Dirk and Elise's first AU photos for friends and family
Dear friends and family, here are some photos that Elise and I took during our local travels. They come from three of our exploratory trips. The first was to Yanchep, about 1 hour north of Perth. The second was to Margaret River, 4 hours south of Perth. The third was to King's Park, in the heart of Perth. Click on the images for larger ones.
Animals | Plants | Places
Animals
OK so everyone asks to see these guys. (a kangaroo at Yanchep National Park)top
I call this photo "Australian Rules Football". The Aussies play a game called "Footy" which is something like US style football and rugby combined, but without most of the crashing into one another. (a "mob" of kangaroos on a footy field at Yanchep National Park)top
The Black Swan, Western Australia's state bird. A majestic creature that gets nasty near mating and cygnet(chicks) raising time. (taken at Herdsman Lake Park about 5 blocks from our apartment)top
Again, everyone asks to see these guys, the Koala, not the Aussie. Koalas are not presently native to Western Australia but about 14,000 years ago koalas did have relatives here. I got to pet this guy between the ears, again, the Koala not the Aussie. They are extremely soft and cuddly, but they sleep all day and would make lousy pets. (Yanchep National Park)top
I am not sure of the real name for this crab, but I call it a painted crab. It was hiding in the nooks and crannies by the ocean near Margaret River.top
Here is a friendly looking pair of Emu. They may look harmless, but boy can they pack a kick. (Yanchep National Park)top
Plants
The beautiful Red and Green Kangaroo's Paw, Western Australia's state flower. It is quite striking and if I ever manage to get a picture of a Black Kangaroo's Paw you will all be amazed. (taken during the Wildflower Festival at King's Park)top
This is a Cat's Paw, a relative of the Kangaroo's Paw, but it comes in many different colors including yellow, orange, and pinkish-red. (taken during the Wildflower Festival at King's Park)top
This is not one of the famous "grass trees" of arid Australia, but a plant that is similar. This particular plant sends out pom-pom type stalks for propogation. Note the resemblance to the McDonalds' "Fry Guys". (taken during the Wildflower Festival at King's Park)top
This a large vine/bush covering an old tree and one of the restrooms at Yanchep. Elise is in for scale. As you can see it is about 6 Elise units tall. The plant is covered in little purple-pink flowers which you can probably just make out.top
This is a wonderfully beautiful Eucalyptus called a Pear Shaped Mari. It has dusty blue leave and fluzzy red flowers on it's pear shaped "nuts". Can you see the Monarch butterfly? (taken near Armadale)top
The flower is called a wax flower because of the buildup of wax in the flower cup. The flower is also quite stiff almost as if it was made of wax. The beetle is a lady bug. (taken during the Wildflower Festival at King's Park)top
One of the wierd plants that grow here, the Banksia. I think this one is just called the Orange Banksia, but I am sure I am wrong. (taken during the Wildflower Festival at King's Park)top
A fair number of the flowering plants in Australia produce bean shaped flowers. This purple one was quite striking with the white dots. (taken during the Wildflower Festival at King's Park)top
Places
Beautiful downtown Perth as viewed from bluffs on eastern King's Park.top
Just a windy beach near Margaret River. Almost all the beaches in Western Australia have a bluish-green tinge due to the lovely sand.top
The majestic Karri Forest. A Karri is an economically important Eucalyptus. It is valued for its furniture quality wood. This particular stand was replanted in the early 1900s after it was logged out and is now a National Park. A real success story. (Margaret River area)top
Not all beaches in Western Australia are sandy. This one near Margaret River was rather rocky. About 1KM to the left, my right, Western Australia's main surfing competition was going one. The Indian ocean was rather cool then and we were amazed at the people surfing. Everyone of them was wearing wetsuit of course, but still. Brrrrr.... top
A nice field Elise and I drove by on our trip to Margaret River.top
This is the northern bay of Penguin Island near Rockingham, Western Australia. It is home to the adorable fairy penguins of Australia, sorry no photos of them.top
And here are some lovely "krags" from Penguin Island.top
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