Yank down under, final chapter: Blue Mountains

[NorthernFocus]

For our last three days down under we left the coast and headed for the Blue Mountains. Living in Alaska which is flush with mountains and knowing those in Australia were geologically ancient and not very high in altitude, I didn't have high hopes of being overly impressed. Boy was I wrong. What the Blue Mountains lack in grandeur and towering peaks, they make up for in diversity. The overall experience was wonderful and we wished we had allotted more time to this portion of out trip.

It took us the better part of a day to make the drive from Nowra to Katoomba by way of Kangaroo Valley and Fitzroy Falls. We arrived and checked in to our B&B with plenty of time to walk down to Echo Point and take in sunset on the famous Three Sisters.





We made a couple of treks down into the valley. One down the Grand Staircase and back up by way of Leura Falls and the other into the Valley of the Waters. Like everywhere else we'd been the place was flush with birds. And the greenery of the rain forest defies description. Adequately capturing the size of the tree ferns and the impression they leave on one was beyond my photography skills. The water and birds I could handle.











One last Cockatoo



King Parrot





And my favorite of the parrot types, the mild mannered Crimson Rosella.





We departed the Blue Mountains for the airport and our trip back to the wintry north. As we headed home, there was one thought on our minds.... "We'll be back!"

[Sergio M.]

Another engaging series. Beautiful landscapes and wildlife.

Sergio

[deetheturk]

More stunning images Dan,looks like you guys had a truly wonderful trip,thanks for sharing!

Cheers David

[pnodrog]

You must just about be ready to change your name to SouthernFocus as you got so many great shots while you were in Australia.

[dje]

Great set of shots Dan. You've "done us proud".

Dave

[kaneohebud]

Very nice work, Dan. And beautiful birds.

[NorthernFocus]

Thanks for looking and commenting, folks. Glad you enjoyed the photos. I surely enjoyed shooting them and then again processing. I finally finished going through the last of them tonight.

Dave, I did my best to represent you folks well. You've got a beautiful country down there. I foresee contributing substantially to the economy with my tourist dollars over the next few years. Since it's so far we'll likely make twofer trips and take in NZ also.

[IzzieK]

I am glad you enjoy your trip to Australia...one day when you go back, try to see Tassie (Tasmania) just across the pond from Melbourne...if you enjoy rainforests, you will enjoy Tasmania too...NZ used to be an Aussie territory. It is also beautiful there -- just too windy for me. I like their accent...and the Kiwis are very friendly people too.

Thanks for looking and commenting, folks. Glad you enjoyed the photos. I surely enjoyed shooting them and then again processing. I finally finished going through the last of them tonight.

Dave, I did my best to represent you folks well. You've got a beautiful country down there. I foresee contributing substantially to the economy with my tourist dollars over the next few years. Since it's so far we'll likely make twofer trips and take in NZ also.

[Black Pearl]

Great set of images - you've captures the character of the place perfectly.

[Donald]

... and the Kiwis are very friendly people too.

But I hear there can be some really grumpy photographers around the Nelson area!!!

Like others have written, a great set of images, Dan. You certainly had a very rich and rewarding photographic experience on that trip.

[Wavelength]

Did you shoot them for Australian Tourism Department?

I am tired of using awesome, superb, fantastic etc....( Thanks to the family of CiC ) so i just

[terrib]

Beautiful work, Dan. It's always a sign of a good experience when you say you'd like to do it again. So glad you shared with us.

[dje]

NZ used to be an Aussie territory.

Isabel that might upset the Kiwis a bit !

I think you'll find they were originally part of the British colony of NSW and then became a colony in their own right, well before the Federation of Australia was formed.

And on the whole, they are friendly, except when they are playing rugby.

Dave

[dje]

Dave, I did my best to represent you folks well. You've got a beautiful country down there. I foresee contributing substantially to the economy with my tourist dollars over the next few years. Since it's so far we'll likely make twofer trips and take in NZ also.

Dan bring all the tourist dollars you like ! And yes including NZ in a trip would be a good idea. The landscape is somewhat different to Australia.

Dave

[NorthernFocus]

Glad ya'll enjoyed the images. We really had a wonderful trip. I find that the photography makes traveling that much more enjoyable. It's the "stop and smell the roses" phenomenon. Over the years we've transitioned from covering as much ground as possible to scouring a smaller area and getting the feel for it a bit more. No doubt that helps with the photography too. One reason I was able to make so many bird captures is because we stayed multiple days in each location. So I had enough time to identify good locations and in many cases come back again.

Thanks again for the kind comments.

[pnodrog]

Isabel that might upset the Kiwis a bit !
And on the whole, they are friendly, except when they are playing rugby.

Dave

A bit like when you lot play cricket ....

[dje]

A bit like when you lot play cricket ....

Well it works, doesn't it ? As one of our former polticians said - whatever it takes !

[GEORDIE]

Dan I was reading your post and at the same time watching 4 sulphur crested cockatoos on my bird bath.
Pure magic, Nice to know you enjoyed the trip.

Cheers Colin.

[Bobobird]

The first one is wonderful.
Followed very close by the birds.

You made me say that by posting a cockatoo.
But the first 2 of the other one are really nice too.

[rawill]

Thanks for looking and commenting, folks. Glad you enjoyed the photos.

Since it's so far we'll likely make twofer trips and take in NZ also.

I am glad you are going to make it over here and give us "the same treatment"!