Andrew and Nikki around Oz

Travelling to the United States

2011-08-09T14:20:00.000-07:00

We are off to the USA from 11 August to 2 October 2011. We have created a new blog titled Andrew and Nikki in USA 2011. The blog address is andrewnikkiusa.blogspot.com for those who want to follow our trip.

Sydney the magnificent

2011-06-12T00:39:00.000-07:00

The view of the city from the incoming Manly ferry.

Our wonderful Sydney Opera House.

The Opera House close up from the ferry.

The Opera House being lit up as part of the Vivid Sydney celebrations.

Another colour.

and yet another.

Paella at the Rocks markets on Friday night.

another colour for the Opera House for the Vivid Sydney extravaganza

and the city view lit up below.

Wingham Brush and the bats

2011-06-11T21:25:00.000-07:00

Wingham Brush near Taree, NSW is an amazing place where bat colonies live. The trees above one are thick with bats.

The bats closer up.

Andrew walking among the trees.

and look at those roots.

Could not resist another shot of branches full of bats.

You too can have a blook

2011-06-03T00:14:00.000-07:00

What is a blook you ask? A blook, according to Wikipedia is a book of a blog. The book shown above is our treasured book of our year of travel around Australia.

The book is completely computer produced from our blog, with contents page and the photos we took and the text we wrote.

We treasure it and we plan to order one shortly of our current trip which will be titled Andrew and Nikki go inland.

And for your overseas travel here is another wonderful photo album you can make. This method allows you a little more artistic freedom than the blog.

The photos are all your own and you use the software provided by one of the suppliers. We use albumworks but there is also Blurb and Harvey Norman also does them. The self created photo albums are also wonderful momentoes of travel. Just do a Google search on albumworks, blurb, harveynorman.

Our inland trip

2011-06-01T21:35:00.000-07:00

We have now reached the coast and are resting at Coffs Harbour. We consider our inland trip completed except for the Birdsville Innamincka leg of the journey not realised. We will make up for that sometime soon.

Here is a rough outline of where we have been on this trip.

Our around OZ trip on the outside of Australia was completed in 2011.

Queensland waterfalls

2011-05-30T20:11:00.000-07:00

The Queen Mary Falls plunge 40 metres to continue the Spring Creek’s journey in the valley floor and joining the Condamine River’s upper reaches.

On a hot summer’s day, the feel of the waterfall’s cool spray is said to be delightful. On the day of our visit it was merely slightly damp.

How about this for a lookout over the Queen Mary falls? One would not like to fall!!!!!!!!!

Tooloom Falls are only 8 metres high but they are wide and drop into a broad deep pool. The falls provide a splendid start for the Clarence River near Urbenville. We camped right next to them and the sound of the water was much much louder than the sea. It was a pounding noise all through the night.

Below is Dagg Falls. Small but picturesque.

Spicers Gap and Governor's Chair lookout

2011-05-30T20:05:00.000-07:00

Spicers Gap Governor's Chair lookout over the Fassifern Valley in Qld near Boonah.

This is in the Main Range NP on the Qld/NSW border and part of what is called the Scenic Rim. The term Scenic Rim was first used by Arthur Groom, naturalist and author, to describe the chain of mountains, peaks and plateaus in south-east Qld comprising Tambourine Mountain – Lamington Plateau – McPherson Range – Main Range.

This is my artistic shot, through the shrubbery.

The view below is further on looking back towards Queensland. We are almost at the Qld/NSW border. Everything is green and lush. And last night is rained buckets.

The Glasshouse Mountains

2011-05-26T23:07:00.000-07:00

These are shots of the lovely Glasshouse Mountains on the Sunshine Coast. The mountains are the remnant cores of volcanoes active about 25 million years ago. They were formed as molten rock was forced out of vents from within the earth. As these flows of magma cooled over a period they solidified into conal shapes of hard rocks (rhyolite and trachyte).

Mt Coonowrin or Crookneck.

This is my favourite shot, of Mt Tibrogargan. Andrew climbed it last time we visited.

Max and Priscilla at the lookout.

Mt Beerwah.

Visit to Katie and Ian

2011-05-26T23:00:00.000-07:00

We visited Katie and Ian at Tinbeerwah. This is the view from their lounge room.

and the view inside the lounge room.

Andrew, Katie, Ian and George the poodle. Unfortunately the pre-set photo which Katie set up for us which included Nikki as well came out too dark. It was lovely to catch up with them and to see Katie in her new life - it suits her well.

Lake Cania and some Sunshine Coast scenes

2011-05-24T17:23:00.000-07:00

Lake Cania below.

Kondalilla National Park

Kondalilla falls

Rockpool in Kondalilla NP

View from Poet's Corner Restaurant in Montville

Mount Scoria near Biloela

2011-05-18T22:24:00.000-07:00

On leaving Carnarvon Gorge we felt ourselves at the crossroads. Where to go from here? Going inland without Birdsville and Innamincka seemed a travesty but due to the recent floods, the road to Birdsville had been closed. Now it has been re-opened but not to Innamincka. Do we backtrack or leave Birdsville for another trip and head for the coast - and very probable rain? We decided to head for the coast and maybe visit friends on the way back homewards. Birdsville has to wait for the next trip.

Mount Scoria is known as the musical mountain because of the basalt columns at the top that ring when hit with another rock.

The columns on closer viewing.

Animal shots again

2011-05-17T19:57:00.000-07:00

I thought these were cane toads but they just ordinary frogs in the toilet bowl - this is Queensland. One jumped out from the shower curtains missing my person by a few cms - scary!!!!!!!!!

The kangaroos happily grazing in the Carnarvon Gorge Visitor Center grounds again.

Below the kokaburra on the hot water tank in the camp kitchen at the Takarakka Bush Resort.

The Moss Garden and Warrumbah Canyon

2011-05-17T19:32:00.000-07:00

Moss Garden pool.

Water drips constantly from the sandstone walls of the Moss gGrden supporting a lush carpet of moss, ferns and liverworts. The small waterfall tumbles over the rock edge in the above photos.

This is the approach into another very narrow canyon underneath the Warrumbah Bluff. It is off the Mickey Creek Gorge and it is incredibly narrow.

The Amphitheatre Carnarvon Gorge

2011-05-17T19:22:00.000-07:00

The Amphitheatre is one of those places that must be experienced first hand. Water eroding along lines of converging weakness has produced this masterpiece of sculpted sandstone whose awe inspiring walls defy attempts to capture the essence on film.

They made it easy to enter the amazing cave.

You just had to be there to see it.

Looking up at the sky from below.

The entrance looking back.

Wards Canyon Carnarvon Gorge

2011-05-17T19:17:00.000-07:00

The red lichen in this canyon staining the rocks a bright red.

There are many offshoots on the main gorge walk. Wards Canyon is a very dark narrow canyon with the King Palm growing here, one of only two places in the world I think where is has survived due to the dark moist environment.

An enchanted place.

Carnarvon Gorge - continued

2011-05-17T19:12:00.000-07:00

Another view of those white sandstone cliffs towering above.

Some of the rock art at the Art Gallery.

More cliffs above the many crossing points of the Carnarvon Creek along the main gorge walk.

Another two cliffs.

Carnarvon Gorge

2011-05-17T19:02:00.000-07:00

The approach to Carnarvon Gorge.

This is the lawn surrounding the visitors center at the gorge. The very tame kangaroos are grazing all around.

We stayed at the Takarakka Bush Resort which was very nice with a great camp kitchen. There is also the Wilderness Lodge which seems to be the ex-national park campground but there is no camping there now only cabins to rent.

The first crossing of Carnarvon Creek on one of the numerous walks.

Carnarvon Gorge is a very steep sided gorge flanked by white sandstone cliffs. There are over 20 walks through rainforest, waterfalls and caves. There is Aboriginal rock are at the Art Gallery and at Cathedral Cave.

We only got as far as the Art Gallery as the crossings after it to Cathedral Cave are very washed out after the floods. As it was, with all the side trips the walk was 15 kms so I was quite happy.

The view from Boolimba Bluff one of the shorter - 6 kms walk.

Just look at those cliffs.

Jericho, Qld

2011-05-13T15:35:00.000-07:00

This is the Jordan River in Jericho where we camped last night at another idyllic and free campspot together with some interesting people.

A camper from further away.

Max and Priscilla enjoying the ambience.

A welcoming campfire with a heron in the background. Below is the heron again. There was a blue heron around also but I was unsuccessful in capturing it on camera. One of the other campers had a handsome dog which was half dingo, Mutt whom we took for a walk but I neglected to capture him on film too.

Lake Dunn continued

2011-05-11T00:39:00.000-07:00

One of the lovely sunsets on the lake.

and again.

A fisherman in his rubber dinghy.

He is off.

Andrew lighting the fire.

Lake Dunn, Qld

2011-05-11T00:34:00.000-07:00

Lake

 Dunn is quite a long way from anywhere, being 160 kms from Longrach and few, apart from local Queenslanders, seem to know about it.  It is not listed as a campsite in any of the official camping books.  We only came here following a personal recommendation by the lady owner of the Longreach Gallery/coffee shop who showed us some lovely photographs of the lake that she and her husband had taken and recommended it as a lovely spot.  The gallery is full of their beautiful photography on sale.  I succumbed, yet again, as I like having reminders of our trips.  The fact that I am running out of wall space does not deter me.

How right she was.  It is a lovely lovely place and we had 3 wonderful days here.  The camping is right on the foreshore of this freshwater lake with a small jetty.  It costs $5 a night with power and $2 without power.  And there are hot showers.  We are parked not 3ft from the lake with the gentle waves just about lapping at the steps.  We have never camped nearer to water or received better value for money + the beauty.  There are also a few cabins on stilts as well as people’s caravans, also on stilts, awaiting their owners’ whim to come to this lovely spot and spend a few days.

It is on private pastoral property and the lake has been declared a wildlife sanctuary with plenty of water birds.  The fishing is also good here.  We have decided to stay at least a couple of days, having come so far and the ambience being so welcoming.

The road from Ilfracomb was a dirt road but from Armarac the road was paved much to our surprise. We plan to take the dirt road to Jericho from here and also camp at Jericho which people have described as even lovelier than here.

Longreach Hospital - thank you

2011-05-11T00:28:00.000-07:00

We have a lot to be grateful for the hospital. Andrew complained of soreness around his armpit and we looked at a couple of spots like bites. The spots had multiplied by the next morning and were looking more red and angry. Dr Mum diagnosed shingles and I had heard if treated promptly there is some medication available. Otherwise it is a long and painful condition. So, the second day of the spots appearing being a Sunday we trotted off to the Longreach hospital very early in the morning. A locum from Melbourne agreed with the diagnosis and as the symptoms had been within 72 hours of the spots appearing, prescribed some quite expensive anti-viral medication. Andrew is now taking them and the spots are not spreading and he is in no pain so the treatment seems to be effective.

We are very lucky, as I was not sure how he could continue driving with the possible pain of shingles. Our trip can now continue.

Some of the vehicles in which people travel

2011-05-07T16:30:00.000-07:00

This bus pulling a small trailer and presumably the little runabout was having tyre trouble. One of his inner gigantic tyres was flat and he had to call a tyre service company out to get help to change it.

A slide-on not dissimilar to ours but housed semi-permanently on the large truck.

This Winnebago was pulling a car + a boat. Not an infrequent sight.

The other side of the same set-up.

These two people travelled much more modestly. The top was just a fold-out double bed.

Longreach free camping site. Maximum stay 4 days.

One of the attractions - it is on the riverside.

and the red-claws the fishing people were catching.

Longreach, Qld

2011-05-07T01:04:00.000-07:00

Longreach in Queensland is still officially considered the outback and the above photo is of the Australian Stockman's Hall Of Fame established in Longreach to honour the men and women of outback Australia.

In my view it is no longer the outback as I only paid the customary $2.60 for the Weekend Australian whereas in the "real outback" I was charged $4.60.

A hawker's caravan taking merchandise to the outback. The hawkers were mostly Afghan traders and their appearance was much valued by the men and women on isolated farms in the outback.

A sort of rodeo show at the Hall of Fame. This guy was a singing cowboy with many skills. It was a really good show.

Among other things our cowboy saddled up this team of 8 bullocks, while recounting a long poem by C.J.Dennis.

The purpose was to show how the bullocks pulled and were used to put heavy timber logs on to a cart as they did in the old days. Camels were also used for such heavy work in the outback.

The timber railway station in Longreach.

The Qantas Museum is also in Longreach. Qantas was actually set up in Winton and then relocated to Longreach is 1924 by Hudson Fysh and James McInnes two former World War I pilots. Qantas was the only airline in the world that both built and flew its own aircrafts.

A warning placard displayed in the viewing thatre where a film narrated by the then knighted Hudson Fysh was shown. There was initially no sound and we had to get technical assistance to attend to the problem. We had at first suspected that there was censorship being imposed in case the audience was offended by Sir Hudson Fysh referring to Aborigines as gins. No, it was just a technical hitch and we saw the film in its entirety. Another very interesting museum.

A few things of interest

2011-05-03T19:42:00.000-07:00

This is the largest termite mound we have yet seen anywhere. They had some big ones around Litchfield Park near the Lost City but none as large as this.

With Andrew standing beside it.

We arrived at a free camp spot just north of Winton. We were the only ones there but at about 5:00pm a convoy of 4WDs arrived on their way to the Kimberleys and we had a nice old chat.

At another free camping site the book exchange bus came to call.

A couple of campers on their way to a folk festival gave a little concert to the camping public at the site.

A bird of prey with its road kill. Brochures warn travellers not to drive too fast around these on the road as they can get run over as their take off speed is not fast trying to carry their kill. We waited for this one but as I tried to get closer for a better photo it took off taking its treasure with it.

The Plenty/ Donohue Highway - all 750 kms

2011-05-03T19:19:00.000-07:00

The Plenty Highway is plenty of nothing. The gravel road stretches from the Stuart Highway 68 kms north of Alice Springs, to the Queensland border some 500 kms to the east. From the Qld border, the Donohue Highway continues for another 250 kms to Boulia.

It is a desolate stretch of road. Not desolate in the sense of not seeing any other vehicles – you see about 8 a day - but desolate in the sense of not seeing any other human form of life. Not much animal life either for that matter judging by the very low number of road kills. You do see the occasional dead cow as the vast cattle properties are unfenced and the odd cow wonders onto the road from time to time.

Fuel stops are few and far between and no official camping spots for 500 kms. It makes crossing the Nullarbor, with its bitumen sealed road surface, seem like a picnic. West Australia too has vast distances but the scenery generally makes it interesting there. And you do meet other people on the road and there are roadside stops along the WA highways. The Plenty Highway is in really outback country and links fairly remote parts where not that many people venture. This was the least enjoyable part of this inland journey for me. I do love the Northern Territory but I do not wish to traverse the Plenty Highway again if I can help it. Andrew of course has done it before at least once. No this is his third time, he tells me. Once is enough for me.

I think it changed from the Plenty to the Donohue which is now a local shire responsibility.

A rare shopping opportunity along the way.

Boulia is our destination, a relatively biggish town with a supermarket and reception. Popluation 600 as the sign says.

We did however find a really nice camping spot along the crossing of the Gerogina River.

As we were in no hurry we decided to stay an extra night and spent the day reading by the riverside.

Trephina Gorge last shots

2011-04-30T19:38:00.000-07:00

Just another shot of the gorge and the cliffs towering above.

We are leaving Alice Springs today and heading towards Queensland and will be leaving the Northern Territory so a few more shots are in order.

We have to say that we are very impressed with all the camping grounds in the Northern Territory. They are all well maintained and with the exception of the two resort style campgrounds they are very very reasonably priced and to our amazement, in isolated areas, with flushing toilets and often with solar hot water showers – all for $6.60 per person. The ones that do not have showers are only $3.30. And they all have excellent gas barbecues as well as gas ring burners.

The cliffs again.

Like a slice of cake.

and the last shot of the gorge.

John Hayes rockhole

2011-04-30T19:30:00.000-07:00

This rockhole with its steep narrow rockwalls is 4 kms from Trephina Gorge and the track is pretty hair raising so we did not take our vehicles in but walked the 4kms in and got a lift back.

The photo is of me swimming across the first rockhole while Andrew got across by rock climbing.

John Hayes rockhole is a popular swimming spot and 4WD enthusiasts from Alice Springs come out here for a dip during the warmer months.

The first rockhole. There are two more above and there is a chain of ponds walk.

Andrew at the top of the second rockhole.

A quiet shot.

This photo is taken from above the second rockhole.

Looking down again.

The walk to the lookout above the rockholes.

View of the gorge on the chain of ponds walk.

and of the quartzite cliffs again.

Trephina Gorge East MacDonell Ranges

2011-04-30T19:18:00.000-07:00

The River Todd at Alice Springs is the dividing line between the spectacular West MacDonell and the slightly less spectacular but nevertheless impressive East MacDonnell Ranges.

We spent a weekend at Trephina Gorge which does not usually have water in it except for one waterhole. The waterhole was not there this time as the sand must have filled it in. The gorge had trickling running water in it but not swimmable.

Trephina Gorge is known for its sheer quartzite cliffs, red river gums and sandy creek bed.

The water is very slight.

The sides of the gorge are a spectacular quartzite and they are beautiful to look at. We did a gorge rim walk and also one to the lookout.

The cliff sides of the gorge again.

One of of favourite breakfasts, jaffles when we are in a position to have an open fire.

And about to scoff them jaffles.

Alice bridge club celebrates royal wedding

2011-04-28T16:13:00.000-07:00

We played at the Alice Bridge club last night but due to the floor of the club being polished the game was held at someone's house and the members decided to dress for the occasion of His Royal Highness' and Kate Middleton's wedding.

Here are some of the players before the game.

At the table.

We were not dressed for the occasion. It is just as well we had not known about it because we had no appropriate formal attire with us.

The Old Telegraph Station

2011-04-28T00:51:00.000-07:00

This was the origin of the name Alice Springs, named in honour of Charles Todd's wife. It is not really a spring at all it is just a depression on the river bed where water gets trapped between the granite.

The Old Telegraph Station in Alice Springs was opened as a museum in the 1960s. It closed its operations in 1932. Construction of the Overland Telegraph from Port Darwin to Adelaide is recognised as one of the great engineering feats of the nineteenth century. Prior to telgraph, news and letters from Europe took at least 2 months to reach the Australian colonies.

The OTS was the first white settlement in Central Australia. The first telegraph message was sent on 23 January 1871 from Alice Springs to Adelaide. The "singing wire" was strung across 3000 kms of country that was largely unexplored. It was constructed within two years and completed in 1872.

Nothing to do with the telegraph. Just a plane used by the Flying Doctor Service, another great pioneering feat.

The best butcher shop I have come across

2011-04-28T00:42:00.000-07:00

Fancy coming to Central Australia to be in the best butcher shop. The range of products in this shop is phenomenal including cheeses and delicatessen products too. The shop is Milner Meat and Seafood corner of Milner and Gason Street.

As well as the traditional cuts of meat they also stock camel, kangaroo, goat, ducks.

The range of things we came away with. Roast kangaroo. camel, goat and strips of smoked salmon. Camel is on the barbie for dinner tonight.

A town like Alice

2011-04-28T00:35:00.000-07:00

Alice Springs - a lovely town almost 1500 kms from the nearest capital city. "The Alice" is an oasis of modern civilisation in the middle of a vast and largely uninhabited desert. The MacDonnell Ranges provide a wonderful and picturesque backdrop for the town. The ranges stretch 400 kms from east to west on either side of Alice Springs.

The same massive earth movement that gave shape to much of Central Australia and also created Uluru and Kata Tjuta created the ranges aged between 310 to 340 million years ago.

Another shot from Anzac Hill.

See how green it is.

Todd Mall.
This photo is of the Sunday market being held at Todd Mall every second Sunday of the month.

Eating feral food again at the Red Ochre cafe.

Adelaide House, the first hospital in Central Australia established by the Rev Dr John Flynn who also set up the Flying Doctor Service.

An photograph of Adelaide House in the olden days. What is now Todd Mall runs along the clearing.

Some more sights in the outback

2011-04-28T00:26:00.000-07:00

A particularly fetching rock on our walk in the area around Palm Valley.

Andrew to the rescue - two damsels in distress. They managed to get their 4WD bogged in sand. They had not realised you have to let your tyres down when navigating in sand. The operation was successful.

Another shot of Standley Chasm with the mid-day sunlight.

Simpsons Gap coming up.

The permanent waterhole in the Gap.

We have seen quite a few of these marvellous benches and tables around Central Australia.

A roo resting at the Desert park in Alice Springs.

A tawny owl at the park. We went to a bird feeding exhibition which was great. What was really impressive was how the birds were trained to fly hither and thither on cue
.

Palm Valley

2011-04-26T22:31:00.000-07:00

Palm Valley is 18 kms off from the Larapinta Drive in the Finke Gorge National Park and the road is not easy but the view at the end is very rewarding.

The palm trees are a very old variety and the marvel is how they grow in this normally desert environment. They are a fascinating relic from millions of years ago when Central Australia was much wetter and more wooded. These are Red Cabbage Palms found nowhere else in the world.

A view of the rock formations.

A little rest in a shady nook.

Walking on the dry riverbed.

The way in to the valley.

We did not take Max and Priscilla into Palm Valley but got a lift instead and left our two precious ones at the campground. The small white slide-on with the red bottom was our source of transport into Palm Valley. It was smaller and a lower slung vehicle than our top heavy pair.

The setting sun on the cliff at the campground.

The campground.

Secret men's business. Men giving Andrew advice regarding our newly developed battery problem.

Hermannsburg Larapinta Drive NT

2011-04-26T22:20:00.000-07:00

The Lutheran Church in Hermannsburg.

The ladies choir. Lovely singing in spite of the small numbers of the choir being present.

The guitar playing pastor. Unfortunately the canine attendees at Sunday Mass were all too fast to be captured on camera.

The Lutheran Mission which was set up in Hermannsburg was one of the early towns of Central Australia. It is the birthplace of Albert Namtjira and where he spent most of his life.

The old mission's whitewashed German farmhouse-style buildings have been fully restored and provide a tourist attraction.

These prints of his are for sale.

The famous Hermannsburg strudel in the cafe. It was very nice.

Ormiston Gorge West MacDonnell Ranges

2011-04-26T22:11:00.000-07:00

The majestic MacDonell Ranges were once higher than the Himalayas. They were formed over 800 million years ago and over time the ancient peaks have been dramatically eroded so that what remains is a spectacular environment of rugged gorges and hidden waterholes.

Ormiston Gorge is considered the jewel of the MacDonnell ranges and one of the most beautiful gorges in the country. It was the subject of several paintings by Albert Namatjira. The towering red walls of the gorge and the splendid waterhole provide some spectacular scenery. There are two lovely walks, a 7kms one around the rim of the gorge and around the Ormiston Pound and another of 2.5 kms to the lookout. We did both and enjoyed the views of the cliffs. The round walk takes one across the slopes and onto the floor of the Pound before returning along the gorge via the main waterhole. When the water is full, as it is at present, one has to cross the water. This eventful happening is shown in the previous post.

These two photos show the waterhole which is just delightful.

Nikki walking in the gorge where there is little water.

The stunning colour of the cliffs.

Looking down at the glistening water.

The view of the gorge from the lookout.

Means of transport in the gorges

2011-04-26T21:56:00.000-07:00

These two photos, the one above and the one below are both of Andrew crossing the Finke River to get to the other side of Glen Helen Gorge. When the waters of the river are as normal, one can cross by wading across but the recent rains and floods have made the Finke River swell.

These three photos show Andrew (I participated but I was on the other side holding the camera which Andrew was transporting in the backpack) navigating the Ormiston Gorge at the end of our lovely 7 kms walk around the gorge and the Ormiston Pound.

I forgot to mention that we stripped completely for the crossing.

An elderly Tasmanian lady canoeing across complete with fly net.

Just a normal swim across Ellery Big Hole. The water is deep in parts and extremely cold. They recommend flotation devices.

This time Nikki scrambling across the small waterhole in Palm Valley. The water is not deep at all but the rocks are very slippery so an undignified crawl was the order of the day.

The above shot is only to show that the cellulite is slowly dropping from the thighs :-)

The gorgeous gorges of the West MacDonnell NP

2011-04-26T05:48:00.000-07:00

The incredible Standley Chasm in the mid-day sun when the walls are a fiery red from the overhead sun's reflection. It is not actually in the national park but on Aboriginal land so a fee of $8 is payable to go and see it. The cathedral height walls are mighty impressive and they create a cool shady passageway. I have however grouped it with the other gorges.

Simpsons Gap is only 18 kms from Alice Springs. Neither it and Standley's Chasm are actually in the national park but I have included them both in this list as they are both fabulous.

Simpsons Gap again. No swimming is allowed in the waterhole.

Ellery Creek Big Hole is a large waterhole with red cliffs and a sandy creek fringed with river red gums. It is also wonderfully impressive. Swimming is allowed but the water is very deep and very cold. Flotation devices are recommended but not many observe this. Andrew of course had to swim to the other side.

Serpentine Gorge where again no swimming is allowed. The lookout above the gorge gives visitors a view of this narrow, winding gorge and a sweeping view also of the surrounding red ragged cliffs.

Ormiston Gorge where we did a great 6 kms walk and at the end had to get through the water at this very spot - photos following.

Glen Helen Gorge where Andrew did use a flotation device to cross the Finke River to see the gorge on the other side.

Redbank Gorge which is narrow and pretty cold, again they advise flotation devices.

The gorge further on where it narrows.

Mt Sonder West MacDonell National Park

2011-04-26T05:15:00.000-07:00

Mt Sonder is the fourth highest mountain in the Northern Territory and Andrew felt duty bound to climb it. A hard 15kms slog lasting 6 hours which he did one morning starting out at 6.20am. A mountain goat is Andrew and those legs are not as shapely as they are for nothing. While Nikki does not attempt these feats of endurance, all the steady hiking is resulting in some of the cellulite disappearing from her upper thighs.

A view near the top.

A view from the top.

and another.

Some of the jagged edges Andrew had to contend with.

And one more for good measure.

Kings Canyon continued

2011-04-26T04:55:00.000-07:00

The northern wall of the canyon.

The head of the canyon.

About halfway through the walk is the Garden of Eden, a delightful area of cool waters in a valley with a deep waterhole.

The waterhole, the Garden of Eden pool is a another 600 metre detour which travellers would be wise to take, as we did, to have a refreshing dip.

A series of well constructed ladders take some of the hard toil out of the crossing from one side of the canyon to the other, from the north to the southern face.

Kings Canyon Wattarka National Park NT

2011-04-26T04:37:00.000-07:00

Kings Canyon is 300 kms northeast of Uluru – a mighty chasm that cleaves the earth to a depth of 270 metres. The canyon rim walk which is a 6kms loop, begins with a steep climb to the top of the canyon then follows the canyon rim around. The terrain in and around the canyon reminded us very much of the Bungle Bungle, the geological rock formations of the beehives bearing a close resemblance to the beehive style rock formations at both places. The tourist information notice board confirms this.

The walk is not an easy but a rewarding one and we were amazed how many people with reasonably small children completed it. There is a gentle 2.6 kms walk elsewhere, at Kings Creek where the first 700 metres are wheel chair accessible.

The sheer southern rock face of the canyon which soars over 100 metres above the ground.

People on the southern wall.

Nikki braving the elements on a cliff face.

One of the views from the canyon.

Live creatures we have encountered on this trip so far

2011-04-26T04:06:00.000-07:00

A number and variety of lizards.

Some prettier colours than others but all interesting and so fast at darting here and there. Also standing still and blending beautifully into the environment.

A black footed wallaby at Ormiston Gorge waterhole just sitting on the rock.

A beautiful male dingo on the road to Oodnadatta.

Emus at the Flinders Ranges.

A more tame emu at Curtin Springs near Uluru.

On this occasion more hungry than friendly.

Kata Tjuta/ The Olgas

2011-04-23T20:52:00.000-07:00

We did the wonderful Valley of the Winds 3 hour walk in the Kata Tjutas.

Very reminiscent of the Bungle Bungle rock formations.

Beehive domes.

Nikki deep in contemplation during the walk.

This is the view of Kata Tjuta from Uluru.

Kata Tjuta from the road. Almost as impressive as Uluru.

Walk at the base of Uluru

2011-04-23T20:15:00.001-07:00

The Mutitjulu waterfall.

The wonderful carved bench we are sitting on is as much the object of this photo as we are.

These were taken on the Mala Walk at the base just around where people climb.

Climbing Uluru

2011-04-23T20:01:00.000-07:00

Andrew at the cairn on the top. We know that Aborigines prefer that people do not climb Uluru but while we are respectful travellers we cannot see how climbing this wonderful rock is disrespectful.

A small rockpool at the top.

The view from the top.

Halfway up.

This is as far as Nikki managed.

A view of the climb from the bottom looking up.

A view of the climb from the top looking down.

Already it seems high.

The bottom of The Rock.

More Uluru - pure magic

2011-04-23T19:55:00.000-07:00

Uluru from different perpectives.

The colours, the textures are just so captivating.

No need for words.

Uluru/ Ayres Rock

2011-04-23T19:40:00.001-07:00

This photo is to prove that we actually were at this amazing rock. It is so impressive and so massive - much more so than I had anticipated. And it looks different from different angles, at different times of the day.

The sandstone monolith stands 348 metres high, and like an iceberg, has most of its bulk hidden beneath the earth. Archaeological research suggests that Aboriginal people have been in the area for at least 22,000 years.

The following images are of The Rock from various perspectives.

Not sure what part of the day this was taken.

Sunset again.

On a misty day.

Sunset continuing.

Sunset about to start. There is a special viewing area both for sunrise and for sunset.

Sunrise continuing.

The beginning of sunrise.

Our first glimpse of this impressive monument.

Back to civilisation - and a busy (bitumen) highway

2011-04-16T22:21:00.001-07:00

The road to Uluru/ Ayres Rock has brought us back to the busy highway. All the tourists who were missing out on the dirt roads are here instead. Above is Curtin Springs. one of the free rest areas on the way to The Rock. Camping is free and there is free hot and cold running water and showers are $3 per person.

The resident emu looking for scraps. I took the lid of the rubbish bin for a purpose - see below.

Humans are not the only creatures interested in water being available.

The thirsty emu was able to get some satisfaction. But he had to drink sideways as the water in the rubbish tin lid was not deep enough.

At last at Dalhousie Springs - the highlight of the trip so far

2011-04-16T04:36:00.000-07:00

What is the difference between these two pretty watering places? About 15 C in the water temperature. The above photo is of the Eringa waterhole, a very pretty place on the way to Dalhousie.

This photo is of the large also very pretty pool, up to 14 metres deep, at Dalhousie which is a very warm 35-38C - it is like getting into a warm bath - it is just delicious.

Dalhousie Springs is like a large upside down shower, discharging water from the Great Artesian Basin through approximately 80 holes called mound springs. Water from Qld and the NT soaks underground and travels here slowly under layers of hard rock. The high temperatures of the earth's core heat the waters of the Great Artesian Basin.

The campground with a small view of Max and Priscilla in the background.

The steps into the water.

This is the downside at Dalhousie - the flies. We called this the Dalhousie reading room. The amenities block is nicely shaded and a pleasant place to sit. Please note the essential mosquito netting for the flies not mosquitos.

But this is the upside. Bathing in these waters is just divine.

The best hot springs I have come across - eat your heart out Rotorua.

Dalhousie Springs may have had a hell of a road leading to it - it is the same road that takes you to the Simpson Desert - but it was worth every bump and shudder. It has been the highlight of this inland trip so far for us.

The road to Dalhousie

2011-04-16T04:21:00.000-07:00

The road to Dalhousie Springs was the worst road we have come across on this trip. The only road worse than this one had been the road to Cape Leveque in WA but that was bad because of the corrugations. The road to Dalhouse, all 67 kms of it (the same as to hellish Hallligan Bay at Lake Eyre) was rough with a mix of hard gravel, soft mushy, wet clay, loose sand and big washaways made by the recent rain and floods.

The wet mushy bit.

This big series of potholes gave Andrew something to ponder.

Here he is going through it with brave Max and Priscilla on top.

Watch the angle. Leaning is not something we like doing being fairly top heavy. But Max is a strong workhorse and together with Andrew's superb driving we got through it all in one piece.

Oodnadatta and beyond

2011-04-16T04:07:00.001-07:00

Can't resist taking a photo of these pink lakes, the pinkness being caused by a certain algae. On the way to Oodnadatta.

The Pink Roadhouse is quite famous I understand. Certainly we saw signs up advertising it from Marree onwards. We had to sample their burgers and chips and very nice they were too. The chips had a sort of slightly curryish taste but very subtle.

The dingo suddenly appeared on the road in front of us. Thankfully we were not going too fast.

He was a fine young male dingo, quite curious about us. His mate, a female hung back being much more shy.

Another shot of him. A fine specimen we thought.

And the pair of them. The female hung back while he was quite confident and unafraid.

The Breakaways - continued

2011-04-16T00:00:00.001-07:00

Some more images of the Breakaways. Andrew who has been to the Painted Desert thinks the Breakaways represent a very acceptable miniature of the desert.

For Nikki, all this is new and wonderful.

The Breakaways, 25 kms from Coober Pedy

2011-04-15T23:49:00.000-07:00

The Breakaways, are a series of hills with coloured sands 25 kms out from Coober Pedy. They were our compensation for the road to the Painted Desert being closed.

The colours were lovely.

Coober Pedy

2011-04-15T23:32:00.000-07:00

The town welcome sign to Coober Pedy, a town of opal mines and prospectors.

A view of the outskirts of the town.

The reception entrance at Riba's our campsite - underground. There was a choice of underground or above ground camping. We had no choice.

The Serbian Orthodox Church from outside. The church is underground.

The altar.

The window.

And the window in more detail. It was rather lovely.

An interesting town.

A little oasis in the outback

2011-04-10T04:51:00.000-07:00

This is the natural spa at a delightful low key camping spot on the Oodnadatta Track called Coward Springs. It is a veritable little oasis on this long dusty road, with shady trees under which you can park your vehicle and relax a while.

The shower block at Coward Springs. The water is cold, which is fine on a hot day and the heater at the front has some firewood if one wants a hot shower, it takes about 30 minutes to heat up we were told.

This is the Bubbler at Mound Springs Conservation Park near Coward Springs. The mounds containing these natural permanent artesian springs are formed from the accumulation of dissolved salt deposits.

The spa at Coward Springs above is on one of these artesian springs.

This mound is known as the Blanche Cup near the bigger Bubbler.

The springs were found by the early European settlers and the importance of these permanent sources of water has resulted in the eventual development of the Overland Telegraph Line following the line of the springs.

The real outback

2011-04-10T04:38:00.000-07:00

By an amazing coincidence, the day we were in William Creek (the outback pub where the 'girls' in the film Priscilla the Queen of the Desert did a gig) the article pictured above appeared in the Travel Section of the Weekend Australian. The journo who wrote it must have been my ghost writer because he described exactly our experience of the outback, the 600 km stretch of isolation, the vast bare surroundings, and the concept of looking at the infinite flat horizon that awaits. And to cap it all, his vehicle is also named Priscilla!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How weird is that I ask you? His vehicle also stuttered over the rutted surface of the hundreds of kms of dirt roads where you hardly ever meet another vehicle. On the 170 kms between William Creek and Coober Pedy we saw one vehicle going in the opposite direction and a truck overtook us just before our arrival at Coober Pedy.

The photo above is of the William Creek pub, as mentioned in the article. The walls are full of cards people have pasted up there, some bras.

This is the photo of the Marree Hotel. Andrew tells me that the real outback begins at Marree.

and a photo of the sign that proves it.

Another sign showing which roads are open.

This is a photo taken at Halligan Bay which is 67 kms from William Creek. It is the most boring drive and the most dismal place when you arrive, with the flies being horrendous. But Andrew insisted on going out there so he could experience the "Lake Eyre with water experience". I thought it was the arsehole of the world.

ABC Bay just 10 kms before Halligan Bay. Only salt here, showing what Lake Eyre is usually like.

Lake Eyre - full of water as seen from above

2011-04-10T04:25:00.000-07:00

We took a flight over Lake Eyre. Here we are outside the Cessna with pilot Ash, a young man from Perth.

The salt crusts in the water. Lake Eyre is almost full, something that happens about every 80 years. The salt content is about 7 times that of the sea.

Pink algae in the shallow parts.

More of the pink colouration.

Here is another shot of the Lake with water.

And yet another photo. It is such an incredible sight to see this usually dry salt encrusted basin with so much water.

The Gammon Ranges

2011-04-10T04:00:00.000-07:00

The Gammon Ranges are in the northern Flinders, some 200 kms north of Wilpena Pound. These ranges are more remote and consist of more ancient rock formations than the more popular and accessible Flinders Ranges. The above shot is of the Gammon Ranges at sunset as we were driving in. The national park has bush camping and we stayed at one site. But we would recommend the best way of fully appreciating the Gammon Ranges is to stay at Arkaroola, the award winning wilderness sanctuary. It is a 610sq km former sheep property which was purchased by Reg and Griselda Sprigg, a husband and wife team of geologists who dedicated themselves to returning the land to its natural state. Arkaroola offers a range of accommodation and some 4WD tours. We did one of these. Their Ridgetop tour is their best one but unfortunately the recent floods have made some of the access roads unpassable so our tour was the next best thing. We enjoyed it a great deal.

A shot of the road up to the Frome lookout. It is actually steeper than it looks.

The view from the lookout.

The Barraranna Gorge which we accessed with the 4WD vehicle.

Another shot of this lovely gorge.

One of the welcome gates to an aboriginal community in the Gammon Ranges. It too offers camping.

A photo of the swimming pool at Arkaroola. We may have been bush camping but we had a hot shower and a swim - what more can a traveller want?

The delights of Parachilna

2011-04-10T03:52:00.000-07:00

The Prairie Hotel at Parachilna a tiny tiny settlement betweek Port Augusta and Leigh Creek is famed for its feral food platter containing kangaroo, emu and camel. We had the antipasto platter of smoked delights - above, and the hot mixed grill - below. Both were absolutely delicious.

And you do not expect to see a dining room like the one shown above in an outback pub. On the wall are great pieces of aboriginal and other art. I could not resist buying a lovely print of waterbirds - to grace my wall at home to remind me of this trip.

Some more shots of the Flinders Ranges

2011-04-05T00:03:00.000-07:00

This shot was taken during the Bunyeroo Gorge Willcolo walk, looking over at the Ranges framed by trees.

On the same walk.

Shows the road to Bunyeroo Valley.

We just could not resist taking shot after shot, it is such magnificent scenery.

The last two.

and the last one.

Wilpena Pound in the Flinders Ranges

2011-04-04T23:49:00.001-07:00

Two shots of Wilpena Pound - a magnificent natural amphitheatre (more obvious from an aerial photographs) measuring 17kms in its basin.

A colourful lizard we came upon on our walk to the Pound lookout.

Just outside the Wilpena Pound, the famous and much photographed Cazneaux tree, painted by Harold Cazneaux (1878-1954) titled The Spirit of Endeavour.

Flinders Ranges, South Australia

2011-04-04T23:33:00.001-07:00

Approaching the Flinders Ranges in all their magnificence.

The road into Wilpena Pound.

Aren't they majestic?

This is a shot leaving Wilpena Pound but more follows in between these photographs.

Another shot of the streaky rock formations that are millions of years old.

We did four different walks within the Ranges, some more spectacular than others. The one climbing Mt Ohlssen Bagge was the most challenging but we were rewarded with wonderful vistas.

Morgan, South Australia

2011-04-04T23:24:00.001-07:00

Houseboats along the Murray River.

A houseboat moving along.

A big paddle steamer.

Mildura, Victoria

2011-04-04T23:16:00.000-07:00

These are three photos of Rio Vista, the magnificent private house of the Chaffey Brothers, Americans who set up the irrigation system to run in parts of SA in the 1870s. It was a very daring and enterprising venture which took a lot time to bear fruit. The photos have been loaded back to front as Google has changed its software and I am finding it difficult to get used to the new way of doing the blog. The photo above is of the stainglass windows in the staircase. Below it the staircase.

And below is the house Rio Vista.

Camping by the Murray River

2011-04-02T02:33:00.001-07:00

The mighty Murray River in Victoria. There is a lot of water around.

We camped right by its flooded shore.

A friendly fisherman offered us some live yabbies, freshly caught that minute. I was too squeamish to cook them so Andrew took care of the task.

The end result. Very fiddely to eat and not a lot of flesh on them. Give me some juicy prawns instead, anyday.

Bendigo, Victoria

2011-04-02T02:20:00.000-07:00

Bendigo has many beautiful historical buildings. Due to lack of public money being available earlier on, many of these valuable old buildings escaped being replaced by expensive modern buildings. Above is the Regional Arts Centre with its Doric columns.

The Shamrock Hotel built in 1897 and restored by State funds. Described as one of the most historically significant buildings in Victoria.

Old tram circa 1910. Bendigo successfully argued that these old trams and the tramlines be preserved and they run as "Talking Trams" taking tourists around the significant sights of the town.

Cafe on the banks of Lake Weerona, an artificial lake built here many many years ago. Not only in Canberra...................

Max and Priscilla taking us towards Central Australia

2011-04-02T02:05:00.000-07:00

Our travel in 2011 has now begun and we are proceeding towards Central Australia. These two images capture the variety of experiences we are exposing ourselves to, with Max and Priscilla as our loyal companions. Above is our campsite along the Murray River at Cullulleraine, Victoria. More on our experience at this spot a little later on. This photo is slightly out of chronological order in our travels but the juxtaposition of the two locations was too tempting. For a contrast, here is a shot of M & P parked outside the Old Post Office building in Bendigo under the clock tower.

Andrew, Josh and Sean in the Alps - continued

2011-04-01T14:26:00.000-07:00

The guys with Pieman Falls behind them. The walk to the falls. Wellington River at the campsite.

A wonderful campfire.

Andrew, Josh and Sean in the Victorian Alps

2011-03-29T23:38:00.000-07:00

Our 2011 travels started in Victoria. Andrew went camping with his son Mark and

grandsons Josh and Sean while Nikki visited Gaby and her family. The above photo shows Andrew and Josh at Dimmock's lookout in the Victorian Alps.

Mark's Nissan Patrol at Howitt Hut.

The view of the alps.

Josh and Sean having fun around some snowgums.

Farewell 2010 - it was a great year for us

2011-01-31T16:13:00.000-08:00

We celebrated farewelling the old year and welcoming the new one with Peter and Toni at a nude new year celebration. The theme was rock and roll and many wore costumes, partial costumes and some no costumes at all. It was a wonderful evening and frequent dips in the pool between dancing freshened things up. It made a change from sitting at a bridge table all day - not that we mind doing that a lot too :-)

These photos are slightly backwards but they capture the mood of our last house sit for 2010. These are some of the 12 guinea pigs we looked after in Berkeley Vale. I can report that these small furry creatures eat all day long, and eat and eat........ We provided a huge pile of fruit and vegies in the mornings and collected grass for them in the afternoons. Everything disappeared by the next morning.

I know that in some parts of the world they are themselves eaten and I can appreciate why. They are fat little things and look as if they would make a delicious little roast.

We also looked after two dogs and a cat but we did not take photos of them. The guinea pigs made a more lasting impression. Even, now when I peel vegetables and throw the refuse away, I think how much the guinea pigs in Berkeley Vale would appreciate them.

We caught up with Heather and Bob Harvey and Judy Hopkinson whom I have not seen for many years and I was able to introduce Andrew to them. We had a wonderful post-Christmas dinner sitting on the Harveys' verandah.

Pete and Toni took us sailing on Lake Macquarie in their new (to them) trailer-sailor, a Sonata 7 I think. We had a lovely day sailing with them, stopped off for lunch and a quick look at some op shops at Toronto on the lake.

Our last house sit for 2010 was a lovely relaxing one at Berkeley Vale. Thanks Rochelle and Jared for letting us look after your house, dogs, cat and guinea pigs. I was not looking forward to the little pigs but they turned out to be an unexpectedly amusing delight.

Happy Bloggers - as in the Wanderer

2010-11-15T02:41:00.000-08:00

This is a preview of our last house sit for the year. We have agreed to do one last hurray at the Central Coast over Christmas and as well as two dogs, one cat, we will also be looking after 8 guinea pigs! We visited the house on our way back to Canberra to meet the family and our charges. We have never looked after guinea pigs before so it will be a challenge. I can't remember the names of these two ladies.

We are so happy with our blog and the resultant book (a Blook according to Wikipedia) from it, that I wrote an article on the subject which was published in the November 2010 issue of The Wonderer, the magazine of the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia. It is an excellent magazine with many interesting and informative articles.

A photo of the article. Thanks for those who commented.

Our around OZ adventure is now over and we are back home. However, we plan to do another trip to Central Australia from approximately March - June 2011. We certainly will be writing a blog again. We are not sure if we will continue with this blog or create another one which is likely to be titled Travels in Central Australia. If you are interested please keep a look out for it.

Ormeau, Qld housesit

2010-11-15T02:21:00.000-08:00

October 2010 was our last house sit before returning home after 20 months away. Here is Andrew relaxing at Peter and Lyn's house with Molly and Samson resting with him.

Cheeky Molly, whose paramount pleasure in life is to have one of her toys thrown around so she can fetch it. Two of thew said toys are at her feet while she looks at you beseechingly.

Nikki with Molly, Samson and visiting Sammi. Sammi's owner turned up a day before our house owners returned from holiday expecting Sammi to be looked after for a couple of days. Obviously a slight misunderstanding of dates but it was no problem. We can cope with three dogs as well as with two :-)

Old Bar housit

2010-11-15T02:13:00.000-08:00

We have been very slack at updating the blog lately so this is now a retrospective, for our records more than anything. The photo shows me feeding Max and Buddy at Old Bar where we house sat Nancy and Eric's house on 5 acres at end of September. It was a lovely relaxing sit.

The three chooks provided us with eggs. For some reason that nobody has been able to explain, the three hens always laid two eggs each day.

Feeding the hens. They were always delighted to see whoever was feeding them.

While there, I completed my second piece of art work, my tiled table to go beside the barbecue when I get home.

Halliday's Point House sit

2010-09-16T00:30:00.000-07:00

This is our current house sit at Halliday's Point. Andrew is enjoying the north facing verendah.

Our charges, Sac the Yorkie and Tammy the silky. These are two of the best fed and looked after dogs we have come across. Max and Eve lavish wonderful attention to their every needs.

Tammy after a bath. Not so keen on it but very well behaved.

This is Blackhead Reserve where the monthly Blackhead Bazaar (market) is held on the last Sunday of the month - but not during the winter months. It is a wonderful venue for a market, lush, green and shady and the goods on offer are all delicious, well made and relatively unusual - not the same old same old wares you see at many markets. It reminded me of the Bellingen market which is also once a month and similar. Being a market connoisseur , I rate this market pretty highly. I enjoyed it enormously. We won't be here by the next one but still in the area and I plan a return visit.

Green Point sit continued

2010-09-16T00:17:00.000-07:00

Charlie the coctatiel at Green Point.

Charlie likes his head scratched. He is a very responsive bird.

More head scratching

A last view of Lake Wallace.

Green Point house sit

2010-06-17T22:07:00.000-07:00

This photo of the back of my head is to illustrate the wonderful view I am enjoying while sitting in front of the laptop. It is taken at the Lakeside Escape Bed and Breakfast at Green Point where we are currently house sitting.

The full view of Lake Wallis from the terrace.

Bella the poodle/papillon cross, the reason we are here. Bella is a gorgeous little dog, seven months old and sweet natured. There is also Charlie the cockatiel, but his photo did not turn out well so I have not included it in this series.

Andrew in the kitchen, the gorgeous view off to the side. Floor to celing windows capture the view of the lake.

Back in Forster-Toncurry, at Failford

2010-05-13T18:15:00.000-07:00

We are here for 6 weeks looking after this spacious lovely home set on 2 acres backing on to bushland. There will be a photo of Andrew when he uses the ride on mower.

The owners are away overseas visiting Venice, Slovenia and Santorini. We are trying to remember that we like house sitting and travel envy is not a becoming trait.

The view from the verendah at the back. How tranquil is this? I mean who would want to be in Venice when they can have this?

Seriously, we are enjoying ourselves very much. And it is nice being back in the Forster-Toncurry area.

Another view of the bush at the back of the house. I wish I could capture the visiting wallabies.

The real reason we are here. Tillie the elderly Cavalier King Charles spaniel whose main interest in life is food. Tillie has a heart condition and is on medication but this does not prevent her enjoying every moment of anticipaton of an edible treat. She is sweet natured and no trouble at all.

Caloundra continued

2010-05-01T19:34:00.000-07:00

This is a pretty short house sit of 10 days on the Sunshine Coast. It has allowed us to catch up with friends at Palmwoods, Penny and Roland, visit the Eumundi Market and look around a little. We were here a year ago when we were starting out on our around OZ trip and we explored the area then, so this time, we did not do so much sightseeing, rather just lazed around Caloundra, exploring the beaches, taking the dogs for walks every day and played bridge at the Caloundra Bridge Club.

Another view of Caloundra.

Tetley is a Tibetan Spaniel with a lopsided grin. Apparently Tetley had got himself lost one day and when he was found, the people who found him told the owners he may have had a stroke as his tongue was hanging at an odd angle. No, it was Tetley being himself, a very endearing little dog.

A fun fountain near the beach where children can play.

Caloundra, Sunshine Coast, Qld

2010-05-01T19:25:00.000-07:00

Caloundra on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast is a good base from which to explore the entire region. There are nine different beaches to choose from all within easy driving distance of the house we are sitting at. Because of our canine charges, Jasper and Tetley (pictured above), are most frequent outings were to the beach north of Dicky Beach, Currimundi Beach where dogs are allowed off the leash and it is doggie heaven and a great socialising place for them. Other beaches are Bulcock Beach where I had missed the opportunity to take a photo of the kitesurfers and wind surfers going back and forth across the estuary; Kings Beach the most popular surf beach at Caloundra, Moffat Beach, Golden Beach plus a few others.

Bribie Island is very close to Caloundra also and kayaking enthusiasts take pleasure in a leisurely paddle to the northern tip of the island across Pumicestone Passage.

Australia Zoo is also nearby. Eumundi Markets are on every Wednesday and Saturday and I was able to sample a Hungarian langos with garlic, cheese and sour cream.

The dog beach with Caloundra in the background.

This is the saltwater swimming pool at Kings Beach.

Kings Beach to the immediate right to the swimming pool above. One has a choice of the calm waters of the salt water pool or the waves which are quite tame on this day.

How we spend time in Forster

2010-04-01T01:43:00.000-07:00

The twin towns of Forster-Toncurry are positioned on either side of the broad outlet of Wallis Lake. On a sunny day, the alluring sight of the lake’s emerald waters sparkling beneath the bridge that connects Forster with Toncurry tempt travellers crossing from one side to the other. The lazy picture of people swimming and boating on the waters below summarises the atmosphere around here. Photos of this are coming up at a later stage.

There was an article in the Traveller section of the SMH on March 27-28 extolling the virtues of the area for scenery and as an ideal holiday destination. Scurrilous detractors may label the charms of Forster-Toncurry as “God’s waiting room” due to the large number of retirees living here but domestic tourists continue to flock to the area.

The coast is blessed with fine sands and beaches of every kind, picturesque and safe swimming beaches, surfing beaches and beaches stretching far beyond what the eye can see. The beach in the photo above is of One Mile Beach.

The Forster town beach has a netted rock pool and ocean baths. Children friendly lagoons are protected by unusual rock formations and invite the traditional bucket and spade family holidays.

This is a shot of the cliffs and the sea kayak to the rightof the middle of the picture. Click on it to enlarge the photo and see the kayak more clearly.

Andrew resurrected his yellow inflatable kayak which we have named Yellow Ducky. Here is a photo of Andrew giving Yellow Ducky the kiss of life inflating it on his own - I have no lung capacity.

As you can see the other shot of a sea kayak off the coast above is a little different from our yellow friend.

This shot was taken at the Frothy Coffee shop at Smiths Lake after our rubber kayak excursion. There are gas barbecues around the lake inviting post-sporting activity lunches and fry ups.

The trip continues........but we now housesit

2010-03-27T17:12:00.000-07:00

Our first housesit of 2010 - a lovely airy house is Forster on the NSW coast. The house is an immaculate, comfortable home belonging to two sisters of bridge friends who used to live in Canberra many years ago. The bridge friends are currently doing a house swap in New Zealand and the ladies are visiting their brother and sister-in-law for two weeks.

Part of the garden. What you don't see is the wonderful rocket, tomatoes and tree tomatoes that are ripe for the picking.

The real reason we are here - Tino the golden Burmese. Tino is 15 years old and he spends his time sleeping, eating, more sleeping and some meowing at night looking for the other mistresses.

A photo of Andrew in his element -fixing things in need of repair. He has so far fixed a whistling toilet and a non-working sprinkler. Who knows what else he may find in the fortnight that we are here.

Last glimpses of Tasmania

2010-03-16T04:05:00.000-07:00

This is an alpaca in Sheffield accompanying a nice Dutchman having coffee and a chat in Sheffield.

Sheffield is another town of murals, the last one was in Bowen, Qld.

A photo taken by Andrew from Mt Roland near Sheffield, the last mountain he climbed on this around OZ trip.

And a shot of Mt Roland completes the trip.

We had a wonderful year travelling around the perimeter of Australia. Not enough time to go much inland on this trip. That will come on the next one.

Now we have six months of house sitting around the NSW and Sunshine Coast to come.

Tasmania's east coast

2010-02-26T15:20:00.000-08:00

St Helen's boat harbour.

Bay of Fires.

Campsites along the Bay of Fires. You can see Priscilla on the right hand corner at our Cosy Corner South campsite. We are camped alongside Peter from the Devonport Bridge Club and his wife Viv. We had a game of bridge with them together with a bottle of Oyster Bay merlot last night.

We had run into Peter at the supermarket at St Helens and he told us where they had a dress circle campsite at the Bay of Fires so we joined them. Oh, the power of networking........

Only a few more days in Tassie, alas.

This is the view from our window. The beach is magnificent but not very safe for swimming.

Tasmanian sights

2010-02-21T20:48:00.000-08:00

Tasmania continues to delight. We have now criss-crossed the island state except for the east coast where we are currently

at Freycinet National Park.

The above photo was taken at the Ashgrove Cheese outlet out side Launceston where these wonderful painted artificial cows await the tourists. The cheeses, as they are everywhere in Tasmania, are superb. Tastings are generous and wide ranging.

It is not often that you see a piglet that seems to be a domestic pet. This former church in Evandale is now a private house and the piglet was grazing on the grass happily making wide furrows in the grass lawn.

A wooden lounge chair on the walking track up to the Wineglass Bay lookout. The lounge chair was designed in 2000 by a couple of architecture students. Nikki is having a little rest, girding her loins for the 10 kms walk ahead along Hazards Beach. The long way back to the NP carpark.

Wineglass Bay in the Freycinet Peninsula. It is supposedly the most beautiful beach on the world. I beg to differ. It is undoubtedly a lovely beach but in my estimation no comparison to the beaches in southern WA around Esperance and around Cape Le Grand.

But we did see dolphins, not just swimming and diving around in Wineglass Bay very near the shore, but actually surfing the waves. That was something to see!

Launceston Festivale at City Park Feb 12 - 14

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Human statues at the Festivale. You put money in their hat and they move according to the amount.

Launceston’s annual Festivale held at the City Park went off with great success in 2010. It is a 3 day celebration of Tasmanian food and wine and you can sample the best this small but productive state has to offer by way of taste as well as enjoying musical, dance and theatrical performances and street performers. There were cooking demonstrations by well known Tasmanian chefs as well.

The food is wonderful and ranges from $7 a plate to over $25. We had rosti potato cakes with smoked salmon topping, tempura mushrooms, Cajun calamari and marvellous hot berry pancakes with hot chocolate sauce drizzled over it. These are only a minute sample from a large range of quality food stalls.

All the wineries of the Tamar valley were in attendance and you could taste the wines, purchase a glass of wine for $6 or a bottle for much more. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the two Tasmanian wines to zero in on, and I did.

The 2008 Delamere Chardonnay is to die for and the 2009 vintage is also excellent. Young Shane is the newish owner of the winery and he should go far. His wines are excellent and he is personable, chatty and helpful. Go Shane!

And would you believe, we ran into Kerry and Peter Butcher from the Canberra Bridge Club who had just that morning arrived at their hotel and came to sample the Festivale.

The photos are of street performers rather than of food. This is Betty Brawn fromthe UK lifting two strapping lads.

The Liqueur Flambe who did acrobatic violin playing while standing on each others' shoulders.

Samora Squid the contortionist who was able to dislocate his shoulders in order to squeeze through a tennis racquet

Unfrotunately, I did not have my camera on the Saturday evening when the Pole Revolution was performing. This was THE best of the Festivale. Some athletic girls (5) with marvellous figures did acrobatics on a single pole. I wonder if that is where Pole dancing originated or the other way around. They were so good, I wondered why they did not have it as an Olympic event.

A wonderful weekend.

Tasmania the beautiful continued

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This is the Leven River at the foot of the magnificent Leven Canyon at Devil's Elbow. It is near Gunns Plains where the caves are.

Another shot of the Leven River at the bottom of this wonderful gorge.

Swimmers at the small dam on the Cataract Gorge near Launceston. Compare this with the photo below.

Seals at South Bruny Island. Can you see a certain similarity between the two sets of bathers?

Some Tasmanian whimsies and Cradle Mountain National Park

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I had never bought shoes in a delicatessen before but I did in Stanley, at the Providore 24, as the photo above illustrates.

The shop is listed as a delicatessen and it had wonderful sourdough bread brought in from Launceston and baked on the premises, cheeses, confectionary and many other delicacies as well as a wonderful array of shoes made in Maroochydore of all places. I had to resist several pairs choosing this smart little black number. Another lady was also trying on a pair at the same time.

The owner is not sure in which direction to go as the shoes are very popular. How about that for diversification?

These figures are made of papier mache by two artistic ladies on exhibtion at the Burnie Makers Gallery - a gallery devoted to the arts and crafts and industries of Burnie, at the newly built modernistic Visitors Centre.

The Dove Lake Track is a 2 hour walk around Dove Lake at the foot of Cradle Mountain. We did the walk and we had both good and bad fortune. Cradle Mountain (in the background) persisted in being enveloped in fog but the track was open and unencumbered. The previous week they were doing maintenance and only half the Lake was able to be walked instead of the complete loop being available. So, we counted ourselves lucky -no view of Cradle Mountain but we could do the Dove Lake walk.

Pencil Pine Falls in Cradle Mountain National Park.

I am resisting the urge to burden our blog viewers with waterfalls. Allow me just one of many.

Stanley and Boat Harbour Beach

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A huge basalt outcrop known as the Nut in the town of Stanley is the core of an extinct volcano and it is twelve million years old. It is 143 metres high and 32 hectares in area, making it one of the most dramatic features along the northern coastline of Tasmania. It has been described as Tasmania’s Uluru.

Visitors can either walk to the summit along a steep path or take the chairlift which operates up and down.

Boat Harbour Beach is one of the most picturesque beaches in a little village along the coast just outside Wynyard. We had our second swim in Tassie here, in the month of January, and it was a magnificent swim too, with wonderful surf. The beach has lovely rocky points and is a safe swimming beach full of locals enjoying the water and surf.

We camped for the night along the grass at the side of the beach. Just out of range of the above photo.

I had a coffee in the café/restaurant overlooking the beach which served wonderful sounding, reasonably priced food (sadly our cooked meal was waiting back in the camper) and then we had a walk along the beach eating an ice cream served from the kiosk. It was one of the pleasantest afternoon/evenings in Tassie. A highlight.

Western and northern Tasmania

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Max and Priscilla making the crossing on the "Fatman Barge" across the Pieman River.

And the same river from Mount Donaldson.

A Tasmanian devil. This poor thing was a road kill, we did not see a live one.

The "nut' at Stanley is Tasmania's version of Uluru. It is a volcanic outcrop. Reminds me a little of Mt Manganui in New Zealand. But the nut is rather larger and it has chairlifts going up and down and a 2 kms walk on the top.

Western Tasmania continued

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A shot of Ocean Beach at Strahan. A wonderful beach but a.) not swimming weather - this is Tasmania after all - and b.) not a swimming beach because of the currents. But a wonderful, wide and long beach to look at and with those mountains in the background. We camped here.

Summer in Tasmania!!!!!! Only NZ does bad weather better than Tassie.

This photo was taken of us (no, Andrew is not a character from The Name of the Rose) on Sarah Island on the Gordon River. Sarah Island was an island where the worst convicts were kept but it was closed when Port Arthur was opened. We did a cruise on the Gordon River but the weather was rather bad on the day. The wonderful lunch was the only compensation.

Two shots of rainforests as we have not seen them elsewhere. It gets pretty wet on the western side of Tasmania.

But overall, Tassie does not get all that much rain, we gather. Hobart has the second lowest rainfall of all Australian capital cities.

Another nice mossy shot.

Western coast of Tasmania

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A shot of the Franklin Valley and Frenchman's Cap from the Donaghy's Hill lookout.

This is the very shallow part of the Franklin River.

For many people the Franklin River became in the early 1980s a symbol of the recognition of environmental conservation values. Conservationists campaigned fiercely to save the Franklin River from flooding with the proposed construction of the Gordon below Franklin dam. In 1983 the High Court ruled 4 votes to 3 that the Commonwealth could stop the dam from being built in Tasmania.

The Wall in the Wilderness at Derwent Bridge in southwest Tasmania near Lake St Clair, is an extraordinary gallery. It houses a giant wall made up of 35 panels of carvings made of Huon pine by artist Greg Duncan. It is planned that the final work will consist of 100 panels. It is evolving art. Each panel is one metre wide, three metres high and 100 mm thick. The panels together illustrate two aspects of Tasmania’s twin industries: forestry and hydro-electricity.

The photo above is of one panel.

The gallery also houses many of Greg’s still lives, made of wood and bronze, each fabulously detailed and nuanced.

No photography is allowed in the gallery. Both these photos are from the book The Wall which is for sale for $22. The book contains detailed photos of each panel as well as of his smaller pieces of work referred to as “still lives”.

Port Arthur

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Port Arthur is Tasmania’s top tourist attraction. It is on a very beautiful piece of land, the Tasman Peninsula.

The penal settlement was established in 1830 and it was here that the repeat offenders from all the Australian colonies were sent. It was a punishment station for serious repeat offenders and the regime was very harsh. It also contained some experimental correctional procedures and the modern asylum was set up at Port Arthur.

This was my first opportunity to enjoy some form of "culture" on this trip. There were a series of short plays presented at various venues at the Port Arthur penal settlement complex. The plays were entertaining and informative and illustrated the harsh life at the penal colony. This play was titled a Boy's Life, the story of a young boy sent out to Point Puer which was the juvenile part of the penal colony.

The above photo shows Andrew sitting in a isolated booth in the chapel at Port Arthur. Even in the chapel the prisoners were isolated, note the doors that separate the booths.

Southwest Tasmania

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The Gordon Dam is a sight to behold – an enormously high dam wall holding back water many times the volume of water in Sydney Harbour. It is built in a very deep and narrow gorge and the design of it is an arch dam.

Arch dams need much less material to achieve the strength than normal gravity dams. The enormous upstream load is transferred through the curves of the dam and into the rock of the abutments and foundation. Furthermore, the Gordon Dam is an arch dam with a double curve. As well as the obvious side to side curve, the dam is also curved top to bottom – the crest overhangs the base several metres.

The Gordon River above the dam.

And an arch of a different kind. Tasman’s Arch at Eaglehawk Neck on the Tasman Peninsula is what is left of the roof of a large sea cave, or tunnel, that was created by wave action over many thousands of years. This immensely slow process or erosion is continuing and the arch will eventually collapse. It will end up like the photo below which is of the Devil’s Kitchen.

The rock afces without the arch.

Newdegate Caves Hastings Tasmania

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We had a wonderful 45 minute tour of the dolomite caves near Hastings. We were 40m underground when at the lowest level of the caves. Most caves in Australia are made of limestone but these caves are of dolomite.

The photo above shows stalactites.

These are helictites.

These are flowstones.

Flowstone floor.

Fantastic formations. It was a great tour.

Hartz Mountain National Park Tasmania

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This is the view from the Hartz Peak which Andrew climbed. I only went as far as Lake Esperance.

Hartz Lake.

Another lovely artistic shot, this time of a sinkhole, Duckhole Lake in the national park.

Another view of the peaks of the national park near the Arve Falls.

Bruny Island Tasmania

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We took the ferry from Kettering to Bruny Island ($35 with Max and Priscilla – return) and we spent 5 days camping on South Bruny Island. Wonderful place with great scenery.

We camped at both the Neck campgrounds and at Cloudy Bay. The above photo shows the Neck, a narrow strip of land, connecting North and South Bruny Islands. The Tasman Sea on one side and the D'Entrecasteaux Channel on the other.

At Cloudy Bay you have to drive on the beach to reach the campground.

At the Neck, there is a fairy penguin rookery, where one can see the penguins coming in from the sea after a full day of hunting, as darkness begins, to feed their babies waiting in burrows on the shore. The baby penguins squawk loudly and hungrily as they wait for their parents. Unfortunately this sight is not conducive to photography as it takes place in darkness with torchlight.

We did a jetboat tour around the top of South Bruny which was $100 per person lasting 3 hours. It was well worth it and we enjoyed it very much. We saw wonderful scenery and plenty of wildlife including NZ fur seal colonies, both baby seals as well as chilling out males at a separate colony, kormorands (commonly known as shags) as well as dolphins swimming around and under our boat.

The photo above is of The Monument, two stacks of dollarite. The boat sped between the two pillars and it was fun.

We climbed Fluted Cape (272m) which provided magnificent views of the same cliffs we saw on the cruise from the top down plus some great views over the horizon. Photo above shows the cliffs.

Hobart continued

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This is the Narryna Heritage Museum on Hampden Road another beautiful old house. The house is beautifully proportioned and preserved with all the rooms fully furnished and the outside areas, with stables etc very much maintained in their original state. A very sensitively presented heritage building.

The kitchen.

This is the Synagogue in Hobart in Argyle Street. It was built in 1845 and is Georgian but from the Egyptian revival period - according to information supplied by my friend Jenny Ransley, a former Hobart resident.

This is the fare offered at a cafe in Hampden Street. I cannot resist taking photos of interesting foods even if I was not able to sample them. These are lamb shanks in pastry with fetta cheese and spinach. Don't they look scrumptious?

Hobart Tasmania

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Tasmania is just lovely. Very much like New Zealand with Hobart closely resembling Wellington, with its situation, weather and water views. This is a view of Hobart from Mount Wellington soaring high above the city.

The buildings are somewhat different, the Hobart ones being generally brick buildings to Wellington’s mainly wooden houses. This is one lovely old Hobart building that I captured.

We went to the Salamanca markets held on Saturday, which are enjoyable, albeit very touristy and the prices being commensurately high. We also went on Sunday to the trash and treasure markets at the Hobart Showgrounds, where our camping spot actually was, and we enjoyed those markets very much. I was able to indulge my opportunity shopping cravings to my heart’s content.

We were given to understand that there is a similar Sunday market at Sorrell but as we were booked to do the Cascades Brewery tour we did not have time to go there. The Sorrell Sunday markets are supposed to be very good.

The Cascades Brewery occupies a beautiful old building in Hobart with 3 acres of gardens which are very nicely laid out. While we were on the tour a wedding was being held in the gardens.

The tour costs $20 per person and we think Cascades makes a very tidy profit from these. There were 16 in our group and they run about 4 tours each day and they seem to be fully subscribed. The tour included a sampling of the Cascades produce, beer as well as cider.

Tasmania

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We came over on the daytime ferry with Max and Priscilla. The journey was pleasant and took 9 hours and cost $409.

Tasmania is beautiful and such a small pocket of a variety of landscapes not unlike NZ. This is a leafy drive near the Great Lake going to see Liffey Falls.

Liffey Falls where the water has eroded the softer rocks to form a series of stepped benches over which the water cascades.

Pine Lake, a high mountain lake where we took a walk on a boardwalk. The highest point in this area is 1200m.

Tasmania is full of water, lakes and rivers. It is, as people warned us, quite chilly and it is January.

Yarra Valley, Vic

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We are currently gearing up to leave the mainland for Tasmania on 5 January. We have been practising for what we anticipate weather-wise in Tassie by experiencing wet weather in the Yarra Valley where it has been raining on and off since New Year’s Eve.

But the scenery is lovely and lush, no doubt a result of all the rain this area enjoys on a regular basis. The above photo is of the Maroondah Reservoir from Mt Riddell which Andrew climbed before the rain set in.

A trout fisherman at the Toorongo Creek which is near Mt Baw Baw. Presumably we will come across plenty of those in Tassie.

The creek again. Green and lush as is most of the Yarra Valley.

The Toorongo Falls.