First Stop - Tropical North Queensland
Cairns and Palm Cove
Cairns and Palm Cove
Second Stop in Queensland
The Whitsunday Islands
The Whitsunday Islands
Across the Continent to South Australia
Adelaide
Adelaide
Into the Outback
New South Wales
Broken Hill
New South Wales
Broken Hill
Continuing the Outback Adventure
Lake Mungo National Park
Lake Mungo National Park
On to Victoria
Phillip Island (near Melbourne)
Phillip Island (near Melbourne)
Healesville (near Melbourne)
"Conveniently Located between Sydney & Canberra"
Goulburn, New South Wales
Goulburn, New South Wales
Sydney, New South Wales
Riding the 4.7 mile Kuranda Skyway
Rainforest Cableway with the highest
point at 1,788 feet above ground.
Rainforest Cableway with the highest
point at 1,788 feet above ground.
Two of the more than 1,500 tropical
butterflies found at the walk-through
Australian Butterfly Sanctuary.
butterflies found at the walk-through
Australian Butterfly Sanctuary.
This lush enclosure is one of many
attractions in Kuranda, a village high
in the rainforest.
attractions in Kuranda, a village high
in the rainforest.
Birdworld Kuranda houses
Australia's largest collection of
free-flying birds.
Australia's largest collection of
free-flying birds.
A trio of King Parrots at Birdworld
Kuranda.
Kuranda.
A Cassowary, Australia's second
largest land animal and similar to an
ostrich. Endangered, they have a blue
bony crown and enormous claws.
largest land animal and similar to an
ostrich. Endangered, they have a blue
bony crown and enormous claws.
Our first Koala - spotted at Kuranda
Koala Gardens. There is only one
species of Koalas.
Koala Gardens. There is only one
species of Koalas.
Koalas spend most of their time in
trees and only eat eucalyptus leaves.
trees and only eat eucalyptus leaves.
Koalas may look like bears, but are
actually marsupials and baby joeys are
carried in the mother's pouch.
actually marsupials and baby joeys are
carried in the mother's pouch.
These domesticated wallabies were
very relaxed and comfortable with
visitors. There are 45 different
species of kangaroos and wallabies.
very relaxed and comfortable with
visitors. There are 45 different
species of kangaroos and wallabies.
A fence protected visitors from the
group of over a dozen Freshwater
Crocodiles.
group of over a dozen Freshwater
Crocodiles.
A lazy spring afternoon at the
Kuranda Koala Gardens.
Kuranda Koala Gardens.
A glimpse of the Great Barrier Reef as
seen from a Semi Submersible
seen from a Semi Submersible
We were about 90 minutes offshore
and only saw a tiny fraction of the
Reef's 1,500 kinds of fish, 400 species
of coral, ...
and only saw a tiny fraction of the
Reef's 1,500 kinds of fish, 400 species
of coral, ...
over 400 kinds of clams and snails,
and an unknown number of sponges,
starfish and sea urchins.
and an unknown number of sponges,
starfish and sea urchins.
Rita and Dad (Carl) beachcombing
near the Whitsunday Sands Resort,
Bowen
near the Whitsunday Sands Resort,
Bowen
Enough said!
Cockatoos greeting us through our
room window at The Airlie Beach Hotel,
Airlie Beach
room window at The Airlie Beach Hotel,
Airlie Beach
Beginning our exploration of 3 of the
74 islands that comprise the
Whitsundays.
74 islands that comprise the
Whitsundays.
A picture-perfect day...
...and a picture-perfect nearly
deserted beach.
deserted beach.
Whitehaven Beach - widely regarded
as one of the most beautiful beaches
in the world. Seven kilometers of pure
white silica sand!
as one of the most beautiful beaches
in the world. Seven kilometers of pure
white silica sand!
Whitehaven Beach is a day-use island
- no permanent inhabitants. This is
one reason it remains so unspoiled.
- no permanent inhabitants. This is
one reason it remains so unspoiled.
The Whitsundays were truly beautiful!
The view back to our boat while
"bushwalking" on Hook Island
"bushwalking" on Hook Island
Daydream Island is a fully-developed
luxury resort.
luxury resort.
Dolphin statues at the Daydream
Island Resort & Spa
Island Resort & Spa
Ditto
Easy-to-view coral formations at
Daydream Island
Daydream Island
Ditto
A shark pond at Daydream Island
There was that "Disneyfied" almost
too-perfect feel to Daydream Island.
The real coral doesn't look this good!
too-perfect feel to Daydream Island.
The real coral doesn't look this good!
Daydream Island mini-golf course
We weren't sure if we would see
kangaroos in the wild - boy, were we
wrong!
kangaroos in the wild - boy, were we
wrong!
It was very exciting each time we
sighted one along the road.
sighted one along the road.
Kangaroos take refuge from the heat
by enjoying some shade. They are
most active at dusk.
by enjoying some shade. They are
most active at dusk.
Emus, on the other hand, are active
throughout the day due to insulation
relief provided by their plumage
structure.
throughout the day due to insulation
relief provided by their plumage
structure.
We saw numerous emu parents with
chicks. The father is very nuturing and
often incubates the chicks.
chicks. The father is very nuturing and
often incubates the chicks.
The Aborigines believed the sun was
made by throwing an emu egg into the
sky.
made by throwing an emu egg into the
sky.
Emus can sprint over 30 miles an hour
and can move quickly over some very
long distances.
and can move quickly over some very
long distances.
A male emu is taller than a man and
can weigh over 110 pounds...a rather
imposing bird!
can weigh over 110 pounds...a rather
imposing bird!
Emus are farmed for meat, oil, and
leather but obviously, hundreds live in
the wild.
leather but obviously, hundreds live in
the wild.
We met these friendly locals in
Silverton, a nearly deserted old mining
town outside of Broken Hill.
Silverton, a nearly deserted old mining
town outside of Broken Hill.
An ancient dry lake bed on the plains
of southwestern New South Wales. It
was part of a chain of freshwater lakes
during the ice ages and has been dry
for over 18,000 years. A World
Heritage site.
of southwestern New South Wales. It
was part of a chain of freshwater lakes
during the ice ages and has been dry
for over 18,000 years. A World
Heritage site.
Roos were sighted here as well.
A feisty lizard willing to take on our
SUV!
SUV!
Turlee Station is a 145,000 acre
working sheep station with about
10,000 head of sheep. During
shearing time, the bunkhouse is used
by temporary shearing hands.
working sheep station with about
10,000 head of sheep. During
shearing time, the bunkhouse is used
by temporary shearing hands.
The bunkhouse is offered for guests
most of the year. Communal bathroom
& toilets are down past the bunkhouse.
By far, the most rustic accommodations
of the trip!
most of the year. Communal bathroom
& toilets are down past the bunkhouse.
By far, the most rustic accommodations
of the trip!
The communal kitchen and living area
at Turlee Station, near Mungo Park.
They advertise "an outback experience
you won't forget:". They weren't
kidding!
at Turlee Station, near Mungo Park.
They advertise "an outback experience
you won't forget:". They weren't
kidding!
They usually wake up for a few hours
in the late afternoon.
in the late afternoon.
At the Koala Conservation Centre. A
sanctuary like this is the best place to
see Koalas.
sanctuary like this is the best place to
see Koalas.
Koalas sleep for up to 20 hours a day,
nestled on a secure spot in the trees.
nestled on a secure spot in the trees.
The little wombat was shy, though.
This alpaca was completely
unconcerned.
unconcerned.
Philip Island Wildlife Wonderland Park.
We were there on a rainy, uncrowded
day and had close contact with the
animals. This emu chick was unafraid.
We were there on a rainy, uncrowded
day and had close contact with the
animals. This emu chick was unafraid.
A magnificent mangrove tree on The
Strand (the esplanade) in Townsville
Strand (the esplanade) in Townsville
Spring blossoms along Wakefield, a
main city centre street in Adelaide
main city centre street in Adelaide
Twin Australian symbols - the emu and
the kangaroo - stand atop a building
along the pedestrian Rundle Mall
the kangaroo - stand atop a building
along the pedestrian Rundle Mall
The first of many huge and sometimes
kitschy statues. This is billed as "the
world's largest rocking horse" and
advertises a toy store and factory.
kitschy statues. This is billed as "the
world's largest rocking horse" and
advertises a toy store and factory.
Dad (Carl) at a commemorative statue
for Welsh miners
for Welsh miners
This was a common tree in South
Australia and Victoria
Australia and Victoria
The free-range environment provided
our best encounter with this large
species of kangaroo.
our best encounter with this large
species of kangaroo.
Do you see the joey in Mama's pouch?
Valley Farm Vineyard, Healesville
We shared Valley Farm with 32
alpacas.
alpacas.
We fell in love with Socks, Valley
Farm's adorable dog.
Farm's adorable dog.
Socks guarding the deck
Perhaps our most charming
accomodations of the trip!
accomodations of the trip!
A three-bedroom, fully furnished house
overlooking a vineyard, booked as we
arrived in town.
overlooking a vineyard, booked as we
arrived in town.
A sample of the lush vegetation at
Healesville Sanctuary
Healesville Sanctuary
A close encounter with one of
hundreds of lizard species found in
Australia
hundreds of lizard species found in
Australia
Sunning on a log - ah, the lizard's life!
A wide array of animals and birds have
found refuge at Healesville Sanctuary
found refuge at Healesville Sanctuary
An unexpected glimpse of a normally
nocturnal wombat in full daylight.
Wombats eat grass, roots and leaves.
nocturnal wombat in full daylight.
Wombats eat grass, roots and leaves.
Also nocturnal, these little Tasmanian
Devils can be fierce and have sharp
claws and teeth to catch and kill their
prey.
Devils can be fierce and have sharp
claws and teeth to catch and kill their
prey.
The Big Merino Standing at over 15
meters high and weighing 97 tons, the
world's biggest merino sheep stands
as a celebration of Australia's fine wool
industry.
meters high and weighing 97 tons, the
world's biggest merino sheep stands
as a celebration of Australia's fine wool
industry.
Pelican Sheep Station Our stay
happened to coincide with "dipping
day", which occurs only 1-2 times a
year.
happened to coincide with "dipping
day", which occurs only 1-2 times a
year.
Gene ventured out to the sheep pens
at night for this somewhat eerie shot.
at night for this somewhat eerie shot.
Pelican Station maintains up to 5000
sheep, 50% Merino for wool and
50%1st XB for prime lambs.
sheep, 50% Merino for wool and
50%1st XB for prime lambs.
"Wait! Listen to me!...We don't HAVE
to be just sheep!" Gary Larson
to be just sheep!" Gary Larson
A team of Kelpie and Australian sheep
dogs maneuver the sheep into position.
dogs maneuver the sheep into position.
Lined up (more or less) in the shearing
shed waiting for their turn in the "dip".
shed waiting for their turn in the "dip".
At first, the sheep are pretty dazed and
confused as they emerge from the
chemical "dip".
confused as they emerge from the
chemical "dip".
Still dripping, the herd rushes out to
freedom on the open range.
freedom on the open range.
"Just jump... You don't have to go,
'Boing, boing, boing!'"
Gary Larson
'Boing, boing, boing!'"
Gary Larson
The Sydney Aquarium Adorable
fairy penguins, at only about 13 inches
tall, the smallest species.
fairy penguins, at only about 13 inches
tall, the smallest species.
The Aquarium was the favorite part of
our visit to Sydney.
our visit to Sydney.
A saltwater crocodile, one of
Australia's fiercest predators.
Australia's fiercest predators.
Magical but potentially deadly jellyfish
Lots of interesting critters - many we've
never heard of! This is a type of
seahorse disguised to look like a plant!
never heard of! This is a type of
seahorse disguised to look like a plant!
Exhibits feature colorful schooling
fish... a better (and easier) view than
snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef!
fish... a better (and easier) view than
snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef!
A highlight is the Open Ocean
Oceanarium - you walk through a long
plexiglass tunnel where you are
surrounded by huge sting rays...
Oceanarium - you walk through a long
plexiglass tunnel where you are
surrounded by huge sting rays...
more huge sting rays...
sporting fish, (note the shark in the
background)...
background)...
fearsome-looking grey nurse sharks...
more sharks...
and even more sharks!
The Aquarium features the world's
largest collection of all-Australian
aquatic life.
largest collection of all-Australian
aquatic life.
The dugong (a manatee cousin).
They average over 8 feet in length and
can weigh as much as 650 pounds.
Only six are in captivity worldwide, with
two at the Sydney Aquarium.
They average over 8 feet in length and
can weigh as much as 650 pounds.
Only six are in captivity worldwide, with
two at the Sydney Aquarium.
"What are you lookin' at?"
Aborigine street performers hoping for
a few tourist dollars
a few tourist dollars
A trip to the Sydney stock exchange
and a glance at "the big board"
and a glance at "the big board"
A view of the Sydney skyline from the
Sydney Tower... the highest point in town
(actually the highest point in the Southern
Hemisphere) offers 360-degree views,
including the Harbor Bridge.
Sydney Tower... the highest point in town
(actually the highest point in the Southern
Hemisphere) offers 360-degree views,
including the Harbor Bridge.
No trip to Sydney is complete without
some shots of the Opera House.
some shots of the Opera House.
Finished in 1973 at a cost of $82
million (US$) with millions more spent
on continual refurbishment, it is the
Sydney icon.
million (US$) with millions more spent
on continual refurbishment, it is the
Sydney icon.
This view is from the deck of our cruise
ship The Sun Princess as we departed
from Sydney Harbor en route to New
Zealand.
ship The Sun Princess as we departed
from Sydney Harbor en route to New
Zealand.