View from Mt Cook (Aoraki)

Looking northwest from the summit of Mt Cook (Aoraki), Southern Alps, New Zealand. November 1996. “After climbing all night by moonlight with my guide Dean Staples, we reached the base of Summit Rocks at sunrise. We then climbed the icy rocks to reach the ice cap and onto the summit, arriving about 8am. This is the view from the summit (3,750 metres): Mt Tasman (3,500 metres) is upper centre, the Tasman Sea is in the distance beneath the clouds.” Rob.

Midnight sun, Arctic Ocean.

Midnight sun in northern summer, Arctic Ocean: 81.15 degrees north, 19.25 degrees east. “It was midnight when Rob took this photo from our ship, about 970 kilometres south of the North Pole. The sun shone as bright as it does in the afternoon where we live. The ocean was over 3,000 metres deep yet we could stand on the larger ice flows and not sink. We had no words to describe the intensity of our feelings at this an amazing part of our planet. We stood quietly, grateful to be here.” Wendy

Outback sunset.

Outback sunset. Upper Gascoyne, Western Australia. “Rob and I were camping at Mt Augustus. We’d driven here late in the afternoon to catch the sunset slanting across the grass and red dirt. The lady here was doing the same thing, and we were grateful that she helped make this a magic photo. We never found out her name - she and her husband drove off before we could thank them.” Wendy

Extinct fumerole, ancient volcano.

Extinct fumerole, ancient 40 kilometre-wide volcano. Pilbara, Western Australia. “We stayed here for a while, in awe at the huge forces that threw these volcanic conglomerate rocks from deep in the earth to land around this extinct fumerole (vent). They now lie quietly in the middle of the volcano bed. The hills in the distance are part of its rim, also formed during the massive eruptions here 3,470 million (3.47 billion) years ago - much larger than the 1980 Mt St Helens eruption.” Wendy

River bed in Brachina Gorge.

River bed in ancient Brachina Gorge, Flinders Ranges, South Australia. “The red ridges of quartzite rock - angled after roiling in the earth’s mantle at unimaginable temperatures, then carved by the river during the past 130 million years - now glisten peacefully in the sun. And we loved the trees living along this gorge, relatively young at 100 years or less of age.” Wendy

Calitryx brevifolia bushes.

Calitryx brevifolia bushes, on red sand dune, mid Gascoyne, Western Australia. “Driving back to camp after enjoying the dark rocks and cool gorges of the Kennedy Ranges, this lush colour against the red desert earth caught our eyes. The flowers glistened in the fierce sun. Such spectacular life in this arid environment was a joy for both of us.” Wendy

Rainbow bee eater with cicada.

Rainbow bee eater with cicada. Perth, Western Australia. “Rob was very excited when he came home and showed me this image. He’d been waiting for a long time to take a photo of a rainbow bee eater catching and eating an insect! Finally he had several photos to choose from. This is the best one:-)” Wendy

Pelicans flying in synchrony.

Pelicans flying in synchrony, Wilson Inlet, south coast, Western Australia. “We were eating lunch in Rob’s car, parked on the grassy banks of the inlet, when we spied a flock of pelicans wading in the shallows. Then they spread their wings and took to the air. We’ve seen many pelicans flying, but never in synchrony like this.” Wendy

Twilight Cove.

Twilight Cove, Esperance, south east coast, Western Australia. “During an idyllic day of exploring the bays around Esperance, we found this cove. Its glistening white sands rimming the many shades of azure ocean, the foaming waves lapping the granite islands, it was heavenly.” Wendy

Hammersley Dunes.

Hammersley Dunes. Near Hopetoun, south east coast, Western Australia. “Ever since Rob bought his first 4X4, we’ve enjoyed occasional explorations of sand dunes. These dunes have been on our list for a while, so we enjoyed the opportunity to find out what was inside their outer rim. While Rob photographed, I followed tracks of the feet of the many small animals that live in the bushes around the edge.” Wendy

New Holland Honey Eater.

New Holland Honey Eater. King George Sound, south coast, Western Australia. “What we see when we stop to look…We’d been driving along the road by King George Sound and found a carpark high above the water. Of course Rob took his camera with him as we walked along the top of the cliff and found some low-growing trees. While I sat on a rock and watched for whales, Rob heard small bird calls and went to investigate. This gorgeous little bird is what he found.” Wendy

Drover’s Cave.

Drover’s Cave, Stockyard Gully, Mid Western Australia. “Rob’s been waiting for a long time to show me this incredible tunnel, carved out of the rock by a river. After making our way along the dark tunnel, using our head torches, we reached this leafy exit. However, this was as close as we dared go, because (if you look closely at the exit) we saw an open bee hive hanging from the roof. And the bees were extremely busy, buzzing around it.” Wendy

Host of everlastings …..

Host of everlastings ….. , Coogee Beach, Fremantle, Western Australia. “Rob’s been waiting for a long time to show me this incredible tunnel, carved out of the rock by a river. After making our way along the dark tunnel, using our head torches, we reached this leafy exit. However, this was as close as we dared go, because (if you look closely) there was an open bee hive hanging from the roof. And the bees were extremely busy, buzzing around it.” Wendy