I'm daydreaming of the Kimberley as I sit here, writing our blog. I’m huddling by a wood burning fire in an old, converted church that we’ve rented. It's in Major's Creek, near Braidwood, in Australia’s wintery southeast corner. Wintery is definitely the right word - it's so cold here at the moment that the condensation … Continue reading The Long Road to Winter
Author: Tanya
Major Mitchells and Me
You know the saying that you can wait ages for a bus, and then several come a long at once? Well, we’ve been hoping that also applies to flocks of Major Mitchell’s Cockatoos. We’ve travelled around Australia, searching our hearts out for nearly a year, hoping to photograph them. These are some of Australia’s most … Continue reading Major Mitchells and Me
The Deep Blue Beyond, Part 2
Exmouth, a little coastal town in the remote Pilbara region of Western Australia, is steeped in history, mystery and enough hair-brained intrigue to keep a conspiracy theorist busy for weeks. I'm into evidence-based knowledge myself, but when we first arrived in Australia five years ago, I read a little bit about the quiet role the … Continue reading The Deep Blue Beyond, Part 2
The Painted Skies of the Coral Coast
When winter sets in, residents of Margaret River head north to the warm, peaceful bays of the Coral Coast. The landscape changes suddenly and dramatically: dense forests peter out, the grass becomes sparse, and the earth becomes a vibrant palette of ochre, salmon and rust. The giant, roaring surf of the southwest morphs into a … Continue reading The Painted Skies of the Coral Coast
Enchanted Land
There’s a flag flying from a street lamp as you enter the busy town of Margaret River. It reads: “the grass is greener (here).” It’s true - it was so green that it reminded me of parts of northern Europe. Other characteristics made the area feel European, too: it was thickly forested, the mornings were cool, damp and misty, and we were as likely … Continue reading Enchanted Land
The Bright Side of the Nullarbor
It’s 2am, and deep in the dunes at the eastern end of the Nullarbor, a lone tent is being battered by howling winds and drifting sand. It’s been pitched to face a dramatic view of the Great Australian Bight, a vast stretch of sand dunes and limestone cliffs that link South and Western Australia. But what looked … Continue reading The Bright Side of the Nullarbor
Dune Surfing & Cliff Diving on Yorke and Eyre
Al and I probably don’t look like we're into extreme sports. Other than skiing (and the odd bit of bungee jumping and shark diving in my youth), it’s been yoga and pilates all the way for me. As for Al, well, I guess dog-walking and mowing have been his activities of choice since he quit horse riding … Continue reading Dune Surfing & Cliff Diving on Yorke and Eyre
Wild Island
Just off South Australia’s south eastern shore, there’s a remote and windswept island that’s a haven for wildlife. Kangaroo Island (known by its initials, KI) has just a tiny fraction of the population and development of Tasmania, and attracts relatively few visitors each year, and yet it’s Australia’s third largest island. We’d been considering spending … Continue reading Wild Island
The Scorching Skies Above Us, Part 3
We were expecting to wake up to a deluge, but despite the previous evening’s intense cloud lightning and rainbows, I don’t think a single drop of rain fell in the Flinders region that night. We awoke to a typically dry and dusty day, and as soon as I opened my eyes I knew it was … Continue reading The Scorching Skies Above Us, Part 3
The Scorching Skies Above Us, Part 2
The odd scene I’d witnessed at Lake Bonney (see Scorching Skies, Part 1) was the only negative experience of an otherwise magical week in Lyrup, but as we lifted Bailey and Saffy into the car and set off deeper into the Australian Outback, I couldn’t stop thinking about the masses of dead fish washed up … Continue reading The Scorching Skies Above Us, Part 2
Four Corners Australia 