Welcome to Life Images by Jill

Welcome to Life Images by Jill.........Stepping into the light and bringing together the images and stories of our world. I am a photographer, writer and multi-media artist.
Focussing mainly on Western Australia and Australia, I am seeking to preserve images and memories of the beautiful world in which we live and the people in it.

Welcome!

Welcome!
PLEASE CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO GO TO MY RED BUBBLE STORE.

Monday 9 September 2019

Half lap of Australia

Hi everyone! I'm back! If you are wondering where I have been the last couple of months we have been travelling a half lap of Australia - starting in the south west corner of Western Australia, north up along the Western Australian coast to Kununurra, across into the Northern Territory to Darwin at the top of Australia, around Kakadu National Park, then down the centre to Alice Springs and Coober Pedy in the dry centre, to the south of the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia, before returning home across the Nullarbor -  13,329 kilometers in 7 weeks and 3 days, 16 caravan parks and 11 free camps. Phew!  You can see a rough idea of our trek on this map which I have marked in red.





16 caravan parks - some not as shady as this one in Mataranka the Northern Territory



And 11 free bush camps



We crossed three state borders - Western Australia, Northern Territory and South Australia



 Australia is a big country and we certainly saw a lot in the seven weeks.


Stunning and unique wildflowers - this is the Sturt's Desert Pea


Iconic boab trees - a feature of northern Western Australia and parts of the Northern Territory


We learnt about Australia's war history and the bombing of Darwin and northern Australia during World War 11, and visited a war cemetery in Adelaide River, south of Darwin



And explored history and enjoyed art in museums and art galleries 



We saw amazing wild creatures on three billabong cruises - this is a salt water "estuarine" crocodile in Kakadu - not to be confused with the freshwater crocodile - you don't want to mess with these guys, they have been known to kill and eat people! You have to be careful where you swim in northern Australia!



And birds - this is a Jabiru, native to northern Australia



We flew over the flooded, normally dry salt Lake Eyre, Australia's inland sea. 


 And went on two ranger walk and talks on "country" in Kakadu to learn about the natural environment and aboriginal history through their cave paintings


I sat with an aboriginal woman on a mat under the trees in Kakadu and wove a bangle with pandanas leaves


We floated in thermal pools - this one is at Bitter Springs in Mataranka - don't forget the "noodles"!


swam under waterfalls - this is Wangi Falls in Litchfield National Park


 And showed in rustic outdoor showers  - this is at Barn Hill south of Broome in Western Australia



Saw some film locations featured in - Crocodile Dundee in Kakadu in the Northern Territory


And Mad Max at Coober Pedy in South Australia



 And visited a lonely graveyard which brought characters from the book "We of the Never Never" by Jeanie Gunn to life.... I re-read it while we were away


Saw amazing sunrises and sunsets - this is Yellow Waters Billabong, Kakadu


Walked on near deserted pristine beaches - this is Barn Hill, Western Australia


 Visited historic townships  - especially throughout the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia - they are doing fantastic work preserving their heritage buildings



Had a drink in outback pubs - this is the iconic Daly Waters pub


And ate a crocodile schnitzel - in Darwin - my husband had buffalo


Drove over rough desert roads - this is the Coober Pedy to William Creek road in South Australia - very corrugated!


 Walked beside palm lined rivers - this is the walk into Maguk Falls in Kakadu



 Floated on a boat among the water lillies - this is Yellow Waters in Kakadu



 And saw rugged coastal scenery in South Australia - next stop from here is Antartica


 AND we met my long time blogging buddy Marion, and her husband, from Redz Australia blog in South Australia. After nearly 10 years enjoying each others blogs it was FABULOUS to finally meet! Please visit her blog if you get a chance. I love her light and breezy writing style. She has lots of fabulous info on Australian travel. We could easily have talked for days not hours!



There is so much to show and tell you about, so over the next few weeks I will take you on a tour. I hope you will join me.

My apologies for not visiting your blogs over the last 8 weeks or so. I tried to keep away from my computer and social media while I was away. It was nice to have a blogging break.  After 8 weeks it is taking me a little while to get back into the swing of life again.

Outback phone technology
 Thank you so much for stopping by. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 

I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

Hello there! I love reading your comments. If you scroll down to the bottom you can comment too! I would love to hear from you.

22 comments:

  1. An adventure of a lifetime! Many of the sights you saw would not be what we think of that country. I loved that big bird that looks a lot like our stork! And how nice to meet a blog buddy! Wonderful photos to share! WOW!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks. So what sort of country do you imagine when you think of Australia?

      Delete
  2. Jill - welcome back. I knew that when you returned, you would have an epic story for us, and I was not disappointed with this "appetizer" post. EPIC! And to think this is only a half lap of Australia - what a country! Glad you gave us a full-size picture of the Desert Pea - I was squinting at the mosaic, trying to figure it out! So glad to have you back at Mosaic Monday!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've missed you all! but enjoyed being out of blog land too!

      Delete
  3. What a fantastic trip, full of adventure and doing unique things. I'm sure you have many stories tucked up your sleeve. Glad you're back and settling in again.

    ReplyDelete
  4. What an exciting trip. Do you call free bush camps boondocking like we do here in Canada and the States? - Margy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL I had to look up "Boondocking" - but yes basically, free camping in designated free camping places off the highway - usually "truck bays", designated rest areas, or places people have pushed into the bush particularly near river bridges or rock outcrops. But not in parking lots, no.

      Delete
  5. Wow - what a fabulous adventure! Can't wait to hear more....

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks for the great photos. We did that trip 10 years ago, leaving from Adelaide and up through Darwin and down the west coast. I am looking forward to more photos as you have really captured the beauty of Australia.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. in reverse to us! We timed our trip to have better weather in the NT

      Delete
  7. what an adventure! gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Fabulous! We drove the Coober Pedy to Williams!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. we hadn't been on this road before but we have driven the Oodnadatta Track last time.

      Delete
  9. You have some very unusual plants and trees there! It sounds like you enjoyed the "driveabout" and got some much needed rest and recovery!

    ReplyDelete
  10. So glad you are back Jill, but I expected you were gone on an adventure! And that it was, my goodness, you could start a book (traveling guide) with all the info on your trip. Thoroughly enjoyed this. You also must have passed several weather zones, eh? Love that red creeping flower! I can understand, it will take a while to get in the rhythm of being at home - hope it will go fast. Many thanks for sharing some of it at All Seasons and have a restful week!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yes we had summer gear and winter gear. Our thick coats stowed under the seat in the caravan till we got down into South Australia. Glad we had them!

      Delete
  11. Hey Jill! What an awesome adventure you had. Your photos and words got me excited to want to do something similar in my neck of the woods. So much to see, so much joy in seeing. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Wow! The things you've seen! Just wow....

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wow! What a trip! I'm in the States but my daughter has lived in Sydney- and is now moving back in January - and it's her dream to make the trip that you just completed. Maybe someday I'll go with her!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is a big trip! And we have only see this half of Australia. Still to do the "other" eastern half.

      Delete
  14. So many wonderful sights - and I'm sure smells and sounds as well. What a wonderful trip and as always fantastic photos. I loved your sort of postcard dossier in this post because it gave me a wonderful taste of so many of the places you visited. What an amazing country we get to call home. I can't wait to explore more, and look forward to some of your more in depth posts to follow.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I must say one of the highlights was meeting Marion

      Delete

I hope you have enjoyed your visit to my blog. Thank you for stopping by and for taking the time to comment. I read and very much appreciate every comment and love hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return.