Last Post 2012

A dinosaur roams free at the Coolum Hyatt golf course. That would be quite scary if it were real.

Platypus Pond

A Sunshine Coast platypus takes an evening hunter-gathering swim for some food. Also known as foraging.

No Entry

True, one cannot drive into the ocean. There are always limitations.

Pumicestone Paddle

Pumicestone Passage is a great place to get out on the water for all manner of activities. 

Kite

Kitesufer enjoying an afternoon session at the beach. 

Currimundi Christmas Sunset

What better way to end a Christmas day than a walk at the beach? As a surprise gift the weather gave us a light show to finish the day in style.

White Sand Christmas

Wishing you all a very merry white sand Christmas!  In Australia Christmas occurs in the summer and there is not a snow flake's chance you will see a white Christmas unless you head to the beach. (Or in some cases you may be lucky to see snow in Tassie at Xmas) Hope you all have a wonderful day.

Glasshouse Mountains

The Glasshouse Mountains water view.

Ocean View

The Pacific Ocean and Caloundra as seen from Bribie Island.

Fort Bribie

A trip up the ocean beach on Bribie Island will bring you to this northern most point for four wheel drive vehicles.  It is an old building from the second world war.  There are several such structures to be found on the beach and a fort walk track with further information can be followed.

Wharf Marina

One of my favourite places to visit on the Sunshine Coast is the Wharf Marina complex at Mooloolaba.

Lights On Boats

One of the brightly lit boats at the Mooloolaba Christmas Lights Boat Parade last night.

Mooloolaba Paddle

This morning I took the little kayak out for its first venture into the Pacific Ocean. Just a short paddle beyond the mouth of the Mooloolah River.

Christmas Lights

Some more Isan Christmas lights in the suburbs.

Mount Isan Christmas Lights

The Christmas lights of Mount Isa in the December desert.

Sunset Paddle

A sunset paddle on Lake Moondarra on a still evening.

Waterbirds

A cormorant and a young duckling like creature (possibly a lost cygnet?) share a morning swim.

Morning Serenity

The serene morning beauty of calm reflections near our campsite at East Leichhardt dam.

Campsite

Another highlight of camping is waking up with the sun and birds at a spectacular campsite.

Camping

One of the highlights of camping is having a fire to sit around.

Fishing

Night fishing has its hazards.  Snags are all to easy to come by.

East Leichhardt Sunset

Sunset over the East Leichhardt dam after a summer storm passed over.  Spectacular.

You Are Here

In the old town of Hightville, you can always find where you are on the map and there are plenty of places to see.  There are some extreme 4WD tracks and some not so extreme, so be careful where you drive.  Some tracks are not easy to return up nor have space to turn around.

Tunnel Vision

A driver's seat view of the old train tunnel at Wee MacGregor mine.

Sunrise Eclipse

Sunrise and the Moon was already eclipsing the Sun.  A thin veil of high cloud added an extra halo around the Sun.

A video taken through the telescope is also here.  Each time you hear a still photo being taken the video temporarily pauses.

Total Solar Eclipse

A diamond ring is seen as the Moon begins to uncover the Sun.  You can also see the white corona of the Sun extending outward from the lower left of the solar disc, and pink filaments or prominences of hydrogen gas being violently thrown around by the heat and magnetic fields of the Sun.  This photo was taken from the Burke Development Road in far north Queensland near the Chillagoe, Koyanyama junction next to the Mitchell River.

Update: A video showing the change in brightness during totality.  This was taken using a GoPro2.

Performance

The Australian Chamber Orchestra Ensemble, consisting of Veronique Serret, Rebecca Chan, Christopher Moore and Timo-Viekko Valve performing an impromptu piece at Devoncourt Station near Cloncurry recently.  Photo Credit: Sarah Conolan.  

I was lucky enough to catch their outstanding performance when they visited Mount Isa.

Moonrise

The full Moon rises silently behind a patient tree.

Tunnel

The old railway tunnel at Wee MacGregor mine.  Yes, the Suzuki did fit through.  

Australian Chamber Orchestra Ensemble

Last night the Australian Chamber Orchestra Ensemble visited Mount Isa to play some pieces.  This was the scene at the end of the show.  It was a wonderfully intimate performance with a small and very appreciative crowd.  

Dam Wall

This is as close as you are allowed to the dam wall on the water.

Pelican

A Pelican is disturbed as an intruder to its environs approaches.

Gathering

A warm evening as the boats and cars and people gather together in preparation for the fireworks spectacular at the lake.

Fishing Classic

The Lake Moondarra Fishing Classic is under way this weekend.  This was early in the morning before the crowds arrived.

Fireworks

An awesome display of shock and awe at the Lake Moondarra Fishing Classic fireworks display tonight.

Halo

Last weekend a halo surrounded the Sun.  It was caused by a thin layer of ice crystals at high altitude all refracting the light at just the right angle.  Pretty impressive.

Paddle

I recently bought a kayak.  Look out for more photos from the water as I go paddling around the outback.

Weather Radar

The brand spanking new weather radar built on Telstra hill near Mount Isa.  We will soon finally have our very own weather radar as soon as it comes online in the near future.

Andromeda

A photo of the Andromeda galaxy in the constellation of Pegasus.  To get a good photo of this galaxy more exposure time is required for my little telescope.

Kiwi Flag

The New Zealand flag in a stiff breeze.

Kiwi

A very large model of a Kiwi walking next to Lake Wakatipu.

Skier

A skier enjoys a beautiful afternoon of snow at Coronet Peak near Queenstown.

Remarkable

A remarkable view of the Remarkables mountain range in Queenstown.

Still Evening

A night scene from the bottom of the mall in Queenstown.

TSS Earnslaw

A famous steam ship on lake Wakatipu in Queenstown.  This ship was built by the same company that built the Titanic.

Cardrona

One of the wide open ski fields at Cardrona near Wanaka.  This is my favourite ski slope in New Zealand so far.

LEGO

Giant LEGO man mannequin poses in a shopfront in Wanaka.

Lake Wanaka

The wonderful water view in Wanaka.

Lake Tekapo

Lake Tekapo on an overcast day.

Church With A View

A pretty little church at Lake Tekapo.