Oceania | The Barefoot Nomad

Jumping Crocodiles on Australia’s Adelaide River

By Micki Kosman, on October 9th, 2012

It was a calm day on the river when, suddenly and with virtually no warning, the crocodile burst out of the muddy water and snapped voraciously at it’s prey barely five feet from my nose.

Nicknamed Hannibal, the croc was over 15 feet long and was a predator from nose to tail. Hannibal was also our spectacular introduction to a jumping crocodile cruise on the Adelaide River just outside of Darwin in the Northern Territory of Australia.

Within moments of his previous lunge, our petite female guide casually dangled…

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Travel Photo: Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand

By Charles Kosman, on May 11th, 2012

The Marlborough Sounds on the South Island of New Zealand are a boaters and nature lovers paradise. With over 4,000 km² of islands, sounds and peninsulas, it’s coastline is so jagged that it actually contains 1/5 of New Zealand’s total coastline. The areas rugged beauty and natural wonder attract tourists all year long. From the large ferry terminal in Picton to the smaller leisure craft marina and town of Waikawa the area is teeming with boating and hiking possibilities.

Some of New Zealand’s most famous and picturesque hikes like the Queen Charlotte Track can be found in this region. The Queen Charlotte Track is considered to be one of the best hiking tracks in the world and is definitely the most accessible with a variety of accommodations along the way. There’s even a water transport service that will ferry your luggage (or yourself if you’re too tired) to your next destination each night if you don’t feel like carrying a backpack. Most people can walk the 71km track in 3 or 4 days, however with a little planning you can start or stop anywhere you feel like.

As well as the ferry terminal to Wellington, Picton is the start of both the Main North Line Railway and the State Highway. From Picton you can jump on a ferry to the North Island, hop aboard a train south to Christchurch or start your South Island tour in the vehicle of your choice. It doesn’t get much greener or wilder…

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Travel Photo: Ayers Rock (Uluru), Northern Territory, Australia

By Charles Kosman, on April 13th, 2012

Ayers Rock, or Uluru to the local Anangu Aborginal people, is a large sandstone rock formation in the southern part of the Northern Territory in central Australia. It’s about 3 and a half hours south west of the nearest large town, Alice Springs. The area around the rock outcropping includes a few water springs, waterholes and rock caves with some ancient paintings. Their are numerous guided tours and it’s a great way to learn about it’s Aboriginal history.

Truth be told it’s a long way to travel just to see a giant rock but the entire experience can be quite memorable. Whether you’re enjoying the sunrise or sunset views (the only time the rock truly looks red) with the traditional glass of champagne or hiking around the 9.4 km trail at it’s base, Uluru needs to be seen from different angles throughout the day to be fully appreciated. The color and texture change so much depending on the time of day you would almost believe it was alive. The nearby domed rocks of Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) is equally captivating, has a few walks of it’s own and will leave you with a feeling of wonder.

The drive there can get a little boring however the occasional kangaroo and emu sightings, the red dirt and scrub bush, the camel ranches and the beautiful Australian outback sky are all..

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