If you want to see an internationally recognizable landmark like the Grand Canyon, Mt Everest, Uluru or Great Barrier Reef, perhaps Victoria (the state where I live) isn’t the place to visit. We do however have some amazing coastlines, impressive National Parks, and boast some of the largest sand dunes in Australia – a fact I didn’t know until last week. In fact to see this place, (1) you have to drive an hour off the beaten track, (2) you have to hike about 2 hours, and (3) you need to know the secret track past the end of the marked trail. Hence not many people get to see this part of Australia – but it also means there’s no huge crowds of international tourists.
Luckily enough we were camping with experts, who make the yearly pilgrimage to ‘the dunes’. After a grueling 3 hour hike up some heart-thumping inclines, the intrepid adventurer ‘in the know’ is rewarded with a 300m sprint down a huge dune into the golden water of Thurra River. After rest, it’s then into (sometimes) neck-high water using the river as the road back to camp.
I took along 4 kids, drink bottles, snacks, shoes, hats, and sunscreen… and the camera with 1 lens (24-70mm). Very glad I did, and also happy I managed not to dunk the camera bag on the walk back.
Once again, it didn’t seem like a good day for creating photos. Light was almost overhead, cloudy, and extremely bright. However, there was some nice moments when the sun popped in and out making some interesting shadows on the sand.
I would’ve loved to get back at sunrise, however my commitment (and fitness) levels didn’t quite stretch that far – maybe next time!
Love the second one.
Pete, love your photos!! Don’t love you dissing Victoria, a truly beautiful part of the world!!
thanks Nettie! – yeah I didn’t meant to diss Victoria… just meaning that we don’t have any big time stuff – but plenty of beauty if you know where to look 🙂
There are 26 places listed on the national heritage register in Victoria and one world heritage list item, not too shabby!
‘We don’t have any big time stuff’ – unfair sir, unfair!!
Aaah Nettie, appreciate your comments. An short bloke with an insanely long beard once told me ‘write what you mean and mean what you write’. I’ve altered my first para above to reflect what I was trying to say in the first place. I’m hugely impressed with VIC – love it.