Karragarra island

We caught the ferry over to Karragarra Island, a small island across from Russell Island in Moreton Bay that we intended to walk around. On one side was a narrow strip of sandy beach and on the opposite side, mangroves.

Fresh water turtle hike

Within Turtle Swamp Wetlands, there was a wide trail amongst Australia’s best vegetation. If I’d visited in the spring, the ground would have been covered in wildflowers. But when I arrived on Russell Island, it was winter, or at least that’s what the locals thought a twenty-three degree day was.

Turtle Swamp Wetlands

While trees were being bulldozed to build more houses, Russell Island’s Turtle Swamp Wetland was preserved. This was a place to soak up the beautiful squiggly bark gum trees, grass trees and paper barks.

Further along magpie lark creek

I decided to head back to a trail I once religiously exercised along near Bulimba Creek. I often trekked the route before six in the morning. After that time, Brisbane’s summers were just too hot.

Place of the magpie lark

Not far from the ruckus of Brisbane’s Carindale Shopping Centre, I hiked a trail through Tillack Park lined with paper bark trees. The pathway mirrored Bulimba Creek; an Aboriginal word meaning place of the magpie lark. While this was a common bird with a musical call, I only spotted a pigeon.

Among the paper barks at Indiscapes

Located just out of Brisbane in the Redlands area, the bushland setting housed a restaurant. I walked towards the building through paper barks, a tree often used in artwork. Some artists created an entire picture using the outer layer from these trees. Left alone, they are one of my favourite native trees.

Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens

The Botanic Gardens are on the southern side of the Yarra River, before crossing into the heart of the city. In the distance, Melbourne’s highest buildings peek over the trees but the city is soon forgotten with paths weaving through giant trees.

Melbourne’s Yarra Bend

In the middle of Melbourne, is a piece of natural beauty, Yarra Bend. As the name suggests, Melbourne’s Yarra River runs through the bush land setting.