Svalbard: northern hemisphere summer 2012. Road sign as we left Longyearbyen on Spitsbergen in the archipelago of Svalbard, Arctic Ocean. 79 degrees North.

The image and words translate to “watch out for polar bears everywhere on Svalbard.” This meant that, as tourists, we weren’t allowed to wander this island without a guide, and all the guides carried rifles. Our favourite polar bear sighting was from our ship - the bear was on sea ice, bright in the midnight sun, as it ate a seal it had just caught. We loved the icy, wild, sparse habitat of this protectorate of the United Nations, administered by Norway. John Longyear discovered very high grade (metallurgical standard) coal here in the late 1800s, which was used for the highest quality steel production. Prior to this discovery, the islands were used by sealers, whalers and Arctic fox hunters as a processing base, not belonging to any nation. But, despite these minor occupations, Svalbard had remained its own special space, where polar bears rule. - WENDY

Daintree rainforest: southern hemisphere winter 2014. Road sign as we explored tropical Far North Queensland, east coast of Australia. 15 degrees South

The image urges drivers to avoid running into cassowaries. You would think that these birds of up to 2 metres tall would be hard to miss. When we spied one on the road ahead, Rob slowed our car. We’d so wanted to see one of these almost mythical birds and there it was. We were surprised that, despite its size and bright blue head comb, it simply melted into the jungle by the road. Cassowaries have evolved to feed on the larger fruits of these trees. For some of the fruits, passing through the gut of the cassowary is the only way their seeds germinate. The father cassowaries raise the chicks, at first chewing the fruits and giving the chicks the pulp, then teaching their offspring to find and eat their own food. - WENDY

Sturt’s Pea, north west of Western Australia, 2013

Our outback travels have been blessed with many sightings of this gorgeous flower, bright against the red dirt from which it grows. Like so many living things that have adapted to the harsh Australian landscape, it is perfectly tuned to its environment and is utterly unique in its form. The first specimen of this plant was collected by William Dampier in the 17th century while he explored the north west coast of Australia. He returned to Britain with the specimen, which is now held at Kew Gardens, London. During the 19th century Charles Sturt was exploring central Australia and discovered this plant which he publicised, hence it bears his name. - WENDY

Nanking kestrel. Kalbarri coastal cliffs, mid west of Western Australia, 2018

Rob and I were enjoying a walk along the cliff tops south of Kalbarri when we spied this relatively small and acrobatic bird of prey. It was hunting for insects and small animals amongst the low bushes around us, appearing not to notice the sea breeze that would have blown a lesser flyer off course. We’d seen a number of them as we walked. Each one firmly controlled its feeding territory amongst the cliffs, dunes and scrubland, based on the area around a cliff outcrop where it could build a small nest and watch for prey. This one was a joy to watch in flight (unless you were on its menu). - WENDY

Quoin Head, Coast of Fitzgerald River National Park, south east coast of Western Australia, 2020

We first visited this remote place decades ago when our children were young. The road in was rough, requiring all the off-road capacity of our 4 wheel drive. We camped there overnight, and were blessed the next morning to find the bay full of pilot whales. Now, the road is no less rough - we had to use some of the off road driving techniques that we have learned over the years to reach it safely. No pilot whales this time, but the sheer beauty was the same. And the osprey nest on the sea stack off the cliff still holds an osprey. “Quoin” means wedge-shaped, and I love that is the name of many such coastal outcrops around the world. This park maintains its unique biodiversity especially with its flora (see April photo), due to its poor soil which is unsuitable for farming. As well, its lack of minerals makes it unsuitable for mining. Thankfully this means that it will remain remote for many years to come. - WENDY

Royal Hakea or Hakea victoria, Fitzgerald River National Park, south east coast of Western Australia, 2020

Royal Hakea, which grow to 2 metres high, are endemic to the south coast of Western Australia. They have evolved to flourish here despite the dry, poor soils - the tougher the conditions, the brighter its colours. The first time we met one of these regal plants was many years ago when we took our children camping in the national park. The colours were so bright that I thought they must have been painted onto the leaves. As we met more of more of them I realised that, despite the tough conditions here, this place was perfect for their royal colours to shine forth. - WENDY

Red-capped Plover pulling a worm from the sand, Parry Beach, south coast of Western Australia, 2020

On this beach a couple of years ago, Rob photographed a sea eagle flying above. On this day the sea eagles were elsewhere, but he did spy this little gift on the storm-swept edge of the Southern Ocean. As I watched the bird with its worm, and Rob photographing it, I wondered at its tenacity and toughness to live here. These plovers build nests for their tiny speckled eggs in sand, performing a “broken wing” act to lead predators like sea eagles away. Because they thrive on beaches and shores all around Australia on the coasts, and inland around salt lakes, we have enjoyed seeing them during many of our Australian travels. But this is the first time that one has stayed in place long enough for Rob to photograph it. - WENDY

Nullaki Peninsula from Ocean Beach of Wilson Inlet, south coast of Western Australia, 2020

With its peaceful northern shore on the inlet on the left, and its wild southern beach by the Southern Ocean on the right, this peninsula has always felt to us to be a guardian of the birds and animals who live amongst its trees and bushes. On this day, the always-present wind was relatively quiet, so that Rob could launch his drone without being concerned about it being blown out to sea. And he was pleased that he could fly it high enough to see the Porongurup Range inland - you can see it on the horizon. A magic moment. - WENDY

Eastern Yellow Robin on wooden bollard, Otway Ranges, southern coast of Western Victoria, 2018

The Otway Ranges along the Southern Ocean have been calling me for most of my life. When Rob and I finally visited on a cloudy, cold day in 2018, even though the moment was long anticipated, nothing could prepare us for the sheer majesty of the redwood forest, soaring and silent by the Aire River. We joined the silence. Later, as we walked out, there on one of the bollards by the carpark was another joy, this little robin. Eastern Yellow Robins might be common and wide spread across the east coasts of Australia. For us, this little fellow gifted us with a lovely end to a special time with the forest giants. - WENDY

Banksiadale steam locomotive, Hotham Valley Railway, Dwellingup, south west of Western Australia, 2021

This class leader W 901 was built in Manchester, England and placed into service in April 1951 for operation on the WAGR (Western Australian Government Railways). It is now used by the Hotham Valley Railway for tourists through the southern forests. You can read more of its story here: http://www.hothamvalleyrailway.com.au/w_class.htm. Each of these old steam engines each has its own “personality”. We made the happy discovery of this engine, preparing to leave the station for a trip through the forests, on a rainy winter’s day. Rob loved the atmosphere of the steam hissing out of the engine and wreathing it in white clouds. They hung in the damp air, holding the wet scent of burned coal that is so distinctive of these engineering marvels. As a youngster, Rob had many trips on trains using this and similar engines, travelling between Perth and Kalgoorlie. His travels left him with a great affection for these creations from times past. - WENDY

Outlet of the Moore River into the Indian Ocean, mid west coast of Western Australia, 2021

This winter past we’ve wanted to find places where the river meets the sea. After record-breaking rains, reports of flooding rivers gave us the signal to drive north and find this place. Here, the dark tannin-rich waters of the Moore River mingle with the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. The river arises in the wheatbelt and flows westward. Along its last 30km or so to the coast it journeys through swamp and heathland, where it is stained with the tannin of the paperbark trees and extensive reed beds along its banks. Once the tannin reaches the sea, it mixes to green, then disappears into the turquoise. Magic. - WENDY

Striped Gazania Daisy, parkland, Moora, mid west of Western Australia, 2021

We had travelled north of Perth to find some early spring wildflowers. After camping for 2 nights near Jurien Bay, no flowers had invited Rob to photograph them. On this day we were driving south, home to Perth. We stopped for a break where Rob spotted some colour on the ground. In the midst of the colour was this beauty, lying in the sun. Widely varied in its colours and patterns, this variation is particularly striking and invited Rob’s lens. Native to South Africa, the Gazania Daisy has naturalised across Australia. It is large for a daisy, growing to 30cm. This day, after a few days’ of searching, we were grateful that its arrival on our shores led to it gracing these pages. - WENDY

Western Wattle Bird amongst Dark Prickly Toothbrushes, Perth, Western Australia, 2019.

This image is doubly satisfying for Rob to have captured. He enjoys the striking appearance and behaviour of this bird - especially the wattles (red fleshy tags) hanging from beneath its cheeks - and the intriguing flower structure of the bush (Grevillea hookeriana) it is sitting in. Both are native to south western Australia. The Wattle Bird (Anthochaera) adults of around 30cm hunt in their home patches for insects and nectar amongst low shrubs like this one. They are quite territorial especially when they have young in their nests, as many of us who live in Perth have discovered in spring. They have no hesitation in flying by and snapping loudly close to the heads of any person or any animal who approaches their nests. The birds and bushes have evolved to emerge together in spring, the birds feeding from the toothbrushes and so spreading the flowers’ pollen for them. And both are simply enjoyable to watch. - WENDY

Mt Augustus at sunset, eastern Pilbara, north west of Western Australia, 2015

On this day, we’d driven north from Wooleen Station in the the mid west and crossed the 26th parallel of latitude. We arrived here in the day, still with some way to go to reach our campsite for the night,. However we had to stop for this magic opportunity to capture the gold-red of the late day light and Rob’s long shadow against the red dirt and rocks of Mt Augustus (original name Burringurrah). In this harsh land, rivers can be dry or flooding, so the foliage, animals and birds have adapted to unreliable water supplies. We’ve been here a few times now, always enjoying the majesty of this peak and the life in the little green oases that it hides amongst its rocky folds. Geologically it is an inselberg and a monocline, more than twice the size of Uluru which is a monolith. At 1,105 metres high and almost 8km long, it towers over the flat land surrounding it. Camping near its base is always special. - WENDY