The Houtman Abrolhos Islands are a group of 122 coral cays off the Western Australian coast near Geraldton. The islands are a blip on the horizon evident only by a line of white wash as the sea crests the reef. There are three groupings, Pelsaert, Easter and Wallbi and some support a collection of cray … More Be Amazed by the Abrolhos
We left Marree full of confidence that we would reach the quirky pub at William Creek and experience a flight over Anna Creek station and the Painted Hills. How wrong we were! We had just left Coward Springs along the Oodnadatta Track when a loud thump and scraping noise brought our truck to a sudden … More The long road to Coober Pedy and Port Augusta
The country around Arkaroola in the Vulkathunya – Gammon Ranges National Park is packed with ancient geology. The Adnyamanthanha called it ‘sick country’. It was University of Adelaide professor and explorer Douglas Mawson and Sir Mark Oliphant, the nuclear physicist who recognised the potential mineral importance of the area, including deposits of torbernite, a compound … More Arkaroola to Marree
I woke to the drumming sound of torrential rain on an iron roof at 1.30am. The sound pulsated, as the wind drove the sheets of rain against the window, loudly shushing back and forwards. Every now and then a flash of lightning and a crack of thunder disturbed the relentless sound of the water driving … More Pluviophobia – a fear of rain at our Writers Retreat
Melbourne in March is sunny in the day, cool at night and for our visit, rain free. We met our daughters in Hughesdale in the midst of removing a distinctive feline smell from the polished wooden floors of their retro villa. Leaving the cleaning behind we adjourned to Oasis (http://oasisonline.com.au), an excellent Lebanese cafe and … More Melbourne in March
Our trip was planned to coincide with the purchase of our daughter’s first home in Melbourne. We were unaware then that at the end of February, La Niña was waiting to slam an east coast low into communities from Gympie to the Illawarra. It was so devastating that rainfall records were broken and flood levels … More Road trip to Melbourne
The final destination on our trip in Arnhem Land was at the very northern tip of Northern Territory on the Cobourg peninsula. We flew in to Vashon Head in the Garug Gunak Barlu National Park over the tropical Timor Sea. The staff welcomed us into the Seven Spirit Bay Resort with a refresher towel and … More Luxuriating at Seven Spirit Bay
We flew into Maningrida over the Liverpool river and the Tomkinson flood plain. The coast here initially surveyed by Philip Parker King in 1819 remains remote and largely unsettled. Regular supplies come from Darwin by barge, the only reliable transport in the wet season. Rob drove us the short distance from Maningrida airport to Barra … More Barra fishing and Maningrida Art
The Top End of Australia has been deluged with a particularly heavy wet season, so wet that 4WD tour buses are unable to traverse the unsealed red roads. Our tour leader Rob informed us with a hint of glee, that we would therefore be travelling in 2×12 seater Cessna aircraft throughout our trip. It was … More Murwangi Safari Camp on the Arafura Swamp
Our last full day on Lord Howe Island dawned clear and calm with a cloudless blue sky. We had decided to do the Chase ‘n’ Thyme tour with Peter Phillipps who collected us outside the Broken Banyan in his little tour bus. Peter had the gift of the gab and told rather bad jokes, including … More Adventures in Paradise 3 – Chase ‘n’ Thyme and playing catch up
Come wandering 