"Trees and beaches" a Australia Travel Page by iandsmith

Now that I have travelled overseas I find there is always one thing I really miss about home. Gum trees. They come in so many colours and shapes that, at times, defy the imagination. Twisted, gnarled, cracked, half dead, branches falling off, they nonetheless are to me, a work of art.
Whether you like pristine virgin white, pastel grey, pink, orange, red, emerald green, salmon or a soft blue, sooner or later you'll see something to please the eye.
I also miss the beaches. What people in other countries call beaches wouldn't even rate a mention here. With over 11,000 to choose from you're sure to find something to please.
Most tourists from overseas immediately assume the best ones are in Queensland. Not so. In fact, percentage wise Queensland lags behind the rest of the country in stunning beaches. Which doesn't mean to say it doesn't have any, it's just that you don't hear about the others. If you don't believe me, may I present this specimen you've probably never heard of. It's in Victoria at Wilson's Promontory.

As the bark strips off it reveals the smooth surface beneath.

There I was, driving between Narrabri and Gunnedah in north west N.S.W., and this tree just stood out from all those around it. It was as if someone had just painted it with clear varnish, so polished was the look.

One thing Australia has is original names. I mean, how many options did they consider before coming up with "Palm Valley"?
I have a confession to make. My brother Wal took this picture but since it evokes the variety of flora in Australia I thought it deserved an airing here.

Driven by a thousand harsh winds, lashed by rain and sleet, baked by the scorching Australian sun and buried under snow; these trees are survivors.
They are always bent and twisted and come in many colours, the variety and splendour of which never ceases to attract me.
This shot was taken at one of Australia's more popular ski fields, Thredbo.

For months, even years, they look like an ordinary gum then suddenly, due to weather circumstances, the colour changes to this lovely hue.
Taken in the New England area.

On a clear day on Mt. Perisher, co-incidentally during my son's bucks weekend (what you have before you get married) I came across this beautiful work of art. I hope you see it in the same light and then your trip to Australia will be enhanced.

I'm changing these to the beaches pages but, since no-one ever looks anyway, hopefully no-one will notice!
This shot is of an area in Jervis Bay, one of Australia's thousands of pristine beaches though this area is outside the National Park that covers a lot of Jervis Bay.