Category: Environment & Ecology


Oct
19
2024
The More Things Change… Alex Leemon 19.10.24

Alex Leemon from Currently Speaking offers a slightly contrarian take on Australia's energy transition.

Jan
29
2024
Land of Storm and Mist George Ainsworth 29.01.24

Some timeless observations of Macquarie Island's wildlife from Antarctic explorer George F. Ainsworth (1878 - 1950).

Jan
27
2024
The Demons of Macquarie Island Richard Pendavingh 27.01.24

Today on The Unravel we ask the question; Did 19th century sealers suffer from post-traumatic stress syndrome?

Jan
31
2023
Hissconceptions Mark Hutchinson 31.01.23

To unravel the myth of the 'aggressive' snake we have to look at the world from their perspective.

Aug
29
2020
The Endless Winter Richard Pendavingh 29.08.20

When Amy and I visited Hawaii we discovered that, even on an island, surf is never guaranteed.

May
10
2020
Part 2: Replicants of the Reef Richard Pendavingh 10.05.20

On a rocky stretch of coastline on Hawaii’s Big Island a group of marine biologists are studying the lifecycle of the octopus - a creature that lives fast and dies young.

Apr
14
2020
Welcome to the Elephit House Richard Pendavingh 14.04.20

I knew it was going to be bad. I'd read all the one and two star reviews and looked at the pictures of weird murals and overgrown gardens but I kept circling back to the listing every time I looked for accommodation on Kauai.

Apr
13
2020
Violence in the Aloha State Richard Pendavingh 13.04.20

I knew that Hawaii was part of America but I still didn't expect it to be so American.

Feb
10
2017
South Coast Track Richard Pendavingh 10.02.17

Tasmania's southern coastline is one of the most wild and remote parts of Australia

Dec
28
2016
The Hordes of Mt Doom Richard Pendavingh 28.12.16

The Tongariro Alpine Crossing on New Zealand's north island has a reputation as one of the most dangerous hikes in the country. On a good day it's a hard slog across 20km of rock and scree taking you up onto the desolate but spectacular plateau that forms the base of Mt Ngauruhoe.

Oct
18
2016
The Devil’s Staircase Richard Pendavingh 18.10.16

Despite the spectacular views on offer around Mt Howitt it's clear from the map that early European explorers had a rough time surveying the region.

Aug
20
2016
Junk in a motorcycle workshop
Sri Lanka by Motorcycle Richard Pendavingh 20.08.16

The best way to see Sri Lanka is on two wheels.

Feb
25
2015
Adrift on Mt Myōkō Richard Pendavingh 25.02.15

Earlier this year I tagged along with the Australian/International off-pissed ski team to the slopes of Myokokogen.  Matt chose Myoko because the guidebook gave it four and half snowflakes out of five in the 'powder' category.  Also because our plan called for us to go from there to Kyoto and then onto Tokyo and we wanted to make sure our itinerary doubled as a tongue twister.

Aug
18
2014
Mt Huashan, China Richard Pendavingh 18.08.14

Huashan is a mountain located  about 120 kilometres east of Xi'an- China's old capital.  It's home to some very dicey walking tracks, a really spectacular set of cable cars, a tea house perched on a cliff face and a photo studio with some genuine occupational health and safety issues.

Aug
12
2014
Workers outside a department store in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
Chengdu & the Chinese Dream Richard Pendavingh 12.08.14

The entry point for my brief tour of China was the southern Province of Sichuan-famed for its incredibly spicy food and baffling theatrical performances.  I flew into the capital Chengdu at the start of October and explored the city between bouts of rain before venturing out into the nearby mountains.

Dec
03
2013
Diving with Sharks Richard Pendavingh 03.12.13

On South Africa's western cape we visited the coastal towns of Kalkbaai, Hermanus and Gaansbai.

Dec
02
2013
Africa’s Charismatic Megafauna Richard Pendavingh 02.12.13

In South Africa, the saying goes, 'wildlife must pay its way'. It's not enough to be endangered you have to generate revenue to be conserved.

Nov
27
2013
Ceres Valley, South Africa Richard Pendavingh 27.11.13

Another bleary-eyed morning spent rock-hopping in the pre-dawn light to get to a vantage point before sunrise.

Nov
12
2013
Drakensburg, SA Richard Pendavingh 12.11.13

Between Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth we spent a few days exploring the great Drakensburg Escarpment that cleaves its way way along the eastern cape and forms the border of South Africa and Lesotho.

Feb
26
2013
Teck Cominco Zinc Smelter Richard Pendavingh 26.02.13

Some photos from our guided tour of the Teck Smelter in Trail, BC.

Aug
04
2010
Black Saturday. Aftermath. Richard Pendavingh 04.08.10

After months of deliberation the Royal Commission report into the 2009 bushfires has been released and its findings have been made public.