Saturday, January 29, 2011
Kangaroo Island Exploring Day 2
Saturday, January 29
This morning, our guide, Tim, took us to a beach with Australian sea lions lounging on the beach. We walked through the sand, watching their antics as they rest and try to keep cool in the hot sun. We saw a hooded plover, one of only about 200 left in the wild.
On a walk just before lunch, we took a walk and spotted a koala in the tree. After lunch, we walked through a grove of trees hoping to see a black cockatoo. While we did not see the rare birds, we saw two kangaroos and joeys and several wallabies trying to keep cool in the shade of the trees.
After driving a bit, we saw two more koala in the trees. We then walked along a beautiful beach while cooling our feet in the bright blue Pacific. After returning to the bed and breakfast, we strolled along the beach, collecting shells. We saw four huge pelicans and some black swans in the shallow waters close to shore.
Tomorrow we leave Kangaroo Island and return to the mainland through Adelaide and then on to our final stop in Melbourne for a few days then home.
This morning, our guide, Tim, took us to a beach with Australian sea lions lounging on the beach. We walked through the sand, watching their antics as they rest and try to keep cool in the hot sun. We saw a hooded plover, one of only about 200 left in the wild.
On a walk just before lunch, we took a walk and spotted a koala in the tree. After lunch, we walked through a grove of trees hoping to see a black cockatoo. While we did not see the rare birds, we saw two kangaroos and joeys and several wallabies trying to keep cool in the shade of the trees.
After driving a bit, we saw two more koala in the trees. We then walked along a beautiful beach while cooling our feet in the bright blue Pacific. After returning to the bed and breakfast, we strolled along the beach, collecting shells. We saw four huge pelicans and some black swans in the shallow waters close to shore.
Tomorrow we leave Kangaroo Island and return to the mainland through Adelaide and then on to our final stop in Melbourne for a few days then home.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Southern Right Whales?
We heard today that yesterday some tour groups spotted some Southern Right Whales off the coast of the island...very unusual for this time of year (much more common in the winter and spring - July to October). Yes, there are Southern Right Whales too...
Kangaroo Island Photos (Part II)
Once again, we are not unhappy that we are not home after we heard about the 18 inches of snow that they got last night! Many thanks to Martha, our dog-bird-house sitter, who not only has been keeping close watch on our zoo, but dug out the driveway and backyard areas today! It's that kind of news that makes us think that Kangaroo Island would be a great place to stay...there's quite a bit of property for sale!! It gets about 50 degrees in the winter here and they think that's cold...
Kangaroo Island
We started this morning with a serenade from a flock of loud but colorful lorikeets in a tree right next to the bed and breakfast.
Today, we drove with our guide, Brian, to the opposite side of Kangaroo Island to Flinders Chase National Park, named after the British cartographer who explored and mapped this area. Kangaroo Island is the third largest Australian Island and is named after the abundant kangaroo that Flinder and his crew ate when they landed here.
We stopped at several points on the way overlooking the Pacific, which is bright blue and turquoise with white caps where the waves break. We saw the area where the lobster boats bobbed in the waves and several scenic outlooks. We stopped at a place where the abundant eucalyptus leaves are distilled into eucalyptus oil and learned about the process. While there we saw a tame orphaned baby kangaroo (that will be released back into the wild when she's old enough) and an emu. We also stopped at Koala Walk, where we spotted several koala high in the trees, a wallaby, a kangaroo, a grey and pink cockatoo called a Galah, and several colorful rosellas. On the way, we saw several large goanna lizards sunning themselves along the road.
After a picnic lunch at the park entrance, we drove to a site called Remarkable Rocks, where erosion from the sand, wind and water have sculpted several large boulders into fantastic shapes. We went to a lighthouse area where New Zealand fur seals play on the rocks and swim in some incredibly rough surf.
After the long drive back to the bed and breakfast, we strolled on the beach, had another wonderful dinner and watched some tennis on TV. Tomorrow, we are off to explore the other side of the island where there is a large colony of sea lions.
Today, we drove with our guide, Brian, to the opposite side of Kangaroo Island to Flinders Chase National Park, named after the British cartographer who explored and mapped this area. Kangaroo Island is the third largest Australian Island and is named after the abundant kangaroo that Flinder and his crew ate when they landed here.
We stopped at several points on the way overlooking the Pacific, which is bright blue and turquoise with white caps where the waves break. We saw the area where the lobster boats bobbed in the waves and several scenic outlooks. We stopped at a place where the abundant eucalyptus leaves are distilled into eucalyptus oil and learned about the process. While there we saw a tame orphaned baby kangaroo (that will be released back into the wild when she's old enough) and an emu. We also stopped at Koala Walk, where we spotted several koala high in the trees, a wallaby, a kangaroo, a grey and pink cockatoo called a Galah, and several colorful rosellas. On the way, we saw several large goanna lizards sunning themselves along the road.
After a picnic lunch at the park entrance, we drove to a site called Remarkable Rocks, where erosion from the sand, wind and water have sculpted several large boulders into fantastic shapes. We went to a lighthouse area where New Zealand fur seals play on the rocks and swim in some incredibly rough surf.
After the long drive back to the bed and breakfast, we strolled on the beach, had another wonderful dinner and watched some tennis on TV. Tomorrow, we are off to explore the other side of the island where there is a large colony of sea lions.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Kangroo Island Photos...
Sorry to all of you on the east coast getting snow and ice today...this was our view after dinner. It was about 75 degrees...right now, we are not sorry we're not home!
Leaving Sydney
After a morning stroll around the Rocks area, we left for the Sydney airport for our flight to Adelaide and then for our connection to Kangaroo Island.
The Kangaroo Island flight is a 20 minute flight on a small propellor plane and you can only bring 33 pounds of luggage per a person so some of our bags are still at Adelaide (safely checked with the airline - not just sitting in the terminal hopefully!)
On Kangaroo Island, we arrived in the late afternoon at Correa Corner Bed and Breakfast. We are staying in the lovely but very pink Rose Room - one of only 3 rooms here at the place. We walked along the beach which is just behind the house. There are areas where there are thousands of tiny spiral shells and had a nice dinner cooked by our host Sandy, who owns the bed and breakfast.
Tomorrow we are off on full day touring of the island to find some animals - hopefully some kangaroos, koala, sea lions, birds, and whatever else we can find.
The Kangaroo Island flight is a 20 minute flight on a small propellor plane and you can only bring 33 pounds of luggage per a person so some of our bags are still at Adelaide (safely checked with the airline - not just sitting in the terminal hopefully!)
On Kangaroo Island, we arrived in the late afternoon at Correa Corner Bed and Breakfast. We are staying in the lovely but very pink Rose Room - one of only 3 rooms here at the place. We walked along the beach which is just behind the house. There are areas where there are thousands of tiny spiral shells and had a nice dinner cooked by our host Sandy, who owns the bed and breakfast.
Tomorrow we are off on full day touring of the island to find some animals - hopefully some kangaroos, koala, sea lions, birds, and whatever else we can find.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Sydney Day 3
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Happy Australia Day!
Today is Australia Day, which is a bit like Fourth of July. It celebrates the arrival of the first British people here. It is HOT here today – 92 degrees and humid and sunny. It feels like August.
This morning, we walked around the harbor and had a tour of the Opera House. The iconic building was designed by a Danish architect and has great views of the harbor. We then strolled through the Royal Botanical Gardens, first walking along the water to Mrs. Macquerie’s chair. This is named after the wife of an early governor who wanted to return to England, but who could not. So, her husband had a chair carved from the stone at the point so she could watch the harbor in the general direction that one might leave to sail back to England.
We walked through more of the gardens, where lots of people were picnicking and watching the boats in the harbor. We saw colorful lorikeets in the trees and a colony of huge bats. After leaving the garden at the southern end, we walked through Saint Mary’s church and then enjoyed some of the Australia Day celebrations on the plaza in front of the church. We touched an echidna, which is like a porcupine with a platypus face. The echidna and the platypus are the only mammals which lay eggs.
We then strolled past the Sydney Tower, which looks like a gold marshmallow on a stick and is the tallest building in the city. We then walked through the Queen Elizabeth Center, which is now a shopping arcade but has fantastic architecture including gorgeous wrought iron stairs and a glass dome. We then reached Darling Harbor and strolled around the water’s edge where people were wearing Australia themed clothes. After a lunch of fish and chips, on the restaurant’s patio overlooking the harbor, we cut across the harbor bridge and went to the aquarium. The Sydney aquarium has a shark breeding program so we saw several sharks. We also saw a platypus and a dugong, which is like a manatee.
After an ice cream, we walked back up to the hotel and past several stages with local bands that were set up through the Rocks area to celebrate Australia Day. We had dinner overlooking Sydney Harbor with a distant cousin of Jonathan’s named Sheila. Sheila’s mother was related to Jon’s maternal great-grandfather. Tomorrow, we are on a plane again and off to Kangaroo Island.
Happy Australia Day!
Today is Australia Day, which is a bit like Fourth of July. It celebrates the arrival of the first British people here. It is HOT here today – 92 degrees and humid and sunny. It feels like August.
This morning, we walked around the harbor and had a tour of the Opera House. The iconic building was designed by a Danish architect and has great views of the harbor. We then strolled through the Royal Botanical Gardens, first walking along the water to Mrs. Macquerie’s chair. This is named after the wife of an early governor who wanted to return to England, but who could not. So, her husband had a chair carved from the stone at the point so she could watch the harbor in the general direction that one might leave to sail back to England.
We walked through more of the gardens, where lots of people were picnicking and watching the boats in the harbor. We saw colorful lorikeets in the trees and a colony of huge bats. After leaving the garden at the southern end, we walked through Saint Mary’s church and then enjoyed some of the Australia Day celebrations on the plaza in front of the church. We touched an echidna, which is like a porcupine with a platypus face. The echidna and the platypus are the only mammals which lay eggs.
We then strolled past the Sydney Tower, which looks like a gold marshmallow on a stick and is the tallest building in the city. We then walked through the Queen Elizabeth Center, which is now a shopping arcade but has fantastic architecture including gorgeous wrought iron stairs and a glass dome. We then reached Darling Harbor and strolled around the water’s edge where people were wearing Australia themed clothes. After a lunch of fish and chips, on the restaurant’s patio overlooking the harbor, we cut across the harbor bridge and went to the aquarium. The Sydney aquarium has a shark breeding program so we saw several sharks. We also saw a platypus and a dugong, which is like a manatee.
After an ice cream, we walked back up to the hotel and past several stages with local bands that were set up through the Rocks area to celebrate Australia Day. We had dinner overlooking Sydney Harbor with a distant cousin of Jonathan’s named Sheila. Sheila’s mother was related to Jon’s maternal great-grandfather. Tomorrow, we are on a plane again and off to Kangaroo Island.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Sydney Day 2
Tuesday, January 25
Today, we took a tour of the Blue Mountains, which are just north of Sydney. We saw some Eastern Grey Kangaroos in a section of the park and many loud sulfur crested cockatoos. Then, we stopped a several places for views of the Blue Mountains. We had lunch and saw a rosella in the tree. On the way back, we stopped at an aboriginal rock carving of a kangaroo. We were dropped off at the far side of the Sydney Bridge and walked back to the Rocks area across the bridge, with stunning views of the harbor. Before returning to the hotel, we walked around the Rocks area again.
For dinner, we walked down to Darling Harbor area and ate at Sepia, where the emphasis was on textures in the food. It was good but a little odd.
Today, we took a tour of the Blue Mountains, which are just north of Sydney. We saw some Eastern Grey Kangaroos in a section of the park and many loud sulfur crested cockatoos. Then, we stopped a several places for views of the Blue Mountains. We had lunch and saw a rosella in the tree. On the way back, we stopped at an aboriginal rock carving of a kangaroo. We were dropped off at the far side of the Sydney Bridge and walked back to the Rocks area across the bridge, with stunning views of the harbor. Before returning to the hotel, we walked around the Rocks area again.
For dinner, we walked down to Darling Harbor area and ate at Sepia, where the emphasis was on textures in the food. It was good but a little odd.
On to Sydney
Monday, January 24, 2011
We left Fraser Island by the ferry and took a plane to Sydney. After checking in at the hotel, we walked around the harbor area called Central Quay. We took a boat tour of the Sydney Harbor including the opera house, the Sydney Harbor bridge, the million dollar houses on Wollaston Road, and Shark Beach. Yes, there are sharks in the harbor. We stopped at Watson Bay, which has a beach on the Sydney Harbor side and steep cliffs to the Pacific on the other side. Then, we walked around the Rocks area, which is the site of the original penal colony in Sydney. We walked to the tip land under the bridge. We had a nice dinner at Café Sydney, which overlooks the harbor, Luna amusement park, and the bridge.
We left Fraser Island by the ferry and took a plane to Sydney. After checking in at the hotel, we walked around the harbor area called Central Quay. We took a boat tour of the Sydney Harbor including the opera house, the Sydney Harbor bridge, the million dollar houses on Wollaston Road, and Shark Beach. Yes, there are sharks in the harbor. We stopped at Watson Bay, which has a beach on the Sydney Harbor side and steep cliffs to the Pacific on the other side. Then, we walked around the Rocks area, which is the site of the original penal colony in Sydney. We walked to the tip land under the bridge. We had a nice dinner at Café Sydney, which overlooks the harbor, Luna amusement park, and the bridge.
Fraser Island Day 4
Sunday, January 23, 2011
This morning, we left early with the car and traveled over the bumpy uneven sand tracks to the inland lake of Bunnburri. Unfortunately, it was raining so we did not get to walk as much as we would like. After a short stop at Central Station, the former logging camp, we had a picnic lunch and headed onto the beach. Fortunately, the weather had cleared up and it was a great afternoon. We drove way up north on the beach watching the beautiful white topped Pacific waves. Upon return to the hotel, we took a walk along the beach where we saw dingo tracks in the sand. There are little crabs that remove balls of sand from their burrows and create fascinating patterns in the sand. Another rain cloud ruined the sunset, but we had a nice dinner sitting on an outdoor patio and made it back to our room just as the rain started.
This morning, we left early with the car and traveled over the bumpy uneven sand tracks to the inland lake of Bunnburri. Unfortunately, it was raining so we did not get to walk as much as we would like. After a short stop at Central Station, the former logging camp, we had a picnic lunch and headed onto the beach. Fortunately, the weather had cleared up and it was a great afternoon. We drove way up north on the beach watching the beautiful white topped Pacific waves. Upon return to the hotel, we took a walk along the beach where we saw dingo tracks in the sand. There are little crabs that remove balls of sand from their burrows and create fascinating patterns in the sand. Another rain cloud ruined the sunset, but we had a nice dinner sitting on an outdoor patio and made it back to our room just as the rain started.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Blog Update
We've updated for the past couple of days...most recent first, so scroll down for the first posts and photos.
Internet here on Fraser Island is slow and unreliable, so probably won't update again until we get to Sydney on Monday or Tuesday.
Stay tuned...
Internet here on Fraser Island is slow and unreliable, so probably won't update again until we get to Sydney on Monday or Tuesday.
Stay tuned...
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