Hi everyone,

Took awhile but in this topic I will tell my story with lots of pictures in the next few weeks. The pictures that i made are from my about 5 months travel trough mostly the east and south of Australia. I think i took over 2000 pictures so that would be insane to post them all, but i will post the best ones in this treath. I had lots of tips before I went to australia, i did a lot of them but unfortunately not all, however I met lots of people which have been great as well.

I started up north in tropical Cairns because the australian winter, which can be quite cold for a european guy as well. My camera broke just before I left, but i did bought the newest Ipad for my travel. Most of the pictures I took with my phone or Ipad, specially the Ipad pictures are from good quality, even better then my original camera. I knew lots of palm species that are not for outside growing back home in Holland, however I can be sure that I do know even more now... or maybe a bit more confused if you talk about Dypsis for example

Besides musquitos this bird have been my first sighting of australian wildlife. This bird (Kookaburra) end up as one of my favorites as I have seen some really funny stuff happening with this bird further during my travel

Cairns is not a good place to swim in open water...

One of the tips was of course visiting Flecker gardens, so i did and also had some different walks around in the surroundings of this "official" garden.

Rainforest boardwalk

More in the garden shots...

Between all the lush and green palmy stuff this was just amazing plant

I really liked this one because of the elegant look.

I also went up a bit more north from Cairns, to the Port douglas area and to the Daintree rainforest to spot some crocodiles and see Licuala growing. The hunderds of oil palms growing in Port douglas have been amazing as well, but sorry i took no pictures of that...

Lots of this climbing palms too...

For now I end with this picture from the amazing place Cape tribulation, but this will be continued....

The photos look great.

I'm glad you had a good time.

Thanks for sharing the pictures.

Looking forward to see the rest of your pics Robin

Stunning shots so far. That's a palm paradise for sure.

awesome pictures!! Thanks for sharing

Awesome Robbin !

Fantastic pics Robbin

Jello. Never been to cairns but it's definitely on the list. One day. Loving the tour so far. This will be a great thread

Thanks everyone!

Will post a new batch of pictures soon, if I have time enough maybe tomorrow!

5 months! thats an incredible trip.

I bet you changed your brain chip about palms, at least

Sorry for the delay but busy times the last few weeks.
Before I will continue this photo journey I want to wish you all a happy new year!

After I spend some time around Cairns and higher I went more south, Townsville. Famous because of the little mountain in the middle of the town. I did some climbing to the top with some great views as result.

Not too many coconuts around in the area where I've been, besides this lonely one on the top of the mountain.

Of course in the time I was there I visited all the suggested gardens, like the queens gardens.

Can't remember this one, but I really liked it... Can someone ID this for me?

Some big Euterpe palms as well.

The best garden was of course the Palmatum with loads of palms and so many different species. It was a bit hard to get there, but finally it was defitenely worth the trip.

Entrance

Some more palmy stuff around the palmatum...

The first thought when I saw these was a nice hybrid but they turned out to be Butia paraguayensis. Never have seen these butia in my life before, so that was a nice suprize.

Reinhardtia's

Some kind of dypsis(?)

Finally I saw some familiar palms lol

They had a very impressive dry/arid bed, most of the arids were loaded with flowers as well.

Many new beds were created like this one planted with Hyophorbe palms. In a few years many more mature palms to watch.

Townsville is also the gataway to acces Magnetic Island, which I brought a visit from a few days. I did almost every walking track over there that gave me breathtaking views and interesting nature/wildlife.

My hostel (Wooden buildings in the picture) was directly located at the beach, lots of coconuts around the island as well.

On Magnetic I saw my first Wallabies....

and Koala's! Furtheron my trip I spotted more Koala's around Noosa and tons of them around the great ocean road. There were so much of them that whole parts of the eucalyptus forest was dead because they were eaten to much. So, if you are an australian and never saw a wild koala before, visit the great ocean road.

One of the many views around the island.

One of the few streets on Magnetic Island. It was low season when I was their and during the day lots of people are going off the island to work. Very calm, nice weather, really liked my visit to the island.

Some of the walking tracks are surrounded by wild growing grass trees, they cost a fortune over here.

After visiting Magnetic Island I went back to Townsville to catch the bus again.

Next stop.....

Wonderfull Airlie Beach!

Nice pics. You're right about the Palmatum too, its a palm enthusiasts dream.

Looks like you had a wonderful trip. Thanks for sharing with us through some great pictures.

Thanks! Defitenely had a very nice trip and already saving for my next one.

Will post a new batch of pictures in the end of this week