Pancake Rocks of New Zealand

As i walk off the ferry from the North to the South Island of New Zealand (KeyTip:  When traveling by car rental here in Kiwi Land,  plan it so you drop off your vehicle and pickup another on the other side of the Cook Strait.... this is so you don't incur transport fees for your auto) plus of course talking to some of the locals on the boat, they suggested i visit a town called Punakaiki on west side and home of the Pancake Rocks.....i wasn't disappointed. Wow what an awesome display of nature and how it formed (over time) the Pancake Rocks, it was limestone which was under immense pressure of hard and soft layers of marine creatures/plant sediments to form this wonder. Also another unique feature is the blow holes during high tides, its how the water from the sea has forced itself through the limestone in-land and then bursts vertical to put on a amazing display of power. So if ever Down Under, put this small town of Punakaiki on your list of big things to see and do.

Bondi Beach, Australia

When in Australia one needs to visit the iconic Bondi Beach. Just 8km from city center of Sydney and 1km long, you can feel yourself turning into a 'rebel' (lol) when you walk the bone white sand and talk to the locals who always make you feel like one of them.  As they will tell you back in the day (1950s) they tried to police the dimensions of the bikini and now there is a topless section, also during the Beach Volleyball competition during the 2000 Olympics the purists frowned upon the commercialization of their beloved beach and avoided the events. After do the Bondi to Coogie Beach walk (5km) and as if you need a reason to do a walkabout mate (lol), you'll see everything from rock pools, cliffs, parks and more beautiful beaches. There is something special about  this place and i can see why the Aussies don't want to see it change.

The famous skyline of Sydney near Bondi Beach

High Line Trail, Manhattan NYC

Able to look over the city because of the elevated rail line gives you some great views

Interesting use of the rails and a place to hang out lol

What a great example when people put their minds/thoughts together and came up with a way to recycle an eye-sore, i am talking about the High Line (30ty Street) in the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

Once an elevated rail line built originally in the 1930s (to transport many types of manufactured goods and livestock) it was to avoid over 100 street crossings in the name of safety and traffic congestion and it finally was closed two decades later when the trucking industry reduced the need. This Urban Greenway is now a vibrant part of the city where over one mile you can take in great views of the Hudson River and their city below. Also see 200+ plant species, cool wooden lounge chairs with railtrack wheels, cafes and neat buildings that have been built or retroed along the line,  just an overall refreshing experience....well done New York City.

Some of the street art along the trail

Georges Island, Halifax Nova Scotia

#Georges_Island_Halifax

Finally now in 2024 you can visit this National Historic Site with a ferry ride from the Cable Wharf area on the Halifax Boardwalk & explore Fort Charlotte;
 from its tunnels, fortifications plus all the other history with guides (period correct in costume) or if you choose, self tours

Little know fact that Georges Island (named after King George11 of England) was earlier selected as the gravesite for the French Admiral Duc dAnvile who had tried earlier to reclaim the Fortress of Louisburg from the British. 
After Britain settled in Halifax (1749) a French warship was permitted to visit the harbour to reclaim dAnvilles body & to be shipped back to France 

The first fortifications on Georges Island were constructed in 1750 to protect against the French ships from entering the harbour
Then with the French Revolutionary Wars beginning in 1792 Halifax became the principal Naval Base in North America for the British, so more upgrades were required
So then the son of King George (Prince Edward) was dispatched & put in charge for the construction of Fort Charlotte on the island 

 

 Then during the American Revolution the island defense systems were updated & renewed again

 But it did not see an attack like other points of my Province of  Nova Scotia as Georges Island was just one of five parts of the Halifax Defence Complex (Halifax Citadel Fort, Fort McNab, Prince of Wales Tower & York Redoubt)

 

During the 1850s the fort was rebuilt to be mostly subterranean with a maze of tunnels, corridors, storage rooms plus sleeping quarters buried deep inside the island.

 Then in the late 1890s because of the rapid pace of weapon development it soon rendered the fortress guns obsolete, so then the British installed a new torpedo system & established a manually operated submarine mine field across the harbour's channel, again by using Georges Island as its base.

 

Other history of Georges Island was the years of the French Acadian Deportation
So the island was used as an so called holding area for around 900 prisoners, which were then exiled to various parts of North America, Caribbean & some ended up in Louisiana because of language (still a French Territory at this time) & started the Cajun Culture 
 

Finally during World War One the island was used as an anchor to hold submarine nets to prevent those U-Boats from entering the inner bay where all the ships would gather to form a convoy to cross the ocean with the Canadian Navy to provide protection

So with the over crowded harbor that was what created The Halifax Explosion (December 6th 1917)
 as two ships collided by accident;
Belgian relief vessel Imo & the French munitions ship Mont Blanc
 This then created the biggest man made explosion up to the Atomic Age
with least 1782 people who lost their lives plus another 9,000 others injured from this tragedy 

Since 1971 we have given the City of Boston a Christmas Tree ( lit every season at the Boston Common) for their assistance during this horrific event as a way of saying Thank You

  

 To present times; Georges Island was deemed a National Historic Site in 1965 & finally after many years of closure (with the help of Federal Funding) the island has now opened up to the general public

Plus now with over the 200 Cruise Ship visits per season, direct flights from Europe & the City being host to hundreds of Conventions plus International Events it has become one of the top tourist attractions here in Halifax

 In closing, it shows there is a great interest in our history here on the east coast of Canada.

Bushwalking Fraser Island (K Gari) Australia

#Bushwalking_FraserIsland_Australia

Many ways to get onto Fraser Island (between $165 per vehicle, but only a 4WD which requires an access permit), Motorbikes $65 or Walk-On Adult $50..... all via the ferry
  
KeyTip:  I would opt for one day with a 4WD vehicle, as going solo you will see much more
 But again, make sure to check with the rental insurance agreement if it covers you for beach driving

 Your other option will cost you; as a two day, one night tour with resort accommodations will be around $600 - $1000  

 Some Rules to Follow;
 A) Once here no swimming because of the strong currents & riptides
 B) Another reason to avoid the ocean, Great White & Tiger Sharks along the coast plus Irukandji Jellyfish 
C) Saltwater Crocodiles (Salties as the Aussies call them which can be up to 6 meters /20 feet long) also have been reported to be in the area
D) No running on the island as it will trigger the Wild Dingoes, which then will be activating their instincts

Here is part of the 120km (75 mile) beach  & officially a National Highway
 Like any road system it has rules which are enforced by police from speeding (80km/50mph the posted speed limit) plus of course NO drinking & driving.
 Also you cannot drive on the beach during high tide for obvious reasons plus keep alert as
   sometimes its doubles as an unique landing strip for small aircraft

As you can see its a tough go if your hiking the island, so most opt to rent a 4X4 which you can find at Hervey Bay, Eurong or Kingfisher Resorts or of course if you brought your own rental

Now some places to see that i would recommend;

A) Central Station; takes you through the rainforest along the Wanggoolba Creek boardwalk 
 B) Lake McKenzie which is the most popular site to visit with its white sand & blue waters
 C) Kingfisher Bay; it has a sheltered coastline giving you great views from the Great Sandy Trail of historical sites
D) Waddy Point Headland; to see from the beach sea turtles, sharks & stingrays
E) Ocean Lake; great spot to view a variety of water birds, cypress, banksia & melaleuca woodlands 

The SS Maheno is one of the most famous wrecks (23 in total) that Fraser Island has claimed.
 It was built in 1905, it was one of the first turbine steamers that did a regular route from Sydney to Auckland.
Finally it was sold for scrap to Japan in 1935 & as it was being towed it was caught in a cyclone (called a hurricane in the North American waters) which snapped the chain, then it drifted onto Fraser Island beach which now has become a famous photo landmark

Personally i took on the challenge of the 2.5 hour hike to Lake McKenzie through the sand.

It is tough as your are pushing off from the bottom of your foot at the same time sinking
 So if any of you followers have calf, achilles tendinitis or other foot/low legs issues, tour the island by vehicle

 

 It is one of those miracles of nature how it became the worlds largest sand island (1840kms or 710 sq miles) with its ancient rainforests, large dunes, pristine freshwater lakes (over 100) endless white sands (including Seventy Mile Beach) also an abundance of birds, free roaming wildlife such as Wallabies, Possums, Flying Foxes and of course the last place on our planet with wild Dingoes. Finally an offshore that has Humpback Whales which are now in the protected waters of Hervey Bay

                                                        So how is this all possible; 

Well the sand was carried here by strong offshore current & because of the volcanic rock it got trapped, add in the naturally occurring mycorrhizal fungi into the ground which then it provided the necessary nutrients for plants to start the cycle of life. 

 So what better way to see nature than going for a hike, (Bushwalking in Australia Mate) 

Now for the adventurous fit types there is a 90kms (56mi) Fraser Island Great Walk but because of time issues i have opted for the Kingsfisher Bay (ferry drop off point) to Lake McKenzie which a doable 23km (15mi) return trek

       

 Like any journey there are some planning & rules to follow specially because mobile phone coverage here is limited so help could be hours away, so lets be smart about it.

 A) Sturdy/Comfortable boots or shoes are a must as there are some sections that include soft sand which makes the walking slow plus tiring.

 B) The weather can change in a hurry so bring rain gear plus warm clothes.

 C) Carry your own drinking water & First Aid Kit. 

 D)  Have a compass.....please know how to use it 😅  

 Now because Fraser Island is a Natural Treasure here are some additional guidelines to follow; 

 A) Its an offense to remove anything living or dead from the area. 

B) Stay on marked trails as shortcuts create erosion issues plus you might get lost.

 C) Do not use detergents, toothpaste or soaps in the waterways (creeks & lakes) and also limit the amount of sunscreen on you before going in for a swim. 

D) Wash your dishes or yourself at least 50 meters away from the waterways.

 E) Use only a fuel stove.

 F) Use only toilets in camping areas.

 G) Hard to believe i would have to mention this one......bring all your rubbish out with you then dispose of it properly.

 H) Finally be Dingo safe, don't be stupid by trying to feed them as they are wild animals.

 I) Also don't leave anything around in your tents, store all food in storage lockers located in the campgrounds, walk in groups & again dispose of your food scraps/garbage properly.

 There it is folks, for all to enjoy a place that will leave you a mind full of amazing memories.

Rubber traction mats are everywhere for the those you dare 😃 to drive on Fraser Island 

Fraser Island namesake has some history
Eliza Anne Fraser was an English woman that was a shipwrecked survivor in 1836.
 After she was rescued, wrote / talked about her experiences so then the island was given the designation after her husband Captain James Fraser
Finally it was renamed to its traditional name of Kgari in 2023

Happy Valley is basically the center of things on Fraser Island
You are close to the rainforest with a boardwalk around Wanggoolba, or check out the shipwreck of the SS Maheno among other things

On my way back to Northeast Australia (Hervey Bay/Rivers Head) which is a 50 minute ferry ride from one of the most unique places i have ever visited in all my travels