The Blue Mountains and Hunter Valley

It was an easy drive out of the City to the Blue Mountains.  Our first stop was Wentworth Falls - pretty spectacular though a bit scary looking down from the cliff top.  Unfortunately the weather was a bit dull and overcast but the views were still pretty good.  We went on to Katoomba where we decided to visit Scenic World.  Although this is a bit of a theme park we had been advised to go there as the views from the cable car and skyway are awesome.  There are also some interesting walking trails - some on a boardwalk but others along tracks.  Sara was not keen on some of the view points or the glass floor in the cable car which although had amazing views were definitely enough to start the knees wobbling!  Day 2, weather back to normal very hot and sunny, and we drove through some amazing country to the Hunter Valley stopping to do a number of geocaches en route.  The whole area would make a really good walking holiday if we had more time, although incredibly hot.  We had managed to get a cheap deal for the night in the Hunter Resort which includes a tour round the Vineyard - a early start for this tomorrow morning.

Three Sisters in Katoomba Valley

Internet connection too slow to put on any more photographs - will catch up next time we have a connectiom.

Sydney

Yesterday we took the ferry out of the City to Manly where we spent the day on the beach and wandering along the shore.  We hired a body board for an hour which was great fun in the surf off Manly Beach. 
After walking round in the hot sun and finding some geocaches we had another swim in the calmer crystal clear waters near Shell Cove.  We took the ferry back and were able to look closer at some of the sights a friendly Sydney pensioner had pointed out to us on the outward journey.  We have found the Australian people and volunteer guides very friendly and helpful but the officials in the tourist office much less so.

The Manly Ferry

  

                        David on Manly Beach

                                                                                    The Bower Walk above Shell Cove, Manly

Today is our last day in Sydney City.  We woke up to dull looking skies so decided to head for the Maritime Museum where we spent the morning.  After lunch we made our way to the Bridge Pylon Observation Tower.  This is the alternative to those of us not brave enough to do the Bridge Climb.  Fantastic views after climbing up 200 steps and an informative tour.


  Part of the Lloyds Register Display at the Maritime Museum

                                                                                   The Opera House from the Observation Tower

  

        Viewing Platform of the Observation Tower

                                                                                                             And Again!

                                                       Fun at Darling Harbour

Tomorrow we leave the City for a couple of days in the Blue Mountains and Hunter Valley.

Australia Day

We arrived in Sydney today after a fantastic three day train journey across Australia.  Even though the scenery was a bit monotonous at times we were never bored with fantastic food and good company with guests from several different countries.  We stopped in Kalgoorlie, Cook, Adelaide and Broken Hill but it was so hot we were glad to get back on the train! 

It is Australia Day today and although we missed the Tall Ships parade (we didn't arrive until lunchtime) there was plenty to see and the fireworks at the end of the day were absolutely brilliant.

The Indian Pacific at Perth - 27 carriages, 630m long

                   Kalgoorlie 11.00 p.m.

                                                                                 Cook - population 4, temperature 40 degrees C

                             Cook

                                                                                            Miles and miles of the same scenery

      A change of scenery as we approached Sydney

SYDNEY  AUSTRALIA DAY

 

 

1. 

Rottnest Island

Took a trip to Rottnest Island today.  An early start 8.45 am ferry, but an interesting trip down the Swan River with a good commentary.  The ferry stopped in Fremantle to pick up more passengers and then a fast trip across the Indian Ocean (or some of it) to Rottnest.  We hired bikes for the day which was good fun but not very comfortable saddles!  Our first stop was along the Battery Trail to do a geocache - this Trail goes past the WW2 batteries and pill boxes - got some good views of the Island.  Back to our ride round the Island with a stop in Porpoise Bay for lunch and then on to Packer Point with a stop in Little Salmon Bay for a swim and another geocache.  We decided it was too far to ride all round the Island so went back to the port across the middle past the salt lakes.  On the ferry trip back we were fascinated by the local yachts returning from an afternoon racing and having to lower their masts to get under the bridges on the Swan River.  We decided you need to be a very keen racer to go to that amount of trouble!

The Swan River

We came across this Quokka in the middle of the road.  Very cute - fortunately we didn't see any of the venemous snakes we were warned about!

Replica of the pilot boat used from Rottnest

                                                              On the Battery Trail

Lunchtime

South Perth Yacht Club Committee Boat and below dropping the mast to go under the bridges

 

Perth

After a day by the pool yesterday it was back to sightseeing today.  We took the train to Fremantle and spent the day there.  We arrived at the Round House just in time for the 1 o'clock cannon firing which made for an interesting and entertaining break in our walk.



  The Round House Fremantle

David was locked into the stocks by one of the guides who was happy to leave him there if Sara wanted!


The time ball is dropped when the cannon is fired.

                                              Outside the Round House

                                                The Fishing Harbour












HMAS Ovens (ex British O Boat) at the Maritime Museum

                                            
Street entertainer in Perth City

Geocaching near our hotel - we didn't find this one!

Singapore

                                                                                          
                                                                                            The Orchid Gardens




We've arrived in Perth after three hectic sightseeing days in Singapore.  We had a moment of panic when David's blood pressure was rising rapidly when we couldn't check in for our flight as David's Australian Visa was for his old passport.  Fortunately a very helpful lady at the Singapore Airlines Check In desk sorted it out and David was allowed into Australia this morning.

It was very hot and sticky in Singaporeespecially the last day but we managed to do most of the sights.  The Night Safari was definitely our favourite but a Singapore Sling in Raffles came high on Sara's list of favourites.  These are some of our photographs from Singapore.

         River Boat Trip

                                  Views of Singapore

                                                              Koi fish at Mount Faber Bar

                                  Singapore Slings at Raffles  - don't ask how much!!

 Geocaching!

W

Singapore