Cathedral Gorge, Kimberley, Western Australia

Another spectacular gorge in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.  This time we travel further east in the Kimberley to a World Heritage Site:  

Purnululu National Park and the majestic Cathedral Gorge:

From the Kimberley Regional Development Site

Australian 4wdAdventures presents an excellent video featuring stunning aerial views of the Kimberley as well as a hike into Cathedral Gorge:

The satellite photo of the trail shows the amazing rock formations of the area:

We start our hike where the Cathedral Gorge trail branches off from a main trail in the park...

Cathedral Gorge Trailhead

 

Windjana Gorge, Kimberley, Western Australia

East of the coastal town of Broome, in the legendary Kimberley Region of Australia is the picturesque Windjana Gorge in Windjana Gorge State Park

From the Kimberley Regional Development Site

 Namarrgon Dreamtime provides an excellent video on the Kimberley with some great views of the Windjana Gorge and its many crocodiles!

Australia | Pathfinder - The Kimberley

The trail begins near the Windjana Gorge Campground and proceeds into the Windjana Gorge along the Lennard River:

We begin our trek at the Trail Head 

Walk the Great Wall of China

A picturesque section of the Great Wall of China north of Beijing and west of Dilou has now been made available through Google Street View:

Start here to walk the Great Wall of China

Route of the Great Wall:

Stunning and fascinating fly over of the entire Great Wall from one end to the other...

L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site, Newfoundland

On site sculpture designed by New Brunswick graphic artist and illustrator Karen Van Niekerk

Wikipedia:  Location of L'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland

At the very northern tip of Newfoundland, Canada we find the amazing...

L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site

 

 As well as a good walk around the Viking settlement, there is also the excellent Birchy Nuddick loop trail from the settlement, along the shore and then inland:

 

 

Start your walk at the Viking settlement:

 

   

After walking around the settlement you can head out on the Birchy Nuddick loop trail:

 

 

Now watch the Parks Canada video about the settlement:

 

Completing The Circle:

L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site

(Parks Canada)

   

The National Film Board of Canada provides an excellent video on the Vinland Mystery:

 

More information available at UNESCO because L'Anse aux Meadows is a 

UNESCO World Heritage Site

 

Book recommendation:  the exciting account of the discovery of the site as well as lots of background information on the Vikings: 

 

The Viking Discovery of America by Helge Ingstad and Anne Stine Ingstad

A model of the site in the museum:  

 

James Callaghan Trail: Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland

The rugged west coast of Newfoundland features one of Canada's most spectacular National Parks:  

 Gros Morne National Park 

(Map: Chris Brackley/Canadian Geographic)

West of Rocky Harbour stands Gros Morne Mountain, the summit of which can be reached using one of the most challenging hiking trails in the park:  James Callaghan Trail:

Parks Canada:  Gros Morne National Park

  

The Google Streetview hike (in blue on the satellite map below) starts along the ridge at the northwest part of the trail and goes on to the two lookouts marked on the above map.

Here is the Start of the Google Streetview Hike:

You continue climbing up Gros Morne Mountain and eventually reach a truly spectacular lookout point:

Check out Steve Silva's beautifully filmed hike up the James Callaghan Trail:

Amazing Places on Our Planet provides an excellent overview of the park:

Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland, Canada in 4K Ultra HD

UNESCO has named Gros Morne National Park  a World Heritage Site.

A park guide tells us about the fascinating geology of the park:

 

South Georgia Island Trek

South Georgia Island is an elongated island in the South Atlantic Ocean near the cluster known as the South Sandwich Islands:

Wikipedia:  Location of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands in the southern Atlantic Ocean

An excellent overview of the island from Earth from Space:

Visit South Georgia Island with Swoop Antarctica:

Or on an expedition with Mark Gottlieb and National Geographic Explorer:

Or experience a thrilling winter on South Georgia Island with Mark Philips and lots of wildlife: 

Check out a longer, informative documentary on South Georgia and its wildlife:

The South Georgia Trek is a loop trail that begins on the shore near the top of the island and then heads inland into the mountains:

Trailhead is on the shore of Right Whale Bay, in Barber Cove near a King Penguin colony:

You can head inland or continue along the coast to visit seals and more King Penguins:

The King Penguin Colony is quite enormous:

Heading inland along the river valley, you encounter more seals and more stunning scenery:

As you continue up river, the terrain turns mountainous:

You can continue climbing up into the mountains and then look back down the river valley for an amazing panorama:

White Island - New Zealand

gérard from Nouméa, (Nouvelle-Calédonie) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

After the recent horrific tragedy, the best way to visit White Island is virtually, through Google Street View.

White Island is an active volcano located off the north east  coast of New Zealand:

 
White Island is located on the notorious Ring of Fire that has more than 75% of the world's active and dormant volcanoes:

Google Street View follows a circular trail from the island pier up to the center of the crater and back:

You begin your trek at the island pier: