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Friday, February 25, 2011

Suburban Wildlife

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A koala gatecrashed our Friday drinks on the deck this afternoon.

Koala

He quickly scrambled up the paper-bark tree then jumped into a neighbouring eucalypt before munching on some gum leaves.


When I took this picture he was probably less than a 2 metres away.


Golden Orb Spider

While I was leaning out taking photos of a Koala I didn’t realize how close I was to this golden orb spider. Looking like a strange little potato with spindly legs, these little creatures can be found all over our garden


It’s wonderful to get such amazing visitors.


Saturday, February 19, 2011

Kondalilla

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Kondalilla Falls Panorama

“This is paradise” I gushed to Liz as we walked through this spectacular national park today.


Kondalilla Falls

“Kondalilla” means “Rushing Water” in the Gubbi Gubbi / Kabbi Kabbi Aboriginal Language – a reference to the amazing 80m waterfall that pours out of the rainforest down to the rocks below.


Bunya

What’s also special about this rainforest are the amazing Bunya Pines (Araucaria Bidwillii) which tower above the forest on ridges and hill tops all over the place. Some of them looked to be at least 70 metres high. This is the homeland of the Bunya Pine – a majestic tree so important to the Aboriginal people who have inhabited this part of the world for thousands of years.


Neil and HarrisonLiz and the kids in the forest

It’s mountainous terrain – not for the faint-hearted. We climbed 300 metres during our 6km walk. But it was well worth the effort.




As an added bonus, a friendly Lace Monitor swaggered up to me and gulped down a chicken bone while I was filiming him.


Montville Panorama

Mount NinderryMount Coolum

The icing on the cake was the stunning views from the lookout at Montville. We were able to see all of the Sunshine Coast, including Mount Coolum and Mount Ninderry.


Yes, this is paradise, and we’re so lucky to be living in it.