Hunter Region Botanic Gardens

 

ABOVE: The Southern Wetlands Boardwalk – Hunter Region Botanic Gardens

Late last week I decided I should do something with the final day of my annual leave that I had taken this time round, so I thought I’d pop into the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens near Raymond Terrace in New South Wales, Australia. I had been here before, but that was a long time ago. I wasn’t impressed on that first visit, so after more then a decade had it improved? Well that was the question I was keen to answer.

ABOVE: The Rotunda  BELOW: Succulents Section

There was a $4.00 ‘escape’ fee, which would allow a token to be purchased and then the boom gate would rise once it was placed into the proper slot at the exit. So no entrance fee, just an exit fee. I was willing to pay this for a quick look and wander around the gardens.

So has it improved. Yes it has thankfully, but I still don’t rate it as brilliant or even what would come close to mildly impressing me for a botanic gardens. It is probably on the right track, but has a long way to go. And here’s the thing I think – a botanic gardens really needs time to develop, so those who will really benefit from the gardens are those who will visit it in about 25 years or so, when the plants have been allowed to mature somewhat across the gardens. It will also allow other pieces of infrastructure to be completed and for the gardens to achieve some ‘polish,’ so to speak. The central section of the gardens is very good and has been progressing well over the years (yes, it is a relatively young botanic gardens) – areas such as the bromeliad section, orchids, etc – even the succulent section a bit further away.

ABOVE: Orchid  BELOW: Bromeliads

So should you go? Look, it’s only $4.00 to get out of the place once you are there and you can get to see some great plants and do some good, easy walks – especially into the natural bush and wetland areas. So I’d say yes, just don’t expect a fully developed botanic gardens.

For more on the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens visit:
http://www.huntergardens.org.au/

ABOVE: Tree Ferns and Palms

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Tracing our History

I have been away from this Blog for the last several weeks because of the work I have been doing on one of my sites. I have been transferring, reviewing and updating my genealogy website and the work is now more-or-less completed. There are several pages that still require a bit of work, but the majority of the site is now functioning correctly. The site has been moved to a new domain and host, and has also had a major overhaul.

Visit ‘Tracing our History’ at:
http://tracingourhistory.com

Wollomombi and Chandler Falls: Oxley Wild Rivers National Park

This photo is of Wollomombi Falls (foreground left) and Chandler Falls (background top centre) in the Oxley Wild Rivers Natonal Park, New South Wales, Australia. I visited here during my ‘Waterfalls Tour 2010,’ which was my recently completed holiday.

Baker’s Creek Falls: Oxley Wild Rivers National Park

This photo was taken at Baker’s Creek Falls in the Oxley Wild Rivers Natonal Park, New South Wales, Australia. I visited here during my ‘Waterfalls Tour 2010,’ which was my recently completed holiday.

Tia Falls: Oxley Wild Rivers National Park

This photo was taken at Tia Falls in the Oxley Wild Rivers Natonal Park, New South Wales, Australia. I visited here during my ‘Waterfalls Tour 2010,’ which was my recently completed holiday.

Apsley River: Oxley Wild Rivers National Park

The ‘silly season’ is pretty much over – at least for me anyhow. So now I’m back to Blogging again. I have no hope of catching up on the days I missed, so I’ll just start again from today.

This photo was taken next to Apsley Falls in the Oxley Wild Rivers Natonal Park, New South Wales, Australia. I visited here during my ‘Waterfalls Tour 2010,’ which was my recently completed holiday.

This photo is from the Gorge Rim Walk, which pretty much covers the area from the camping area at Apsley Falls to the actual lookout at Apsley Falls. This photo shows the Apsley River flowing wildly at the base of the Apsley River Gorge.

Apsley Falls: Oxley Wild Rivers National Park

This photo was taken at Apsley Falls in the Oxley Wild Rivers Natonal Park, New South Wales, Australia. I visited here during my ‘Waterfalls Tour 2010,’ which was my recently completed holiday.

There had been a lot of rain in recent times and the river was quite swollen, in contrast to its usual flow. Unfortuately I was unable to take any photos from the Oxley Walk (the other side of the river), as the bridge that crossed the river upstream had been washed away.

FAMILY HISTORY RESEARCH

One of the things I’m really into is genealogy. I have been researching my family history for at least 10 years now, probably longer. This is something I spend quite a bit of time on and at the moment I probably spend at least 6 hours a week on it.

By the end of the year I am hoping to publish a book on my family history, which will be about 700-1000 pages long. It will be quite an effort to have it completed by then (that is the information I have thus far compiled), though the research will continue after the book is completed and there will undoubtedly by further updated editions down the track. It is exciting to know that there is a major milestone not too far away.