Category Archives: trees

AWC’s Paruna Sanctuary Perth – wildflowers

4X4, Australia, AWC, flowers, Landscape, macro, mosses/lichens, Paruna, Plant, river/creeks, trees, Uncategorised, Wildflowers

While the Doc was in Perth he visited two more AWC Sanctuaries, being Paruna and Karakamia. The wildflowers were out at Paruna. Most wildflowers are very small ½ to 1 cm. Here is a selection. Enjoy. Click on the images to see correct size, the thumbnails are blurry.

Newhaven – revisited

Australia, AWC, bark, desert, lakes, Landscape, landscape, mosses/lichens, Newhaven, NT, plains, Plant, Textures, trees

This time last year The Doc had finished his Kimberley/Pilbara trip and was returning through central Australia using Australia’s longest shortcut – The Great Central Road. After a rest stop at Alice Springs he headed to AWC’s Newhaven Sanctuary for a few days.

This Saturday he heads off to Cairns then onto Pungalina/Seven Emu in Arnham Land.

A few shots from Newhaven. More pictures here.

Kimberley/Pilbara Trip Trivia

Artesian Range, Australia, AWC, Bowra, Broome, Charnley River, Charnley River - Artesian Range, Derby, desert, flowers, Kimberley, landscape, Landscape, Mornington, Mornington, Newhaven, NT, Pilbara, plains, river/creeks, Textures, trees, WA, WA

The Doc decided to put some trivia together about the longest trip so far. Enjoy.

Time, distances and economy

  • the Kimberley/Pilbara Trip lasted 108 days;
  • total distance travelled was 27,000 kilometres exactly (what a coincidence!). The Patrol has now driven over 70,000 kilometres on The Excellent Adventure;
  • most kilometres travelled in one day, 1,032 kilometres;
  • average kilometres travelled each day was 250kms. In reality the figure was less, as 9,000kms was driven to and from the Kimberley which were concentrated days of driving;
  • best fuel economy was 12.4 litres per 100 kilometres. In 2WD, not towing, driving on the bitumen;
  • worst economy 15.1 litres per 100 kilometres. In 4WD, towing the trailer in sand at Cape Peron National Park;
  • average for the trip 14.4 litres per 100 kilometres, which makes sense as the trailer was attached for much of the trip. So the Pod Trailer adds about 2 litres per 100 kilometres, a modest increase compared to towing heavy trailers or caravans;
  • most expensive diesel was $2.50 a litre at Mt Barnett Station Roadhouse, Gibb River Road; and
  • total fuel bill, decided not to add it up!

Flights

Several flights were taken on the trip including:

Corrugations

Over 60% of the trip was offroad. On badly corrugated roads, you can hit over 10 corrugations every metre (the four wheels do). A very, very conservative figure would be the car, trailer and driver went over 20 billion corrugations!!!! No wonder things break and get damaged.

Breakages

The breakages included:

  • hub cover on Patrol, it fell off and was lost on Charnley River Station;
  • broken wire on coolant alarm (it has broken twice before). Field repair that is still working;
  • striped thread on a shock absorber. The front shock was replaced (The Doc was carrying spares). No dramas as the damage was detected early;
  • after a car service an ignition fuse started to blow. It turned out to be a bare wire shorting on the rear towbar and nothing to do with the service;
  • front control arm bushes needed replacement;
  • a broken windscreen 3 days before the trip finished. Thanks to the driver who did not slow down properly on the Plenty Highway. The Doc got more stone hits on the windscreen that morning than the rest of the trip combined;
  • rivets on an awning came out, thanks to the corrugations on the Plenty Highway on the return trip.

Tucker

Best meal, no contest, Restaurant at Mornington Wilderness Camp. Drysdale River Station also put on a good meal.

Cadjeput Waterhole
Murchinson River, Kalbarri National Park
ASCII

Milky Way Boab

Australia, AWC, Mornington, Mornington, nightime, Plant, trees, WA

The Doc was looking for an iconic night-time shot in the Kimberley. The Milky Way coming out of a boab fitted the bill. The Doc was talking to another photographer and he had the same idea on the same day – great minds think alike ;). The Doc was able to tell him where we could isolate the boab and get the Milky Way, on the track to Cadjeput Hole.

The photo came out rather nicely. Remember to click on the photo to see full size, the thumbnail is a poor imitation.

WilkyWayBoab

The Cape – Australia’s far north – the final day

Australia, AWC, Brooklyn, Cape York, Landscape, landscape, Piccaninny Plains, Qld, river/creeks, trees, Wildlife

The final day of the trip from Weipa to Port Douglas, via Piccaninny Plains, Oyala Thumotang National Park, Archer & Coen Rivers, Coen, Lakefield National Park, AWC’s Brooklyn Sanctuary and its luxurious mountain rainforests of this World Heritage Listed area.Report and photos here. Enjoy.

 

AWC’s Brooklyn Sanctuary

Australia, AWC, Brooklyn, Landscape, landscape, mountains, Qld, trees

Not many people get to visit Brooklyn Sanctuary. Brooklyn has the greatest diversity of wildlife (500 vertebrate species) than any other single property in Australia. The Doc flew over and then drove out as part of his recent trip to Cape York. The short Report and photos are here.

Cape York HeliTrip Day 4 - 0870

Textures of the Australian Bush – Northern NSW

Australia, Ballina, bark, coastal, Landscape, moss & lichen, mosses/lichens, NSW, rock, sand, seascape, trees

This series has has sand, rutile, algae, surf scum, bark, clay, rain drops, lichens, basalt and clouds! The broadest group so far, enjoy, click here.

Piccaninny Pleasures

ampihians, Australia, AWC, bark, birds, insects, landscape, mammals, marsupials, Piccaninny Plains, Plant, Qld, reptiles, river/creeks, rock, sand, Textures, trees, Wildlife

Just returned from a Cape York Trip visiting the AWC Sanctuary called Piccaninny Plains. Piccaninny Plains is the name of the pastoral lease if you were wondering. Report and photos here.