28km east of Tumut lies Goobarragandra – well, the Goobarragandra River anyway. This is prime trout fishing territory and there’s a trout farm just downstream. But although BB is an avid angler the trout is out of season. We content ourselves with exploring the river.
The current swirling around boulders makes a nice photographic study.
Sometimes landscape photography is about being at the right place at the right time. This really applies for sunsets, especially winter sunsets. The sun dips so quickly that you have a mere five minutes in which to take shots before darkness falls.
Luckily in Tumut, I was in the right place at the right time. There was a beautiful strand of gum trees just opposite the cottage, so it was a matter of ducking out into the cold and taking as many shots as I could within those critical 5 minutes.
These trees were radiant in the golden winter sunset. I couldn’t help but be in awe as I looked up at the mottled trunk into the wispy canopy. It was a truly magical moment.
We’re at Black Mountain Tower. The last time I came here was probably in the late Eighties. Strangely, its interior (of the observation deck at least) doesn’t seem to have been renovated since then – the pebble-crete flooring is still in tact, and the cafe only serves retro favourites.
None of the interior detracts from the view outside, however.
We climbed the stairs to the two exterior observation floors, and the view was spectacular.
There weren’t any snow on the Brindabella Ranges though. That was quite good news for us, because we really didn’t want to drive on icy roads.
Lake Burley Griffin was calm on this bright and crisp Sunday morning. Many people were about walking, jogging, cycling, kayaking. Canberrans seem to be an active lot (relatively). Me, I spent some time reading a book in the sun – the warmest place to be.
In the distance is the Black Mountain tower. We’ll go there tomorrow.
If there’s two things that everyone in Australia knows about Canberra it’s that it’s full of roundabouts, and it’s bloody freezing in winter. Now I’ve experienced both at the same time.
Haven’t been this close to an active volcano before… But at Kintamani you can dine within view of one.
You can see from the photo above that the lava field is massive, because Gunung Batur (Mount Batur) is a pretty active volcano. But despite this, it’s a massive tourist attraction and lots of companies do sunrise hikes to the summit.
Black sand
Black as mud
Sea spray wisps
From pummelling sea
Footprints recede
Into majestic cliffs
Weathered driftwood
Like dinosaur bones
Bleached against black
Sensual sea
Smell, feel, taste
Invigorating
My soul to soar
Drawfed as am I
By such magnificence
In a secluded corner of Northland, far, far away from the tourist hordes of Bay of Islands, lies the jewel-like harbour of Hokianga. There are no buses – a battered old car is all you need – and no harbour bridges – you can only cross by car ferry.
It is tropical. The bush is actually sub-tropical rainforest, and they can grow macadamias and avocados and papayas and all other manner of tropical fruits there. It is coastal, with a massive dune system that stretches out into the ether.
It is also a very old place. Western civilisation may only be 150 years young there, but the forests themselves are thousands of years old. The trees there can be incredibly old, and when you look at the massive Tane Mahuta, you’re seeing history.
Hokianga has definitely left a mark on my memory.
If New Zealand is on the edge of the world, then Cape Reinga must be where you fall off!
A day touring around the tip of Northland is eye-opening in a lot of ways. From the holiday village of Ahipara to the listlessness of Kaitaia, from the wildness of Ninety Mile Beach to the sheltered harbours of the east coast, from sandboarding down dunes to sedately fishing in calm waters. There’s certainly a lot on offer, and I got a good sample of it.
Just returned from New Zealand. Yes, your honour, I might have a slight addiction to this country. Then again who could blame me. There are so many stunning places. Witness my latest journey to Northland. Might have only been gone a fortnight and driven less than the distance from Sydney to Brisbane, but I saw 10x as many things.
Northland actually reminds me a lot of the NSW North Coast, only much, much more laidback, and with the exception of Paihia, much less touristy. The area around Doubtless Bay is an example. Absolutely lovely place, and thankfully a place where tourist buses have yet to roam.
Static and Silence 