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The easternmost attraction on the Rainbow Coast is Stonehenge.
Built to a line with the solstices in Esperance
as the original in Britain does in Salisbury plain.
A great view for those who visited the ancient one.
Albany on the east shows massive granite outcrops,
chief cliffs and its famous rocky bridge.
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On the extreme west is the historic Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse,
where the Southern and Indian Oceans meet.
Some kilometers north is the capital, Perth.
His botanical gardens display a spring carnival of flowers.
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On the coral coast, three hours north of Perth,
the Pinnacles Desert.
Over time, coastal winds removed the surrounding sand
around deposits of seashells,
leaving the pillars exposed to the elements.
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Stromatolite, similar to this relics,
cyanobacteria pumped oxygen
to the atmosphere for 2 billion years
allowing complex multicellular life to start.
500 billion years later found us on the planet.
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Another consequence of the stromatolites oxygenating the sea
are the rich iron oxide deposits in the Pilbara.
Now as mountains clearly visible
in the Karajini national park layers in its gorgeous walls.
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The spring wildflowers fields are a must,
covering hundred of kilometers,
easily spotted from the highway.
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Lonely pristine beaches all along.
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The scenery changes when we arrive to the Kalbarri Cost.
Very well known for the Limestone Cliffs.
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A bit north and we arrive to the Kimberleys.
The famous Cable Beach Sunset Camel Walk.
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The dinosaur footprints left on the ancient muddy area,
reachable by hovercraft.
Still north is Derby, populated by Boab tress.
They are everywhere.
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The sunsets of Western Australia followed us till Kununurra,
the last town leaving the state
to the Northern Territory.
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We begin our journey to the top north.
Kakadu, the biggest national park in Australia.
Rocky escarpments, billabongs and tropical fauna
defined this ancient land.
It has more than 5,000 Aboriginal rock art sites.
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The Bininj/Mungguy people
have called Kakadu their home for 65,000 years.
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150 kilometers south is the town of Katherine,
the land of the Jawoyn culture.
It was built on the Katherine River.
The splendid gorgeous form the Nitmiluk National Park.
A cruise at down on the dry season shows the tall cliffs
with the changing colors of the walls.
Simply breathtaking.
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1,200 kilometers south and 400 West is Uluru
at Australia's Red Center.
Uluru is a sacred site
to the Anangu tribes of Central Australia,
the indigenous peoples of the Western Desert.
Uluru is actually part of a huge
predominantly underground rock formation
that also includes Kata Tjuta.
The site has a history of more than 600 million years.
Uluru extends further below ground more than above,
part under the Anangu legend about this sacred land.
- The world was once a featureless place.
None of the places we know existed until creator beings
in the forms of people, plants and animals
travel widely across the land.
Then, in a process of creation and destruction,
they form the landscape as we know it today.
Anangu land is still inhabited
by the spirits of dozens of these ancestral creator beings.
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- The marvels of this area are the breakaways.
Colorful low hills which from a distance scene
to have broken away from the Stuart Range.
Hence their name, the Breakaways.
When watching this alien landscape,
we sense the inland,
see that millions of years back
covered the place.
The color of the minerals deposited on it
and further erosion, after the sea retired
produced this fantastic moonscape plane
used as a stage for many films.
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On the air peninsula, we find the Murphy's Haystacks.
With it granted outcrop made of a pink,
massive coarsely rock.
Most of the pillars emerge without a break
from the underlying granite base.
A paradise for photographers of sunset.
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Kangaroo Island, the third in size in Australia
is located 15 kilometers from mainland.
There are two extraordinary attractions there.
First, the remarkable rocks.
They are eroded granite rocks over plateau
of granite itself facing the south seas.
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Storms, rain and wind has eroded them
during the last 500 million years
to produce such remarkable shapes.
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The stunning views of the Australian sea lion colony
at Seal Bay are a must.
It is possible to walk among the third largest
colony of Australia sea lions.
Feeding the pups and just relaxing.
Not being harassed by males
as it is not the mating season.
It just reminded me the Galapagos Islands.
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The Great Ocean Road is located on the southwest
of the state of Victoria
between the towns of Torquay and Warrnambool,
halfway from Melbourne to Adelaide.
The center of attention is the 12 apostles.
A collection of myosine limestone rock stacks
jutting from the water in Fort Campbell National Park.
[waves crashing]
Wild and powerful waves of the southern ocean
constantly pound the coastline,
which has shaped the area into what you see today.
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Sunrise and sunset off of particularly impressive views
as the 12 apostles change color from dark
and foreboding in shadow
to brilliant sandy yellow under a full sun.
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The 12 Apostles is a presenter of one of the most
spectacular stretches of coastline in the world.
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A few kilometers west is
located the Loch Ard Gorge.
The gorge is V-shaped with a small entrance
and a beach accessible to tourists.
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Still more to the east is raised a wall,
with a vast mixture of beaches created
and daily chased by the power of the sea.
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The arch porch is precariously mounted
on a harder rock platform,
proud of the water in small to medium swell.
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London Bridge, now called London Arch
since the bridge to land disappeared
in a storm in 2009.
The Grotto is a sinkhole geological formation.
Waves crashing into the walls, splashing missed over.
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A visit to the Otway National Park,
allow us to admire the Triplet Falls,
and Hopetoun Falls.
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Northeast is the Bay of Fires,
with granite rocks carpeted in red lichen.
The name did not come from there
but from the fires made by the Aborigines
to control the forests.
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[waterfall sound]
Some kilometers south
is the Saint Columba Falls State Reserve.
One of the highlights of the East coast
is the Frasenette Peninsula,
here Honeymoon Bay,
The Hazards Monoliths,
and on the other side, Wine Glass Bay.
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The Tasman Peninsula is well known
for its rugged eastern coastline.
It has some of the most impressive coastal scenery in Australia.
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The Tasman Arch is what is left of the roof
of a large sea cave.
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The tessellated pavement is an intertidal rock platform.
The jointing exaggerated by processes of erosion
has created the tiled appearance.
South Bruny island is protected as a national park.
Most of the coastline consists of Jurassic dolerite
that forms the dramatic cliffs and headlands.
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Mountfield is the second oldest of Australia's national parks.
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Enormous fern forests and some of the tallest trees
in the world can be found in this area.
Stanley is a peaceful fishing village
of 450 inhabitants on the west coast.
Famous fruits volcanic plugged named, the nut.
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[water gushing]
Going south into Deep River Forest,
there's a surprise.
Dip Falls.
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The picture of cradle mountain emerging from Dove Lake
has become the image of Tasmania itself.
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This has been a glimpse of what Tasmania has to offer.
Our dream is to live an entire year there.
Only way to explore it as it deserves.
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The Three Sisters is an unusual rock formation
who according to Aboriginal legend
with three sisters turned into stone,
hence the name.
Kanangra-Boyd look out offers unparalleled views
across one of Australia's most spectacular landscapes.
[waterfall sound]
A one hour walk brings us to Kanangra Falls.
The Creek plunges 150 meters into Kanangra Gorge,
in a series of waterfalls and cascades.
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Located west of Blue Mountains
are the Jenolan Caves.
The most ancient discovered open caves in the world.
Over 300 entrances following the course
of a subterranean section of the Jenolan River.
It has more than 40 kilometers of multilevel passages
and many marine fossils and calcite formations.
The best caves in Australia.
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Going northeast we find, Ellenborough Falls.
[water gushing]
A little bit up in Dorrigo is Crystal Shower Falls,
on the waterfall way.
Up on the mountain is Dangar Falls,
spectacular from above and from the base.
[waterfall sound]
Going west, the astounding Eve Falls,
after the rains.
[water gushing]
In Mount Capita are the Saun rocks
called Organ Piping Rocks.
A fascinating reminder of Mount Capita's volcanic past.
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Queensland South East is characterized by volcanic remnants
from an era when Australia passed throughout
a volcanic spot on the Pacific.
Some 20 million years back,
waterfalls are everywhere.
The Natural Bridge is found on the western side
of Springbrook National Park.
The cave roof was eroded
and the falls go now into the cave.
On the Springbrook Plateau, Twin Falls,
a 45 minutes trek from the top.
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Purlingbrook Falls, view from the lookout.
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[waterfall sound]
Queen Mary falls near Kalani.
A 40 meter falls on the Spring Creek
plunging over a basset wall.
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The walking circuit takes us to the base
of the fall to get these beautiful images.
[water gushing]
In Tamborine mountain is located Curtis Falls.
The only waterfalls here that can be viewed from the bottom.
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The 11 volcanic peaks of the glasshouse mountains.
Some 75 kilometers north of Brisbane.
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They were named after Captain James Cook in 1770,
who is quoted as saying,
- They are remarkable for the singular form of their elevation,
which very much resembles the shape of
glass kilns in North England.
- All the peaks have a reason to be
a meaning according to an Aboriginal legend.
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Towering white sandstone cliffs forming
a spectacular steep-sided gorge.
Lush side gorges. A boulders troon creek
continuously winding through the gorge.
The home of ancient plants, animals, and above all.
A wealth cultural and natural heritage.
This is Carnarvon gorge a natural monument
to the power of water, wind, and time.
[music]
Located 600 kilometers northwest of Brisbane.
The precipice sandstone layer
was deposited under the sea,
200 millions of years ago.
After emerging from the sea,
it was eroded by the creek
during the last 27 million years.
The water filters throughout the sandstone layer
taking 5 to 10,000 years to pass,
feeding the creek.
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After short walks, the first two days
to warm the muscles for the 40 kilometers,
we head ahead.
We began with first two big destinations.
The Wards Canyon and the art gallery.
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Wards Canyon, is its home to the King Fern,
the largest in Australia.
This impressive green dinosaurs
have strong links
with the ancient flora of Gondwanaland.
The place is very cold and humid,
reason for the ferns.
There is evidence that it was used on ancient times
as a fridge to keep the product of hunts.
[music]
We leave behind the Wards Canyon to reach the main destination.
After the next crossroads,
we do left for our sixth creek crossing.
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Then again we must go up and up and up.
A final push and we are almost there.
Finally, after an exhausting unbelievable trekking,
we made it.
Over 2,000 engravings,
Oka stencil and free hand paintings
adorned this 62 meters long sandstone walls.
Excavations in a cave revealed
occupational evidence dating back 19,500 years.
The next day we are again on track
to explore the other two landmarks of The Gorge.
The Moss Garden and the Amphitheater,
a 12 kilometer round trip.
A canyon with tall walls produces
at its base, this botanical marble.
Water drips constantly from the sandstone walls
of the Moss Gardens.
Supporting a lush carpet of mosses, ferns, and liverworts.
Beneath, tree ferns straining for sunlight.
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We get back to the moss garden sign
to go right on the main track to the amphitheater.
A 60 meters deep chamber gouged
from the rock by running water.
A place to let the imagination run wild.
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Sitting quietly in this amazing place,
you can imagine being the first person
to discover this geological marvel.
Resounding acoustics add to the all inspiring
atmosphere within its borders,
a place to behold.
Walking throughout time,
that is what Carnarvon is all about.
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A piece of Gondwana Forests
preserved in the tropics, Daintree Forests.
Going north from Cairns,
we pass through beautiful beaches.
Barely used because all North Queensland
is populated by salt water crocodiles.
Daintree is a vast area of tropical rainforest wilderness.
With an immense biological value
due to its incredible biodiversity
and high levels of endemism.
Many of the plant and animal species
that are found here
are nowhere else on the planet.
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Daintree National Park, houses the oldest rainforest
on the planet.
The closest living counterpart to the forests
that once covered the ancient super continent
of Gondwanaland.
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The Daintree River runs through the Daintree Rainforest
in the Cape Tribulation Region.
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The river and its surroundings
are home to some of the most
primitive forms of animals
and plant life in the world.
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The surrounding mountains and valleys
provided protection from the natural forces
to adapt to climate change by sheltering
several species of plants.
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Due to the river's isolation,
salt water crocodiles have flourished
in recent years.
Beneficiaries of legislation that protects them.
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Absolutely never swim in the river.
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Crossing the river by ferry,
we head up to Cape Tribulation,
Cape Trib for the locals, named by Captain Cook,
after his ships scraped in North Creek.
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Numerous crystal clear creeks
dropping from the mountain
are great attraction to tourists.
No crocs in there.
Boardwalks through the mangrove forests
provide a world of discovery
for the abundant life in the area
like this non-venomous green tree snake.
[music]
Beaches are great
but there's always a likelihood of salty's
lurking around.
It's their territory.
Probably a way nature
has found to preserve these sites.
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For those who have been
in tropical rainforests before,
yes, this looks like one in Australia.
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Atherton tablelands is located southwest from Cairns.
The fertility of the soils in the region
can be attributed to the volcanic origins of the land.
First stop at Raven's POV to admire
two outstanding waterfalls.
[waterfall sound]
Millstream Falls is the widest waterfalls
in Australia.
[water gushing]
Nearby is Little Millstream Falls,
a complex net of cascades falling from the mountains.
[water gushing]
Then we go north to Malamala.
"Lots of water" in indigenous language.
The iconic site is Malama Falls,
resembling a post card.
Other falls of the famous waterfall way in Atherton,
worth to visit are Zilla Falls, Ellenja Falls, Mungala Falls.
A few kilometers north, we spot a platypus,
searching food on the surface of a lake.
[intense music]
Mareeba has the taste of the outback
still being on the Atherton Tablelands.
There is an endemic species of Wallaby there.
The Mareeba Rock-Wallaby.
[birds chirping]
On the north of Atherton Tablelands,
there is so much bird life here
that the area is a paradise for bird watchers.
The orange-footed scrub foul
is continually feeding on seeds.
A great foul bird working on its power.
The Australian Busted,
a bird over one meter tall.
One site not to miss when returning to Brisbane
is Wallaman Falls.
Located 40 kilometers west of Ingham.
Wallaman Falls is the highest, permanent,
single-drop waterfall in Australia.
Near 270 meters.
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[END]