I had just spent two weeks riding around the North and South Islands of New Zealand with close friends. We rented a car, bought a teepee, and spent our days checking out the gorgeous scenery and nights spent under the stars. We had a blast, but now my friends were gone. I was all alone. The time had come to finally start hitchhiking. New Zealand is notorious for hitchhiking. The country is filled with friendly people who are used to picking … [Read more...]
Great Barrier Reef Capsizing & Rescue Story
I have been to Queensland several times over the years but each time I've never had the chance to visit the Great Barrier Reef. It has been on my "bucket list" for a very long time. During my latest trip earlier this year I was fortunate to finally be able to visit this reef, certainly one of the planet's most inspiring underwater and above water destinations. During my time exploring the reef I met an engaging individual, Nick Lynch. I've … [Read more...]
Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, Cairns Queensland
I have spent the last few days exploring the Daintree Rainforest (the world's oldest rainforest) from the ground; now it was time to see it from above the canopy level. Fortunately the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway is located just outside of Cairns. This is one of the do not miss Daintree Rainforest experiences. 7.5 Km of cable opened in 1995 and now brings passengers from near sea level up to 545 meters at its highest spot. Cable cars are … [Read more...]
A Fine Day Trolling the Coral Sea with Outrageous Fishing Charters
Billy Hansen is a first rate captain, a "salty dog" in all senses of that phrase. He comes with a number of tattoos, a scraggly long beard, at times salty language and nearly always a cigarette hanging out of the mouth. He is doing what he loves - introducing people to the world of ocean fishing on the local reefs just offshore from Port Douglas in Northern Queensland, Australia. Billy has fished all over the world from Fiji to California and up … [Read more...]
A Fine Day on Kangaroo Island, South Australia
As you get older and experience more you innately lose some sense of youthful exuberance and excitement that is fueled at times by that awesome and rare combination of place, music, weather and experience. It has been a while since I truly felt this unique and rare inspiration on my travels, but today, Kangaroo Island certainly rekindled this for me. On such a fine day I needed music. Other genres of music have their appropriate times to … [Read more...]
“Pelican Pete”, Kangaroo Island
"Pelican Pete" I called him. I never found out his real name or even if he has a nickname but I know that he has been feeding pelicans on Kangaroo Island for some time - "every day of the year", he said to the tune of $40,000 AUD for food for the birds. With "pelican feeder" as a job description, one needs an appropriate nickname! We pulled in to the Pelican dock around 445pm (the pelican feeding always starts at 5pm) near the small town of … [Read more...]
A Day of Rain, Australian Outback
To one who was expecting desert like conditions, extreme dry temperatures and nothing but blue skies today was a rude awakening! We spent the night camping near the Glen Helen Gorge on the banks of the barely flowing Finke River. This River is among the oldest rivers in the world - dated at a whopping 65 million years - give or take a few million! We awoke to rain falling on our tents at 4am and not letting up for several hours. After several … [Read more...]
Uluru at Sunrise
You crankily awake at some ungodly hour like 4am to get ready to head out to see the sunrise on the face of Uluru. You are tired from drinking and staying up late to watch the brilliant stars the night before. You really don't want to roll out of bed. But when you are standing in front of this orange monolith sleep is the furthest thing from your mind. The sun slowly rises and caps Uluru in a gentle light bathing it softly then becoming … [Read more...]
Notes from the Great Australian Outback, Northern Territory
Garth Brooks, "Friends in Low Places" was playing at some point in the last few days in one of our tour vehicles. The trend in music among the outfitters seems to be older American Country. I'm perfectly fine with that. I didn't hear about the incredible amount of flies in the Outback this particular year prior to my trip - probably something to do with all the rain they've had here. There is a cream you can dab on your face which keeps them … [Read more...]
Camels to Sounds of Silence, Uluru Australia
Riding Camels in Australia? I thought present day camels were native to parts of the Middle East and parts of the Horn of Africa? In fact they are, but were brought to this part of the country in 1840 from the Canary Islands. Nine camels were originally brought over - all but one died en route and that one was eventually killed - but then more arrived. More than fifteen hundred camels were released into the wild many generations ago - and … [Read more...]