Australasia Bingo-with some additions.BINGO !!!!!!!!!!!!

[tiffstitch]

Wow! What a lovely start to your bingo. I'll look forward to reading more about Australia through your eyes. How amazing to see and touch a koala in the wild!

[bookknurd]

Yay! I've got 1/10 with Halls Gap. Love the koala story!

[cairee]

1/10

very nice pics and story

[rcperryls]

None for me today, but I love the pictures and your information and stories. Makes it all so personal as well. Especially the koala story. That is so cool!

Carole

[wwdiva]

0/10 but love your start to our bingo!
One day I will get to Australia.
Cheers

[Squirrel]

Hi everyone, a bit late again tonight but I am here now with tonight's numbers which are #2 Avon River and #15 My favourite bird - which should read NZ birds.

The Avon River #2.

This lovely river begins in the north west of Christchurch (NZ) and flows a meandering course through the suburbs and central city and out to the Estuary near New Brighton. Its course through the city is very meandering and the banks have weeping willows which add to its charm. It was named by John Deans - one of the 'founding fathers" after the river Avon in Scotland. The first weeping Willows are reported to have been cuttings taken from near Napoleans grave - not sure how true that is though. Its Maori name is 'Otakairo'



This is a picture of it as it flows through the Botanical Gardens and Daffodil Sunday (2nd Sunday in September) always meant a trip into the city to walk through the gardens admiring all the cherry trees(a gift from Japan) and across the footbridge into Hagley Park to walk amongst the daffodils. Not allowed to be picked though. I believe that this area is still intact after the various damaging quakes.
URL=http://s1095.photobucket.com/user/Squir ... 4.jpg.html][/URL]

This is a bridge right in the heart of central Christchurch, where you can see some of the lovely willow trees. It is a part of the river where punts are often seen, usuallly poled along by young guys in uniform taking tourists out for a 'stroll' down the river. The youngJapanese lass in the picture was one of my home stay students after her graduation ceremony in the nearby Town Hall - alas no longer there although the bridge is still intact.

FOOTNOTE: kiwirach has just PM'd me to tell me the good news that the Christchurch Town Hall is still standing and they have recently decided to repair it rather than "disestablish" it - the new term for demolition.

My favourite NZ birds - # 15.





The upper picture is the beautiful Fantail which we would see in our garden especially in the winter months after heavy snow up country. Always a welcome sight to see him/her flitting around from branch to branch getting a meal.

Below it is the lovely tiny Wax Eye (or Silver Eye here in Aus although it is more grey in colouring) It too is a visitor from up country after heavy snow up there and I would usually have balls of special food ready to hang out for both my visitors. The wax eyes especially loved the Silver Birch trees.

HOpe some more of you have had good luck with these numbers.

[bookknurd]

What lovely pictures and information, made all the more lovely by the fact that I got both numbers today!

3/10 for me.

[rcperryls]

I knew the birds would help me out. I'm 1/10. What lovely pictures and what a gorgeous bird the fantail is. Love the other one too. I definitely can see why they are your favorites.

Carole

[wwdiva]

2/10 today
Cheers

[Dragonrider]

Had both numbers yipee! 2/10
Fantastic pictures, I live near the River Avon here in the UK. Isn't it funny how names get recycled the world over?

[perftangel]

2/10. I love the pictures! I want to visit!

[Fizzbw]

I've only got 1/10 but the birds are amazing!!

Nikixxx

[Squirrel]

Day 3 already. How is everyone going along?

Todays numbers are #13 and #23 ! Off to get the pics now.

# 13 A Lonesome Mountain.

URL=http://s1095.photobucket.com/user/Squir ... e.jpg.html][/URL]

I've called it "a Lonesome mountain" as Mt Egmont (Maori name Mt Taranaki) stands alone on the east coast of the North Island of NZ. It is a non active volcano with an almost perfect cone shape. Many call it New Zealand's Mt Fujiyama (Japan) as they are very similar in shape.

The province of Taranaki is mostly dairy herd country along with mixed farming.
No one knows when Mt Egmont last erupted but since the Mt St Helens disaster no volcano is now listed as extinct - only non active. It sits very close to the coast so it is possible to ski on the mountain and an hour later be at the beach!

# 23 Kangaroo Paw.




This photo is one of mine, I was wanting a close up of the shrub in front to see if I could identify it for my GD in Perth. The Kangaroo Paw is the tall plant behind the bright red one the yellowish one. They come in several colourways too. This area of gardenwas part of the beautiful wild flower gardens behind the magnificent War Memorial in the most beautiful city in Australia (in my opinion anyway) Perth is a beautiful city and my 2 youngest sons call it home so I enjoy my trips over there.

URL=http://s1095.photobucket.com/user/Squir ... d.jpg.html][/URL]

This 2nd picture is off the web and shows more clearly why this plant is called Kangaroo Paw.
It is a native wild flower and seen all over Australia plus I have seen it in NZ gardens too. It is very popular in gardens around the area I live too as it seems to withstand the heat and humidity very well.

Good luck everyone !!!!!!!!!

[Fizzbw]

Great info, love the kangaroo paw! No no's for me though....

Niki xxx

[Squirrel]

Oh dear Nikki, lets hope tomorrows ones are better for you. I will tell Jenny (DD) to be especially nice to you if she can.

[bookknurd]

Nothing for me today, but love the pictures! I especially liked the part about being able to go skiing on Mt Egmont and only be an hour away from the beach.

[Squirrel]

Vera Jane you can do that in the South Island too. Swim in the mighty Pacific Ocean in the morning, Ski at Mt Hutt (north of Christchurch) at lunch time and go for a brief swim in the Tasman Sea - off the west Coast of the SI. It take about 5 hours to cross from coast to coast.

[rcperryls]

I got both picks today so I'm up to 3/10. Great pics today too. The Kangaroo Paw is a lovely and interesting flower. I had never seen it before. The most I had seen of New Zealand before was in movie shorts about the filming of the Tolkein movies. Absolutely beautiful island. Maybe one day...

Carole

[cairee]

no numbers for me today
1/10

[wwdiva]

None for me today but love the info. Wishing I could put a Kangaroo paw in my garden!
Cheers