TRAVELING OUR BEAUTIFUL AUSTRALIA . . .

The road curved over old wooden bridge, revealing breath-taking view
this frequently happens, unexpected in your travels, nothing really new
there are so many places to choose from, hard to say which is the best
each it's own particulair charm, all very inviting to stay longer and rest

A place with many walking tracks is Croajingalong on south east coast
the variety of flora, fauna, incredible scenery, of which it proudly boast
inland as far as eye can see, dense shrub, wildernes, bushwalker's dream
among stretch of coast sand dunes, steep granite cliffs in sunshine gleam

In many inlets water like diluted black ink, fettucine kelp waving in swell
you can experience Australian fur seals here, sheltered, doing very well
be prepared for deafening noise, the stench of rotting fish, it fills the air
maybe so as not to spoil your precious holidays, don't linger too long there

A very diverse environment, steep gullies, coloured lichen, moss, waterfall
on sides of heaped scree, water gums clinging precariously, spindly, very tall
many varieties of orchids, endangered wildlife such as the Ground Parrott
stand still, pause a moment, maybe a Gippsland Water Dragon you'll spot

As darkness falls, one can indulge in spotlighting for wildlife in tree canopy
possums, sugar gliders, koala, small tree kangaroo, almost extinct, you see
it is not hard to spot Crimson Rosellas, Black-faced Shags, maybe Bower Bird
wake up in the mornings to chorus of diverse birds, the best you've ever heard

Calls of Lyre Birds, Gang-Gang Cockatoos drifting on breeze, kites on thermals
experienced only minute detail from all that's to see, senses did enthrall
all this needs more than a lifetime to see it, much, much longer to understand
sadly time came to say farewell, goodbye, leaving behind Nature's Wonderland

IN THE MUTED LIGHT OF . . .

In the muted light of daybreak, barely the horizon one could see
small bats capturing final mouthfulls, then disappearing in hollow tree
fluted pipings of pied butcher birds drifting on still, cool, morning air
an almost sacred atmosphere, not being disturbed by humans being here

Perfect backdrop to dawn chorus, whispy mists rising from nearby billabong
as the dawn light slowly increases, more birds join with their beautiful song
changing colour of morning light seems to be playing tricks before one's eyes
turning sandstone cliffs, all around, into myriad colours, as sun rises in sky

This is Mt Mulligan, formidable monolith, bigger than Ayers Rock, no less
swelling in size as light increases, rearing out of plain, appearing like fortress
pock-marked by eons of wind, rain, ochre coloured sheer cliffs, cloudy sky
ideal nesting place for peregrine falcons, protected, bird's eye view of prey

Here and there stands of skeleton trees, warming their 'bones' in midday sun
tiny leaves portruding from bleached branches, fully grown, not just begun
struggling up the last steepest stony incline, savouring the view to be had
westerly Great Dividing Ranges, easterly Feathered Ranges, dry, khaki-clad

Permanent waterhole, beginning of creek, in deep gorge of red rock disappearing
a ravine with reflective rock pools, lush ferns, shapes of kangaroos in clearing
in dim recess of cave, very easy to miss, beautiful, but faded paintings of animals
wasp nests, ghost bats, termites, soot from long ago campfires of Aboriginals

Presence of Aboriginal artists of times past, in almost sacred silence one could feel
whose hands, twig brushes, made these images on ancient stone canvas, surreal
Mt Mulligan's landscape remarkably diverse in flora, fauna, craggy cliff faces
in overall history, environment of Australia, one of those truly facsinating places