On the Road

Square Perspectives Photo Challenge ~ Australian Landscapes #31

Destination: Australia

Many Australians love a good road trip and, with more than 900,000 kilometres of roads in Australia, there are plenty of places to go.

For a great road trip, leave the major highways and explore the country roads – your journey will be an adventure.

You’ll travel on single lane roads,

and wide dirt roads. Don’t get too close to anyone in front or you’ll be covered in bulldust!

Sometimes you’ll need to go around obstacles,

over cattle grids,

and through farm gates. Make sure you shut the gate behind you.

You’ll find paved roads hand built by pioneers,

and record breaking roads which opened up the interior.

Sometimes you’ll share the road with large vehicles,

or large pedestrians. Don’t argue about who has right of way with either.

So next time you’re thinking about a road trip pack your bags, start up the car and head off the main roads. If you want to see the best of Australia, country roads are the only way to go.

See this post from 2013 for more Australian country roads.

While our travel plans are on hold I’ve joined in every day with Becky’s July Square Perspectives Photo Challenge over at The Life of B. Thanks Becky, it’s been a fun month. The rules are simple: photos must be square and fit the theme of perspective. My posts represent the definition of perspective as a vista – seeing something over distance or time.

Islands in the Sun

Square Perspectives Photo Challenge ~ Australian Landscapes #30

Destination: Whitsunday Islands, Queensland

If you’re in search of a tropical paradise, look no further than the Whitsunday Islands, an archipelago of 74 islands located between Queensland’s central coast and the Great Barrier Reef. Surrounded by the clear blue waters of the Coral Sea, some of the islands are home to luxury resorts, but many are uninhabited.

The island group was named in 1770 by James Cook while on his first voyage of discovery. He thought he sailed past on Whit Sunday, without realising he had already crossed what would one day be known as the International Date Line.

That slight miscalculation isn’t going to worry anyone who’s enjoying an tropical island holiday in the Whitsundays.

 

While our travel plans are on hold I’m joining in every day with Becky’s July Square Perspectives Photo Challenge over at The Life of B. The rules are simple: photos must be square and fit the theme of perspective. My posts represent the definition of perspective as a vista – seeing something over distance or time.

Rain in the Rainforest

Square Perspectives Photo Challenge ~ Australian Landscapes #29

Destination: Goomburra Section, Main Range National Park, Queensland

Last November Queensland was in the middle of a crippling drought. So even though we were in a rainforest, we didn’t expect it to rain.

The sky looked ominous but we gave it no thought as we set off up the track to the Mount Castle Lookout.

We saw evidence of damaging storms which had passed through a few weeks before.

As we reached the lookout the sun broke through the thick layer of clouds, illuminating the sheer stony cliffs of Mount Castle.

Through the haze we could clearly see the domed tops of distant mountains – Greville, Moon, Barney and Maroon. But as we lingered, gazing out over the valley and the mountains, the mist enveloped us, bringing with it heavy rain.

The patter of raindrops joined the calls of birds hidden high in the trees, enhancing the beauty of the forest. We were drenched, but there was no inclination to hurry back along the track.

It’s not every day we get rained on in a rainforest!

 

While our travel plans are on hold I’m joining in every day with Becky’s July Square Perspectives Photo Challenge over at The Life of B. The rules are simple: photos must be square and fit the theme of perspective. My posts represent the definition of perspective as a vista – seeing something over distance or time. Also joining Jo’s Monday Walks.

In The Vineyard

Square Perspectives Photo Challenge ~ Australian Landscapes #28

Destination: Stanthorpe, Queensland

Stanthorpe, on Queensland’s Granite Belt, is renowned for its crisp winters, perfect for growing stone fruit, apples and pears. The region is also famous for its vineyards and award winning wineries.

And where there’s a vineyard, there’s bound to be a barrel or two.

 

While our travel plans are on hold I’m joining in every day with Becky’s July Square Perspectives Photo Challenge over at The Life of B. The rules are simple: photos must be square and fit the theme of perspective. My posts represent the definition of perspective as a vista – seeing something over distance or time.

Cloud Shapes

Square Perspectives Photo Challenge ~ Australian Landscapes #27

Destination: Granite Lookout, Washpool National Park, New South Wales

The information board at the Granite Picnic Area promised us sweeping views of the Gibraltar Ranges.

We walked for 400 metres on a track shaded by eucaplypt forest,

until we came to a natural granite platform on the edge of the range, 1065 metres above sea level.

The huge slab of granite was perfectly positioned to see over the hidden gully where Coombadjha Creek flowed to the tree covered mountains beyond.

After walking through the forest with its branches arching overhead, the open sky was a welcome change.

We got all we were promised and more.

 

While our travel plans are on hold I’m joining in every day with Becky’s July Square Perspectives Photo Challenge over at The Life of B. The rules are simple: photos must be square and fit the theme of perspective. My posts represent the definition of perspective as a vista – seeing something over distance or time. Also joining Jo’s Monday Walks.

A Natural Balancing Act

Square Perspectives Photo Challenge ~ Australian Landscapes #26

Destination: Stonehenge Recreational Reserve, New South Wales

At Stonehenge Recreational Reserve it looks like a giant tossed his pebble collection like a little boy tosses marbles. Beside the New England Highway not far from Glen Innes, dozens of huge granite boulders lie scattered across 32 hectares of parkland. Some are only just exposed, with most of their massive bulk still buried underground. Others rest on their side or stack up against each other.

Some boulders balance haphazardly in precarious positions,

while others seem perilously close to toppling.

When the first English settlers arrived here in 1838, they named their property “Stonehenge”. It’s not hard to imagine why.

 

While our travel plans are on hold I’m joining in every day with Becky’s July Square Perspectives Photo Challenge over at The Life of B. The rules are simple: photos must be square and fit the theme of perspective. My posts represent the definition of perspective as a vista – seeing something over distance or time.

A Walk In the Forest

Square Perspectives Photo Challenge ~ Australian Landscapes #25

Destination: Washpool National Park, New South Wales

The temperate rainforest at Washpool National Park is part of the World Heritage listed Gondwana Rainforests of Australia. The plants growing in the park now are the same species as those which grew here 550 million years ago, when Australia was part of the supercontinent Gondwana.

Come for a walk in the forest with me.

Ferns with ancient ancestry begin life on the forest floor, while larger tree ferns form umbrella-shaped shelter overhead.

Vines and aerial roots twist together, using tree trunks for support in their quest to reach the sky.

The clear water of Summit Creek flows around granite boulders strewn in its path, creating an ever-changing canvas of ripples and reflections.

The tallest trees compete for sunlight which filters down through the canopy, making shadowplay on the tracks below.

Before turning back, let’s rest a while. With its mossy coat, this bench might have been here since Gondwana.

 

While our travel plans are on hold I’m joining in every day with Becky’s July Square Perspectives Photo Challenge over at The Life of B. The rules are simple: photos must be square and fit the theme of perspective. My posts represent the definition of perspective as a vista – seeing something over distance or time. Also joining Jo’s Monday Walks.

Winter Sunset

Square Perspectives Photo Challenge ~ Australian Landscapes #24

Destination: Patonga, New South Wales 

On a warm summer evening, everyone lingers at the beach long after the sun has set. It’s a different story in winter.

The temperature plummets when the sun goes down. Activity ceases and the beach is empty as people seek warmth indoors.

Only the hardiest of souls is still out.

 

While our travel plans are on hold I’m joining in every day with Becky’s July Square Perspectives Photo Challenge over at The Life of B. The rules are simple: photos must be square and fit the theme of perspective. My posts represent the definition of perspective as a vista – seeing something over distance or time.

End of Day

Square Perspectives Photo Challenge ~ Australian Landscapes #23

Destination: Bulcock Beach, Caloundra, Sunshine Coast, Queensland

Life at the beach doesn’t stop when the sun goes down. In the middle of summer the evening air is balmy and the water is the perfect temperature.

As the eastern sky takes on a rosy sunset glow, friends and families gather for beach-side picnics.

In the west the sun sinks towards the horizon, laying down a gilt trail across the calm waters of Pumicestone Passage.

This is my favourite time of day at the beach.

 

While our travel plans are on hold I’m joining in every day with Becky’s July Square Perspectives Photo Challenge over at The Life of B. The rules are simple: photos must be square and fit the theme of perspective. My posts represent the definition of perspective as a vista – seeing something over distance or time.

Total Devastation

Square Perspectives Photo Challenge ~ Australian Landscapes #22

Destination: Esk Hampton Road, Queensland

As temperatures soared past 40°C in mid November 2019, a fire broke out in Pechey State Forest north of Toowoomba. Perched on the escarpment of the Great Dividing Range, the forest was tinder dry after several years of extreme drought. Within hours it fell victim to a raging inferno which burned for more than a week, destroying thousands of hectares of forest, bushland and national park and threatening several small townships.

Two weeks later on our way to the Sunshine Coast, we drove through the devastation left in the wake of the fire.

Eucalyptus trees, their trunks scarred and blackened, still lined each side of the road, but the usually thick undergrowth was gone. Amazingly some trees had patches of green in their canopies.

More than two weeks after the fire began some parts of the forest continued to smoulder, contributing to the lingering smoke haze.

Further on, a fresh cloud of smoke billowed above an untouched area of forest on the other side of the hills.

Another blaze was about to do even more damage.

 

While our travel plans are on hold I’m joining in every day with Becky’s July Square Perspectives Photo Challenge over at The Life of B. The rules are simple: photos must be square and fit the theme of perspective. My posts represent the definition of perspective as a vista – seeing something over distance or time.