Destination: Australia

Only A Fool Blames the Rain For His Bad Vacation

Sun, 10 Dec 2023 | By graynomadsusa | Views [143]

WEATHER ALONG THE COAST OF SOUTH Australia has been hit or miss—and we’ve been missing. This isn’t the Robe we remember—sunny days swimming on Long Beach, succulent lobsters just off the boats and oysters fresh from the sea. It’... Read more >

Rollin' On The River

Thu, 7 Dec 2023 | By graynomadsusa | Views [175]

THE MURRAY RIVER, THAT IS. Connie pointed out that not only had we rolled on this same river in 2004, we had been on the same Paddle Vessel Rothbury . As I recall, that trip included lunch at a winery, this one just cruised through Murray Lock 11 and ... Read more >

Heatstroke Scare

Wed, 6 Dec 2023 | By kiwiaoraki | Views [121]

Jervis Bay is part of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), and was established so the capital could have a seaport. Yesterday was a gorgeous albeit warm day and as I was told there is a lot to see, I got out there to explore. I had to walk more than ... Read more >

Photos: Victoria—Around Mildura

Tue, 5 Dec 2023 | By graynomadsusa | Photo Gallery

Photos: Jervis Bay

Tue, 5 Dec 2023 | By kiwiaoraki | Photo Gallery

Naracoorte Caves National Park—Underground Down Under

Fri, 1 Dec 2023 | By graynomadsusa | Views [161]

WE HAD NEVER HEARD OF AUSTRALIA’S FOSSIL Mammal Sites World Heritage Area and all this while it’s been right under our feet! The constant drip…drip…drip of rainwater filtering through porous limestone over hundreds of thousands ... Read more >

Coorong National Park

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 | By graynomadsusa | Views [120]

KEITH IS HARDLY MORE THAN A WIDE SPOT in the road—two roads actually, the intersection of A8 and A66. The drive from Murray Bridge was nothing to write home about—only the “Silo Art” in Coonalpyn was worthy of a stop—and ... Read more >

The Bridge on the River Murray

Sun, 26 Nov 2023 | By graynomadsusa | Views [85]

MURRAY BRIDGE IS NEARLY 300 KM IN “RIVER MILES” downstream from Waikerie. Despite its name in the singular, there are actually three bridges that span the river at Murray Bridge. Not as many as Madison County but we didn’t have to cross ... Read more >

Photos: South Australia—Murraylands and the Limestone Coast

Fri, 24 Nov 2023 | By graynomadsusa | Photo Gallery

Thanksgiving Day Down Under

Thu, 23 Nov 2023 | By graynomadsusa | Views [104]

THE 5K TURKEY TROT HAS BECOME A Thanksgiving tradition for some in the US, an excuse to overindulge later in the day. There are no turkeys trotting Down Under so we decided on a walk in the woods instead and a chance to find a Purple-Crowned Lorikeet.... Read more >

Of Kangaroos, Lorikeets and Blue-Billed Ducks

Wed, 22 Nov 2023 | By graynomadsusa | Views [166]

IF OUR ACCOMMODATIONS CONTINUE TO IMPROVE at this rate they’ll rival Mar-A-Lago by the time we reach Melbourne! Christie’s Beach comes with everything except good weather—three bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms, a great kitchen and even ... Read more >

Four for the Birds—Adelaide's Birding Hotspots

Mon, 20 Nov 2023 | By graynomadsusa | Views [106]

THERE ARE SEVERAL BIRDING “HOTSPOTS” not far from our base in Adelaide. Not all were easy to find, Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary was barely accessible and Barker Inlet Wetlands along side the busy M2 highway was most definitely urban.... Read more >

Historic Port Adelaide

Sun, 19 Nov 2023 | By graynomadsusa | Views [180]

WE ARE BACK TO CIVILIZATION, for whatever that’s worth. Both Ports Augusta and Lincoln are actually small towns with fewer than 12,500 residents and hardly count. Now Adelaide, where we are resting our heads, is a real city! One point three million! ... Read more >

Photos: South Australia—Around Adelaide

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 | By graynomadsusa | Photo Gallery

Lincoln National Park

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 | By graynomadsusa | Views [104]

UNLIKE WELL-MANNERED CHILDREN some birds prefer to be heard and not seen. This is especially true for the Western Whipbird, one of Australia’s rarest. We spent two chilly mornings hiking around Lincoln National Park alternately playing the call ... Read more >