Australia Archives - Jensen Chua Photography

Blue Boat House in Perth

Jensen — Fri, 28 Oct 2022 03:03:34 +0000

Dear friends, I like to share my experience with travel landmark photography. I just returned a couple of days from Perth, on a photo assignment. Having some free time after work commitments, I enjoyed shooting the famed charming Blue Boat House in Perth, or Crawley Edge Boatshed on Swan River.

A brief introduction to the Blue Boat House

The Nattrass family owns The Blue Boat House which was built in the 1930s). The boatshed was put up for sale in 2001 and purchased by Peter Nattrass, and Lord Mayor of Perth. The boatshed had become very run down by that time. Faced with government threats to demolish and remove it, the family began to rebuild it. The local federal member of parliament Julie Bishop repainted the boatshed in bold blue colour at the suggestion of a friend. The boatshed was re-launched by Perth yachtsman Jon Sanders and sailor David Dicks in February 2004 after the make-over. A facelift in 2015, which included the exterior being repainted and the wooden jetty replaced with a new one with steel pylons was carried out. (Wikipedia)

Shooting the Blue Boat House

Due to the venue’s layout, this landmark has only a single entrance from Mounts Bay. As such, photographing the Blue Boat House can be very “time-sensitive” as a constant stream of tourists starts queuing at the entrance to the pier. There is no admission fee for accessing the Blue Boat House.

I like shooting long exposures (using ND filters) of the landmark but observing the stream of visitors behind me, I had to think fast, act fast and “release” the shooting spot pronto. So my next option would be to position myself at other ideal angles and use the visitors as part of my composition.

Gears used

Camera – Canon EOS 5DmkIV. Lenses – Canon EF 24-70mm F2.8L MkII. Filters- NISI ND filter (10 stops), GND 2 stops, and polariser. Camera mounted on Sirui carbon fibre tripod with Manfrotto XPro magnesium ball head.

Footnote – many thanks for checking in on this article. You might like to check out my curated travelogues here for overseas travel inspiration. This article’s pictures are copyrighted to Jensen Chua Photography. The opinion expressed is factual, objective, and that of the author.

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5 Places You Should Not Miss in Adelaide

Jensen — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 06:10:47 +0000

This exploration trip was organised by Australia travel specialist, Jetabout Holidays. Australia is a huge continent with individual cities that have unique characteristics and Adelaide, is home to exciting places and activities that will delight us city-folks in nature, serenity, and great local cuisine. Do check out the following 5 places which you should not miss when in Adelaide.

Places mapped by Wanderlog, an itinerary planner on iOS and Android

This exploration trip was organised by Australian travel specialist, Jetabout Holidays. Australia is a huge continent with individual cities that have unique characteristics and Adelaide is home to exciting places and activities that will delight us city-folks in nature, serenity, and great local cuisine. Do check out the following 5 places which you should not miss when in Adelaide.

#1 – Adelaide Central Market

The local market is always a good introduction to the city. You must visit the Adelaide Central Market, (established in 1869), a thriving hub of food and culture over 151 years. Touted as one of the largest covered markets in the southern hemisphere, it has more than 80 vendors selling a wide range of products. About 8.5 million visitors throng this market annually. This is certainly one of the 5 places you should not miss in Adelaide.

For a better experience, engaging a local tour specialist to dive deeper into the market scene is a wise decision. The picture above is Cheryl Turner, our host from Food Tours Australia showing us some exotic meats from kangaroo, emu, and deer. Her in-depth knowledge certainly helped us understand the local culture and lifestyle much faster.

Cheryl showed us some bush tucker condiments. It was an educational and eye-opening session to taste those salty shrubs, herbs, and plants from the Australian bushland. If you are exploring on your own, you might well miss these interesting experiences.

Now that’s a food with a difference – Limey Green Tree Ants. With no seasoning, it’s simply washed and chilled in the fridge. And it tasted like pops of lime in the mouth. Those green dots are the abdomens of the Limey Ants, which contain the citrusy burst of flavour.

My eyes did a double-take when I spotted these durians. The market essentially retails local produce with imported items prominently stated. These durians are grown locally in Australia’s Northern Territories. This batch retailed at AUD35/kg. We didn’t get to try it as there is no free sampling.

The lovely cafes at the market with their gorgeous coffee and toasts, never fail to break my resistance. You will especially like the expansive menu at the Zuma Caffe.

The range of food is not limited to Australian food, like Paella, which is a Spanish rice dish.

Lucia is one of the most established and popular eateries at the market, with their pizza bar, established in 1957, being the first in Adelaide. Today, their new generation owners continue the tradition of their founding mother, using her traditional Italian recipes. Lucia’s is famous for its pizza, spaghetti, and traditional Italian dishes.

#2 – Victor Harbour

Victor Harbor is a coastal town that is slightly over a 1.5-hour drive from Adelaide. You will love the laid-back coastal vibes with activities for everyone.

Swim with Tuna @ Oceanic Victor (Currently closed pending update 29 Jan 2023)

The Oceanic Victor viewed from shore. The sea cage is located about 300m from Granite Island shore and accessed via the company’s ferry from the jetty.

The visitor’s deck was well-designed and neat. This is a unique world-class attraction in a sea aquarium based in a marine park in the waters of Encounter Bay.

The owners have multi-generational links with South Australia’s fishing industry while the attraction is manned by a passionate and brilliant team of marine biologists and marine doctors. Guests are fitted with warm wetsuits, gloves, booties, and masks for the 2-hour of swimming and feeding.

Southern Bluefin Tuna are among the most magnificent fish. They are classified as a critically endangered species but due to the sustainable manner in which it is managed in Australia, production is now balanced with Australia’s international commercial quota being increased by the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna.

The water was chilly but the 5mm neoprene suit will keep you warm and dry. This will be one of the most exciting experiences in your life with the fastest fish in the sea, all in the safety of a purpose-built enclosure.

The tuna is like a precision sardine-eating machine and among the fastest fish in the ocean, at a speed of up to 76 km/h.

Other than swimming with the Tuna, you can also feed the ever-present seagulls too. This visit to the Oceanic Victor will be an exciting segment of the 5 places you should not miss in Adelaide.

Australia’s only Horse Drawn Tramway

This unique horse-drawn ride is not available anywhere else in Australia. Started in 1894 by the South Australian Railways, this heritage service involves magnificent Clydesdale horses that draw you along the causeway from seaside Victor Harbor to Granite Island over a 15-20min slow ride.

This service runs throughout the year but it is best to check on their webpage for occasions it may be not available due to weather conditions.

Nature walk @ Granite Island

This Granite Island Recreation Park can be accessed via a short 15-minute stroll or the horse tram ride over the wooden causeway that connects the park to the mainland. Between June and October, you may even spot the Southern Right Whales on their migratory route. A wild penguin colony, makes their presence felt on the island, with sightings recorded by the island cafe.

There are also marine birds like the cormorants. You can spend some time observing them as they dive and catch their meals in the sea around the breakwater.

If you spot a large thick-bodied Blue-tongued Skink, don’t be alarmed. It’s generally a docile lizard with a large blue tongue. Relatively shy, it moves slower due to its short legs. Some households keep them as pets too.

#3 – Hahndorf – Australia’s only German Heritage Village

Just a 25 minutes drive from Adelaide, this is Australia’s oldest sole-surviving German settlement marking its 181 years this year. You will enjoy the strong German flavour in the small goods outlets, bakeries, pubs, restaurants, and cafes that line the main street, apart from German flags displayed along the street. This venue is ideal as a final layover destination before departing Adelaide.

You may spot many visiting Germans along the street in Hahndorf, adding to the feel as if you are in Germany.

The German-inspired architecture and decor will “teleport” you to a village in Germany. There is even a shop selling a range of cuckoo wall clocks that are signature items back in Germany.

The confectioneries here will appeal to any sweet tooths. Do try their apple strudels with vanilla with a cup of cappuccino, the perfect snack along the alfresco cafes.

When in Hahndorf, what else but a Crispy Pork Knuckle on a bed of sour red cabbage and mashed potatoes? This is as German as it gets. Köstlich!

A lorikeet enjoying pears at the protected heritage tree at the Studios by Haus, a boutique accommodation in Hahndorf.

You will enjoy this setup, perfect on the eve of a return flight home. Very cosy and well-appointed room, with a very nice ensuite shower.

The beautiful hotel garden is just like the rest of the well-manicured floral and fauna of the village. Even non-flower lovers feel at ease here.

#4 – Fruity Memories @ Beerenberg Farm

You can’t miss The Beerenberg, which produced its 1st batch of strawberry jam in 1971. The thriving family-owned farm is one of the more popular destinations in Hahndorf. You can also stock up on quality jams, chutneys, sauces, and dressings at the retail shop.

The strawberry farm is especially popular with families who let their kids enjoy nature with freshly plucked strawberries in their mouths at the same time.

Nice strawberries on the farm. Don’t go for the biggest, get the mid-sized for the sweetest taste.

Nature’s hardest and most productive insect at work on the farm.

A spot of retail therapy before leaving for home. The items here are farm-made and used throughout Australia.

#5 – Beach Side Suburb @ Glenelg

Just a 15-minute drive from Adelaide, Glenelg Beach is Adelaide’s most popular city beach, just like Bondi Beach is to Sydney. You will like the lively and coastal vibe, for its wide beach, stunning sunsets, rich heritage, charming hotels, sidewalk cafés, and entertainment.

While Melbourne is officially recognised as the sporting capital of the world, Glenelg also sees plenty of physical activities practically everywhere.

Conclusion

Having visited most parts of Australia, this trip to Adelaide served to open my eyes that each city has its unique characteristics and all these helped to maintain that novelty and feel as if I am still in the process of “UnDiscovering” and rediscovering her. Adelaide is a beautiful city that will impress and remain in your memory for ages to come. Just remember the 5 places you should not miss in Adelaide.

Many sincere thanks for coming along on my pixels journey. Should any readers be keen to go on a similar self-drive trip in the future, please feel free to drop me a message! For my other Australian adventures, you can check it out here.

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Melbourne to Adelaide via Great Ocean Road

Jensen — Tue, 25 Feb 2020 05:31:50 +0000

Melbourne to Adelaide via Great Ocean Road is a popular route that is the gem of road trips in southern Australia. This trip was organised by Jetabout Holidays in collaboration with Tourism Australia, to ascertain the latest condition in the Southern Australia region, which was largely unaffected by the recent catastrophic bushfires that impacted especially eastern Australia.

But the Covid-19 virus outbreak added another dimension to the trip – “Are Australians unwelcoming of Asians as the virus seemed to have originated from Wuhan in China? Will we be stigmatized or profiled?”. I have great news for all who might have similar concerns. From the moment we touched down to the moment we departed, we have never felt in any way unwelcomed or otherwise. Australia is still beautiful and open for business. Come join us on this fabulous Melbourne to Adelaide road trip via the Great Ocean Road.

Road Trip Route Map

We logged about 1300km on this 9D8N road trip with Melbourne as the starting point. We leapfrogged along the towns of Geelong, Port Fairy, turned north to Halls Gap, Mt. Gambier, Robe and finally ended at Hahndorf before driving to Adelaide to catch our domestic flight to Melbourne for the return flight to Singapore. The following are some driving insights from the road trip :

Tip #01 – Do rent a bigger capacity vehicle to better handle the long drive and for greater comfort and safety. We selected the Ford Mustang 5.0GT for a day under the Hertz Adrenaline Collection to enjoy the muscle-car experience before switching to a Subaru Forester for the rest of the trip.

Tip #02 –Roads in Australia are generally safe as it’s paved and well-maintained. Australia drives on the left side of the road but take note that different state has different practices, for example – the fine for speeding offenses in Victoria is the highest in Australia and Tasmania is the lowest. Do observe the speed limits, especially around residential and school zones. The moral of the story – know the law and obey the law.

Tip #03 – You will need an international driving license if your driving license is not in English. But you must also bring your local driving license as it will be required for verification by the rental car company.

Day #1

Upon arrival at Melbourne International Airport, we proceeded to pick up our rental car, a Ford Mustang for the 1st day. It was an eye-opening experience to drive this iconic luxury sports coupe. Just a light nudge on the throttle will have you breaking the speed limit. For unique motoring, it’s a must-do.

This sports car is part of Hertz Adrenaline Collection which also includes Audi performance cars. In Hertz’s own words, “You might need a moment to get your breath back”. Certainly so, indeed.

Melbourne South Market

The South Melbourne Market was our first stop after arrival. Established in 1867, this market has become an iconic landmark venue. But take note it is only open from Wednesdays to Sundays.

Even the market interior is trendy, with its Instagrammable mural which celebrates people from all walks of life.

A light Aussie brekkie with a cup of freshly brewed coffee in Australia so far has yet to disappoint me. It’s always good, great, or fantastic. I rate this cup of caffeine heaven from Cottle on Coventry, just steps from the market as simply sublime.

Just a freshly baked light croissant with chicken for me. I generally don’t take heavy breakfast but the aroma and freshness tempted me every time.

**Melbourne’s Arty Lanes with Jaime Murcia*.**

Right after brekkie, we meet up with Jaime Murcia, an accomplished Australian photographer, author, and based in Melbourne. With him, the streets come alive as he presented us with the ‘inner belly” of Melbourne’s creativity and heritage. (* it’s with regret that Jaime passed away on 31 Aug 2021, after a hard battle with cancer.)

One of the gems of Melbourne’s cafe scene is Pellegrini’s Espresso Bar on Bourke Street, described as “one of Melbourne’s most iconic destinations, in a city that prides itself on coffee and fine food”.The café was established in 1954 by Leo and Vildo Pellegrini – migrant brothers from Italy.

An ‘old and new” feel with this composition at 314, Little Collins Street. This Italian cafe serves baguettes, coffee, and hot food, with gluten-free choices, and a kids’ menu.

The lanes may look similar to an “organised” mess. But there is a character that runs through each, you just need to slow down and feel it.

I like this expressive wall art, fun, playful, and vibrant. Honestly, on our quick stroll through the lanes, I was unable to recall them clearly as they are situated close to an enclave and just steps from one another. Names like Hosier Lane, Center Place, Duckboard Place, AC/DC Lane, Croft Alley, etc, are must-sees.

At Jaime’s fave hangout place – The Butterfly Club in Carson’s Place, off Little Collins Street. This joint is a small theatre in the heart of Melbourne, which has plenty of shows, award-winning foyer bars, and an enormous collection of kitsch. It is like being in the city’s inner sanctum. Without Jaime, such places will be out of most visitors’ radar.

Werribee Open-range African-themed Zoo

After the photo walk, it’s a 35-minute drive to the family-friendly open-range African-themed Werribee Open Range Zoo at K Road. Visitors can hop on a bus tour, which has several scheduled 35–40 minutes runs daily and sit up to 140 people per bus. You can expect to see animals such as the hippo as well as animals of the grassland like zebra, waterbuck, giraffe, ostriches, rhinoceros, as well as camel and oryx.

It was a lovely Sunday, hot but slightly cool with balmy wind, if only Singapore has such wonderful weather.

The zoo open bus rides slowly across the zoo’s open plains with commentaries from the driver-cum guide.

The open range zoo viewed from a distance – no cages, no netting. The closest experience to a trip on the Serengeti. Not quite the real thing but way better than seeing caged animals anytime.

At the hippo exhibit, I was so lucky to be able to capture it yawning so widely as it usually rests dormant in the water with just its head on the surface.

It was challenging to photograph the Gorilla in its island enclosure as it was either hiding under the shade or scampering quickly about. But it’s exciting to see them through my telephoto lens. Brings to mind the late Dian Fossey living among them. Takes a special breed of people to do that.

These cabins are the zoo’s answer to glamping where overnight guests can enjoy a day of animal encounters, feast al fresco, enjoy a night walk and marshmallows around the campfire. Termed “Slumber Safari” with generous doses of creature comfort.

The quad-shared family room. Nice and clean with an attached washroom. Most city folks can’t do without such comfortable amenities.

The Port City of Geelong

The Geelong Waterfront is one of Australia’s most beautiful waterfronts. Having visited almost the entire country, Geelong certainly impresses and occupies a special place in my heart. From her humble beginnings as a port founded in 1836, the city has now attracted a series of prestigious awards under the Australia Award for Urban Design. You will want to stay longer and explore more of the beautiful venues.

Geelong Bollards Trail Walk

Geelong is renowned for its bay walk bollards. These Lifeguard Statues on Geelong Harbour are just one of the more than 104 painted sculptures. They represent a fun chronicle of the city’s past, touching on a range of Australians who have contributed to its history, from indigenous inhabitants to contemporary characters.

The vibrant bollards are the work of artist Jan Mitchell, who was commissioned by the City of Greater Geelong to modify old timbers and piles from a city pier demolished in the 1980s and transform them into works of art that many can enjoy.

The Geelong Pier

A stroll along the picturesque Geelong Waterfront, where you will see The Pier Geelong, is a must-do. This venue has secured the popular vote for wedding photography in Victoria.

Anyone visiting Geelong can’t miss the Cunningham Pier, probably the most prominent structure on the waterfront. The pier was a vital part of the town port when it opened in the mid-1850s with rail being used to load and unload cargo. Originally known as Railway Pier, the modernisation of Geelong’s ports after the war saw many larger ships move to Corio Quay.

Waterfront Views @ Novotel Geelong

The stunning view of the waterfront from my room balcony at Geelong Novotel. This is the hotel any visitors will love.

The sunsets are around 8 pm in summer, making the day that much longer. All the more time to play with.

The hotel is just about a 45-minute drive from the Werribee Zoo. When you reach Geelong, you will feel refreshed and want to stay longer. Signs you are in love with the city already.

Day #2

A lovely sunrise to wake up to. You can see that Geelong is very much a watersports and yachting community. But don’t look too long as the Novotel Geelong serves one of the best hotel brekkies I have come across. Fuel up for the day as the adventure is just about to begin.

Sweet Time @Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery

From Geelong, it’s a relaxed 1.45-hour drive to the GOR Chocolaterie, in the heart of the picturesque surf coast region, you can satisfy your sweet tooth in the owners’ Ian & Leanne’s love of chocolate and passion for creating memorable experiences. Certainly a sweet start for Melbourne to Adelaide via Great Ocean Road.

Chocolates and more chocolates! This is as close to the Wonka Candy Company as it gets. If time is on your side, you can join daily hosted tasting sessions, hands-on chocolate-making classes for all ages, one of the many special events, or simply ogle at Chocolatiers at work through wide viewing windows (like I did).

Yes, just 1 spoonful at a time. There are many tubs to sample. Do mind the sugar rush. The factory has 250 different types of chocolates in its collection.

A one-meter-long chocolate bar? Seriously, constipation from heatiness comes to mind, or worse, diabetes! Jokes aside, this is more for locals, unless u have very long luggage.

Nice swanky packaging to encourage you to part with your cash. But the chocolate is delicious really.

Check out their in-house ice creams and sorbets, all churned daily to the factory’s special recipe.

Split Point Lighthouse @Aireys Inlet

From the chocolate wonderland, a 2.5-hour drive took us to The Split Point Lighthouse “which overlooks the rough coastline where hundreds of ships have crashed. It is still a working lighthouse for vessels navigating the treacherous waters of Bass Strait and operates nightly by an automated system. The lighthouse is open daily for tours, weather permitting. (Lighthouse https://splitpointlighthouse.com.au/)

A stone’s throw from the lighthouse, The Eagle Rock located at Aireys Inlet can be observed from the boardwalk. The monolith is fringed with a “forest” of Bull Kelp and the habitat supports a wide array of marine life from wrasse and mullet to Cat Sharks, Port Jackson Sharks, skates, and rays. It’s also a sanctuary for marine birds while migratory whales can be spotted when in season.

The Lighthouse Tea Room located just steps away is the natural place for a quick lunch before hitting the Great Ocean Road. Best to avoid heavy lunch as the driver will get very sleepy along the drive.

Start of The Great Ocean Road

While we had fun thus far on the Melbourne to Adelaide via Great Ocean Road trip, this Great Ocean Road (GOR) gate at Torquay is like a “reset” button. From here, the “mother” of all scenic drives starts. Driving along this breathtaking coastal route of GOR is a must-do! It is touted as one of the world’s most scenic coastal drives with the Australian National Heritage listed 243 kilometres stretch of road between the Victorian cities of Torquay and Allansford. This Melbourne to Adelaide via the Great Ocean Road encompasses many famous surf breaks, coastal rock formations, forests, tourist holiday towns, and of course the famous 12 Apostles.

Aerial view with the 12 Apostles Helicopters

Aerial views of the 12 Apostles, Shipwreck Coast, and Port Campbell National Park are something of a must-do for most visitors to this iconic location and the 12 Apostles Helicopters are the natural and only choice. Their rates are reasonable despite their monopolistic position.

A Bell 505 Jet Ranger X helicopter took off on yet another sortie, fulfilling a bucket list for many visitors.

Over The Bay of Islands, is the most popular sight on the coast. We were blessed to enjoy the flight as the helicopters don’t operate during inclement weather.

The Bay of Islands on the return leg of the aerial jaunt lasted about 15 minutes. This aerial event promises to be one of the highlights you enjoy on your Melbourne to Adelaide via Great Ocean Road.

Bliss @ The Southern Ocean Villas

From The 12 Apostles Helicopters, it was just an easy 15min to our accommodation for the night at Southern Ocean Villas, a beautifully full-fitted loft villa, with all the amenities of home. You might choose to buy groceries from Port Campbell town for a cookout at this villa as they even have a rice cooker.

Night comes gently here at the South Coast. The serene calm and chilly air make it a cosy experience.

Some of the units come with double queen and loft which are perfect for big families or a larger groups of 6-8.

Day #3

The 12 Apostles

Day 3 morning saw me waking up to an overcast sky and light drizzle, not the best way to enjoy the iconic Twelve Apostles but it’s still better than doing nothing. The Twelve Apostles is a group of limestone stacks off the shore of Port Campbell National Park. Seven of the original eight stacks remain standing at the Twelve Apostles viewpoint after one collapsed in July 2005. Though the view from the promontory by the Twelve Apostles never included twelve stacks, additional stacks not considered part of the Apostles group are located to the west within the national park.

Loch Ard Gorge

Just a 3-minute drive from The 12 Apostles, The Loch Ard Gorge is one of the best-loved stop-off points. An easy 5-6 min trek via a deck of stairs brings you down to this beautiful bay.

The picturesque gorge is home to an inlet of clear, blue water. It’s flanked by two yellow-washed cliff faces and tufts of vibrant greenery. It has an interesting and colourful history that spans back hundreds of years.

London Bridge

From the Loch Arc Gorge, a 15-minute drive takes you to the London Bridge, which has upper western and lower eastern viewing platforms to enjoy the stunning vistas. This venue is one of two points in the national park where you can see little penguins returning to shore (the other is from the main 12 Apostles viewing platform). The population of 80 – 100 birds at London Bridge is much smaller than at the 12 Apostles but the viewing platforms are closer to the birds. Before 1990, the London Bridge was a double-spanning bridge connected to the mainland. The span closer to the shoreline collapsed suddenly on 15 January 1990, leaving two Japanese visitors stranded on the outer span, to be rescued by helicopter.

The Grotto

From the London Bridge, another 5-minute drive took us to the Grotto. The winding stairs lead you down to them, which looks like a beautiful tide pool.

The Grotto is a giant arch rock formation that bends over a sinkhole caused by erosion eating away at the limestone beneath. You can either view the natural wonder from above or head down and explore it at eye level, which I think is the best, weather permitting. Signs are put to bar entry to the spot but many choose to ignore them in favour of an Instagram moment.

12 Apostles Gourmet Trail

What better way to pair the nature sights with food made from local produce? You can’t miss The 12 Apostles Gourmet Trail which lets you savour a selection of food and beverage establishments scattered among the hinterland.

Timboon Cheesery

From the Grotto, we departed the coast to the beautiful and cosy Timboon Cheesery to check out their cheese and farm cuisine. Some award-winning dairy and cheeses from Schulz Organic Dairy and Timboon Dairy satisfy your hunger pangs.

Our lunch of cheese and vegetable soup of the day was awesome. Not too heavy and yet fulfilling. You will love the 3-cheeses platter which is ideal for what the cheesery can offer. We finished the entire meal with no leftovers.

Timboon Ice Creamery

Hardly anyone can resist ice cream and this venue assures you one of the most delicious ice creams you will ever taste. Their ice cream is churned with milk direct from the neighbour’s farm, cream fresh from local dairies and local ingredients. Their love and passion for their products are what make their ice cream a true ice cream experience.

What flavour would you like? 24 premium flavours, farm-fresh and locally made. Whatever you choose, it’s all good.

Nice ambience for a sweet tooth moment. You can buy a tub to eat along the drive if you to prolong the yummy treat.

Allansford Cheese World

Just another 30-minute drive brought us to the Cheese World. Owned and operated by the Warrnambool Cheese & Butter Factory, Cheese World is the outlet for their award-winning Warrnambool Heritage Cheddar cheese range.

The Warrnambool cheddar range is manufactured right across the road from Cheese World by the Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory. Full details of their cheese can be referred here.

The Cheese World café serves breakfast, light lunches, and snacks. Cheese platters and Ploughman’s Lunches are their specialties. Make sure you try their famous milkshakes made with their own Sungold milk or a local Timboon ice cream cone.

Coastal Town @Port Fairy

When we arrived at the venue, the chilly coastal wind picked up strongly with the evening glow receding quickly, leaving us only a few minutes to check out the pier. This Shearwater sculpture, of 10 birds, located at either side of the entrance to Griffiths Island, depicts the birds crisscrossing each other as they come into land at Port Fairy.

Ashmont Motor Inn @ Port Fairy

The Ashmont Motor Inn and Apartment was our home for the night. I don’t really fancy motor-inn in general as some can be drabby, but this accommodation is pretty nice and well fitted.

My room at the upper floor. Excellent sleep quality indeed. Very much like a hotel.

The unit comes with a full-fitted cooking section should you prefer home-cooked food. Should you miss Asian food at this stage, you might like to check out Yellow House Cafe and Thai Restaurant just a few minutes’ drive from this motor inn.

Day #4

Tower Hill Nature Reserve

From Port Fairy, it’s just a 20min drive to the beautiful Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve. Declared Victoria’s first National Park in 1892, Tower Hill is the ideal place to experience the Australian bush, magnificent scenery, and landscapes. You can spot lots of native birds and animals like emus, koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas, and seasonal reptiles.

A wild kangaroo and her joey feeding on the pasture near the reserve info centre. It’s heartening to see many roos still thriving and in abundance.

After a short walk from our parked car, we quickly spotted a koala, one of 8 we saw during our 1.5hr stroll there.

A fantail among the bushes. So lucky I managed to photograph this one. While you hear them everywhere, their quick movement and darting among the bushes make photographing them a challenging task.

This wildlife reserve sits in a large volcanic crater. It is one of Victoria’s most fascinating and significant geological formations where volcanic cone-shaped hills rise from the lakes.

Gastronomic Adventure @ The Royal Mail Hotel, Dunkeld

Just about an hour’s drive from the Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve, our next adventure is of gastronomy, at the Royal Mail Hotel at Dunkeld, which houses the Wickens at Royal Mail Hotel, a fine-dining experience, encompassing the four stories of the hotel – food, wine, people and place.

Our evening venue for a 7-course fine-dining degustation by renowned Australian MasterChef Robin Wickens.

28,000 Bottles Wine Cellar

The hotel wine cellar – The world-class wine list showcases bottles from the impressive 28,000-bottle wine cellar. Three types of wine matches are led by their sommeliers – cellar, iconic Australian, and French.

Award-winning cellar, for the last 3 consecutive years, bar none. This is the most precious cellar in the Southern Hemisphere indeed.

Royal Mail Hotel Organic Kitchen Garden Visit

Kylie Schurmann, Assistant GM of the hotel, brought us on a tour of the hotel’s in-house kitchen garden. In the picture, she showed us their watercress section.

The beautiful hotel organic kitchen garden provided the fresh ingredients for their farm-to-table cuisine. Two full-time gardeners man this 1.2-hectare garden. It is Australia’s largest working restaurant kitchen garden and up to 80% of the produce showcased on the various Royal Mail Hotel menus is grown here and harvested daily by the kitchen team.

Purple tomato or Indigo Rose tomato was grown in the garden. The deep purple pigment develops in parts of tomatoes exposed to sunlight, while the interior flesh remains red.

This is the flower of Artichoke! So beautiful, though I can’t say the same for the vegetable.

Our lunch came beautifully prepared, like the Salmon Rose Toast, You are in a place that takes great pride in its cuisine offering. Expect the unexpected.

Even the honeycomb and ice cream dessert turned out beautifully and superbly.

Gegustation By Australia MasterChef Robin Wickens

The evening degustation with wine pairing is enclosed and sealed, upholding that exclusive and premium feel that permeates the entire dining experience.

The degustation appetizers. The gastronomic journey begins.

The menu read “buffalo, red cabbage tart, purple tomatoes, buckleberry “. But in the mouth, it’s an immense mingling of texture and flavour. Such is the prowess of a great chef.

Confit Ocean Trout, dried tomatoes, brandade, rocket”. Sounds esoteric but picture-perfect as it tasted.

With the Masterchef in person at his kitchen after the culinary ride.

Wilderness Luxury @ Royal Mail Hotel Dunkeld

The Deluxe Mountain View rooms offer intimate views of the Grampians National Park on the property. Recently refurbished, luxuriously appointed, and architecturally designed to capture the beauty of the natural setting.

Truly a luxurious Australian experience, all within the comfort of a well-appointed room.

The shower experience in the spacious bathroom with excellent bath amenities lifted the memorable-quotient several notches.

Royal Mail Hotel Private Forest Reserve

The 400-year-old heritage River Red Gum tree at the hotel’s private reserve. It has fallen some time back but it revived with new branches sprouting from it. The amazing landmark is available only to hotel guests.

How many roos can you spot among the bushes? These wild kangaroos are alert of strangers on their home ground and will quickly hop away.

This dead River Red Gum Tree, in the reserve, looking “characterful” despite being dead, gives new meaning to “life after death”.

These are the 2 famous mountains at Dunkeld – in the foreground, is Mt. Sturgeon (533m) while the one in the background is Mt. Abrupt (827m). Both mountains feature trail walks that can be challenging.

Day #5

Conquering the Pinnacle @ Halls Gap

From The Royal Mail Hotel, a 45-minute drive took us to the iconic Pinnacle Walk and Lookout, which is one of the highlights of the entire Grampians region. Reaching the peak rewards you with stunning views of Halls Gap and the Grampians’ many peaks.

Looking at the “rockscape” can be therapeutic, with the cool air contrasting with the hot sun making it a more comfy trek. We embarked on the more challenging 2.1km walk from Wonderland carpark to The Pinnacle, instead of the easier Sundial car park.

Out of the “caverns”, it’s amazing all these are natural formations. The duration taken to reach the peak was 2-hour (1 way).

You will marvel at the seemingly precariously perched boulders as you climb towards the Grand Canyon, a smaller cousin of the American Canyon.

An Aussie couple having a “picnic” with one of the resident crows at the peak. It did not occur to me that this was their “personal spot” at the peak as we sat down to rest. Relieved they did not express their displeasure.

Check out the stunning view of the Halls Gap and the landscapes below. The cooling air was also another reward.

Eco-Lodges @ DULC (Down Under Log Cabin)

From the Pinnacle Wonderland carpark, it was just a short 10 min drive to our accommodation for the night, at the fabulous DULC Ecolodge. This lovely luxury cabin is an end-destination by itself.

This husband-wife-owned and managed property has only 5 cabins of single and two-storey cabins which are designed to blend into the bushland environment. You will appreciate the rough-sawn timbers, polished concrete, wooden floors, and floor-to-ceiling windows that have been designed with environmental sensitivity, with each cabin linked by a raised footpath.

The fabulous bed and furnishings were all top-notch. After an energy-sapping trek to the Pinnacle, this is the perfect place to rest.

Each unit comes with a jacuzzi tub that comes with premium Molton Brown bath amenities that are really a luxurious treat. You will want to soak longer.

Day #6

Day 6 saw us checking out from DULC early, but not before being greeted by a resident Kookaburra at the lodge reception ground. Such is the lovely nature ambience in Australia’s unspoiled bushland.

Reed Lookout and the Balconies

A 20-minute easy drive from DULC took us to the Reed Lookout and the Balconies. A ten-minute walk to the summit for views of Victoria Valley, Lake Wartook, and the Serra, Victoria, and Mount Difficult ranges.

We were up close to the clouds? no, not really, just that the clouds were low.

360° Panoramic view @ Boroka Lookout Point

A 10-minute drive from Reed Lookout took us to the Boroka Lookout. This easily accessed venue gives an amazing Grampians panorama, a perfect picture with 360-degree views of Western Victoria.

From the Boroka Lookout, you can see below the town of Halls Gap, Lake Bellfield, and Fyans Valley. Turn around to view the ranges of Mount William and Wonderland.

The rock formation beside the lookout deck looked like a monster with an opened mouth, amazing indeed!

MacKenzie Falls

Another 17min drive took us to the MacKenzie Falls, which is one of the largest waterfalls in Victoria. We were a little pressed for time to our next destination, so we did not take the steep trail which will take slightly more than an hour round trek.

The Sweeping Meadows of Gritjurk

En Route to our next destination at Mt.Gambier, we chanced upon the lovely plains around Gritjurk, using highway A200. This was one of the loveliest land routes that brought back memories of New Zealand. As the road was quiet, I did a drone aerial shot of the surrounding area.

One of my fave pics of the trip so far, a landscape of the meadow with grazing cattle and a solitary tree capped by a cloud against clear blue skies.

The Blue Lake @ Mt. Gambier

Finally, after a 3-hour drive, we reached Mt. Gambier, where the famous Blue Lake is. Early each November, the lake’s sombre blue, which is in evidence during the winter months, mysteriously changes to an intense deep turquoise blue almost overnight. The colouring remains until late February when it gradually changes. From late March, it returns to a distinct sombre blue colouring that remains until the following November. (source- South Australia tourism).

The Umpherston Sinkhole

The other attraction in Mt. Gambier is The Umpherston Sink Hole. This is one venue that has to be seen to be believed. Observe its size and depth from the viewing platforms at the top of the sinkhole, then, walk down into the sinkhole along the terraces and behind the hanging vines. From the base of the sinkhole, look up and be awed by the amazing sight. This venue will need an ultra-wide angled lens to take in all that beauty or use panoramic mode on a handphone.

Originally beautified by James Umpherston around 1886, the sinkhole is opened at all times and from dusk each evening the area comes alive with possums as they venture into the floodlit gardens to feed.

B+B @ The Colhurst House

Our accommodation for the night is the Colhurst House. The lovely house has 5 elegant rooms in the beautiful two-story 1800s mansion set among well-manicured gardens.

This lovely mansion is centrally located in Mount Gambier, close to shopping, entertainment, and dining amenities. My room is named The Black Room, which has a Queen-sized bed with a lovely westerly view of the church spire that catches the sunset and the town church spire.

Day #7

Tantanoola Cave

A 20-minute drive brought us to the Tantanoola Cave, which is one of the smallest we visited. But it’s unique in that the cave warden allowed us to bring our tripod and even let us and a small group of visitors explore the compact cave system which takes only 5 minutes to walk around.

A very nice compact cave with great lighting. This spectacular cave, set into a cliff face, is believed to have been exposed to the constant pounding of the ocean. Over time the sea has retreated leaving behind a cavern of shells, pebbles, and seal bones.

The park around the cave conservation park is also a nice place for a stroll among the floral and fauna. In the early morning, you might catch sight of grazing wallabies in the garden.

One of many honey bees pollinating the flowers at the conservation park.

Very Long Jetty @ Beachport

En route from Tantanoola Cave to our next destination at Robe, a fishing port 1-hr drive away, we dropped the beautiful coastal town of Beachport for a quick lunch. The quaint townhouses are the 2nd longest jetty in South Australia at 772 meters (used to be 1.2km). Great places for a stroll out to sea and watch anglers fishing and their catch.

This jetty is considered one of the most beautiful jetties in South Australia and extends over the waters of Rivoli Bay and offers some beautiful scenic spots across the bay.

Enjoy your lunch at one of the several eateries around the jetty and enjoy the sea breeze and people-watch.

The Obelisk @ Robe

Robe is a fishing port and one of the oldest towns in South Australia. The town’s historical buildings, ocean-going fishing fleets, lakes, and dense bush give it a distinctive laid-back vibe. One of the most famous landmarks is The Cape Dombey Obelisk (commonly known as Robe Obelisk), which most, if not all, visitors to this town will make a beeline for.

The Doorway Rock, a distinctive rock formation that is constantly pounded by the waves of the Great Australian Bight. Before long, the arch might have succumbed to the forces of nature.

The Subaru Forester has been an exceptional ride on the trip from Melbourne to Adelaide via the Great Ocean Road trip – powerful, economical, spacious, and with loads of safety features built-in, making the long drives a comfortable experience.

The Obelisk sits atop a rugged coastline, which is rapidly being eroded by the harsh elements. The sea south of Robe meets the Southern Ocean which is notorious for having some of the strongest winds and largest waves on Earth. Various measures have been conducted to safeguard the obelisk but sadly, the odds are stacked against the monument. The cost of repairing/moving the obelisk could cost more than tens of millions of dollars, which the state government does not want to shoulder.

Lakeview Motels and Apartments

The Lakeview Motels and Apartments, which boast a wonderful view of Lake Dunn, will please most visitors.

The chilly wind coming in from the lake will send you to sleep in double-quick time.

As with accommodation on the trip so far, the serene ambience of Southern Australia assures a memorable vacation.

Spectacular Salt Lake @ Coorong National Park

En route to our next destination at Hahndorf, we stopped by the Coorong National Park after a 1.5-hour ride. This park was established in 1966 and is a spectacular saline lagoon stretching 140km and is significant under the Ramsar Agreement as a migratory wader and waterfowl sanctuary.

Beerenberg Farm @ Hahndorf

Our last stop before reaching Hahndorf was The Beerenberg, which produced its 1st batch of strawberry jam in 1971. It is a popular family-owned farm, tourist destination, and manufacturer of the best-tasting jams, chutneys, sauces, and dressings in Hahndorf.

The farm is especially popular with families which let their kids enjoy nature and freshly plucked strawberries in their mouths at the same time.

Plumb and juicy strawberries on the farm. Do select the mid-sized for the sweetest taste and not the largest ones. The farm charges AUD4/person for the farm entry and AUD10.95/kg for the picked strawberries.

A honey bee pollinating the flowers at the farm. Without bees, the ecosystem will collapse and many related businesses will suffer.

German Heritage Village @ Hahndorf

Hahndorf is a small town in South Australia and the oldest surviving German Settlement. Settled by 19th-century Lutheran migrants, it’s known for its original German-style architecture and artisanal food.

German influence permeates Hahndorf and is seen in the traditional fachwerk architecture of the original surviving buildings. There are also many restaurants in the town serving German cuisine, with a wide food menu and beer menu.

When at a German restaurant, what else but a pork knuckle on a bed of red cabbage and mashed potatoes…Köstlich!

Our hotel garden has a heritage pear tree that was fruiting and had a big colony of rainbow lorikeets having a run on the house at the tree. Exciting nature is right on our doorstep indeed.

The lovely manicured garden around Studio by Haus is perfect for anyone keen on floral and insect photography.

German-styled hotel @Studio by Haus

The Studio by Haus was very cosy with a well-appointed room and an excellent en-suite shower. This would be our last rest stop on the Melbourne to Adelaide via the Great Ocean road trip.

Conclusion

This fantastic Melbourne to Adelaide via the Great Ocean Road road trip served to debunk the notion that the bushfire has rendered the continent less visit-worthy. What we have seen and enjoyed throughout the road trip was not one bit compromised in any way by the bushfire.

The locals we met along the way, from the staff at immigration checkpoints, supermarts, restaurants, resorts, and attraction owners right to the people on the streets, were friendly and warm. At no time did we experience any negativity. If there are any places you are considering visiting when the COVID-19 situation subsides, the fabulous Southern Australia region should be your No.1 choice.

Many sincere thanks for coming along this Melbourne to Adelaide via the Great Ocean Road. Should any readers be keen to go on a similar self-drive trip, please feel free to drop me a message. For my other adventures Down Under, you can click here for more reads.

The post Melbourne to Adelaide via Great Ocean Road appeared first on Jensen Chua Photography.

Your Continued Travel to Australia Helps in its Recovery.

Jensen — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 11:59:38 +0000

Australia is a huge continent, all 7.692 million km² of it. I know the news coming out from Down Under since late July 2019 have been nothing but about bushfires and may likely affect your intention to visit the gorgeous destination. But here’s the low-down – Not all places on the vast continent are affected, it’s still safe to travel to Australia. Please don’t cancel your trip. Your continued travel to Australia helps in its recovery.

The aim of this article is to advise readers on updates and help in making an informed decision when planning their trips to Australia. By deciding to cancel or postponing visits to Australia is to compound the dire condition the country faces in this unprecedented event. Tourism receipts are a lifeline to many businesses and any prolonged reduction of visitors is like a ‘second wave of bushfires’ affecting people livelihood.

Why Australia has bushfires ?

Bushfires in Australia is not a recent phenomenon and has destroyed properties and taken lives since 1851. The current scale of bushfires is compounded by a protracted heatwave, drought and wind conditions. Bushfires are a regular feature in Australia’s calendar – often triggered by natural causes such as lightning strikes and cannot be blamed on climate change or rising greenhouse gas emissions alone. Reports of arsonists, while happened in some incidents, have been grossly exaggerated.

Is it safe to visit Australia at this moment?

Yes – definitely, you can still travel to Australia. And no, you should not cancel your trip. Many parts of the vast continent are unaffected by the bushfires. Due in a large part to the effect of visual media, visitors’ perception of the scale of bushfires are magnified disproportionately due to news coverage of Australia, which is continuously focused on bushfire destruction. There are still many areas not affected that represents Australia well. Remember, Australia is 1 huge continent – all 7.692 million km², which is 10,639 times bigger than Singapore, for comparison.

The solution to enjoy a great trip Down Under is to understand the situation better and should the need arises, adjust your travel itinerary, taking into consideration bushfire movement or smoke conditions. Do book your trips with reputable Australia specialist Jetabout Holidays as they have the latest information and will have options ready for you on the current state of the bushfires and proactively keep you updated even while you are on the trip.

What are the safeguards for travelling during the bushfires?

This is largely dependent on which area you are travelling to. To enjoy Australia is about appreciating the serenity and beauty of nature that the vast country has come to signify. To ensure a blissful vacation, stay nimble and be adaptive to local conditions.

For free and independent travellers, you can stay updated on the bushfires information portal. For those who engaged Jetabout Holidays, the guesswork will be shouldered by the agency as they are in constant communication with relevant authorities, suppliers and partners throughout the region for clear and objective information. Stay contactable and keep updated throughout the trip on news via your smartphone with purchased data roaming. And of course, as in all overseas travel, make sure you stay fully insured, as life are unpredictable, bushfires or not.

Bushfires impact on Australia economy And recovery.

In 2019, Tourism contributed $44.6 billion to the economy while employing over 660,000 people. So its not an understatement that tourism is a key income earner for the Australian economy and will be heavily affected by the devastating impacts of these bushfires. By not cancelling or postponing your trip to Australia in this difficult time, is itself a valued form of support.

On the trip, do support the local businesses by dining or shopping at small establishments, as this will go a long way towards assisting the economic recovery by funding the local economies directly.

Conclusion

The Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison recently made a plea on national television on the 8 Jan 2020 during a visit to Kangaroo Island – “Australia is open, Australia is still a wonderful place to come and bring your family and enjoy your holidays.”

Yes, Australia will always be one of my fave travel destinations and in two months time, I will be embarking on an epic exploration trip to Melbourne for the Great Ocean Road . Do subscribe to my page for trips updates. For my other adventures in Australia, please feel free to click here.

Footnote: All pictures used in this travelogue are copyrighted to Jensen Chua Photography and all rights reserved. The opinion expressed is factual, objective and that of the author. Some information is sourced from The Guardian, Seven Worlds and Wikipedia.

The post Your Continued Travel to Australia Helps in its Recovery. appeared first on Jensen Chua Photography.

Broome – Photographers’ Heaven in Western Australia

Jensen — Sat, 15 Jun 2019 02:53:31 +0000

This exploratory trip to the laidback resort town with Alvin Foo (Principal, Canon Imaging Academy) and Cindy Loo (Jetabout Holidays) convinced me that Broome is certainly a photographers’ heaven in Western Australia.

For city folks with a penchant for the non-touristy, serene and unhurried pace of life or photography enthusiasts looking for spectacular nature, wildlife and landscape or couples planning pre-wedding bridal photography in non-mainstream destinations, Broome IS IT! But sadly, current direct flights are only limited to three annual special chartered SilkAir flights from Changi Airport in June. For flights during normal period, a domestic transfer via Perth is the way to go.

Although just a short 4 days trip, what we have experienced leaves us with no doubt that this lovely town will get more visitors from this part of Asia when more get to know this hidden treasure better. Come join me on my pixels journey to check her out.

Some Cool Facts on Broome

Credit – Kimberly Cruise Centre

The houses in Broome do not have letterboxes. Residents collect their mail from banks of post boxes at five locations around the town.
Sun Pictures is the world’s oldest open-air outdoor cinema where you can watch a film on deck chairs under the stars.
The world’s largest, finest quality, round pearl was harvested by Cygnet Bay Pearls and it is on display in Broome. The pearl measures 22.24 millimetres. More than $1million was offered for the gem but they say they will never sell it.
Broome Time is a term regularly used by locals to describe the unhurried atmosphere of the town. Visitors relax, unwind and “slip into Broome Time”.
The famed Cable Beach is 22km long and is named after the telegraph cable laid between Broome and Java in 1889.
There are no traffic lights in Broome. The junctions are essentially self-governing roundabouts.
The Broome region is home to more than 300 species of birds. That is more than one third of Australia’s total species and includes 50 species of shorebirds which is nearly a quarter of the world’s total.
The population of Broome is 16,222 on land size of 55,796 sq.km (excerpts from Tourism North West Tourism)

Day #1

Camel Train @ Cable Beach

Upon arrival on the mid-afternoon flight, we pick up our rental car, a Toyota 4WD Prado from Avis and quickly get to Cable Beach to photograph the famous Camel Train, an activity that places Broome on the international tourism market.

Locals love to drive their 4WDs right onto Cable Beach. But rental cars are prohibited from driving onto the beach.

We were lucky to have a receding low tide that allowed us to capture the Camel Train reflection on the beach, expanding the variety of compositions.

This is one of my favourite angles, with the setting sun at the tail end of the event, with the subjects in silhouette reflected on the mirror-like beach.

This iconic event is a must-do for photographers as it’s the signature of Broome. To ride on the camel, you will have to plan to return on the 2nd day which also allows fresh angles and first-person-view from atop the camels.

Lovely nature’s artwork on the beach changed daily with the tides.

Fusion Cuisine Dinner @ The Aarli

Our dinner spot for the 1st evening at The Aarli . A cosy restaurant that serves imaginative quality fusion food.

The town has many dining choices and this laid-back casual restaurant is a highly recommended option that will make a nice introduction to what Broome has to offer.

Day #2

Amazing rockscape @ Entrance Point

Day 2 morning saw us making our way to the Entrance Point. The beach at Entrance Point near Broome Port is a popular locals spot for fishing, sunset and exploring the unusual rock formations.

This shot of the moon with the defocused ladies in the foreground looks like the moon has been photoshopped in but is actually due to the usage of a 300mm lens which compressed perspective and depth of field. It’s an interesting moment to get such an angle with the sun rising at the same time. In Broome, due to its location in the southern hemisphere, the moon looks like a super moon.

I just had to make my way up this sandstone structure to add a human element to an otherwise barren landscape. The climb was pretty scary and hazardous, as there are no proper footpaths and the edges of the rocks are sharp and pointy at some sections.

This beautiful rocky outcrop would be a fabulous backdrop for a wedding or fashion photography.

We walked extra “taller” that morning, thanks to the morning sun.

Aussie Breakkie @ The ZooKeeper Store

Our breakfast at the lovely Zookeepers Store offers a range of gourmet and local produce and fresh house-made delicacies that are perfect jump-starts to the day. While this diner may not offer a gorgeous seaside view, it more than compensates with brisk service and really good food.

The meals served are certainly “instagrammable-grade” with some of the menu items served on boards, with gourmet meats and cheeses or small and large plates based on modern Australian cuisine.

Dinosaur Footprints @ Gantheaume Point

The turquoise Indian Ocean contrasted so beautifully with the red sandstone. The venue was named on 24 July 1801 after Honoré Joseph Antoine Ganteaume, a French Navy officer and Vice-admiral for his role in the Baudin expedition which was a French expedition to map the coast of Australia.

There are outcrops of Broome sandstone, deposited in shallow water in this area in the Early Cretaceous period about 130 million years ago. Footprints from dinosaurs and plant fossils of that time are preserved in the sandstone. At very low tide, dinosaur footprints can be seen about 30 metres out to sea. Red soil indicates deposits of iron in the area. At Gantheaume Point, and on the surrounding headland, there is some of the richest red soil in the country which locals called “pindan“.

Shot this angle as part of a drone video angle that will be appearing in a video for the trip.

A resident Osprey, also called sea hawk, river hawk or fish hawk, nesting at the lighthouse by the sandstone outcrop. The lighthouse keeper leaves them alone and it has become a ‘landmark’ of some sort.

World’s Oldest Cinema@ Sun Pictures Cinema

The Sun Picture Gardens (also known as Sun Pictures) is the world’s oldest outdoor cinema that is still in operation. Unlike most outdoor cinemas, it screens multiple films per night.

In 1995, the cinema was added to the State Register of Heritage Places due to its cultural and historical significance.

Broometime @ Broome Town

Broome’s rich and varied history has created a multicultural vibe that is reflected in the town’s welcoming and laid-back ambience. There is no tall building and the town does not have traffic lights as it’s all self-regulating roundabout junctions.

The Chinatown has been the multicultural heart and soul of Broome since the pearling crews set up their first camps and corrugated tin sheds in the 1880s. You can find at least eleven Asian eateries currently.

The Japanese community in Broome was relatively small in the nineteenth century. This statue of a diver pays tribute to the days of Japanese pearl divers in hard-hat. Many died doing this perilous job.

The town has a deep history centred around the workings of the men and women who developed the pearling industry, starting with the harvesting of oysters for mother of pearl in the 1880s to the large present-day cultured pearl farming enterprises.

A newly constructed sheltered rest-point along the town road is being spruced up, with interesting shadows when viewed at noon.

A flash of red in the hot fiery afternoon before we settled for lunch. We chose to photograph this bus stop for its instagrammable feel, ambience and location. As Broome vehicles are generally silver or white, I had to wait patiently for almost 30min for a red car to pass by for punchier colour.

A Walk Down History @ Streeter’s Jetty

This jetty was built in the late 1880s and was used to moor pearling luggers. It was named after Edwin William Streeter, the owner of the adjacent land and operator of the business that used the jetty.

The jetty was thought to have been rebuilt in 1946 and reconstructed in 1966 but deteriorated due to lack of maintenance. Following extensive lobbying in 1998, the Shire of Broome purchased it. It owes its historic significance to pearling luggers who offload their pearl shells and load supplies here. It was still being used as recently as 1991. The huge tides at Broome mean that jetty appears to go nowhere during very low tides and yet it is completely submerged during King (highest) tides.

The 67.1m jetty ends abruptly with no barrier, so visitors are reminded to be alert. I can imagine those walking and engrossed with their hand-phone falling off this spot.

Awesome Beers and Bites @ Matso Brewery

Matso’s Brewery, located at 60 Hamersley Street is Australia’s most remote microbrewery. It is a cafe, restaurant, microbrewery and bar which is renowned for its unique beers including its famous Mango Cider, Chilli Beer, alcoholic Ginger Beer and Lychee Beer.

Before eating and drinking, it’s picture first of the photogenic beers taster.

The most delicious chicken drumlets we have tasted in a long time.

The diner’s signature beef burger is splendidly tasty and may discourage you from eating any more fast food joints versions.

Staircase to the Moon @ Town Beach

Town Beach is the gathering point to see the Staircase to the Moon on certain dates throughout the year. The pop-up Town Beach Markets often complement this event and provide an opportunity for visitors to purchase craft items, dinner from the stalls and enjoy nature’s entertainment.

The night market is held in conjunction with the Staircase to The Moon, from March to October, with many ‘street food’ on offer. Otherwise, the night market is held in Broome town on Thursdays from June to September.

Visitors on vacation yearning for Oriental food will love the dumplings stall, while a Thai food stall is nearby too.

A multi-talented didgeridoo and guitar artist provided a nice sonic experience to the night market.

A Boab Tree by the carpark. Across the Kimberley, through Kununurra and all the way to Broome, Boabs are a common sight but every Boab tree is unique. Some individual Boab trees can be 1500 years old or older, which makes them the oldest living beings in Australia and puts them among the oldest in the world.

This natural phenomenon is observed between April and October only. It is caused by the rising of a full moon reflecting on the exposed mudflats at extremely low tide, creating a surreal optical illusion of a staircase reaching up to the moon. This pic was edited to show the moon closer to the ocean edge, which was blocked by stratus clouds during our session. Just to show what a “perfect” Staircase to The Moon would be.

The best vantage point to see and shoot the Staircase to the Moon, located at the tip of the outcrop going out to the mudflats.

The town comes alive with the night bazaar and definitely a fun event for foodies to check out the food on offer all in one place.

Day #3

Get to Know Pearl @Willie’s Creek Pearl Farm

Pearling in Western Australia existed well before European settlement. By 1981, there were five pearl farms operational: Kuri Bay, Port Smith, Cygnet Bay, and two in Broome’s Roebuck Bay The industry today includes 19 of Australia’s 20 cultured pearl farms and generates annual exports of A$200M and employs about 1000 people. Willie Creek Pearl farm is one of the key players in the industry.

The pearl farm manager, Stuart, showing us the difference between an AUD10000 and AUD1000 pearl.

Can you estimate the market price of this treasure freshly extracted from within the pearl oyster? This pearl is worth at least AUD1000.

A piece of white Pearl meat, which is the adductor muscle of the pearl oyster and while it is a highly regarded delicacy it is a by-product of pearl production. Only once the oyster is no longer used for producing pearls is it removed from the farms and sold for the meat and mother of pearl shell. This piece fetches AUD 40-50 on the market. Tastes like scallop which is described as sweet with a hint of salt.

Beautiful and serene creek, the turquoise colour of the bay is due to the calcium from soil leaching into the water enhancing the green tint.

Look at the dinner plate-sized pearl oysters, growing from a few centimetres to such huge size, which may take between 5 to 20 years. The longer a pearl stays in the shell, the more nacre that forms and the larger the pearl.

The cruise also took us along the creek mangroves that host pretty birds like this Rainbow Honeybee Eaters. This species usually stay the summer in forested areas in most of southern Australia excluding Tasmania. They only migrate north during the winter into northern Australia.

Stuart holding up one of the pearl farm signature product. Can you estimate the value of this pearl bracelet?

Experience Kimberly @ James Price Point

The day’s highlight was the full day tour to many ‘secret spots’ arranged by Jetabout Holidays with a local guide, in his Toyota Land Cruiser, an excellent and wise choice for the unsealed roads of Broome.

En route to our next destination, we chanced upon a “train” of Processionary Moth Caterpillars on the red soil unsealed path. This is the time when you especially love the swivel screen of Canon EOS R and RP mirrorless cameras, to capture low angled close-up shots of the hairy caterpillars.

This intriguing sight is the caterpillar phase of the processionary moths. Once the eggs hatch, they begin to feed on the leaves of their first host plant. Once having devoured every last leaf, they trail off in single-file to their next meal. Head to toe in a straight line, these caterpillars follow a silken thread laid by their leader.

Don showing us a freshly plucked flower that looks like a hummingbird – the Crotalaria cunninghamii, also known as green bird flower or regal bird flower, is a plant of the legume family Fabaceae. It is native to, and widespread in, inland northern Australia

We simply love the textured beach ‘art’ created by the sea during low tides.

It was an amazing feeling to know this is a dinosaur footprint.

James Price Point was the proposed location for the cancelled Browse LNG project. A 2016 study of the footprints by the University of Queensland confirmed they are the largest collection of dinosaur footprints in the world and contain the world’s largest single print. Indications of 21 separate dinosaur species from the Cretaceous period have been identified.

A resident Osprey returning to its nest at the rock cliff. Ospreys are essentially sedentary, though they will range more freely in non-breeding periods and are frequently faithful to a nest site, using the nest for many years.

These picture-perfect Kimberley scenery red cliffs venues are a favourite spot for locals looking for a quick break. Only 50km north of Broome, it’s the perfect place for a day out or even a short camping trip.

Our last stop for the day, with a picnic by the Indian Ocean. We had the beach all to ourselves with the next car, perhaps many kilometres away.

Don preparing our beach-side picnic, with the sun, sand and sea accompanying us.

Alvin shooting a disused observation stand used in the past to count migratory whales along the coast.

The sunset hues were stunning, so was the icy-cold beer and snacks.

Our last view of the day before the sun retires for the day.

A spot of Milky Way photography prior to returning to town, just an hour drive away. We were lucky to have a shooting star to grace the picture.

Dinner by the sea @ Zander

Dinner venue for the day, very nice casual dining venue by the sea.

Four types of meats here – Chicken, Beef, Crocodile and Kangaroo. I think I like the usual better.

Authentic Indian cuisine is served here, with the spices and spiciness did just right and not “localised”.

Day #4

Breakkie @ Cable Beach Cafe

The cosy Town Beach Cafe is the one best place to wake up the stomach in the morning, with an unblocked view of Town Beach, which we saw the Staircase to the Moon just the night before.

Certainly beats any fast food joints food, with healthier ingredients and toppings.

Gorgeous Seascape @ Roebuck Bay

One of the most photogenic and unique seascapes I have seen anywhere in Australia, which the rocky area that holds many dinosaur footprints.

A drone overhead aerial shot to bring out the graphic pattern and hues of the creek. Drone pilots will love the freedom of airspace here.

The rocky outcrop holds many huge dinosaurs foot imprints. Can you spot them?

Feathery Time @ Broome Bird Observatory

At the Broome Bird Observatory lookout point. The observatory hosts researchers from around the globe with a strong focus on Roebuck Bay and the East Asian Australasian Flyway.

A flock of Black Necked Stilts or Bubble Gum Pink legs doing a flypast for us.

The Broome region is home to more than 330 species of birds. This is more than one-third of Australia’s total species and includes 55 species of shorebirds, which is nearly a quarter of the world’s total.

Broome is certainly a birds enthusiast paradise. The rich and unspoiled habitats of the region encourage large numbers of most species.

The area is also well known for the number of scarce migrants and vagrants that periodically arrive here from the Northern Hemisphere. Many birds occur across the region on a seasonal basis.

Conclusion

This visit to Broome filled the “gap” of my visits to the key regions including Western Australia, New South Wales, South Australia, the Northern Territory and Tasmania. And what a stunning ‘gap” Broome certainly was, with her unique personality and laid-back beauty. I thought I have seen much of Australia thus far only to be reminded by Broome that I am still in the process of “UnDiscovering” and rediscovering her.

I truly believe that given time and with more frequent direct flights connecting Broome to the rest of Asia, she will certainly become the ‘Pearl of Australia” in more ways than one.

Many sincere thanks for coming along my pixels journey. Should any readers be keen to go on a similar self-drive trip in the future, please feel free to drop me a message. For my other Australian adventures, you can check it out here.

The post Broome – Photographers’ Heaven in Western Australia appeared first on Jensen Chua Photography.

Thermal Gliding in Canberra

Jensen — Sun, 31 Mar 2019 07:52:38 +0000

Australia has always been one of the world’s powerhouses for exciting activities that adrenaline junkies swear by – skydiving, shark diving, kite surfing, hang gliding, and bungee jumping, just to name a few. Coming from a tiny highly urbanised country like Singapore, the opportunity to enjoy thermal gliding is non-existent as huge tracts of land and airspace with the right conditions are required.

Being an aerial enthusiast when I was an avid aeromodeller during my teens, the dream to sail the skies in a glider has always been on my wishlist. Thus I was over the moon when I finally had the chance to experience thermal gliding in Canberra during a recent exploration trip to Canberra and its surrounding regions.

How Thermal Gliders Fly and How Are They Different from Powered Aircraft?

High Aspect Ratio Wings

Airplanes and gliders share similar design, aerodynamic, and piloting factors but the absence of an engine basically changes the way a glider flies. Gliders have high aspect ratio wings, which means they are longer and narrower than wings on normally powered airplanes.

Source – @How stuff works.

Their wing span is very long compared to their width. This is because drag created during the production of lift (known as induced drag) can account for a significant portion of the total drag on a glider. One way to maximize the efficiency of a wing is to increase its aspect ratio. Glider wings are very long and thin, which makes them efficient. They produce less drag for the amount of lift they generate. (excerpts from How Stuff Works).

The main types of rising air that glider pilots use –

Source – Boldmethod

Thermals are columns of rising air currents created by the heating of the Earth’s surface, which are invisible to our eyes. The volume of air near the ground expands and rises as the surface of the Earth is heated up. Certain types of terrain absorb the sun’s heat more rapidly than others, e.g asphalt parking lots, dark fields, rocky terrain, etc. These spots retain the heat and warm up the air above them, producing thermal air currents. Newly forming cumulus clouds, or birds soaring without flapping their wings, are some signs of thermal activity. When a glider pilot is “thermalling,” they are locating and riding those thermal columns. And since the thermals can often cover only a small area, thermalling often involves a tight turn to stay inside the pocket of rising air. The other two main types of staying airborne are Ridge Lift and Wave Lift, which you can refer here for more details. (excerpts from Boldmethod)

Riding the Wave with Canberra Gliding Club

The Canberra Gliding Club has been established for over fifty years and operates from Bunyan Airfield, (also known as the Cooma Soaring Centre) beside the Monaro Highway which is about 12km North of Cooma. The club operates under the regulatory oversight of the Gliding Federation of Australia and offers glider pilot training and air-experience flights with all activities conducted by experienced instructors in modern two-seat fiberglass training aircraft.

The members of the club getting the glider ready, towing it out from the hangar. To maximise space, most of the gilders are stored with wings detached in customised pods.

Our glider for the event – the Puchacz (Polish word for “eagle owl”) is a two-seater training and aerobatic sailplane.

Being a moderately-priced, versatile, modern two-seater with good handling qualities on the ground and in the air, the Puchacz is a very popular two-seater sailplane in many countries both for introductory and aerobatic flights.

Getting the glider ready for the launch area for towing.

The towplane for the glider, a Piper PA-25 Pawnee. This was one of the first single-seat light aircraft to be specifically designed and built for agricultural crop spraying and dusting. It was also one of the most successful, with several thousand built and with license production in a number of countries. Many Pawnees have nowadays found their way to a glider airfield where they are very popular as glider tugs due to their good power/weight ratio.

The man and his glider on a picture-perfect day. It was a hot day but the low humidity makes it more bearable.

Stewart, the glider pilot with decades of flight experience, gave me a safety briefing, dashboard orientation, do’s and don’ts, and assisting with the C-cross safety belt. It felt snugged within the cockpit. Information about weight and height must be conveyed to the club in advance as part of flight safety.

Towline and hook checked as we get ready for the launch.

The Piper Pawnee all powered up and moved into take-off position with the towline getting taut by the seconds.

The Lift-Off

A club member gives the glider a steady hand as it is being towed. Holding onto just one side of the glider is sufficient to minimise stress on the wings.

The moment before lift-off. You can see the glider gaining lift as it balances only on 1 wheel.

We have lift-off. The vibration, shake, and rumble vanished as she lifts off from the ground.

Into the blue yonder, the start of gliding as we climb to 4000ft before the release, into the thermals.

Up, up and away as the Pawnee pulled us along. It was a surreal experience as the ambience was peaceful and relaxed. The only sound was from the little opening at the side of the cockpit letting in fresh air and the beeping of the audio variometer, which gives a rising note if the glider is going up and a falling note if the glider is going down or if you fly out of the lift.

The Pawnee and Puchacz gaining altitude as they climb to 4000ft. The flight experience can be had at 2500ft or 4000ft, which is each priced accordingly.

At the point of release, the Piper banked to the port side while the glider pilot turned to the starboard, as safety measures.

I seldom if rarely, shoot a selfie but this occasion calls for one. I totally overlooked having a wefie with the pilot as I was in a state of awe, enjoying the thrill and scenery beneath us.

I was handed the control of the glider for a brief moment, as we catches the thermals to gain altitude, with Stewart giving instantaneous feedback. For those with motion-sickness, a sick bag is available at the side of the glider just in case.

After about 30min, it’s time to return to Earth after a fabulous flight.

With the ground rushing to meet us for a smooth touchdown soon.

The glider tow-back to the hangar was quite an interesting experience too, it’s like “walking your dog” in the park.

Conclusion

There are many people who are unaware of gliding and understandably puzzled about what the fascination can be. Modern sailplanes are precision crafts that have been finetuned and perfected over many years of research and development to be as efficient in the air as they are a pleasure to look at. With the right atmospheric conditions, it can stay airborne for hours or much longer at a time.

Thermal gliding offers a whole new perspective to exciting aerial sports that are not so commonly available. And if you never had the chance to fly a glider, I fully recommend you give it a try.

Sincere appreciation for coming along my pixels journey. Should any readers be keen to go on a similar adventure, please drop me a message. For my other Australian adventures, do check it out here.

The post Thermal Gliding in Canberra appeared first on Jensen Chua Photography.

33 Things to Do, See, Eat on a Road Trip to Canberra and Regions

Jensen — Wed, 27 Mar 2019 16:27:54 +0000

This one week exploration trip to Canberra – the capital of Australia and the surrounding regions reveals one thing – Australia is consistently beautiful, whichever the region, with each having slightly different ‘personalities and flavours’. The impression of Canberra, being the seat of political headquarter, is ‘less exciting’ is certainly a misconception. This travelogue highlights 33 things to do, see, eat on a road trip to Canberra and regions.

Canberra is charming in her own ways and a springboard to interesting attractions in the surrounding regions. Less touristy, less cars on the road, with laid-back friendly locals offering an authentic Aussie experience. Compared with other regions on our previous road trips, we clocked a lot less time and mileage on the road while still pulling in the sights. This alone is one key reason why this Australia Capital Territory (ACT) should be your next travel destination.

Brief Insight on Canberra

With a population of about 460,000, Canberra is Australia’s largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall at 814.2 km². In 1908, Canberra location was chosen as it was a compromise between rivals Sydney and Melbourne, Australia’s two largest cities. It is unique among Australian cities for being an entirely planned city outside of any states. As the seat of the government of Australia, it is the site of the Parliament House. The word “Canberra” is popularly thought to be derived from the word Kambera or Canberry, which is claimed to mean “meeting place” in Ngunnawal, one of the indigenous languages spoken in the district by Aboriginal Australians before European settlers arrived. (excerpts from Wikipedia)

Our Self-drive Route Map

Our 7D6N road trip totalled about 900km, was planned by Jetabout Holidays. We leapfrogged along the towns of Batemans Bay, Narooma, Bermagui, Merimbula and Cooma before returning to the capital city. The following are some insights from the road trip –

Tip #01 – A family saloon car or SUV vehicle is sufficient for this region routes.
Tip #02 – The roads are generally safe as it’s paved and well-maintained. Australia drives on the left side of the road. Strictly observe speed limits in residential and school zones. Canberra has numerous self-governing junctions via its roundabouts. So do keep to the correct lanes when entering or exiting the roundabouts.
Tip #03 – You will need an international driving license, if your driving license is not in English. But you must also bring your local driving license as it will be required for verification by the rental car company.

Day #1

(#1) Feel the Seat of Power @The Parliament House

Officially called the Commonwealth Coat of Arms, the Australian Coat of Arms is the formal symbol of the Commonwealth of Australia. A shield, depicting symbols of Australia’s 6 states, is held by the native Australian animals the kangaroo and the emu. Our guide told us that this two animals are used because they don’t walk backwards, implying that Australia is always forward looking.

There is no better way to start a Canberra trip than a visit to the Parliament House. Contrary to being bored by political stiffness, we were pleasantly surprised and love the spectacular venue, which is the heart of Australian parliamentary democracy and one of the most open parliamentary buildings in the world.

The Great Verandah is the public face of Parliament House. This impressive foyer is used to welcome visitors and is the backdrop for ceremonies on the Forecourt. The ground outside the entrance is constructed of red Christmas Bush granite, quarried near Oberon in New South Wales. The front facade walls are clad in Paradise White Carrara Italian marble with all tiles grains running in continuity.

The Parliament House lobby continues the meaningful attention to materials used. Its called The Marble Foyer which features 48 marble columns that evoke the muted pinks and greens of the Australian landscape as well as the colours of the two Parliamentary Chambers, clad in green Cipollino marble from Italy and creamy pink Atlantide Rosa marble from Portugal. Our guide even brought us to see her favourite shrimp-like fossils that was on one of the tiles, which was estimated to be some 345 million years old.

The House of Representatives or lower house, has 150 members and is the house in which government is formed. The colour scheme of the House reflects the green associated with British Parliament’s House of Commons and the eucalyptus green of the Australian landscape. Colours in the Chambers are deepest at ground level and become lighter as they extend upwards.

The Senate or upper house, has 76 senators: 12 from each state and two each from the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory. The Senate reflects the red of British Parliament’s House of Lords and the shades of ochre red in the Australian landscape. The President’s chair was crafted by Canadian artisans Almer Komendant and John Jones, as a gift from the Canadian Parliament.

What coincidence that we visited on the 8 March, which was International Women’s Day. In the picture, you can see the hand drawn portrait of Julia Gillard, Australia 1st lady PM, who served as the 27th Prime Minister of Australia and Leader of the Australian Labor Party from 2010 to 2013. She was the first and to date only woman to hold the positions of Deputy Prime Minister, Prime Minister and leader of a major party in Australia.

From the roof, you can see how Parliament House is successfully integrated into Walter Burley Griffin’s original design for Canberra. It is placed on the land axis from Mount Ainslie, which runs directly through the centre of Capital Hill. Looking north from the roof, you can see Australian War Memorial, Lake Burley Griffin and Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House.
From where we were standing, the chambers are beneath us, as the Parliament House is built into a hill. This also alludes to the fact that “the Parliament is NOT above the people”.

(#2) See Where the Coins are Made @Royal Australian Mint

The Coinage Act 1909 commenced the first steps for an Australian coinage, which spearheaded the establishment of a mint owned by the Commonwealth and independence from the branches of the Royal Mint. The first task of the Mint was to produce new coins when decimal currency was introduced on 14 February 1966. Since then, it has produced more than fifteen billion coins in circulation with the current daily capacity to churn out two million coins.

The production line is mostly automated. The orange robotic arm in the center is affectionately called Titan. During our visit, it can seen sorting and lifting the barrels with weight of up to 1000kg of coins blanks for pressing. On the left is Penny, the Automatic Guided Vehicle bringing the drums to Titan, while Robbie (2 o’clock right of Titan) packs all the coins. Do look out for Titan performing a bow or dance moves when he completed his tasks, interesting humanisation pf robotics indeed.

Observing the minting production – the elevated angle and behind glass screen meant limited angles for better photography angles but it was still a nice experience.

The Sydney Olympics 2000 medals were minted here but its not the gold that is of interest but rather the bronze. The country pull back all the 1 cents coins in circulation to produce the bronze medals, so it’s said the bronze medals were “touched by all Australians “.

A big load of coins in the dome at display at the mint gallery-AUD24,999 of 1 dollar coins to be exact. It is estimated that Australia loses 255 million coins yearly – “down the back of the couch, taken overseas in the pockets of tourists and stuck to footpath” costing the country $110 million annually to replace these coins. That’s one reason why the mint is pressing coins daily.

(#3) Remembering the Fallen @The Australian War Memorial

Stepping through the front entrance to the Memorial, our attention was instantly captured by the Commemorative Courtyard. A cauldron with perpetual flame burns at the pond. Other than the Parliament House, this is one place all visitors to Canberra must visit.

Galleries that commemorate both World War One and Two with many war artefacts that bring you back in time, of the hardship and atrocities of war.

The Second World War Galleries show how Australians fought in campaigns against Germany and Italy in Europe, the Mediterranean and North Africa and against Japan in south-east Asia. Certainly hitting close to home, as Singapore was also part of the war landscape.

The Roll of Honour contains the names of over 102,000 members of the Australian armed forces who perished during or as a result of war service.

The Hall of Memory, located above the Pool of Reflection, is the heart of the Australian War Memorial. It can only be reached by walking past the names of the more than 102,000 who have given their lives in the service for the country. The Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier is placed here, at the still point of all remembrance.

In the Hall of Memory, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier lies directly below the dome, where the souls of the dead are shown ascending to heaven. The tomb is covered with a slab of red marble inscribed with gilded lettering, subtly mirroring those of the dome. Red poppies were among the first plants to spring up in the devastated battlefields of northern France and Belgium. In soldiers’ folklore, the vivid red of the poppy came from the blood of their comrades soaking the ground.

Our guide told us the view from the Hall of Remembrance, looking out to the Commemorative Courtyard is one the best angles to shoot at the memorial.

A pensive moment among the men before commencement of the daily Last Post Ceremony.

Commencing daily at approximately 4.55 pm (AEST-Australian Eastern Standard Time), the Memorial moves visitors with its Last Post Ceremony in the Commemorative Courtyard. Each ceremony shares the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour. Live streaming of the event can be viewed on YouTube or Facebook.

Laying of floral wreaths for the fallen. Members of the public can request to the front desk daily by 4pm should they want to lay the wreath. The Last Post Ceremony is becoming an increasingly popular public event. It is recommended to arrive early, especially for large groups as the Memorial is unable to reserve spaces for groups.

(#4) Colourful Evening Out @Enlighten Festival

The evening saw us visiting the Canberra Enlighten Festival, where Illuminations have been extended to 11 nights this year to provide eye-catching backdrop for Canberra Day celebrations. Canberra’s Parliamentary Triangle and venues around town are transformed into vibrant arts precincts, showcasing Australian talent, roving artists, live bands and enchanting performances.

My fave illumination is the Red Air, a series of larger-than-life lanterns that feature the designs of indigenous artists from the Pilbara, WA. Inspired by Guula, a colourful Koala adorned with symbols found in traditional Aboriginal possum skin rugs, can be seen among the projections on the buildings.

A techno-music stage setting the mood for festival goers to get in the party mood. Singapore Airlines is one of the sponsors of the event, so don’t surprised when see SIA advertisements being flashed on the screen.

An illumination installation among the malls in town shopping-dining belt at Bunda Street in Canberra Civic district, adding colours and points of interest.

Day #2

(#5) Paddock to Table Dining @Pialligo Estate

Day 2 saw us visiting the renowned award-winning Pialligo Estate. Just a 10 minute drive from our hotel at Capitol Hill, it is a working farm with 12,000 plants that includes an olive grove, vineyard, orchard, market garden and the award-winning Pialligo Smokehouse which is famed for its smoked seafood and meats including being named Australia’s Best Artisan Bacon producer.

The vineyard host showing their latest crop of Shiraz grapes. Australia weather encountered hot and dry spell a few months prior to our visit and affected the crops at the farm, which had to draw more water from the Molonglo River just beside it. But on the day of our visit, it rained. Guessed we brought along good weather from Singapore.

The estate is renowned for its fabulous food, wine and as a lifestyle destination. We especially love the paddock to table cuisine, which means only the freshest ingredients are used.

My appetizer of smoked meat from the charcuterie was exceptional, with the crisp toast and pickles balancing the meat well.

My travel mate’s platter of blue-veined cheese with assorted toasts and fruits as part of food-pairing. We skipped the wine-pairing as we were driving. Certainly a delightful way to end a perfect lunch.

(#6) Safari Experience @Jamala Wildlife Lodge

From the vineyard, our next destination took us to the famous Jamala Wildlife Lodge, just a 15min drive away. It is an award winning premium safari-themed lodge built within the world-class National Zoo and Aquarium. In the picture above, you can see the resident Cheetah, an adopted wild cheetah since birth, very tame and close to its caretaker.

One of the highlights of our stay at Jamala was the feeding time at the Giraffe Treehouse, right outside our room balcony. It can be quite scary while exciting, when the huge face comes in close. The giraffe named Hummer was friendly and certainly make the stay even more memorable.

Carrots are like chocolates to giraffes, so we were limited to two sticks per person during the feed. The giraffe tongue are dark blue to minimize sunburn and very slimy to prevent stinging bites of ants in the trees which they feed on in their native environment.

Melati- the zoo’s Sumatran Tiger, looking at me intently behind her enclosure which gave me the perfect opportunity to shoot my best tiger portrait so far. The National Zoo and Aquarium is home to six tigers – Ravi, Baru, Ndari, Aceh, Mya and Melati.

We also had the unforgettable experience to come up close and massage the white rhino, Eco. We learnt that a rhino can consume 60-80kg of food daily and up to 80 litres of water.The zoo is home to 2 male Rhinos- Ubuntu and Eco and is part of a regional breeding program.

We also had the chance, among many other animals, to photograph the stunning cotton-headed Tamarin, which is one of South America’s most endangered primates. The zoo is home to 7 Cotton-top Tamarins, which are part of a national breeding program.

The feeding session and commentary by the passionate zoo’s ranger enhanced the overall experience. In the pic above, you can see a Fallow Deer, originally only from Turkey and surrounding regions. They have since made their way around the world and now live in 49 different countries.

Our dinner venue at the lodge comes with assigned sitting. The safari theme continues here with great food and ambience, almost like dining in a cave. I did not shoot the guests as we have to respect their rights to privacy.

At the basic room rate of AUD1500 onwards per night, premium experience and high quality fittings are a given at this lodge. At night, you may hear the roar of the lions occasionally if you are a light sleeper.

The giraffe motif on the lounger pillow subtly reinforce the room’s theme, which is a giraffe treehouse. Other rooms are jungle bungalows with various other animal themes

The skies over Canberra has low light pollution which makes star trails photography easier. The Milky Way, though less obvious during this season, can be seen above our rooms with the Southern Cross just to the right of the picture.

Day #3

We woke up on day 3 morning to a lovely chilly 10°C and spotteda hot-air balloon drifted by our room balcony and mist-fog right at the valley below the resort. What a great start to the day.

(#7) Farm Fresh Apples @Beltana Grange Orchard

After half-day of roaming the zoo, we check out of the resort and proceeded to the Beltana Road to check out their fruits orchard to buy some fruits for our road trip ahead. Certainly an interesting way to buy apples which are newly harvested. It can’t get any fresher than this.

Always nice to see riped apples growing on the trees. This are the Classic Pippens apples – a versatile apple, great for eating fresh, cooking, for juicing and making into hard cider.

The ever popular Granny Smiths apples, which promote the growth of good bacteria in the colon because of their high content of non-digestible compounds like dietary fiber and polyphenols, and a low amount of carbohydrates.

(#8) Delicious Time @The Spit Shack, Beltana Road

After the fruits orchard visit, lunch was a convenient few seconds drive away along the road at this quaint sandwich cafe which serves delicious meals at reasonable price.

About AUD20 for all this lunch with a bottle of lemonade, you will find prices are more wallet-friendly at Canberra compared to other states.

The pulled pork and the BBQ sauce on the french fries were memorable but could not finish the fries as there was too much.

(#9) Cafe with Character @Deadwood Cafe

Enroute to our next destination at the famous Pebbly Beach at Batemans Bay, we stopped for a coffee break at this little joint called The Deadwood Cafe. The proprietor had previously worked at The Albion Cafe, just 1 min walk away, which was our original intended stop. We had arrived at 230pm which the Albion Cafe had closed by 2pm, sparing us a 30min rest as this cafe closes by 3pm.

The cafe is a former art studio, furniture workshop and news print office in the 1860s on Duncan Street. The new owner adapted and transformed the old building into a modern business. One of the most photographed buildings in the location, with the idea of “bringing the outside in”. Blooming with characters but don’t break anything within the cafe as “once broken, considered sold” as stated on the shop signage. The coffee here is really nice, just like all the coffee we had so far on the trip.

(#10) Friendly Kangaroos @Pebbly Beach

We arrived at the Pebbly Beach, which is famous for its friendly kangaroos, after about an easy 1 hour drive from The Deadwood Cafe. The excitement started before we even see the beach, when we were greeted by flocks of Lorikeet Roselles picking up pebbles to aid in their digestion at the carpark.

At the beach, you will find a sizeable resident kangaroo population quite happy to meet and pose for an Instagram-worthy pic. But of course, we did not harass or stalk the kangaroos. Pebbly Beach is located in Murramarang National Park and is a popular camping area with a great surfing beach and bush walks within the park.

A mob of roos here but too bad I couldn’t gather them closer for a group shot. It seems they are pretty active and in larger number at late afternoon compared to the morning, as we will discover when we returned for another photo session the following day.

I was so fortunate that this cute kangaroo stopped and gave me a quick glance, just enough time for one shot.

Time past fast when you are having fun, so we had to return for another photography session as we planned to have a sunrise backdrop for picture.

(#11) Enjoy ‘Pier Pleasure’ @Batemans Bay Jetty

Our last stop for the day was a quick photo shoot at the jetty at Batemans Bay. A nice serene place and just steps away, is our dinner venue at the New Golden Dragon Chinese Restaurant, an authentic Cantonese diner with beautiful views of the river.

Day #4

On day 4 early morning, we woke up early to drive the 30min from our accommodation at Lincoln Down Resort to be in time the 713am sunrise. The mood was lovely at dusk, quiet, fresh and chilly at 12’C while the skies cast a golden glow. That’s why they called it the “Golden Hour”.

Before the resident Kangaroos arrived at the scene, we were treated to fun time with this colony of Australian Wood Ducks.

Moments like this are truly memorable as it’s rare as wildlife are usually cautious and keep a distance from humans.

The 1st two kangaroos to appear at the area as we could not see others elsewhere, down the entire stretch of beach.

Finally, I got the framing that I had in my mind, a sunstar on the back of the kangaroo. A reward for getting out of our warm toasty bed in the early morning.

(#12) Freshest Oysters @The Oyster Shed, Batemans Bay

After the sunrise photo session at Pebbly Beach, we drove 30min to this intimate and cosy Oyster Shed at Batemans Bay, one of the nicest oyster sheds we visited so far.

The al fresco dining area, relaxing vibe with a nice view of the Clyde River. It helped that we were the first to arrive that morning.

Travel mate’s breakfast for the day. She got to enjoy the full dozen for herself as I don’t eat raw seafood or shellfish.

Took the opportunity at the scenic location to shoot a long-exposure with myself standing at the end of the jetty. Scene like this are rare, if any, in our highly urbanised city.

(#13) Aussie breakkie @Mossy Point Cafe

From the Oyster Shed at Batemans Bay, we drove about 30min to the Mossy Point cafe for a proper breakkie as oysters are just a starter for the day. The cafe is pretty awesome with great food and healthy crowd. Housed in an old general store established in 1939, the cafe mixes shabby charm with a modern Australian menu of café offering.

It’s best known for smashed avocado, hummus, cherry tomatoes, red onion, salsa verde, pickled fennel, toasted pepitas, basil and dukkah spice, on toasted sourdough. But our order of bacon and free-range egg with mushroom came out perfect with the barista-grade latte. The cafe menu can be referred here.

The lorikeet rosellas were closed by, waiting to pounce on our food. To most people, these birds can be pesky but what a beautiful pest.

(#14) Panoramic Seascape @Mossy Point Lookout

A short drive from the cafe got us to this lookout at Mossy Point Lookout, peeking out to the stunning Tasman Sea. On a southeasterly direction, if you fly an airplane, it would reach New Zealand in 6 hrs.

(#15) Gorgeous Farm-made Cheeses and Ice Cream @Bodalla Dairy Shed

Just another 30min drive brought us to the Bodalla Dairy Shed (established in 2008)- a micro-dairy in the heart of town, where they bottle milk exactly the way they want – “with locals, by hand, in small batches at very low temperatures to keep the milk alive and brimming with fresh grassy goodness, for families who care about living milk.” as stated by the dairy web page.

Most visitors will succumb to their irresistible ice cream which they make from scratch with just a handful of ingredients. “Nothing is rushed here, they take great care to infuse their milk overnight with each ingredient so the flavours are just what you would expect them to be”. An ice cream made with love indeed.

The dairy also has a very nice caffeine junction, as always. Actually, we have yet to drink any bad coffee in Australia as it’s consistently high quality.

Whale Inn @ Narooma

From the dairy shed, we drove just a quick 20min to the lovely seaside town of Narooma, where we check into the cosy Whale Motor Inn. The 2nd level room overlooks the scenic bay as the inn has a commanding view from its prime elevated location.

The room is cosy and comfortable, although the inn was showing sign of age, being built in 1972. The Whale Motor Inn has seventeen spacious rooms and suites offering comfort, abundant light, fresh air and most have spectacular water and coastal views.

(#16) Go Back in Time @Central Tilba

From the inn, we could explore the heritage town of Tilba, after just a short 20min drive. Central Tilba and Tilba Tilba are two villages near the Princes Highway in Eurobodalla Shire (NSW). At the 2016 census, Central Tilba and surrounding areas had a population of 288 (Tilba Tilba had 95). We were lucky to spot this retro Volkswagen van parked besides an antiquated Caltex petrol kiosk, each complementing one another for a mood picture. The village is relatively quiet on weekdays, ideal for quiet chill outs.

As in all venue, there is usually an anchor food attraction. The picture shows the town famous diner simply called Tilba Bakery. Certainly a delicious introduction of the quaint little village.

Wholesome and delicious beef pie, with the seasoning done just right and meat not gamy, you can also choose chicken or lamb option, washed down with Aussie Bundaberg lemonade.

Central Tilba and Tilba Tilba are two tiny timber towns in the hinterland behind the New South Wales far South Coast. They are located in the shadow of the once-active volcano which the local Yuin people called Gulaga and Captain James Cook named Mount Dromedary.

The entire town, which has been classified by the National Trust, is the key attraction, which is actually a single street. Most of the houses were built in the 1890s when there was a minor gold rush in the area and when the gold fever waned, the town remained stuck in a charming ‘freeze frame’.

For the past thirty years Central Tilba, the larger of the two towns, has slowly evolved from a small dairy town with a cheese factory into a trendy destination with boutique accommodation and a wide variety of gift shops and cafes.

The main street has been well maintained with the timber exteriors being restored and the interiors turned into gift shops, cafes and coffee lounges. This quaint village is definitely worth a couple of hours to enjoy the ambience of a bygone era.

(#17) Get Up Close with Wild Sea lions @Bar Rocks

From the heritage village of Central Tilba, we drove 20min to Bar Rock Lookout for another activity, observing wild Sea Lions which have been using the southern Narooma bar crossing breakwater as a haul-out spot. In fact, the famed Australia Rock also just steps away in the same vicinity and these marine residents are 2 key magnets of the town.

Sea lions do not have a stable social organization during the non-breeding season. Dominance behaviors are most aggressive during the breeding season. Males establish dominance by open-mouth threats and vocalizations, pushing and shoving. Looking at those sharp canines will convince anyone to keep a safe distance.

A sea lion wriggling off seawater from its fur after exiting a swim, just like what a dog does when their fur gets wet.

The seal lions colonies have become a key attraction for tourists. But do not attempt to go near the sea lion as they can get aggressive and cause injury.

Day #5

(#18) Best Instagram Moment @Australia Rock, Bar Rocks

Day 5 morning saw us waking up early again to catch the sunrise as a backdrop for the amazing Australia Rock located at the Bar Rock, located with just a 4 min drive from our accommodation. When viewed at the right angle, the hole in the rock bears an uncanny resemblance to the Australia continent (without Tasmania). There are several explanations for how the hole formed including that it is simply a natural result of thousands of years of erosion of the ancient chert and shale headland.

To give a bird’s eye view of the venue, I did an aerial view with a drone. The Australia Rock is north of the two cars seen in the picture while the sea lions can be spotted on the rock boulders at the stretch east of the cars. Two interesting attraction at just one place.

(#19) Beautiful Rock Beachscape @Mystery Bay

The day was young when we checked out early from the inn to commence on the day activities, by visiting the Mystery Bay, which was just about 20min drive away. One of Mystery Bay features is a camping area in the Eurobodalla National Park but our interest in Mystery Bay was it spectacular beaches that front the Tasman Sea. Some beaches are surfing beaches while others are ideal for swimming and many of these beaches contain impressive large rocks, which become rock pools at low tide.

(#20) Look for Lone Tree along @Princes Highway A1

Along the Prince Highway A1, along our drive, we spotted many lovely scenes with lone tree, which is many photographers’ favourite subject. But the opportunity was limited by the availability of safe parking area as well as lighting condition and background details. Which was why we were doubly delighted when this photogenic tree with sheep grazing below it presented itself.

Tilba Teapot Cafe

As we proceed to our next destination, we made a short detour to Central Tilba for a quick breakkie and coffee break at the Tilba Teapot before proceeding to our next destination at Camel Rock, which is just 15min away. The pie and coffee are just as superb at this cafe too.

(#22) Hunt for the The Camel Rock @Bermagui

This interesting rock formation, which is the among rocks in NSW at about 450 million years old, was identified and named by Bass and Flinders during the first mapping of the coastline of the colony of New South Wales. It is a popular attraction by both locals and visitors alike. Can you also spot the aboriginal woman outline at the left side of the rock formation?

Landscape photographers will certainly love the seascape at this venue but as the golden hour is already over, we made do with we have and what we are given, with some help from neutral density filters to create a more dreamlike mood.

A local angler at the area provided a human relief to the otherwise rocky and harsh seascape. With the strong wind and waves, I wonder what kind of fish he can hope to catch.

A drone aerial view of the rocky outcrop and strong waves, shot at 100m height to better capture the beauty and expense of the bay.

A group of surfers taking a break at the secluded beach. During summer months, the beach is patrolled making it the ideal family day out.

(#22) Enjoy Fish and Chips @Bermagui Fisherman Wharf

From Camel Rock, we drove just 10min to the scenic Bermagui Fisherman’s Wharf which have fabulous dining outlets, art and recreational activities center. It was as opened in 2009 and follows 150 years of shipping that sprang from the pioneering industries – wattle bark (tanning), tallow, timber and dairy farming. The building was designed by international architect Philip Cox who based his creation harking back to those pioneering days.

The venue ground features beautiful spotted gum trees that surround the township while being a hub to modern cuisine, art and retail businesses. This is also the place to see the day’s commercial catch pass on its way to the Bermagui Fishermen’s Cooperative, which was built into the heart of the building. The harbour itself was built in 1959 and is very popular with game fishermen who seek the big fish – the marlin and tuna.

The noon sun was scorching but the low humidity and slightly cool sea breeze makes it comfortable to dine al fresco.

Enjoy the sight of the fishing vessels and their gears while you stroll around the jetty.

At the nearby Bermagui sand bank, you may spot flock of sea birds at the sand bar when driving the along the road which can make for interesting photo angles. There are also locals who may be foraging for cockles at the sand bar during low tide. As you can by now, plenty of nice to do and see are all complimentary.

(#23) Let Your Hair Down @The Blue Pool

From the Fisherman Wharf, it took just a 5 min drive to reach Bermagui’s famous Blue Pool, which is a ‘must see’ Sapphire Coast attraction. It is located off Pacific Drive at the base of a dramatic rocky cliff face. It’s a washed with clean clear ocean water and is a wonderful swimming and snorkeling spot. But we weren’t prepared for swimming. Photographing the place was nice already.

The steps down to the Blue Pool as well as the toilet, shower and change room amenities were reconstructed in 2010. A new viewing platform was also constructed which offers magnificent coastal views and is the ideal spot for shore-based whale watching during the migration season.

The sea just beside the swimming pool, where strong waves constantly pound the rocky edges, renders it not suitable for swimming.

A huge sized pool for all to enjoy, with a small pool beside it for children. Originally called the Blue Hole and only half its present size, locals enlarged and improved it to its present size in the 1940’s, blasting rock and removing it by wheelbarrow to be dumped in the sea.

The Coast Resort Merimbula

From the Blue Pool, we drove about an hour to our accommodation The Coast Resort at Merimbula, for a cosy and comfy stay for the night before we push on nearer to Canberra the next day.

Full amenities for a comfortable stay, it’s like a home away from home.

The cooking amenities, perfect for groceries we bought along the way at Woolsworth for a “home cook food” and early rest.

At the tail end of a week trip, the availability of a washer and dryer were a godsend. This is the time we can minimise laundry chore back home by washing it in the apartment.

Day #6

(#24) Check out Oyster Farms @Boggy Creek Merimbula

We started day 6 early by checking out from the apartment as we have a long drive to towards Cooma for the highlight of the day – Thermal Gliding. But we can’t resist to spend some time admiring the oyster farms at Boggy Creek, which was just a few minutes drive from our apartment.

Merimbula is part of the Australia’s oyster coast trail, which celebrates exceptional oysters produced across eight of the most environmentally aware estuaries in the world. Oyster farmers under this program are committed to best-practice environmental and quality assurance standards. The flavour of Merimbula’s famed Rock Oysters carry the healthy ocean-fronting lake they are grown in. “They tend to have a firm sweet creaminess with a salty quality, reflecting the lake’s flushing tidal flows. There can also be a hint of seaweed in the finish. Rare Angasi oysters are also produced here.”

(#25) Have a Lovely Cuppa @Purple People Feeder Cafe

En route to Canberra Gliding Club, we chanced upon this beautiful quaint little cafe affectionately called Purple People Feeder (PPF) which we reached after a 45min drive from the oyster farm. We only drank their latte which as usual, was exceptional. Given more time, a cosy breakfast here with a scenic view of the mountains of the Wadbilliga National Park will surely charm anyone.

(#26) Go Airborne with Thermal Gliding @Canberra Gliding Club

After about 1 hr drive from the PPF cafe, we finally reached Canberra Gliding Club after a drive along amazingly beautiful Snowy Mountain Highway (B72) route, where we were treated to the surreal beauty of sea mist which we even drove into. This segment of the road trip was the longest but also the most enjoyable part. When we arrived, the members of the club were getting the glider ready for my airborne adventure.

Our tow plane for the glider – The Piper PA-25 Pawnee was one of the first single seat light aircraft to be specifically designed and built for agricultural spraying and dusting. Many Pawnees have nowadays found their way to a glider airfield where they are very popular as glider tugs due to their good power/weight ratio.

Stewart, the glider pilot, giving me a safety briefing, dashboard orientation, do’s and don’ts. Stewart is an experienced glider pilot of 35 years with a great sense of humour. I asked when he started gliding, he answered “about 2 weeks ago”.

Being a moderately-priced, versatile, modern two-seater with good handling qualities on the ground and in the air, the Puchacz (the glider in the picture) has become a very popular two-seater sailplane in many countries both for novice and aerobatic instruction.

Fellow crew lending a steady hand as the glider was towed by the Piper. The ride on the field was slightly bumpy at this moment.

Moment before lift-off. You can see the glider gaining lift as it is balancing only on one wheel.

Into the blue yonder, the start of gliding as we climb to 4000ft before the release, looking for thermals. A thermal column (or thermal) is a column of rising air in the lower altitudes of Earth’s atmosphere, a form of atmospheric updraft.

I was handed the control of the glider for a brief moment with the pilot giving instant feedback, as we catches the thermal to gain altitude awesome feeling. You have to be sensitive to the controls response as this glider can do aerobatics after all. Those with motion-sickness, be warned, a sick-bag is available at the side just in case.

After about 30min flight time, it’s time to return to earth, what a ride indeed.

Just had to do this farewell shot with our rental car before heading to our next destination, you don’t get many chances to do this.

(#27) Spot Koalas and Enjoy Wildlife @Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve

From Canberra Gliding Club, we drove an easy 1.15hrs to the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve.-home to a wide range of Australian animals living in diverse sub-alpine habitats including wetlands, grasslands, wet and dry forests and woodlands. The name Tidbinbilla is derived from the Ngunnawal word ‘Jedbinbilla’ – a place where boys were made men.

A koala snoozing in its arboreal perch, so true with the character of koala as we know. Koalas typically inhabit open eucalyptus woodlands and the leaves of these trees make up most of their diet. Because this eucalypti diet has limited nutritional and caloric content, koalas are largely sedentary and sleep up to 20 hours a day.

One of the tell-tale sign of a koala is up a tree you are looking at, is to spot the defecation at the base of the tree. Looks like a coffee bean doesn’t it ?

Koalas are asocial animals and spend just 15 minutes a day on social behaviours. This guy was forcing another koala off a spot he wants, rather anti-social behaviour indeed.

A wallaby in its natural environment, perfect opportunity for a natural unstaged picture.

A Skink Lizard among the vegetation. Small and well camouflaged, you might missed seeing them unless they moved about.

A red-bellied Black Snake swimming in the pond. A venomous snake but it’s more afraid of human being than we are of them.

An Australian water dragon, it is extremely shy in the wild but readily adapt to continual human presence in suburban parks and gardens. They are fast runners and strong climbers. When faced with a potential predator, they seek harbourage in thick vegetation or will eject from an overhanging branch into water.

Burbury Apartment

A fabulous apartment to end the week long exploration trip. The Burbury Hotel is part of the Doma chain of hotels. The officially rated 4.5 star property offers contemporary guest rooms, suites and apartments, along with a variety precinct amenities including fine or casual dining, wholefood café, lounge bar, hair salon, health club, day spa, lap pool and hydrotherapy spa.

Probably the best sleep quality among all the accommodation on this trip. The Jamala Wildlife Lodge was exceptional too but this is up there with the best.

Having such well-thought out amenities and high-end furnishings make the trip memories just that much more satisfying.

Day #7

(#28) Get Hot and High @Canberra Balloon Spectacular

This another exciting highlight of the trip that requires us to get out of bed early. As we have not attended a hot air balloon festival before, we had to reach the launch site early to check out the area for the ideal spot to shoot the action. The lift-off time was scheduled at 615am with the event wrapping up by 10am. This is be one event that will linger on in our mind for some time to come.

This Canberra Balloon Spectacular is part of the Enlighten festival. The best view can be appreciated on the lawns of the Old Parliament House. Held over nine days in March, we got to see more than 30 hot air balloons from across the world take to the skies.

The Canberra skies getting more congested as the hot air balloons takes turns to fill up with hot air.

You can’t miss this Beagle Maximus or Max as he is known to his friends, as he’s the largest Beagle hot air balloon in the world.

You can either experience the thrill of the hot air ballooning by booking a flight with assigned vendors or enjoy the sight from the ground with compliments. Colour, sound and movement complemented by live music livened the occasion making it one big party.

(#29) Go on a Flavour Journey @The Cupping Room

Shortly after leaving the hot air balloon event, our growling stomach naturally led us to the one of the most popular cafe in the city, The Cupping Room, which mission is to take diners on “flavour journey”. Judging by the long queue that forms up before it open, you can be assured it’s a journey well-worth.

The team at The Cupping Room – including world champion barista Sasa Sestic, definitely knows a thing or two about creating that addictive brew. It’s even called “Canberra’s very own place of coffee worship”. With accolades like that, you can’t leave Canberra without at least a cuppa.

I would go so much to say this cafe is firmly part of the foodie paradise trail that Canberra is famous for and worth a detour also for it’s superb food.

Our latte and Fritters came wonderfully prepared and kept the cafe reputation intact. Their menu changes with the seasons and which I believe will ensure those perpetual healthy queues.

(#30) Get Techie and Curious @Questacon

The Questacon – the National Science and Technology Centre, is like the equivalent of Singapore Science Center. It is a large centre with more than 200 interactive exhibits relating to science and technology. It has many science programs that are devoted to inspiring the children to love science. This is place is great if you have kids on the trip.

Questacon is an interactive science centre that opened in September 1988. It was developed by Professor Mike Gore, a physics lecturer from the Australian National University. Professor Gore went on to become the founding Director of Questacon.

This my favourite part of the exhibits, a huge high-definition moon with details provided by NASA imagery of the lunar surface, hangs in the central part of the building. You can lie down on the bean bags on the floor and enjoy the soothing space like ambience.

An artistic sculpture by Tim Wetherell, at the lawn of Questacon, representing parallax to measure astronomical bodies and recovery from the 2003 Canberra Bushfires.

(#31) Enjoy the Lake @Kingston Foreshore

The Kingston Foreshore Redevelopment is a major urban renewal program in the suburb of Kingston on the southern shore of Lake Burley Griffin. This fairly recent development brings the “city to the lake”, by creating a waterfront location and a vibrant environment where residents can live, work and play. This venue is hub of fine-dining establishment and lifestyle amenities.

Have a freshly baked apple pie, croissant or avocado smoothie at one of the cafes like Bean and Table and perhaps do a spot of people -watching. Either way, you will like the vibe and vibrancy of the place, especially after sun down.

“The Foreshore’’ as locals call it, is a increasingly hip and vibrant destination. With convenient foot paths for lakeside walks and a boardwalk lined with a hub of eating and drinking options, it is the in-place enjoy the afternoon and watch day turn into night.

(#32) Go Carbon-Friendly with GoBoat @Lake Burley Griffin

For a unique adventure on Lake Burley Griffin, the electric GoBoat is the activity to go for. There is no need for experience or license to hire the boat which can carry up to eight people. Safety vests are provided and the silent electric is hardly audible so that riders can better enjoy the serene lake.

The GoBoat concept of boating began in Copenhagen in 2014 and was created to provide a premium, environmentally friendly social experience out on the water.

(#33) Get Artsy @National Gallery of Australia (NGA)

For the arts aficionados, the NGA is the ground zero of creativity. It is the Commonwealth of Australia’s national cultural institution for the visual arts and is a portfolio agency within the Department of Communications and the Arts. It is also one of the largest art museums in Australia, holding more than 166,000 works of art.

The gallery also has a well-stocked retail shop selling arts publication and artist materials. Certainly a treasure trove for the art lovers.

The gallery have a packed calendar of events and exhibition that ensure visual arts lovers from all the world make repeat visits.

Enjoy the inner journey when you visit the NGA as the beauty of visual arts engage and tug on individuals in different ways.

The NGA building is designed in the late 20th-century Brutalist style. It is characterised by angular masses and raw concrete surfaces and is surrounded by a series of sculpture gardens planted with Australian native plants and trees. The geometry of the building is based on a triangle, most obviously manifested for visitors in the coffered ceiling grids and tiles of the principal floor.

This collection is dominated by the Aboriginal Memorial of 200 painted tree trunks commemorating all the indigenous people who had died between 1788 and 1988 defending their land against invaders. Each tree trunk is a dupun or log coffin, which is used to mark the safe transition of the soul of the deceased from this world to the next. (Wikipedia).

Conclusion

This visit to Canberra and the surrounding regions marked yet another milestone in all my trips Down Under to key regions including Western Australia, New South Wales, South Australia, the Northern Territory and Tasmania. I can finally lay claim to visiting the seat of Australia legislative power and to correct my friends that neither Sydney or Melbourne is the capital of Australia. Most people tend to overlook the gem that is Canberra, preferring the well beaten tracks to the main cities. I hope this article will open their eyes to the beauty that the ACT has to offer, as the strange thing about Australia is the more you uncovered her, she still remains fresh, with yet more places to rediscover. Such is the charm of Australia.

I like to end this article with a quote by Lovelle Drachman – “Blessed are the curious for they shall have adventures.” Yes, indeed, for our life adventures begin in our mind.

Sincere appreciation for coming along my pixels journey. Should any readers be keen to go on a similar self-drive trip, please drop me a message. For my other Australian adventures, do check it out here.

The post 33 Things to Do, See, Eat on a Road Trip to Canberra and Regions appeared first on Jensen Chua Photography.

First Timer Road Trip to Coral Coast – Western Australia

Jensen — Wed, 21 Nov 2018 04:57:41 +0000

Western Australia has always been many Asians’ (especially Singaporeans) fave destination in Down Under. It’s in the same time zone and we are primed for a fabulous vacation after a quick 4.5-hours flight. Perth is the gateway to the Coral Coast, which is ideal for travelers who enjoy road trips, beautiful scenery, wildlife, and adventures away from touristy locations. You can observe wild dolphins up-close at Monkey Mia, feast on some of the freshest lobsters at Cervantes, wildflowers trails along the routes, or experience local Aboriginal culture, just to name a few.

This self-drive exploratory trip was a Jetabout Holidays project in collaboration with Tourism Australia as part of “UnDiscover Australia” – time to ‘undiscover” places you thought you knew and rediscover a new adventure Down Under. Over a 1-week period in November 2018, we traversed the northern region of Western Australia which included Cervantes, Geraldton, Kalbarri, and Monkey Mia.

Brief Insights on Western Australia

Western Australia (WA, abbr) occupies the entire western third of Australia. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west and the Southern Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east, and South Australia to the southeast. WA is Australia’s largest state, with a total land area of 2,529,875 km². The state has about 2.6 million inhabitants, or about 11% of the national total, with the vast majority (92%) residing in the Perth area, leaving the rest of the state sparsely populated. Currently, its economy relies mainly on mining, agriculture, and tourism. The state produces 46% of Australia’s exports and is the world’s 2nd largest iron ore producer.

Road Trip Routes in Coral Coast, Western Australia

Our 7D6N road trip totalled about 2400km, with Perth as the start point, was meticulously planned by Jetabout Holidays. We leapfrogged along the towns of Cervantes, Geraldton, Kalbarri ending at Monkey Mia before backtracking. The following are some driving insights from the road trip :

Tip #01 – Do rent a bigger capacity vehicle to better handle the long drive and for greater comfort and safety.
Tip #02 – The roads are generally safe as it’s paved, mostly straight and well-maintained. Australia drives on the left side of the road and take note that different state has different practices, for e.g – the speed cameras location in WA may not be prominently marked like in Sydney. Observe the speed limits especially around residential and school zones.
Tip #03 – You will need an international driving license, if your driving license is not in English. But you must also bring your local driving license as it will be required for verification by the rental car company.

Lancelin Sand Dunes (Day #1)

We stayed a night in Perth city as we arrived around midnight from Singapore via Singapore Airlines. After a good night’s rest, we commenced day one early with a groceries shopping jaunt to Woolworths, stocking up on drinking water, and snacks, and activating our Telstra SIM card.

After a smooth 1.5 hour’s drive from Perth, we reached the Lancelin Sand Dunes, a vast sand dune system that is some two kilometers long. You will quickly realise that the Sahara Desert is not the only place to enjoy desert adventures.

You can book 4WD trips on the sand dunes as it’s great fun with a huge area to explore. The dunes change every day due to the strong shifting winds.

There aren’t that many places in the world where you can enjoy 4×4, All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) drive or sand boarding on sand dunes with a cooling balmy sea breeze from the Indian Ocean.

We were taken on an exciting adrenaline-inducing rumble around the sand dunes by Tim, the owner of the Mr. Xtreme Thrill Rides, where you can rent sandboards, quad bikes, and off-road RZR rides.

Lobster Shack

From Lancelin Sand Dunes, we proceeded to have a quick lunch and toilet break at the Dunes Restaurant which is just a 2-3 minute drive away. The next destination, the Lobster Shack took about 1 hour of easy drive. Visitors, be they seafood lovers or not, will surely adore this lovely eatery by the Indian Ocean.

Travel mate Cindy from Jetabout Holidays and Lobster Shack Restaurant Manager Poliana, showing off a 2kg lobster. The Lobster Shack provides a close-up encounter with the most valued single-species fishery in Australia – the Western Rock Lobster.

Poliana explaining the size sorting and quality control process. Lobsters that lost 1 leg or are less than “complete” are used for their in-house restaurant. Export lobsters must be 100% perfect. On the paid tour, visitors also get to see how the lobsters are processed in the factory and packaged up to be sent live to destinations all over the world.

This is my preferred dining area at the eatery patio – closer to the sea and breezy but not hot from the summer heat.

The mid-sized lobster on promotion was AUD55 (S$57) while there’s a bigger sized portion at AUD90. Our order came perfectly cooked and was delicious. Prices stated are seasonal and subject to change.

The Pinnacles Rocks @ Nambung National Park (Day #2)

From the Lobster Shack, we next arrived at our accommodation for the night after a 2-min drive at The Pinnacles Edge Resort before proceeding to have a quick checkout at the Pinnacles of Nambung National Park, which is just a 20min drive away. This national park is a major natural attraction in the Coral Coast region of Cervantes and Jurien Bay. It covers an area of 17,487 hectares, providing a natural sanctuary for a wide array of native animals and bird life.

Day 2 morning saw us doing a sunrise shoot as the previous day’s lighting was not ideal. We woke up early for the unscheduled morning shoot on a windy, drizzling, and cloudy morning. But we persisted and were rewarded with beautiful sunrise when the rain stopped.

The scenic walk and drive trail wind past the ancient limestone pillars of the Pinnacles, some several meters tall. They’re scattered across the park in their thousands, creating an alien-like landscape.

This place will enthrall visitors with its amazing natural limestone structures, which were formed approximately 25,000 to 30,000 years ago after the sea receded. Over time, coastal winds removed the surrounding sand, leaving the pillars exposed to the elements.

We were blessed to have a rainbow that morning too. The park was peaceful at that moment and only have about 5-6 persons before the main tourist crowd arrive from Perth.

On the walk back to the car the previous day, we were captivated by the gorgeous sun rays peeping through the dark clouds, which was a consolation as the lighting was not ideal at the Pinnacle Rocks. When we visit natural attractions, be prepared for amazing moments as well as mundane ones.

Pink Lake @ Hutt Lagoon

From The Pinnacles Rocks, our next destination to the photogenic Pink Lake at Hutt Lagoon took about 4-hours with a couple of rest stops. This spectacular lake, which is sometimes bright pink, sometimes lilac, and occasionally even red, promises to be one of the highlights of the trip. Locals would have known of Hutt Lagoon from various fashion shoots including Lancôme’s Life is Beautiful campaign and Myer’s Jennifer Hawkins Summer 2016 collection.

It’s the extremely high level of salinity that gives the lagoon its unusual hue and its vibrancy changes with the seasons and time of day. The ideal time to reach here for the optimal colour is between 11am to 3pm, when the sunlight makes it even more vibrant.

A spectacular backdrop for these black-winged stilt birds at the lagoon, making common birds looks even more appealing.

The pink colour makes it an ideal background for an intriguing and unique picture. The lagoon, is an elongated depression about 70 square kilometres in area, with most of it lying a few metres below sea level. The lake colour is due to the presence of the carotenoid-producing algae Dunaliella salina, a source of ß-carotene, a food-colouring agent and source of vitamin A. The lagoon contains the world’s largest micro-algae production plant, a 250-hectare series of artificial ponds used to farm Dunaliella salina.

If you are here, while looking for the salt-crystal encrusted stones under the water, do tread slowly and carefully, as the edges of the salt crystals edge are sharp as it’s all square and pointy.

Do have a picture at this signboard of the famed venue as not many places around the world offer such a beautiful and unique ambience.

Coffee pit-stop – Green Beanie @ Port Denison

En route to the Pink Lagoon, we stopped at the Green Beanie Coffee Caravan at Port Denison, just by the Grannies Sea.

The freshly-made turmeric latte and the cappuccino were supreme. Do order a chocolate scone if you are feeling peckish.

Beautiful sea view right by the beach with the gentle cooling sea breeze. Coffee pit-stops are one of my fave activities during a road trip.

Nature’s Window @ Kalbarri National Park (Day #3)

From Hutt Lagoon, our next and final destination for the day was the Kalbarri National Park, which took about a 50min drive. This one of Western Australia’s most popular places for colourful wildflowers and it will also appeal to the adventurous with activities like bushwalking, gorge hiking, and canoeing. But the wildflowers season last from July to October leaving us to focus on the famous landmark at the park.

We took an unscheduled checkout drive to the park’s key landmark –Nature’s Window during day 2 evening for familiarization and decided that this spot is definitely a sunrise spot, as the gap in the rock formation is east-facing. Located just 500 metres from The Loop carpark, this spot is one of WA’s most iconic natural attractions, formed from layers of Tumblagooda Sandstone, which was formed 400-500 million years ago.

For this picture, I waited till the sun gets reflected in the river surface for a double sunstars shot. The Nature’s Window marks the beginning and end of The Loop (Class 4 trail), an 8km walking trail that concludes at the Loop lookout providing views of the winding gorge below. Class 4 Trails are paths that are often rough with few if any, modifications. A moderate to high level of fitness and experience are required to attempt such trails. We skipped another landmark at the park, the Z-Bend due to the trekking distance and time constraints.

During day two evening, on the drive out of the park, we were so mesmerised by the dusk colours that we had to stop to record the moment. It’s time like this you begin to appreciate the beauty of nature even more.

The Blue Holes

After a hearty breakfast at Gorges’s Cafe after the Nature’s Window morning shoot, we took a 6 min drive to check out the Blue Holes. A perfect place for great snorkeling, Blue Holes are located along Red Bluff Road/George Grey Drive (southern entrance/exit road to Kalbarri). The protected waters and rock pools make the Kalbarri Blue Holes a natural aquarium for marine life.

Blue Holes is a fish habitat protection area and forms part of an inshore coastal limestone reef system. The reef features sections that are permanently submerged by the ocean and areas that are exposed at low tide. The Blue Holes’s name came from the reef, which has irregular depressions or ‘holes’. This place is safe for children too and snorkeling gears are available for purchase in the town supermarkets.

Along the Blue Holes carpark, we spotted a bunch of beautiful seaside shrubs called the Common Iceplant. This coastal plant naturally grows in sand dunes and seaweed deposits. This green annual ground cover has huge succulent leaves in Spring, with glistening bubbles of salt on the underside of leaves and stems.

The Red Cafe @ Billabong Shellhouse

From the Blue Holes, we set out on a 4.15hrs drive for our next destination at Monkey Mia, the furthest stop on our road trip. But I have to emphasize this interesting pit-stop at the quaint Billabong Shellhouse which we reached after a 2.5hrs drive from Kalbarri as this is the only rest-stop with facilities between Kalbarri and Monkey Mia.

This highway roadhouse is certainly characterful considering its history. Constructed in 1962, it was flattened by a storm in 1980, restored and yet again destroyed by a willy-willy (Australian slang for a dust storm or whirlwind) in 1984. Disaster struck again in 1991 when a fire gutted the entire building in 30 min. Thankfully, it’s been peaceful since 1993 after restoration.

Although being the only rest stop with a Shell petrol station, caravan park, and motel, the cafe still serves reasonably-priced meals and beverages.

The cosy and inviting pub-style cafe will definitely set visitors at ease. It opens daily, 365 days from 6am -9pm.

Can you spot your country’s currency on the wall? Why not be the first when you are here to paste the notes and coins on the wall.

Monkey Mia (Day #4)

After another 2-hr drive from the Billabong Shellhouse, we finally reached Monkey Mia, home of the renowned Monkey Mia Dolphins. This reserve is a must-visit for families and nature lovers alike. It’s located on the eastern shore of Peron Peninsula, about 23 kilometres from the town of Denham in the Shark Bay World Heritage Area. Most would have heard of the daily ritual of wild dolphins swimming to shore to interact with humans, the dolphins of Monkey Mia attract thousands of visitors to the Shark Bay region yearly and is certainly worth the long drive.

Our natural choice of accommodation at Monkey Mia is the RAC Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort, which is renowned for its daily wild dolphin feeding right at the resort beach. This is the sole accommodation available at the reserve.

The resort has a laid-back vibe that even the birds like this flock of Australian Welcome Swallows, which seemed to enjoy my presence on the beach.

The residential pod of wild dolphins cruising slowly and right at the beach edge waiting patiently for the feeding session to commence.

Many visitors congregate at the feeding spot just by the resort jetty. The feeding starts daily at 7.40am and last about 30min each time. With two more feedings thereafter till 12.30pm. The dolphins are not fed full, so as encourage them to hunt for themselves.

The Monkey Mia Dolphin Experience is managed by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions, along with a team of researchers who monitor the experience and provide guidance to the team of friendly rangers.

The dolphins are really intelligent marine mammals, as they swim right up to the shore and “check out” human beings on the beach.

The dolphin pod size varies and along the way, also introduces their babies. It’s really a beautiful example of wildlife and human beings in peaceful co-existence. There is nowhere else in the world where such interaction with wild dolphins occurs on an almost daily basis. In the last five years, the dolphins of Monkey Mia have only missed four days.

The story of Monkey Mia and world-famous dolphins goes back many years. In 1982 American researchers, Richard Connor and Rachel Smolker visited Monkey Mia and discovered a small pod of wild bottlenose dolphins that would swim to the shoreline to be fed by humans almost daily. Since then, visitors from all over the world have been flocking to Monkey Mia to experience these beautiful creatures for themselves.

You can also spot the Golden Ghost Crab, which is endemic to the coast of Western Australia, from Broome to Perth. They are relatively large ghost crabs, with a carapace growing up to 45 mm long and 52 mm wide. They are easily recognisable by their golden yellow colouration.

4WD Adventure @Francois Peron National Park (Day #5)

The Francois Peron National Park is a must-visit when in Monkey Mia. This is where you can experience the raw beauty of Australia’s wilderness and see the striking red cliffs contrasted with blue water and white sand often depicted by many artists and photographers. The 52,500-hectare park is named after the French zoologist, who accompanied an expedition there in 1801. Now under the protection of the Department of Parks and Wildlife, it is considered a treasure of Australia, home to many rare and endangered species. This is part of the trip where we have to leave our normal car behind and embark on a whole-day 4WD adventure, as it’s the only possible way.

We were off to a great start, spotting this Emu and his chicks on the road before entering the park. The male Emu assumes the caretaker role while the female Emu leaves after laying her eggs and having offsprings with other males.

Definitely love the blue skies and emerald lake but this is where sunglasses and sunblock are essential travel kits. Only 4WD vehicles are permitted in the park as the sandy paths are not suitable for normal road cars.

The vehicle tires pressure have to be reduced before entering the park. Lowering the pressure allows the tires to flex more easily so they can conform to the terrain, which improves traction and minimises the chance of damage from impacts while giving the tires a longer footprint.

Our eagle-eyed Aboriginal guide spotted this Tawny Frogmouth, perfectly camouflaged on the tree branches. It stayed totally still to avoid detection.

Capes, our Aboriginal guide, explaining some “ground rules” before we proceed to commence the Bush Tucker session – “Anything I don’t put in my mouth, neither should you”. The vegetation in the arid landscape has plenty of food but some can be poisonous.

The bush long bean, should taste like edamame beans when it’s steamed. We tried it raw, straight off the plant.

The Bush Tomatoes look edible but are poisonous. The plant is native to the more arid parts of Australia. While they are quite closely related to tomatoes, they might be even closer relatives of the eggplant, which they resemble in many details. A number of species contain significant levels of solanine which is highly poisonous.

Capes chewing on some Tree Grass, not much of a taste but good for hydration in the arid vegetation.

Capes preparing pan-fried mullets with olive oil for our lunch. I have a feeling the wildlife at the park is watching and itching to join us for lunch.

The sandy pathways can and do occasionally ensnare the 4WD vehicles. You just need one trapped and we have a “bad traffic” day.

Help is always at hand from fellow park visitors. Our guide duly assisted in the recovery effort.

Yours truly inching close on the thorny devil. The red sand was pretty hot as it retains the sun’s heat. I believe eggs buried in the sand will cook it.

The Thorny Devil is also known as the thorny dragon or the mountain devil. It’s a small (up to 8 inches in length), spiky lizard native to Australia. They eat only ants and can consume thousands a day. Their body also functions like a water harvesting mechanism, as any water that gets into the grooves between its thorns is drawn by capillary action to its mouth, allowing the thorny dragon to suck water from all parts of its body.

Beautiful scene on the park Big Lagoon with resident colony of pelicans and cormorants. The secluded location of the lake ensures that the lake remains in pristine condition.

An Australian Pied Cormorant (sometimes called a yellow-faced cormorant) zipping by above the lake. The Noongar Aboriginal people who live in the southwest corner of Western Australia believe that the pied cormorant (medi) is responsible for the transport of souls of the deceased across and beneath the Western sea to their final resting place. Medi can be translated as ‘agent’, or ‘medium’, possibly referring to the bird’s role as an intermediary between the living world and the afterlife.

The huge colony of cormorants at the park Skipjack Point. Visitors will remember this venue for the spectacular wildlife on full display both on land and in the water.

A parting shot with our affable and jovial aboriginal guide, Capes. A true man of the Earth, who encourages all his clients to feel nature and not just see them. As he puts it nicely – “Ngurrah Wangga” – Nature Talks (in Aboriginal language).

Wildflowers trails (June to November)

WA is renowned for having the widest range of wildflowers on Earth. With more than 12,000 species, over 60% of which are found nowhere else except in WA, they will fascinate any visitors as they blanket the landscapes from coast to forest and city to outback. Although the wildflowers season was almost over when we were there, we managed to see the remnants of the beautiful season.

The six-month flowering season begins in the north in June and July on the vast outback plains of the Pilbara, Goldfields, and Coral Coast where vibrant blooms contrast with pindan earth (red soil), rugged canyons, and turquoise sea.

By September, it will move south and reach Perth’s botanical gardens, nature reserves, and national parks, culminating in October and November throughout the forests and coastal heaths of the South West. As you drive along the wildflower scenic routes, do factor in some rest stops among the gorgeous blooms to alleviate the fatigue.

Here are some important minders for wildflower enthusiasts – (a) Picking wildflowers is illegal and can attract an AUD$2000 fine. (b) Respect private property and do not trespass. (c) Protect canola crops and prevent the spread of disease by staying out of canola fields.

Geraldton (Day #5)

After we departed Monkey Mia in the late morning, as we head back in the direction of Perth, we spent the night at the town of Geraldton after an almost 5hrs drive. But of course, along the way, we enjoyed the scenic drive, making brief stops to photograph places that captured our attention.

Merino Sheep Farms @ Northampton

Along the way to Gabbadah where we were staying for the last night at an Australian homestay, we spotted these beautiful Merino Sheep on fields of “gold” in Northampton. Throughout most of Australia. we have seen white sheep on green pastures but brown sheep on golden pastures, which definitely warrants a photo pit stop.

Leaning Tree @ Greenough

Pushed repeatedly by strong prevailing southerly winds, the trees of Greenough leaned with the force. The horizontal trunks of the Red River Gum trees are scattered throughout the Shire of Greenough. This natural phenomenon is the result of airborne salt content being blown in with the winds of the Indian Ocean. This iconic tree can be viewed and photographed from the Brand Highway on the Greenough Flats, via a purpose-built parking area provided for travellers.

The Star Fish Cafe @ Port Denison

On the way to Gabbadah, we chanced upon this cosy little cafe named Star Fish Cafe, just beside the Indian Ocean. It is listed on Google location search but it takes an actual visit, sip on a latte, munch on a muffin and savour the ambience to make the place comes alive.

This cafe serves the best muffin and lattes on the trip. Perhaps the presentation or the cosy ambience affected our taste buds? Either way, you will love this little joint.

HMAS Sydney II Memorial

Day #6 morning saw us checking out early from the Mantra Geraldton Serviced Apartment where we spent the night, to visit the HMAS Sydney II Memorial. A quiet moment to pay respect to those who perished in World War II.

The memorial precinct is located at Mount Scott in Geraldton. You can learn more about this important chapter in Australia’s history at the Wall of Remembrance which bears the names of the 645 men who lost their lives. Each of the seagull in the dome represents one sailor who perished on the HMAS Sydney. The seven pillars supporting the dome represent the seven states and territories of Australia.

A section of the perished sailors whose name, rank, and home base are engraved on the Wall of Remembrance.

Homestay with locals (Day #6)

We arrived at our final accommodation of the trip, a homestay with friendly locals in a lovely coastal town.

We arrived shortly after 1-pm and the delicious lunch was ready and waiting for us. And with the hosts’ warmth and friendliness, it certainly feels like home indeed.

The dinner entree, the cheese platter with pumpkin spread, and salami. This almost looks like the main course already.

Our dinner main courses sizzling in the oven and we were already burping from the dinner entrees. The host is such an excellent cook that I would believe he’s a chef in a 5-stars restaurant.

The dessert was supreme – the chocolate mousse is actually avocado blended with cacao powder. I would not know if I did not ask about the ingredients.

Earlier in the day, Cindy had a great time feeding the owner’s sheep at the property’s little farm. This is perfect for city folks with children to experience a taste of what a farm stay might be and reconnect with nature.

Host Anne getting ready to feed her pets dinner. The animal population is kept to a manageable size to keep the place neat and avoid them from overrunning the property.

Tea time with Brad is a charming session on the sheltered patio. Totally engaging and friendly, if you remember this homestay, the 1st thing you recall, is his friendliness.

The rooms in the homestay have three themes, this one is Bohemian Room – Original hand-painted artworks capture the dramatic Gothic style architecture of medieval Prague. The backdrop has long provided inspiration for many a wandering traveler & free-spirited artisan, allured by the romantic ideals & culture of the Bohemian lifestyle.

The Kosciuszko Room – This room features large original photographic images of some breathtaking scenic winter landscapes captured from Australia’s highest mountain peak. The room boasts all the creature comforts, high-quality furnishings & features of the Alpine Resort after which it was named.

The Rockabilly Room – This room features original “Pin-up” styled photography (shot by Brad) & is decorated with time period fixtures as cool as “The Fonz”. With a checkered durable “hard floor”. Step back in time to a “Rockin good era”.

The Flotation Therapy facility at the homestay – These are just a few of the conditions known to be improved by floating- stress relief, muscular pain, rheumatism, chronic pain, fatigue, high blood pressure, migraine headache, jet lag, etc. Certainly ideal for guests arriving after a long road trip. This flotation therapy session is available at a special rate for guests.

The homestay also has a heated jacuzzi with variable coloured lighting, perfect for a pre-bedtime soak under the starry night.

The Moore Estuary Lookout Point

Just a 20min quick drive from the homestay brought us to the scenic lookout point at Guilderton. The inlet lagoon is beautiful and there is also pelicans swimming about on the bay.

Enjoy the sunset view from the boardwalk or go down the stairs to the beach for an exhilarating walk along the Indian Ocean.

Yanchep National Park (Day #7)

En route to Perth on day 7, we drove 30min from the homestay along Indian Ocean Drive to visit the Yanchep National Park, our final activity for the trip. The beautiful tranquil park certainly didn’t disappoint. The entrance fee is AUD13 based on 1 car.

There are nine walking trails to suit all ages and fitness levels in this park. Each trail showcases the unique biodiversity of the region.

A flock of Black-Winged Stilt Birds at the marshland. They grouped together for security and to brave the chilly winds.

A heron flew in on the scene. Avid nature photographers will love the vibrant wildlife here.

A personal highlight of the visit, I spotted a Wood Duck and her chicks moving across the park field. A delightful photographic finale to the road trip as we depart for Perth Airport, just 50min drive away.

Conclusion

This visit to the Coral Coast in Western Australia marked my “completion” of visiting key regions Down Under including New South Wales, South Australia, the Northern Territory, and Tasmania. I hesitate to claim “completion” as Australia is such a vast country that I feel I am only just “UnDiscovering” and rediscovering her immense beauty. What I have seen and experienced only made me to yearn for more.

I like to end this article with a famous quote by Henry Miller – “One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” Yes, indeed – Australia is one destination you can always see new things. And do things in new ways.

Many sincere thanks for coming along on my pixels journey. Should any readers be keen to go on a similar self-drive trip in the future, please feel free to drop me a message. For my other Australian adventures, you can check them out here.

The post First Timer Road Trip to Coral Coast – Western Australia appeared first on Jensen Chua Photography.

6 Days Road Trip to Darwin, Australia Northern Territory

Jensen — Sat, 28 Apr 2018 16:13:48 +0000

Whenever Australia is mentioned, images of wildlife, delicious big portioned meals made with fresh local produces, hopping kangaroos, and friendly laid-back Aussies always come to my mind. Indeed, Australia is a popular destination with Sydney and Melbourne taking the top two ranking as the country’s most visited cities but the immensely picturesque Northern Territory is only in the 10th position. I hope this 6 Days Road Trip to Darwin travelogue will convince readers why they should plan a visit here on their next adventure. The Northern Territory is truly spectacular and should be on everyone’s bucket list, especially nature lovers or those who don’t like mass tourism.

A Brief Insight into the Northern Territory

The Northern Territory (abbr- NT) is a federal territory in the central and central northern regions of Australia. Despite its huge area of over 1,349,129 sg.km, making it the third-largest Australian federal division—it is sparsely populated with a headcount of 244,000 (2016 census) rendering it the least populous of Australia’s eight major states and territories. The capital and largest city are Darwin. Today the economy is largely tourism-based, especially Kakadu National Park and the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park (Ayers Rock) in central Australia and mining. Residents of the NT are often known simply as “Territorians”, “Northern Territorians” or informally as “Top Enders” and “Centralians”. (Excerpts, Wikipedia)

Road Trip Routes

This 6 days road trip in mid-April to Darwin and the surrounding region was organised by Jetabout Holidays in collaboration with Tourism NT. We landed at 0510hrs in Darwin after a red-eyed 4.5 hours direct flight from Singapore. After a short rest at the Vibe Hotel Darwin Waterfront, we check out at early noon and proceeded to obtain the latest information, national park updates and maps from the Tourism Top End Visitor Information. Our 6D5N road trip saw us clocking about 1200km.

Tip #1 – Driving distance can take 2-3 hours between destinations. Break up the journey with rest stops after a 1-1.5 hours drive and observe the speed limit. Cars with 2L or larger capacity are recommended. During the wet season, a 4×4 car is highly advisable to handle areas that may have water ponding. Do rent a car with in-car GPS as network connectivity can be erratic in the vast outback.

Tip #2 – Be prepared for the environment – sunblock, sunglass, sun hat, and insect repellent are basic necessities. Arm-socks are great to have for minimising sunburn, especially during long drives.

Tip #3 – Bring along plenty of snacks and loads of humour for a more enjoyable drive. Locals drive fast on the road but are generally law-abiding. Some may even wave at you as you pass each other as a matter of road etiquette.

Day #1 – Jumping Crocodile Cruise

Our 1st activity to “jumpstart” the trip was the jumping crocodile cruise located at Adelaide River, an easy 55 mins drive from our hotel in Darwin.

A “must-do” to have a picture taken at this renowned venue signboard. Crocodile hunting has been banned since the ’70s and the population has recovered to sustainable levels. To earn a living, a crocodile hunter named Stephan started the Original Jumping Crocodile Cruise, pioneering an attraction to the area.

Baiting the croc with buffalo meat. The activity is conducted in a safe manner to ensure a great outing. Guests are informed on the reptilian biology, territorial habits and their importance to the ecosystem. Most of the crocodiles that come to the baiting sessions are so regular that the crew knew every single one of them and called each one by name.

An amazing experience to observe the crocodile at a close yet safe distance. Hearing the loud thumping sound that echoed in the air as the croc jaws slam-locked when seizing the bait, is enough to remind you why they are so feared.

There are also resident colonies of predatorial birds along the river. This flock of kites provided added excitement as the 1.5-hour cruise wrapped up. There must have been at least 2 dozen of them swopping in and out to grab food tossed by the boat captain.

Certainly, a great way to start any NT trips, which many identifies as a “croc region”. As with any tour in Australia, guests can be looked forward to an informative and quality outing. More information on these crocs tours can be referred here.

Wildman Wilderness Lodge*

I don’t usually feature resorts or lodges as part of my travelogue but Wildman Wilderness Lodge is an exceptional end-destination by itself and warrants a special shout-out. After the jumping crocodile activity ended at 4 pm, the drive to this gorgeous lodge took almost two hours. We were just in time to experience the sunset around 630pm. The receding sun bathed the area in a warmish glow and makes for a spectacular ambience, especially when you observe the big colonies of wallabies grazing on the grassland dotted with termites mounds just meters across the lodge. (*This resort is closed for business pending future update as of April 2022)

Our accommodation called “Habitats” are described on the resort webpage as “well-appointed, beautifully designed free-standing cabins” which “offer a soothing luxury in air-conditioned comfort, with luxury bedding, premium furnishings and en-suite bathrooms”. I certainly agreed, word for word. There are only ten of these cabins so you will be disappointed if you don’t book well in advance. This room type is limited to twin-sharing.

The lodge swimming pool area. While the sun deck loungers were very inviting, I could not resist going around the shooting pictures as we are only staying here for 1 night.

It was just at the tail end of the wet season, during which the lodge is closed for business. As the lodge re-opened only recently, the lower occupancy meant that we almost had the entire resort to ourselves. In peak season, you can expect the infinity-edged pool to be healthily used.

The perfect setting for a campfire after a hearty dinner. The lodge packages include a full board with activities available for customisation.

I like to call this the “St.Regis” of wilderness lodges. You can enjoy the wilderness but still, have the luxury.

The receding sun painted a deeply saturated red-orange glow. I did not enhance the colour and in fact, I had to set slightly darker exposure to accurately convey the richness of dusk, as seen by my eyes.

This is not a Kangaroo but an agile wallaby (also known as the sandy wallaby). Its a species of wallaby commonly found in northern Australia and New Guinea. The agile wallaby has a sandy colour becoming paler below. It alternates between being solitary and sociable as it grazes on the fauna of the land.

One of a flock of Galah birds starting the day right beside the lodge, landing at a sand spot to consume pebbles. Birds don’t have a digestive system that churns their food, do they rely on pebbles to do the process, called gastrolith which is a very common behaviour among ground birds.

Day #2 saw us waking up early for our AirBoat at 830am tour on the wetlands, just a few mins’ drive from the lodge. I was mesmerised by the Alluvial Termites mounds dotting the landscape. Termites are “ecosystem engineers” promoting soil health and organic decomposition. As such, termites is an important integral part of the land health.

Another type of accommodation at the lodge is the “Safari Tents” which are essentially glamping tents with all the amenities but without air-conditioning. There are only 15 such tents at the lodge. Safari tents cater for families of 4 or 5 people (a maximum of 4 adults in each). The 4 person tent includes a double, a single and a trundle bed. The 5 person tent includes a double, bunk and trundle bed.

Day #2 – Airboat Tour @ the Mary River Wetlands

This airboat tour was definitely one of the highlights of the trip. Amazing wildlife and natural scenery abound at the Mary River Wetlands. The NT wet season transforms the Mary River Wetlands into an inland ‘sea’ and replenishes the earth after the long dry season. Fish, crocodiles and birds breed unhindered at this landmass. As the water subsides in the wet season, the ‘dry’ season creates an awesome spectacle to observe huge numbers of bird species & large crocodiles. A wildlife lover’s paradise bar none.

Perfect for speed junkies, the Airboat is powered by a 350HP Chevy engine. The wetland is about the size of two Singapore combined. And we are the only three people on this vast tract of the watery world. Can’t get any more exclusive than this.

A section of the surreal wetland landscape. For half of the year, the wetlands are flooded, while in the dry season the water level out by evaporation and are baked dry by the sun. The region is one of great contrast.

The Water Lily with its blue, white, violet or pink petals and yellow stamens is one of the most common water lilies in the wetland. The large round two-lobed leaves float on the water to provide shelter and food for large numbers of insects and their larvae. The underside of the leaves and the stems are coated with a furry growth consisting of a tangled mixture of various types of algae which are important as primary producers for small invertebrates.

Our airboat captain-cum guide, Jack showed us an aboriginal survival technique by chewing on a water lily stem. It tasted a little bitter but at least you can hydrate yourself.

The lotus plant stem contains fibres that can be woven into clothing materials.

A specimen of the crocodile dorsal spine bones found just behind the eyes.

A crocodile teeth specimen. Crocodiles are polyphyodonts, that is, they are able to replace each of their 80 teeth up to 50 times in their 35 to 75-year lifespan. Next to each full-grown tooth, there is a small replacement tooth and an odontogenic stem cell on standby that can be activated if required.

A flock of Magpie Geese flying over the wetland. Magpie geese are unmistakable birds with their black and white plumage and yellowish legs. Their call is like loud honking.

A Masked Plover in flight. It is a large, common and conspicuous bird native to Australia, particularly the northern and eastern parts of the continent, New Zealand and New Guinea. It spends most of its time on the ground searching for food such as insects and worms and has several distinctive calls.

A Darter bird sunning itself in the morning sun, to dry out the waterlogged feathers during food hunt on the water. Their preferred mode of flight is soaring and gliding while in flapping flight, they are rather cumbersome.

Travel mate Cindy with our boat captain Jack. Just had to grab this picture to show what the airboat looked like.

Day #2 – Aboriginal Rock Art @ Ubirr

After the Airboat cruise, we quickly check out of Wildman Wilderness Lodge and drove slightly over 2 hours to Bowali Visitor Centre for our prearranged briefing as we were on a media visit. Filming at the park is subject to approval as the videos we filmed are used for promotional materials. From the visitor centre, it’s about another 1 hour (42km) to the famous Aboriginal Rock at Ubirr.

En route to Ubirr, we encountered a slightly flooded road with about 60-70cm depth, which the 4×4 Mitsubishi Pajero overcame with ease. The car even enjoyed an undercarriage wash in the process. This happens as we are at the tail-end of the wet season.

Long ago, the aborigines camped beneath Ubirr’s cool rocky shelters and harvest the plants and animals of the nearby floodplain and East Alligator River for food, tools and medicine. The smooth stone surfaces were perfect for painting on. Ubirr’s rock art is considered among the best in the world.

Much of the art here features fish, turtles, goanna and other important food animals. At the main gallery, a painting of a thylacine (the Tasmanian tiger, which became extinct on the mainland more than two thousand years ago) is a rare treat and gives an idea of the age of some of this art.

How can we face the future if we do not know the past? “Life can only be understood backwards but it must be lived forwards.” – Søren Kierkegaard

The 1 km circular track which took us past the rock art sites culminates in a steep 250 m climb to a rocky lookout with 360-degree views of Arnhem Land and the Nadab floodplain. This trekking took slightly over an hour if you want to sit on the lookout and savour the views. But during the afternoon sun, look for small overhangs for shade if you intend to stay longer. Three tips to remember on this walk – 1) bring a sun hat 2) bring a bottle of drinking water 3) At the climbing phase, follow ‘Yellow Triangle’ markers embedded into the rock to guide you for an easier climb.

This is the time when lugging a tripod is worth the trouble as I did a panorama shot of the scene. I know a Smartphone app can do the job easily but high-res pictures are the way to go.

According to the aborigines, this is the “most sacred site at Ubirr and is traditionally a women-only site, although this rule is relaxed for non-indigenous tourists. This is the spot visited by the Rainbow Serpent or “Garranga’rreli”, during her path across the top end of Australia, during the Dreaming. As she crossed the land, she “sang” the rocks, plants, animals, and people into existence. This path is still a sacred path to the indigenous people who live in northern Australia” (excerpts from Wikipedia). The view from this beautiful spot certainly justified the climbing.

Day #3 -Yellow Water Cruise @ Kakadu National Park

Day 3 morning saw us at Kakadu National Park (A UNESCO Heritage Site) via Yellow Water Cruises. This cruise is one of the must-do activities as Yellow Water Billabong is at the hub of Kakadu, offering a spectacular journey through the region’s wetlands with its vibrant wildlife and ever-changing landscape. Kakadu National Park is an enormous, biodiverse nature reserve in the Northern Territory. With terrain encompassing wetlands, rivers and sandstone escarpments, it’s home to some 2,000 plant species and wildlife from saltwater crocodiles and flatback turtles to birds. This cruise itself sealed its position as our no.1 highlight on the entire trip.

Our ‘accidental’ missing out of the day 1st cruise at 6.45am turned out to be a blessing as the next scheduled cruise saw only four guests (including us) on the boat designed to carry 40 passengers. During our pre-trip briefing by Tourism NT, we were told the cruise here is like a going through a National Geographic documentary. It was certainly not an exaggeration.

One of the 1st birds we spotted on the cruise – a beautiful Comb-Crested Jacana. This bird is also known as the lotus bird or lily-trotter. Like other Jacana species, it is adapted to the floating vegetation of tropical freshwater wetlands.

A black Kite hovering above us looking for breakfast. Kites, which most mistook for eagles, are birds of prey in the raptor family. Black kites are most often seen gliding and soaring on air currents as they search for food.

A flock of white-crested cockatoos flying around the wetlands. There are huge colonies of this species of bird in the wetlands.

A flock of water ducks flying in formation over the wetland. Scenes like this are common when we cruise along the billabong.

A group of lemon ants nests among the branches. I had previously tasted the lemon ants in Adelaide Central Market. Surprisingly, it has a refreshing lemony taste.

There are numerous species of dragonflies and damselflies in the wetlands. Their larvae helped to keep the mosquitoes population at bay.

An Eastern Great Egret taking flight. One of Australia’s most elegant birds, the snowy-white Eastern Great Egret is often seen wading in a range of wetlands, from lakes, rivers and swamps to estuaries.

Amazing wild white-crested cockatoos colonies in this section of the wetlands, there were hundreds, probably thousands of them.

If you felt being watched, you are not alone. The Yellow Water Billabong is part of the South Alligator River system but there are no alligators in Australia (an early explorer misidentified crocs for alligators but the name has stuck ever since). This is a salt-water croc, much bigger and more aggressive than the fresh-water crocs found in other parts of Kakadu National Park.

Crocodiles are able to blend into their surroundings and move over extremely large distances on land and water. As an apex predator, saltwater crocodiles are a critical part of the aquatic ecosystems. If crocodiles are removed from these systems, the balance of these systems will change considerably.

Our aborigine wetlands guide, Don, made the cruise both an interesting and informative experience with their in-depth knowledge of their home ground.

Cicada Lodge @ Katherine

After the Yellow Water Cruise, we checked out of the Cooinda Lodge Kakadu and drove 3.5 hours along Stuart Highway to the fabulous luxurious boutique accommodation called Cicada Lodge at Katherine. Cicada Lodge walking distance to the Nitmiluk National Park (which we were visiting the next day), makes it the perfect choice of accommodation. I feature this lodge as its quality and ambience will appeal to many travellers.

The lodge facade at night. I always like Australian design for its modernistic yet functional appeal.

The lodge swimming pool, where canapes are served daily evening by the poolside.

Our cabins at the lodge. And behind that door, as described on the resort webpage, a “sanctuary of elegant comfort”. The lodge may be named Cicada Lodge, but we were not disturbed by any cicada cries. Anyone looking to manage cicada problems at their house might refer to this useful website.

There are only 18 rooms at this lodge, with full-length louvred doors to the private balconies, allowing guests the choice of opening their room to the sounds and sights of the native bush or closing them for the privacy of the room. Indigenous artworks from local artists are also featured in each room. Wifi signal was good and the excellent bed gave good sleep quality.

Nicely prepared canapes are served before dinner.

Does this whet your appetite for dinner?

Dinner entree – Shredded beef with garlic bread. The secret in the lime moose. The meals at this lodge certainly maintained the exquisite feel of staying here.

I don’t usually eat fish but this pan-fried Barramundi was done perfectly. The Northern Territory has the largest numbers of barramundi in Australia, providing an abundant supply for local consumption and export.

Day #4 – NitNit Dreaming 2 Gorge Cruise @ Katherine Gorge

Our day 4 adventure brought us to the beautiful gorges at Nitmiluk National Park (Nitmiluk is the Aboriginal name for Katherine Gorge). There are 13 gorges at the park but a 2 hours cruise with Nitnit Dreaming 2 Gorge Cruise will let visitors discover the cultural significance of two gorges to the traditional landowners- the Jawoyn people. The cruise guide will regale you with the history and traditions of the Indigenous inhabitants. In Jawoyn, Nitmiluk means “place of the cicada dreaming“.

Between Gorge 1 and 2, we were treated to a 500m trail walk along a man-made, uneven path as part of the cruise experience. The view along the trail is pleasant and offers some photographic opportunities.

Early morning view along the cruise. The experience is both tranquil and soothing as the natural scene changes along the way.

It took 23 million years for the Katherine River to form this natural wonder. Truly a geographic lover’s paradise.

Rock arts were painted by the Jawoyn inhabitants. Such paintings sent you back 40,000 years ago. Imagine the history of this sandstone country.

All the good things happened here, we were 2nd time lucky (the previous was the Yellow Water Cruise) as there were no other passengers on our 9 am boat departure, making us feel as if it was a private chartered cruise.

Day #4 – Litchfield National Park

After the cruise at Katherine Gorge, we make haste to check out of Cicada Lodge as our next destination, the Litchfield National Park, is about 3.5 hours (310 km) drive away. This park spans some 1500 km² in size and is famous for its waterfalls and termite mounds. This park visit marks the final phase of attractions in the outback before we return to Darwin on the homebound phase.

Termite Mounds

We were treated to the sight of a mind-boggling gigantic “Cathedral Termites” mound in the Litchfield National Park. This termites mound, in comparison with human beings (worker termites stands about 3mm in height), is the equivalent of 4 Burj Khalifas stacked on top of each other

At the Magnetic Termites Mounds at Litchfield National Park. The termites are endemic to northern Australia and the common names derive from the fact that the wedge-shaped mound is aligned with its main axis running north and south, to harness the energy of the sun. This termite site is out of bounds and can only be observed from atop a boardwalk. The park permits to use our drone came in at a most useful juncture.

The reality of nature sets in, these are not termites but predatory ants attacking the termites through the mound ventilation holes. But the termites colonies are more than able to defend themselves.

Buley Rock Hole

This is awesome for cooling down but our tight schedule meant we only spent a few minutes here, grab some shots before we return to Darwin. It is not advisable to drive after dark as there is a higher chance of roadkill in the pitch dark surrounding.

The Buley waterhole is easily accessible within a few minutes’ walk from the car park, with shower facilities available. For visitors planning to enjoy these nature facilities, it is recommended to stay overnight in the Litchfield area before returning to Darwin.

Florence Falls

The pretty and scenic waterfall here and the pond below is perfect for swimming. Florence Falls will be probably most visitors’ favourite waterfall in Litchfield National Park. What made this waterfall stand out was its multi-tiered, multi-segmented shape with a crocodile-free swimming hole that is perfect for lingering about and cooling off.

Wangi Falls

The Wangi Falls descend from an elevation of 84 metres (276 ft) above sea level via a series of segmented tiers that range in height between 41–52 metres (135–171 ft). The plunge pool at the base of the falls is a popular swimming spot, however, is often closed following significant rainfall due to sightings of crocodiles in the area

This is one waterfall you just have to shoot a picture with, before proceeding back to Darwin. Easily accessible and with short comfortable walking from the car park.

Day #5 – Continue the adventure @ Darwin city

Our final day in Darwin was scheduled with more fun and interesting activities. While we do missed the laidback ambience of the National Parks, we quickly realised nature is never far away even in the city attraction. Darwin is a compact city and the driving distance from most of the places to visit is pleasantly short, not more than 15-20mins from one another. This is the time you have to “switch on” city driving etiquette as well as take note of parking charges. Parking at streetside car parks is complimentary city-wide after 5 pm.

Fish feeding @ Aquascene

This marine sanctuary was established in 1981 and has become a magical attraction that anyone can enjoy – it attracts more than 70,000 visitors annually and has enjoyed widespread media coverage nationally and internationally. Parking at this venue is complimentary.

This attraction availability is directly linked to the large tidal movements of Darwin’s harbour, which can be up to eight metres. The fish can only visit Aquascene for a few hours each day before returning back to sea with the receding tide.

How many fish you see is determined daily by the tide size, wind and water clarity, breeding cycles and general seasonal weather conditions, but you will always see fish. Feeding sessions on deeper tides are usually best, with fish numbers at their highest between August to December.

The regular fish that comes include mostly milkfish, mullet, catfish, bream, batfish and barramundi. But if you look carefully outside the ‘main mob’ of fishes, you may spot stingrays, cod, mangrove jack, parrot and diamond fish. It’s an amazing experience considering these are fish from the open ocean.

It is safe to wade in the waters amongst the feeding frenzy as the fish have no teeth or dangerous barbs. However, the sanctuary staff will advise visitors to wade no further than knee-deep during the box jellyfish months of October to May. No one has been stung at Aquascene as the huge school of fish seems to build a natural barrier.

Crocodile Dundee experience @ Crocosaurus Cove

This is the attraction that many of us would have seen in television commercials. The venue brings together some of the largest Saltwater Crocodiles in Australia and showcases the world’s largest display of Australian reptiles. Definitely, a must-see attraction when visiting Darwin. In fact, we would recommend going on the VIP tour which promises a much more intimate and memorable experience as group size is limited to 8 person. Parking at this attraction on the main street is subject to the daily rate.

This Darwin’s most famous crocodile attraction -The Cage Of Death. Perfect for those who like being up close to danger yet remains safe.

How’s that for size? A huge croc in there. Each of the long-time crocodiles is given a name and personal branding.

This is BURT! I think you might have seen him before in the movie Crocodile Dundee. This guy has a personality and is blinded its right eye. At 5.1m in length, 700kg, and age 80+, he’s the attraction’s most famous star indeed.

A juvenile cooling off in the sun, they open their jaws to dissipate heat from their body to keep cool.

With the VIP tour, you get to feed the croc as part of the activities. This close experience lets me realise 1st hand the immense power that a crocodile has.

VIP tour also let us get to know the croc better. It is interesting to experience holding the ‘live’ leather ‘handbag’.

At the snake and lizard segment of the VIP tour, another ranger took over. Over here, we got to feel a Western Bearded Dragon.

A black-headed python. They will hiss loudly when disturbed but are unlikely to bite unless they are hunting prey. Although a strong swimmer, they are almost never found in water. They are non-venomous.

Museum and Art Gallery (MAGNT)

The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) is the main museum in the Northern Territory. The building was opened on 10 September 1981. The museum features the history, science and visual art of the region and its people. I have not even visited Singapore National Museum but this visit convinced me that I should. Museums are not boring places but treasure troves of information. Entry to the MAGNT is free of charge.

The natural science section of the museum exhibits. They even have an authentic cathedral termites mound right inside! The MAGNT has a collection of over 1.2 million natural history specimens and over 30,000 items of art and material culture.

Between Christmas Eve to Christmas Day in 1974, Darwin was devastated by the Cyclone Tracy, killing 65 people and causing AUD$6.41 billion (2014 dollars) in damages. More than 70% of Darwin’s buildings were destroyed, including 80% of houses. This railway signal tower exhibit, which once formed part of the signalling equipment used on the Palmerston to Pine Creek Railway, was bent by the brute force of the cyclone. This tower is a symbolic reminder of the power of Cyclone Tracy but also of how far the Territory has come since that fateful night.

An exhibit on Cyclone Tracy shows how nature can affect humanity and change lives.

My favourite section of the museum exhibits, the art section. Almost felt like I stepped back into part of MONA, the gorgeous Museum of Old and New Arty in Hobart.

Visitors can expect variety as the MAGNT annually showcases both internally curated exhibitions and travelling exhibitions from around Australia. It is also the home of the annual Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Australia’s longest-running Indigenous art prize.

Great place to shoot some “artsy” pictures too. Take a moment, slow down and appreciate the beautiful and quirky creative expression.

Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS)

For history buffs, the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia (RFDS, informally known as The Flying Doctor) will be a highlight of the trip. It is one of the largest and most established aeromedical organisations in the world. It is a non-profit organisation which provides health care to people who cannot access a hospital or general practice due to the vast distances of the Outback. This service is invaluable for those residing in rural, remote and regional areas of Australia.

This branch at Darwin is located at the scenic Stokes Hill Wharf, just beside the waterfront. Parking at this venue is complimentary.

Treat yourself to the virtual reality presentation of the Japanese attack on Darwin Harbour during the 2nd world wall. The fateful 19 February 1942 event was the largest single attack ever mounted by a foreign power on Australia.

A life-sized mock of the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M (“Zero”) that attacked the Darwin Harbour.

A reconstructed Pilatus PC-12 display unit at the exhibition hall. The RFDS has 4 different planes that are used for operations and the national fleet is 66 planes strong and is growing each year.

The cabin is set up with 2 stretcher beds and three seats, which can be used in a variety of configurations. The front door allows the pilot to conduct his pre-flight external inspections and enter the plane without disturbing the patients and medical crew in the rear.

The centre also featured the WWII exploits of Rear Admiral Etheridge Grant in a full-sized hologram presentation. War buffs will definitely love this feature segment.

Cape Adieu Dinner Cruise

A perfect way to wrap any trip to the Top End is a dinner cruise around the Timor Sea while enjoying the beautiful sunset.

Only locally fresh and wild-caught seafood are featured on the menu.

For the non-fish eaters, a generous portion of quality beef are offered as well.

The gorgeous sunset at the Top End never fails to please. From day one until the last day of our NT exploration trip, the setting sun has always been a constant eye balm after each enjoyable day.

Don’t just enjoy the golden glow of dusk, the blue hour that follows are mesmerizing as well.

Conclusion

This short adventure to the Top End was certainly an eye-opener and truly spectacular in every sense of the word. Having experienced various regions of Australia, I can speak with conviction that anyone who eschews mass tourism, keen for a great road trip, loves fabulous nature, appreciates local culture, cuisine and friendly locals- will savour the moments at this region that defies description. This exploration was too short and there is so more to uncover. Perfect reason for revisits in the near future indeed.

N.B: For my travelogues to other parts of Australia, readers might like to have a look here.

The post 6 Days Road Trip to Darwin, Australia Northern Territory appeared first on Jensen Chua Photography.

Mountain to Coast Adventure in New South Wales, Australia

Jensen — Sun, 31 Dec 2017 04:06:01 +0000

Welcome to my travelogue on Mountain to Coast Adventure in New South Wales, Australia. When was the last time you truly love your vacation and missed it deeply after you returned? If you love long road trips with a scenic views, then this is one of the best there is. Just about an hour’s drive from Sydney, this route is known as the Grand Pacific Drive and is one of Australia’s most spectacular driving routes. Most visitors are familiar with the metropolitan capital city of Sydney or the iconic Gold Coast, so where is New South Wales located?

New South Wales (abb. NSW) is a state on the east coast of Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria to the south, and South Australia to the west. Its coast borders the Tasman Sea to the east. The Australian Capital Territory is an enclave within the state. NSW’s state capital is Sydney, which is also Australia’s most populous city. Based on a census in March 2017, the population of New South Wales was over 7.8 million, making it Australia’s most populous state. Just under 2/3 of the state’s population (4.67 million) live in the Greater Sydney area.

Road Trip Route

Our “mountain to coast” road trip logged around 900km, with some detours included. But the lovely experience transcends measurement. That’s the beauty of a road trip, especially in beautiful New South Wales. I hope after reading my travelogue, it will awaken you to the beauty of the region.

Farm Fresh Produce @ Appleshack, Glenbernie Orchard

Our trip’s first stop was the Darkes Apple Shack of Glenbernie Orchard, a 4th-generation family owned and run business where you can buy fresh and dried fruits, juice, cider, honey and preserves. For city dwellers like us from highly urbanised Singapore, the sight of ripening fruits still attached to the stem on the tree is truly something special and spirit-lifting.

Imagine sniffing the fragrance and freshness of freshly plucked nectarines, peaches, etc. This is definitely an eye-opening experience for children, too, transforming what they see in school books or television into something real. ‘Pick your own fruit’ opportunities are available between November and April subject to advance booking.

Another try-before-you-buy opportunity is with several types of honey. The farm organically-produced honey is superb and worth the effort to carry home. Australian honey is something that is a must-buy item for me as it is a reasonably priced and quality-assured product.

Wild Lorikeets in the orchard, are attracted by the abundance of ripe fruits. While looking beautiful, birds like Lorikeets do inflict some amount of damage to the crops as only those in perfect condition are accepted in the market. But the orchard netting and exclusion systems used kept their intrusion to a manageable level.

The farm owners Glenn and Jo-Anne Fahey. We had a fruitful time at the farm as Jo-Anne took time out to show us around the farm and explain the working of the plantation. Guided 1-2 hours farm and fruit picking tours are available for the chance to get close and personal with the orchard.

Apart from the fruit plantation, the farm has also made a name for itself with its range of ciders and alcohol. Like this Mallee Honeymead wine made from their honey. The word ‘Honeymoon’ seems to have stemmed from an Irish tradition of newlyweds drinking honey wine every day for one full moon (a month) after their wedding. Mallee is a deep-rooted hardy eucalypt tree, standing up to the ravages of drought and bushfire. In its first few weeks of bottling, it received a Bronze medal at the Australian Fruit Wine Show, held at Hobart, in January 2015.

The farm apple cider can be mixed with a variety of their products for a fabulous tipple! Too bad I am driving. Anyone who loves mixes will do well to buy some home.

Amazing coastal view@ Sea Cliff Bridge

You can’t miss the iconic 665-metre Sea Cliff Bridge on the Great Pacific Drive. The imposing S-shaped bridge hugs the coast and looks out to the turquoise water of the Tasman Sea. Driving along this route is a gorgeous experience but to appreciate it well, you should park your car at the end of the bridge (some park along the broader stretch of the road) and stroll down the bridge walk where you can feast your eyes on the majestic view. I had planned to do drone aerial footage but the gusty wind and heavy vehicle movement put a rest to that thought.

Rocking good time @Cathedral Rocks

Along the Grand Pacific Drive is Kiama. This is a charming seaside town and of course, a visit here would be incomplete if you missed out on the Cathedral Rocks. It’s situated just along Jones Beach. Sunrise lends a magical touch to this place so the ideal time to visit would be during dawn or blue hours during dusk.

This area with distinctive rock formations is part of the geologically fascinating coastline. The volcanic rocks, while intensely hard, have many joints which have been eroded for many years, creating this mysterious rocky landscape. I didn’t manage to access the famed cave at the venue as the waves were strong that morning, cutting off the path that leads to it.

These rocks are certainly a photographer’s heaven. Just be extra careful when walking among the nature artwork as you shoot your own masterpiece, as the waves are pretty strong and the rock’s edges pretty rough.

A great way to explore the area and soak in the spectacular natural attractions is along the Kiama Coast Walk, a 22 km trail that can take you from Minnamurra to Gerringong. Follow the walk at your own pace, exploring the secluded beaches and bays. You’ll be delighted with the breathtaking ocean views, especially during sunrise.

Feel the power of nature @Kiama Blowhole

The Kiama Blowhole is Kiama’s key attraction and most of the time, it’s basically what everyone goes for. For a more enjoyable outing at this lovely venue, I would suggest coming really early to avoid the crowd. The blowhole’s tremendous display is generated by powerful southeast ocean swells. The area is floodlit until 1 am, offering an amazing night-time attraction. If the water spout is placid, take a ten minutes drive south to the Little Blowhole, which relies on the prevailing northeast seas.

This picturesque Kiama Lighthouse, located just a stone’s throw from the Blowhole, was established in 1887, 10 years after the creation of the Robertson Basin, a man-made harbour to service Kiama’s supply of crushed blue metal and paving blocks for the streets of Sydney. The sunrise was lovely that morning, with cool fresh ocean breeze caressing our faces. A memorable moment indeed.

We could have simply sat here for a longer time to enjoy the beauty. But time dictates we should move on to more adventure ahead.

As typical of popular attractions, you can expect plenty of tourists, locals, and also school children exploring and enjoying the lovely place.

Exciting Aerial Adventure with Southern Biplanes

Based at Illawarra regional airport, Southern Biplane Adventures is the go-to place in New South Wales for aerial adventure. You can choose between relaxed scenic flights or adrenaline-pumping aerobatic flights over Shellharbour’s and Wollongong’s beaches. Besides flight packages, the company is also a pilot training school specialising in advanced flying skills and flight screening preparation. For aviation junkies, I definitely recommend the aerobatic package.

The restored biplane, a Boeing-Stearman or Kaydet, served as a primary trainer for the United States Army Air Forces, the United States Navy, and the Royal Canadian Air Force as the Kaydet throughout World War II. After the war was over, thousands of surplus aircraft were sold on the civilian market. In short, though very old, this is a reliable aircraft with an excellent track record.

The hangar director and flight pilot preparing the Stearman for the flight ahead. Every moment leading up to the impending flight is pleasantly exciting. You know you are in for the ride of your life.

There I was, with the plane making a loop over the South Pacific Ocean with the coastal area of Illawarra below me. The G-force achieved during the flight was about 4G max. I recommended riders not have a heavy meal prior to this flight. A sick bag is available on request if the content in your stomach decided to defy gravity. You can check out my full article on the flight experience here.

Dolphin Watch @ Jervis Bay

For beach lovers, Jervis Bay on the NSW South Coast is the ultimate seaside escape. Once you drive into Jervis Bay, you will immediately feel the beach town ambience, with many dive shops, dolphin and whale watch service providers lining up the street. From crystal-blue waters, resident dolphins to splendid beaches and fun water sports, this coastal paradise in the Shoalhaven region will stay in your memory for a long time to come.

At the bay, resident bottlenose dolphins are used to human presence and come right up to the tour boats. Do explore two national parks bordering the Jervis Bay Marine Park, which are also a haven for fur seals, little penguins, sea dragons, and migrating whales.

We were lucky to chance upon a mother Humpback Whale and her calf swimming in the bay. We were told this pair was the last as the rest of the whales have since gone back to Antarctica, as their migration period is between May and November.

We had a great outing with Jervis Bay Wild, which offers great service and a well-designed spacious boat, with commentary provided by the knowledgeable crew.

The company also owns and operates a cosy cafe just beside the pier where you board their ferry. It serves excellent food and beverages. This company has possibly the best thought-out sightseeing and meal arrangements at Jervis Bay.

Savour the Countryside @Kangaroo Valley

Kangaroo Valley has been described as one of Australia’s most beautiful valleys and a “hidden gem”. This laidback place is a popular destination for kayaking, canoeing, golf, and wine tasting. The Kangaroo River flows through the secluded valley, nestled between the Southern Highlands and the South Coast. In the picture above, you see the historic Hampden Bridge, Australia’s last surviving wooden suspension bridge with four large sandstone turrets. Ironically, contrary to the valley’s name, we didn’t chance upon any kangaroo during our time at the valley.

One of the key highlights was the many pies shops in the Kangaroo Valley, each vying for a slice of the visitor’s wallet. But we were attracted by “The World’s Best Pies” accolade of the shop situated within The Old Barrengarry Store, which is a heritage-listed shop established in 1880, with all the ambience of a bygone era.

The old-world charm within. You can stock up on local products like jams, preserves, and some other groceries. The shop is run by a couple named Irene and Choo, who took over

The shop has seven types of pie, but their signature pie – Traditional Aussie, is the one to go for. You may find it a tad salty but it’s best enjoyed together with the pie pastry and washed down with the gourmet latte. The pies are baked in small batches which run out fast as the shop serves many tourists as well as locals who flock to the shop.

The shop front verandah offers wonderful views of Kangaroo Valley, making the snack session all that more memorable.

Fitzroy Falls @ Morton National Park

New South Wales has many national parks, in fact, over 225 of them. We chose Morton National Park as it’s along our driving route and has the beautiful Fitzroy Falls. This enormous park has something for everyone, be it bushwalking, wilderness hiking, or nature photography. The entry fee is based on per vehicle per day, which is AUD$4.

Fitzroy Falls is a village in the Wingecarribee Shire, located within the Southern Highlands region. The locality was known as Yarrunga, but was renamed after the 81-metre (266 ft) waterfall. The waterfall was named in honour of Sir Charles Fitzroy, the Governor of New South Wales during his visit to the area in 1850.

You’ll find imposing gorges dissecting the landscape along valleys of rainforests that are full of wildlife. Almost felt like this is the Grand Canyon in the USA but with lush vegetation.

Special Mention for B+B – Amaroo @Bellawongarah

I don’t usually feature accommodation but this bed and breakfast (B+B) are just too beautiful to pass up. Situated just about 15min drive from the town of Berry, this luxury mountain is a destination by itself.

The guest suite at nightfall. Serene, is peaceful, and beautifully set for a great night’s sleep.

The lounge provides a place to relax with comfortable furnishings to enjoy tea or coffee overlooking the main dam with lush greenery. I even spotted several Jack Rabbits foraging for food. This area of wide-open space is perfect for drone flying and capturing beautiful aerial scenery.

A pond just beside the room. The resident flock of wood ducks simply livens up the surrounding.

Certainly a beautiful setting for bird watchers and wildlife photographers.

Idyllic countryside ambience from the living room. Enjoy tea or nicely brewed coffee from the suite coffee machine and the continental breakfast provided.

With comfortable high-quality linen and pleasing decor, the bedroom is designed for optimal sleep quality.

The living room is furnished with a flat-screen TV and a wide range of DVD movies for night entertainment.

The spacious minimalist-styled design, high-quality bath fixtures, and non-slip sandstone tiles all combined to give one of my most enjoyable shower experiences ever.

Experience the Biggest Buddhist Temple in the Southern Hemisphere @Nan Tien Temple

If you want to see the biggest Buddhist temple in Southern Hemisphere, then don’t miss visiting the Nan Tien Temple. Since its official opening in October 1995, the temple has been drawing visitors both locally and worldwide. The grand architectural details, art and culture exhibitions including Buddhist festivals, vegetarian culinary delights, etc, make this temple a big attraction. Within the temple ground is Pilgrim Lodge, Wollongong’s most unique accommodation with a 100-room facility. It is open all year round and suitable for general guests or special interest groups seeking to experience Buddhism on longer stays.

The eight-level pagoda, serving as a columbarium intended to house the cremated remains of 7000 people.

The temple is one of Wollongong’s key tourist highlights and conducts regular weekend retreats for visitors interested in exploring Buddhism and Chinese culture. Retreats can involve classes in tai chi, calligraphy, and meditation. Come springtime, the beautifully manicured garden is a feast for the eyes, especially with Jacaranda trees in full bloom.

Unique Farmstay Experience @Mowbray Farm

Our next stop brought us to the family-owned and operated Mowbray Park Farm, which has a rich history dating back to the early days of European settlement in Australia. The History of Mowbray Park Farm began in 1822 when the farm stay came into existence in the early 1980s and over the following 30+ years has evolved into one of the best farm experiences in Australia, winning many awards.

Our farm guide for the day was Chris Ferry, a UK citizen on vacation work. We certainly picked up much farming and animal knowledge from him during the 2 hours guided tour.

Travel mate Cindy feeding dried oat and wheat to the farm animals. We found out why the animals come running to us as it tastes sweet compared to the grass on the ground. Thus, the animals won’t come to us if they see just grass in our hands.

Everyone’s favourite part, the milking of the cow. Each milking session yields about 12 litres which goes to feed the cow’s calf as well pigs’ calves on the farm. And no, visitors are not allowed to drink the freshly extracted milk as it may contain bacteria that will make us really sick.

Chris feeding the cow’s calf with the milk from the milking session. The calf can guzzle down about 4-6 litres of milk per feed. It takes just 2 years for a calf to fully grow into a cow.

Cindy roasting a damper over wood fires. This definitely brings the outback to feel to the tour when we take in the smoky aroma of the burning wood fire in the air as we make our own bread.

Damper, a Bush Tucker bread, is a traditional Australian soda bread, historically prepared by swagmen, drovers, stockmen, and other travellers. It consists of wheat flour-based bread, traditionally baked in the coals of a campfire or in a camp oven. The basic ingredients of a damper are flour, water, and sometimes milk.

Chris spinning the Billy Tea, using the centrifugal effect to separate the tea from the tea leaves in the billy. There must be NO hesitation in this action, for obvious reasons.

Boomerang throwing session. It looks easy till you try to get your boomerang coming back to you. But it was good fun and experience.

The whip-cracking session. The sound it produces can be deafening and scary. The whips generally are used on animals to provide directional guidance or to encourage movement but not through physical pain. Handling it wrongly can scar you painfully for a few weeks.

The accommodation at the farm’s Majellan Lodge. Bearing in mind this a working farm with a long history, it’s quite cosy and nice for a comfortable night. The farm has a wide range of lodges spread out on the farm for personalised needs.

The view from the bed is pretty nice but need to stand on the verandah for a better view.

One of the meals served at the farm, the beef in the meat pie comes from the farm while the salad ingredients are from local produce. All are lovingly prepared by a resident stay-in farm chef.

Three Sisters Rock @The Blue Mountains

The Blue Mountains always evoke a magical feel. Though this is my 2nd visit, it’s still a pleasant experience to breathe in the cool fresh air and take in the wide gorgeous vistas. ‘The blueness of the national park is due to the densely populated oil-bearing Eucalyptus trees. The atmosphere is filled with ‘finely dispersed droplets of oil, which, in combination with dust particles and water vapour, scatter short-wave length rays of light which are predominantly blue in colour’ (Wikipedia).

For over a hundred years, honeymooners have been making a beeline for this famous spot called the Honeymoon Bridge, for that special picture. It’s quite a challenge to trek along the narrow and steep pathway to get to this vantage point. But once there, you will enjoy the amazing view. The horizontal level of the Honeymoon Bridge (as in the picture above), is shot from Echo Point Lookout using a long lens.

The Scenic Skyway, suspended 270 metres above the ravines, provides a thrilling experience as you take in the view with a see-through electro-glass cabin floor. With 360° views, the 720-metre journey provides the best views of Katoomba Falls, the Three Sisters, and Jamison Valley stretching to the horizon.

Riding the steepest passenger railway in the world, the Scenic Railway, at a 52° incline. The Railway experience descends 310 metres through a cliff-side tunnel, emerging into the ancient rainforest at the Jamison Valley floor. Operating since 1945, this 5th generation Scenic Railway has thrilled 25 million passengers since opening in 1945.

En route to the Echo Point Lookout, you will definitely drop by Katoomba, which is the largest and most visited town in the Blue Mountains. With plenty of accommodation and amenities, it serves as an ideal base to explore the wide range of adventure activities in the region.

Cafe Moment @Wentworth Bakery

The beauty of a self-drive trip is the flexibility to uncover and discover culinary highlights, using online reviews and Google Maps to lead us in the right direction. Bakehouse on Wentworth, just 12 minute drive from Katoomba, came highly recommended. And indeed, it was well worth the drive.

This bakery cum cafe is famed for its sourdough bread and confectionery. Sourdough is a bread made with naturally occurring yeast and bacteria in flour. In traditional sourdough recipes, you’ll find three ingredients: sourdough starter (which consists of flour and water), salt, and flour. There is no yeast, no milk, no oils, and no sweeteners. It’s about as natural as you get when it comes to bread.

So how does this ‘Tender Beef and Gravy’ pie compare with that from the “World’s Best Pies” in Kangaroo Valley? I like to say both pies are really delicious. Australians really know how to do a great pie.

Special mention – Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains (MGallery Collection)

The Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains (MGallery by Sofitel) deserves a special shoutout here as I believe after a long exciting day out at the Blue Mountains, coming back to a plush and comfortable hotel room will sweeten the end of the day and a great start for the next. This is our 2nd stay here and it never failed to please.

A beautiful lobby always sets the right tone for a pleasant stay at any hotel. Great service, superb amenities, and express checkout make staying here a joy.

The spectacular view of The Blue Mountains directly from the lounge and breakfast dining hall was one of the plus points of the hotel. And the breakfast offering is one the best I came across in all the hotels I stayed in Australia to date.

Resident wood ducks and other wildlife just steps from the hotel compound keep you enthralled with the natural beauty of the vicinity. When wildlife takes up “residency” at the hotel, you know instinctively that you are in a great place.

Jacaranda Canopy @Kirribilli

Kirribilli is a suburb of Sydney. The name Kirribilli is derived from an Aboriginal word Kiarabilli, which means ‘good fishing spot’. But this lovely suburb is attracting attention for its other beauty -the gorgeous lane of Jacaranda trees along McDougall Street. The trees usually start blooming in mid-October before a peak in mid-November.

The beautiful Jacaranda blooms are the equivalent of Cherry Blossoms, making Sydney even more lovely.

The famous “infamous” Jacaranda lane, where hordes of Asian tourists descended to shoot selfies, welfies pics on the lane, sometimes bringing traffic to a standstill. No, we didn’t add to the mayhem. We waited till conducive traffic conditions before shooting. Other than this venue, there are several other good spots for Jacaranda trees photography.

Chill out @Coogee

Our final stop of the road trip brought us to Coogee. A laidback seaside town that is likened to a ‘little sister’ to the renowned Bondi Beach. But that is exactly the appeal of Coogee. Relax ambience with many activities that will endear any visitors to return.

A great day to be out at the beach in Coogee. Or a stroll along the coastal walk to take in the beautiful sights is highly recommended.

One of several ocean baths along the coastline. Here is a lady playing ‘throw and fetch’ with her pet dog at Giles Bath, which is known as Bogey Hole.

The coastline has many nice rock formations that you can shoot unique angles, especially good for your Instagram.

A must-visit venue at Coogee has to be Coogee Pavilion. It is a multi-story dining establishment created by Sydney hotel baron Justin Hemmes. Located on the beachfront, the pavilion has a rooftop with sweeping views of the ocean and serves beach-inspired cocktails and a good list of local beers. Downstairs, things are more family-friendly, with a dedicated wood-fired pizza menu and nostalgic games room replete with giant Scrabble, ping-pong, and an in-house theatre. This place gets packed during summer, so it’s best to book in advance. (Australia Guide)

Lovely artwork menu, with many great dishes and drink you can choose.

Enjoy the brisk service and vibrant ambience of the lifestyle hub.

Reasonably priced freshest Pacific Oysters for seafood lovers. Love the pizza too.

The Coogee Pavilion at dusk. Perfect for a night out. Australian suburbs tend to quieten down after sundown but not this venue at Coogee, so it is nice to have a place to stretch the enjoyment.

Conclusion

This “Mountain to Coast Adventure in New South Wales, Australia was definitely memorable. Steeped in nature, adventures, and wonderful cuisine. The 1-week road trip felt like only 3-4 days as we truly enjoyed every single day. Be it for couples or families, NSW has something for anyone and everyone.

Many sincere thanks for coming along on my pixels journey.

Footnote: All pictures used in this travelogue are copyrighted to Jensen Chua Photography and Jetabout Holidays and all rights reserved. The opinion expressed is factual, objective, and that of the author.

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