Cafes and curiosities

At Chatterbox Espresso Bar

Purple Girl - Graffito found along the Bicentennial National Trail

Tidbinbilla horizon

Curious kangaroos

Split rock formation

Nil Desperandum

We found a new running track in Tidbinbilla (well, it's probably been there for many years, but this was the first time we encountered it). The track winds its way past strange boulders and bouncing kangaroos. 

It leads to an historic European homestead, called Nil Desperandum, which features three bedrooms, a kitchen with a wood stove, verandah and fenced garden. It was built in the 1890s and, after being badly damaged in the 2003 fires, was restored and is now available for overnight accommodation. It's a wonderfully peaceful spot in the wilderness.

 

 

 

 

 

Tidbinbilla with the Alvarez Family

A wonderful and welcome (although very brief) visit from one of my oldest friends (in terms of how long we've known each other - not a reflection on the age of either of us). We were unable to fully repay the hospitality of Our Gracious Host and Hostess, but we did have a lovely day at Tidbinbilla.

Our Gracious Hostess in borrowed headgear

 

Steel yourselves for cute fluffiness overload!

Mummy and baby koala

Momma

Baby

The long-necked turtles are not as cuddly, but still pretty cute.

 

 

The water dragons are fairly appealing...

And I also quite like pelicans. 

 

This little red kangaroo and chum were quite fetching too.

But I'm a bit dubious about this fellow...

Red-bellied black snake swimming through the pond

Working on the 'leave them alone and they won't bother you' principle, our little party continued on its merry little way.

Ignore it and it will go away!

 

Tidbinbilla

A couple of trips to Tidbinbilla produced these shots of local wildlife. There are apparently only three koalas in the park, so we were delighed to come across this fellow snuggled into the branch of a gum tree for an afternoon nap.



Southern brush-tailed rock wallaby





Eastern grey kangaroos





Found this green thing in the bush!



On the lyrebird walk



Gibralta Rocks in the distance



I like these groovy rock formations. I think they look like stegosaurus' spines or sharks' teeth. I'm sure there is some dull and boring geological explanation for them, though...





Darth Vader rock peeking out from the side there





I'm saying nothing