AUSTRALIA ~Elephant Rocks - William Bay National Park~

... Great new Australian National Park for my collection👍... a wonderful view of a natural phenomenon... huge granite boulders and spectacular rock formations... as it name suggests, Elephant Rocks looks really like a herd of elephants gathered in a group, paddling in the shallow waters... the most visited places within William Bay National Park... the Rainbow Coast has some of the most spectacular coastline... endless stretches of white sandy beaches, turquoise waters, wilderness peaks and ancient forests makes it one of the most pristine places on earth... Thanks a lot Denny!!❁◕ ‿ ◕❁

William Bay National Park is located in the Great Southern Region of Western Australia along the Rainbow Coast, and is in the Shire of Denmark. It covers an area of 1734 hectares and includes Greens Pool and Elephant Rocks.

William Bay was named after the famed British Arctic explorer and navigator, Sir William Edward Parry, as were two other nearby features, Parry Inlet and Edward Point.

Stamp:

 Postage Paid

AUSTRALIA ~ Kings Canyon - Watarrka National Park ~

... Great view of "Kings Canyon" part of Watarrka National Park... one of the major tourist attractions in the Red Center of Australia... the most spectacular and largest canyon...  the Kings Canyon Rim Walk leads through a labyrinth of vast, sweeping views, and richly coloured sandstone walls rocks... there are several sidewalks to viewpoints from where you can look into the depth of the canyon... if hiking isn’t for you, take off on a helicopter flight and appreciate the grand scale of the canyon... this National Park is also a significant conservation area with gorges and waterholes providing home for a wide range of animals, birds, reptiles and an amazing array of plants... Thanks a lot Denny!❁◕ ‿ ◕❁

Watarrka National Park is  located in the Northern Territory. It contains the much visited Kings Canyon and Kathleen Springs.

 Watarrka National Park was established in 1989 and gets its name from the Aboriginal name of the land.

Kings Canyon was formed over millions of years of erosion, slicing the earth 270 metres deep.

The canyon abounds with waterholes and casts a sheltering shadow over dense palm forests and native animals from the harsh desert surrounds lending to an interesting array of flora and fauna.




Photo: Marco Saracco

Stamp:

Postage Pre-Paid

AUSTRALIA ~ Wilpena Pound - Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park ~

... Great new National Park postcard and a favourite Outback destinations in Australia... it includes some of the most dramatic mountain scenery... Wilpena is a major tourist hotspot at Flinders... it is a spiritual place and ancient meeting place of the park’s traditional owners, the Adnyamathanha people... the Pound is a very popular area for bushwalking... there are numerous scenic routes, gorges, walking and bushwalking trails, and a variety of wildlife can be seen... with nice Wilpena Pound postmark... Thanks ??ヽ(ヅ)ノ

The Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park is situated approximately 400 km north of Adelaide in the northern central part of South Australia's largest mountain range, the Flinders Ranges and covers an area of 912 km².

The park's most characteristic landmark is Wilpena Pound, a large, sickle-shaped, natural amphitheatre covering nearly 80 km², containing the range's highest peak, St Mary Peak (1,170 metres). Wilpena Pound looks very much like the crater of an extinct volcano or a depression caused by a massive meteor strike, but it is in fact the product of millions of years of geologic pressures and erosion.

On 12 February 2016 the park was renamed to include the Adnyamathanha word, Ikara, "meeting place", referring to the traditional name for Wilpena Pound.



Stamp:

Prepaid postage

AUSTRALIA ~ Kakadu National Park - UNESCO ~

... Wonderful panoramic view of one of the world' largest national parks...  renowned for its rich Aboriginal history...  home to some of the best-preserved rock art in the world... there are whole rocks that tell stories... a mixture of jungle, desert, jagged rocks, rivers and waterfalls... home to more than 10.000 crocodiles... around 280 different types of birds live in the park... more than 10.000 species of insects... and some of 2000+ plant species...  one of the top sites to visit in Australia’s Northern Territory...Thanks a lot Ro Andy!! (✿ ♥‿♥)

Photo: Jörg Heumuller
"View of Ubirr Northern Territory,  one of Kakadu's oldest Aboriginal occupation sites open to the public. It's home to an amazing array of well preserved Indigenous rock art dating back thousands of years."
Kakadu National Park is located near to Darwin with an area of almost 20,000 square kilometres. More than half the park is Aboriginal land, and all of Kakadu is special to its traditional owners, they also  manage the park in partnership with Parks Australia.

The name Kakadu may come from the mispronunciation of Gaagudju, which is the name of an Aboriginal language formerly spoken in the northern part of the park.

The park was first inscribed on the World Heritage list in 1981, with further areas added in 1987, 1992 and 2011.

Stamps:

Love
(Issued 07-02-2017)

Christmas Island Year of the Dog
(Issued 10-01-2018)

 Legends of TV Entertainment
(Issued 18-01-2018)

AUSTRALIA ~ Southern Elephant Seals - Heard Island - UNESCO ~

... Fantastic postcard of one of the most isolated islands on our planet... and one of the most rare pristine island ecosystems...  it is very dangerous and almost impossible to reach this island... you have to pass through some of the roughest seas on the planet to get there... for those reasons, there are currently no commercial tour operations that visit Heard Island... no-one lives permanently on the island and there is no Post Office, so unfortunately it's not possible to receive a postcard directly from Heard Island... as environmental conditions have improved around Heard Island in recent years, southern elephant seal populations have stabilized... Thanks a lot Xue!! (✿ ♥‿♥)

Photo: Matt Curnock, Australian Antarctic Division "Juvenile male southern elephant seals sparring"
The southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) is the world's largest seal. Southern elephant seals are named after the large proboscis (nose) of the adult males, which is used to make loud roaring sounds, especially during the mating season.

Heard Island is a subantarctic island located in the Southern Ocean, about 4,000 kilometres south west of mainland Australia. The island have been an Australian territory since 1947 and contain the country's only two active volcanoes,  it's highest mountain, and it's only glaciers. It is part of the Australian external territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands. The islands and surrounding waters offer a unique opportunity for conducting scientific research,

Home to a range of wildlife including seals, marine birds and penguins which include several species with conservation status at a national and international level. The surrounding waters contain unique and important marine species.

Heard and McDonald Islands are since 1997 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Prestamped postcard

AUSTRALIA ~ Humpback Whales -

... .Spectacular sights of the "gentle giants of the ocean" and wonderful new whale card for my collection... the biggest animal on Earth... they are true “acrobats of the sea” with jumps out of the water (known as breaching) and tail and flipper slaps... to see one of the most majestic and extraordinary animals in the wild must be an unforgettable experienceヅ... whale and dolphin watching has become a popular Eco-tourism activity worldwide in recent years... Thanks a million Sioux!! (✿ ♥‿♥)

Photo: © Philip Rowley
"Humpback Whales playing on annual migration path past Gold Coast, North Stradbroke Island, Moreton Bay, Sunshine Coast, Fraser Island & Hervey Bay ."
The Gold Coast welcomes the first pods of whales into Queensland waters and is the best place to watch them with their new calves at the end of the season as they make the way back to Antarctica.

The most characteristic features of the humpback whale are its enormous flippers, which stretch to almost one third of the animal's body length. The humpback is one of the most acrobatic of the great whales and has been observed leaping from the water in nearly 40 consecutive bursts of "joy".Scientists have also recorded patterns of humpback vocalizations which they have likened to birdsong.

The humpback whale exposes its tail flukes in terminal dives. The tail of each humpback whale is visibly unique.

Stamp:

Australian Animals - Monotremes
(Issued 26-09-2016)

AUSTRALIA ~ The Pinnacles - Nambung National Park ~

... Great panoramic view of one of Western Australia’s iconic tourist attractions... a unique natural wonder and one of Australia's most fascinating areas… it looks like being on another planet... a desert where the weathered rock spires rising up out of the golden sand with some standing as high as five metres... Thanks a lot Rachel!!(✿ ♥‿♥)

Photo: Jörg Heumüller
Nambung National Park is located in Western Australia next to the Indian Ocean. The Pinnacles Desert is a fairly small part of the larger 17,500-hectare Nambung National Park. Aborigines have inhabited the area for many thousands of years. The name of the national park comes from the Aboriginal word ‘nambung’, meaning “winding” or “crooked”, and refers to the Nambung River.

The Pinnacles Desert covering an area of 17,487 hectares remained relatively unknown until the late 1960s, when the Department of Lands and Surveys agreed to add the area to the already existing national park, which had been established in 1956.

These amazing natural limestone structures were formed approximately 25,000 to 30,000 years ago, after the sea receded and left deposits of sea shells. Over time, coastal winds removed the surrounding sand, leaving the pillars exposed to the elements.

Stamp:

The 150th Anniversary of the Birth of Henry Lawson, 1867-1922
( Issued 13-06-2017)

AUSTRALIA ~ Forbes - New South Wales ~

... Great typical rural view on many local farms... early morning  sunrise onto the Eucalypts or gum trees... the sight and smell of eucalypts are a defining part of Australian life... Thanks a lot Sioux!!❁◕ ‿ ◕❁

Forbes is substantial rural settlement on the banks of the Lachlan River in the Parkes region of New South Wales.

This former gold mining town is situated 386 kilometres by road from Sydney. Numerous substantial Victorian-style buildings constructed in the wake of the gold rush remain in the town today.

The indigenous inhabitants of the Forbes area were the Wiradjuri Aboriginal people.

Stamp:

Australian Animals - Monotremes
(Issued 26-09-2016)

AUSTRALIA ~ Overland track - Tasmania - Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park -UNESCO ~

... Beautiful prepaid postage postcard with special postmark... a great new National Park and UNESCO site to add to my collection... showing one of Australia's most famous hiking tracks through some of Tasmania’s wildest and most scenic landscapes... you'll see lakes, gorges and forests, mountains and moors, spectacular waterfalls and steep, stony peaks.... the Overland Track is a serious undertaking, requiring well-prepared walkers with a good level of fitness, who understand the risks of walking in a remote alpine area... Thanks a lot Heather!! (✿ ♥‿♥)

Photo: Totajla
The Overland Track is Australia’s premier alpine walk. It’s a 65 km, six-day trek through the heart of the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park.

Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park is located in the Central Highlands area of Tasmania. The park contains many walking trails, and is where hikes along the well-known Overland Track usually begin. Major features are Cradle Mountain and Barn Bluff in the northern end, Mount Pelion East, Mount Pelion West, Mount Oakleigh and Mount Ossa in the middle and Lake St Clair in the southern end of the park.

In December 1982, the World Heritage Committee included the entirety of the Western Tasmanian Wilderness National Parks into the World Heritage List. However, in 1989 this area was expanded to encompass an additional 1.4 million hectares,

AUSTRALIA ~The Dogs that Saved Macquarie Island -UNESCO~

...As being a dog lover and owner this fantastic postcard is such a wonderful new addition to my collection...a stamp honour for dogs who saved the island...eleven dogs, mostly springer spaniels and Labrador retrievers, worked tirelessly to hunt and eradicate rabbits and rodents...the island owed its pest-free status to the dogs... an important part of their training was to teach the dogs not to disturb native animals...the postcard also shows the bad conditions that the dogs had to work in...Thanks so much Xue!!❣◕ ‿ ◕❣

Gary Bowcock and his hunting dogs -Photo by Chris Crerar- © Tasmania Parks&Wildlife Service. Macquarie Island is a subantarctic island located in the Southern Ocean, approximately half way between Australia and Antarctica.

Macquarie Island or “Macca” as it is often called is a Nature Reserve managed by the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service. The island and surrounding waters out to 12 nautical miles were inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1997 as a site of major geoconservation significance, as an island of unique natural diversity and one of the truly remarkable places on earth. The land under the sea, all flora and fauna including fish and marine plants are completely protected.

Macquarie Island was listed as a UNESCO WHS site in 1997.

A maxicard is a prepaid postcard with a stamp affixed and postmarked on the view side. The subject matter of a maxicard is common to the card, stamp and postmark.

 On 9th of September Australia Post issued a set of four maxicard on Macquarie Island and its dogs.

AUSTRALIA ~ Christmas Island-Robber crabs ~

Fantastic postcard showing the largest crab on land from a unique and remote island full of natural wonders... Thanks a million David for another great surprise...Love the stamp cancellation too!!

Photo Jorena Chan-Wong
Christmas Island is a territory of Australia located in the Indian Ocean,  1.565 km to the Australian mainland. Its closest neighbor is Java, 360 km away. Over 65% of Christmas Island is National Park.

The coconut crab also known as the robber crab or palm thief. It is the largest land-living arthropod in the world, and is probably at the upper size limit for terrestrial animals with exoskeletons in recent Earth atmosphere, with a weight of up to 4.1 kg (9.0 lb). It can grow to up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) in length from leg to leg.

The robber crab is the only species in the genus Birgus and also the crab to have best evolved to life away from the sea or freshwater.


Stamps:
Australia Post celebrates the Year of the Goat
(Issued 8-01 2015)

Although Christmas Island was placed under Australian control in 1958, the island remained postal and philatelic independent until 1993 when Australia Post became the island's postal operator.

The island issued its own postage stamps from 1958. Those issued by Australia Post since 1993 are also valid in Australia, as are Australian stamps in Christmas Island.

AUSTRALIA ~MACQUARIE ISLAND -King Penguins-UNESCO~

...Another little gem to add to my collection...a heaven for wildlife, penguins everywhere..the landscape is shaped by water and wind...great stamps and awesome cancellation...Thanks a million Rod  for this fantastic and unique surprise!!

Photo Barend Becker From the backside:
King Penguins are the second largest penguin in the world and the largest on Macquarie Island. The breeding cycle takes approximately 14 months to complete, a successful pair will breed twice every 3 years.

World heritage listed Macquarie Island Nature Reserve, located approx. 1500km south-east of Tasmania is proudly managed by the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service, with support from the Australian Antarctic Program.

Stamps:
Bicentenary of Macquarie Island
Macquarie Island Cabbage Flower -Southern Elephant Seal
(Issued 26-10-2010)

1911-1914 Australian Antarctic Expedition
Arrival and exploration 1912
(Issued 04-09-2012)

AUSTRALIA ~St Peters Cathedral - Adelaide ~

... A fantastic view of an important historic building in a tranquil and peaceful setting... Many thanks Rosie!!

With cute stamp:
Bush Babies II stamp series-  the echidna
(Issued 02-04-2013)

St Peter's Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in the South Australian capital of Adelaide. It is the seat of the archbishop of the Anglican Diocese of Adelaide.The cathedral is situated on approximately one acre (4,000 m²) of land.The foundation stone of this church was laid in 1869.

 The south face has similar features to the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris, including an ornate rose window above the main entrance which depicts stories of South Australia and the Bible.

AUSTRALIA ~Kangaroo~

Most of us when we see kangaroos think  of Australia...or on TV series as 'Skippy the Bush Kangaroo', (for the older ones^^) or the sweet "Kanga" friend of Winnie the Pooh... bouncing around the countryside... but kangaroos are not as cute and cuddly as they look...Thanks again Tiffany!!

With 4 nice stamps:
-Fishes of the Reef
(Issued 21-06-2010)
-Celebrating Chinese New Year
(Issued 10-01-2012)
-Ferries in Sydney
(Issued 21-02-2012)
-small dog breeds
(Issued 15-02-2013)

A kangaroo mother and her joey.

Kangaroos are native to Australia. They're good at adapting so they can live in a variety of habitats.
Kangaroos are herbivores, and they eat a wide variety of plants, including grasses, shrubs, tree leaves and shoots. Ecologically, kangaroos are Australia's equivalent of bison, deer and cattle in North America.

 Kangaroos get much of the moisture they need from their diet, which means they can go for long periods of time without drinking water. Speaking of hopping, kangaroos are the only large animals that hop as a primary means of locomotion. A male's jump can be 10 feet (3 m) high and 30 feet (9 m) long, and it can reach speeds of up to 40 mph (60 kph).

Kangaroos are highly social. They often live in groups known as mobs or troops, which can range in size from 10 to more than 100 kangaroos.

AUSTRALIA ~Birds ~

First of two great postcards showing native wildlife...This one with unique birds of the country...Thanks a lot Tiffany!!

With matching bird and personalised cute dog stamp:
 Australian Bush Babies II
Laughing Kookaburra
(Issued  02.04.2013)

Australian birds: Kookaburra - Cockatiel - Scaly breasted Lorikeet - Little Corella.

Australia has about 800 species of bird, ranging from the tiny 8 cm Weebill to the huge, flightless Emu.
It's the  land of parrots and honeyeaters, home to bowerbirds, megapodes and birds of paradise. Lyrebirds, emus and apostle birds are uniquely Australian.

Most of the world's cockatoos are Australian, and no continent other than South America has more parrots.

Also most of the songbirds belong to families not found on other continents (Australia is possible the birthplace of all the world's songbirds)- despite their names such as 'robin', 'magpie' and 'wren' given  by homesick settlers in the early days of white colonisation.

AUSTRALIA ~Tasmania-Tasmanian Devil~

...Great postcard of a "not so friendly" looking animal...look at his teeth...I do like this kind of postcards...don't have to search a lot for information about the image on the postcard.:D
And nice to know that it's coming from the island itself!! Thanks a lot Kathryn!!

With lovely Olympics stamp!This issue is the second of three being released for the Olympics 2012 in London.It carries the symbol of the IOC, commemorates the performances of Australia's athletes at the Olympic Games. Represented on the stamp is the sport of Pole Vault.

The Tasmanian devil can only be found on the island, Tasmania and has only recently been classified as "endangered". Up until 2008, this marsupial was listed as "vulnerable" - that has now changed because:
- Farmers used to hunt them.
- They are often hit by cars as they feed on other road-killed animals.
- A contagious form of cancer that affects only Tasmanian Devils is spreading very quickly.

Tasmania is of course popular due to the Warner cartoon character Taz, The Tasmanian Devil.

AUSTRALIA ~Victor Harbor~

...Just love this amazing postcard showing the "gentle giant of the ocean" ... My whale card Nr 33!!
Thanks a lot Heather!:D:D

Also with 3 great stamp:
Bosisto’s Eucalyptus Oil stamp is one in a set of four showcasing Australia’s most iconic native plant industries: (Issued 17-05-2012)
The Australian Zoos stamps, features seven remarkable animals currently housed in seven of Australia's larger zoos.(Issued 28-09-2012)
Australian Medical Doctors honoured by Australia Post:Dr Jane (Jean) Stocks Greig (1872-1939) was one of five extraordinary sisters and a public health specialist. (Issued 10-04-2012)

View over Encounter Bay from the Bluff Lookout
Southern Right Whales.
The Steam Harbor, Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia.

AUSTRALIA

Great card showing the most famous "highlights" of the country "down under" Australia... Signed by different members on a postcrossings meeting (Australia meets Finland.:D) Thank you all so much!!
P.S. I do love pizza, but I don't think I would dare to try alligator...You were so brave to taste it!:D:D

With so cute stamp.The $1.60 international rate stamp features the Dingo (Canis lupus dingo)From a set of 5 Australian native animals.

Clockwise from top to left:
The Bungle Bungles- Purnululu NP
WA-Uluru
Low Island-Great Barrier Reef
Opera House and Harbour Bridge
Three Sisters-Blue Mountains
Twelfe Apostels
Dove Lake and Cradle Mountain
Vineyards-Barossa Valley

AUSTRALIA ~Sydney-Opera House-UNESCO~

A wonderful nightview of the most famous landmark in Sydney and even in whole Australia...amazing architecture, unique in the world and in a great location... Thanks a lot Krystiina!!

With lovely Olympics stamp!This issue is the second of three being released for the Olympics 2012 in London.It carries the symbol of the IOC, commemorates the performances of Australia's athletes at the Olympic Games. Represented on the stamps is the sport of Rowing, discipline of Swimming and event of Pole Vault.

The Opera House is the work of the Danish architect Jørn Utzon who won the competition design in 1957. Construction of the building started in 1959 and ended in 1973 and was not without controversy. The original cost estimate was $7 million while the completion date was set by the government to be 26 January 1963; in reality the building was finished 10 years later in 1973 at a cost of $102 million. Jørn Utzon ultimately resigned the project and the interior was completed by an Australian design team. The most striking architectural element is the roof, which is made of precast concrete covered in granite tiles imported from Sweden.
The Sydney Opera House is one of the buisiest Opera Houses in the world with over 1500 live performances every year..

Sydney's Opera House was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007.

AUSTRALIA ~Warby-Ovens Valley National Park-Victoria~

Lovely nature view...It looks a wonderful holiday destination, and I do love the name of the city "Bright"... Thanks Alison!!

With so cute stamp!!

Bright is one of Victoria's most attractive tourist destinations. Nestled in the beautiful Ovens Valley and surrounded by the towering Australian Alps, Bright offers good quality off-the-mountain accommodation to those wishing to ski at the nearby resorts of Mt Buffalo, Mt Hotham and Falls Creek. In autumn the russet tones and the colourful blaze, against the backdrop of the pine-clad hills, adds to the appeal of this scenic district.