Competition: Landscape February 2012

Dove Lake Boat House Jcr_au

BWA February 2018 | 29

Contemplating the Eglinton RangeJohn Walker

WINNER

Manfred morningBrian Eglinton

Evening wearNorth-north-west

Beauty as "cold as ice"Snowzone

"Where the heck are we?" Central Plateau, TasmaniaPeter Grant

The South Island of New Zealand is a stunning place. Apart from being a jumping off place for popular multi-day walks, the road from Te Anau to Milford Sound is dotted with delights. The views through the Eglinton Valley are one of them. Many stop around here and photograph similar outlooks. I was fortunate on this day to have the clouds swirling about the mountains offering a dramatic scene that was quite breathtaking. It was hard to tear myself away from it.

BWA February 2018 | 31

Female wandering percherIandsmith

WINNER

Fairytales and leprechaunsSnowzone

Erupting cushionBrian Eglinton

Summer icebergsJohn Walker

We found our pot of goldPeter Grant

Wandering perchers are quite common and I've come across them in many places. It took me a while to buy a Dragonfly identification book and realise that the males and females are quite different in colouration, though, if you think about it, it's like that with so many other species so I should have known.

The rare and elusive fern-capped rock in its natural habitatNorth-north-west

BWA February 2018 | 33

WINNER

Off-track and loving it: Central PlateauPeter Grant

I try to get back to Tasmania once a year. This time there were two of us that decided to up our level of challenge by going more off track.

We had planned for eight days, but after a tough walk into the Gingerbread Hut on Rufus, followed by a gentler day down to Forgotten Lake, the latest weather report had us heading back out again before re-setting for a remaining five day walk out of Narcissus.

The next day was another tough walk over Byron onto Cuvier, but the weather was improving.

Then we had two delightful days allowing us to visit Cuvier before judiciously repositioning our tent in the Cuvier Coal Hill saddle, and then a long day trip to Gould's Sugarloaf in perfect conditions.

The pools in the saddle are set in little gardens of heath and spagnum with grandstand views to the west and the east.

In this view Byron, Olympus and Othrys form a line of guardians over the Cuvier Valley.

The final two days of mist, rain, cliffs, overgrown track and getting bushwacked is another story, but Lake Petrarch and the Cuvier Valley left some great impressions and are still calling us to come back again.

BWA February 2018 | 35

The mighty Mt Sefton, Aoraki/Mt Cook NPJohn Walker

WINNER

Buff banded railIandsmith

I had a splendid time at Aoraki/Mt Cook NP wandering through several short day hikes near the village, even persuading my wife to join me for this one to Kea Point. Mt Sefton is a most impressive peak and seems to dominate no matter where you are. Later in the day it appeared to be following me down the Hooker Valley. This lunchtime view from Kea Point was particularly impressive. The frequent sound of avalanching/rock falls on the mountain's higher slopes and glaciers is something I remember vividly but can't be captured in a photo.

BWA February 2018 | 37

Adamson's sunsetCameron Semple

WINNER

En route to the CoronetsNorth-north-west

One misty, moisty morning, Blue PeaksPeter Grant

Morning on Mt AmosOsik

Lake Cygnus, Western ArthursBen Trainor

After the rainsJohn Walker

Remembering JuliusIandsmith

BWA February 2018 | 39

Fairies' aprons, freshly washedPeter Grant

WINNER

Breakfast time!North-north-west

Rock pools at Rocky CapeIandsmith

This is comfortableBrian Eglinton

Inside a waterfallJohn Walker

Wouldn't you rather be named fairies' apron than bladderwort? These delicate-looking plants are actually carnivorous, supplementing their diet by trapping aquatic critters in sub-surface bladders. We found this beautiful, prolific group growing along the shore of an unnamed lake near the Blue Peaks in Tasmania's Central Plateau.

BWA February 2018 | 41

WINNER

Harper Point, Twelvetrees RangeNorth-north-west

Pencil Pines of LunkaSon of a Beach

Lake Sydney sinkholesJames Davidson

On a walk with Adelaide Bushwalkers we camped beside Square Lake after day two of a 14 day traverse of the Western and Eastern Arthurs, deep in the wilderness of South West Tasmania. The golden sunset lit up the dolerite rock of Procyon Peak and the surrounding cliffs. I was completely calm when we went to sleep, but we were exposed to the west. During the night strong winds battered my tent. I was glad to wake up on solid ground. In the morning we climbed Procyon Peak, before continuing on the difficult yet magnificent traverse.

Hartz Mountain viewRoger

Breakfast at TwistedIandsmith

BWA February 2018 | 43

Terrace FallsTom Brennan

WINNER

Bunyeroo Valley Lookout, South AustraliaWhitefang

A valley sentinel stands guardJohn Walker

A different angle on this popularly photographed spot, with a focus on the lower cascades with the main falls in the background.

Listen to the rushIandsmith

BWA February 2018 | 45