Royal National Park, New South Wales, Australia

These are the best "pigeons" in the world. Yep, they're everywhere in Australia. We didn't see them in the cities as often but once you got out a bit we saw them frequently, and sometimes in groups of 100s. And, I never tire of seeing these. At the Audley Dance Hall they were really playing pigeon; they were on park benches, they were stealing food, they were making a ruckus. Filled with birds and beautiful scenery, the Audley Dance Hall is a must-stop if you head to the Royal National Park.

My husband and I are incredibly fortunate in that we met through our business interests and are now able to work (and, travel) together. On our trips, we always try to pack in some adventures either before or after our business. When jetlag is likely, we always add on a few days before our business begins so that we can use the outdoors to adjust to the timezone. With business in Australia our easy choice is to rent a 4x4/AWD vehicle and then head for the bush. Luckily, we both adore exploring. These pictures were taken on a business trip in December 2014; summer was just about fully kicking in.

For more information: Pacific black duck, Royal National Park (wikipedia), Royal National Park (Official AU parks site), Audley Dance Hall Cafe