The unique and diverse wildlife inhabiting Australia has already been recorded by many travel writers. I'll not therefore bore any more along these lines. However, I will say that this country has animals which make a gentle stroll through the local countryside as safe as trimming your toe nails with a chainsaw.

During one walk, a local guy went by in his pickup. It was a narrow hillside track, with space only sufficient for a vehicle to pass. I'd therefore taken to the scrub at the side. Travelling slowly, he stopped for a chat. Something along the lines of,

"You local?"

"No - a Pom, just passing through."

"Oh. Nice up here at this time of year. Good views. Watch for the Tiger Snakes though - they tend to bask in the sun about now."

Tiger and Snake. Two animals, which, if encountered individually in anywhere less urban than a supermarket car park would cause anything from a shoeload of toes to curl to an involuntary underwear discolouration. But put them together... There is wildlife out here which, if it merely glances in your direction, can cause immediate and advanced tooth decay. Tread off the beaten track at your own peril.

Wrap your eyes around this little lot.

This was the "campsite" for one of the nights. On the headland at Waychinicup National Park, overlooking a wild sea.

Crossing the Nullarbor, you remain close to the coast for sections of the journey.

Again though, if you wander off that tarmac, you can camp in a place like this for the night.

Below you, the wild Southern Ocean waves batter the rockface, and whales mooch with their calves.

On the top, we toast the tranquility of life with Aussie red wine and a camp fire.

Tell me. This doesn't have to end, does it?