Reset search
AustraliaAustralia
SatelliteEdit route

Australia

September - November 2017
A 67-day adventure by Sue Read more
  • 46footprints
  • 4countries
  • 67days
  • 258photos
  • 0videos
  • 17.1kmiles
  • 13.1kmiles
Follow Calendar Share Bucket list
Date ascending
  • TravelerAustralia
    Day 1

    ... in Bromley

    September 5, 2017 in England ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Well these are the last few days before we head off to the Antipodes - so many things to do and people to see before we go! New cases bought and packed, travel documents and passports sorted, Taxis booked to drop and pick up from Heathrow, as well as lounges booked for both Heathrow and Tokyo for our long waits - a little treat to start the holiday!Read more

  • TravelerAustralia
    Day 11

    Hong Kong on route..

    September 15, 2017 in Hong Kong ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Well,we are part way there. We got to Heathrow early and spent the time in the No 1 lounge - comfy chair, proseco and food (paid for with a token). Our Cathay Pacific flight left at 8 pm Thursday flown by Captain Jed Wood - no duets with the co-pilot though! Free Champagne offered once in the air - I'm enjoying this flying lark!! New Pirates of the Caribbean film is not bad and Their Finest was great. We are now at Hong Kong Airport for 6 hrs - again we booked a lounge and I am writing at 18.08 pm Friday evening. It is around 32C a little warmer than Hayes maybe?! Sarah's Misfit was really surprised when we arrived -"Great Scott! You travelled forwards in time by 7.0 hrs". We will be heading off to Brisbane on the next leg, again with Cathay around 21.20 pm with a touch down at Cairns. My time clock is completely haywire - might get some sleep on this leg, maybe?!Read more

  • TravelerAustralia
    Day 13

    Sandgate, Brisbane

    September 17, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    After a stop in Cairns to drop off and pick up passenger we finally arrived at Brisbane airport around 10 am Saturday morning. Clare, met us at the airport and drove us to their home in Sandgate, base for our holiday in Oz. The house in Sandgate is a traditional Queenslander, wooden house on stilts, with any additions built under rather than above. We spent most of the day recovering, unpacking and had an early night. After 10 hrs sleep and a couple of cups of tea recovery from the travelling had started. Sunday - The temperature today is around 21C and sunny. We went shopping for slippers, sunscreen and Sim cards before lunch.
    Around 4 pm we went to a local wetlands area Tinchi Tamba to search out Kangaroos. It is an area that links to Moreton Bay and has Pine river going through it. There is part board walk over the wetland/mangrove area which leads into wooded areas and clearings where the Kangaroos can be seen. The walkway ends at a bird hide by the Pine river where various birds like Ibis, Spoonbills and curlew and is a flight path for migrating birds. We spotted a number of Kangaroos, some in family groups and one with a joey in her pouch on our walk and at the river saw the sun beginning to set giving an orangey glow to the clouds and sky.    Read more

  • TravelerAustralia
    Day 14

    Sandgate Foreshore

    September 18, 2017 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 17 °C

    This morning was birthday present hunting, morning coffee out and driving lessons in an automatic car around the entertainment centre car park - Trev and I seem to be the oldest there! This car park is used regularly, as it is never too busy, there is a complex of roads that are all one way, with junctions, stop signs, roundabouts and parking places, so it is a good starter place for youngsters to learn the basics of the car with their parents without causing too much stress. We were told by Clare that one of us had to drive the car or we would not get lunch! As it was both of us drove the car - Clare just has to work on Sarah. The only thing we seemed to have difficulty with was signalling - we tended to put the windscreen wipers on instead as the indicators and wiper switches are round the other way - so washing the windscreen to turn left!!
    After lunch we sorted out a trip to Sydney to see my aunt Gwyneth & uncle Graham (Dad's brother and his wife). Gwyneth is the spit image of Hi-de-Hi's, Gladys Pugh - very welsh and similar in looks as well - Graham is quieter, probably because he can't get a word in 'edge ways'; though he does have a very wry sense of humour!
    We took a drive a long to Shorecliff hoping to have afternoon tea at the cafe there, but it was just closing so we settled for afternoon tea/ coffee and cake at The Coffee Club in Sandgate - I am getting used to this relaxed way of living - then we took a walk along the foreshore to dispel the extra calories.
    This evening we have been listening to the geckos outside who 'click' to communicate with each other. We also watched the bats at twilight flying from their roost near the creak over to Moreton island to feed - when I say bats, these are not like the little Pippistrels we have at home these are large proper 'flying fox' / Batman symbol bats. The show lasts for a good 30 minutes each evening and if you are lucky enough they will stop to feed on a fruit tree near you on their way out. Finally, I have been fast enough to 'snap' the bats at roost in a tree near the house (though a picture of bats roosting during the day - hopefully shows how big these bats are)!!    Read more

  • TravelerAustralia
    Day 16

    Brisbane, South Bank

    September 20, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Today we hopped on the train from Sandgate to Brisbane, stopping at all stations in between - Boondall, Nudgee etc. We got off at Centrale and headed to Queens Street Mall so we could update our collection of tourist brochures about the area - the information centre was to be found in the renovated Regent Cinema Theatre. The components of the building that served the Regent Theatre are: the single-height threshold space off the street; the large, double-height entrance hall; and beyond this the elaborate grand foyer, which retains the marble staircase that once led to the 1929 theatre's mezzanine promenade. The interiors of all these spaces are extravagantly ornamented in a collection of styles.
    A quick coffee and a wander through the farmers' market held every Wednesday which was filled with all sorts fresh foods and craft items, we found ourselves at the river side. After crossing the Queens street bridge to the other side of the river we took a leisurely stroll along the path ways on the South Bank, stopping to admire the Nepalese Peace Pagoda that was part of Expo 88 and lingering a while on seats along the Tropical Rain forest board walk.
    Lunch was at Cafe Lagoonas, where we had a Lagoonas special - one sandwich with both breakfast and lunch contained in it!!
    We continued to stroll along the bank until we reached South Bank station and a return train to Sandgate. Now for a cup of tea and planning where to go over the next few days!    Read more

  • TravelerAustralia
    Day 17

    Rob Aker's Reserve

    September 21, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    We had a relaxed day today with the added pleasure of having Ken at home. So after a leisurely breakfast, Ken took Sarah, Trev and I out to see if we could see Koalas in the wild. The family had gone to a koala festival earlier in the year which was a waste of time, however someone did point out that if they wanted to see Koalas try a local reserve. So we headed to Strathpine and wandered around the reserve. Koalas are difficult to spot as they look like a grey blob in grey trees and you have to keep looking up while walking! Obviously Eucalyptus trees are their favourite and that's where Ken spotted our first Koala - it did not want to look at us so we mainly saw its back, an ear or an odd paw. So we continued searching and looking at the other flora and fauna. on the way back to the car we too a different path and again spotted one but in a different tree. This one was easier to see and was happy to pose!! For our final sighting we had some help from a fellow spotter. This Koala was again in a eucalyptus tree but higher up. However it was happy to pose and then moved down the tree so we could clearly see how it moved!!
    On the way back for lunch we made a quick stop at the 4th of Four lagoons in Sandgate - it is one that is often forgotten about or people are unsure where it is. Hana has seen kangaroos here as well, but we saw loads of colourful Dragonflies, a Spoonbill and a small Heron sunning itself. Ken pointed out later that seeing a spoonbill at this lagoon is quite rare and Sarah's photo of the bird has now been shared on the lagoon environment website!
    After lunch I helped Finn make a model of Darth Vader's head and mask - really fiddly!    Read more

  • TravelerAustralia
    Day 18

    Dowse Lagoon, Sandgate

    September 22, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    This morning we decided to go for a walk and headed for the Dowse Lagoon, the 2nd of the 4 lagoons in Sandgate. The Dowse Lagoon was named after one of the first European settlers to this area, Thomas Dowse who was sent to Australia as a convict, when he was 15, having stolen his brother's clothes from his mother's house (she was a witness) and sentence to death at the Old Bailey, which was commuted to transportation for life?! Yet, as it happens, Tom flourished. H He kept a diary of these years that is now in the State Library of Queensland and when he died, there were glowing obituaries to him – though few references to his convict past.
    The complete circuit of the Lagoon is 1500 metres which we completed with a few stops to look at the bird life that frequents the area. There are a number of stopping places and bird hides along the route so you can take a closer look at the water fowl and information boards around the route pointing out information the variety of flora and fauna in the surrounding area. This lagoon is part of a migratory corridor for water birds stretching from Moreton Bay through to Deagon Wetlands and beyond. We saw a number of birds while out, my special favourite being the laughing Kookaburra - which adds to my list of Ozzie beasts and birds seen in their natural habitat. We also saw Magpies, which are more tuneful than ours (like a Mocking Jay); noisy Mynah birds which are like our starlings in number and noise; black swans and rainbow parakeets. The lagoon is also home to the flat turtle or 'Stinker' - back in 2003 there had to be a turtle rescue due to the drought that dried up the lagoon completely. They were caught and moved to other areas where wetlands were still available.    Read more

  • TravelerAustralia
    Day 20

    Redcliffe

    September 24, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    This morning, after breakfast, we decided to head to Redcliffe vIa the Hornbrook Highway one of the longest bridges in the southern hemisphere with motorists travelling suspended over water for 2.64 km. You can see pelicans perched precariously on the top of the lamp posts along the highway, even though the council has put preventative measure in place, spikes on top of the lamps! Last time we were here we saw the pelicans being fed which is done every morning at 10 am allowing people to check the population, check for injured bird etc. Today we headed to the Jetty Market which stretches along the Redcliffe foreshore selling foods, clothes, natural medicinal items and all sorts of other curios! to get there Ken and Clare took us through Bee Gees Way a tribute to Redcliffe’s world-famous pop group – the Bee Gees!!
    In the late 1950s, three young brothers living on the Redcliffe Peninsula gathered around a microphone and for the first time performed using a name now famous around the globe.
    Bee Gees way is a multi-media celebration of the Gibb brothers' phenomenal career and their links to Redcliffe. Free and open every day and night, Bee Gees Way has been developed in conjunction with Barry Gibb.
    The market was colourful and noisy with a Jamaiican band playing and various stall holder calling - however it was really pleasant near the Jetty as there was a lovely offshore breeze coming in. Before we headed back I noticed a piece of sculpture, machinery or 'thingamy'? What was it? What did it do? Well the plaque said it was The Apparatus For Non Destructive Biological Visualization. one of a collection of inventions by Franz Andriessen which was to be brought to Australia but was lost in mysterious circumstances in 1920 and this was the only thing recovered - you can see an image of the last thing captured - a mermaid! Tall tales come to mind!!    Read more

  • TravelerAustralia
    Day 22

    Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

    September 26, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Today we were up early to get to Brisbane, South Bank for 10 am. We are heading to Fig Tree Pocket to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary on the Mirimar II. The trip took us down the river, during the cruise we sat up top to enjoy sunshine, cool air, great views of historic Queenslander homes and breathtaking modern mansions along the sought after river front. We also had an entertaining narrative for the journey down, from the Captain with interesting facts about the sites along the way as well as the river itself and the boat we were on. This was a relaxing way to spend an hour and a quarter!
    Once we arrived at Fig Tree Pocket and negotiated the climb up the 29 steps to the entrance we had 3 hrs in which to explore the sanctuary. From Koalas to Kangaroos; Wombats to Dingos; Platypus to Bats and Tazmanian Devils we spent the time exploring some of Australia's wildlife - some in enclosures, some roaming so you could get up close experiences feeding and touching - Emus, kangaroos and wallabies. Some animals and birds have the area as their natural home - Myna birds, black turkeys, Eastern Water dragons and a range of smaller lizards. There was plenty to see in a reasonably spaced area and the 3 hours went quite quickly. The return boat trip was a little warmer, just as relaxing and accompanied with Ozzie music.
    Once back to Sandgate we had cold drinks then an early meal so we could meet Ken and head to another theatrical event as part of the Brisbane festival. This time we went to Theatre Republic at QU; the production was called 'Two Guys In A Box' - two Brisbane guys known for clowning using a combination of physical theatre, dark comedy and satire to show their life in the box.    Read more

  • TravelerAustralia
    Day 23

    Australia Zoo, Beerwah

    September 27, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Today we're going to head to Australia Zoo using the Francey mobile - so I had better be careful! I have visited the local car park that is used for parents taking teens to learn to familiarise myself with an automatic! All I have to remember is the indicators are on the Right hand side otherwise I will be indicating with windscreen wipers!!
    Ken has explained the route which is very straight forward and about an hours drive up into the Glass Mountain area towards the Sunshine coast. The drive up was really easy and the mountains were stunning. The Zoo itself started as a wildlife park and as the park got bigger it became Australia Zoo which was the brainchild of Steve Irwin - The Crocodile Hunter. Steve and Terri Irwin's vision has always been to make Australia Zoo the biggest and best wildlife conservation facility in the entire world! We arrived around 10.30 am after about 1 hrs drive. The park is divided into sections - we investigated the Australian Lizards and turtles, Komodo dragon and Aldabran tortoises, before having coffee at the food court. In this area is the Crocoseum where the zoo does their main show. As there were large numbers of families we gave the show a miss and were able to get a near empty shuttle up to the top of the park and we could then make our way downhill through all the other areas.
    So we started in Africa - giraffe, zebra, rhinos and meerkats; headed to Bindi's Island (named after Steve's daughter) which has a tree house to see the free roaming Lemurs, a macaw and snapping turtles; next was Asia with Camel rides, a Red Panda and Tigers (sleeping) The zoo has a tiger base where they have around 13 tigers. As tigers get older they become more solitary so they have an enclosure for each tiger with different activities in each one. The tigers are moved around each enclosure so they get different experiences. The tigers only spend a certain amount of time in the zoo enclosure and they are rotated. As we had seen a lot of Australian animals we gave most of this area a miss, but did see Cockatoos and I stroked a koala. We walked through a kangaroo enclosure where you could stroke or feed the animals. One largish kangaroo had a keeper looking after her who explained that this Kangaroo was an old lady who could get a bit grouchy and snap at visitors, so she was there to look after her and move visitors on - Kangaroos can live up to 18 yrs and this one was 15. At the end of this enclosure we also saw Echidnas. After lunch we had a look at the Wombats, Snakes, Crocodiles, Alligators and Rhinoceros Iguanas.
    The Zoo also has a 24 hr Wildlife Rescue service and wildlife hospital where they treat wild animals brought in to them or animals injured at the zoo. On the way back to the car we were able to have a 'sneak peek' in the hospital to see behind the scenes. On our way home we also got good views again of the Glass House Mountains. The drive home was fine until we got to the Sandgate turn off which is a little muddled due to roadworks but we got home ok.    Read more

  • 2024© FindPenguins
  • Home
  • About us
  • Blog
  • Group Tracking
  • Press
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy & Cookies
  • Support
  • Legal notice
  • English