Western Wildflower Wonderland

October 14, 2018 / Christina B / 6 Comments

Western Australia has seen the best spring wildflower season in many years. I managed to get out into wildflower country a few times and it was well worth it, but I still have to learn some of the names! It’s something my late husband and I enjoyed doing together and I still love going for long drives in the beautiful countryside.

These are some of my favourite wildflower photos.

Pea family

From the Hakea family

Donkey Orchids

Wildflowers and fields of Canola

Leschenaultia

Spider Orchids

Cowslip Orchids

Everlastings

Grevillea (this one was taken in my garden)

Magnificent Sundews

Snail Orchids

Grasstree with dead flower

Pea family

Everlastings

Vibrant native freesias

Purple flag

I’ve entered the one below in a Wildflower Photo Competition. There are some really beautiful photo entries but if you like mine, please vote for it at Australia’s Golden Outback.

Healthy Flowers Happy Bees (Dryandra)

Weekly Photo Challenge: Cherry On Top

July 23, 2016July 23, 2016 / Christina B / 19 Comments

Snorkelling along the Ningaloo Reef in northwest Australia in the clear, unpolluted water is an unforgettable experience. Paddling is another way to enjoy this beautiful area and all it has to offer. Coming across a shy sea turtle when you’re snorkelling or paddling is an added bonus. These elusive creatures glide through the water, seemingly effortlessly, and can hold their breaths for long periods of time. I’ve been fortunate enough to swim alongside some a couple of times when we were out snorkelling.

They only pop their heads up to breathe when they feel safe. Before they do that they come up once to check that everything is ok, duck back down and then they’ll come up to breathe. I’ve seen them do this on a number of occasions when I’ve been out paddling but I didn’t have a camera with me. They’ll only have their heads above water for a few short seconds and you never know if, when or where another one will pop up. Last year when we were at Coral Bay (read more about the trip here) we did a glass bottom boat tour and saw lots of turtles. It was beautiful. I stood ready with my camera in hand, but with no idea where to look or focus. When one did pop up I literally had a second to turn, zoom in, focus and shoot. To be able to capture them was the absolute cherry on top.

Green sea turtle popping up for a look and then to take a breath. Taken on the glass bottom bout tour.

Green sea turtle, Coral Bay, Western Australia

Green sea turtle at Coral Bay, Western Australia

Weekly Photo Challenge: Numbers

June 4, 2016June 4, 2016 / Christina B / 17 Comments

The Rabbit Proof Fence is a pest-exclusion fence that was constructed in Western Australia between 1901 and 1907 to keep rabbits and other agricultural pests from the eastern parts of the country out of the Western Australian pastoral areas.

There are three fences. The original No 1 fence crosses the state from south to north and when it was completed in 1907 the 1833 kilometre long fence was the longest unbroken fence in the world. It is visible from space.

The fence also features in the movie by the same name, that tells the story of three Aboriginal girls who were forcibly removed from their families in 1931 to be trained as domestic servants as part of Australian government policy. They make a daring escape and embark on an epic 2400 kilometre journey to get back home – along the rabbit proof fence that bisects the Australian continent, with the authorities in pursuit.

A part of the rabbit proof fence

In response to the Weekly Photo Challenge: Numbers.

W…

April 27, 2016April 27, 2016 / Christina B / 20 Comments

W is for Western Australia. It occupies the entire western third of and is the largest state in Australia, and the second largest national region in the world. It measures 1500 kilometres from west to east and 2400 kilometres from north to south and has a coastline of 20 781 kilometres. A large part of the state is arid desert and the population is concentrated in the south west. Below is a map of Australia to try and give some perspective on the size of the country (France, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Ecuador would roughly fit into Western Australia).

Some of the different regions in Western Australia

We have visited quite a few places mostly along the coast of WA. This post is taking you on a (shortened) virtual road trip through the parts of WA we’ve been to. Some of the photos will be familiar as I’ve used them before. Starting in Perth we’re heading south west to the winery region around Margaret River. The area is also famous for its forests, surfing beaches and caves.

Forest in south west Australia

Ngilgi Cave near Yallingup, south west Australia

Yallingup, near Margaret River in south west Australia

From there we head further south east to Denmark, Albany and Bremer Bay. Along the way we’re making a short detour via the Porongorup mountains and the Stirling Ranges.

View of Ocean Beach and the Wilson Inlet at Denmark

Green’s Pool, Denmark

Old lighthouse keeper’s house in Albany

Bluff Knoll, Stirling Ranges which we’ve hiked a few times (start of the path can be seen to the left at the bottom of the photo)

Beneath My Feet: A Skywalk, Granite Outcrop and West Australian Farmland

Bremer Bay

Bluff Knoll the following day

From Bremer Bay we head further east along the coast to Esperance – which is 800 kilometres from Perth via the most direct route – and past Esperance to Cape le Grande National Park, and also hopping over to Woody Island for a day trip. Woody Island is one of 105 islands that make up the Recherche Archipelago south of Esperance.

Twilight beach in Esperance, WA

Frenchman’s Peak

Hellfire Bay, Cape le Grande National Park where the sand is so fine and clean that it squeeks when you walk on it

Woody Island

Woody Island with view towards the mainland and Frenchman’s Peak

From Esperance we’ll head back towards Perth driving through some vastly beautiful wheat belt (farming) country past Wave Rock, stopping at a working farm to see a Kelpie (an Australian sheep dog) at work and detouring via Kalgoorlie – a gold mining town which is home to the Superpit – Australia’s largest open cut gold mine.

Wheat belt at sunset

Kelpie in action mustering sheep

Wave Rock, 14 metre high and about 110 metre long granite rock southeast of Perth, Western Australia

A section of the Superpit at Kalgoorlie (note the trucks driving along which are actually massive)

Back in Perth we’ll go to Rottnest Island (about 40 minutes away by ferry) for a day trip.

Rottnest Island taken from the west. The mainland can be seen in the background.

Thomsons Bay and the eastern tip of the island.

View over Longreach Bay towards Perth

The Basin, Rottnest Island

Salmon Bay, Rottnest Island

Then we’ll head north to the Coral coast, Ningaloo Reef and Coral Bay (about 1200 kilometres), stopping at the lookout to Shark Bay and Monkey Mia on the way. In Coral Bay we can snorkel and go on different glass bottom boat tours to see turtles and manta rays.

Shark Bay and Monkey Mia lookout, south of Carnarvon

View of Coral Bay, northwest Australia, with its turquoise waters

View towards the south of Coral Bay (and Paradise Beach).

Green sea turtle popping up for a look and then to take a breath. Taken on the glass bottom bout tour.

Cauliflower, staghorn, lavender and other coral taken on the glass bottom boat tour. The quality isn’t great due to the reflection of the glass.

From Coral Bay we’ll head another 1200 kilometres away north east up to Broome in the Kimberley region, known for its beautiful contrasting colours and red (pindan) sand. In Broome we’ll swim at Cable Beach, do a sunset camel ride and take a helicopter trip up to Willie Creek Pearl Farm.

The road north of Broome (not a great photo as it was taken out of a moving bus) showing the red discolouring of the road where vehicles have travelled after driving on the red sand

Broome, Western Australia

Camel rides on Cable Beach in Broome, WA

Going on a helicopter ride north of Broome

Helicopter ride north of Broome

North of Broome and the rest of the Kimberley is one area (of WA) our family hasn’t explored yet and are planning to do as soon as we’re able to. From Broome our virtual road trip will head back to Perth which will be a two day trip of driving 12 hours each day. Towards the end of the first day we’ll pass Karijini National Park and the Hamersley Ranges, another spot to visit on a different trip. There are beautiful gorges and rock pools there.

Edge of the Hamersley Ranges, Karijini National Park, north west Australia

Back in Perth we’ll stop to visit a local beach, see the sights and sounds and go to the city.

Fremantle Markets

View of Perth, the Swan river and Perth hills from Kings Park

Panorama of Perth and Elizabeth Quay

Swan River and South Perth taken from Kings Park

Waterman’s Beach north of Perth

R…

April 21, 2016April 14, 2016 / Christina B / 15 Comments

R is for Robben Island (off Cape Town in South Africa) and Rottnest Island (off Perth in Western Australia).

Both islands are similar in size and distance from the mainland, and prisons were built and used on both at some stage in their history. Robben Island is situated in the cold Atlantic Ocean whereas Rottnest Island has the benefit of the warmer Indian Ocean that makes it an ideal tourist and holiday destination.

No private vehicles are allowed on the island which makes walking and cycling the main forms of transport. A short 40 minute trip away from Perth by ferry, it feels worlds away though once you set foot on the island with its unique charm and character.

Bathurst Point Lighthouse

Jeannie’s Lookout

Parker Point

Rottnest Island

One of the seemingly innocuous little hills (towards Wadjemup lighthouse which was an important military spot in WW2)

West End, western most point on Rottnest Island

Beautiful and peaceful cycling roads (Mabel Cove and Marjorie Bay, Rottnest Island)

Salmon Bay, Rottnest Island

Thomson’s Bay (The Settlement), Rottnest Island

The Basin, Rottnest Island

View over Longreach Bay towards Perth

Sunset at Geordie Bay

Rottnest Island taken from the west. The mainland can be seen in the background.

Thomsons Bay and the eastern tip of the island.

Taken at Cottesloe beach just after sunrise. The visibility was amazing with the island and one of the lighthouses clearly visible

Robben Island on the other hand, takes your breath away with its perfect view of Table Mountain and Cape Town. On a beautiful, clear Cape Town day nothing in the world beats that view. I wouldn’t be able to choose one above the other for natural beauty. Sadly I don’t have as many photos of Robben Island as I do of Rottnest Island, simply because I’ve only been there twice and didn’t spend as much time there as we do on Rottnest.

Table Mountain with Robben Island in the foreground

Southern tip of Robben Island

Table Mountain and Cape Town, taken from Robben Island

O…

April 18, 2016April 11, 2016 / Christina B / 5 Comments

O is for Osprey. We see Eastern Ospreys along our coastline every now and then. A couple of years ago I was lucky to see two together at Rottnest Island (19 kilometres off the coast of Perth), and one was feeding at the time. They were really high up in the tree so I had to zoom in quite a bit and the quality isn’t the best but the one that was feeding looks like a female to me, who then joined her male partner after she’d finished eating (and went to sit to his left). They had me rapt for about half an hour. I’ve included some of the best shots I got.

Eastern Osprey feeding at Rottnest Island

Eastern Osprey with its catch

Eastern Ospreys at Rottnest Island

O is also for Oasis (we visited an ancient one while we lived in Dubai and it was very interesting but sadly I can’t find the photos), Orange (a beautiful city in country New South Wales where a lot of fruit is grown, about a three hour drive from both Canberra and Sydney where we went for my husband’s 50th birthday a couple of years ago), home made olive scrolls and of course: olives.

The view from our B&B outside Orange, New South Wales

Olive scrolls in the making

Freshly baked olive scrolls

N…

April 16, 2016April 10, 2016 / Christina B / 6 Comments

N is for Namibia and the Namib desert, which is believed to be the world’s oldest desert. It has a beauty of its own that I love.

Namib desert

Southern part of the Namib desert taken from the top of the Spreetshoogte Pass

Namib Desert near Swakopmund Namibia, another favourite of mine. The Namib desert is believed to be the oldest in the world (around 55 million years old).

N is also for New Zealand, New South Wales (one of the states of Australia), New Norcia (a Benedictine monastery established in 1846), Norfolk Island Pines, which are endemic to Norfolk Island (a small island in the Pacific Island, about 1440 kilometres from Sydney), and Nankeen Kestrels.

New Norcia, north east of Perth

Norfolk Island Pines in Cottesloe near Perth

Nankeen Kestrel (juvenile) taken on Rottnest Island

M…

April 15, 2016April 20, 2016 / Christina B / 9 Comments

M is for Melbourne where I’ve been once, marathon (which my running-mad husband has done close to 100 of), marsupial (a mammal whose young are born incomplete and then carried in a pouch on the mother’s belly like kangaroos), Moreton Bay fig trees, the moon, and mosaics (which I’ve done some of and loved it but hardly find the time for nowadays).

Early morning in Melbourne

Yarra river in Melbourne

Yarra river and South Bank in Melbourne

Flinders street station in Melbourne

Melbourne marathon

Moreton Bay fig tree in Fremantle

One of my mosaic projects

Full moon

M also stands for Magic Miles (the yacht my husband and his running mate joined as part of the Three Peaks Race in Tasmania in 2013.)

Magic Miles during the Three Peaks Race in 2013 (taken in front of The Hazards, Freycinet National Park)

Magic Miles team in the Three Peaks Race 2013

Magic Miles coming up the Derwent and dropping her sails about to dock in Hobart

I’ve included a professional video of the highlights of the Magic Miles team’s Three Peaks Race in 2013, made by Nick Roden who went along on the yacht. It was an amazing experience, even for us as spectators. None of us had ever done or been involved with anything like it. The race brought sailors and runners together to form a magnificent team, and we got to meet some fantastic people. Some of my photos have been included in the video.

Coincidentally, the last leg of the Three Peaks Race is a run up and down Mount Wellington in Hobart.

View from the top of Mount Wellington on an overcast and windy day

And finally, m is for mum!!

L…

April 14, 2016April 14, 2016 / Christina B / 17 Comments

L is for Lion, Lion’s Head and Laughing Kookaburra. We saw these lions on our last trip to Etosha National Park in 2014 on a rainy day. They were very relaxed and let us have a good, long look at them (I’ve used some of the photos in a previous photo challenge: here).

We managed to catch one last glimpse

And then they’d had enough of all the tourists staring at them and snapping pictures of them and they wandered off

Some of the lions in Etosha are collared to track them

A lazy day in the soft rain

Lion’s Head in Cape Town, taken from the cable car going up Table Mountain

Laughing Kookaburra

There is a song called: “Kookaburra sits in the Old Gum Tree” which is sung to the same melody as a song I grew up with in South Africa called “Tortelduifie sit in die Eikeboom” (Turtledove sits in the Oak Tree). I’ve included a video of Kookaburra sits in the Old Gum Tree:

L is also for limes, picked fresh from the garden and soon to become home made lime sorbet and lime cheese cake. I’ve since picked another bowl full but I’m running out of ideas what to make with them all. Any suggestions anyone?

Limes from our garden

J…

April 12, 2016April 12, 2016 / Christina B / 9 Comments

J is for jetty, joey and jigsaw puzzles.

The Busselton jetty in south west Australia is the longest wooden piled jetty in the Southern Hemisphere at 1841 metres long. It used to be a working jetty but is now used solely for tourism and recreational purposes. An underwater observatory has been built at the end of the jetty, giving patrons the opportunity to view fish and other marine life in their natural environment.

Busselton jetty early in the morning before the start of Ironman WA

View of a section of the Busselton jetty during the swim leg of Ironman WA

View towards the end section of the Busselton jetty during the swim leg of Ironman WA

The Swakopmund jetty is also an icon in this Namibian town with its own rich history as it juts out into the Atlantic ocean with its big swells.

Swakopmund jetty in Namibia

Swakopmund jetty

I have to mention the jetty (or rather remains thereof) at Maud’s Landing just north of Coral Bay in north west Australia, where the Ningaloo Reef is. It’s one of our favourite holiday destinations and the colour of the water really looks like this:

Remains of the jetty at Maud’s Landing north of Coral Bay, WA

A joey is a juvenile kangaroo. I haven’t been lucky enough to get a photo of one in its mum’s pouch. This one is slightly older:

A little joey next to the boardwalk in the caravan park at Coral Bay

And finally: jigsaw puzzles. Child No 3 is the best in our house at doing jigsaw puzzles. She has the most patience and perseverance and can spot a piece and its intended place with eagle-eye efficiency.