Adelaide Town Hall

Finished in 1866 as the largest municipal building south of the Equator, the structure was built in the Victorian Free Classic design. It's still notorious for the Beatles who appeared to large crowds on the balcony in 1964!

South Australian Museum, Adelaide

The SA Museum was home to Norman Tindale, the originator of the Tindale Map, documenting over 250 Aboriginal territories on Australia. The Aboriginal communities are said to have been here some 50,000 years, surviving on the continent. Their customs and tools are similar to various Pacific islanders who came in larger numbers with the advent of the early outrigger canoe. The European explorers and settlements did not occur until the late 1700s and early 1800s.

Bailey's Fig, Adelaide Botanical Garden

This huge fig tree is a native of Queensland in NE Australia.

Geologic cross-section, Ayers Rock & The Olgas

Kata Tjutas (aka Olgas)

Kata Tjuta, means 'many heads', and is a sacred place for the Anangu men.

We took a short one hour walk in Walpa Gorge in the late afternoon but temperatures must have been over 110F in the sun next to the rocks. A wet bandana provided some relief from the extremely hot temps but it was a brisk walk back to the air-conditioned van!

The Kata Tjutas make up of a group of 36 conglomerate rock domes dating back 500 million years.

Ayers Rock (aka Uluru)

The red hot centre of Australia is home to this world-renowned sandstone monolith, which stands about 1200 ft high with most of its bulk below the ground and connected to the nearby Kata Kjutas (Olgas) rock formations. Christmas eve was marked by temperatures in the 100s, and being summer, the black flies (which fortunately don't bite) were out in force. Head nets came in handy!

On Christmas morning after sunrise we walked around the base (about 7.5 miles).

There is much to see on the walk. Caves and unusual pockmarks on the rock, formed by erosion, illustrate the legends and stories passed down through multiple generations of the Anangu. Uluru is owned by the Anangu, the local aboriginal population, and is a sacred part of their culture and laws. The national park is jointly managed by the Anangu and the Australian government.

Sugar cane farmlands on way to Daintree Rain Forest

Welcome smoke, Mossman Gorge

Local aboriginal custom calls for smoke to welcome outsiders here in the rain forest north of Cairns.

Cape Tribulation

Where rainforest meets the reef. The official wet season here arrived on queue at midnight last night.

Brisbane, Australia

From Brisbane City Youth Hostel.

Fitzroy Island, Great Barrier Reef

Surf's Up, Byron Bay

High tide and windy conditions made swimming too challenging but the kite surfers loved it achieving big speed and big air.

Rainbow Lorikeet

The eucalyptus forests of eastern Australia on the central coast seem filled with these colorful and chatty parrots.

Koala Hospital, Port Macquarie

This young koala is climbing too high for its own good, according to its volunteer caretakers. But he seemed under control to me with his two thumbs, three fingers and long claws gripping the thin branch of the eucalyptus tree. There are about ten residents coalescing at the koala hospital at present, recovering from incidents ranging from car accidents to curvature of the spine. The wild koala population is "threatened", and has decreased by an estimated 90% in the last decade due primarily to loss of habitat from urbanization and also natural causes like bush fires. Even local residents keep a rope in their pool in case a koala gets in and needs help getting out. Koalas are not bears, rather they belong to the marsupial family along with the kangaroo and wombat.

Flying fox bat, Port Macquarie

We spotted thousands of huge bats in the trees on a walk through the rainforest near the coast. The grey-headed flying fox is the largest bat in Australia. It relies on sight to locate its food (nectar, pollen and native fruits) and thus has large eyes. The flying fox has a dark-grey body with a light-grey head and a reddish-brown neck collar of fur. 

Mark with his python, Point Stephens

Owner of Samurai Bungalows YHA, Mark has loved snakes since he was a little boy, hiding them in his shirt. Of the ten most poisonous snakes in the world, Australia is home to eight. But Mark says they just don't bite him. He probably knows the difference between the ones that can be handled and the ones that cannot!

Kookaburra, Port Stephens

Kookaburras, native to Eastern Australia, laugh after dusk and dawn outside the bungalow. In the morning, these large stocky birds are hunting lizards and other small creatures, unperturbed by a photograph. 

From Wikopedia:

"Laughing Kookaburra" uses its laugh to establish territory amongst family groups. One bird starts with a low, hiccuping chuckle, then throws its head back in raucous laughter: often several others join in. If a rival tribe is within earshot and replies, the whole family soon gathers to fill the bush with ringing laughter.

Interesting experience in the Australian bush!

Tomaree National Park, Port Stephens

Hiking a jeep trail through the eucalyptus trees, we emerged at the Tasman Sea and an unspoiled, clothing optional beach. There were only a few semi-modest bathers amidst miles of sand dunes. Since the tide was fairly low, we hiked over the head to reach One Mile Beach on the other side. Bottle nosed dolphins were leaping in the ocean a little ways out from the surfers.

Nelson Bay, Port Stephens

Four hours north of Sydney sits a peninsula discovered by Captain Cook for England in 1770. We're staying at a hostel situated within a koala bear habitat near the beach. Hope to see one in the gum trees soon.

Glenferrie Lodge, Sydney

Built in 1908, this lodge is a great value located on Kirribilli Point, an exclusive neighborhood directly across from Sydney, and only ten minutes by ferry from Circular Quay.

Sydney skyline

Parsley Bay, Eastern Suburbs, Sydney

See white house just above white line. Built in 1930's by DS' grandfather.

Illawara Flame Tree, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney

Native of states of Queensland & NSW (New South Wales). The tree is famous for the bright red bell-shaped flowers that often cover the whole tree when it is leafless during late spring. 

Sydney Opera House from Harbour Ferry

Started in 1959 and not finished until 1973 by Danish architect Jorn Utzon, the Sydney Opera House is one of the most famous performing arts centres in the world. Its concrete plaster "shells" (or structurally panels) represent modern expressionism and a highly technical design. The Opera House actually contains multiple venues for symphony, opera, theater and other performing arts while also becoming the national icon of Sydney surrounded by the harbour on three sides. 

Sydney Harbour Bridge

As seen from Kirribilli Point. We are staying at a small hotel a short distance away from The Kirribilli House, the prime minister's official residence in Sydney when she is not in the national capital of Canberra.

Upper Skyline Trail, Mount Rainier National Park

Gorgeous day at Mt Rainier. This is almost halfway to Camp Muir where climbers set out to tackle the summit.

Peyto Lake, Banff NP

Also called Coyote Lake for the resemblance!

Saskatchewan Glacier from Parker Ridge, Jasper NP

Lake Moraine, Banff NP

Banff (Alberta, Canada) from Mt Sanson 7495 ft

Hike about 5.5 km (2300 ft) to the top of the Banff Gondola for aerial views of town with the Bow River winding its way through it. Surrounded by the Canadian Rockies, Banff is famous for its hot springs on Sulphur Mountain, the original catalyst to protect this area as a national park in 1903. Now it may be more famous for its mountain film festival and a base for hiking and seeing wildlife. A grizzly bear and its cubs have been seen at the next campground over from ours, only ten minutes from town. No one seems too concerned other than to keep a spotless campsite!

Glacier National Park Triple Divide

Glacier National Park marks not only the Continental Divide but also the "triple divide" with mountain streams feeding the mighty Columbia River to the Pacific Ocean, the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers to the Gulf of Mexico, and the Saskatchewan and Nelson Rivers to Hudson Bay.

Mountain Goat, Hidden Lake trail, Glacier NP

Just outside Logan Pass Visitor Center is the trail to Hidden Lake, up a snowfield into the wilderness with mountain goats and bighorn sheep feeding in the rocks and meadows.

Avalanche Lake, Glacier National Park

5-mile round trip hike to glacier-fed lake with multiple waterfalls. Bear and cougar sightings recently but we only saw tell-tale signs.

Bald Mountain, Sun Valley, Idaho

Here's a nice summer hike 3400 ft to the top of the ski mountain covering five miles. Afterward, ride the chairlift and gondola straight down to the Sun Valley lodge. It's complimentary for hikers and very easy on the knees. Fabulous views of the Sawtooth Mountain range as well as Ketchum, Sun Valley, and the Wood River Valley below.

Rocky Mountain NP, above the clouds

Come to one of the highest roads in North America on a clear day!

Snowmass Lake from Trailrider Pass, Maroon Bells Circuit

View of Snowmass Peak from Buckskin Pass

W Maroon Pass, Maroon Bells Circuit

Here's a panorama of the first of four high passes, each approx 12,500 ft, crossed over the four-day 27 mi hike around the Maroon Bells outside Aspen, Colorado.

Crater Lake, Maroon Bell Mtns

Sunny and crisp spring hike to the base of the Maroon Bell mountains rising over 14000 ft. Normally this area would be still covered in six feet of snow but due to the drought we easily hiked through snow patches to reach the lake at 10000 ft. Camped in this White River Wilderness area last night but an overly curious marmot, raccoon or possibly rat made it one long night. Better than a black bear who are apparently waking up hungry and mad because there is little food.

Black Canyon of Gunnison Natl Park

Steep deep and narrow is the best way to describe Black Canyon. In an engineering feat in the early 1900s, daring entrepreneurs and their hearty workforce established a rail link through part of the canyon and dug a tunnel with shovels and pick axes through the rock to divert the river water for irrigation in the next valley. Short hikes are mainly around the rim at 8400 ft unless you want to hike straight down 2000 ft to the icy waters of the Gunnison River flanked by poison ivy growing 5 ft high.

Colorado National Monument

Tremendous views over Grand Junction and beyond. The canyons here are almost as dramatic as those in neighboring Utah and Arizona, which are also on the Colorado Plateau.

Delicate Arch, Arches National Park

Canyonlands Natl Park, Islands in Sky

The Slot, Canyonlands

Canyonlands National Park - The Needles

Hiking up and down the boulders in the canyons leads to Chesler Park, land of the towering red and white sandstone needles. Follow the zig zag path of rock cairns across the canyon land, or you will soon be in the middle of nowhere! 8-12 mile hike, depending on where you start. Campground was full so we camped at the delightful Needles Outpost just outside the southern park entrance. Venus shined brightly in the dark moonless sky, with a million stars twinkling.

Natural Bridges Natl Monument el 6500 ft

Streams cut three massive natural bridges out of the sandstone in an area once near an ancient sea. There's a scenic 6-8 mi loop hike through the canyons below under the bridges which are striped with desert varnish. Campground full but boondocked on Deer Park, a BLM dirt road. (Bureau of Land Mgt)

Wildcat Trail, Monument Valley

Monument Valley, Navajo Tribal Lands

SE Utah Destinations

Moenkopi Plateau, near Tuba City AZ

Renowned Pima & Maricopa Indian Dancers, Scottsdale