Last Post in Oz

As we get set to leave the Land of Oz and head off for greener pastures we would like to share some final moments from this wonderful land.  We have enjoyed its many landscapes, from rain forests to mango swamps; mountain ranges, canyons, gorges and lakes; eucalypts to olives, bananas, macadamias, pineapples, sugar cane and vineyards.  Its unique flora and fauna are fascinating.  Aussies spend a lot of money on infrastructure of highways, cities, parks and recreation facilities and sport and recreation generally, especially their footy (3 different codes) plus soccer (4 I guess), swimming and cricket.  They are a proud nation and we love them (most of the time). Good on ya's mates! We wish everyone a Happy and safe Christmas.  Catch you next year.  Huia and Yvonne

Yes, Rowan.  There really is a Santa Claus.  Darling Harbour in Sydney.

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 Our mobile hotel

 Tight squeeze/ Ghan Train

 Flat rock in Kings Canyon

 Garden of Eden, Kings Canyon

 12 Apostles?

 Razor ridge or rock

 Crater lake at Mt Gambier

The Pinnacle lookout, yay what a hike!

 Crayfish anyone?

 Beach baches, Mornington Peninsula

 Seagull sanctuary, Phillip Island

 Pelican feeding time















$350000 buys you one of these

Canberra Sydney Uluru

We travelled through the Blue Mountains, visiting Katoomba, the Jenolan Caves then down to Canberra, then the coastal village of Bermagui, up to Mossvale in the Southern Highlands of NSW, on to Sydney.  From there we flew to Ayers Rock (Uluru) for 3 rapid fire tours in 43 degree heat before heading south east to Alice Springs where we caught the Ghan Train for an overnight trip to Adelaide in south Australia.  What a huge, interesting land is this Terra Australis.  Found out today that Adelaide is the first colony  to be settled by "Free settlers", as opposed to those with criminal origins.

Exhibit from the WW2 display inside the impressive War Memorial Museum in Canberra

                                     

This "G for George", the Aussie crewed Lancaster Bomber that flew over 90 successful raids over Germany during WW 2, also housed in the wonderful Canberra museum.

                                              

Stalactites in the Orient Cave at Jenolan

                 

                  

How's this for a vista?  Somewhere in the Blue Mountains

The 3 sisters, all that's left of 7.  The others all eroded in the past century or so.  "No Climbing" signs all over the place.  I wonder why?

                                                                    

  Queen Victoria Building in Sydney

                                                              

Beautiful Sydney Harbour

                                            

There's the Bridge.

                                                      

The lighthouse at Byron Bay, the eastern most coastal head on the continent with Sharon.

                                                      

The symbolic Afghan Camel, from which the Ghan Train gets its name

                                                               

Kata Jhuta (The Olgas) on a very hot afternoon near Ayers Rock.  They Told us to drink lots of water.  They weren't kidding!

New found kiwi friends (from Paeroa) in Kings Canyon                                              

                                                                

Kings Canyon Rim walk.

                                              
Uluru  at sunset, with the obligatory glass of champagne or ...... your choice.  Some things about you just have to get used to.

                                               

Port Douglas to the Gold Coast

Hello everyone.  Here is the next edition of the Martin tour of Oz and NZ. Great Barrier Reef is extensive, over 2500 km of coral reef extending up the east coast of Australia.  We ventured out from Port Douglas on the Calypso - Mal and Cindy know it.  Great day of cruising and snorkelling.  We had 3 dives and saw lots of marine life.  Fascinating stuff.

We found Nemo

                                                         Some signs here crack us up!

Maori Wrasse.  Absolutely no resemblance!

Our reef boat.  Very professional crew and the bar was open - on the way home.

Huia, Yvonne and Charles at Charles' Golf Club on the Gold Coast. 

                                     
                                                           We loved snorkelling the reef.

                                   
             

Yvonne: Paddle board  champ of Currumbin

Fraser Island........the largest island of total sand 75 miles of white sand...as far as your eye can see

Lots more to come.  Technical difficulties not all resolved yet.  We'll get there.

WEEK ONE

Early morning wake up call on the Atherton tablelands.  Up early to catch 5:30 flight before winds got up

Koala village on Magnetic Island was a great opportunity to handle many of the local animals. Turtle.

Willie wombat.  Close relative of the koala.

Iguana or some type of lizard.  I thought it was a baby croc.

Couldn't resist a selfie with Bruce (name given to Julia's stuffed toy)

Two koalas, one real both cuddly.

Yvonne and Bruce.

Back to ballooning.  Fill'er up please mate.

Hey, where's our balloon gone?

Curtain fig tree.  Those are its roots.  Centuries ago it strangled its host, the original parasite!

1000ft above Mareeba looking down on crops of apples, mangoes, bananas, figs and a chicken farm

Sanctuary and breeding lab for many species of butterfly, including iridescent blue Ulysees

Friendly green parrot.  Guard you rings and baubles or they'll disappear.