Tag: australia

Down with the Devils – Tasmania 2024 – Day 3 – Gold, guitar, gargantuans and grazers

October 9, 2024

550km today through the South Western Slopes Biogeographic region of New South Wales. Sheep west of Cowra. These guys couldn’t break into the next paddock. There was no battering ram. Angus with four mates…all called Angus too. Grenfell main street Grenfell’s favourite son is Henry Lawson. On meeting this lovely young lady, Henry recited a … More Down with the Devils – Tasmania 2024 – Day 3 – Gold, guitar, gargantuans and grazers

Down with the Devils – Tasmania 2024 – Day 2 – Big Day in New South Wales

October 8, 2024

Now this is malarious! The Big Mosquito at Hexham. We’ll need to call the SWAT team for this big guy. Did you know the inventors of mosquito repellant had little to go by at the beginning of their research – they had to start from scratch. The Big Ugg Boots at Thornton near Maitland. Some … More Down with the Devils – Tasmania 2024 – Day 2 – Big Day in New South Wales

Down with the Devils – Tasmania 2024 – Day 1 – On the road south

October 7, 2024

Hello everyone! The time is right for a trip to Tasmania. So its “Down with the Devils” for us as we travel far south. There are the carnivorous marsupials to see – the Tasmanian Devils, but there are also the odd references in Tasmanian marketing such as “Welcome to Hell” for the winter-time Dark Mofo … More Down with the Devils – Tasmania 2024 – Day 1 – On the road south

The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 21 – The Western Downs

June 21, 2024

Jack Taylor Weir at St George dams the Balonne River. The Big Murray Cod featured in this blog two years ago – it is an impressive scuplture but cod have been bigger. Let minnow if you have any fish puns so I can put a few in a roe. The yabby’s last view. White-necked heron … More The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 21 – The Western Downs

The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 20 – The Balonne Highway

June 20, 2024

Aside from the Cunnamulla Fella (who you would definitely want on your side in any potential bar brawl) there are many other things to see in Cunnamulla. We had a look at some of the Top 10. We didn’t partake in the Artesian water baths as we had already showered in the therapeutic waters at … More The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 20 – The Balonne Highway

The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 18 – The Adventure Way

June 18, 2024

Driving before sunrise again for a big day. Lake Houdraman – located east of Quilpie The pelicans were up early too – they were directed here by the billboard. A Restless flycatcher was alert… … and hovering over the water weeds looking for insects. White plumed honeyeater Gum blossom near Quilpie White-browed woodswallows – there … More The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 18 – The Adventure Way

The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 17 – Outback towns

June 17, 2024

We were up early and driving before sunrise. Sunrise on the Landsborough Highway. Hooker’s bauhinia (pegunny) (Lysiphyllum hookeri) were plentiful between Barcaldine and Blackall. Blackall has entrance signs at both ends of town. This one the southern approach. The Big B at the northern approach – after the excitement seeing the Big G earlier on … More The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 17 – Outback towns

The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 16 – Longreach

June 16, 2024

Langbaker’s Cottage- oldest building in Ilfracombe. The highest rated motorhome in Ilfracombe. Emu welcoming visitors to Longreach very much wired to local news. The QANTAS Founder’s Museum looked interesting and not at all plane. QANTAS Boeing 707 – “But my heart keeps calling me backwards; As I get on the 707; Ridin’ high I got … More The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 16 – Longreach

The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 11 – Cloncurry to Mount Isa

June 11, 2024

A slower day today with 122km to Mount Isa. Yoda’s favourite bakery in Cloncurry. Cloncurry is a beef and mining town. There are 11 working mines in the area. Original QANTAS hanger at Cloncurry airport On the road out to the airport there were a couple of corellas. At the Cloncurry River, three founders of … More The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 11 – Cloncurry to Mount Isa

The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 10 – Waltzing Matilda on the Landsborough Highway

June 10, 2024

Today was a drive of 350km north-west on the Landsborough Highway. But first we bid farewell to Winton and our motel brolga. Ayrshire Hills butte and mesas north of Winton One is the butte of all jokes….. …. but the other is a high form of flattery. What did erosion say to the landforms? I’ll … More The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 10 – Waltzing Matilda on the Landsborough Highway

The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 7 – Winton

June 7, 2024

To start the day, we went to the local Poo Ponds (end point of town sewerage treatment) as they are listed as a great place to see birdlife. We stood for a while as there were no chairs – only stools. There wasn’t much variety but there were a lot of Darters. Whistling kite – … More The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 7 – Winton

The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 5 – Aramac

June 5, 2024

The road to Aramac – Aramac is 68km north of Barcaldine and the district is the birthplace of my great grandmother in 1863 at Aramac Staion which existed before the town of Aramac was founded. On the way into town near the racecourse is Red Crayon the horse sculpture. Reminds me of the nurse who … More The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 5 – Aramac