Monthly Archives: October 2014

Flinders Island – a sneak peek

Australia, coastal, Flinders Island, Landscape, Tas

Early morning flight to Flinders Island. The Doc was picked up at the airport by Michael and Linda from Flinders Island Travel Centre. He spent the day being taken around the Northern half of the Island. Some great locations were visited. To be revisited and photographed over teh next week.

As The Doc writes this report, 6 Green Rosella are feeding outside the window of Emita Cottage.

The Doc is looking foreword to photographing places like the Docks, Killecrankie, Lady Barron and North East River. Wildlife includes Bennett’s Wallabies, Pademelons and Poteroos.

A brief look at North West River.

Flinders Island Day 2- 0023

Launceston

Flinders Island, Tas, Tasmania

A pleasant flight from Sydney to Launceston in Tasmania, although it is quite a bit cooler down here.

Bags were dropped off at the Hotel and The Doc walked around the CBD before heading to river or should I say rivers? The Doc jumped on a Cataract Cruise. For the next hour we had a short trip on the South Esk, North Esk and Tamar Rivers, including a trip into Cataract Gorge.

Time to head back to the Hotel, grab the room, shower and have a nanny nap. Discussed some details of the Cape York helicopter trip next year. That is shaping up to be a ripper.

Then back out again for a bit to eat and then a walk down Cataract Gorge. The Doc enjoyed a ride on the First Basin Chairlift, which stretches some 457metres across Cataract Gorge at the Basin on South Esk River. Then a nice walk out of the Gorge. The Doc topped the day off with a gourmet pizza for dinner. Back at the hotel after 7pm.

Need to catch the 8am flight to Flinders Island tomorrow morning.

A view from the chairlift.

Flinders Island Day 1- 0166

Flinders Island

Australia

The Doc was planning a trip to Flinders Island three years ago, just before he broke his leg and ankle in three places below the left knee.

The Doc is now waiting for his car to be serviced and wants to be in Sydney on 12 November to see his good friend installed as the new Archbishop of Sydney.

Life is hard, so The Doc booked a holiday to Flinders Island between now and then – leave Thursday 30 October. FIinders is a large Island of the North East coast of Tasmania.

The Doc was in Sydney last night taking some photos of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House. A little run-about left the Overseas Passenger Terminal and sailed past the Harbour Bridge-the Celebrity SOLSTICE. You will need to click on the image to see the bigger version.

Sydney Harbour Bridge - 0016

Outback NSW, Queensland and South Australia

desert, Flinders Ranges, Landscape, landscape, mountains, Mutawintji NP, NSW, plains, Qld, SA, sand dunes, Warrumbungles NP

On the last trip The Doc and his friend Tony travelled around outback NSW, Queensland and South Australia. Places like the Warrumbungles, Broken Hill, Marree, the ochre pits at Lyndhurst, ruins at Farina, Arkaroola Wildness Sanctuary, Innamincka, Brachina Gorge in the Flinders Ranges, Epsilon in outback Queensland, Cameron’s Corner, Tibooburra, Menindee Lakes and lots of others.

Characters like Talc Alf, roadtrains and huge coal carrying locomotives, the odd emu and even some water in this parched part of Australia.

A collection of photos from that trip.

Panoramio views just passed 6 million views

Uncategorised

The Doc’s explorer photos on Panoramio have just passed 6 million views. Click here. As Google is phasing out Panoramio this maybe the last major milestone.

Panoramio is where the photos in Google Earth and Google Maps come from.

Planning the next trip

Australia, AWC, Flinders Ranges, SA

The Doc is back home after a recent road trip with a friend across outback New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland.  All up over 6,000 kilometres.

A new record on this trip, the most number of people talking about AWC . It seemed everywhere we went someone knew AWC or was keen to learn. At least a dozen people in about 2 weeks.

Since returning The Doc has been scanning AWC slides from years past. The scanning is complete but some post processing and indexing remains to be done.  The quality of the slides does vary, but there are some great shots of animals like bilbies, woylies and boobies. Sorry no pictures are they are copyright. But the AWC website has a lot of great photos now.

On the trip The Doc also tested a new trailer, which has an issue or two that needs to be sorted. The car needs a service, some new tyres and some work done.

The Doc hopes to take a few trips closer to Sydney over the next few weeks. He is also booking some trips next year to Tasmania, The Kimberley and Cape York.

Lastly, a picture from Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary in the Flinders Ranges, a place we visited. Click on the picture to see a bigger version.

Ark