My name is Ann.  

 I am a travel addict and photographer.  I do not make money from my photography, there is too much competition out there and besides, I want to continue to enjoy what I do.  Of course I may take this on more seriously when I retire.  That is now less than 2 years away and can't come quick enough.

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I have had this blog for many years now.  It's a shame that blogging has been pretty much replaced by videos and tic-toc shorts.  

Let's face it, most people these days have the attention span of a fish.  

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Why aussirose?  

Please see my original Page for that story by clicking the link to the right.

As you can see from the links to the right, I have completed many pages and stories of travels and photography.  If you have stumbled across this site, then I hope that I can entertain you for a little while.

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Want to find out the latest?

Please click on the link below for my latest page.

I am currently updating pages and focusing on photography, so please check back from time to time.

LATEST PAGE

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PHOTOGRAPHY

Below is just a snippit of my favourite photos.  I have too many favourites to put here, so this will change from time to time as I create new images.  

For a current, up to date record, please go to - www.flickr.com/aussirose

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I have come a long way since my first DSLR, Canon 60D in 2013.  I have always enjoyed taking photos since very small with whatever cheap camera there was at the time.  

Following hubby's great shots with his first DSLR in Europe 2011, I knew I had to relent and get a DSLR Camera for myself, and It's been photo wars ever since.

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I have tried all genres and love the challenge of being out of my comfort zone.

I tend to gravitate more towards macro photography with flowers being my favourite. 

 I find street photography really interesting.  You need to be creative as we don't want to see just people walking on streets.  That's boring.

I have always loved night photography but unfortunately don't really have much of a chance to pursue this genre at the moment.  Come on retirement!

Hubby and I both do a lot of landscape photography as we enjoy our drives of discovery.  However, if we are bush walking, you will often see me saying to hubby to go ahead as I am happy to sit on my little three pronged chair, taking photos of tiny flowers, leaves, weeds and grass lol. Or moss and lichen and maybe babbling creeks etc.

Anyway, enough of my rant.

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TRAVEL

Canada - Jasper, Rocky Mountains

As travel addicts, hubby and I have travelled extensively throughout Europe, USA, parts of Canada, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia,  Spain, Morocco, Indonesia, India, Singapore, Belize and most of Malaysia and surrounding islands.

Below are some collages of the places that we have been to in no particular order.

The full story can be found in links to your right.

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Gili Islands, Indonesia

Bali & Lombok, Indonesia

Pulau Perhentian, Malaysia

Pulau Tioman & Penang, Malaysia

Pulau Ketam, Langkawi & Manukan, Malaysia

Malaysia

Vancouver, Canada

Rocky Mountains, Canada

New Orleans, USA

Smoky Mountains, USA

Savannah, USA

Orlando, USA

Tampa, USA

Belize & Caye Caulker Island

Hong Kong, China

China

India

Singapore

Morocco

Europe

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The Big Lap

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In 2021 hubby and I started our Big Lap around Australia early May. 

2022 and we saw the new year in at a quiet recreational reserve in Cavendish, Victoria, just south of the Grampians.

2025, after spending a couple of cold years in Tasmania, we headed up north through Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland to finish the Big Lap.

We have seen some amazing places in Australia.  Check them out on the links to your right.

You are also welcome to follow me on my youtube channel - aussirose travels.

Below is just a sample of amazing sights that we have seen around Australia.  There is a link to the Big Lap below for a more detailed itinerary of our adventures.

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Western Australia

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Northern Territory

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 South Australia

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 Tasmania

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 Victoria

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 New South Wales

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 Queensland

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LIVING RETIREMENT TO THE FULL

If you wish to follow along with us on the Big Lap, please click the link below.

I have split it up in 2 sections.  First half includes WA, NT, SA & TAS.  2nd half is VIC, NSW & QLD.

THE BIG LAP

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MAPS

I have created interactive maps of the places we have been and things to do.

  You can use them to check out some photos of places that may interest you and then click on the page link on the right hand side for the full story.

 WA Maps page link

NT Maps page link

SA Maps page link

VIC Maps page link

NSW Maps page link

QLD Maps page link

TAS Maps page link

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Brisbane 2026

 

View from our Accommodation

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STAMFORD PLAZA

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I chose to stay here as it is located right on the Brisbane River, close to town, and adjacent to the Botanical Gardens.

As you can see from this cool yellow Ferrari, the Stamford Plaza is upmarket 5 Star accommodation.  I couldn't believe that for this calabra of class, the price was so low.  

The Stamford Plaza was opened as a high end luxury property offering elite services including dedicated room butlers.  We didn't have that, but this Hotel still exudes luxury in every nook and cranny as you can see in the photos below.  It has a grandious staircase and baby grand piano.  Even our room had furniture that looked like it was straight out of a 1930's movie.

Goodness, I see also that Madonna, Michael Jackson and even Queen Elizabeth have stayed here.  😲

If they keep it at this low cost, we would most certainly stay here again next time in Brisbane.  And there will be another time, because we only had effectively 2 days to explore which is nowhere near enough time to check everything out.

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NIGHT VIEW FROM OUR ROOM

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I We had a great view over the Brisbane River and Kangarooo Point pedestrian bridge from our room.

We were not in Brisbane long enough for me to get out the DSLR camera for some night shots, but I definitely will next time we are in town.

As our eldest son Dylan lives just past Kangaroo Point in Cooparoo, that gives us an excuse to come back.  There is so much more that we want to see and do here.  

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BOTANICAL GARDENS

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We walked through the Botanical gardens.  It is well looked after.

I was able to use my DSLR here with the Lensbaby Soft Focus Art Lens.

I liked how the duck photo turned out in black and white.

We even saw a wedding which was pretty cool.

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SOUTHBANK

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The main attraction at Southbank on the other side of the river from us is the man made beach and pool.  Unfortunately, the beach was closed for renovation.  😔

It was still nice to do the walk here in the shade.  We love the way Brisbane is a very walkable city.  You just have to dodge the e-bikes and scooters.  They really think that they have the right of way.

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STAR CASINO & SKY DECK

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The Star Casino is an interesting building.

When we walked past, we saw people walking on the glass floor viewing platform of Skydeck on the 23rd floor.  It's 100m above the river, so I had to zoom in to get the photo.

Hubby wasn't excited at all as he doesn't like heights.  I had a little adrenalin rush and thought, yeh, I'd do it..... next time.

I have learn't since that it's free to go up and do it.  And, there are nice restaurants as well.  It opens at 6.30am so that would be a good time to catch a sunrise maybe.  Yep, next time.  😁

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BRISBANE RIVER 

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The Cat Ferry is a great way to go up and down the river, and the best part is that it is only $0.50c a trip.  You can pay with your debit card too, just make sure you tag on and off with the same card.

We took the Cat across the river to Southbank and also down to Howard Smith Wharf to the restaurants.  It was drizzling when we did this and we were hungry, so we just parked ourselves at a restaurant and shared some salt and pepper calamari and a drink.  It was Friday and very busy.  Wasn't really much fun.

Actually the restaurants near Riverside Ferry Wharf looked way better.  Oh well, next time.

Walking back from the Riverside Ferry Wharf, I took a nice photo below.  Looks good in black and white.

In fact all of these photos were taken on our walk back to the Stamford hotel along the Riverside Walk.

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REFLECTIONS

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I was fascinated by the crazy looking reflections on the surrounding buildings as we walked along the riverside walk.  Sorry for so many, but there seemed to be better ones every time I put my camera down.

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A CRANE

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