3 adventure places to visit on Kangaroo Island...

Giant boulders that make up Remarkable Rocks.

1. Flinders Chase National Park - Admirals Arch, Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail, Remarkable Rocks. Get about on day hikes, multi day hikes, guided tours or cruise in your car. The coastal views, rough cliffs, and natural scrub combine beautifully (of course, it's Mother Nature). And animals? There are kangaroos, Cape Barren geese, a smelly seal colony (which is totally worth persisting with), and various bird life.

Pups at Admirals Arch... playful and inquisitive. 

Where the southern ocean hits Kangaroo Island - dramatic and beautiful at once. The road to Remarkable Rocks.

The road that leads into the park. 

Just wandering about... the entrance to the the last campsite of Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail. 

Remarkable Rocks. They truly are. 

2. Seal Bay - there aren't too many places I know of where you can get so close to these cute animals. Stand on the beach with them, watch the males fight, smell their unremarkable stench, hear the pups cry for their mums to return from fishing. A guide is always with you ensuring we don't get too close - although the seals sometimes don't know the rules, coming right up to groups to say hello. While I was there, a little pup came sliding down the dunes right up to a group. He checked them out then waddled on.

Meeting cute critters at Seal Bay. Tourists can't approach the seals but nothing stops them coming up to tourists. 

Where's mum? The young seals let out mournful cries while searching for mum and the food she brings back for them. 

3. Little Sahara dunes  - clamber up the top then whizz back down on a toboggan or sand board. Repeat. Grab some beautiful views while there too - it's worth risking the camera (or keep it in a sealed plastic bag to improve your chances of a sand free camera when you slide back down. This place is just fun. Prepare to get sandy. 

Wind patterns atop the dunes at Little Sahara.

Don't let the legs get away from you... running down Little Sahara dunes.

Monkey fun at Little Sahara.

Where the dunes meet the bush. Little Sahara.

A day in the Tarkine, North-West Tasmania.

Belle discovering the Tarkine.

Wow, this is an amazing part of the world. And to see the damage the 2016 bushfires made is sad, but it also gives hope with all the new growth colouring the charred trunks.

I attempted this in a day, although, if you are doing lots of walks, I'd recommend two days. I knew I wouldn't be doing too many hikes with the kids so chose carefully and drove a lot. It is a long day of driving, but so entrancing. 

Thin winding roads lead the way to the Tarkine.

The drive there is fun too - thin bitumen roads winding their way through farmland. Bales of hay, cows and random chickens dot the rolling hills. Only the chickens notice the car as they flap away from the sides of the road as I pass. The highway is not much different to the country roads. It is a fraction wider, has a white line painted in the middle, and I can pass another vehicle without pulling off the road. Not that there are many cars on the road.

The Tarkine Dive itself has just over twenty attractions - lookouts, bridges, walks and sink holes. Walks range from easy 15 minute strolls to 5-6 hour coastal hikes. 

Trowutta Arch beauty.

Trowutta Arch is an easy 15-minute stroll on a path through the rainforest. The floor is carpeted with moss, fallen trees and tree roots. At the end of the path is Trowutta Arch, the entrance to a water-filled sinkhole - a collapsed cave. One of the mossy rocks makes the perfect canvas to sketch your name. It entertained my artistic Belle while Ashton threw rocks into the water, measuring the 'plops' as they hit - as boys do. 

Carpark area at Trowutta Arch entrance. 

And the wildlife? Loud talk of leeches, the excitement of finding Cicada shells and 'testing' if the forest carries a coo-ee make sure we don't see any wildlife. Thankfully, we are the only tourists here, so we aren't ruining the quiet serenity for others.

Belle and Ashton finding little bugs and leaves.

Next is a drive through the burnt out area. An area that clashes with the general lush Tarkine elsewhere, where forest kisses each side of the road. These trees are now separated by the sky, little puffs of new green growth smothering the trunks. Burnt, spindly dead sticks stick up in between. Will it ever be the same?

Beautiful Tarkine forest floor.

After a late lunch stop at Julia's River, where we walked another 30 minute round forest track (which probably only took us 20 with after lunch energy) I headed towards the coast. Another contrast. 

Pristine waterways.

Driving the road up to the coast, all I could see was barren farmland with nothing able to be grown. It's not windy today, but I can imagine the wind blasting in off the wild ocean. I mean, there is nothing between here and 15,000km of ocean to Patagonia on the south coast of America. Roaring 40's winds of up to 200km have been recorded here!

The path to discovery.

I'd love to stop and do some of the hike out to the ocean, but it's raining, and the kids are tired. So I don't.

Where did all these logs come from?

But I do stop at Edge of the World in Arthur River. And it looks jut like its name, if not a very pretty version. Waves pound in as far as I can see, huge logs have been tossed on every rocky outcrop of the coastline, and the tumbleweed sits sideways. 

The other side of this rock is a five metre drop. 

It's here that Ashton decides to sprint up to a rocky ledge to see what he and see. I see him running, and my heart stops, I go to scream, then he stops. And sits down. And calmly watches. Heart pounding I go over to him and see what he's looking at. And below him is a drop of over 5 metres. Argh. At least he knew what he was doing. 

I'm calling it a day... back to Stanley for fish and chips. Now I'm tired. 

NOTE:
I saw (somewhere) it's about 135km drive, but when you are twisting and turning, of course, it takes a lot longer. In some sections allow 15 minutes for 15km. 
 

A staycation on the Fleurieu Peninsula, SA. A mini treat.

I put on my tourist hat for a weekend of exploring close to home. I discover how lucky we are. Not that I didn't already know that. Welcome to my backyard - the McLaren Vale area on the Fleurieu Peninsula.

Magpie Springs and Southern Boulder, Hope Forest www.magpiesprings.com.au
Vineyard, cellar door, gallery and bouldering wall. These guys have it covered. Kids are welcome, but keep an eye on them, with lots of art scattered across the property - nobody wants it broken. 

We signed the paperwork then set out across the lawn to the bouldering wall. I could get up a couple of the walls, and stood amazed at how people could climb over the rest. The strength these guys and girls would have in their fingers, hands, arms and body. At some points, they would be hanging upside down, holding on to small knobs with just their fingers. It would be an interesting event to watch. 

Artist Avril Thomas lives and works here. I photographed her for an editorial while I was working at News Limited and enjoyed seeing where she has come with the property from 'run down' to an incorporated natural art gallery. Using what is on the land, and in nature, there are surprises everywhere I look. We are lucky enough to have Avril show us around, pointing out things as we go. I especially love the three woven vine rings that hang from towering trees near the dam. 

The Victory Hotel, Sellicks Beach www.victoryhotel.com.au
Established in 1858, it's a local icon. But it's the first time I have eaten here. I have photographed here before - chef, owner, renovations - but never 'enjoyed' it. I have been missing out. We sit under the pergola watching the Willunga plains and ocean change colour and tone as the sun sets. The party hanging around from lunch are particularly entertaining as we speculate who is holding themselves the best, as they chat and laugh in front of us. Kids play gymnastics and ball on the lawn beside them as bowls of chips are handed out.

The food is good - very good. And don't forget to check out the wine cellar like I did. Hubby went down to find a bottle of wine and came back confused - too much choice. He was probably even more confused by the selection process of going into the cellar. :)

Sea and Vines Cottage, Willunga area www.seavinescottage.com
This two bedroomed little cutie feels like it's in the middle of nowhere, but in reality, is under five minutes to Sellicks Beach, five minutes to Willunga and less than ten minutes to McLaren Vale. Surrounded by gum trees and vineyards, I heard three cars drive past the entire time we were there (an afternoon and morning). Sitting in the claw foot bath, a glass of port on the caddy, while reading a magazine (in between looking out to the paddock from the big bathroom window) was a definite relax. As was sitting on the front porch having a child-free chat - until the mozzies came out. The next morning we enjoyed a bbq eggs and bacon breakfast under the pergola while dreaming of living in such an area. 

Port Noarlunga jetty and beach
One of my favourite beaches in Adelaide. I'd love to build my dream house here - on The Esplanade south of the little main hub of town. The beach is plump with squeaky sand (and no seaweed!) while the water is so clear you can see the bottom, even when standing at the end of the jetty. The reef that lays at the end of the jetty is popular with scuba divers and the morning we are there, a team are practicing first aid and retrieval skills. All while teens are jumping off the end of the jetty, pulling bikinis into place as they surface and fisherman are catching (and then releasing) Port Jackson sharks. 

I still have so much to discover - but I can't help but wander further afield. I'll just discover what I need when I need. It's a good way to see the world, I think.

Bali - but different.

[gallery] So, Bali is boganville. Right? Well, if you go to Kuta area, yes. But go just thirty minutes north to Canggu, and it's completely different. Sitting at Echo Beach, watching the sun set, we see one hawker, a handful of locals, a few handfuls of surfers, a bunch of expats and some more tourists. All calm, all chilled, all getting on with the relaxed life. No smutty stickers, no drunk obnoxious grots. I find myself saying many times that I can see why people fall in love with the place, and live here. Expats sit at beachside cafes, tapping away at their laptop while swigging a beer. Everyone(well, nearly) rides a motorbike down, except for me and hubby, on our bicycles. Everyone knows them though too, branded with The Chillhouse, an accommodation in the area. It's like one big, happy family. Even further north is The Menjangan. It's the quietest part of Bali I've set foot on. Well, that is, until , we, and particularly, my kids, get there. The squeals of excitement that echo through the forest as we bump along the dirt rocky tracks in a double decker open minivan surely scare the monkeys back a step or two. The deer grazing at the beach don't seem to mind the curious kids sneaking up on them either. And the calm bay, bordered with white sand beach, framed by mangroves, is perfect to burn energy. After coming back from a canoe exploration, we wander the boardwalks through the mangrove, chancing upon a Monitor Lizard. The huge lizard watches us as we scuttle past, then slowly moves on.

So, for somewhere different, but still easy and cheap - Bali can deliver. Think outside the square - or from the stretch of  hectic tourism that is Kuta, Legian and Seminyak - and head up. Canggu, Medewi, and Menjangan. Treat yourself. We met a few travellers from Australia, travelling up around the North West of Bali, and all of them were very impressed, and so glad they made the effort. Even the girl that wobbled around like a walking bandage after coming of her motorbike on the way up.

www.themenjangan.com

www.thechillhouse.com

Tourism crime and scams - the opening of first Crime Crisis Centre in Phuket

This week, the first Crime Crisis Centre, at Phuket International Airport opened its doors.

Another will be opened in downtown Phuket, both operating around the clock, in an aim to crack down on tourism crooks.

Crooks that range from ripping off tourists in jet-ski scams, accusing tourists of damaging the rental jet-skis and demanding huge sums for repairs to threat of physical violence.

I went to Phuket last year, and can certainly see how many scams there could be, and how the unassuming tourist is an easy target. Thai newspapers report that Russians, Koreans and Chinese have been active in both Phuket and Pattaya, some using Thais as nominees in setting up businesses to con foreigners. So it's big business.

It's just another reminder of how we need to be careful when travelling. Travel not only securing your personal belongings, but thinking with your head screwed on. Don't trust people on the street. Don't buy drugs. Don't say you will buy something, then change your mind. Don't go down into the slums. Don't take too many chances.

Do have fun. Do take notice of things. Do secure yourself. Do let your family and friends know your plans. Do get things in writing. Do use reputable companies.

I have been conned, probably more often than I know it. The one that comes to mind, is arriving at Peru airport at midnight, hotel booking in hand, being led astray by a tour company saying the hotel had closed, and they will find us a better hotel. They found us a hotel, but also at an extra cost. They also had us come in for a meeting the next morning, where they sold a 'cheap' package for travelling through Peru and Bolivia, including a tour of the Inca Trail. We weren't in any harm, the tour was brilliant, but we did pay much more than we should have.

That, I guess, is where planning and common sense comes in. Research what things cost, know what you want to do, and have options.

Travel is a wonderful thing, and can be so fulfilling and exciting. But with all excitement comes its dangers - stay safe.

Melbourne - the city of laneways and a shot of coffee.

Laneways. The back end of town.

Not normally the most elegant or tourist worthy part of town. But there are exceptions. Take Melbourne for example. Cafe lanes, bar lanes and artworked lanes litter the city. Litter that is shutterworthy for the International tourist. A photographer looks at it different though. Although we love to sit and have coffee we also see character, life and intrigue in the empty or littered lanes that everyone scurries past.

While most people are looking that way, we look this way. Look up and look down.

TIP * When going for a walk with your camera, don't forget to take a look behind you. Things can look different from another angle. Light, shape, form. Even people continuing with their lives, thinking you have passed. Click. Moment captured.