Now I’m back in the UK after my two month trip to Australia to see my daughter Abigail I’d like to share with you the highlights of my amazing journey through some of the most awe-inspiring and sublime scenery in New South Wales and Queensland, along with birds, animals, flowers, art galleries, cafes…. and aContinue reading “Highlights of My Australian Journey 2022: A Travel Diary #1: Arrival”
Author Archives: SC Skillman
Highlights of My Australian Journey 2022: A Travel Diary #2 Mt Nebo, Mt Glorious, the Great Dividing Range, and Somerset Dam
Here is the second post of my Highlights: and today, one of my favourite areas, the mountain backdrop behind Brisbane, which is of course part of the Great Dividing Range. First of all, Mt Coot-tha and its Lookout, a hugely popular destination for tourists which also has a lovely restaurant/cafe where visitors may enjoy theContinue reading “Highlights of My Australian Journey 2022: A Travel Diary #2 Mt Nebo, Mt Glorious, the Great Dividing Range, and Somerset Dam”
My Australian Journey 2022 #12: Australian Birds and Animals
As I look through all the photos I’ve taken during my 2 months in Australia, it’s fun to look for themes, rather than posting images of places visited, in chronological order. My first overarching theme is ‘Birds and Animals’. Not so many bird photos I’m afraid as I rarely managed to capture them on cameraContinue reading “My Australian Journey 2022 #12: Australian Birds and Animals”
My Australian Journey 2022 #11: Caloundra
Moffat Beach Caloundra. Overcast, rainy and windy with a cool humidity that creeps up on you, and a boisterous sea surging onto the beach. This is the Sunshine Coast of Queensland. And still beautiful!
My Australian Journey 2022: #10 Tenterfield New South Wales and Approach to Cunningham’s Gap, Queensland
As we passed through New South Wales to the border with Queensland, we stopped off at Tenterfield, known as the ‘birthplace of Australian Democracy’. Sir Henry Parkes signed the all-important document, and is commemorated in the museum named after him here in this town. I love the area of the New England Highway which becomesContinue reading “My Australian Journey 2022: #10 Tenterfield New South Wales and Approach to Cunningham’s Gap, Queensland”
My Australian Journey 2022: #9 Norman Lindsay Art Gallery, Blue Mountains, NSW
I was delighted to visit Norman Lindsay’s property in the Blue Mountains. He was an extraordinary man who lived from 1879 to 1969 and he was a writer as well as a children’s writer poet and illustrator, a wartime cartoonist, a propaganda poster designer, artist, garden designer and sculptor. His home is now an artContinue reading “My Australian Journey 2022: #9 Norman Lindsay Art Gallery, Blue Mountains, NSW”
My Australian Journey 2022: #8 New South Wales views
After watching and listening to the beautiful and moving occasion of the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II yesterday (19 September 2022) from Australia I offer you today scenes to calm the soul. To me the queen deserves the title Elizabeth the Great Unifier. She made her impact worldwide, among a huge section of humanity.Continue reading “My Australian Journey 2022: #8 New South Wales views”
My Australian Journey 2022 #7: Australia Zoo and Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
Queensland‘s wildlife sanctuaries are outstanding in the opportunities they provide visitors to observe and enjoy beautiful native animals at close range, in environments that replicate their wild habitats, and all set within lush, inspirational landscaping. Recently I visited two of these sanctuaries: Australia Zoo and the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. Both are magnificent. But letContinue reading “My Australian Journey 2022 #7: Australia Zoo and Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary”
My Australian Journey 2022 #6: Roma Street Parklands, Brisbane
In Brisbane we find a stunning display of landscape architecture and horticulture at its best: created from reclaimed land, a former railway stabling yard beside Roma Street Station, inspired by Colin Campbell, Australian Horticulturist. Starting at the Garden Room Cafe we meet the wildlife straight away. The ibis is Brisbane’s answer to a seagull. IContinue reading “My Australian Journey 2022 #6: Roma Street Parklands, Brisbane”
My Australian Journey 2022 #5: Whale-Watching in Moreton Bay
The whales in Moreton Bay seemed to love our boat and we found it easy to imagine they had come out to watch us. Many pods were active everywhere we looked, jumping, breaching and curving out of the water. I found it moving and exhilarating to watch them. I felt as if I had enteredContinue reading “My Australian Journey 2022 #5: Whale-Watching in Moreton Bay”
scskillman.com 