In 1934, Jean Batten (24) smashed an England-Australia flying record with a solo 14-day flight over the same route. In 1935 she set a world record flying from England to Brazil, for which she was presented the Order of the Southern Cross, the first person other than Royalty to be so honored. In 1936, she made an 11-day, 22,750 km solo flight from England to New Zealand (with a break in Australia), a record that stood for 44 years. Her flights were characterized by precision navigation. Her plane hangs from the ceiling of the Auckland airport. Born in Rotorua, NZ, she became the best-known New Zealander of the 1930’s, nicknamed the “Garbo” of the skies. Yes, this should be in the NZ blogs, better late than never, and if I went back now and put it in Auckland, you would have missed it 😉
A Sequoia down under
This flower clock has hands
Here come some of the Australian animals!! We visited the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. Bonorong means “native companion” in the aboriginal language.
The ‘Tasmanian devil’ has been attributed to this animal’s blood-curdling call and the fact that it is only found in Tasmania. When excited, their ears turn red due to an increase in blood flow, another reason they are likened to devils. Despite their name, they are shy animals.
They fight with each other for food and their teeth are vicious looking, but other than that, they’re cute!! They are the largest meat-eating marsupials in the world.
Koalas mainly sleep in the daytime and move around and feed at night. They eat about 2 lbs of leaves each night!Fellow World Cruisers, Sandra and her son John. More Koala photos coming on the Brisbane post.Pronounced – a kid na The Echidna and Platypus are the only living mammals that lay eggs. Echidnas eat ants, lays only one egg a year and houses it in her pouch.
Wombats are often called ‘the bulldozers of the bush’ due to their short powerful legs, broad shoulders and burrowing abilities. Nocturnal too!
Wombats are not pets
Look at the claws
Black Tiger snake. Tasmania has 3 species of snake, all venomous
And his laugh is loud!
Tales of two bridges. Left, Richmond bridge built by convicts in 1823. Right, Hobart bridge in 1975 was hit by a ship which felled a support and part of the bridge collapsed on top of the boat and sank it in the very deep river. All died plus 5 civilians driving across the bridge and over the edge.
