I'm back in Sydney - at Collaroy Beach, one of the suburbs to the north of the city - in a hostel that has its own rooftop swimming pool! Despite that attraction I will be heading into the city tomorrow for New Year's Eve and meeting up with my friend Margaret who has flown out for a visit to cousins who live over here. She finally made it after an earlier attempt was cancelled because of the snow before Christmas.
Happy New Year!
Thursday, 30 December 2010
Wednesday, 29 December 2010
Beaches Galore
Today's been hot and sunny and I went for a walk down the coast, which consists of a string of lovely sandy beaches linked by a well-made path. I ended up at a nature reserve and had a guided tour along a raised boardwalk through sub-tropical rainforest, finding out about the traditional uses of the local plants. So here's a picture of me definitely not wearing the famous green fleecy jacket.
As it's a combination of Christmas Holidays and Summer Holidays here, the beaches near car parks were busy, but there were so many beaches it was easy to find a quiet one.
Tomorrow I head back to Sydney for the New Year celebrations. Enjoy your New Year's Eve celebrations if you are having any, and all the best for 2011.
Tuesday, 28 December 2010
Caves and Koalas
After a sunny Christmas Day, Boxing Day dawned wet, so I decided to visit the Jenolan Caves. It turned out to be a good decision even though the weather brightened up later. The stalactites, stalagmites and other related phenomena were the best I've ever seen, so good that I forgot to be claustrophobic.Then yesterday I travelled via Sydney up the coast by train to a little town called Port Macquarie. It's a nice quiet seaside resort with
surfing beachs and coastal walks. Unfortunately the weather was grey and cloudy again, with occasional rain, but I had a paddle anyway. And this afternoon I visited the Koala Hospital - which was the reason I picked this town rather than any other one on the coast. The koalas are very cute to look at, and you hear about their amazing stories of survival from bush fires, dog attacks or road accidents. But the nicest thing there was that I bumped into a woman who I'd shared a dorm with at Kaikoura in New Zealand. I had no idea she was coming here too. So we had tea and cakes together and swopped email addresses. We may well overlap again in Singapore or Malaysia.
surfing beachs and coastal walks. Unfortunately the weather was grey and cloudy again, with occasional rain, but I had a paddle anyway. And this afternoon I visited the Koala Hospital - which was the reason I picked this town rather than any other one on the coast. The koalas are very cute to look at, and you hear about their amazing stories of survival from bush fires, dog attacks or road accidents. But the nicest thing there was that I bumped into a woman who I'd shared a dorm with at Kaikoura in New Zealand. I had no idea she was coming here too. So we had tea and cakes together and swopped email addresses. We may well overlap again in Singapore or Malaysia.Friday, 24 December 2010
Merry Christmas!
Wishing all my readers a very happy Christmas!
I have had a very relaxing and lazy Christmas day - sunbathing in the hostel garden and giving myself a present of a load of nice fresh laundry, dried outside in the sunshine. It's been warm and sunny, though we did have a very cloudy, damp day yesterday when I went for hike with two new Irish friends. I also enjoyed a Christmas celebration meal out with them last night.
The hostel staff have just laid on some snacks (it's about 6pm) and I have opened my special Christmas bottle of wine and am going to cook myself a steak!
I hope you all have equally enjoyable Christmases.
I have had a very relaxing and lazy Christmas day - sunbathing in the hostel garden and giving myself a present of a load of nice fresh laundry, dried outside in the sunshine. It's been warm and sunny, though we did have a very cloudy, damp day yesterday when I went for hike with two new Irish friends. I also enjoyed a Christmas celebration meal out with them last night.
The hostel staff have just laid on some snacks (it's about 6pm) and I have opened my special Christmas bottle of wine and am going to cook myself a steak!
I hope you all have equally enjoyable Christmases.
Wednesday, 22 December 2010
More Blue Mountains Experiences
Today I went to "Scenic World", where I travelled first on a very steep railway through a tunnel down to the valley where there are boardwalks through the forest past old mineworkings; then travelled up in a cable car; and finally got another cable car across from one part of the cliff to another, with splended views of the Katoomba falls (left).At the main view points near car parks it is packed with tou
rists, but you only have to walk a few minutes to have fabulous viewpoints to yourself. The picture 0n the right was taken at my picnic spot yesterday where I was totally alone apart from a friendly lizard (or skink possibly).
rists, but you only have to walk a few minutes to have fabulous viewpoints to yourself. The picture 0n the right was taken at my picnic spot yesterday where I was totally alone apart from a friendly lizard (or skink possibly).Sydney and The Blue Mountains
Some catching up to do - so this will be a longer entry than the last!My first full day in Australia I visited Paramatta - a town near where Nicola lives - that's now part of the Sydney connurbation, and was one of the earliest towns to be established in New South Wales. It's definitely got its own identity,and I enjoyed exploring the town and its parks on foot. Then yesterday we had a day out in the big city, catching the river ferry to central Sydney - which is a great way to get a first look at the iconic Harbour Bridge and Opera House. We had lunch and explored around Darling Harbour in hot sunshine. The Christmas Tree picture was taken in Darling Harbour.
Later Steve and Nicola kindly drove me up to Katoomba where I'll be staying over Christmas. It's so beautiful 
up here in the Blue Mountains. The views are spectacular - on a par with those at the Grand Canyon. And it's very easy to get around on foot or on public transport, as there's a string of quaint little towns connected by railway and walking trails, along the top of the huge escarpment that looks out over forests, waterfalls and cliffs. There's also lots to do - adventure sports, a scenic cable car, caves to visit - as well as walking, which is what I did today. I walked along the cliff top past some lovely cascades to Leura and got the train back.
up here in the Blue Mountains. The views are spectacular - on a par with those at the Grand Canyon. And it's very easy to get around on foot or on public transport, as there's a string of quaint little towns connected by railway and walking trails, along the top of the huge escarpment that looks out over forests, waterfalls and cliffs. There's also lots to do - adventure sports, a scenic cable car, caves to visit - as well as walking, which is what I did today. I walked along the cliff top past some lovely cascades to Leura and got the train back.I hear that on top of all the bad weather, you've now had an earthquake in North West England! I definitely chose the right winter to spend down under.
Sunday, 19 December 2010
In Australia
Just a quick entry to report that I arrive safely in Australia yesterday where I am staying for a few nights with Nicola (former colleague), Steve and baby Sammy before heading up into the Blue Mountains for Christmas.
Despite it being summer here I can no longer ignore the fact that Christmas is imminent. Many apologies for the absence of cards and presents from me this year, but I wish you all the very best for a happy and peaceful Christmas!
Despite it being summer here I can no longer ignore the fact that Christmas is imminent. Many apologies for the absence of cards and presents from me this year, but I wish you all the very best for a happy and peaceful Christmas!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)