Australia for Christmas

The landscape photography trip was cancelled so no more Dorset this year.  This post is dedicated to my mum who died in November at 91.  Mum enjoyed her travels too.  I had booked my Australia trip early in 2018 and decided to carry on with it.

I arrived in Brisbane after a good flight and taken to Anna and Leon where I stayed a couple of nights and reacquainting myself with little Theo, my great nephew.  Anna took me to Bribie Island on Saturday to stay with my sister Ady and her dogs Blue and Chillie.  Lots of sunset watching and dog walking before travelling back to Brisbane on Saturday before Christmas.  We were all off to Melbourne then to Geelong to visit with Pierre and Toy and the latest addition to the family, Audrey, my great niece.

View from Mount Mee

Woods on Bribie 

Wetlands on Bribie

On Monday at Bribie, Ady treated Anna and I to a Bribie safari with Jason at https://www.gdayadventuretours.com

At one of the many lagoons

Australian oyster catchers

At Fort Bribie

Taking a walk

Rain was forecast and umbrellas also good for shade

More trees

Crab posing

Beachcombing

Crow lookout

Walking the dogs, watching the sunset and snapping the lorikeets made our evenings on Bribie

Ady with Blue and Chillie

Lorikeets

Up early to take the dogs on the beach at Beachmere

Soldier or army crabs

Chillie and the ball

Jellies on the beach

Sea cucumber

Throw me that ball

Ady introduced me to the Bribie rocks.  We painted some stones then planted them along the esplanade.  There is a Facebook page where people post placing them and finding them.  I have placed one I did later in Taunton.  Wait to see if it makes the Facebook page.

Our rocks

One of mine which made the Facebook page as it was found

View from the Esplanade

Back to Beachmere early Saturday morning

Another photographer on the beach taking images of the horse and rider

Audrey on Christmas Day

We went to Ocean Grove for a swim and to watch the activity

Audrey on Thursday at our apartment

We met Pierre and Toy at a French cafe in Geelong for breakfast then walked along the foreshore.  Then off to Melbourne airport for the flight back to Brisbane.

Leon at the lights

Back for the night at Anna and Leon's.  We were having a leisurely breakfast out, Theo was with Leon when Leon rang to say Theo had hit his head on the coffee table and fell asleep.  Doctor said he was fine but checked Leon out as he had had some spots on him for a few days - Shingles!  Ady and I left them to it and went back to Bribie.

Pelican in the sunset

In camera movement of the gondola and sunset

Ady and I walked from Woorim Beach to Red Beach early on Sunday morning

Throwing sticks and ball for the dogs

Chillie surfing

A man builds these shelters along the beach

Blue having a shake

Brahminy kite

Looking towards Red beach.  You can see the entrance by the people by it.  Click for the larger version

Two little wa was

Reflections

A large group of Weimaraner dogs, all related, on the beach.  The husky was the odd one out

Bribie bridge taken from Red beach

Stick throw

 Another drink and snacks on the esplanade watching the sunset.  This time we were joined by Ady's friends Katherine and Dale.  A good time was had by all.

Straight shot

In camera movement

On New Year's Eve, Ady and I went to Wild Horse Mountain for the view.

View over to Glass House Mountains

Bruce Highway

Our sunset viewing on Bribie continues.

New Year's Eve sunset

Blossoms on the way to Sylvan Esplanade

Viewing the Glass House Mountains

In camera movement sunsets

Glass House Mountains

Trees in sunset

Lone tree

On Wednesday, Ady and I went to Caloundra to meet up with Sally and Peter, my fellow walkers in Peru (pre blog).  We met them for coffee at Kings Beach.  The beach was already crowded with people having a good time.  Ady and I went to an art supply shop and then to Mooloolaba and had lunch there.  Lovely vibe on the seafront, similar to Noosa.

Kings beach to the right of the swimming pool

Kings Beach to the left of the swimming pool

Kings Beach fun

Container ship turning in the passageway

Of course we ended our day with a walk down to Sylvan Esplanade and the sunset.

Cockatoo performing somersaults on the wire

Went to West Patch with the dogs on Thursday morning and discovered Kakadu beach bird reserve which Ady hadn't been to.  No dogs so we returned in the evening for our sunset viewing.  Lots of clouds so we looked at the birds instead.

Black winged stilts

Type of honeyeater

Buff banded Rail

Anna came over for a couple of nights and joined us for our sunset viewing.

Copied this composition from Anna

A couple of icm sunsets

On Saturday evening we finally made it to the low tide islands in the passageway.  Well I stayed on one to photograph the others.  There were a lot of people about.  Ady has it to herself usually.

Circus trick

New puppy on a walk

Matilda the kitten, born on Halloween on her walk

Ady's flowering bromeliad

On Sunday we popped to the markets and I had a look at the birding site with this view

After the markets and lunch,  I said goodbye to Ady and went back to Brisbane with Anna.  We took Theo to swimming on Monday and then to Daycare.  I will miss him lots.  Then to the Botanic Gardens.

Icm waterfalls.  Not sure if they work

Lots of spiders

Multi exposure bonsai

Fruit bat sculpture

dragonfly sculpture

Reflection

Icm treeroots

Koala sculpture

water dragon

View of Brisbane from the top

 That is all the photos.  I had a lovely time.  Learnt a new game - Catan and became addicted.  Played the Game of Thrones version on Sunday night.  Flew back with Emirates and was upgraded to First Class from Dubai to Gatwick.  Shower on the plane, yes please.  Found I am now a Silver member after my return trip and entitled to the business lounge.  I joined the BA loyalty scheme in 2006, and always flew One World but only made bronze once which hardly entitles you to anything.  I know which airline I will be loyal to!!!

Flying to Canada on 26th January with BA though as I could finally make use of those Avios points and have £200.  I will make do with Economy though and have to forego the lounge.