Australia, the Land Down Under

Australia is a land of immense size and beauty. Thought I would show you some of the places I have been.

Uluru or Ayer's Rock. The spiritual and geographic heart of Australia. Uluru is a sacred place to the local Aborigines who live close by at Mutitjulu. Being a sacred place the Aborigines ask that people do not climb the Rock. I have been to Uluru about 8 times now and it still fascinates me. As you approach it, it rises from the desert horizon like the sun. Captivating you and dominating the landscape.
Located some 40 kilometres from Uluru is Kata Tjuta or the Olgas. Not as well known as Uluru, Kata Tjuta is no less spectacular. In fact, I and many people I have spoken to believe it surpasses Uluru in its splendour. Kata Tjuta does not stand out in the lansdscape as distinctly as Uluru. However it is far larger and complex. Up close and personal is how to experience it. The 3 hour "Valley of the Winds" is breathtaking. It takes you into Kata Tjuta where you can see the many domes that make up this feature. A word of warning. The walk can easily take upto 5 hours as you end up taking so many photos and marvelling at the sheer beauty of the place.
Now this is my favourite place in Australia. It is Twin Falls in Kakadu National Park. The photo does not do it justice. It only captures about a third of it. To get to the falls you need to 4 wheel drive and do a river crossing. Then you walk about 1 kilometre and then swim the last 500 metres. Instead of swimming I take my air mattress with me and leisurely float to the falls. If you do it properly it can take a few hours to get to the falls. The gorge you drift down to get to the falls is a sight to behold. Then when you finally make it to the base of the falls you get to lie on the sandy beach and relax the day away. If your feeling tense you can even sit under the falls and get a massage from the cool water. Now that's living.
This photo was taken in Kakadu National Park at Sandy Billabong. I camped by the banks of the billabong. There are numerous camp sites around the billabong. The birdlife that lives around the billabong is prolific. Each morning the geese, ducks, honey eaters, eagles and jacanas would greet me. The only wildlife you need to be wary of is the possibility of crocodiles. The drive in is on a dirt road that is marked "4 wheel drive". Its not that bad but you do need to go slow. The only facilities are a pit toilet.
Jedda Rock in Katherine Gorge National Park. The rock was named after the 1950's movie Jedda. It was from here that the lead actors plunged to their deaths in a pivotal scene. You can visit the rock either by walking the trail above it or taking a boat cruise or hiring a canoe down the river. Along the way you get the chance to see Aboriginal art and plenty of wildlife. The crocodiles aren't dangerous as they are fresh water.
This photo was taken on the track on top of the cliff that leads down to Newton's beach in Nadgee Nature Reserve in southern New South Wales. There is a campground near by and the beach is great for fishing. You can no longer drive to the beach as it has been closed off. To get to it you have to do a 12 kilometre hike that includes a really steep hill. As a result hardly anyone goes now. Which is a pity as this is a beautiful area that deserves to be experienced by as many people as possible. Unfortunately the state government preferred to listen to radical greenies rather that the locals and closed it off.