Australia's Coast Is Awesome As Jigsaw Puzzles

Australia's Coast jigsaw puzzles are great for viewing the coast from a different perspective. This time the photos for the jigsaws have been reproduced as dry brush stroke paintings, introducing a different element for enjoyment. All these aerial photos were taken during my flight around Australia's coast.

In this series of CDs there are 5 different photos which have been converted to jigsaws of 12, 24, 40, 104 and 260 pieces each, making a total of 25 jigsaw puzzles.

This range of puzzles can be used both by children with different skill levels and adults. Jigsaw puzzles are easy to do with the click of a mouse button and can be played over and over. Best of all, you can't lose any pieces.

Puzzles are not printable, they're designed to be used on a computer or laptop or even on a large screen via a data projector.

Internet access is not required.

Australia's Coast Jigsaw Puzzles CD

Australia (incl. P&H) $29.00 AUD Overseas (incl. P&H) $33.00 AUD

These photos are of Tasman Island, off the southeast coast of Tasmania, Point Nepean, on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, Cape Wiles, on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula, Disaster Bay (aptly named because of shipwrecks) in New South Wales, and the Useless Loop Salt Pans in the Shark Bay area of Western Australia.

If you would like to try a sample jigsaw to see how it works, email me at
fran@franwest.com.

Welsh Castles Aren't A Puzzle, They're Really Wonderful

Wales is blessed with castles of all types and from different historic periods. They are a photographer's delight and I've made their photos into interactive Jigsaw Puzzles which can be done on a computer or laptop.

In this series of CDs there are 5 different photos which have been converted to jigsaws of 12, 24, 40, 104 and 260 pieces each, making a total of 25 jigsaw puzzles.

This range of puzzles can be used both by children with different skill levels and adults. Jigsaw puzzles are easy to do with the click of a mouse button and can be played over and over.

Puzzles are not printable, they're designed to be used on a computer or laptop or even on a large screen via a data projector.

Internet access is not required.

Welsh Castles Jigsaw Puzzles CD

Australia (incl. P&H) $29.00 AUD Overseas (incl. P&H) $33.00 AUD

If you would like to try a sample jigsaw to see how it works, email me at
fran@franwest.com.

Australia From The Air: Lighthouses

Some of my most popular posts have been about lighthouses when I was photographing Australia from the air. Here are just three posts about lighthouses in New South Wales, Tasmania and Victoria. Check out the other posts by clicking on "lighthouses" on the left in the Topics list. Be sure to check out my DVD "Australia's Coast from the Air" in which two of these appear.

Lighthouse articles from Fran West

View more documents from Fran West

Australia's Coast from the Air DVD (available in NTSC and PAL).

Australia's Coast from the Air DVD

Australia (incl. P&H) $27.50 Overseas (incl. P&H) $31.00

Flyabout around Australia's Coast - Tacking Point Lighthouse, New South Wales

Lighthouses are a feature of the coastal landscape and Australia certainly has its share of life saving beacons which warn mariners of dangerous coast. Tacking Point Lighthouse, New South Wales, is one of them.

It's not far from Port Macquarie, north of Sydney, about 10 minutes by car or about one hour's walk.

Built in 1879, it's classed as a small navigational lighthouse so there's no huge tower.



The lighthouse is a heritage site and is classified by the National Trust of Australia (New South Wales).

As far as navigation goes, lighthouses are also good beacons for pilots (a bit similar to the huge white grain silos inland). They're clearly marked on the map and there's no question about position.

One thing I do regret about my flight around Australia's coast is that I didn't fly lower to photograph the lighthouses. So my photos really only capture the shape and colour of the coast rather than the actual lighthouses themselves. Hindsight is a wonderful thing!

Here's a bit more about the Tacking Point Lighthouse.

If you're interested in lighthouses, I came across this book on Amazon.com. Tacking Point Lighthouse is listed in the contents, so hopefully it's the Australian lighthouse that's depicted. Click on the ad if you want more information.

Floods in Queensland and Northern New South Wales Just Devastating

The floods in Queensland and northern New South Wales are just devastating. One of the worst natural disasters Australia has had.

So far, 10 people have died with over 60 more unaccounted for and thousands have watched their homes flooded or swept away from them. One peak of the flood water is reportedly going to reach 19 metres. That's about 57 feet or 10 tall blokes standing on top of each other, totally mind boggling.

Australians are very quick to come to the aid of other Australians and people all around the world. Now Australians need some assistance.

Would you like to help?

On my flight around Australia's coast I received a lot of assistance and hospitality from Queenslanders. Now it's my turn to give back.

I've just finished production of my DVD, "Outback Adventure". You can see more details about it by clicking here. It costs AUD$25.00 plus postage & handling.

For every DVD that's sold via this web page, I'll donate 10% to the Queensland Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal.

Now it's up to you. Queensland and New South Wales are great travel destinations (amongst other things) but after this will take a long time to recover.

Outback Adventure DVD

Australia (incl. P&H) $27.50 Overseas (incl. P&H) $31.00

Adventure out on Sydney Harbour

Sydney's such a vibrant place that you can choose to spend as much time as you like on or off the harbour.


You can choose to go leisurely sailing or you can opt for excitement plus like these folks.

Racing past a commuter ferry is great fun and you also see a lot of the harbour in a short time.

Several companies operate the jet boat rides so I guess the main difference is which bright colour you prefer most.

Get in and see Sydney's harbour before millions descend on Australia after Oprah's visit.

Sydney Harbour (as well as other scenic spots) is featured in my DVD, "Maritime Mix".

Walkabout around Sydney Harbour

Sydney Harbour is without doubt one of the harbours of the world. You could spend days if not weeks exploring all the little bays and inlets around the harbour.

The ferry system is extremely good and you can obtain a travel pass which you can use on other types of transport. But one of the best ways of getting around Sydney is by walking.

You may even see my boat that I take fishing when I'm in Sydney (only kidding!).

The Harbour Bridge is available for walking tours if you want a bird's eye view but you have to book well in advance.



New Year's Eve here is just spectacular with the bridge providing the magnificent setting for the fireworks.

Sydney Harbour is a photographer's delight and that's one of the reasons that so much of it is featured in my DVD, "Maritime Mix".