We spent an afternoon and evening in Melbourne, Australia's most European-style city. The Royal Botanical Gardens took us from late afternoon through sunset. Especially noteworthy is the great variety of greens and the way colors and textures are layered together.

Leaving the Botanic Gardens at dark, we toured city streets at night. The first of this grouping of three photos shows Federation Square; the second, the Opera House; the third, World Cup fans celebrating Melbourne's victory.

One stop along the road was Fort Campbell National Park.

A helicopter flight gave us the best view of a group of offshore outcroppings (recalling somewhat our Oregon shoreline, but without the forests) known as the "Twelve Apostles." Someone conveniently counted twelve of these and provided the name; but depending upon where one starts and finishes, there are more than twelve, even after losing a few that toppled over.

A bus and ferry took us from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island, where sea lions, seals, penguins, and kualas, not kangaroos, are the stars.

Kangaroo Island also has its share of beautiful land and sea, especially as they come together in the aptly named Remarkable Rocks.