The Travelling Bee

Sorry this is an amendment regarding the size of the turkey nest my dad saw. It was not 4 foot high, it was 12 foot high! Also a note on crocodiles. The Frankland Islands are a nesting site for green turtles but it not a major one. If it were busier there is a high … Continue reading Australia – Additional for Frankland Islands

This is a short summary as I remember it from Alex the marine biologist on our trip to the Frankland reef of how Cays ( or Keys as they are called in the USA) are formed. Sediment and coral pieces from the broken coral is washed up into banks and built upon and eroded into … Continue reading Australia – Coral Cays

What a fantastic day. Up early again and picked up by Frankland Island Reef Cruises. We boarded a boat on an esturine river. This was a really well organised trip, the crew quickly tailored the tour as best they could for each person and there were about 15 people on this tour. Dad was whisked … Continue reading Australia – Frankland Islands

We had set our alarm for 0600 hours but both of were awake just gone 0500 hours. I actually slept fairly well, I just woke early for some reason. The plan was to walk down to the harbour to catch a boat to Green Island for half the day. This little island is on the … Continue reading Australia – Green Island

I have visited Australia before, 20 years ago. My best friend Trish was living in Sydney then so, I got to see some interesting places and we had some adventures. We once lost our horses on a trail ride in the Blue Mountains but that's a whole different story! Anyway there is a very specific … Continue reading Australia – Cairns First Day

At the airport, I couldn't resist. It reads "On loan from Middle Earth do not touch". This is not referring to me of course!

It's funny how you can sometimes just hit it off with someone instantly, like the hitchhikers Angelika and Christina who I've been in contact with since we met a month ago. Well yesterday it happened again, not a Hitchhiker though, this time the tables had turned!! I'm in a rather drab hotel in the Auckland … Continue reading New Zealand – Gallantry is not dead

I went North right to the tip of the north island to marvel at the South Pacific Ocean. It took three hours to get there. The area although not very populated it is very farmed. Lots of scrubby meadows and areas of avocado plantations. The soil is poorer here and was soon to see why. … Continue reading New Zealand – Departing Spirits and The Big Trees

I woke with what I suspect is 'Fejoa shoulder'. So I decided an easy day was called for and I hopped on the little ferry across to Russell. Its a very picturesque coastal town with a fearsome past. So look at the picture and I'll give you a brief history of Russell. The Bay of … Continue reading New Zealand – Hell Hole of the Pacific

It was raining today, that fine rain that gets into everything. Undaunted I packed a lunch and set off walking to Hururu Falls. I walked along the coast towards to the Waitangi treaty grounds, on the way there was a woman selling Fejoa. I really like this fruit and for 3 dollar I bought a … Continue reading New Zealand – Kiwi Kung Fu