PHOTO CREDITS, FROM TOP: JEREMY BOURKE; JESS TEIDEMAN
O
RPHANED LUMHOLTZ’S tree
kangaroo Nelson took an
instant shine to long-time AG
photographer Don Fuchs, on assignment
for us covering far north Queensland’s
Wet Tropics during the Wet. “Getting
close to these elusive and irresistible rain-
forest animals ranks as the all-time favour-
ite animal encounter in Australia,” Don
says. Nelson was being looked after by a
wildlife carer who specialises in nursing
orphaned or injured tree kangaroos back
to strength before returning them to the
rainforest. Travelling between Cairns and
Cardwell during the Wet was a huge eye-
opener for Don. “Water,” he says, “is the
defining element.” It can be a headache
when in oversupply or a pleasure when
it provides refuge from the oppressive
humidity. It creates the area’s iconic
waterfalls, swimming holes and wild river
playgrounds for adventure seekers, rafters
and canyoners. And it nurtures the ancient
rainforests, where rare creatures such as
tree kangaroos still find a habitat.The rivers wild
(^54) INTO THE W ET
B
Y EXPLORING the Great Barrier
Reef with Coral Expeditions,
AG production editor Jess
Teideman was able to tick off a long-time
entry on her bucket list – snorkelling on
the reef. On assignment she visited
exclusive moorings specifically located to
highlight the three main reef types visited
by Coral Expeditions and ventured
kilometres out to sea beyond the reach
of day boats. “It was amazing to be stand-
ing on the deck of a boat and know that
Ta k e n b y t h e r e e f
68 COR AL CRUSADES
on the other side of the ribbon reef is the
wide open ocean – and behind you land
is many hours out of reach,” Jess says.
“Snorkelling the reef this far from shore
- remote and isolated – made the experi-
ence particularly special.” Other high-
lights of the assignment included the his-
toric village of Cooktown and climbing
Lizard Island’s highest point. But it is, Jess
says, the wonders of the world beneath
the waves that will remain most vivid
in her memory.
From the f ield
May. June 129Answer to
Then and Now:
Pictured on page
29 is Bath Street,
viewed from
Anzac Hill, in
Alice Springs,
NT. The images
shown are from
1940 and 2015.