Australia Photo Book Part 1 [2014-2015]

Australia Working Holiday MAY 2014 - May 2015

STRAYA

AustraliA WORKING HOLIDAY MAY 2014 - MAY 2015

Table of Contents New South Wales 13 Sydney 19 Blue Mountains 22 Sydney Harbour

National Park 24 Vivid Sydney 2014

Queensland 37 Brisbane 42 XXXX Brewery 46 Queensland Modern Art Gallery 53 Fraser Island 59 Lake McKenzie

61 Indian Head 63 Champagne Pools 65 SS Maheno 67 Eli Creek 69 Lake Wabby

Bundaberg 70 Bundaberg Rum Distillery

Rockhampton 78 Rockhampton YHA Hostel 81 Great Western Hotel Bull Riding 83 Archer Park Station

& Steam Tram Museum 85 Bull Statues 89 Work at Aussie River Turf

92 Work at Helena Cleaning Services

Brisbane 98 Brisbane Festival 2014 102 Getting my Ford Falcon Forte Wagon

Bundaberg 107 Bundaberg Brewed Drinks

Rockhampton 109 Ascot Stonegrill Restaurant

Wycarbah 112 Mt Hay Gemstone Gemstone Tourist Park

Anakie 115 Fascination Self-Drive Tag Along Tour

Alpha 149 Searching for Petrified Wood

Winton 121 Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum

Rubyvale 151 Little House of Gems Fossicking DIY Tour

Opalton 127 Noodling for Opal 130 Lark Quarry Dinosaur Stampede

Eungella 155 Eungella National Park

Winton 132 Arno's Wall

Richmond 138 Kronosaurus Korner 141 Fossil Hunting Sites

Hughenden 144 Flinders Discovery Centre 146 Porcupine Gorge

163 The Whitsundays 164 Boat Cruise New Horizon

Townsville 171 Troy Emery Into the Wild Exhibition 175 Magnetic Island 181 Forts Walk

Ingham 185 Wallaman Falls

Etty Bay 190 Etty Bay Beach

Bartle Frere 193 Josephine Falls

Millaa Millaa 195 Ellinjaa Falls 197 Zillie Falls 199 Millaa Millaa Falls

Babinda 201 Babinda Boulders 205 Cairns 208 Boat Cruise

Ocean Freedom

Mareeba 225 Coffee Works

Tolga 227 Rainforest Gems

Atherton 229 The Crystal Caves

Katherine 253 Nitmiluk National Park

Yungaburra 233 Curtain Fig Tree National Park

Batchelor 257 Litchfield National Park

Mount Suprise 237 Undara Volcanic National Park

265 Darwin 267 Adelaide River Queen Jumping Crocodile Cruise

Georgetown 239 Agate Creek Gemfields

Jabiru 272 Kakadu National Park

Northern Territory

Mataranka 250 Elsey National Park

299 West MacDonnell National Park 304 Kings Canyon

Yulara 312 Uluru-Kata Tjuta

National Park

South Australia

Katherine 285 Katherine Hot Springs

Coober Pedy 332 The Breakaways 334 Tom's Working Opal Mine

Tennant Creek 288 Karlu Karlu / Devils Marbles

Port Augusta 341 Flinders Ranges National Park

295 Alice Springs 297 Ewaninga Rock Carvings

347 Adelaide 353 South Australian Museum

357 Christmas Riverbank Display 359 Art Gallery of

South Australia 363 Adelaide's Elder Park New Year's Eve 2014 367 369 373 374 376

Kangaroo Island Seal Bay Hanson Bay Remarkable Rocks Admirals Arch

Mt Gambier 381 Blue Lake 383 Umpherston Sinkhole

Port Campbell 401 The Great Ocean Road

Geelong 416 Baywalk Bollard Trail

Longford 424 Tomato Picking Job

Emerald 428 Emerald Backpackers

Hostel

Gembrook 434 Work at Glenara Nursery

Alexandra 445 Doof

Victoria

Halls Gap 390 Grampians National Park

451 Melbourne 459 Graffiti Street Art

Tasmania

Queenstown 485 Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park 493 Hobart 495 Mt Wellington

Port Arthur 499 Tasman National Park

Swansea 504 Freycinet National Park

Binalong Bay 507 Bay of Fires

Scottsdale 512 Mt William National Park

Australian Capital Territory 523 526 532 535 540

Canberra Australian War Memorial House of Parliment Royal Australian Mint National Gallery of Australia

New South Wales

Sydney 559 Bondi Beach 564 Vivid Sydney 2015 573 World Press Photo 15 Exhibition

Darwin

Kakadu NP Jabiru

Litchfield NP Nitmiluk NP

Katherine Mataranka Cape Tribulation

Cairns

Millaa Millaa Innisfail Normanton Mt Surprise Undara Volcanic NP Georgetown Magnetic Island Townsville

Tennant Creek

NT

Mt Isa

Porcupine Gorge NP

Cloncurry

Richmond

Airlie Beach

Hughenden

Whitsunday Islands NP Mackay

Eungella NP

Winton Sapphire Gemfields

Boulia West Macdonnell NP

WA

Watarrka NP

Alice Springs

Lark Quarry Conservation Park

Opalton

Rockhampton

Emerald

Alpha

Agnes Water

QLD

Uluru-Kata Tjuta NP Yulara

Bundaberg

Fraser Island

Rainbow Beach

Noosa

Brisbane

Surfers Paradise

Coober Pedy

Byron Bay

SA

Coffs Harbour

Port Macquarie Flinders Ranges NP

Newcastle

NSW

Port Augusta

Blue Mountains

Adelaide

Canberra

Hahndorf

ACT

Kangaroo Island

AIRPLANE TOUR GREYHOUND BUS FORD FALCON FORTE WAGON

Grampians NP Mt Gambier

VIC Melbourne

Warrnambool Port Campbell NP

Geelong

Emerald

Great Otway NP

Golden Beach

BOAT HYUNDAI I20 RENTAL CAR

Sydney

Cradle MountainLake St Clair NP

Devonport Mount William NP Launceston Ben Lomond NP

TAS Hobart Freycinet NP

Tasman NP

Businesscards I made to hand out at home and in Australia

8

Trying out my backpack in Alblasserdam

The group of Australian Backpackers with which I'll travel to Australia with

Departing from home, which I wouldn't be seeing anymore for a year, with all the possesions I'll take with me in two bags

Me with my family at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

9

Fackin' Cockroaches

THE PREMIER STATE

h t u o S New Wales CAPITAL CITY

SYDNEY

AREA

809,444 KM²

POPULATION

7,500,600(2014)

Coffs Harbour

Port Macquarie

NSW

Blue Mountains

AIRPLANE TOUR GREYHOUND BUS

Newcastle

Sydney

y e n d y S Sydney is the capital of New South Wales and the most populous city

POPULATION

in Australia with the biggest natural harbour in the world, Port Jackson.

2,238,394(2013)

The city was found in 1788 by British settlers as a penal colony, though before that the area was inhabited by Aboriginals for at least 30.000 years. Well known attractions include the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, Bondi Beach and, just outside the city, the Blue Mountains.

DATE(S) VISITED

29-05-2014 till 01-06-2014 & 25-05-2015 till 28-05-2015

Arriving in Australia, view of Sydney from inside the airplane

Sydney skyline

14

Stamp in my passport on arrival at Sydney Airport

Sydney Opera House

Manly beach

Guy with bare foot and a surfboard in the bus

Surfer at Manly beach

15

Manly Bunkhouse, the hostel I stayed in the first week in Australia

Dinner with the group in Darling Harbour

16

"Goon", the cheapest alcohol in a bag inside a box

The Australian white ibis walking around in the park

Greyhound Australia bus, I bought an "Hop On Hop Off" ticket from Sydney to Cairns (QLD)

Featherdale Wildlife Park

Koala at Featherdale Wildlife Park

17

Goon, t u b g n i t s u g s i d ! h e , s a cheap

SYDNEY

BLUE MOUNTAINS 31 MAY 2014 Lincoln's Rock

Pulpit Rock Lookout

19

Pulpit Rock Lookout

Three Sisters

20

Three Sisters

Wentworth Falls

Wentworth Falls

Wentworth Falls

21

SYDNEY

SYDNEY HARBOUR NATIONAL PARK

North Head

01 JUNE 2014

North Head

22

View of Sydney from the Fairfax Lookout

North Head

North Head

23

SYDNEY

VIVID SYDNEY 2014 30 MAY - 01 JUNE 2014 Intrude

Cellular Tessellation

24

Gamma World

Gamma World

#VividSydney

Lighting The Sails, a projection on the Opera House

25

Lighting The Sails

Play Me

26

Urban Tree Project

Play Me

My first week in Australia was all arranged and I was with a group of people. But then the end of that week would come and we had to go our own way! Panic was setting in, travelling alone was not imaginable so I teamed up with Anita and booked an Hop On Hop Off Greyhound bus ticket from Sydney to Cairns.

27

Wild pelicans in Port Macquarie

Beach in Newcastle

28

Koala Hospital in Port Macquarie

Falling palm fronds sign underneath a palm tree in Coffs Harbour

Blue-faced honeyeater in the Botanic Garden in Coffs Harbour

Coffs Harbour as seen from Muttonbird Island

29

My first Bundaberg Ginger Beer I got in Byron Bay and I loved it!

The most easterly point of the Australian mainland with fltr Anita, Lianne, Vera, Me (NL), Fabienne and Evgenia (CH) in Byron Bay

30

Sea full of surfers in Byron Bay

Byron Bay Lighthouse

Beach in Surfers Paradise (QLD)

Bench in the shape of surfboards in Surfers Paradise (QLD)

Bought an aboriginal t-shirt in Surfers Paradise (QLD)

31

32

The beach in Surfers Paradise (QLD)

33

Fackin' banana benders

THE SUNSHINE STATE

d n a l s Queen CAPITAL CITY

BRISBANE

AREA

1,852,642 KM²

POPULATION

4,750,500(2014)

Cape Tribulation

Cairns

Millaa Millaa Innisfail Normanton Mt Surprise Undara Volcanic NP Georgetown Magnetic Island Townsville

Mt Isa

Cloncurry

Porcupine Gorge NP

Richmond

Airlie Beach

Hughenden

Whitsunday Islands NP Mackay

Eungella NP

Winton Boulia

Lark Quarry Conservation Park

AIRPLANE

Opalton

Sapphire Gemfields Alpha

QLD

Emerald

Rockhampton Agnes Water Bundaberg Rainbow Beach

FORD FALCON FORTE WAGON

Noosa

Brisbane

TOUR GREYHOUND BUS

Fraser Island

Surfers Paradise Byron Bay

e n a b s i Br Brisbane is the state capital of Queensland and Australia's third most

POPULATION

populated city. It started out as a penal colony for secondary offenders

2,274,600(2014)

of the Sydney penal colony in 1824. Attractions include the Wheel of Brisbane, the XXXX Brewery, the Roma Street Parkland, the South Bank Park Lands and Mt Coot-tha.

DATE(S) VISITED

11-06-2014 till 21-06-2014

City Hopper, free ferry in the centre of Brisbane

Brisbane City Hall and Museum of Brisbane

38

Little church in the centre of Brisbane which looks weird between all the high buildings

City Roos by Christopher Trotter

City Botanic Gardens

Sushi at Hanabishi Sushi Train at The Barracks with fltr Evelien (NL), Me, Evgenia (CH) and Fabienne (CH)

City Roos by Christopher Trotter

39

Highways running over the river in the centre of Brisbane

The Wheel of Brisbane

40

World Championship Soccer 2014, Australia vs The Netherlands, in the La Dolce Vita Restaurant

The Netherlands won

onship Soccer 2014

Champi from Australia, World

Down Under Bar, most popular backpacker bar in Brisbane

View of Brisbane from Mt Coot-tha

41

BRISBANE

XXXX BREWERY 16 JUNE 2014 The XXXX Brewery building

Back entrance to the XXXX Brewery

42

Collection of old bottles and labels of XXXX

The mascot of XXXX

Ingredients of the XXXX Beer

43

Old XXXX barrel

XXXX Gold

44

Old XXXX barrel

XXXX Bitter

XXXX Summer Bright Lager

Me with the XXXX logo

XXXX Ale House

Me with King Wally Lewis, a famous Australian rugby league player which appears in XXXX advertisements

45

BRISBANE

QUEENSLAND MODERN ART GALLERY 17 JUNE 2014

Painting by Karel Appel

46

Painting by Kayleigh Templeton called 'Souls'

Painting by Jasmine Whybird called 'xCrossing Over'

ni

Guitar by Rudi Mantofa

Tea bags by Madison McNaughton

47

Aboriginal memorial pole

48

Aboriginal memorial poles

Aboriginal dot painting

Aboriginal dot painting

Aboriginal dot painting

49

Coastal walk in Noosa

Pandanus tree in Noosa

50

A common house gecko in the Dolphins Beach House hostel in Noosa

Rainbow Beach

Traffic sign on the beach in Rainbow Beach

Panorama at the beach in Rainbow Beach

51

Cape Tribulation

Cairns

Millaa Millaa Innisfail Normanton Mt Surprise Undara Volcanic NP Georgetown Magnetic Island Townsville

Mt Isa

Cloncurry

Porcupine Gorge NP

Richmond

Airlie Beach

Hughenden

Whitsunday Islands NP Mackay

Eungella NP

Winton Boulia

Lark Quarry Conservation Park

AIRPLANE

Opalton

Sapphire Gemfields Alpha

QLD

Emerald

Rockhampton Agnes Water Bundaberg Rainbow Beach

FORD FALCON FORTE WAGON

Noosa

Brisbane

TOUR GREYHOUND BUS

Fraser Island

Surfers Paradise Byron Bay

d n a l s I Fraser Fraser Island, or K'gari in Aboriginal, is an UNESCO listed island on

POPULATION

the coast of Queensland and is the largest sand island in the world

194(2011)

with a size of 120x24 km or 1840 km2. Known for the presence of dingo's (wild dogs), the island can be accessed by ferry from Rainbow Beach and Hervey Bay but also by small plane which lands on the beach.

Attractions on the island include Lake McKenzie, Indian Head, Eli Creek, the Champagne Pools and the SS Maheno shipwreck.

SIZE

1,840 KM2 DATE(S) VISITED

26-06-2014 till 28-06-2014

Waiting for the ferry from Rainbow Beach to Fraser Island

Driving on the beach which is a road but also a runway for small airplanes

54

Our car for 3 days, a Toyota Landcruiser, on the ferry to Fraser Island

Taking turns in driving

the car

A wale in the distance

The group I shared my car with and the tour guide Muza (fltr Stefan (CH), Samuel (UK), Amy (UK), Me (NL), Evelien (NL), Tessa U. (NL), Tour guide Muza (AUS), Melanie (DE), Tessa de J. (NL)

Offroad driving

55

A dingo on the beach

56

Our tents at the Badtjala Nation Thoorgine Centre campground

The general area, kitchen, tables and campfire

The campground was fenced to protect against dingoes

Maxibon Caramel ice cream, delicious!

57

At the start we got an esky with groceries which we could use to cook every day

The lads cooking steak and potato wedges

58

Dinner with our group

FRASER ISLAND

LAKE MCKENZIE 26 JUNE 2014

59

The sand is so fine that you can use it to scrub your skin and polish jewellery

60

FRASER ISLAND

INDIAN HEAD 27 JUNE 2014

Indian Head as seen from the Champagne Pools

Indian Head, named by explorer Captain Cook because he saw some Indians (Aboriginals) on top of this rock

61

View from Indian Head downwards

Gathered on Indian

Head

Panorama from on top of Indian Head faced inland

62

FRASER ISLAND

CHAMPAGNE POOLS 27 JUNE 2014

The stairs towards the Champagne Pools

63

These pools were used to catch fish, they would get into the pools with high tide and get trapped with low tide

Waves breaking on the rock and filling up the pools

64

FRASER ISLAND

SS MAHENO 27 JUNE 2014

65

66

FRASER ISLAND

ELI CREEK 27 JUNE 2014

The water is filtered by the sand and is that clean you can drink it straight out of the creek and so I did

Access point into the water, access is not allowed into the water past this point further inlands

67

Eli Creek ends on the beach where it flows into the sea

68

FRASER ISLAND

LAKE WABBY 28 JUNE 2014

69

BUNDABERG

BUNDABERG RUM DISTILLERY 1 JULY 2014

70

Logo next to the entrance

Train bringing in the remains of sugar cane from surrounding sugar mills

Large Bundaberg Rum bottle in front of the distillery

Various Bundaberg Rum packaging

71

Various Bundaberg Rum packaging

Various Bundaberg Rum packaging

72

Bundy R. Bear, the mascot of Bundaberg Rum

From left to right, all Dutch: Me, Evelien, Tessa de J., Tessa U.

eur, a rum with coffee

Bundaberg Royal Liqu

& chocolate flavour

only available at the

distiller y itself

Trying the Bundy rum, as this is how the locals call Bundaberg rum

73

Watch out for kangaroos traffic sign in Agnes Water

Surfing lessons in Agnes Water

Trying to surf in Agnes Water

74

Saleyards in Gracemere, home of the biggest cattle auction in Australia

Mt Morgan Railway Station building I visited when I stayed in Rockhampton

A Dodge Ram, the van of Kite aka Boomer from Western Australia that I met in Rockhampton

A trip to Mt Morgan with Kite when I stayed in Rockhampton

Mt Morgan open pit gold mine flooded with water with in front a grey rock with pyrite aka "fool's gold"

Went to Yeppoon from Rockhampton to drive on the beach with my Colombian colleague Efrain

75

The second wild kangaroo I've seen in Rockhampton, this one has a little "joey"(baby kangaroo) too

Rock formation in the Fitzroy river, these rocks, together with the traditional English word "hampton" for village, makes Rockhampton

76

Some Aussies fishing in the Fitzroy river in Rockhampton

A male cockatiel in Rockhampton which is native to Australia

View of Rockhampton from on top of Mount Archer

Drive thru Bottle-O(bottleshop) in Rockhampton

A male galah aka rose-breasted cockatoo in Rockhampton, endemic to Australia

TimTam, a famous biscuit brand in Australia, had a new taste coming out, Peanut Butter flavour, in Rockhampton

77

ROCKHAMPTON

ROCKHAMPTON YHA HOSTEL JULY 2014 The entrance to the hostel

Area to chill out with a pool in the background and the reception on the right next to the van of the hostel

78

The room I stayed in for a while, my bed was the one on the bottom right

The kitchen with ovens, a luxury in a hostel

Drying my clothes outside

A common house gecko

79

The free food or community shelf, a common occurrence in hostels for people to not trow away food

My Iranian brother in the hostel, Mo!

Lucky, the dog of the hostel

I stayed in room 4 and 5 the most during my stay

80

ROCKHAMPTON

GREAT WESTERN HOTEL BULL RIDING

The arena in which they do bull riding

4 JULY 2014

An adult bull that knocked off his rider

81

Younger bulls and riders, they sit down on the bull and then open the gate by pulling the rope

The Great Western Hotel

82

A young rider on a young bull

ROCKHAMPTON

ARCHER PARK STATION & STEAM TRAM MUSEUM

The beautiful building of the old Archer Park Railway Station

13 JULY 2014

Went for a ride on this rare steam tram

83

Vintage train seats in an old train that now serves as a museum

Interior of an old train with a sink that could be stowed into the wall

84

The operator of the steam tram poking the coals

ROCKHAMPTON

BULL STATUES JULY 2014

Bull #1 Braford - Six bull statues representing the main breeds in the area

Bull #1 Braford

85

Bull #2 Romagnola

Bull #3 Brahman - The bull statues are typically placed at the entrances to Rockhampton

Bull #3 Brahman - "Welcome to Rockhampton" on one side and on the other "Farewell from Rockhampton"

Bull #4 Santa Gertrudis - Rockhampton is also known as "The Beef Capital of Australia"

86

Bull #5 Droughtmaster - This statue is located at the Rockhampton Airport

Bull #6 Brahman

Bull #6 Brahman

87

In Rockhampton I got a job through the hostel I stayed at. The company was called Aussie River Turf where my job was laying down grass in gardens and parks. Due to not enough work being available I stopped working here after about 2 weeks.

88

ROCKHAMPTON

WORK AT AUSSIE RIVER TURF

The truck in which I got picked up by in the morning with in the back wheelbarrows and sometimes pallets with rolls of grass

JULY 2014

Me in front of the truck wearing an high visibility shirt of the company

89

My French backpacker colleague rolling the grass

Finished laying grass at this house

Bernies Pies, a food van that comes by to sell meat pies and sausage rolls amongst other things

A couple of houses in a row where we worked at

90

After Aussie River Turf I got a job through the hostel at Helena Cleaning Services. Before I could start I needed to get a Construction White Card.

My job was to keep a new wing of the Rockhampton Hospital clean that was still under construction.

The last few weeks I got free accomodation and food too. I worked here for a good month.

91

ROCKHAMPTON

WORK AT HELENA CLEANING SERVICES

The expansion of the Rockhampton Hospital that needed to be cleaned

AUGUST 2014

My Construction White Card, I needed this to be allowed to work on a building site in Australia

92

The Cancer Care Reception

By law I had to wear an helmet, the sticker on it was proof that I passed the induction of the building site

The empty hospital that needed to be cleaned

Steel cap boots I had to wear which I got from the hostel I stayed in

93

We cleaned the roof, the building was the highest in Rockhampton with a great view on Mt Archer

Device we used to polish the roof

94

Ghostbusters! Portab

le backpack vacuum

cleaner I cleaned the

stairs with

The house the company, originally from Brisbane, rented at George Street 84

The BBQ was used quite regularly

Everyone cooked, I made this huge lasagna

My bed

95

On the 4th of September I left all my stuff in the hostel in Rockhampton and flew in just over an hour to Brisbane. There I checked out a Ford Falcon Forte Wagon, dedicated LPG and with 358.130 km on it. I bought the car and drove it back to Rockhampton where I made a bed in it and bought cooking gear.

96

Me in the airplane to Brisbane

Holland Park West bus station where I met Tim to check out his Ford Falcon Forte Wagon in Brisbane

The only luggage I took with me on my flight with Virgin Australia from Rockhampton to Brisbane

The McDonalds close to Brisbane Airport where I spend the first night after I arrived in Brisbane

97

BRISBANE

BRISBANE FESTIVAL 2014 6 SEPTEMBER 2014

98

Brisbane Festival flags hanging all over the city

Pink and purple coloured Wheel of Brisbane during the Brisbane Festival 2014

The pink and purple coloured Wheel of Brisbane and Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC)

99

Do Do Land by GRUPO PUJA!

100

Do Do Land by GRUPO PUJA!

Do Do Land by GRUPO PUJA!

Do Do Land by GRUPO PUJA!

Do Do Land by GRUPO PUJA!

Do Do Land by GRUPO PUJA!

101

BRISBANE

GETTING MY FORD FALCON FORTE WAGON

Front of the car, photo taken in Holland Park West after the test drive

8 SEPTEMBER 2014

Back of the car, the specific shape of the back of the car and the window make it instantly recognisable

102

Advertisement on Gumtree, I paid $2425.- for it eventually

Advertisement on Gumtree, the car had 358.130 km on it when I picked it up

103

The only key of the car, had to break in a couple of times later on because I left the key inside and locked the door

Falcon Forte emblems, I took these off and send them home at the end of my holiday

The evening of the pickup in front of the McDonalds close to Brisbane Airport

Queensland - Sunshine State number plate, I wasn't allowed to keep them but I did so anyways

104

A Portuguese man o' war aka blue bottle marine stinger at Dicky Beach in Caloundra

The SS Dicky on Dicky Beach, which was named after this boat, in Caloundra

The SS Dicky on Dicky Beach in Caloundra

105

Tanking LPG in Caloundra

Tanking LPG in Caloundra

106

Automatic shift knob in my Ford Falcon Forte Wagon

BUNDABERG

BUNDABERG BREWED DRINKS

The Bundaberg Barrel, one of Australia's Big Things

10 SEPTEMBER 2014

Bundaberg Ginger Beer advertisement on the building

107

One of the interactive panels in the visitor information centre

The Bundaberg Brewed Drinks store

Tasted the whole range of Bundaberg Brewed Drinks, all brewed the old (more expensive) way to create the best taste

Bought some brewed drinks and send them home, my sister loved them

108

ROCKHAMPTON

ASCOT HOTEL STONEGRILL RESTAURANT

The Ascot Stonegrill Restaurant with it's owner passionately telling me all about the different steaks

15 SEPTEMBER 2014

Rockhampton is The Beef Capital of Australia and so just before I left I felt obligated to get a steak there

109

In Rockhampton I discovered and followed the Dig The Tropic trail. This is a trail along all sorts of interesting geological attractions taking me, and ending, all the way in the outback, specifically in Boulia.

110

Bought a gas stove at Bunnings in Maryborough

Bought plastic containers for all my stuff

Bought crockery at the Target in Bundaberg and the rest at Big W and K-Mart in Rockhampton

Made a bed in the back of my car in Rockhampton using an air mattress

111

WYCARBAH

MT HAY GEMSTONE TOURIST PARK

All the rubbish taken out of the mine is deposited here where I could go through and search for thunder eggs

16 SEPTEMBER 2014

I had to look for bubble looking rocks, those would be thunder eggs

112

The thunder eggs I found, I was in doubt about the big one

A couple of thunder eggs were cut for free by this guy

A little card I got with a description of what thunder eggs are

The thunder eggs that have been cut, the big one turned out to be a thunder egg and beautiful one too!

113

The Big Easel with a sunflower painting of Van Gogh in Emerald

The Big Sapphire in Anakie, together with the other big things part of Australia's Big Things

114

Big Pick, Shovel and Sieve in Rubyvale

Entrance sign of Sapphire, the signs at the entrances of the towns Anakie, Sapphire and Rubyvale look like this

ANAKIE

FASCINATION SELF-DRIVE TAG ALONG TOUR

Officially a 4WD track but my Ford Falcon made it without problems

18 SEPTEMBER 2014

The Glenalva Fossicking Area, about 20 km from Anakie

115

My digging site was an old riverbed, which is a layer of some bigger stones, that is where the sapphires would be

Hard work with pick and shovel, the tools to use as there are restrictions on what is allowed to be used

A trommel sieve which gets rid of the fine sand and the big stones and deposits everything in between in the bucket

A willoughby in which the remaining rocks get washed and the heavy sapphires drop to the bottom of the sieve

116

Turn the sieve upside down in one smooth move and check if there are any sapphires, do you see the sapphire in here?

Me looking for sapphires

The sapphires I found

that day

117

Dead kangaroos everywhere, between Barcaldine and Longreach

Dead kangaroo on the side of the road between Barcaldine and Longreach

118

Dead kangaroo on the side of the road between Barcaldine and Longreach

Camping close to Barcaldine

a s ’ t a th m u k n i d fair ! e i s s u A

A massive roadtrain in Longreach with 4 trailers

The 19th of September, I bought a pint of B&J to celebrate my birthday all by myself in the outback

120

Brolga or Australian Crane, these birds were next to my car when I woke up in Longreach Riverside Park in Longreach

WINTON

AUSTRALIAN AGE OF DINOSAURS MUSEUM 20 SEPTEMBER 2014

121

All dinosaur bones displayed are found around that area

Dinosaur bones stored at the lab

Dinosaur bones stored at the lab

Dinosaur bones stored at the lab, the names, year and which bone it is are written on the outside

122

Volunteers removing rock from a large dinosaur bone in the lab

A dinosaur bone that I was allowed to touch

Volunteers working in the lab

123

On the way from Winton to Opalton, 100 km dirt and gravel road with nothing in between

Spinifex grass, typical in the outback of Australia, between Opalton and Lark Quarry

124

Kangaroos, curious as always, between Opalton and Lark Quarry

Termite mounds between Opalton and Lark Quarry

A red kangaroo between Opalton and Lark Quarry

Dawn and dusk is the time when the kangaroos are active, this is between Opalton and Lark Quarry

Two western grey kangaroos between Opalton and Lark Quarry

Camping in the outback at Lark Quarry

125

Sundown, red sand and the intruder, a backpacker with a Ford Falcon between Opalton and Lark Quarry

126

OPALTON

NOODLING FOR OPAL 21 SEPTEMBER 2014 Opalton, designated fossicking land by the Queensland Government

Noodling or specking for opal, meaning look through waste of opal miners for small pieces of opal

127

The entrance to Opalton, a mining town which would appear in one of those movies in which travellers, get killed and are never heard from again

128

People can rent an area from the government in which they are allowed to mine

Spinifex pigeons, birds that can survive in these arid areas

Bigger stones with non precious pieces of opal and some so-called fairy stone that I found in Opalton

A mine shaft I was allowed to look into by two miners

Stones with tiny bits

l that of multicoloured opa

I found in Opalton

129

OPALTON

LARK QUARRY DINOSAUR STAMPEDE

The dinosaur stampede was found here and the building was build on top of it

22 SEPTEMBER 2014

The dinosaur stampede containing 3 different fossilized footprints of dinosaurs

130

Tracks of smaller sized dinosaurs coelurosaurs (chicken size) and wintonopus (emu size)

Tracks of a theropod australovenator

The footprints are believed to be a record of a theropod hunting some smaller dinosaurs

131

WINTON

ARNO'S WALL 23 SEPTEMBER 2014

Arno's Wall is a wall build by a German miner incorporating all sorts of discarded objects

132

133

My Ford Falcon, that took me on over 300 km of dirt and gravel roads without problems, branded with a NL sticker now

Middleton, a village so small, this picture features the complete village

134

On the way from Winton to Boulia, single lane highways are common in the outback

A camel in Boulia with which they do camel races

The Stonehouse Museum in Boulia, a private collection

Camels roam freely in the outback though this one is in captivity

The Stonehouse Museum in Boulia, a private collection

135

A fossil of an ichthyosaurus in the Stonehouse Museum in Boulia, a big part of the outback, as dry as it is now, used to be an inland sea

After getting stuck in a dry riverbed trying to find a place to sleep, I slept hiding behind this roadtrain in Mt Isa

136

Fire danger rating sign close to Mt Isa, though they are common throughout Australia

Dinosaur sculpture in Richmond

Rubbish bins in Richmond, they also look like this in Hughenden

Australia's Dinosaur Trail traffic sign in Richmond, the trail consists of the towns Richmond, Hughenden and Winton

Dinosaur sculpture in Richmond

137

RICHMOND

KRONOSAURUS KORNER 26 SEPTEMBER 2014 A giant sculpture of a kronosaurus In front of the Kronosaurus Korner

One of the rooms inside the Kronosaurus Korner with a sculpture of a plesiosaur hanging from the ceiling

138

Minnee, a fossil of a baby ichthyosaurus

A kronosaurus tooth

Big fossilised ammonites

Fossil of a fish

139

A pliosaur skeleton and a sculpture of how it would have looked like

A fossil of a fish

140

An almost complete fossilised skeleton of a pliosaur, only some small bones in their fins are missing

Minmi, an ankylosaur discovered near Richmond in 1989

RICHMOND

FOSSIL HUNTING SITES 26 SEPTEMBER 2014 Richmond's Free Fossil Hunting Area consists of 2 sites

The fossil hunting sites are about 12 km away from Richmond

141

The area to dig, look and find some fossils

The area where I've been looking through to try to find some fossils

Found these fossils of inoceramus shells

Found some fossils of aucellina shells

142

Junkasaurus in Hughenden made by Sam Brown and Terry Lindsay depicting the muttaburrasaurus found there

Muttaburrasaurus sculpture in Hughenden

A sculpture of a pterosaur in Hughenden

The Federation Rotunda in Hughenden, a monument that commemorates the centenary of federation

143

HUGHENDEN

FLINDERS DISCOVERY CENTRE 27 SEPTEMBER 2014

144

Thunder eggs from Mt Hay and Agate Creek

Agate from Agate Creek

Opalised wood

Hughie, a replica of a skeleton of a muttaburrasaurus found in the area

145

HUGHENDEN

PORCUPINE GORGE 27 SEPTEMBER 2014

Porcupine gorge as seen from the lookout

146

Inside the gorge with the small quiet river, in the wet season this transforms into a raging cascade

The depth of the gorge is about 40 m

Sandstone in the gorge which is shaped by the water

147

A short-beaked echidna or anteater that was crossing the road in front of me between Hughenden and Alpha

Flock of budgerigar parakeets between Hughenden and Alpha

148

My addiction and lunch in the outback, iced coffee!

ALPHA

SEARCHING FOR PETRIFIED WOOD

My attempt in finding some fossilised wood in the dry riverbed of Alpha Creek

29 SEPTEMBER 2014

A piece of fossilised

wood, how I found it

in the dirt

149

The road where I found a whole bag of fossilised wood just on the side of the road

A piece of fossilised wood, how I found it in the dirt

150

Fossilised wood I found in Alpha

RUBYVALE

LITTLE HOUSE OF GEMS FOSSICKING DIY TOUR

A fossickers licence I had to get when I rented all the stuff to try to find some sapphires by myself

1 OCTOBER 2014

The Reward designated fossicking land

151

My working area to try to find some sapphires, all this stuff I had to fit in my car

My set up with all the gear I've rented

The pit I was digging in

Didn't find any sapphires unfortunately but I did find a zircon

152

Bought a GoPro Hero 3+ Silver Edition at Dick Smith in Emerald

Huge dump trucks that are used in the mines, this is in Clermont

A Queensland bottle tree, known for their wide trunks, in Capella

153

Rail Wagon Murals in Clermont which show the industries that use the railways

Small railroad cars in which they transport sugar cane, near Proserpine

154

Camped at Lake Elphinstone

EUNGELLA

EUNGELLA NATIONAL PARK

Broken River, home of the platypus

6 OCTOBER 2014

A platypus, special is that it is one of only a handful of mammals that lays eggs instead of giving birth

155

On top of the Ring of Fire Falls in the Finch Hatton Gorge

Finch Hatton Gorge

156

Me at the Ring of Fire Falls in the Finch Hatton Gorge

Ring of Fire Falls in the Finch Hatton Gorge

Araluen Falls in Finch Hatton Gorge

157

we’ll o k o m s have at 10

Various iced coffees in Proserpine, my addiction in the hot parts of Australia

Camping at the Broken River Bush Camping near Eungella

The Big Mango, one of Australia's Big Things, in Bowen where the Kensington Pride mango was first grown in Australia

159

After my trip through the outback, first time back at the coast again, Airlie Beach

The lagoon in Airlie Beach

Airlie Beach

160

Painting at xBase Airlie Beach Resort in Airlie Beach

Drinks for my trip to The Whitsundays I bought in Airlie Beach

Trying the didgeridoo, an Aboriginal musical instrument, for the first time in Airlie Beach

161

Cape Tribulation

Cairns

Millaa Millaa Innisfail Normanton Mt Surprise Undara Volcanic NP Georgetown Magnetic Island Townsville

Mt Isa

Cloncurry

Porcupine Gorge NP

Richmond

Airlie Beach

Hughenden

Whitsunday Islands NP Mackay

Eungella NP

Winton Boulia

Lark Quarry Conservation Park

AIRPLANE

Opalton

Sapphire Gemfields Alpha

QLD

Emerald

Rockhampton Agnes Water Bundaberg Rainbow Beach

FORD FALCON FORTE WAGON

Noosa

Brisbane

TOUR GREYHOUND BUS

Fraser Island

Surfers Paradise Byron Bay

The s y a d n u Whits The Whitsundays, named that way by Captain Cook in 1770, is Australia's

POPULATION

largest group of offshore islands with a total of 74 islands. The biggest

1570(2014)

one is called The Whitsunday Island, with on it Whitehaven Beach, known for it's fine white sand. Another iconic place at The Whitsundays is the Heart Reef, a reef in the shape of an heart.

SIZE

282,82 KM2 DATE(S) VISITED

10-10-2014 till 11-10-2014

THE WHITSUNDAYS

BOAT CRUISE NEW HORIZON 10-11 OCTOBER 2014 The New Horizon, the boat I went on a cruise with to The Whitsundays

Whitehaven Beach, one of the whitest beaches in the world

164

Whitehaven Beach

165

Whitehaven Beach

My bed on the boat, not a lot of room

166

Feeding the fish

A beach filled with pieces of dead coral

Surrounded by fish

167

A clownfish

Snorkelling, stalking a hump headed Maori Wrasse

Snorkelling

Snorkelling

168

Sculptures "Bazza and Shazza" in Townsville by Jan Hynes (2004) representing stereotypical Australians

"Bazza" sculpture in Townsville by Jan Hynes (2004)

Camping at Saunders Beach not far from Townsville

169

View of Townsville, and in the distance Magnetic Island, from Castle Hill Lookout

Aboriginal painting on the public toilet building at Castle Hill Lookout in Townsville

170

Had to try the Townsville Bitter, a beer brewed in Townsville

TOWNSVILLE

TROY EMERY INTO THE WILD EXHIBITION

The Perc Tucker Regional Gallery in which the exhibition was held

12 OCTOBER 2014

Inside the Perc Tucker Regional Gallery where the exhibition was held

171

172

173

Cape Tribulation

Cairns

Millaa Millaa Innisfail Normanton Mt Surprise Undara Volcanic NP Georgetown Magnetic Island Townsville

Mt Isa

Cloncurry

Porcupine Gorge NP

Richmond

Airlie Beach

Hughenden

Whitsunday Islands NP Mackay

Eungella NP

Winton Boulia

Lark Quarry Conservation Park

AIRPLANE

Opalton

Sapphire Gemfields Alpha

QLD

Emerald

Rockhampton Agnes Water Bundaberg Rainbow Beach

FORD FALCON FORTE WAGON

Noosa

Brisbane

TOUR GREYHOUND BUS

Fraser Island

Surfers Paradise Byron Bay

c i t e n g Ma Island Magnetic Island, named by Captain Cook this way because the island

POPULATION

appeared to have an magnetic effect on his ship's compass, is located

2,107(2006)

about 8 km offshore of Townsville in Queensland. During World War II it was an important defensive position with an observation post, command

SIZE

post and two gun emplacements.

52 KM2 DATE(S) VISITED

15-10-2014 till 16-10-2014

176

A rock wallaby

A rock wallaby close to where the ferry arrives

Hoop pine, a common tree on Magnetic Island

177

One of the beaches I past during my walk to Bungalow Bay Koala Village YHA hostel in Horseshoe Bay

Male red-tailed black cockatoo, native to Australia

178

A bush stone curlew, endemic to Australia

Rainbow lorikeets

Sundown at the beach in Horseshoe Bay

Blue tiger butterflies

179

Claudi(DE), Christine(UK) and Me on a small hike on Magnetic Island

Two rainbow lorikeets eating an apple

180

A rainbow lorikeet on

my head during the

feeding

MAGNETIC ISLAND

FORTS WALK 15 OCTOBER 2014

Command Post, during WW2 it was camouflaged to look like the surrounding rocks, the camouflage is gone now

181

A WW2 bunker with in front one of the two gun placements that are present on the island

Command Post, a bit of the camouflage left on top of the drainpipe

182

View of the gun placement from inside the bunker

Panorama from one of the bunkers with the gun placement

This was on top of one of the WW2 bunkers

The Signal Post on which I could almost see all of the island

183

The only snake I've seen in Australia was a roadkill on the way to Ingham

Cheapest coffee and so effectively backpackers coffee at Coles Express at Shell fuel stations, this is near Townsville

184

A roadkill dingo on the way to Ingham

INGHAM

WALLAMAN FALLS 17-18 OCTOBER 2014

The Wallaman Falls as seen from the lookout, it is the highest single-drop waterfall in Australia with an height of 268 m

185

A goanna I tried to catch, but it can run quickly and climb into trees as this one did, twice

On the way to the rock pool where I had a swim underneath the waterfall

186

Met Chrissi, a German girl travelling by bicycle, in Ingham which I visited the Wallaman Falls with

We made it to the top of the Wallaman Falls, well worth it, such an awesome view!

On top of the Wallaman Falls, no access normally, but I got there by swimming through the river and climbing over rocks

On top of the Wallaman Falls, we took a shower underneath the small fall in the background

187

Sign to a cyclone shelter in Tully

Free public BBQs are common on rest stops, beaches and parks, this is on a rest stop near Innisfail where I spend 2 nights

188

The areas around Tully and Innisfail are filled with fields of banana trees

Small unmanned banana store, $1,50/kg ($2,89 or more in the supermarket) in Innisfail

The Big Gumboot aka Golden Gumboot, one of Australia's Big Things, in Tully

Self service in Innisfail: take your bananas, weigh them and drop the money into the honesty box

189

ETTY BAY

ETTY BAY BEACH 20 OCTOBER 2014

A southern cassowary, a beautiful and rare flightless bird which lives in northeastern Australia

190

Etty Bay is well known as a place where a couple of cassowaries regularly visit

191

Watch out for cassowaries, the cassowary will fall on the ground and your car will be trashed

Their claws are very powerful, the cassowary is capable of killing dogs and people when they feel threatened

192

Roadkill is a big part of the decline of their numbers, there are estimated to be about 1.500 a 2.500 left

BARTLE FRERE

JOSEPHINE FALLS 22 OCTOBER 2014

The waterfall on the left is a natural water slide, not as smooth as a normal one, but it is much cooler!

193

North Johnstone River Lookout between Innisfail and Millaa Millaa

One of the lookout points on the Mamu Rainforest Canopy Walk

194

Mamu Rainforest Canopy Walk, a walk amongst the tree tops

MILLAA MILLAA

ELLINJAA FALLS 21 OCTOBER 2014

195

On top of the waterfall

196

MILLAA MILLAA

ZILLIE FALLS 21 OCTOBER 2014

197

Me on top of the fast flowing waterfall

I've been crossing the creek and climbing over the rocks to get underneath the waterfall

198

MILLAA MILLAA

MILLAA MILLAA FALLS 21 OCTOBER 2014

The most famous of the 3, the Millaa Millaa Falls, I took a swim in the rock pool underneath the waterfall

199

The overhanging rocks with plant growth underneath

200

The plant growth underneath the waterfall

BABINDA

BABINDA BOULDERS 22 OCTOBER 2014

The three people in the back shows the size of the boulders

201

A blue triangle butterfly

202

u o y w Ho ? e v o L n doi

Cape Tribulation

Cairns

Millaa Millaa Innisfail Normanton Mt Surprise Undara Volcanic NP Georgetown Magnetic Island Townsville

Mt Isa

Cloncurry

Porcupine Gorge NP

Richmond

Airlie Beach

Hughenden

Whitsunday Islands NP Mackay

Eungella NP

Winton Boulia

Lark Quarry Conservation Park

AIRPLANE

Opalton

Sapphire Gemfields Alpha

QLD

Emerald

Rockhampton Agnes Water Bundaberg Rainbow Beach

FORD FALCON FORTE WAGON

Noosa

Brisbane

TOUR GREYHOUND BUS

Fraser Island

Surfers Paradise Byron Bay

Cairns Cairns, found in 1876, is well known as a starting point to visit

POPULATION

The Great Barrier Reef but it is also close by the Daintree Rainforest

156,169(2011)

and the Atherton Tablelands. It is Australia's fourth most popular tourist destination after Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

DATE(S) VISITED

24-10-2014 till 26-10-2014

Trees completely filled with fruit bats, they get active during dusk when they start flying around and make a lot of noise

Fruit bats sleeping in a tree next to the library of Cairns

206

Sugar cane juice at the Cairns Night Markets

The lagoon in Cairns, early in the morning

The Outback Jacks is a chain of restaurants with multiple locations throughout Australia

Crocodile burger at the Outback Jacks

The crocodile burger, the meat is very white, tastes like chicken and is extremely tough

207

CAIRNS

BOAT CRUISE OCEAN FREEDOM

The Ocean Freedom boat

25 OCTOBER 2014

Me diving at The Great Barrier Reef, totally freaking out when I went underwater at first!

208

Fish underneath the boat

Standing on a cay, a small low-elevation sandy island in the middle of the sea

A giant clam that closes when you get close with your hand

209

A clownfish, they all start out as males, the most dominant one in a group becomes a female

It's about a 1-hour cruise at 23 knots to the Upolu Cay Reef, part of The Great Barrier Reef

A bluespotted ribbontail stingray

Two reef sharks underneath a big chunk of coral, they were bigger than I expected!

210

A cay, a small low-elevation island, in the middle of the sea

211

Me diving at the Upo

lu Cay Reef, I was sea

sick which resulted in

me diving alone with

A clownfish, there was a tiny one of only about a cm big hiding in there as well

212

the instructor at the

A couple of bright coloured clownfish

end of the trip (normal

ly 2 people per instruct or)

The Upolu Cay Reef, part of The Great Barrier Reef

The Message Stick Vehicle near Cairns, which has driven around Australia and is painted upon by over 200 Aboriginal artists

The Message Stick Vehicle near Cairns, a symbol of unity and peace for Indigenous and Non-Indigenous people

Ellis Beach, a couple of days before I arrived there was a crocodile spotted here

213

Kuranda, the village in the rainforest

Kuranda is surrounded by rainforest which gives it an unique vibe

214

Beautiful flowers in the main street of Kuranda

Aboriginal art at Doongal Aboriginal Art & Artefacts in Kuranda

Doongal Aboriginal Art & Artefacts, an aboriginal art and didgeridoo store in the shape of a ship

Wall painting next to the Doongal Aboriginal Art & Artefacts store in Kuranda

Aboriginal art at Doongal Aboriginal Art & Artefacts in Kuranda

Barron Falls in Kuranda with a total height of 125 m and 4 drops

215

Rex Lookout on the coast between Cairns and Port Douglas

Rex Lookout on the coast between Cairns and Port Douglas

Barron Falls in Kuranda

216

Flagstaff Hill Lookout overlooking Four Mile Beach in Port Douglas

The Newcastle harbour(NSW), in PortAustralia Douglas

217

Camped at the Daintree River in Daintree and went fishing in the evening

At the Daintree River in Daintree, a river where saltwater crocodiles are common, didn't see them there though

218

The ferry from Daintree to Cape Tribulation crossing the Daintree River with my car

Mount Alexandra Lookout or Walu Wugirriga between Kimberley and Cow Bay with a beautiful view on the Daintree River joining the sea

Where rainforest meets the beach, Cow Bay

Cassowary territory so drive carefully in Cow Bay

219

Cow Bay, isn't this one of those images you used as your desktop background as a kid?

220

Cape Tribulation

I saw a cassowary with chicks in the morning and this one in the evening near Cow Bay

Mangrove trees, that can handle the salt water, not far from the beach in Cape Tribulation

221

A tree with buttress root near Cow Bay, these roots are shaped like this to prevent falling over and to gather more nutrients

A strangler fig near Cape Tribulation, this tree grows on top and around another tree which in this case has died

222

Strangler fig near Cape Tribulation, the hollow space indicates where the host tree used to be

The Australian fan palm in the Daintree Rainforest

A tree with buttress root, common in the Daintree rainforest

223

SexyCat Marshmallow Liqueur, at the Mt Uncle Distillery in Walkamin

224

SexyCat Marshmallow Liqueur, sweet and delicious at the Mt Uncle Distillery in Walkamin

MAREEBA

COFFEE WORKS 31 OCTOBER 2014

Coffeeworks has 21 different types of coffee to try from different countries and different flavours

Besides coffee, there were some interesting flavours of chocolate and also tea and coffee liqueurs to try unlimited

225

Coffee Works has got a museum with an enormous collection of items related to coffee

226

Interesting chair

TOLGA

RAINFOREST GEMS 1 NOVEMBER 2014

At Rainforest Gems they could polish stones so I asked to polish a piece of petrified wood I'd found in Alpha

227

Polishing the stone in 3 stages from rough to fine

The polished piece left and an unpolished piece on the right

228

The finished piece, a hole has been drilled into the stone and it has been made into a necklace

ATHERTON

THE CRYSTAL CAVES 2 NOVEMBER 2014 Front of The Crystel Caves

Inside, the look and feel of a cave with a collection of fossils and minerals in the walls to be discovered by the visitors

229

An ammonite from Madagaskar

Aragonite crystals from Mexico

230

Pyrite

Amethyst geode from Uruguay

Agate nodules cut into bowls from Brazil

Pyrite

Geode with quartz crystals from Brazil

Little cave with slices of agate embedded in the wall

Spoonfish fossil from Brazil

231

Giant agate geode with quartz from Brazil

Worlds biggest ame Magical fountain

232

thyst geode (3,27 m

tall and 2.500 kg), The

Empress of Uruguay,

truly astonishing to

see!

YUNGABURRA

CURTAIN FIG TREE NATIONAL PARK 2 NOVEMBER 2014

This is a strangler fig tree that grew around a later collapsed tree and made a curtain with it's roots

233

A sign with an explanation of how the curtain fig tree came to be

234

A ringtail possum

Traffic sign, watch out for tree kangaroos close to Yungaburra

A lumholtz's tree kangaroo in Malanda, this type of tree kangaroo can only be found in the Atherton Tablelands.

A lumholtz's tree kangaroo with a little joey at the Nerada Tea Plantage in Malanda

235

Bromfield Swamp close to Malanda

Millstream Falls, close to Ravenshoe

236

The Mt Hypipamee Crater between Ravenshoe and Mt Surprise with a diameter of 61 m and 82 m deep

MOUNT SURPRISE

UNDARA VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK

A collapsed section of the lava tube

5 NOVEMBER 2014

Inside the lava tube, the child is an indication of how big the tube actually is

237

The wall of the lava tube

Liquid lava has been flowing through this tube for quite a while

238

GEORGETOWN

AGATE CREEK GEMFIELDS 6 NOVEMBER 2014 Agate Creek fossicking area sign at the entrance

The area where I found pieces of agate

239

Various pieces of agate I found

A common pattern

240

Pieces of agate I found

Interesting pattern

A bigger piece with an interesting pattern

Nice swimming pool, but more interesting, there's a shower available, in Georgetown

Changing the tyre close to Forsayth using a jack and a brand new spare tyre I had with me in the back of my car

Flat tyre between the Agate Creek Gemfields and Forsayth

Yes, changed the tyre, luckily I could do this myself as I did not see anyone on this road near Forsayth

241

Oldest store in Australia in Croyden

Beware... of destroying your car around the head of a solid cow in Croyden

242

A big grasshopper at Lake Belmore in Croyden

The oldest building of Burns Philp, once a major Australian shipping line and merchant company, in Normanton

Went fishing in Normanton in the evening and caught a couple of these catfish

Statue of Krys, a huge estuarine crocodile of 8.63 m captured in Normanton by Krystina Pawloski

The Big Barramundi, one of Australia's Big Things, in Normanton

243

Road train route, you'd better get off the one lane highways because they won't, between Normanton and Cloncurry

Check the toilet before taking a dump, you might have company in Cloncurry

An Australian green tree frog in a toilet at the visitor information centre in Cloncurry

244

A wedge tail eagle eating a dead wallaby close to Cloncurry

Entrance sign on one of the roads to Australia's Rodeo Capital & Premier Mining City, Mt Isa

My Ford Falcon at the border of Queensland with the Northern Territory

"Welcome to Nature Territory" sign with, by the looks of it, bullet holes at the QLD-NT border

Me at the border between Queensland and the Northern Territory

245

Fackin' Top enders

246

AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK

n r e h t Nor y r o t i r r Te CAPITAL CITY

DARWIN

AREA

1,420,970 KM²

POPULATION

243,700(2014) 247

Straight forward advertising with "No belt, No brains" and an image of a bloody front window

Pauls Iced Coffee, the Territoy's own in Threeways

248

New sticker on my car; "Do Adventure. Do It Now. Do the NT."

Small abandoned airplane in Daly Waters

A roadtrain in Barkly Homestead, by the looks of it, it hit something on it's last journey

249

MATARANKA

ELSEY NATIONAL PARK

The Thermal Pool is a man made natural heated pool

15 NOVEMBER 2014

The Rainbow Spring, the source of the warm water which is about 34 degrees

250

Underwater in the Thermal Pool

The Bitter Springs

A group of flying foxes aka fruit bats hanging in a tree

251

Most likely an agile wallaby with a little joey

252

A red flying fox or frui

t bat hanging in a tree

KATHERINE

NITMILUK NATIONAL PARK

Katherine Gorge with a canoe on the water that shows the size of the gorge

15-16 NOVEMBER 2014

Most likely agile wallabies, the little joey is eating the grass from within the pouch

253

Katherine Gorge Lookout

254

Most likely a young agile wallaby

Panoramic view close to the Edith Falls

Bemang Lookout at the Edith Falls

Me near the upper pool at the Edith Falls

The upper pool at the Edith Falls

255

Me near the upper pool at the Edith Falls

zone, you're allowed codile management

Cro

256

to swim but there's a

odiles being present small chance of croc

Found a geocaching treasure box by accident and added my cards to the box near the Bemang Lookout at the Edith Falls

BATCHELOR

LITCHFIELD NATIONAL PARK

Bamboo Creek Tin Mine, an abandoned mine

17 NOVEMBER 2014

Me in front of one of the waterfalls at the Cascades

257

The Cascades

The Cascades

258

Wangi Falls, it's a crocodile management zone, so there is a small chance of saltwater crocodiles being present here

The water at the bottom of the Wangi Falls where I had a little swim in on the sandy part

On top of the Wangi

Falls, officially I was

re

not allowed to be the

On top of the Wangi Falls

259

A mertens's water monitor at the Wangi Falls which dropped itself into the water when I got closer

260

Tabletop Swamp

Tolmer Falls

Buley Rockhole

261

Buley Rockhole

Fish in the plunge pool underneath the Florence Falls

262

The Florence Falls

Magnetic termite mounds, they are thin and all build in north-south orientation

Cathedral termite mounds

263

Darwin

Kakadu NP Jabiru

Litchfield NP Nitmiluk NP

Katherine Mataranka

Tennant Creek

NT West Macdonnell NP Watarrka NP

Uluru-Kata Tjuta NP Yulara

FORD FALCON FORTE WAGON

Alice Springs

Darwin Darwin, capital city of the Northern Territory, is one of Australia's

POPULATION

most modern and fastest growing capital cities. Unlike other areas of

146,245(2014)

Australia, there are roughly 2 distinctive seasons, a dry season with dry sunny days and a wet season with rain, storms and increased humidity.

The temperature is remarkably similar all year round. Destinations for trips from Darwin include Litchfield National Park, Kakadu National Park and Nitmiluk National Park.

DATE(S) VISITED

17-11-2014 till 18-11-2014

The harbour in Darwin, one of not many photos I have of Darwin, the humidity was so bad that I left after 1 day

A water dragon near the Adelaide River

266

Installed a fly screen on my window, the humidity was so bad that I had to be able to open the window

DARWIN

ADELAIDE RIVER QUEEN JUMPING CROCODILE CRUISE

The Adelaide River, a river with a lot of salties ("salties" is an Australian abbreviation of saltwater crocodiles)

19 NOVEMBER 2014

267

The crocodiles jump high out of the water to grab food

These crocodiles can jump out of the water by pushing themselves up using their tail

268

A crocodile is a born hunter, this one was sneaking up and came out of nothing to grab the meat

I remember that the skin and green eyes look very impressive, even prehistoric

269

Even their back legs are coming out of the water when they jump!

A nest of a saltwater crocodile

270

a n n o G I'm f l e s y m get y b b u t S a

JABIRU

KAKADU NATIONAL PARK

A painted rock with an explanation of the seasons according to the Aboriginals at Bowali Visitor Information Centre

20-21 NOVEMBER 2014

A saltwater crocodile with a fish in its mouth at Cahills Crossing

272

Overhanging rock with rock paintings at Ubirr

A saltwater crocodile at Cahills Crossing, was looking for crocs in the water till I discovered this one right under my nose

Rock painting at Ubirr

273

Rock painting at Ubirr

Rock painting at Ubirr

274

Rock painting at Ubirr

Rock painting at Ubirr

Rock painting in the Anbangbang Shelter

The flies were so annoying, attacking my eyes, ears, nose and mouth

Rock painting in the Anbangbang Shelter

275

Rock painting in the Anbangbang Gallery

Rock painting in the Anbangbang Shelter in Nourlangie, by the looks of it a kangaroo hunting story

276

Rock painting in the Anbangbang Gallery

Rock painting in the Incline Gallery

277

Rock painting in the Anbangbang Gallery

278

Rock painting in the Anbangbang Gallery

Rock painting at the Nanguluwur Gallery

Handprints in the Nanguluwur Gallery, notice the way they hold their fingers in some of the prints

A painting of a ship, probably the first sighting of Europeans by the Aboriginals in the Nanguluwur Gallery

279

Rock painting at the Nanguluwur Gallery

280

Rock painting at the Nanguluwur Gallery

This style of painting is called the X-ray style, reason for this is that the organs of the animals are included in the painting, this is in the Nanguluwur Gallery

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Aussie fishing at the rock pool of the waterfall at Maguk

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Gunlom, a scene of Crocodile Dundee has been recorded here

Panorama of the view on the top of the waterfall at Gunlom, the road towards Gunlom was a 4WD track that I went on with my Ford Falcon, big rocks hitting the bottom of my car all the time, but this place was well worth it

Me at the top of the waterfall at Gunlom

Me in the rock pool on

ll at Gunlom

the top of the waterfa

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A feral water buffalo in Dunmarra, this guy tried to attack me when I came too close

Slept next to the highway and although it was a fair bit away from the road I woke up with these cracks in my windscreen

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A young feral water buffalo in Dunmarra

Between Katherine and Threeways

KATHERINE

KATHERINE HOT SPRINGS 22 NOVEMBER 2014 The source of the hot water

Me at the first pool next to the source

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The first pool with in the back the source

The water is quite clear as you can see

The last pool is occupied by a group of Aboriginals

Typical characteristics of the Aboriginals, big forehead, wide nose and round cheeks

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Me with some Aborigin

als An Aboriginal woman with her child

Aboriginals in the last pool

Aboriginals have a low tolerance for alcohol which results in them being drunk much faster

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TENNANT CREEK

KARLU KARLU / DEVILS MARBLES

The huge boulders are balancing on top of each other which suggests that an higher power has been involved

24 NOVEMBER 2014

Karlu Karlu is the Aboriginal name, Devils Marbles is the English name

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The boulders are still eroding because of the weather and so some of them split like this one

Karlu Karlu is a sacred site to the Aboriginal people

The outer layers of the rocks are falling off due to water getting into the cracks, this is called onion-skin weathering

A crack in the boulder made this small piece fall off

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Devils Marbles has come to be because of cracks in a giant piece of granite which have been eroded further by water, turning the big chunks of rock into round boulders balancing on top of each other

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that's s e i r r o No W Mate

On the way from Katherine to Alice Springs

I could test my car, legally this time, on the way to Alice Springs and I found out my car was limited to 180 km/h

Drive to conditions sign, had to stop to read this

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Darwin

Kakadu NP Jabiru

Litchfield NP Nitmiluk NP

Katherine Mataranka

Tennant Creek

NT West Macdonnell NP Watarrka NP

Uluru-Kata Tjuta NP Yulara

FORD FALCON FORTE WAGON

Alice Springs

Alice Springs Alice Springs, also known as the Red Centre or Mparntwe in the

POPULATION

Aboriginal language, is a hub for Aboriginal art. Located in the middle

28,605(2012)

of the outback it is surrounded by natural attractions like the West MacDonnell Ranges, Devils Marbles, Kings Canyon and the most famous rock in Australia: Ayers Rock/Uluru.

DATE(S) VISITED

25-11-2014 till 27-11-2014

Welcome to Alice Springs, the centre of Australia

Went to the Overlanders Steakhouse and got the Stuart's Tucker Bag, a sausage of kangaroo, emu, crocodile and camel

Bought an Aboriginal painting by Reg Pengarte at the Iranti Art Gallery, it's painted in the so-called X-hatch style

Free exhibition of Aboriginal paintings and objects in the Mbantua Aboriginal Art Gallery

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ALICE SPRINGS

EWANINGA ROCK CARVINGS 27 NOVEMBER 2014 The carvings in sandstone are only to be seen by men, it's a men's place for the Aboriginals, no women allowed

These are animal tracks, most likely of an emu

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Extensive carvings, as this was a popular camping place due to availability of water and food in the area

The carvings have been made ages ago and have degraded by the weather since then

These are abstract carvings as the meaning is only known to the local Aboriginals

The meaning of the circles could be to indicate a water hole, campsite or a meeting

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ALICE SPRINGS

WEST MACDONNELL NATIONAL PARK

Spotted a dingo

28-29 NOVEMBER 2014

My Ford Falcon, very dirty but still going strong

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Ellery Creek Big Hole

The Ochre Pits are layers of rock in various colours

Ochre Pits, the Aboriginals make paint using these rocks to paint on their bodies or make rock paintings

The ochre was traded with other Aboriginal tribes and so made it's way to other parts of Australia

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Ormiston Gorge with a small and very cold water hole

Glen Helen Gorge

Spotted this long-no sed

water dragon at the Orm

iston Gorge

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The view from the Mt Sonder Lookout

Tylers Pass Lookout

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Camping at Redbank Woodland Bush Camping Area by filling in this envelope and putting it in a so-called "honesty box"

Redbank Gorge

Redbank Gorge

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ALICE SPRINGS

KINGS CANYON 29 NOVEMBER 2014

The walk was closed officially so I had to jump the gate and did the steep climb in the background called "Heartbreak Hill"

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Beautiful layered rock formations

View over the Garden of Eden, a small river in the gorge, around which a lot of plantlife grows

A small lake at the end of Kings Creek

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A truly magnificent view of the gorge with the Garden of Eden

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Beautiful layered rock formations

Me on a small edge above the Garden of Eden

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The Garden of Eden with Kings Creek in the middle

An orange coloured lizard with a piece of it's tail missing

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A zebra finch

Plant life is growing in little cracks in the rock

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Beautiful layered rock formations

Trying to play the didgeridoo, an Aboriginal wind instrument, in Yulara

Kangaroo tails in the freezer in Mt Ebenezer, apparently it is a delicacy for the Aboriginals

An emu in captivity in Erldunda, an Aboriginal said that they put the fat of an emu on their legs to run faster

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YULARA

ULURU-KATA TJUTA NATIONAL PARK

Welcome sign to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

29 NOVEMBER - 1 DECEMBER 2014

Saw at least 3 of these lizards cross the road, they are fast and I could only get a photo of this one unfortunately!

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Entrance ticket to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, valid for 3 days

At the Uluru Car Sunset Viewing Area, that day I've driven over 15.000 km with my Ford Falcon!

Uluru Car Sunset Viewing Area, Uluru or Ayers Rock is one of the most famous things in Australia

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Uluru has many shapes from different angles

There's a road all around Uluru so I could check it out from all sides possible

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Teaching cave during the Mali walk at Uluru

Old people's cave during the Mali walk at Uluru

Kantju Gorge on the Mali walk, the black part is where the rainwater is flowing down from Uluru

The family cave at the Kuniya walk at Uluru

The family cave at the Kuniya walk at Uluru

The hunting teaching cave on the Kuniya walk at Uluru

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The Mutitjulu water hole on the Kuniya walk at Uluru

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Uluru, though sacred to the Aboriginals can be climbed, but is closed a lot due to the weather conditions

Due to the fact that there is not much chance to do the climb and the amount of people already climbing Uluru I did it too

Climbing Uluru is offensive to the Aboriginals, so I was in doubt if I would do the climb to see the amazing view

On top of Uluru there are white stripes marking the path to the top

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Me at the top of Uluru with Kata Tjuta on the background

On top of the 348 m high Uluru, everything around Uluru except Kata Tjuta is so flat that the view is really impressive

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A little gecko on the top of Uluru

The Valley of the Winds at Kata Tjuta

Kata Tjuta, meaning "many heads", as seen from the dune viewing area

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The Valley of the Winds at Kata Tjuta, an amazing view!

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Walpa Gorge at Kata Tjuta

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Kata Tjuta

Walpa Gorge at Kata Tjuta, quite impressive to see these huge rocks on both sides and the small opening at the end

Walpa Gorge at Kata Tjuta, reflecting in the small water pool

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Fackin' s r e t a e w o r C

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