discovering Darwin

Posted on March 5, 2016 by kathy

Our last day in Darwin before heading south, we arrived early for a lunch date with a friend and took the opportunity to explore the Botanic Gardens. Named after George Brown, under whose guiding hand they were restored after Cyclone Tracy, the gardens exude a lovely serenity.

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Some of the trees are works of art,

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others serving as nature’s plant pots.

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The tropical flowers are so delicate, I would love to have these in my garden.

There is colour everywhere.

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The orange-footed scrub fowls are lucky to call the gardens home.

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Lunch was calling and we were introduced to the Darwin Waterfront. Stokes Hill Wharf was there when we were last in Darwin in 2005,

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but now the precinct is an impressive collection of eateries, accommodation and activity.

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We dined at Il Lido with views over the lagoon

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and Convention Centre.

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There were some interesting beverages on tap

and the quarter pounder & fries were delicious.

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We managed to ward off the heat with a few cold beers.

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Cheers! Thanks for a great afternoon, Nigel, it was lovely to see you again.

Territory Wildlife Park

Posted on February 19, 2016 by kathy

On a perfect winters day in Darwin, we set off to discover Territory Wildlife Park, situated about 60km south on 400 hectares of natural bushland. We spent a few hours wandering through woodland, wetland and monsoon habitats.

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Along the Monsoon Vine Forest Walk is one of the largest domed walk-through aviaries in the southern hemisphere.

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Birds weren’t the only creatures in the aviary.

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The surroundings were stunning

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with the occasional surprise at ground level.

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Some of the trees had created fascinating designs of their own.

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The Park is well set out with a shuttle train continuously travelling the 4km loop, a welcome service as the temperature rises. Each exhibit entrance is adorned with cute critters and clever decorations.

The display of free-flying birds at the Flight Deck was amazing.

The eagle trying to break open an emu egg with a rock showed the innate behaviour is still strong in these birds in captivity.

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Neil, the bush stone-curlew stole the show.

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Just when you think you’ve seen everything there is something new to surprise.

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Monarto Zoo

Posted on January 13, 2016 by kathy

Monarto Zoo is the largest open-range zoo in the world, set on 1,500 hectares about half an hours drive from our former home in the Adelaide Hills. I heard about a package called “Working with Wildlife” which involved spending a day with the keepers behind the scenes. I decided I would surprise Michael in October for his birthday. Little did I know, he had the same idea for me and beat me to it in March. The obvious thing to do was go together. We had an early start and after meeting the team, breakfast for the lemurs was the first job.

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The rhino baby was adorable

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and loved a groin scratch while mum tucked into some tasty greens.

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We got up close with the meerkats

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and tempted them with some delicious mice.

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A cheetah breeding program at Monarto has been very successful. These four were the first surviving litter in Australia in 15 years.

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There was a lure set up to give them exercise and hone their hunting instincts.

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The real thing soon followed and they shared somewhat reluctantly.

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This lion waited patiently for his meal

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while the lioness paced outside.

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We were then driven around the park in a 4 WD to admire some of the other residents. There were various antelope and deer.

This handsome bison was a bit embarrassed.

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The Mongolian Wild Horses happily shared their space

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with the zebra.

Each Cape Hunting Dog has unique markings and rather large round ears.

The highlight of the day was feeding the giraffes. We were instructed to keep the trailer between us and them

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but no-one told the giraffes!

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There is a gorgeous homestead ruin overlooking the savannah but I am unable to find any history on the building.

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If you are in Adelaide, a trip to Monarto Zoo is a great way to spend the day.

http://www.monartozoo.com.au

more Melbourne

Posted on November 30, 2015 by kathy

We had a few hours left in Melbourne but with suitcases packed to the brim, shopping was off the menu. We opted for a stroll to the Royal Botanic Gardens, passing through the Queen Victoria Gardens on the way and it’s colourful flower beds.

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The floral clock contains over 7,000 flowering plants that are changed twice yearly.

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The roses were past their best but still presented a bright display

and the lake offered some lovely reflections.

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The little mynah birds are cute but apparently a bit of a nuisance.

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With limited time we only saw a small portion of the stunning 94 acres of gardens. The path we chose took us through a cactus garden

to the Temple of the Winds. Built in 1901, the grey masonry structure has 10 columns, each one crowned with a sculpted elkhorn fern

and a gorgeous ornate ceiling.

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The Grey Garden was interesting

and the Plant Craft Cottage had a quaint garden of its own. The cottage, built as a gardener’s home in 1850, is heritage listed.

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We followed the path around the lake

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to the William Tell Rest House. Built in 1897, it was destroyed by accidental fire in 1994 and rebuilt in 1997. Last year, it was obliterated by arsonists (the mental acuity of our so called ‘intelligent species’ never ceases to astound me!) and has been resurrected yet again.

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After a coffee and muffin stop at The Terrace, we continued our circuit of the lake past stunning flowers,

awesome foliage

and amazing trees.

I have never seen a smiley face tree before

We exited at the historic Lych Gate, originally built in churchyards to shelter coffins awaiting burial.

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I hope to return to The Botanic Gardens one day with a lot more time to explore.

marvellous Melbourne

Posted on November 27, 2015 by kathy

Last weekend I ventured to the big smoke to spend some time with my sister from Adelaide. We had a lovely apartment on the thirtieth floor on Southbank with expansive views to the south from the balcony.

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The ocean of glass to the north dazzled with stunning reflections that seemed to change constantly

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and the shifting light added dimension to the adjacent tower.

We were fortunate to be in Melbourne on the weekend of the Mind Body Spirit Festival held at the Exhibition Centre where I enjoyed a whole range of new experiences.

Our days were filled with shopping and we walked for miles, taking in the sights along the way. The river is a tranquil centrepiece to the bustling city.

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