Joe Benning Photography

Travel & Photo Blog

  •   Reston, VA

Hamilton Island, Australia

We are anchored off Hamilton Island, one of the 74 islands that make up the Whitsunday chain. Along the way we have done a lot of sightseeing in Sydney, in Brisbane, and sailing around Hamilton Island. Here are some photos. Joe

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Brisbane, Australia

Brisbane, AUS (“Brizzy” to the locals) Feb. 19, 2016 We visited Brisbane yesterday, and saw another penal colony success story, a’ la Sydney. Brisbane is north of Sydney, still on Australia’s east coast, and it’s about half the population of Sydney (approx. 2 million, vs. 4 million in Sydney). It’s got a beautiful wide river […]

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Two Days in Sydney, Australia

Two busy days in Sydney. Among other things, we toured the iconic Sydney Opera House. We visited an Australian wildlife reserve. And we walked along the Sydney Harbor on a walking tour of “The Rocks” a section of the city. Joe

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Sydney – Day 2

Day 2 in Sydney                                                                    Feb 17 2016 4pm Another lovely day in Sydney – weather was breezy, sunny, dry and warm.   We left the ship early, and took a short tour of Sydney’s Rocks District. This is the area near Sydney Harbour where the “First Fleet” landed in 1788; 11 ships carrying 776 prisoners (male […]

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Birds of New Caledonia…and Cyclones too

The waters got a bit rough last night. But the saloons stayed open. Maybe it had something to do with the Captain’s announcement that by leaving Fiji when we did we beat a Cyclone, complete with 60-foot waves, by 2-days. Anyway, here are some pictures of Birds we saw on Noumea, New Caledonia. (Sorry it’s […]

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Headed for Australia

We are at sea headed for Sydney Australia, having left Noumea, New Caledonia where it is now Valentine’s day. So here are some pictures from Noumea, including some “Love Birds” for Valentine’s Day. Joe

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