outback rover adventures

Wakeboarder

2012-02-14T06:10:00.000+10:00

A popular activity at the lake is wakeboarding. This boat is all set to go.

Boat Ride

2012-02-13T05:08:00.000+10:00

I was lucky enough to get a ride on the lake in a great little alloy fishing boat. Of course I had to take my camera with me, I was not going to miss showing you all the lake from a new perspective.

Paddle For Play

2012-02-12T10:47:00.001+10:00

A canoe regatta on an early Sunday morning at the lake.

East Leichhardt Waterhole

2012-02-11T11:09:00.000+10:00

A quiet waterhole on the East Leichhardt River. On another note, this is the 1000'th post since I started this blog nearly five years ago. Outback Rover's 5'th birthday is coming up soon too.

Waterhole

2012-02-08T05:58:00.000+10:00

A secluded waterhole near the Cascades just outside Mount Isa.

Field Of Spinifex

2012-02-07T06:09:00.000+10:00

A field of Spinifex grass grows tall in the wide brown land near Mount Isa.

Overflow

2012-02-01T05:05:00.000+10:00

The Lake Moondarra overflow channel.

Bug

2012-01-31T06:02:00.000+10:00

A brightly coloured insect walks along the Lake Moondarra overflow wall oblivious to the enormous volume of water which the wall under its feet safely contains.

To The Brim

2012-01-30T05:58:00.000+10:00

Yep, Moondarra is definitely full to the brim with water.

A Lake View

2012-01-29T05:52:00.000+10:00

Lake Moondarra at almost full capacity.

Trackside Tree

2012-01-28T05:14:00.000+10:00

A tree on the side of a bush track.

Water Crossing

2012-01-27T06:11:00.000+10:00

One should always be careful with water crossings. This one looks very still and harmless, however on closer inspection was found to be just over knee deep. Not something you want to drive into without the right vehicle.

Happy Australia Day

2012-01-26T16:09:00.001+10:00

Some recent rains around Mount Isa have caused some of the smaller creeks to flow. This creek is on the way to East Leichhardt dam and makes for a nice cascade.

Gone Batty

2012-01-23T05:31:00.000+10:00

Look very closely at the dark spots in this photo and you might see something unexpected. A small colony of micro-bats at the poison waterhole.

Sun Rock

2012-01-22T05:53:00.000+10:00

Sun Rock with a nearly empty waterhole. The waterhole was guarded by an old bull who refused to move from his prime spot on some damp, shady sand.

Random Perambulator

2012-01-17T06:35:00.000+10:00

As I ambled up Telstra Hill I came across this pram randomly abandoned by the road. It made me wonder how it had come to be left here.

Mary K

2012-01-16T05:20:00.000+10:00

The old open cut affectionately known as Mary K after the Mary Kathleen township that was nearby. It used to supply uranium ore, or yellow cake. I've visited here several times in the past, but this time I think I got a photo to do the view justice.

Beautiful Waterhole

2012-01-15T05:10:00.000+10:00

The swimming hole known as Poison Waterhole. It's an old open cut mine, now full of clear water and good for a cool swim on a hot day.

Full Capacity

2012-01-14T06:20:00.000+10:00

Lake Moondarra is very nearly full to the brim from the rains last year. Unfortunately there has been very little rain so far in 2012 and the catchment creeks and rivers are quite dry.

Indigenous Painting

2012-01-13T05:46:00.000+10:00

Some paintings left behind by people long ago at a cool waterhole near Mount Isa.

Mount Isa

2012-01-12T06:07:00.000+10:00

The town of Mount Isa under a clear blue summer sky. It is unusually dry this season, not much monsoon rain here at the moment.

Longreach

2012-01-11T08:24:00.000+10:00

Every drive through Longreach takes you past these huge Qantas planes. No where else can you get so close to a 747 unless you work at an airport.

Brisbane 2012

2012-01-07T06:06:00.000+10:00

Brisbane as seen from Mount Coot-tha in 2012. The tall building on the left was not there at this time last year.

Hell's Gates

2012-01-05T04:58:00.000+10:00

Antipodean to the heavens above are Hell's Gates at Noosa. This wonderful vista can be found looking south toward Alexandria Bay.

Blue Pacific

2012-01-04T05:53:00.000+10:00

Standing on the edge of Australia and looking East one can see the sea that stretches for miles (and the Moon). This is the great big blue Pacific Ocean, as seen here from Noosa Heads. The distance beckons, and it would be impolite to refuse.

Stairway To Heaven

2012-01-03T05:06:00.000+10:00

The stairway to heaven that has been built recently up Mount Coolum.

Glasshouse New Year's Eve

2011-12-31T11:18:00.002+10:00

The Glasshouse Mountains on New Year's Eve 2011 as seen from Wildhorse mountain.

Gotye Sans Kimbra

2011-12-30T06:44:00.001+10:00

Gotye rocking the huge crowd at the Amphi at the Woodford Folk Festival.

Woodford

2011-12-29T09:33:00.001+10:00

An evening scene on a quiet lane at the Woodford Folk Festival 2011. The folk festival has grown since I last visited over 10 years ago and become a bit more commercial, but it still has the same relaxed, friendly atmosphere and great music.

Azure Kingfisher

2011-12-28T05:11:00.000+10:00

An Azure Kingfisher looks for its next meal in the water below.

Christmas Comet Lovejoy

2011-12-27T06:05:00.000+10:00

Sounding like something from the Simpson's is comet Lovejoy 2011 W3. It recently passed very close to the sun and is visible in the early morning hours before sunrise. It is well worth a look as comets like this don't come along every dynasty.

Christmas Surf

2011-12-26T06:35:00.000+10:00

The closed beaches on the Sunshine Coast meant small crowds on a usually busy Christmas afternoon at the beach. A few onlookers came down to check out the large dumping swells hit the beach at Mooloolaba, and a few people even braved the surf for a swim.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T06:09:00.000+10:00

Merry Christmas blogospherical people!

Friendly Frog

2011-12-24T05:41:00.000+10:00

A friendly green frog jumped on my boot to say hello, so I snapped a photo.

Orion Rising

2011-12-22T05:35:00.000+10:00

Orion rises over a small observatory at Beerwah. Taurus is also visible to the left (north) of Orion.

Sandy

2011-12-21T05:45:00.000+10:00

I went to rainbow beach and all I got was this photo of some sand.

Feline

2011-12-20T05:42:00.000+10:00

As Maxwell Smart would say, "Would you believe I took a photo of a cat? How about a boy scout who took a photo of a cat?". Well I did take a photo of a cat in a grassy green garden.

Windsurfing

2011-12-19T06:14:00.000+10:00

A windsurfer enjoys some wavesailing in a steady south-easterly off Dicky Beach at Caloundra.

Maleny Arts Retreat

2011-12-18T05:46:00.000+10:00

I had a visit to the Maleny Arts Retreat. It is a wonderfully tranquil place to hang out.

Shipwreck

2011-12-16T05:55:00.000+10:00

At Woody Point near Redcliffe lies this old shipwreck, the HMQS Gayundah. Apparently it was the first naval ship with wireless telegraphy commissioned to the colony of Australia.

Star Trails

2011-12-15T05:40:00.000+10:00

The tales a star would tell from its trails. This is the Orion nebula (red glow, centre) as it moves across the field of view. I finally got the chance to put my DSLR onto the telescope and this was the result. Two minutes at f6, 360mm TeleVue.

Paragliding

2011-12-14T05:57:00.000+10:00

Paragliders taking advantage of an onshore wind at Point Cartwright.

Waves

2011-12-13T06:22:00.000+10:00

The waves roll in at Point Cartwright at the mouth of the Mooloolah River.

Skating Winton

2011-12-12T05:57:00.000+10:00

It's good to take a break during a long drive. Doing a convoy with a skater meant stopping in to try out the local skate park at Winton, and I had a chance to practice some photography skills.

Road Trip

2011-12-11T06:00:00.000+10:00

A road trip convoy from the Isa to the coast passes through a dry area near Winton.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like A Christmas Tree

2011-12-08T06:43:00.000+10:00

The Mount Isa Christmas Tree is all lit up again for 2011.

Mount Isa Evening

2011-12-07T05:40:00.000+10:00

A wonderful evening view of Mount Isa. Tomorrow's post will be my last from Mount Isa for a while as I take a short break and go for a drive. Not to worry, you'll still find regular posts from my adventures along the way.

Overcast Morning

2011-12-06T06:04:00.000+10:00

Sunday was an overcast morning at the lake with a light breeze rippling the water.

Water Level

2011-12-05T05:58:00.000+10:00

The water level on Sunday morning at Lake Moondarra was approximately 83%. I expect we shall see an overflow in the coming month into January.

Painted Sky

2011-12-04T05:05:00.000+10:00

A suburban skyscape at sunset.

Sunbeam

2011-12-03T06:22:00.000+10:00

The Moon and Venus come together as sunbeams light up dust in the sky.

ABC Breakfast

2011-12-02T17:28:00.001+10:00

I dropped in on the local ABC Northwest office this morning for a free bacon and egg burger and a friendly chat. The occasion was their twenty-fifth birthday.

Web Spinner

2011-12-01T05:38:00.000+10:00

A golden orb web spinning spider hanging out for the next meal.

Mangoes

2011-11-30T05:35:00.000+10:00

The mangoes are looking plump and ripe for the picking in the back yard.

Frangipani

2011-11-29T05:33:00.000+10:00

Some new growth on the frangipani tree in the front yard.

Beautiful Tree

2011-11-28T05:05:00.000+10:00

One of my favourite tree shots so far. Outback skies and eucalypts make good photos.

Flying Kangaroo

2011-11-27T08:49:00.001+10:00

I was out walking in the middle of nowhere and this flying kangaroo came past. It definitely is the transport mode of choice in this big country.

Beautiful Day

2011-11-26T11:07:00.001+10:00

It was such a beautiful big blue sky day in Mount Isa this morning that I had to go to the lookout for a photo. Here it is.

Freshly Washed

2011-11-22T05:57:00.000+10:00

A freshly washed landscape on a warm and humid, stormy afternoon.

Drenching

2011-11-21T06:05:00.000+10:00

A summer storm sweeps by and dumps some rain on the dry hills.

Astronomy Evening

2011-11-20T08:31:00.001+10:00

Preparing for an astronomy evening at the lake.

Geometry In The Trees

2011-11-19T05:43:00.000+10:00

Scene from the Mount Isa City Council Civic Centre (try saying that 5 times).

Rigby Trickle

2011-11-08T06:07:00.000+10:00

After recent rains I headed to Rigby Falls to see if it was running. Unfortunately little rain had fallen in the catchment area.

Scorched

2011-11-07T06:00:00.000+10:00

A tree singed by fire. And rocks cleared of spinifex.

Storm Clouds

2011-11-03T06:03:00.000+10:00

Some storm clouds gather on the horizon. Rumbling thunder could be heard and a few lightning bolts seen, but I was not lucky enough to catch any on film.

Termite Hill

2011-11-02T05:49:00.000+10:00

A quiet hill in the outback.

Outback Lightning Strike

2011-11-01T05:02:00.000+10:00

An electric bolt of energy hits the ground in the distance. The light is red because of the high dust content of the air due to recent grass fires. An amazing atmospheric display. See a short video of the action below.

Rock

2011-10-31T05:39:00.000+10:00

A wonderful array of rocks with some oxidised iron.

Fireworks Display

2011-10-29T21:36:00.002+10:00

After the fireworks at the Lake Moondarra Fishing Classic 2011, a fire started on Duck Island.

Mount Isa With Rain

2011-10-26T06:03:00.000+10:00

A rain cloud passes over Mount Isa's north and precipitates.

Midday Heat

2011-10-24T05:55:00.000+10:00

The lake at midday on a beautiful Sunday.

We Are Sailing

2011-10-23T12:54:00.000+10:00

Some sailors, getting ready for a sail at the lake.

Pole House

2011-10-21T06:00:00.000+10:00

That's not a pole house, this is a pole house!

Tropical Garden

2011-10-20T06:05:00.000+10:00

A tropical garden by the sea at Rowes bay.

Fountain

2011-10-19T05:30:00.000+10:00

A fountain at the Seagull's resort in Townsville.

Isan Suburbia

2011-10-14T05:30:00.000+10:00

The typical Mount Isan suburb at sunset on a lazy Sunday arvo.

Sunset Hill View

2011-10-13T06:00:00.000+10:00

The view from the hill behind Sunset in Mount Isa's north-eastern suburbs.

Home

2011-10-12T05:00:00.000+10:00

On cannot travel without returning to something that resembles home.

Hot Springs

2011-10-11T05:30:00.000+10:00

The view from a thermal hot spring on the way to Methven from Wanaka. Spectacular.

Obligatory Sheep

2011-10-10T06:00:00.000+10:00

One can't go to New Zealand and leave out a photo of some sheep. This herd was heading down the highway to the next paddock as our bus came along.

Cardrona

2011-10-09T05:30:00.000+10:00

Some beautiful back country scenery at Cardrona, near Wanaka. I think I was born to live in the snow. I loved this place.

Wakatipu

2011-10-08T05:00:00.000+10:00

Lake Wakatipu and Queenstown. The land of adventure and action. A place to inspire dreams.

Coronet

2011-10-07T05:30:00.000+10:00

That's where I need to go. Coronet Peak near Queenstown is an amazing place. There is plenty of terrain to explore and it's a great place to visit. I'll be back here again one day soon, I recommend it to anyone.

Fergburger

2011-10-06T06:00:00.000+10:00

The best burgers in Queenstown.

Remarkable Waterfront

2011-10-05T05:00:00.000+10:00

Part of the Remarkables mountain range along Lake Wakatipu waterfront at Queenstown.

Queenstown

2011-10-04T03:01:00.000+10:00

Picturesque Queenstown is a wonderful place to visit.

Jetboating

2011-10-03T05:30:00.000+10:00

New Zealand is the land of adventure, natural beauty and action. Jetboating is one of the things you have to try for some action.

Tekapo View

2011-10-02T06:47:00.000+10:00

Lake Tekapo and chapel. This glacial fed lake is extremely blue due to finely ground particles of rock in the water, which reflect the blue sky brilliantly.

Mount Hutt

2011-10-01T05:38:00.000+10:00

The summit view at Mount Hutt on a clear day. The Pacific Ocean is just visible in the east.

Snow

2011-09-30T05:10:00.000+10:00

It snowed while we were skiing at Mount Hutt.

Mount Hutt View

2011-09-29T05:08:00.000+10:00

Sunrise on Mount Hutt as seen from the chalet in Methven.

New Zealand

2011-09-28T09:41:00.001+10:00

A recent ski trip to New Zealand took me to Christchurch airport at 2 in the morning.

Wake

2011-09-20T06:47:00.000+10:00

Magnetic Island is left in our wake as we make course for Townsville.

Magnetic Island Ferry

2011-09-19T05:46:00.000+10:00

The vehicle ferry pulls in to Magnetic Island.

Strand Townsville

2011-09-18T05:40:00.000+10:00

On the Strand in Townsville. A great place for a walk.

Magnetic Isle Sunrise

2011-09-17T08:36:00.000+10:00

A sunrise on Magnetic Island. Spectacular.

Indian Cuisine

2011-09-04T12:11:00.000+10:00

A wonderful little Indian takeaway in Mount Isa, Camooweal St. The beef vindaloo and pappadams are fantastic and so is their Thai.

Netball Finals

2011-09-04T06:07:00.001+10:00

'Tis the season of grand finals in Mount Isa and Saturday night was the turn of Netball. This was the clash between Cruisers and Panthers for A-grade reserve.

The Carnival Is Over

2011-08-22T05:03:00.000+10:00

The rodeo has finished in Mount Isa for another year, and the rodeo grounds lie empty and quiet till the next event.

Rodeo!

2011-08-14T05:26:00.000+10:00

Good old rodeo time again in Mount Isa. The population of the town swells and people go a little crazy with rodeo fever.