2025 - the year that was — David Taylor - Master Jeweller

Sunrise at Ellis beach, January 1st 2025.

I felt really good after watching the sunrise on the 1st of January 2025. It ended up being a good year with so much more potential than it realised. That said no regrets.

My first sighting of a Cotton Pygmy Goose, November 2025.

By the end of 2025 I was racking up the new experiences and my camera skills were getting back on track…… but it took me longer to get there than I thought it would. If it was not for the bike I would have never seen the rare/endangered Cotton Pygmy Geese out in the Herberton area as I explored places there for the first time.

Heading to Herbert Rivers Falls for the first time, September 2015.

2025 was to be the year that the motorbike I purchased late in 2024 was to take me to new places, a year of exploration. It ended up being more a year of learning how to explore on the bike rather than exploring on the bike….if that makes sense.

Sharpening my photos skills in Behana Gorge, March 2025.

You see during 2024 I spent very little time out with my camera taking photos and it has been about 35 years since I last rode a motorbike despite spending much of my youth riding dirt bikes.

My skills had dropped and I had a big trip planned on the motorbike during which I wanted to be ready to take photos.

I was going to ride from Cairns down to Kangaroo Island in South Australia, visiting the Yorke Peninsula and Flinders Ranges on the way. I needed to freshen up my skills with the camera and I did that in two places I know like the back of my hand, Behana and Barron Gorges.

All I needed to live for 30 days off the bike. Cardwell, 15th April 2025.

By mid April my departure was running late but I was now on the road heading to South Australia. As I write this at the end of 2025 I see I travel so much lighter now than I did for those 30 days of living off the bike.

This was the biggest learning I did during the year, how to travel light, what I did and do not need. The less I carry the more I enjoy the travel on the bike.

Sleeping wild in the bush somewhere outside Bourke, 20th April 2025.

Not only did I discover how little I needed to carry on the bike I also realised how little I needed around me to be happy off the bike. I hate caravan parks and crowded camping sights. I have a bike so I just ride of the road into the bush and pitch the tent. Solitude is something I really enjoy.

Swincer Rocks, Yorke Peninsula, South Australia, 27th April 2025.

By the time I had reached South Australia my desire to play with my camera was well and truly back. I just need to learn again to not force things and wait for them to happen. The best photos come from the unplanned for me.

Hillocks Drive, Butler’s Beach, Yorke Peninsula, 30th April 2025.

The Yorke Peninsula is a spot I visited almost every year as a child. On this trip I decided to ride down a road to place called Butler’s Beach that I have driven past so many times. It was the highlight of the trip.

The Remarkables, Kangaroo island, South Australia, 5th May 2025.

Whilst Butler’s Beach was a surprise piece of paradise I discovered, Kangaroo Island was a very expensive disappointment in the context of what the whole big trip cost. The Ferry cost over, restricted access to a lot of areas when we got there, National Park access, campsite and tour fees to pay and very commercialised outside the national park.

Sunrise at Vyvonne Bay, Kangaroo Island, 6th Maya 2025.

I still had fun on Kangaroo Island but that was because my older brother joined for 3 days to ride the Island. I doubt I will ever return to Kangaroo Island, not for me.

By early May I was heading back to Queensland through the Flinders Ranges. This was to be the highlight of the trip. In the end it was the biggest lesson/disappointment of the trip. I was reminded that you cannot control the weather and I got horrible weather for photos.

Mt Samuel Track, Alpana Station, 9th May 2025.

I also learnt a very important lesson abut planning services and tyre changes for my motorbike on a 10000klm trip. I lost days of travel waiting for a service booking (big thank you to Adelaide Royal Enfield and Yamaha) and ended up cutting the trip a little short due to tyre life and expecting to not be able to readily get new tyres in the type I use. Plan ahead David!

With photos not so good in those blue skies I used my time in the Flinders Ranges to improve my riding skills. I really enjoyed riding the iconic Mt Samuel track on Alpana Station. That was a lot of fun. The Flinders Ranges is a place I will definitely return to. Unfinished business there.

Camping at Sandy Tate River for the first time, near Chillagoe, July 2025.

By the time I arrived back in Cairns it was nearly the end of May. June would be spent catching up with work, servicing and cleaning the bike. By July I was ready to head out into the bush again for some solitude exploring new places.

Montalbion Cemetery, near Irvinebank, July 2025.

I would say the second half of 2025 was spent mostly exploring the area between My Garnet and Chillagoe. There are numerous dirt roads and tracks that run between this area and much of it has what I am searching for ….solitude.

From Mt Garnet I have also ventured a little south to explore Herbert River Falls for the first time. I have also visited Blencoe Falls again, one of the must see waterfalls in the area. Both great places to spend time but Herbert River Falls gets the win between the two.

The last first time visit location of 2025 was Halls Falls outside Herberton. I have to return when it has a little more waterflow but it is a great little spot.

It is Christmas Eve as I write this post. I am about to turn my phone off for a couple of weeks. During that time I intend to make my way into an old logging area up the Tablelands.

There is a spot above a tiny Gorge there that I will pitch my tent at. I discovered it many years ago roaming the area on foot. I will camp for days doing nothing but reading, swimming and relaxing.

Merry Christmas to you all and try not to celebrate the New Year too hard.