July 2007

Retour en civilisation avec Ludo et Aurelie (Merci encore!!) 

posted by Nico Touchard | 20:00 PM

June-July 2007

Plongee et acceuil en famille 5 etoiles.... 

posted by Nico Touchard | 20:00 PM

May 12th June 2007

4 mois et plus de 20,000km nous ont permi de faire la boucle autour du continent Australien.... Depuis Byron Bay ou nous avons finalement passe une semaine a surfer, nous avons visite Myalls Lakes (NSW), Blue mountains (NSW), et la capitale Canberra. Le froid se faisait sentir alors que nous progressions vers le sud et l'hiver Australe....

Prochaine destination, TAHITI !!!!

posted by Nico Touchard | 20:00 PM

May 26th - May 28th 2007

We had a wonderful time with Ben and Clara (ah ah), Tim and the rest of his family in Brisbane. Ben, thanks for everything, we had a great time. Diving in Byron is short of spectacular. Dozen of sharks, including 3m Grey Nurses... That's big under water, trust me....

posted by Nico Touchard | 20:00 PM

May 21th - May 24th 2007

In aboriginal people language, Fraser means Paradise....  Lake Mackenzie is probably the pearl. Look at the pics....

This place is also full of Dingos. The one in the picture actually coursed me and had a bit to the leg of a tourist.... ;-)

posted by Nico Touchard | 20:00 PM

May 20th 2007

3000Km, 4 jours de conduite.... et nous voila de l'autre cote, face a l'ocean pacifique et au plus gros tas de sable du monde ;-)

On a pas arrete depuis Katherine. La route jusqu'a Fraser en passant par 3 Ways,Mt Isa, Longreach, Rockhampton et puis Hervey Bay ou nous sommes ce soir c'etait plat. Tres plat. Un peu desertique avec plein de termitieres.

Donc voila, on va passe 3 jours sur Fraser et puis apres nous allons chez Ben, notre pote de Brisbanne avec qui on devrait allez plonger a Byron Bay le week-end prochain.

posted by Nico Touchard | 20:00 PM

May 18th 2007

2 days of solid driving gone, another 2 to go before Fraser Island....

posted by Nico Touchard | 20:00 PM

May 16th 2007

We've made it out of Kakadu! Finally we've decided to go East tomorrow :-)

posted by Nico Touchard | 20:00 PM

May 14th 2007

Ce soir nous passons notre 4eme nuit dans le plus grand parc national d'Australie au camp de Gunlom (Waterfall creek dans le sud) et nous sommes pris au piege des elements: Les rangers ont ferme l'accces au site a cause de la riviere (South Alligator) qui est montee de 2 metres en 2 heures. On ne peut donc pas sortir.... Dans un sens c'est genial, moins de touristes et en plus ils ne nous font pas paye rpour la nuit :-)

Mais revenons un peu en arriere... Nous sommes parti de Darwin direction Est pour Kakadu. Sur le chemin j'avais a coeur de montrer a Angelique une cruise que j'avais deja fait il y a 5 ans. Les Jumping Crocodiles (Croc sautant). Le principe  est simple. On met un bout de bidoche sur une ligne et les dinausores vivant viennent gaiemment faire un bon de 3m pour le chercher. Les males de 6m sont evidemment les plus impressionants et sont etales tous les 75m sur la Adelaide river.

Nous avons ensuite passe le couche du soleil sur le site d'Ubirr, rendu celebre par Crocodile Dundee. Sur fond de plaines innondees verdoyantes et de collines rougeoillantes nous avons assiste au couche de la menagerie de wallabies et de Cockatoos locaux. La rentree au camp de Melr fut des plus interresantes puisque les aborigenes du coin avais mis le feu (pratique courante ici pour nettoyer le bush) mais l'evenement c'etait un peu sur-developpe et les flammes se trouvaient a 100m de notre tente. No worries mate... La nuit se passa bien, bien que nous ayons essuye quelques rafales de B52 moustiquos essayant de transperser notre abris.

Le lendemain nous avons de nouveau explorer les lieux et en particulier les galleries d'art rupestres. Les peintures generalement superposees depictent des scenes de vie courantes de l'epoque (20,000 ans jusqu'a maintenant) A note la facon de peintre en rayon X a voir sur les photos. Celles de Nourlangie Rock sont peu etre les mieux, surtout l'image d'un bateau 3 mats qu'un aborigene a peint a l'apparition des Europeens dans la region.

Le soir nous avons campe a Muirella Park. Le "ranger" local, Johnny (voir photos du mec avec presque plus de dents en haut), nous acceuille... Apres 10 minutes de conversation, il nous avait invite a la soiree (payer par un tour operator donc zero pour nous) et avait leve la charge de $10.80 a $5.40 puis "don't bother"  apres une biere. Eh eh eh... Ce soir la, nous avons donc assiste a des dances aborigenes venu du Arnehm Land sur fond de didgeridoo. Apres que les touristes soit repartis dans leur bus pour leurs chambres avec clim, les "Rangers" nous ont paye du Barramundi cuisson traditionnelle et du buffalo. "Good tucker for us mob!!" On a passe le reste de la soiree a picoler a l'oeil, a ecouter Johnny et Andy dire leurs conneries et regarder ces deux femmes ranger...

 Nous avons fais le tour de Nourlangie par la piste de 12km (the Barrk circuit). Une marche de toute beaute, ondulant sur le rocher, avec vu imprenables sur le plateau de Arnhem et qui nous a permi de voir un animal assez rare. The barrk ou black wallaroo. Moitie Wallaby moitie Kangaroo d'ou le nom. Tout ca nous a bien claque mais on a quand meme reussi a reste reveille pour la sunset cruise sur la Yellow water billabong. Des oiseaux partout, un grand spectacle au coucher du soleil.

Voila pour le moment, les Dingos hurlent au loin (un peu comme des loups), c'est l'heure de se mettre aux abris anti-mozzies....              

PS: Je me suis coupe la barbe, j'ai un bouc ;-)                                                                 

posted by Nico Touchard | 20:00 PM

May 10th 2007

The top end and Darwin.

posted by Nico Touchard | 20:00 PM

May 9th 2007

Quality time in Litchfield....

posted by Nico Touchard | 20:00 PM

May 5th 2007

Our last adventure in WA. El Questro on the Gibb River Road finished our tour of the state with wonderful walks around the gorges and falls of the 1 million acres property.

posted by Nico Touchard | 20:00 PM

May 3rd 2007

60km from the Great Northern Highway lies Purnululu NP, more commonly known as the Bungle Bungle. Just the name is cool. The road to that place is one of the most scenic road that we've done with a lot of wildlife, (dingos, Red tail Black Cockatoos) amazing sceneries and some pretty fun river crossing.

The domes are probably the highlight of the park but Echidna Chasm is probably the best of its kind in the country. 200m high, 1m wide atthe bottom in some places and running for about 400m. Just amazing. The rest is all in the pictures below...

posted by Nico Touchard | 20:00 PM

April 29th 2007

Not planned to stop in this hole but when we stopped for petrol at the station, the car would not start. Dead. Fortunately on that Sunday afternoon (i.e not much open in town i.e a mechanic for instance) two fishermen, Bruce & Jim were around and fixed that stupid connector to the batterie which was buggered. Good on you Bruce & Jim, true Australian spirit to help us out for free (well costed us two beers)  Now we thought, no worries, we stay here and go tomorrow for the Bungle Bungle, but on arrival at the camping ground, the electric rear window wouldn't go up anymore.... Hope we can get it fixed in the morning....

posted by Nico Touchard | 20:00 PM

April 28th 2007

C'est pas tous les jours que l'on se trouve sur un site filme par l'equipe de Nicolas Hulot et Ushuaia.  Aujourd'hui on a fait exactement ca ;-)!! Sequence emotions, sequence frissons....

Nous sommes partis de Derby en hydravion direction "the horizontal falls" ou les chutes horizontales. Phenomene unique au monde, decrit elogieusement par David Attenborough, vu sur TF1! Ce fjord de l'archipele du Bucanier met en evidence 2 fractures dans une chaine de montagnes creant un differentiel entre la mer et les peninsules se trouvant derriere. La maree (jusqu'a 12m! une des plus grande du monde) remplit ces lacs interieurs 2 fois par jours, creant dans la gorge les chutes horizontales.

C'est franchement un truc incroyable. L'eau s'engouffre dans ce goulot de 15m de large a une vitesse pouvant atteindre 30km+. On a eu de la chance parce que pendant les marees de printemps ils ne peuvent pas faire passer le bateau au milieu. Les Kimberleys aux alentours  donnent en plus un paysage epoustouflant. Aucune route ne mene aux chutes et cet endroit est un des plus isoles dans la region.

Extreme Video:

posted by Nico Touchard | 20:00 PM

Pour les amoureux de camions, sequence emotion.... (video)

posted by Nico Touchard | 20:00 PM

More photos from Broome...

posted by Nico Touchard | 20:00 PM

The first few shots were taken on our way to Broome. We stopped in at 80 miles beach and Barn Hill (Thanks Mark and Catherine for the tip)

The rest is mainly taken north of Broome on the Dampier Peninsula on the 200km dirt track to the red cliffs of Cape Leveque. We visited a few aboriginal communities but there wasn't much people around during the week-end. The photoman is coming to Lombadina which is great news though ;-)

Kooljaman at Cape Leveque has been our base camp to explore the area.  Lovely quiet camp site on the cape with many beaches around. The fishing here is just sensational. I recommend on the top of high tide on the western beach with squid :-)

As for the swimming, it's all good but you have to get used to the fact that this is "Salties" territory... Salt water Crocodiles !!

posted by Nico Touchard | 20:00 PM

On est a Broome ! Demain, direction Cape Leveque.

posted by Nico Touchard | 20:00 PM

Another one of those things to add to your list of things before you die...

posted by Nico Touchard | 20:00 PM

We finished off with 4 days of diving ;-)

We dived the Murion Islands and the Ningaloo reef with Ningaloo Reef Dreaming. As always with diving, visibility plays a big part to your enjoyment and the firt couple of days were average on that front despite good dive sites. The last couple thought, were just sensational. We san heaps of stuff: The usual sharks and turtles and a huge moray heel.

The cherry on the cake though was the last day when we embarked Darling Isabelle for the Whale Shark Tour.  We knew the boat well as we spent 2 nights on board in a luxury cabin. The crew was tensed at first as no sharks have been spotted for 3 days in a row. The tension was (a bit) released when we got  hammerhead and 2 Manta Rays cruising by the boat. On the deck and in constant communication with our dedicated spotter plane the sweet words finally came.... "Darling Isabelle , I think I've got one, could be a Whale Shark, over" said Tim the pilot in a very melo voice. Position given and away we go !!! A small beast, in whale shark terms, was indeed waiting for us.... The 15min we swam with it were just pure magic. No other marine animal that I know have this grace and sublime profile under water. When they dive into the big blue, their camouflage gives them a ghost like appearance. Their mouth opens and closes sucking hundreds of litres of water in one go....  Their huge back fin swings from left to right moving the shark forward....

The scientists thinks that their numbers are declining so put this one in the list of  things to do before you die...  It's worth every dollar.

posted by Nico Touchard | 20:00 PM

Ningaloo Reef, c'est genre la grande barriere de corail mais accessible de la plage. En bref, le pied... Ce massif coraliens s'etend sur plus de 250km et nous en avons ecume la cote depuis notre depart de Carnarvon. La premiere nuit, nous sommes restes sur la Warorra Station (une ferme de moutons) apres avoir passe le tropique du Capricorne (grand moment pour Nico...)   Le snorkelling (nage avec tuba et palmes sans les bouteilles) fut, comme dans tout les sites, 5 etoiles. Coraux et poissons a profusion mais surtout des tortues (Green, Loggerhead, Hawksbill) et.... des sharks (requins).  Ca fait vraiment bizarre au debut de nager au milieu de ces animaux a la reputation de mangeur d'hommes. Ignorance ! ils sont doux comme des agneaux, en tout cas ceux que l'on a vu. White & Black Tips ainsi que un plus gros, le Tawny Grey Nurse. En general ils font entre 2m et 3m, assez pour te faire sursauter quand ils arrivent par derriere... Malheursement, pas de photos sous-marine vu que Nico a perdu l'appareil avec le caisson etanche (fuck fuck fuck)... Bon, on casse la tirelire et on devrait en avoir un autre delivre de Perth.    

 Nous avons ensuite passe 3 nuits sur la Ningaloo Station, a North et South Lefroy Bay (merci du tuyeau Pippa). La encore les journees se sont rythmees aux sceances de snorkelling. La encore, pas une seule fois les requins et tortues n'ont manque a l'appel. 

Nous sommes ensuite remonte vers le Nord par la piste de 4x4 ce qui nous a permi de rentrer dans le Park Cape Range. Avec Paques, il y a plus de monde que d'habitude mais nous avons tr0uve un spot assez central ce qui nous a facilite l'exploration  des sites principaux de snorkelling de Cape Range NP: Turquoise Bay, Oyster Stacks et Lake side. Les deux premiers sont principalement des massifs coralliens sur fond de sable (a noter 4 rochers plein d'huitres a Oysters stacks bien sympa). Le dernier est un peu different, plus profond (environs 3m de fond au lieu de 0.5-2m) et avec des bommies (formations rocheuses ou les poissons s'aggregatent). Sur ce site, ce fut  explosion de requins et on a suivi (encore) une tortue pendant 15min. Les white Tips etaient partout. Seul et en petit groupe. Bref montee d'adrenaline assuree.

Ah ouais, on a fait une marche dans les Mandu Mandu Gorge. Pas de requins a signaler.

 Demain, grand depart pour 4 jours pour notre Dive Safari (plongee avec bouteilles cette fois). Au programme, 3 jours sur Murion Islands et ensuite une journee a la recherche du plus gros poisson (et requins d'ailleurs) de la planete.... le Whale Shark !!!!

posted by Nico Touchard | 20:00 PM

On our way North to Exmouth, we stopped in Carnarvon and decided to explore the not very popular Gnaraloo bay. A few camp sites are stretched on this 150km  sandy track. First the blow holes near the Quobba station. Real cheap camping (i.e free) and you can even use the fishermen "shacks" (little huts). Was really windy there with the cyclone looming up north but the snorkelling was really good. Then we drove all the way up to Gnaraloo station. This spot is part of the Ningaloo Marine park so this was our first look at the famous reef. This was just awesome. Stack and stack of Coral reef everywhere, 50m from the beach. Easy ;-). Saw 5 turtles that day and a white tip reef shark which got me out of the water bloody quickly. I hate the way they always hang behind you. Then you have the fish... Lion, Trumpet, parrots (big one),moon wrasse, clown fish, angel fish, you name it, there are all there while you are snorkelling...

Then we headed back to Red Bluff which Mark told us about. The scenery there is (again) sensational. The red hills around are just full of roos and wallabies. As soon as we got there, I took the spear and away I go in the water. Now when I get a fish in general, I don't hang around in the water for very long with a bleeding distress fish a meter away from my ass. When I got this (see picture) Taylor (tasted awesome with a bit of garlic thic thic thic ;-) ) I was pretty happy because it's a good feed and they are normally really fast and hard to catch. I got it once in the belly but it went away. I must have hit a nerve or something because it couldn't swim. So I finished it off, right in the head. Eh eh eh.... Then I do my usual run (swim) for the beach where I ended up landed like a seal. Stood up and I was greeted by the local care taker and his mate who were amazed by the catch ;-). I had hardly removed my fins when they say "sharks!!". I swear, those two sharks were right behind me. Two bronzys. Not white tips. And I know these sharks can have a go at you, especially when you drag a tasty lunch.... Anyway, I survive and I am now a local hero. :-)

posted by Nico Touchard | 19:00 PM

We were really not sure about spending $16 to see the dolphins show at Monkey Mia. The resort has a nice pool and the famous hot Tub (hot bore water poured in a Jacuzzi) but the camping sucks. They put people on top of each other and after the remoteness of the National Park we felt like suffocating. Then they have the dolphins which have been coming here pretty much everyday since Dark Side of the Moon. At first, when we turned up on the beach at 8am, we were not sure if it wasn't the dolphins coming to see the human circus.... BUT I must say that feeding a dolphin is a really good experience. Puck and Surprise were just awesome to observe, right there 2m from our feet. The rangers and the volunteers are also great knowledgeable people to have a chat with.

Then we moved south to Hamelin pool to see the oldest living organism on this planet. They look like stones and no, it's not John Howard or Jaques Chirac lying on the beach. It's the stromatolites. Intriguing stuff the stromatolites... 

posted by Nico Touchard | 19:00 PM

Shark Bay, c'est ou le desert rouge Australien rencontre les eaux turquoises de l'ocean Indien. Shark Bay c'est les dauphins (et les placides dugong)s, tortues, raies et bien evidement, les requins. Gros et petits.  Shark Bay c'est aussi la chaleur et pas beaucoup d'ombre pendant la journee. Tout le parc se fait sur un piste 4x4 d'environ 45km de haut en bas. Nous avons passe 2 nuits au camp des Gregories et deux nuits au Big lagoon. Ce dernier est surement l'endroit le plus carte postale. Nous avons campe a literalement 2 metres de la mer (on a meme eu peur que la maree nous monte dessus) et regarde les dauphins et autres tortues passer devant nous. Une raie leopard nous a meme permi de venir la voir dans une de nos sceance de snorkelling. 

Aujourd'hui, on se traite avec un camping ce qui devrait nous permettre de prendre une douche (la premiere en 5 jours...) et de relaxer a la piscine...

Demain matin, c'est Monkey Mia et le world famous, dolphins feeding on the beach...

posted by Nico Touchard | 15:00 PM

Kalbarri is one of Australia's best. I wasn't sure at first that we would do much here but it's a great spot. Fishing is just excellent. We've put Rock Lobsters on our menu for two nights. But the best bit was the national park. We slept (althought we were not supposed to but there you go...) in the park.It's hot there, very hot. 40C + but the views from Nature'swindow looking down on the mighty Murchinson river were just sensational. Anyway we stayed there for the night under millions of stars and woke up a good hour before sunrise for the 8Km walk called the Loop. The views on this walk are as good as King Canyons....

posted by Nico Touchard | 21:00 PM

J'ai peche un requin !! et 2 langoustes. Miam miam ;-)

I caught a shark !! and 2 cray fish.

Check his out....

posted by Nico Touchard | 21:00 PM

On l'a fait !! Ca y est, on a traverse un continent, en voiture et sans la clim. Plus de 6000 bornes a travers plaines et deserts, c'est genre Paris Moscou. Mais revenons en arriere... On a quitte Flo et Pippa sur un bord de route apres dejeune. Ils sont partis a droite, nous a gauche... Etrange fin de chapitre pour ces merveilleux amis que l'on ne reverra pas pour a peu pres un an. Rencontre il y a maintenant plus de trois ans dans un bar Kiwi de Melbourne et apres avoir vecu de nombreuses aventures ensemble ils ramenent leur voiture  (Big Mamma III) en France par l'Afrique !! C'est avec un certain pinsement au coeur que nous les avons vu disparaitre dans le retroviseur... Bonne chance les amis !!

Coup de bol, on etait dans le bon coin d'Australie pour se remonter le moral. Margaret River. C'est un peu le Bordeaux Australien. Des vignobles partout dans un decor des plus somptueux. Nous nous sommes par hazard arretes dans une "winery" tenu par un Francais - Guy Gallienne - a L'Eagle Vale (le val de l'aigle). Le gars super sympa, super motivant et motive par son boulot, super mentalite et philosophie... il produit avec sa femme Chantal des vins de top qualite que l'on recommende si vous en voyez (il exporte pas en France par contre...longue histoire). Ils nous a paye le dejeune et on est reparti avec une bouteille de Chardonnay ;-)

Le camping gratuit par contre dans la region, ca sucks. A voir les photos ou je me bas avec un arbre tombe au milieu de la route. J'ai fais le Musclor et je te l'ai coupe a la hache avant le petit dej :-)

Nous sommes ensuite monte vers le nord et avons fait escale a Busselton, renome pour la jetee en bois de 1841m de long. Malgre un vent et des conditions assez agitees, du moins a la surface,  on a enfile la combine et hop! a l'eau. Par 8m de fond maximum, nous nous sommes retrouves dans un aquarium geant... Une plongee 5 etoiles.

Nous voici donc a Perth, entiers, et avec une voiture qui marche  (on vous a parlez de notre frayeur quand Nico a failli planter le 4x4 dans un virage? Heuresement, il a fait du kart dans sa jeunesse et s'en est tire comme un pro). On devrait y passer au moins les 5 prochain jours.

Busselton Jetty Video:

posted by Nico Touchard | 18:00 PM

We have spent the last few days with Flo and Pippa who arrived in Esperance on the 1st of March.  We first stayed in Lucky Bay and we moved on to Stokes NP on a pretty full on sandy track.  We camped at Fanny cove and had (a bit) of fishing action there. We then drove to Fitzerald NP (the biosphere) and camped at Pt Ann. Nice spot on the beach and within a park which seems to have a lot to offer. We didn't do much though as we moved on towards Albany and Denmark to meet with the local Giants (aka Red & Yellow Tingle and Karri trees). We had the tree top walk there which was really good.  Flo and Pip will probably move on from tomorrow towards Perth while Angelique and I will go for a swim in the Indian Ocean around the Margaret River area.

posted by Nico Touchard | 18:00 PM

From Balladonia, we were planning on driving south on a 4WD track that would lead us to Cape Arid. Unfortunatly we had a big storm with a lot of rain in the morning and the local, Bob, discouraged us to take the track: "Where you want to go there is only one car a week and the road will be completely soaked". Ok Bob, roger that. If we get stuck, we are fucked.... Right right ok... So we drove towards Esperance via the normal road and we are now in Cape Arid and about to move to Cape le Grand tomorrow to catch-up with Flo and Pippa who are coming to visit us.... More on that later....

posted by Nico Touchard | 18:00 PM

We drove a lot but we've made it from Coffin Bay to Streaky Bay, Ceduna, the SA/WA border and all the way to Balladonia at the end of the Nullarbor plain. It's quite a driving experience especially without air con: First we went up from Coffin Bay to Streaky bay where we saw what the local fishermen enjoy catching.... Great Whites. I'm no match for that so we moved on to Ceduna where we really got ourselves ready for the crossing. ("Cheap") fuel, water and bottle of gas as this is the last civilised place we are going to see for a good 1500Km. Then we stopped at cactus beach (off Penong), one of Australia big spot for surfing. There wasn't much actions that day so on a hot day we decided to cross the Nullarbor. The name is derived from the latin, Null (no) arbor (tree) and it's mostly true. It's flat as for kilometres but it's a unbelievable scenery!! The main issue was the heat. 53C at one point the thermometer registered in the car. Suddenly I wish I had spent the $750 to fix the dam thing. Anyway, we survived and we spent the night in a rest area about 20Km before the border with WA.  As we had a bit of time there, we went for a walk and I think I can say that we are one of the few people that had a swim in the great Australian Bight. Really good feeling.  I was  hoping for one of those clear night to enjoy the southern sky but we got a huge storm instead. The car was rocking and that wasn't due to us. It was worth it though. The lightings were just amazing. Woke up and we moved on towards Balladonia. But first we had to clear the fruit and vegies customs... Funny country Australia. On this trip we were lucky in a way as the weather wasa nice 25C which made the journey very nice on the longest stretch of straight road I've ever came across. One was 146Km !! Anyway, a very emotional trip helped by the amazingly high petrol prices along the way...

posted by Nico Touchard | 18:00 PM

Nous venons de passer 3 jours a Coffin Bay NP. Bien que nous avions quelques inquietudes avec la conduite sur sable, tout c'est tres bien passe. Mode 4x4, pneu a 20psi et on est meme pas reste coince une seule fois. Faut dire, on avais Mark et Catherine en back-up. On a campe trois nuits a Morgan Landings. Plage et campement sympa mais je recommederais les autres sites plus au Nord pour ceux venant dans le coin. Sensation Beach est peu etre l'endroit le plus beau du parc avec une immense plage de sable blanc et d'eau turquoise. La peche a ete (comme partout dans le parc d'ailleur) des plus sensationelle. J'y ai pris mon plus gros "flathead" de tout les temps (c'est mon deuxieme)

Les connexions internet vont commencer a se faire rare. Nous llons entamer la traversee de la plaine sans arbres - Nullarbor. Plus de 1500km nous attendent jusqu'a Esperance.

posted by Nico Touchard & Angel Sirjean | 22:00 PM

Memory cove. South Australia best kept secret. This morning 8am, I woke up and with my right foot, I slide the rear curtain to get the bay view and everything seems calm and tranquille as usual here. Then, Catherine (our friends from Melbourne) arrive running saying "the dolphins!! the dolphins!! they are in the bay 10m from shore!! " Angel and I grab our swimming suit, camera, fins and snorkel and off we go in the water. This will be one of our most memorable moment in life for sure. We swam 45min with a pod of 30+ dolphins with 2 babies!!! This was just awesome !. (Flo/Pippa you have to come here). We took heaps of videos but here a few photos  and one video of "Swimming with dolphins at Memory cove before breakfast".

Video: Click here

posted by Nico Touchard | 11:00 aM

We have just find a piece of paradise.... Named Memory Cove, in the southern part of the Port Lincoln National Park. This place is just awesome. First, we've got it almost just for us. Only 1 couple, Mark and Catherine from Melbourne are with us. There is only five spots for camping here anyway and you need a key to get to this place (22km of  "4WD" track). Then the beach. One of those with white sand, turquoise waters etc.... Then ! the water is full of fish. I've decided to drop the traditional line fishing for my Hawaiian spear thingy. Now this is great fun and a great way to fish. Just take your snorkelling gears and away you go. We had a bbq with our neighbour last night on the beach and cooking the beasts. Just sensational. THEN !!  there are dolphins and seals here. Heaps of them. Mark even managed to snorkel with them for 10min. The sort of things you would pay $200 in a touristy place. Angelique and I are now spending the day scrutinising the horizon to get on the same tour.

Friday we are off to Coffin bay NP. This should be good too. For those coming this way ;-), the recommended camp site is Morgans Landing, just at the end of seven mile beach. 18psi and low tide. That's where we will be.

Voila, I better get back to dolphins spotting. Y9u never know.... 

posted by Nico Touchard | 10:00 aM

L'effet vacances ce fait maintenant sentir... On est comme des pachas au Parc National des Flinders Ranges avec super camping pas cher avec piscine, douches et tout et tout! Nous sommes a la bordure avec l'outback, le grand desert Australien, avec lac de sel remplacant l'eau, mais la faune est en abondance. Nous avons vu des meutes d'emus et d'euros (kangaroo des collines). C'est notre troisieme nuit ici. On repart demain pour Port Lincoln et la mer.

Hier, nous avons fait l'ascension du mont Marie. Mille cent quelques chose metres. Vue 360 a couper le souffle,  au propre et au  figure. 6 heures de marche sous un soleil de plomb, mes petits amis, c'etait pas de tout repos. Mais arrive la haut, quel bonheur! Une vue imprenable sur la chaine des Flinders, carvee il y a 600 Millions d'annees. Ensuite, piscine et bronzette bien merite.

Aujourd'hui, nous avons opte pour une conduite sur "track" dans les Flinders. Comme il disent sur les panneaux, c'est un couloir dans le temps. Les gorges et formations sont absolument superbes. Mais comme toute chose se merite, Roadrunner a decide de nous trouer un pneu :-( Premier incident sans consequence... Ensuite, piscine et bronzette bien merite.

Voila, le soleil chaud Australien est tombe sur l'horizon, les kookaburas ont fini de chanter (rire?), il faut aller se coucher...

posted by Nico Touchard | 21:00 PM

Day 3. 1138Km.  The day in Adelaide was great, I really like that town! People are really friendly and helpful, everything for visitors is central, from the shopping mall to Parliament House, State Library, National Museum, Botanical Garden (beautiful as usual with all BG in Australia) and Zoo! I could have spend at least 3 days here, and pop in the Museum which has a great collection of Aboriginal Art. Then we were on the road again for another 260 Km, to spend our night in Mt Remarkable National Park. This is a deluxe park, we were greeted with Kangaroos and Emus and they have facilities with water, toilet and shower s'il vous plait! We will found out a bit more about the walks tomorrow but we watched sunset over Spencer Gulf from the top of the hill and that was a great end of the day.

Temperatures have been mild so far with a top of 27C today. Apparently they are predicting "cool" conditions in the next few days. That should be good for the trip up North in the Flinders.  That's it for today folks !

Almost forgot! Nico did cut his hair! But I cannot show you, he is not allowing me to take pictures ;-)

posted by Angel Sirjean | 21:00 PM

Day 2. Leaving  Glenelg NP this morning we were pretty happy. We've seen big roos and wallabies, "des chiers" d'emus,  koalas and gang gang.  Not bad for day 2. We drove all the way to Adelaide where we are currently camping for at least a day. Tomorrow, a bit of shopping for the few stuff we are missing and I might even (might) get a hair cut (I mean hair cut big time, at least for me). Then we are off to Flinders Ranges. Stay tune...

posted by Nico Touchard | 20:00 PM

Premiere journee sur la route sous un soleil de plomb (38C) Nous somme parti de Melbourne vers 14h et sommes arrives a Lower Gleneg dans la soiree. Acceuilli par un enorme Roo, nous avons fait a manger sous un ciel tout gris. Le campement, avec 10 emplacements nous est entierement reserve donc la nuit devrait etre calme.  

posted by Nico Touchard | 22:00 PM

Let's go!! We are finally on our way! We've quit our job on Friday and had a wonderful farewell with everyone at Telstra, Building Commission and with all of our friends. Thank you to all of you it has been great working with you and thanks for all the presents.

For now, it's direction South Australia & Adelaide. Until then,  good bye Melbourne ;-) See you in June.

posted by Nico Touchard | 12:00 PM

Hello folks !! Big news today, Flo & Pippa have finally put their web site up. ;-) Check it out via the link on the right hand side. Otherwise yeah, I've told my boss I'm leaving work on the 2nd of Feb and we are planning to go for our trip around Australia from the 5th Feb for5 month. YEAH !!!! Anyway, I'll give your more details on the roadmap later for now we have to pack, organise the trip,  insurance, sell our stuff (check out the list here and tell your friends) send the rest of the stuff in France, THEN !! I have to turn 30 on Sunday.... 

posted by Nico Touchard | 21:00 PM

Happy new year everyone! First post of the year 2007. We spent the evening around Fed square for the firework. That was awesome. Not so good is going back to work tomorrow after a week holiday in Croajigolong National Park in Victoria, Ben Boyd and Kosciuszko National Park in New South Wales. Got some very good diving there with Joe and Ben around Eden. We dived the Cave and the Wood Chip Mill Wharf and got a few good shots of Blue Dragon Nudibranch...Check the Diving section out....  

Bonne Annee 2007  a tous le monde! J'ai mis des photos a jour dans la section de plongee. A Bientot.

posted by Nico Touchard | 20:00 PM

Well, here we go.... here is the new Unamis, new look, new purpose. It is still very much in preparation mode at the moment but I'm hoping to put the old photos in there soon. In the coming month, there should be a bit more action on this blog, but for now, ciao ciao !!!

Voila! le Unamis nouveau est arrive. Nouveau look, nouveau but mais toujours plein de fautes d'orthographe, surtout quand c'est moi qui tape.  J'espere mettre les vieilles photos bientot pour vous les nostalgiques et fans... Allez,a bientot!

  posted by Nico Touchard | 8:19 PM

A few shots from our years in Australia. The first ones are from the Grampians National Park (NP), a fantastic outdoor venue where we have spent a few week-ends, either 4wdriving with Flo and Pippa or with my bro' Vincent and his friends Antoine & Amelie. Then, we have one of our all times favourites: Wilsons Promontory NP. It's about 3 hours and a bit drive from Melbourne and is arguably the best park in Victoria.  Little desert NP and Mt Arapiles (photo) was the scene of again some serious 4WD action in a park not very well known by Victorians but once again well worth a visit. I personally recommend the sunrise there if you are an early bird, but watch out for the mossies.... And finally in this row, some cool shots of Snowy River NP we visited with Ian and Cecile.  We camped at McKillops bridge (picture), a very nice camping spot near the mighty Snowy River.   

Travelling with the Touchards and the Geffards in outback Australia, the "red centre" is a must see in Australia. Uluru Kata Tjuta NP, Watarrka (Kings Canyon) NP, West MacDonnell Ranges NP and Alice Spring.

We spent 2 weeks in Tasmania. Hired a car to go around the island from Cradle Mountain NP (got snow on the 26th of Dec) down to Hobart and the fantastic Maria Island NP

South Australia and the  terrific Kangaroo Island... With Vince, Amele and Antoine.

Queensland and the biggest sand castle in the world. With Ben, Tim & Megan

Then a city which has a lot on offer. Melbourne has been voted in the top 3 most viable city in the world and I must say that Melbourne has it all.... Sport, music, bars pubs and restaurants (Cherry bar on AC/DC lane is one of my favourites), you name it, Melbourne has it. Weather wise it's great, the northerly wind will bring you temperature in excess of 40C and then 30min later, the sea breeze made in Antarctica kicks in and you get 18C.... (true story). But as they say here.... That's Melbourne for ya !!

Our latest trip with Angelique's parents on the "Capricorn coast" in Queensland. 400KM from Townsville and Magnetic "Maggie" Island, to the glorious 74 Whitsunday islands and the Great Barrier Reef and Mackay with the nearby Eungalla NP.

 Last update by Nico Touchard | 16 Dec 2006