the moment. I hope it's enough to wash all the dirt and dust off the car and house. Fingers crossed it keeps up.