Yep...I had to be sure you added "adorable" to the tags! As Rachel said, you might get a Koala cuddle in Oz! Outside Sydney we went to a wonderful "Koala Park" that also had numerable kangaroos and even an immense wombat we got to pet! But the best wasthe wait in like to "cuddle a koala" They rotated them throughout the day, so one wasn't always the one being awakened. What a texture and softness! And a great photo op! (Hand your camera to someone if you haven't already found a cuddle-partner of your own!)
Fantastic portrait with fine detail and wonderful framing, not to long now and you could be taking a similar shot in the wild, have you got a planned route yet Ron, Fav:)
yeah...they look cute...and fuzzy...and the joeys (babys) are totally teddy bear adorable...BUT...have you ever HEARD one of these suckers in the trees outside your window at night when they're ...well...you know...looking for 'attention'...wheezy bark/grunt/growl...savage...and those claws? don't go there.
..but i agree....they are the cutest looking critter you'll ever see...lol...fav...follow
@aglennc Thanks Anita. Yeah, you gotta get there early in the morning to catch them awake. And yes, this is the 600mm lens - one of the first shots I used it for, in fact. I think I'm gonna like this!
@pcoulson Thanks very much Peter. I do, in fact, not yet have a route planned. I have plane tickets and a schedule, but haven't started making the contacts yet. Still busy planning other travel right now - lots coming this year!
@maree_sanderson Yep, I'm making my way to the land of Oz in May for a couple of weeks - planning to rent a Harley and ride up and down the coast. With all of this persuasion it looks like I'm just going to have to make my way down to Victoria. Sounds like I do need to check out Phillip Island. Love the eucalyptus comment!
@tigerdreamer I'm going to be up and down the coast. I haven't figured out a hard and fast schedule yet, but I do hope to connect with as many 365ers as I can. I see so many gorgeous shots that our Australian members contribute and I have to see these sites!
@stray_shooter Mate if you do come to Sydney and head down toward Canberra we should catch up as I also ride and have riding mates that would be more than happy to show you around a bit as an excuse for a ride. :)
One small point about riding up and down the coast. Australia is the size of the USA so up and down the coast would take more than a few weeks if you actaully wanted to see stuff.
You can rent Harleys in Sydney and drop them off in Melbourne.
I live in Canberra which is inland from the coast by about an hour but you can do a loop from the coast to here and back down the coast which takes you up and back down some great mountains.
From there you can ride inland down to Vic and Philip island and is one of the main routes taken by bikers all over the country when the Moto Grand Prix is on at Phillip Island.
From there you can go and do wthe great Ocean road which is one of the best roads for riding in the country. It go along the side of a cliff looking out over the Ocean. The road is full or curves. http://www.visitgreatoceanroad.org.au/
The only problem is once you get to the other side of the road you have to come back. :) You can come inland and back up through the middle of Vic or just ride back to Melbourne. Then again you can keep going and end out in Adelaide. Not sure if there are drop off points for bikes there.
The weather down south can be a little touch and go some times. There is a saying about Melbourne that you get all seasons in one day. It can be super dooper hot and then really cold.
@stray_shooter ...you've GOT to come to Phillip Island...i was there again this weekend (1 1/2 hours from Melb)...and if you drive around at dusk you will see HEAPS of wallabies just hopping through the paddocks...and across the road...and the GP Track and museum...and the koala park...and the wildlife reserve...Oh yeah...google "What does a kolal sound like"...you'll find it on you tube...lol
@agima Wow, thanks for all of this great info Brendan! I was not originally planning on spending a great deal of time down Sydney way and further south, but all of the strong persuasions from the good folks here on 365 have convinced me that I'm going to have to squeeze it in. I fly in and out of Sydney, so may rent a bike for a while up Brisbane way, and then get down to Sydney and rent there. I have not firmed up any definite schedule at all, only dates on which I arrive and depart. Other than that I'm totally flexible. I'm not sure I qualify as a Distinguished Gentleman (of course I checked your blog), but would welcome an opportunity to ride with some of the good Canberra folks. I really appreciate the invite and the info and I will be in touch. You can email me at ron.cushing@yahoo.com. Guess I better start planning!
@maree_sanderson OK, I guess it's settle then! I'm just going to have to make my way down the the bottom! No plans set at all. As mentioned to Brendan above, I have arrival and departure dates (2nd and 3rd weeks of May) and other than that, no particular agenda. I do plan to visit at a minimum the Brisbane area and the Rockhampton area. Guess I better add Melbourne too! I will advise all my good Aussie friends once I firm things up and would love to meet some of the folks face to face. I WILL have a camera or two!
@maree_sanderson Oh if you are going to Brisbane and down from there that is a great ride along the coast. the weather is must warmer up there and north of Sydney so I wouldnt say dont change your mind as it is really nice, just not spectaular as the great ocean road.
Boy Brisvagas (Brisbane) and Rocky (Rockhampton) as a distance away. The road to to rocky from Brizzy (Brisbane) is only for only about 100km, then the rest is deadset boring as bat shit. The whole area around Rocky is flat and lifeless to say as it sits on a major highway and really the only real way to get between the areas as they are so far between each other.
The further you go north the more rain you will get with the summer monsoons but I would think by May they should all be gone or at least under control. If you went up that way now you would be washed off your bike.. hahahahahaha
Ok maybe not Rocky but another 8 hours north. My old man lives in Rocky. The water down that low has Crocs in it so dont plan any swimming. lol
..but i agree....they are the cutest looking critter you'll ever see...lol...fav...follow
Great photog and nice guy. I think from the Sydney area.
In Canberra but travel a bit every now and then. I as up in the blue mountains photographing for the last few days which was nice.
Cover yourself in Vicks vapor rub first as I hear that helps calm them down. ;)
One small point about riding up and down the coast. Australia is the size of the USA so up and down the coast would take more than a few weeks if you actaully wanted to see stuff.
You can rent Harleys in Sydney and drop them off in Melbourne.
I live in Canberra which is inland from the coast by about an hour but you can do a loop from the coast to here and back down the coast which takes you up and back down some great mountains.
From here you can also ride down to the Snowy Mountains (not snowy now) and that is one of the great ride we have.( http://www.snowyride.org.au/) ( http://www.snowymountains.com.au/getting-here/by-motorcycle )
From there you can ride inland down to Vic and Philip island and is one of the main routes taken by bikers all over the country when the Moto Grand Prix is on at Phillip Island.
From there you can go and do wthe great Ocean road which is one of the best roads for riding in the country. It go along the side of a cliff looking out over the Ocean. The road is full or curves.
http://www.visitgreatoceanroad.org.au/
The only problem is once you get to the other side of the road you have to come back. :) You can come inland and back up through the middle of Vic or just ride back to Melbourne. Then again you can keep going and end out in Adelaide. Not sure if there are drop off points for bikes there.
The weather down south can be a little touch and go some times. There is a saying about Melbourne that you get all seasons in one day. It can be super dooper hot and then really cold.
If you want to see some of the rides I have supported/photograhed have a look at my events page.
http://www.brendanmaunder.com/events/
There is a road just south of Sydney but it is only a short bit of tarmac.
http://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/south-coast/wollongong-and-surrounds/stanwell-park/attractions/sea-cliff-bridge
Boy Brisvagas (Brisbane) and Rocky (Rockhampton) as a distance away. The road to to rocky from Brizzy (Brisbane) is only for only about 100km, then the rest is deadset boring as bat shit. The whole area around Rocky is flat and lifeless to say as it sits on a major highway and really the only real way to get between the areas as they are so far between each other.
The further you go north the more rain you will get with the summer monsoons but I would think by May they should all be gone or at least under control. If you went up that way now you would be washed off your bike.. hahahahahaha
Ok maybe not Rocky but another 8 hours north. My old man lives in Rocky. The water down that low has Crocs in it so dont plan any swimming. lol
Sorry, about the nice guy comment, didn't mean to insult. Good mate? Friendly bloke? Helpful?
It's okay everybody forgets Canberra :-)