Whitewater Rafting – Tully River, Queensland, Australia

The Tully River is located two hours south of Cairns. Its rapids are grade 3-4 level which means moderate technical rapids with the need to hold on at times and the continuous need to maneuver the raft. The rapids in Tibet were also a grade 3-4. The difference was the rapids on the Tully need much more technical maneuvering, while the rapids in Tibet were much faster.

Can you find me in the raft?

Group Photo- Whitewater Rafting - Tully River, Queensland, Australia

Kakadu National Park - Australia

Kadadu National Park is a natural marvel encompassing a variety of habitats, a mass of wildlife and significant rock-art sites. Within the park's boundaries are about 25 species of frogs, 51 freshwater fish species, 60 types of mammals, 120 types of reptile, 280 species (one-third of those entire native to Australia) and at least 10,000 kinds of insects. Most visitors, including us, see only a fraction of these creatures in a visit since many are shy, nocturnal or few in numbers. Nevertheless, I was impressed by what we did see.

Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge) National Park– Australia

Pictured is a giant termite hill. They speckled the national park. Nitmiluk National Park is comprised of 13 gorges, separated from each other by rapids and carved out by the Katherine River, which begins in Arnhem Land. The gorge walls aren't high, but they are rugged and sheer. Father downstream the river becomes the Daily River before flowing into the Timor Sea at a point 80k southwest of Darwin.

Usually the only crocodiles around Nitmiluk are of the freshwater variety and seen more often in the cooler months. However, while we were there a salt water crocodile was spotted in the river. Salt water crocodiles have been known to kill humans, as a result we were not able to swim or canoe in the gorges.

Thermal Pool – Mataranka, Australia

This crystal clear thermal pool located in the rainforest was a great place to revitalize after my morning jog. The only downside was the trees were filled with thousands of fruit bats (a.k.a. flying foxes). They were a bit eerie. You can see some of them hanging upside down in the trees. Picture in upper right quadrant. I have the Uncle Fester look going these days in the lower right quadrant.

Karlukaru – Australia

The area is known as Karlukaru by the local Aboriginal people and Devil’s Marbles by the colonialist. According to scientist they are the granite remains of molten lava after millions of years of weathering and erosion. This area is particularly beautiful at sunset when the boulders exude a rich glow. However, on the day that we visited the area the sunset was blocked by an emerging storm. The strength of the wind prohibited us from erecting the tents. Instead we slept under the clouds and stars. Our group leader said it almost never rains in the outback. When it started to rain the majority of the group scrambled into the bus to sleep. I crawled under the bus with my sleeping bag and ground cloth, and slept.

Mode of Transportation – Australia

Our mode of transportation while in Australia. The trailer attached to the bus was used to carry are luggage.

Our Portable "Homes" - Australia

Group Photo - Uluru Rock, Australia

Uluru (Ayers Rock), Australia

From Sydney we boarded a plane and flew to the center of Australia near Uluru. Nothing in Australia is as readily identifiable as Uluru (Ayers Rock), the world's biggest monolith. Australia's favorite postcard image is 3.6k long and rises a towering 348 meter from the surrounding sandy scrubland (867 meter above sea level). It's believed that two-thirds of the Rock lies beneath the sand. If your first sight of the Rock is during the afternoon it appears as an ochre-brown color, scored and pitted by dark shadows. As the sunsets, it illuminates the Rock in burnishing orange, then a series of deeper and darker reds before it fades into charcoal. This picture was taken at sunset.

The entire area around the Uluru- Kata Tjuta National Park is of deep cultural significance to the owners, the Aboriginal people. In the mid-1980 land the park was returned to the Aboriginal people, after being taken from them during the colonial period. The national park is leased to Environment Australia (the federal government's national parks body), who administer it in conjunction with the traditional owners.

Opera House – Sydney, Australia

The postcard-perfect Sydney Opera House is dramatically situated on the eastern headland of Cicular Quay. Its construction was an operatic blend of personal vision, long delays, bitter feuding, budget blowouts and pusillanimous politicking; Construction began in 1959 after a Danish architect won an international design competition with his plans and construction budget of $7 million. After political interference the architect quit in disgust in 1966, leaving a consortium of Australian architects to design a compromised interior, at a cost of $102 million. Finally completion in 1973, it was lumbered with an impractical internal design.

Sydney Harbor Bridge – Sydney, Australia

The Sydney Harbor Bridge is largest single span arch bridge in the world. The sweeping span over Sydney's famous harbor is 503 meters long, 134 meters high and 49 meters wide. Flanked by four towering concrete and granite pylons, it is the crucial center piece of Sydney's transport network. The weight of the steelwork alone totals 52,800 tons and includes an extraordinary six million rivets. The bridge officially opened on Saturday 19th March 1932 and has become an enduring international symbol of Sydney.

Bridge Climb – Sydney, Australia

A group of us climbed the Sydney Bridge. The climb is organized by a company that provides each climber with a "BridgeSuits", communication equipment and "BridgeHarness" linked to a static line throughout the climb, and a climb leader, who escorts the group to the top of the Bridge. From the top of the bridge we experienced an awesome 360 degree view of one of the world's most beautiful harbors.

Three Sisters – Blue Mountain, Australia

Heading south towards Sydney, we stopped at the Blue Mountain National Park. The park has some truly fantastic scenery and excellent bushwalks. The foothills begin 65 km inland from Sydney and the mountains rise up to 1100 km. The area has been a popular getaway for Sydneysiders seeking to escape the summer heat.

Dingoes - Fraser Island, Australia

Real dingoes!!! What would a visit to Australia be without seeing dingoes

Cattle Station – Rockhampton, Australia

Heading south towards Fraser Island, we stayed at a working cattle ranch. The cattle station was a pleasant break from camp grounds; however, the activities on the cattle station were very touristy. Touristy activities seemed to be a common throughout Australia. They seemed to be created with the sole objective to provide the tourist with "something to do" and absorb the tourist dollar without regard to their authenticity.

Our tour leader said the Australia's tourism trade grew rapidly after the release of the movie "Crocodile Dundee", but has been redirected to New Zealand after the release of "The Lord of the Ring" Trilogy. My suggestion to folks planning to visit Australia is to redirect your vacation plans to New Zealand. Just kidding, but I would suggest to those people visiting Australia to avoid anything that even appears the slightly bit touristy, because it is.

Sailing - Whitsunday Islands, Australia

Today, we spend the morning sailing around the Whitsunday Islands located off the eastern coast of Australia. In the afternoon, after dropping anchor for lunch, I embarked on my second Australian Great Barrier Reef dive in Blue Pearl Bay. While this dive like my previous dive was still a little rushed, at least this time I at least had sufficient amount of time to convince the dive master that 3 kilos of weights was sufficient and to select my own mask and test it.

What I learned from my first two "one-off" dives in Australia....avoid them!! Most people participating in "one-off" dives are not repeat customers, and the dive masters know it. Their goal is to get the divers in the water, complete a dive and to get the boat moving again. Little consideration is given the dive experience, other than to complete it.

Fortunately, I'm planning a comprehensive dive outing once my current overland trip finishes in Darwin on November 26th. I plan to return to Cairns around Nov. 30th and participate in 3 day/4 night diving excursion aboard a dive boat before returning to the States on December 7th. While on the dive boat, I'll have the opportunity to partake in 14 dives over the 3 day period. I'm expecting the diving to be a lot less rushed and more enjoyable.

Billabong Animal Sanctuary

Today, we left Cairns in Northern Queensland and headed south along the eastern coast towards Arlie Beach.. To break-up the monotony of the drive, we stopped at Billabong Animal Sanctuary, where we watched the crocodiles being feed and participate in a photo op with a koala. While the culture and consumerism of Australia reminds me a lot of American, the animals in Australia are truly unique. Not only did we view koalas, kangaroo, crocodile, wallaby's, etc. in this sanctuary, but also in the wild. At one campsite we spotted a few koalas in a tree and along the side of the road while traveling we often spotted kangaroo. And one morning while jogging I passed no less than 10 kangaroos. In D.C., when jogging, the only animals that I ever passed are dogs and rats.

Billabong Animal Sanctuary

Pesky little fellow kept begging for a photo…