<link>https://jwtalk.net/blogs/blog/10-discover-victoria-australia/</link><description><![CDATA[<p style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);border:0px;padding:0px;"> <span style="font-size:18px;"><font color="#121212" face="Comic Sans MS, cursive">Start dreaming! your next stop is Down Under.</font></span> </p> <p style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);border:0px;padding:0px;"> <span style="font-size:18px;"><font color="#121212" face="Comic Sans MS, cursive">We are landing in Victoria.</font></span> </p> <p style="background-color:#ffffff;border:0px;color:#121212;font-size:19px;padding:0px;"> <span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">Victoria is Australia’s second-smallest state. </span></span> </p> <p style="background-color:#ffffff;border:0px;color:#121212;font-size:19px;padding:0px;"> <span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">It has a variety of landscapes from dry outback, to snowy mountains and lush rainforests</span></span> </p> <p style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);border:0px;padding:0px;"> <span style="font-size:18px;"><font color="#121212" face="Comic Sans MS, cursive">Oh! lets not forget the coastline, what a beauty it is.</font></span> </p> <p style="background-color:#ffffff;border:0px;color:#121212;font-size:19px;padding:0px;"> <span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">Our wineries, lakes and mountains offer skiing, climbing and hiking.</span></span> </p> <p style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);border:0px;padding:0px;"> <span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">Best of all, many of Victoria’s unique and varied landscapes are easily reached as day trips from Melbourne.</span></span> </p> <p style="background-color:#ffffff;border:0px;color:#121212;font-size:19px;padding:0px;"> <span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">Let me show you some of the places in Victoria! Are you ready? Lets explore!</span></span> </p> ]]></description><language>en</language><item><title>The Australian Fur Sealhttps://jwtalk.net/blogs/entry/14-the-australian-fur-seal/ The Australian Fur seal is a type of eared seal, and also the largest of all fur seals around the world! They are mostly restricted to the islands of the Bass Strait, Tasmania and Southern Victoria. Amongst the 10 established breeding colonies found in Australia, six of them are found right here in Victoria! 

There are visible differences in appearance between the males and females, known as sexual dimorphism. Females can weigh between 50-120kg and are a pale fawn-grey colour with a pale-yellow throat and underside. Males tip the scale at a hefty 220-360kg and are dark grey-brown in appearance with a pale underside, with a dark, coarse mane running over their necks and shoulders once mature. 

The coat of the Australian fur seal has a woolly under layer which aids in trapping in air. With the seal’s layer of fat, this woolly undercoat creates a highly effective insulation and waterproofing system.  

These seals are very skilled hunters, with their diet consisting almost solely on bony fish, squid and octopus. They have also been known to sneakily take advantage of fish farms and fishing net catches.

Fun facts:

  • An Australian fur seal can dive up to 150m.

  • They have similar teeth to dogs and bears.

  • Females will generally mate 6-10 days after giving birth to their pup.

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]]>14Sun, 07 Aug 2022 10:20:36 +0000Philip Islandhttps://jwtalk.net/blogs/entry/13-philip-island/
  • Phillip Island is located just off Australia’s southern coast, which is about two hours’ drive from Melbourne.
  • The landscape is a natural paradise, featuring outstanding coastal scenery (lots and lots of sandy beaches) and thick bushland.
  • Its most popular tourist attraction is Penguin Parade; the home base for the smallest penguin in the world, the Little penguins.
  • Declared Victoria’s first National Surfing Reserve, Phillip Island has endless coastal hot spots to choose from.
  • It is a perfect day trip from Melbourne, either with a one-day trip or a weekend experience.

    • One of Victoria’s major tourist draws, the Penguin Parade showcases the parade of little penguins on the island. This colony of creatures are the smallest species of penguin in the entire world, with Phillip Island being one of the only places you can see these creatures in the wild. The colony spends the majority of their day swimming in Victoria’s deep waters, hunting for fish and other small creatures. However, after sunset, the herd of penguins venture back to their nesting ground, which lies right on Phillip Island’s Summerland Beach region. (all photos unedited from Canon 6D mark 2, the last photo is from internet as photographing penguins is forbidden) 

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    ]]>    13Sun, 07 Aug 2022 09:02:05 +0000    Mexico in Victoriahttps://jwtalk.net/blogs/entry/11-mexico-in-victoria/ Cactus country - Australian desert landscape like no other.

    Get ready to discover more than 4,000 species of cacti and succulents.

    Mexico right here in Strathmerton in Victoria

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    ]]>    11Fri, 05 Aug 2022 12:43:00 +0000    Beautiful Victoriahttps://jwtalk.net/blogs/entry/10-beautiful-victoria/ The Great Ocean Road is one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in the world to take a road trip.

    Just down the road from the Twelve Apostles Visitors Centre are the Gibson Steps. Walk down these steps to the beach for a close-up view.

    Here you can experience a new perspective on the power of the waves and the height of the rocks. You can even touch the rocks and feel how easy they crumble away.

    Take time to watch the water crashing around the base of the limestone stacks to understand the true power of the ocean and how it’s constantly shaping our earth.

    I shot this video on Fujifilm S10 around 7am (bit of wind noise, I did not have external microphone attached) 

    Rising out of the Southern Ocean, alongside Australia's famous Great Ocean Road, you'll find the 12 Apostles – limestone pillars that were once connected to the mainland cliffs. Waves and wind carved them into caves, then arches, and eventually battered them down into 45-metre (150-foot) tall columns. There are, in fact, only eight Apostles at the moment, but who knows when the next stretches of cliff will become pillars.

    Video shot on Fujifilm S10. 

    London Bridge is a natural arch off the coast that offers one of the best views along the journey. It’s an experience you won’t want to miss in Victoria, and no drive on the Great Ocean Road is complete without visiting the London Bridge, and all it has to offer.

    On 15 January 1990, one of the arches for the London Bridge collapsed due to natural causes. It was the link to the mainland, leaving behind one of the arches off the coast.

    Video shot on Fujifilm S10 (all the videos and photos posted on this blog were shot by me either on Fuji S10 or Canon 6D mark 2) 

     

    The Great Ocean Road officially starts south of Melbourne in Torquay and ends in Allansford, Victoria. Stretching a total distance of 151 miles (243 km). The major stops along the road are Bells Beach, Otway National Park, and the famous Twelve Apostles. There are no photos (or videos) that give the road the justice it deserves, so be prepared to be blown away by the curves this road has to offer. 

    Below is another example of it's beauty - Fujifilm S10 (shot in 4K uploaded on You Tube in 1080 (HD) 

     

    Great Ocean Road is perfect for just "chilling on the beach" (Fujifilm S10) 

     

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