AustraliaQueenslandCentral HighlandsSapphireAnakie Water Facility23°28’9” S 147°43’32” E June 20, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
Another big driving day. Once I winkled myself away from my overnight spot I carried on down the Gordon Development Road, over the Tropic of Capricorn, to Emerald then another 50 km W to the gemRead more
AustraliaQueenslandCharters Towers20°4’33” S 146°15’33” E June 19, 2017 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 20 °C
I've been pondering how I want to head south. Last night I still had 1400 km (870 miles) to Brisbane taking the most direct route down the Bruce Highway which follows the coast. It's the most popularRead more
Sarah Berthelemy
Ooh, it's got a real Canadian/American feel to it. Not what I was expecting...
Rachel Keetley Just spent my lunch break catching up on all your travels and amazing photos... wow!! Missing you, but been ever so joyful to see your smiling face in some of your photos. Beautiful to see you so full of life. Biggest squeeze of a hug EVER! x
AustraliaQueenslandCassowary CoastMourilyan Harbour17°36’1” S 146°7’19” E June 18, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
I can't believe it - I'm so pleased! As far as my trip goes, this is the icing on the cake.
I'd heard there were cassowary at Etty Bay so I worked it into my route today. It turns out that it's aRead more
Traveler
What a creature! This is a male I think, the females are up to 6 feet tall - gulp!
AustraliaQueenslandTablelandsMinbun17°27’60” S 145°35’24” E June 17, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
Well that wasn't so hard! I went to the
Australian Platypus Park outside Tarzali, had a very informative little tour, then waited. That's all it look. They have 10-12 platypus living wild in theirRead more
Traveler
Can you believe this was my first sighting! This is a still from the video - I have some lovely videos of lily pads being searched for food. I didn't know they hunt using their bill to detect electrical signals like heartbeats and brain activity. Amazing creatures.
Traveler
A little bit indistinct, but you can see the bill - again a still from a great little video. The platypus I saw were mostly diving down to search for food and only surfacing for a little while to eat it, but this one was having a good old rummage through the lily pads. This is a young platypus.
AustraliaQueenslandTablelandsAtherton17°16’16” S 145°28’56” E
June 16, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
Had it been warmer with clear skies I would have headed south on the coast road, which is supposed to have stunning views, but it was wet and cold with poor visibility so I took an inland route toRead more
June 15, 2017 ⋅ 🌬 22 °C
Why did I come to Port Douglas? To get a reef trip 😎
I could wait until I'm further south but Tropical Cyclone Debbie caused a lot of damage down there, so today was the day.
I went for a fullRead more
Traveler
I'm so happy with this. It's a parrotfish (don't know the exact type yet) being cleaned by cleaner wrasse at a cleaning station. Whatever fish needs a few old scales nibbled off, or parasites removed goes to the local cleaning station and goes into a sort of trance while the cleaner wrasse do their work. They even clean inside mouths ... so there's some sort of understanding that it's not ok to eat your cleaner. I hung around this spot for a few minutes watching several fish turn up for a valet. I've wanted to see a cleaning station for ages - of all the creatures and things I saw, this is the one that made my day
AustraliaQueenslandCairnsPilgrim Sands16°4’15” S 145°27’43” E June 14, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
I winkled myself out of bed at 6:30 and hit the road up to Cape Tribulation, and the end of the tarmac, for beakfast. An excellent plan, though the part where I was rewarded with a cassowary sightingRead more
Traveler
Not all campsites are easy on the eye... sandwiched between the camp kitchen (just behind where I was standing), amenities block, gas supply and rubbish bins. On the plus side it was lovely and quiet last night.
AustraliaQueenslandCairnsMossman GorgeMossman River16°28’28” S 145°20’55” E June 13, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
I headed up to the Daintree area today, which is essentially the ancient (world heritage) rainforest on the other side of the mountains to where I was yesterday, 'where rainforest meets reef'. IRead more
AustraliaQueenslandTablelandsMount Carbine16°31’53” S 145°8’20” E June 12, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
I've taken the next step this evening, staying at Mount Carbine unpowered - so van-wise the same as if I stopped in the bush... I'm working towards it.
What a spot this is! There are any number ofRead more
AustraliaQueenslandCook ShireBicentennial Park15°27’45” S 145°14’59” E June 11, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Today was the annual reenactment in Cooktown of the first encounter between the Guuyu Yimithirr nation and the crew if HMB Endeavour. They aim to tell the story from both perspectives, which resultsRead more
Traveler
I was at the van this evening when I saw a flash of blue as a couple of kookaburras landed just behind where I'm parked. I'm super happy to get some good pics - wildlife has been elusive over the last few days
Traveler
HMB Endeavour's anchor at the Captain James Cook Museum in Cooktown. It was jettisoned after the Endeavour was holed on the Barrier Reef. Salvaged in 1971
Traveler
I did a little walk - only 800m - from the Botanical Gardens down to Finch Bay. I have to say I questioned my decision a good few times; the path feels very remote though it is well used (and a lady at the Botanical Gardens knew I was heading that way). I reckon this is exactly the sort of vegetation Cook and co encountered when they landed here.
Traveler
Any guesses as to what this is in a park in Emerald?
Traveler
A giant copy of Van Gogh's sunflowers of course...
Sue Tweed
Of course
Sarah Berthelemy
I was about to suggest that!!