Category Archives: mountains

Wollemia nobilis – bark

Australia, Landscape, landscape, macro, mountains, Mt Annan, NSW, Plant, trees, Uncategorised

Arguably the rarest tree in the world, at least in the wild, the Wollemi Pine. There is a handful of specimens still alive, all genetically identical. Zero genetic variation in the population means they all come from the same tree.

You can buy them in a nursery, because after its discovery in 1996 the NSW Botanic Gardens set about growing it in quantity through nurseries, to reduce the risk of people looking for the few trees in the wild. It was only previously known from the fossil record.

This is the bark on an immature tree 3.93 metres high, from the NSW Botanic Gardens.

Tree height 3.93 metres

The Northern Kimberley

4X4, Australia, coastal, forest, Kimberley, Landscape, landscape, mountains, ocean, river/creeks, Uncategorised, WA, WA

While staying at Drysdale River Station The Doc took a plane flight into the Northern Kimberly. Initially through Prince Regent National Park, then up to Mitchell Falls and back again.

Sorry about the funny colour cast and soft images, it was caused by the window on the plane. The best flight in that area without the high price tag of the helicopter flights at Mitchell Falls itself.

The Bungle Bungles, Kimberley, WA

4X4, Australia, desert, Kimberley, Landscape, landscape, mountains, plains, river/creeks, WA, WA

The Bungle Bungle Ranges in the Purnululu National Park (The Kimberley) has the most extensive beehive rock formations in the world. While well known to local Aboriginals and Cattle Station owners, it did not become known to the world until the early 1980s.

Within 5 years it was a National Park and within 20 years it was World Heritage listed.

The beehives are formed by wind driven sand and rainfall (plus millions of years of weathering).

The beehive domes consist of different layers of sandstone; some orange, some black. The black layers hold more moisture allowing cyanobacteria growth which cause the black colour. The orange-coloured layers are stained with iron and manganese mineral deposits within the sandstone (in lay terms – rust!).

Typically, you see the domes from ground level. The Doc took a helicopter flight over The Bungle Bungles. The images are split into two groups; first, the rock formations out of which the beehives are weathered. Here you see deep gorges, meandering rivers (floodways now) and steep gorge walls. Second the domes or beehives themselves, from the air. Make sure you click on the pcitures to see the full size images.

The Doc has been posting fewer images lately, but the Bungles deserves more to appreciate its stunning beauty.

Part 7 – Tony’s Outback Adventure II

Arkaroola, Australia, bark, landscape, mountains, other, SA, Textures, Tony Stott

Tony enjoyed his time at Arkaroola Wildness Sanctuary in the Flinders Ranges in South Australia. We dined at the restaurant at night, went on the world-renowned Ridgetop Tour to Sillars Lookout (with Lamingtons, tea and a hair raising 3-point turn at the Lookout), observed the stars in the Observatory (there are 4 at Arkaroola) and even took a plane flight over Arkaroola and Lake Frome.

On the Ridgetop Tour Tony got to sit in the passenger seat upfront, the rest of us bounced around in the back!

We visited a few abandoned copper mines – the Ridgetop Tour track was made when mining companies where looking for uranium in earlier times. The Flinders Ranges generally and Arkaroola in particular is one the most beautiful places in Australia and it is geologically unique in the world.

Arkaroola and the nearby Brachina Gorge are also home to the endangered Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby, Australia’s most beautiful macropod (kangaroo or wallaby). Pictures of Arkaroola and the Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby can be viewed here: http://thedocaus.com/blog/?cat=74

Our flight over Arkaroola.

Kakadu & Arnhem Land waterfalls

Arnnhem Land, Australia, clouds, Kakadu, Kakadu, landscape, Landscape, mountains, Northern Territory, NT

The Doc had a very good response to the last sets images. So he reviewed more photos from his 4 day helicopter trip around Kakadu and Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. It has been almost 3 years since that trip but the images bring back wonderful memories.

The theme this time is waterfalls, some famous like Jim Jim Falls and others nameless. All with good water flow after the wet season.

A second instalment on gorges and rivers will follow. Nick, the helicopter pilot, is in one of the images. The next set of images will have the trusty steed, the Robinson R44 helicopter!