When the opportunity to go camping for a few days came up, I didn't hesitate. Camping beside the Howqua River in the Alpine National Park was an absolute joy. The weather was perfect and the water was clean and clear and wonderful to swim in. We were visited daily by a range of parrots and other bird species, lizards and snakes in the morning and frogs by night. Once again, my love for the outdoors is reaffirmed!
Read MoreAs probably my favourite zoo, I felt it was high time to revisit Melbourne Zoo now that I am back living in Melbourne. Even though it was a grey and rainy morning, the animals were still out and about and the rain only made the surrounds more interesting and beautiful. My first visit in over two years, there were a couple of significant changes to the exhibits, namely the award-winning Lemur Island and the newly opened Lion Gorge.
Read MoreWhile it is good to be back within just-pop-over-for-a-coffee range of Melbourne-based family and friends, I do miss the accessibility of the outback from Alice Springs. A half-hour drive from our house in Alice would put us well into the bush with the likelihood of bumping into another person at slim to none. In comparison, it is quite challenging having to share Victorian parks and nature reserves with dog walkers, cyclists, and people talking loudly on their phones.
Read MoreIt was very difficult preparing to move away from Alice Springs, even though the call back to Melbourne was strong. So we made sure we got out and about and took full advantage of our surroundings. From storm chasing, to frog hunting Alice Springs never fails to delight.
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Read MoreThe West MacDonnell Ranges are like a necklace strung with jewels of prime wildlife watching spots. Many of the turn offs have dedicated camping areas, like Serpentine Gorge, but all get better the further you walk from the road. Serpentine Gorge does not always hold a lot of water, but after decent rain it is transformed and becomes a beacon for wildlife.
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Read MoreLiving in Alice Springs has the distinct advantage of being very close to nature. It literally invades your backyard. And, should you chose to venture out into the heat, you don't have to go far to find spectacular scenery and wildlife. Even when the temperatures have driven all the mammals into hiding, birds are still relatively easy to find.
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Read MoreMy very first trip to Scotland gave me an excellent opportunity to refine my taste for whisky, but to also see some incredible scenery vastly different to anything that you might find in Australia. It was also surprisingly pleasant to see familiar feral species in their native home.
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Read MoreWhen my best mate from high school suggested we should go to Borneo, I couldn't say yes fast enough. With only a few precious days in the jungle, I couldn't wait to get there. Sadly my photography skills let me down somewhat, but I still loved every single second I was there.
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Read MoreWith some international adventures lined up, Singapore was the first stop. Not particularly engaged with cities in general, I still managed to find plenty to look at while I was there.
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Read MoreUluru (Ayres Rock) and Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) are iconic geological formations of central Australia. I thought it was high time I went to see them, and got the added bonus of seeing a stunning array of wildflowers.
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Read MoreWith new national parks to explore and my first experience and field ecology, it was a jam packed month of June. Both Finke Gorge and Mac Clark boast rare plants, although very different in their adaptations. The variety of habitat of the Simpson Desert also hosted a range of different animals that are typically quite difficult to find.
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Read MoreThe magic of rain was still working in the desert with flowers appearing everywhere. With the flush of new vegetative growth came an influx of animals, all the way up the food chain. Giant bugs and birds of prey found their way into the garden (and house) and I got to visit a little slice of heaven. A beautiful property on the outskirts of town that had painstakingly eradicated noxious weeds and restored native plants, which in turn encourage native animals to return.
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Read MoreRain in the desert is an event. Not just because it obviously doesn't happen very often, but because it transforms the place. Plantlife springs into existence where there was only sand and rock before. Birds and other wildlife are draw to the water and the succulent new growth and the whole area bustles with life and activity.
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Read MoreA trip south of Alice Springs led to my first (and so far only) sighting of a Thorny Devil in the wild. It was also my first experience in a gibber plain and and we managed to spot two of this type of country's iconic birds. The Channel-bill Cuckoo lifecycle also continued to unfold in the backyard in Alice Springs.
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Read MoreMy first experience of the South Island of New Zealand was definitely not enough the whet my appetite. We spent most of our time in Queenstown, with an excellent day trip to Milford Sound, and then fours days on Stewart and Ulva Islands. The scenery was breathtaking, and the birdlife astounding. The confidence of the bird on Steward Island was quite reminiscent of the Galapagos and just as spectacular.
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Read MoreBefore heading to New Zealand, there were plenty of adventures to be had in and around Alice Springs. The garden was brimming with insects and birds, and a case of brood parasitism was unfolding in my very own backyard.
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Read MoreLike most residents of Alice Springs, we had headed 'home' to visit family over Christmas. But I was excited to actually come home and play int he summer rains of Alice. All manner of critters came out in the wet and with a brand new macro lens, I wasn't about to miss any of it.
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Read MoreUnless otherwise stated, all images are provided by Samantha Hopley. Please ask permission for reuse.
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