Grampians

I went to the Grampians in western Victoria a week and a half ago.  I found a fine lizard basking on a rock.

The Grampians are a bit like the Santa Lucia Mountains near Monterey in that they are not very high...tallest peak is about 3500 feet...but they are quite rugged.

Here's a lookout in the mountains with Halls Gap far below.

Peaks of the main range loom through the mist at another lookout.

Black rocks are of volcanic origin.

A precarious perch.  Folks are now prohibited from going out on this ledge...I reckon a few probably fell off before the ban went into effect.

Neat black rocks seem to have oozed out of the Cliffside.

McKenzie Falls.  Though it's quite dry here now, in late summer, the falls are fed by a reservoir and flow strongly most of the time.

Blow up the pic and you'll spot a kookaburra in the tree.

This pic was taken at my lodging, D'Alton's Resort, in Halls Gap.  It's in bushland a couple blocks off the highway and I had a comfy, cozy cabin with all modcons.  At dusk the roos came out for dinner.

The kookaburra has taken roost on the fence at the swimming pool.  He had vigorous competition from the cockatoos...between the two tribes it was delightfully noisy at dusk.  I still say it's worth going to Australia just for the birds...they're wonderful!

A closeup of one of the resident roos.

A very cool large gum tree at D'Alton's.