Chris's Trip to Australia

Chris and his trip to Australia.

 

Earlier in the year, Chris was meant to be visit Richard and Michael with Bethanne but he had forgotten that he needed to attend his (Formal) School Ball, so we postponed his trip from April to October.

 

The trips are back to front but the photos below, are from our trip to Girraween National Park with Richard coming down from Rocky for a long weekend.

This is not a happy face - this is fear, pure fear, as he is standing in long grass in jandles. Chris can feel the snakes around him. Hahaha!!
 

Michael leaning on the archway.

Chris showing everyone that if you are still young and fit, you can run up the pyramids.

Shahn was feeling the burn. (and the only one carrying a bag, just saying!)

Shahn sucking it up trying to keep up with Chris (like the rest of us).

Chris standing on the highest point of the pyramid. Richard is looking around.

Enjoying the walk.

Bit windy up there, just looking over the edge to see how far the fall was; we decided unlikely to survive. The second pyramid behind Chris looks like a hard climb but would be cool trip.

Making our way back down before the rain.

Chris obviously still concerned about the possibility of snakes.

Following the pathway down.

Down the rugged rocks the ragged rascal ran.

RAIN STORM, just trying to make it back to the car without getting too wet for the 2hr drive back home to Ipswich.

Loving the warm rain.

Trying to hide from the rain or hugging a tree?!

Temporary relief from the rain…..

Trip to Moreton Island

This was the weekend after Chris had flown north to catch up with Richard in Rockhampton. We had got up early to get the ferry across to Moreton for a day trip.

On the ferry heading to Moreton, almost missed it just got there as the ferry started boarding.

Everyone was looking happy and excited to be on the boat.

Chris thinking he was on a tropical island.

Dosen't look like we just got out of bed at all and were running late so haven't had breakfast yet!

First activity of the day, Stand-up Paddle Boarding to the wrecks from Tangalooma, an hour round trip before we booked in to go banana boating.

Shahn killing it, paddle boarding like a pro - in reality, trying to keep up with the boys!

From left to right, Chris, Richard and Michael

Finally arrived at the wrecks, beautiful morning

Manoeuvring around the wrecks

Enjoying the sun and the wrecks

There were a good 30 starfish in one little patch while we were paddling back and it was very difficult to take pictures of them, so pretty.

Someone off on their own rouge mission

Chris and Shahn getting ready for the ride on the biscuit, just a minute or so until Chris managed to kick Shahn in the head, giving her bleeding nose and a cut her lip…….lol

Shahn and her cut lip….. (it doesn't look bad, but it was an awesome fat lip!)

After the sea biscuiting saga, we decided to hire a boat instead of kayaks to get to the wrecks - plus it meant we could get in and out of the afternoon wind.

We are on a boat...

Wrecks in the distance

Coral reefs formed on the barge wrecks with reef fish

Snorkelling the wrecks

Wrecks from above the water

Everyone was a bit cold, but stoked to have had such a great day

That face!

Sea Turtle - not sure exactly, ?Green Sea Turtle

Go Pro pictures of the wrecks from above water

Shahn & Eak adjusting masks before having a look at the wreck reefs

Fabulous day at Moreton Island, we got home and everyone was exhausted.  We ordered some great woodfire pizzas and played a board game called, Articulate.  Was pretty funny!  Great to spend time with family - Chris seemed to enjoy his time with us in Ipswich and his time up in Rockhampton with Richard.

Rockhampton Trip - Caving, Crocs and Scenic rim Weekend Out

Shahn and Michael picked up Bethanne, Michaels sister, from the airport and then the following day we had flights from Brisbane to Rockhampton.  We were staying with Richard, Michaels brother, and meeting up with Marg and Pete, Michaels parents, who were driving back down from Airlie beach, They had been tripping around Queensland for a month exploring the country, and having a fantastic time.

While Richard was busy working on his boat and wanted to take , we decided to head over to the famous above ground limestone cave systems - Capricorn Caves.

Capricorn Caves, not too sure how many places we went but we spent a couple of hours squeezing through tight holes, exploring.

Dressed in overalls, helmets and head lights.  Bethanne and Shahn in the beginning of the first cave, not too bad finding our way around in the dark.

Shahn going through the first hole.

Michael Suddenly realised that maybe he's slightly irrationally scared of small spaces, but mostly being trapped. (This was previously discovered in the Clifden caves, Southland, NZ. Where Pete discovered a underground stream and Michael gapped it out of there as fast as he could - but in his defence the sign at the beginning did say flash flooding after rain).

Pete just completing the first hole. It really was a tight squeeze…...

Michael trying to squeeze through the tiny hole it really was that small and the bat poo is not easy to get a grip on.

Having a chat about the next few tight squeezes and where we were off to next.

Bethanne enjoying the caving I think.

Having a look around the cave, some were really large. There was a huge amount of dust in the caves so the photography was a bit dodgy and due to the small gaps we could only take our small camera.

The guillotine, just make sure it does not fall when we pass under it.

Shahn wiggling her way into the next section.

Michael not looking so flash, but still getting through all the tight spots.

Shahn below me in the next cave section. (Blurry photo but its hard to get good photos underground)

The cave guide lead us all into a cave system to find our own way out was cool, having to search around and find dead ends and little holes and nooks.

Pete finding a hole in the roof into the next section.

The exit finally feet first this time.

Pete finding his way out?? or in?

Finding more caves within the system

Shahny looking happy (covered in bat shit and looking very glamorous)

All of us at the top of the caves

Checking out the view.  The rain erodes the limestone above ground and creating very sharp  ridges.

The view from the top of the cave system towards the coast.

The Caving crew taking a breather and enjoying the wind

Having a talk about the toughest section, called "rebirth: and if you can't make it you can get a c-section and take the easy way out

Michael looking happy as, here covered in Bat guano, while sitting in the womb about to be reborn.

Shahn in the birth canal lets just say it was a tight fit but Shahn made it. I just wish we had made a video it would have been awesome.

Pete looking down the birth canal - he gave it ago twice but both times it got the better of him but to be fair, the hole was about 40cm x 30cm, Pete had to be cut out.

This part of the cave system made its way down one semi-vertical tunnels

Shahn on her way down the slide, with Pete and Bethanne in front.

Shahn sliding into the next section.

We are ready!!!!

Into one of the largest caves, a fair way down.

Michael was getting the hang of the caving, and he wanted to go first in the whale, which was a tricky tunnel, lots of uncomfortable positions and Pete almost strangled himself in the process.

Bethanne's butt - into the whales mouth

Bethanne in the whale

Pete in his free boots finding his way in the whale.

As Michael did not get enough caving the day before he had to find a few more tight spaces to climb in.

Koorana Crocodile Farm 

Saltie

Big Saltie

The Smiths' (minus Chris) at the Singing Ship

Pete likes the three year old, saltie

Shahn also looks happy, the owner John next to her was really good and informative.

Bethanne thinking about becoming a spotter catcher.

Rockhampton Zoo

The Chimps bonding, picking each other nose.

The large male Chimp calling the keepers over, very cool to watch.

Moon optical illusion as it set.

Queen Mary Falls - near the NSW border

Pete, Marg and Shahn standing below the Queen Mary falls

Shahn enjoying the freezing cold winds

Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans)

Pete and Marg feeding the birds - making quite the impression too

Australian King-Parrot (Alisterus scapularis)

Pete and his new friend

Marg and Pete taking the Landcruiser for a drive to make sure they were all ready for the trip, it needs a nice driver who can treat her well, easy on the gear changes but make her work for it.