The Twelve Apostles is a collection of limestone stacks off the shore of Port Campbell National Park. Their proximity to one another has made the site a popular tourist attraction. Currently there are eight apostles left but the name remains significant and spectacular especially in the Australian tourism industry. The apostles were formed by erosion: the harsh and extreme weather conditions from the South Ocean gradually eroded the soft limestone to form caves in the cliffs, which then became arches, which in turn collapsed; leaving rock stacks up to 45metres high. The site was known as the Sow and Piglets until 1922 (Muttonbird Island, near Loch Ard Gorge, was the Sow, and the smaller rock stacks were the Piglets); after which it was renamed to The Apostles for tourism purposes. The formation eventually became known as the Twelve Apostles.


On a fine day with mild sunshine and gentle breezes, sea gulls may circle around those stacks and even come close to greet you. On another cold, miserable day, strong gusts and showers may howl and test your determination whether to quit or stay on to witness the grandeur of Nature at work.

This image was taken shortly after sunset, on a relative mild day.

Tags:   seascape Great Ocean Road 12 apostles sunset sundown landscape shore limestone stacks concordians closetonature nature erosion dusk HDR seaside ocean National Geographic tourist spot Portcampbell National Park beach mauve magenta reflection water reflection GrandeMareGroup backlit spring evening nightscene sea waves Twelve Apostles Scenics,notjustlandscapes!

© All Rights Reserved

This image is included in a gallery "Stunning and thrilling shots of horizons and skylines 347 photos" curated by frankie veldhoen.

Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is a jagged range of more than
70 knifelike peaks in eastern China’s Anhui province. The region's low-hanging clouds, distinctively shaped granite rocks and twisted pine trees have been subjects of numerous classical paintings and poems. Cable cars provide access to several peaks, and steep paved trails with thousands of stone steps snake past many of the range's famous viewpoints. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of China's major tourist destinations. Bright Top is one of the good places for viewing sunrises and sunsets.

黃山位於中國安徽省南部黃山市境內。黃山古稱黟山，南北長約40千米，東西寬約30千米。黃山素以「奇松、怪石、雲海、溫泉」四絕聞名天下。那72峰、24溪、2湖、3瀑，峰峰奇特，溪溪曲折、極盡天下山水之美，更聚名山大川之勝。黃山最高峰是蓮花峰，海拔1860米 ，位 於黃山中部、站在玉屏樓向前望去, 猶如一朵含苞初放的蓮花, 峻峭高聳, 仰天怒放。晴天從蓮花峰頂可遙見江西的廬山和似帶的長江。黃山三大主峰之一的天都峰，與蓮花峰爭雄對峙。它位於黃山東南部，人稱無上之「都會, 海拔1829米、從玉屏樓至天都峰約15千米，其間有黃山最險峻的峰嶺，峰上的石樓，坡度都在70度以上；尤以中途的鯽魚背最險。黃山上觀日出的地點很多, 尤以光明頂最負盛名。

Tags:   Travel Huangshan Landscape sunrise Spring China pine tree morning mist backlit HDR 光明頂日出 黃山 黟山 安徽省 National Geographic nature closetonature UNESCO World Heritage Site mountain peaks morning sky Anhui Province 中國 in gallery Scenics,notjustlandscapes! geo tagged Yellow Mountain

© All Rights Reserved

The "bridge" joining the arch crumbled on 15/1/1990. Now only the arch is standing to brave the waves and tides and winds and harsh Australian sun. It is now called London Arch.

This shot is taken shortly after sunset, with the near-full moon shining from the top left hand sky.

Tags:   London Bridge London Arch travel Port Campbell Autumn Victoria Australia moon shine nature concordians National Geographic hdr limestone arch landscape seascape GrandeMareGroup weathering Great Ocean Road closetonature long exposure Scenics,notjustlandscapes! geo tagged waterscape

© All Rights Reserved

The blue-faced honeyeater (Entomyzon cyanotis), also colloquially known as the bananabird, is a passerine bird of the honeyeater family, Meliphagidae. It is the only member of its genus, and it is most closely related to honeyeaters of the genus Melithreptus. (Wikipedia)

The Blue-faced Honeyeater occurs in a wide range of habitats, though it is most usually found in eucalypt forests and woodlands, or often among pandanus palms, but it also often occurs in built-up habitats where it forages in both native and exotic plants. They take invertebrates from the trunks, branches and leaves of trees, and probe flowers for nectar. Like many honeyeaters, this species is often pugnacious, chasing competitors away from food sources, and mobbing, swooping or harassing potential predators to drive them away from the nest. (Birdlife Australia)

This was taken at Serendip Sanctuary. Serendip Sanctuary is part of an Aboriginal cultural landscape in the traditional Country of the Wadawurrung Peoples. It is a 250 hectare protected area in Victoria, Australia, near the You Yangs and the town of Lara, about 22 km north of Geelong and 60 km south-west of Melbourne.

Tags:   Blue-faced Honeyeater bird watcher avian Autumn afternoon close-up Macro photography Nature National Geographic closetonature Concordians narrow depth of field gum tree Serendip Sanctuary Melbourne Travel Entomyzon cyanotis Meliphagidae bananabird passerine bird geo tagged wildlife

© All Rights Reserved

In the evening, lorikeets gather in gum trees, play and chat a lot. They can be gone in a whistle, following the leader.

The late evening light casts a deep orange tinge on everything.

Tags:   rainbow lorikeet parrot SLB-flying evening in flight Westerfolds Park Victoria Australia concordians closetonature nature Trichoglossus haematodus avian Summer wildlife National Geographic bird watcher

© All Rights Reserved