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@ Pink Euodia
sophie begins her walkabout in Western Australia!
Pink Euodia
The pink euodia is an Australian Native tree favoured by the Ulysses Butterfly.

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@ Smooth-Lipped Spider Orchid

White Daisy Egg
My pets are in awe of these beautiful eggs—they would love to try to paint their own one year. Easter and spring are times of joy as the earth awakens, plants are pushing forth from the soil, and the days are becoming warmer. Many baby animals are born in the spring, and life is burgeoning. May these eggs bring you joy and be a reminder of the earth renewing itself.

Smooth-Lipped Spider Orchid
Western Australia is well know for its unique endemic wild flowers, which attract photographers from all over the world, from mid Winter right through Spring.

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@ Buccaneer Archipelago
"Scuttling sandgropers, so much of this countryside resembles Mars sophie!"
"Surely not Venus? All those craters caused by the mining make it look more like the Moon to me!"
Buccaneer Archipelago
Avast ye hearties, Buccaneer Archipelago ahoy! A forgotten world of 1,000 islands of the north west coast of Australia. As difficult to access, as it is breath taking to behold!

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@ Baby Blue Silver Leafed Mountain Gum
Keep your eyes peeled for familiar landmarks sophie, because this is where Red Dog roamed!
Baby Blue Silver Leafed Mountain Gum
Native to Eastern Australia, this unique large shrub or small tree eucalyptus carries its rounded silvery blue juvenile leaves into adulthood.

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@ Fitzroy Crossing
"Scuttling sandgropers, so much of this countryside resembles Mars sophie!"
"Surely not VIOLA? All those craters caused by the mining make it look more like the Moon to me!"
Fitzroy Crossing
The mighty Fitzroy river carved the magnificent Danggu Geikie Gorge, part of the limestone barrier reef that graces the West Kimberley Region in Western Australia.

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@ Football Meatpies Kangaroos and Holden Cars
When I said I wanted to visit Marble Bar, sophie, I was imagining a hotel constructed from precious stone, not this hot dusty town in the middle of nowhere!

Football Meatpies Kangaroos and Holden Cars
While their American counterparts were laying down rubber in pickup trucks and Cadillacs, the Australian youth of the 1960s were saving their pennies to become the proud owners of the first locally produced EJ Holdens, resplendent with 6 cylinder 149 grey motors. And if you understand all that, you are probably a bigger rev-head than I ever was!

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@ Numbat
How much time do you have, sophie, because I don't think a year would be long enough for a pet to explore the Kimberleys!
Numbat
Living in eucalyptus woodlands, the Numbat is a termite eating marsupial that does not drink water, as its fluid needs are met by the ~20,000 termites it consumes in a day.

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@ Karijini National Park
"Scuttling sandgropers, so much of this countryside resembles Mars sophie!"
"Surely not Visor? All those craters caused by the mining make it look more like the Moon to me!"
Karijini National Park
The Karijini National Park in the north of Western Australia is a vast and ancient world of natural gorges, waterfalls and swimming holes.

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@ Australian Flag
"Let's head for the Pinjarra Bakery, sophie!"
"What's their speciality, Choose a name?"
"In 2021, it was the winner of the Great Aussie Pie Competition for plain meat pie!"
Australian Flag
As a colonised country, Australia's national flag depicts the Union Jack of her colonising country, as well as the Southern Cross constellation.

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@ Kalbarri Coastal Cliffs
"Here's something for train fans, sophie! Western Australia contains the world's longest straight stretch of rail track, between the towns of Ooldia and Nurina."
"Wow! What length is it, poddu laddoo?" queried 2.
"It's 300 miles (478.4 km)—quite some distance!"
Kalbarri Coastal Cliffs
Kalbarri, on Western Australia's central coast, is home to rugged coastal cliffs, deserted beaches, tranquil rivers and inland gorges. In this quiet coastal area, the humpback whales and wildflowers battle for the lone photographer's time and attention!

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@ Swan River Nightscape
It becomes obvious just how old Australia is, when you start visiting some of her prehistoric rock formations, like Wave Rock, sophie!
Swan River Nightscape
You think you can taste the stillness, silently sitting on your balcony late at night, gazing out at the reflection of the cityscape on the glassy surface of the Swan River in Perth.

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@ Surreal Swan River
"Australia has very complicated time zones, choco! Particularly here in Western Australia!"
"I thought it was GMT plus 9 here, sophie?"
"Oh yes -- for the majority of the state. However, Eucla, a town near the border with South Australia, is 45 minutes ahead of the rest of the state with its own time zone, called Australian Central Western Standard Time (ACWST). This is the smallest time zone in Australia, followed by fewer than a hundred people and using GMT plus 8:45!"
Surreal Swan River
Clouds submerge the buildings and flood the waters of the Swan River in Perth, creating a surreal cityscape worthy of the opening scene to a science fiction flick.

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@ Little Blue Boat House
I'm glad my fur is firmly fixed to the rest of me, sophie, because Esperance was clearly a good choice for Australia's first wind farm!
Little Blue Boat House
Have you snapped a selfie yet in front of The Little Blue Boat House on the Swan River in Perth? No? Well put it on your bucket list then!

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@ Citrus Orchard
Oh sophie, you should have warned me before taking me to Swanbourne Beach! You know I don't find nude hooman flesh even remotely attractive!
Citrus Orchard
Fresh produce thrives in the microclimate of the Perth foothills, home to abundant citrus orchards and market gardens.

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@ Avon Valley Region
Oh look ... you won a pet!
Avon Valley Region
Northam is the gateway to Western Australia's Avon Valley Region. The area is rich with history, culture and arts, and is a favourite weekend destination for nature lovers and adventurers to explore and experience.

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@ Rottnest Island
Leonardo munched his hexagonal Pizza flavoured Shape and then a rectangular Cheddar Shape. "Tell you what, sophie—they ought to make these biscuits in the shape of Australia!"
"They're way ahead of you, Leonardo! The Vegemite & Cheese, Sausage Sizzle and Meat Pie flavours are all in the shape of the country!"

Rottnest Island
Wadjemup (Rottnest Island) is a short ferry ride from the Port of Fremantle. It is a nature reserve, home to breathtaking beaches and bays, limestone reefs, underwater caves, salt lakes, diverse marine life and the internationally friendly little Quokkas.

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@ Sugarloaf Rock
"Wow, sophie! Texas is significantly larger than most European countries— and Western Australia is three and a half times as big as Texas!"
"Wow indeedy, Dreamer!"
Sugarloaf Rock
Sugarloaf Rock is a wildlife haven for nesting seabirds. A giant granite rock in the Indian Ocean just of the Western Australian coastline, it is a photographer's paradise, changing colours with the weather and with the sunset over the Indian Ocean.

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@ Margaret River Region
I'm glad my fur is firmly fixed to the rest of me, sophie, because Esperance was clearly a good choice for Australia's first wind farm!
Margaret River Region
The Margaret River Region, south of Perth in Western Australia, is home to some of Australia's finest vineyards, surf beaches and old-growth karri, jarrah and marri forest.

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@ Black and White Swans
"Let's head for the Pinjarra Bakery, sophie!"
"What's their speciality, Sunshine?"
"In 2021, it was the winner of the Great Aussie Pie Competition for plain meat pie!"
Black and White Swans
Although black swans are native to Western Australia, white swans were also introduced by British colonists in 1896. Today, both black and white swans are widely distributed throughout Australia.

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@ Koala Scene
We really must visit the Golden Mile while we are in Western Australia, sophie! I hear that it was as rugged a place as the wild west in its hey day!
Koala Scene
Like all existing marsupials, koalas are found only in Australia. Koala colonies/populations inhabit eucalyptus forests and woodlands. Koalas are under constant threat from habitat destruction (including bushfires), dog attacks and road accidents.

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@ Black Swan
We really must visit the Golden Mile while we are in Western Australia, sophie! I hear that it was as rugged a place as the wild west in its hey day!
Black Swan
The Black Swan has been the emblem of Western Australia since 1829, featuring on the state's coat of arms and flag. The Aboriginal lore of the Noongar people tells of how their ancestors were once swans who became people.

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@ Mottlecah
That's it, sophie! You can go on without me. I have everything I need at Margaret River! Surf beaches, ancient forests and wineries. What more could a little pet want? Huh?
Mottlecah
Mottlecah is a bushy mallee tree endemic to the south west of Western Australia.

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@ Parrot Bush
"Wolf Creek in WA has the largest meteorite crater in Australia, measuring half a mile (853.44 m) in diameter and 200 feet (61 m) deep," remarked Signet.
"Ouch! I wouldn't have liked to have been underneath that when it crash-landed!" responded sophie.
Parrot Bush
Loved by birds and butterflies, Parrot Bush is found along the southern central to south west coastal regions of Western Australia.

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@ New Holland Honeyeater
"Scuttling sandgropers, so much of this countryside resembles Mars sophie!"
"Surely not Meowchi? All those craters caused by the mining make it look more like the Moon to me!"
New Holland Honeyeater
The new holland honeyeater is an Australian native bird found throughout southern Australia.

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@ Wide Open Spaces
sophie has now completed her walkabout in Western Australia! As she prepares to go home, she receives a wonderful gift!
Surfing Numbat, Blue
I love the sun. Soaking up the rays is one of my favourite things to do. I can swim, but I am very happy to have my surfboard; I can paddle in the water or use it to float around, enjoying the sun. After some time spent on the water, it will be time to eat; termites for me, seeds or fruit for you? Grab your board and join me.

Wide Open Spaces
Who wouldn't like to get away from it all in countryside retreats -- perhaps a wine-growing hub! -- with a stunning view of forest and distant peaks in sun-drenched Australia?
sophie has enjoyed her walkabout in Western Australia, but it is time to go home now! Please select another pet as visitor, so it can also enjoy an Australian Walkabout!