Just to let everyone know we are still alive and well and back now in Inverlock where we started. We have a bit of a problem with laptop at the moment and it's being fixed (we hope). Hope to be back online by the end of April.

On down to Batemans Bay

We left Sydney and headed off again down the coast to Batemans Bay from where we would head inland to Canberra. Our first stop was at Kiama. We walked all round the town and to the blowhole. The following day we visited Mount Saddleback, on to Minnamurra for a walk through the rain forest and to the Minnamurra Waterfall. It was a lot further and steeper than we realised but at least it was on board walks and paths. It was then on to Fitzroy Falls. We then headed down to Batemans Bay to prepare for the trip inland to Canberra.

Botany Bay

Telstra Stadium

Telstra Stadium

Bondi

Around Sydney

The Harbour

Government house

Manley

Parramatta

Sydney

We didn’t intend spending very long in Sydney as we had been there when we came out two years ago but as usual our plans were changed due to circumstances beyond our control although this time for good reasons and not because we had broken down. We found a reasonably priced campsite within easy commuting on public transport into the city. We decided to spare no expense and bought a weeks bus, train and ferry ticket.
Determined to get our monies worth the first day we went to Parramatta on the rivercat. A lovely suburb to the west of Sydney and as difficult as it may be to believe now one of the first farm settlements in Australia. There are still several original buildings to be seen. The following day we took the ferry over to Manley. A lovely suburb to the north of the city with a great beach. We walked along the beach to North Head and through some of the Sydney Harbour Nation Park. It was then down to the wharf and a walk around the bay. Day three we went to Government House and went on all of the public transport ferries around the harbour. It was then on to the local ‘Fishos’ club of the evening where it turned out to be presentation night. After a meal of lobster, oysters and prawns with various salads there were presentations of trophies for all types of fishing from youngsters to seniors and then it was time for a dance or two. A good time was had by all (or so they all said the next day after a few painkillers and the hair of the dog). Day four started a bit late due to the fact that we aren’t used to going to bed much after 9.00pm. We decided to do a quick trip to Bondi beach which as it was Sunday was packed! Day five it was off to Olympic park and the Telstra Stadium. We walked all round the various venues for the 2000 games and then went on a tour of the Telstra Stadium where St Jonny won us the rugby World Cup. While we were there it was mentioned that there was going to be an AFL match on Friday between the Sydney Swans and ‘some team from Adelaide’ and best of all it was free. We had to stay for it. Day six was off into the city and a long walk round the sights and pubs. Day seven we had chores to do.
We then had to decide whether we would leave or stay for the footie. We then realised that the Harbour Bridge was celebrating its 75th birthday on the Sunday so we decided to stay for that too.
We spent day eight driving down the coast to Bulli via Sublime Point and Bulli Point. We then drove back through the Royal National Park and then to Botany Bay and Cronulla where Capt Cook first landed in 1770. Day nine was spent resting our feet and saying good-bye to the folks in the Fisho’s Club. Our last day we spent in the city again. We started at the Australian Museum, went to the pub to watch the Australian Grand Prix and then on to the bridge walk to say ‘Happy Birthday’ to the Coathanger as the bridge is known here. It was then a quick walk round the Rocks which is the area just under the bridge and then up George Street to get some food. We then jumped on the train to Circular Quay to get a few photos of the Bridge all lit up. We were exhausted.

The Blue Mountains

The Blue Mountains are inland west of Sydney and get their name from the blue haze that surrounds them. The views are stunning and it’s really great to get out of the big towns and back into the relatively quiet countryside. We started our tour in the Glenbrook area of the National Park. Our first stop was at Euroka to see the roos, past several lookouts and then on to the Red Hands Cave. We then travelled on to Wentworth Falls and on to Leura to Sublime Point well named as the photos will show. It was then on to Gordon Falls lookout, Leura Cascades, and Leura Falls. We spent the night I Katoomba where we met a lovely American couple and took them out on the town to show them the RSL and how to blag a ride into town and back for nothing on the courtesy bus. We then took them to a hotel for a $5 steak which it apparently they had run out of but could do a $10 steak which turned out to be two $5 steaks. We are still trying to figure out that one! But we all had a great time. We tried to educate the yanks about how to get a cheap meal and drink and a free lift into town but it was a bit late as they were off home in a couple of days. The following morning we set for the Three Sisters, Echo Point, and scenic world. We went on the scenic railway which was originally a coal carrying train that goes down into the gorge at an alarming angle so steep that you think you will fall out as there aren’t any seat belts. It was then a bit of a wander round the boardwalk near the bottom of the gorge and back to the top on the cable car. It was then on to the scenic walkway which is another cable car that takes you across the gorge 270 metres in the air where you can get the best views of Orphan Rock, The Three Sisters and Katoomba Falls but the best bit was it had a glass floor so the views were even more spectacular. Mind you it was a bit scary. It was then on to Blackheath for the night. The next morning it was of to Govetts lookout for a look over the Grose Valley and then on to Shipley Plateau and the Megalong valley. On then to the Jenolan Caves. There are nine caves that you can visit but as each tour is at least 1 1/2 hours long we decided that we would just go round one. Our choice was the Lucas cave as this is the best all rounder. We did get to see Nettle cave and the Devils Coach House which came in with the cost of the ticket. It was awesome. I’ve never seen caves as good. I’m not sure that the photos will do it justice. Our last day was spent travelling back to Sydney with a trip on the Zig Zag Railway which literally zigzags down the side of the mountain into the Lithgow Valley.

One way of advertising

Into New South Wales and Down to Sydney.

After changing our clocks again we set off down the NSW coast. Our first stop was at Byron Bay where we visited the lighthouse and the most easterly point on main land Australia. On then to Balllina where we spent a day driving around places like Bexhill and Eltham! We also visited Minyon Falls where we saw a huge goanna. It was then down to Coffs Harbour and then on to Port Macquarie. On then to the beautiful little town of Forster with the dolphins swimming in the estuary, then to Newcastle and through the Central Coast and into North Sydney. It’s a bit of a shame but the towns on the east coast are all beginning to look very alike and although we are spending a couple of days at each one once you’ve walked round the town or along the beach there’s not so much too do unless you start travelling further inland which we will have to do next time we’re here!!

A snake in the grass

Not to be out done..

Grahams new 'bird'

The Gold Coast

We thought the Sunshine Coast was over commercialised until we reached the Gold Coast and especially around Surfers Paradise. Even though the beaches are perfect surfing beaches the skyscrapers are enormous and they are building more like there’s no tomorrow! Luckily we stayed at the south end of the Gold Coast right on the boarder of Queensland and New South Wales where it was a lot quieter and less built up. We spent a few days in Coolangatta watching the finals of the cricket and gloating when we won. We also went into the Lamington and Springbrook National Parks although the weather had taken a turn for the worse but as we keep getting told ‘We need the rain’. We don’t!!

Some of the less cuddly animals.

Cassowaries are really strange

Wombats are so cute.

Tasmanian devil

Brisbane

On then down to Brisbane. We met up with Graeme and Hazel who were flying off to Melbourne to meet Graeme’s mum and had a night out at the Bronco’s club. We walked all round the city and also cruised along the river on the citycat. We then decided that it would be a good idea if we could get tickets for the one day cricket match against New Zealand especially as we had to win to qualify for the final. We set off to the GABBA only to find that all the ticket offices were closed and that we had to go back into the city to get the tickets. It wasn’t a complete waste of time though as we did get to see the England team practising in the nets. We the trundled back into town to get our tickets and at $25 (£10) we thought we got a bargain. We got to the ground on match day and decided to have a couple of beers before the match. We then went into the ground and staked our claim to our seats and sat back to watch the match. We hadn’t realised that we surrounded by kiwis until it was too late! We batted first and made a reasonable score of 270. At half time we headed back to the pub. After being told that the match had restarted and that New Zealand were scoring at an alarming rate we rushed back to our seats. After much nail chewing, berating of the team and Graham huffing and puffing at the English performance we actually won the match. Which of course was never in doubt!! It was then back to the pub on the free transport provided. We’re on a roll.

The Sunshine Coast and Australia Zoo

We headed off south down to the sunshine coast which is the area of coast just north of Brisbane. We had been warned that it was very commercialised and only there to extract as much money from the tourists as possible but it was still a bit of a culture shock. The beaches are superb and there are no stingers so swimming is possible but the high rise hotels and shockingly expensive campsites were a bit of a surprise. You would think with all that competition that prices would be low. The only reason we didn’t carry on straight to Brisbane was that we wanted to go to Australia Zoo and it was only a short journey from the campsite where we decided to stay.

Australia Zoo was amazing. Even though it was a bit pricey to get in all the shows were included in the price. The first show was the giant Aldabran tortoises then it was into the crocoseum for the snake, bird and finally croc show. We wondered how they would carry on after Steve’s death but they talk about him in nearly every other sentence and everything is done as it was before. We then wandered around looking at the animals until it was time for feeding the otters who were really cute. Then it was wandering round until it was elephant feeding time and I got feed an elephant and they eat really quickly. Then it was on to the tiger show. Why any one would want to play with two full grown tigers is beyond me especially when it came to taking their toys away from them. If a tiger wants to keep it’s toys I say let it. It was a wonderful day and the zoo is so well run and the animals are wonderfully looked after which is not surprising I suppose.