The Great Ocean Road II 27th November 2013

Wonderful drive down the rest of the ocean road. Stopped off at Cape Otway and saw lots of Koalas making growly noises and looking very sleepy. Also a family of kookkaburras perhaps!
Later stopped for coffee surrounded by parrots  at Lavers Hill.
Drove on to the 12 Apostles and saw lots of other people viewing the Apostles. Where did all these people come from. There was nobody on the road!

Stopped at Loch Ard gorge - scene of a famous ship wreck before lunching at Port Campbell with 500 or so cyclists doing a tour along the Ocean Road.

Later we stopped off at Tower Hill, a national park and the site of an extinct volcano with the hope of finding more kangaroos. Were disappointed but did see plenty of emus. We were doubly dissapointed as later we went to Griffiths Island in Port Fairy with the hope of seeing Mutton Birds (Shearwaters) coming back from a fishing trip. None to be seen but we stayed on to watch a vivid thunderstorm!

Disguntled and sleepy Koala

The 12 Apostles - we could not count 12 some must have gone missing!

Great Ocean Road 26th November 2013

Took an early flight to Melbourne from Sydney. Cannot believe how many flights there are between these two cities. At least 4 between 8:00 and 9:00 in morning.
Picked up hire car and with Wendy navigating found our way to the Great Ocean Road. Built by unemployed workers in the 1920s it is an incredible road snaking its way along the coast. We started along the road at Torquay and finished up at Apollo Bay for the night.
At Anglesea the local Info Guy told us where to find Kangaroos and Koala Bears. We succeeded in finding the Roos, Koalas tomorrow.About 400 roos live on the local golf course and don't seem to mind golf balls whizzing by them every so often. The last bit of the journey from Lorne was the most spectacular with the road hugging the coast line and its every turn.

 Memorial to workers who built the Ocean Road between Aireys Inlet and Lorne

Roos cropping grass at the 15th tee Anglesea golf club

The Australian Grand Canyon 26th November 2013

Another lovely sunny morning 1000 m up in the Blue Mountains. The scenary is stunning! Managed to get Wendy on another walk into the gorges around here. Walked down to the Grand Canyon Lovely temperate rain forest with water dripping from the cliffs tunnels and over hangs Walked behind small cascade. This time unfortuneately for Wendy no Gondola to get back up from the valley floor - just lots of steps.

In afternoon made our way back to Sydney to Ibis hotel by Sydney airport. Traffic fairly obnoxious, traffic lights hindering traffic flow at every intersection. Sydney suburban traffic just like London!

 Rain forest track in Grand Canyon nr Evans Look Out

Wendy before climb back to canyon rim!

The Giant Stairway and Federal Pass 24th November 2013

Launched ourselves down the cayon from the front door of the B&B after huge cooked breakfast. 100 steps down to the 3 Sisters Rocks and then another 901 steps down to the canyon walk way which is no where near the bottom of the valley. Views into far distance on perfect sunny day. (it is often v rainy and misty in your average temperate rain forest)
Parakeets and cockatoos and v big insects. Wendy refused to walk up 900 steps further along the valley floor and was forced to pay for a gondola trip to the top.

Toodle in car to Blackheath to see Govetts Leap Falls (Brides Veil Falls).
Now relaxing on large four poster bed eating home made cake.

 Temperate Rain Forest in Jamison Valley

Wendy at the top of the 3 Sisters

Escape from Sydney 23rd November 2013

Picked up a car for a trip to the Blue Mountains. The area very much open for business, the fires further north than the media would have you believe.
Drove over Sidney Harbour Bridge and drove west in a thunderstorm. Arrived and had lunch in picturesque Leura in hot sunshine and arrived pm in Katoomba to find room in fancy B&B. Looks out straight onto the the most amazing view at Echo Point over 3 Sisters Rocks and Jamison Valley. Even had time for a short walk along the cliff path.

Three Sisters Rocks at Echo Point Katoomba

One of the viewing platforms on the Prince Henry ridge path Katoomba

Bondi Here We Come 22nd November 2013

Took an early morning visit to the Fish Market. A little disappointing really. Lots of sea food on display but not many people / visitors. Tokyo market was a lot more interesting.
After breakfast we had a look around Darling Harbour. The maritime museum was most interesting with many outdoor exhibits including Vietnamese fishing vessels and a replica of the Endeavour as sailed by Captain Cook.

In the afternoon caught a bus to Coogee Beach and then walked up to Bondi Beach passing Clovelly, Bronte and Tamarama on the way. Bondi surf appeared quite tame in comparison with that at Tamarama. We needed to rush the walk however to get ahead of an approaching storm. The storm hit just after 17:00 - luckily we back in our appartment by then. Lightening when viewed from the 12th floor can be quite impressive

Cockle Shell Water Feature Darling Harbour

 Wendy with background of Bondi Beach

Replica of Endeavour at Darling Harbour Maritime Museum

Visit to Botanical Gardens 21st November 2013

Visited the Botanical gardens in the morning Had a free guided tour with lots of info about the trees and other plants that the aboriginals used. They providesdshelter , medicines, weaving materials, soaps and disinfectants, food , glues and most importantly water. Walked back through Finger Warf  - Russel Crowe is reputed to eat here through the Domain and Hyde Park.

After a domestic pm got into the real atmosphere of Sydney. Dinner on the quay before attending a performannce at the Sydney Opera House. .La Sylphide  by the Australian Ballet. Lovely performance in a superb and comfortable auditorium - lots of leg room. View from bar to die for being alongside the harbour and bridge.

Pre Show Dinner

Ferry Trip to Manly 20th November 2013

Awoken v early by ethereal voice saying that there was a possible fire in building. 100s of us trooped down the stairs - a lot in our case as we are on 12th floor - all in our night attire. After ½ an hour or so all trooped back to our beds. Seems that one of the residents was having a very steamy shower!

Went to Manly in the morning a half hour ferry trip across the harbour and very pleasant too. Lovely beach but surf not particularly impressive.
Managed a walk around the old quarantine station headland - one of Sydney’s national parks - the endangered penguins were in hiding!

Fabulous sea views over the pacific.

 Looking out to the Pacific Ocean from Sydney Harbour

View across Manly Beach

Sydney - Bridge Climb Day 19th November 2013

Fabulous weather, summer has come to Sydney again! So we got incredible views for our Sidney Harbour Bridge trip. Real highlight  - everyone should do this. Small groups, lots of equipment - radio headsets, thermal suits, clipped on hankies. Who knew you were only allowed to wear a tea shirt and your undies under the suit. A bit of quite exposed ladder climbing but the actual walk over the central span is just amazing. Can see to the blue mountains one way and the ocean the other. We have certificates and photographs to prove it.

Afternoon spent browsing around the Sidney Opera House area.

 Looking over Sydney Harbour Bridge from bridge pylon

Looking towards Opera House from bridge pylon

Sidney Walkabout 18th November 2013

Raining all day sometimes extremely heavily. Took free walking tour on foot through central Sidney finishing up at the bridge and harbour. Lots of local detail, really worth it despite the rain. Walked all day totally exhausted and quite damp around the edges.

Sidney harbour bridge in the rain

 Sidney Opera House in the rain

Sidney 17th November 2013

Flew down to Sidney. Flight shorter than anticipated as Sidney appears to do some weird things with its clocks being one hour ahead of Cairns even though in the same time zone.

Sidney v wet and cold being 17C cooler than Cairns. Scrabbling round for warmer clothing.

Apartment block an enormous converted warehouse?. Apartment fine, full kitchen, living room, bathroom bathroom and sun terrace, all very close to Darling Harbour. However gone for an interior chic look which bares an uncanny resemblance to the interior layout of The Mount prison.

 Prison Style floor landings in apartment block

View from apartment block over Darling Harbour

Port Douglas 16th November 2013

 Iron Bar Port Douglas  made of corrugated iron sheeting

Wendy on 4 mile beach at Port Douglas












Did the domestics, now have clean clothes. Set off to explore Port Douglas - one marina, one picturesque church popular for weddings, couple of old hotels / pubs - one specialising in cane toad racing. Beautiful four mile beach, jungle and palm tress sweeping down to a white sand bay.  Don’t get too excited if the crocodiles don’t get you then the stingers will.
Retired to spend rest of afternoon in crocodile free pool before having a delightful fishy dinner on the deck overlooking river inlet.

Port Douglas- Rain Forest 15 November 2013

North Qeensland has a tropical climate and the oldest rain forest in world - stick that Amazon! Georgeous beaches though Captain Cook probably would not agree - gouged large hole in boat on barrier reef  and put into Cape Tribulation for repairs.  Named mountains behind Mt Sorrow and Mt Misery.
Walked in rain forest with Rory - our  aboriginal guide - walked through smoke as part of welcoming ceremony and Rory demonstrated how to make aboriginal style soap - smelt a bit like TCP!
Mossman gorge beautiful forest and river, lots of nasty plants with their own version of barbed wire.
BBQ in Daintree rain forest - no electricity gas mobile phone network etc - crossed river on cable  ferry.
River cruise spotting crocodiles - only small ones seen unfortunately or fortunately depending on your point of view
Guide of robust opinion that any human eaten by a croc deserved their comeupance!

Beech at Cape Tribulation so loved by Captain Cook

Small croc on banks of Daintree river

Port Douglas 14th November 2013

Catamaran Dock at Port Douglas

 Floating Pontoon at Barrier Reef











Admired and wondered at the Barrier Reef  40km off the North Queensland coast, Surprising the diversity and amount of marine life to be seen. It was a v overcast day with thick black clouds filling the sky over the Coral Sea thus the waters not as blue as they could have been.
Spectacular corals and fish of all shapes, sizes and colours
Had a few spots of rain later in the day but nothing to bring down the temperature.

Uluru - Port Douglas 13th November 2013

Spent the morning relaxing at the Ayers Rock Resort. Watched and listened to didgeridoo playing - a man only activity in aboriginal society and admired a couple of camels from the local camel farm These camels were in a lot better condition than the ones seen in Egypt. Their handler hailed from Brighton!

In afternoon flew from Ayers Rock to Cairns and then travelled up the Captain Cook Highway to Port Douglas. The weather a lot more uncomfortable than Ayers Rock being hot and very humid.

Didgeridoo Players at Uluru

Camels from Camel Farm in Uluru

Kings Canyon 12 November 2013

Up at 4:30 to make breakfast at 5:30 and just after 6:00 walk around the rim and into Kings Canyon and the Garden of Eden before it got too hot. Wonderful views over the plain and into the canyon. Climbed down to the Garden of Eden in the Canyon to an oasis. Walking not too rough after a steep climb up {500 + steps} to the canyon rim.Walk well worth getting up early for. Returned to Ayers Rock Resort  in the afternoon

 Looking towards Garden of Eden Kings Canyon

On rim of Kings Canyon

Uluru - Kings Canyon 11 November 2013

 Mount Conner in background at road stop

Watarrka National Park at sunset









Spent the morning chilling out at Ayers Rock Resort before venturing off to Kings Canyon in Watarrka national park - a three hours drive away. The distances are vast here with very few people or vehicles on the roads. Everywhere is surprisingly green ,still only spring though and the temperature is not much above 36C. Spent the early evening watching the sunset over the park and having dinner. Wendy had battered Barramundi and David had Kangaroo steak - medium rare.

Uluru 10 November 2013

Up early - 4:00 to view dawn breaking over Uluru followed by walk around base. Lots of info at cultural centre on aboriginal people of the area - The Anangu their customs life and philosophies. Then back to bed.

In afternoon went to Kata Tjuta a twin of Uiuru. equally sacred to the local peoples - a male initiation area.The place was slightly less impressive perhaps not being  one monolith. Lots of info on local flora and fauna from local ranger - saw one small wallaby on a walk in Kata Tjuba.

Watched sunset with more sparkly wine

 Wendy on walkabout around Uluru

Kata Tjuta at sun set

Alice Springs to Uluru

Travelled in morning to Uluru. Stopped off at a camel farm and also a remote refuelling  station plus viewed Fuluru - a large flt topped mountain in the plains.
Arrive Pioineer Uluru Resort early afternoon- 3 Hotels , some appartments, a market place and a camping ground.

In evening watched the sun go down over Uleru while drinking sparkly wine and taking photos. This was followed by a bbq including kangaroo kebabs - quite tastey.

View over Uluru at dusk

Alice Springs 8 November 2013

A quiet day travelling to Alice Springs in the Northern Terratories
Really a small town in the middle of no where 3k5 km from Perth
Watched the sunset from Anzac Hill
Off again early in the morning to Ayers Rock and Kings Canyon

 Pedestrianised area in Alice Springs

Sunset over Alice

Margaret River 7 November 2013

Explored Margaret River through its food options. Breakfast at the Bakery
Mid morning wine tasting at the Voyager Estate
Lunch at Gabriels, chocolate tasting.
Tried to walk off all this excess by walking in the sea at Yallingup
Please note that this is a major surfing resort with nobody there.
Back via Busselton which has the longest pier in the Southern Hemisphere Why?
And then back to Perth 200Km of very empty roads passing lots of farms with cows, sheep, alpacca, horses and camels but not a kangaroo to be seen!

 Wendy testing the waters of the Indian Ocean

The Bakery Margaret River - a slightly batty boho joint

Travel to Margaret River 6th November 2013

Picked up a car and off to Margaret River. Saw our first kangaroo (unfortuneately road kill) Stopped off in Mandurah for morning tea. Managed to get to Busselton for late lunch but unable to find time to explore the jetty - longest timber built jetty in southern hemisphere as it poured down with rain. Geographe Bay looks as though it would be stunning in the sunshine but less so in the pouring rain. The skies cleared a little by the time we reached Margaret River ie it had stopped raining.
Early start tomorrow so that we can get a walk and a visit to winery (lunch) done before visiting Yallingup and Dunsborough.

View of Geographe Bay nr Dunsborough

Just to prove there are such thing as bottle brush trees - Margaret River

Whale Watching Perth 5th November 2013

In the morning went whale watching off Hillarys Boat Yard. Saw Humpback Whale broaching - worth every dollar and effort of getting up at 5:45 in morning.
Lunched at Yelo on coast near Trigg - amazingly good
In afternoon walked from Trigg beach to Scarborough  esplanade along the Heritage Coast before making our way back to Perth. The Perth transport system on first acquaintance is v good and cheap.

 Whale broaching off Rottnest Island

Wendy outside the Yelo Cafe in Trigg holding her hat down

Perth 4th November 2013

Spent the morning doing a walking tour starting from the hotel. We basically covered the Boom & Bust trail viewing sites such as The Mint, the Town Hall, His Majesty's Theatre, London Court etc with mid morning refreshments over looking the Swan River from Barrack Square. Anthony had promised dolphins but we saw none.
Old colonial style buildings aresurrounded by new tower blocks. Lots of building going on seems to be a proper old fashioned boomtown!

Japanese sushi for lunch in Forrest Square by the Central Post Office Caught bus to King's Park. Idyllic botanical gardens overlooking Perth, with tree high walways and lots of strange Australian fauna. Overcast this morning but wind picked up this afternoon and blew the clouds away - thus v hot and sunny

Old Town Hall with Clock Tower

Perth from King's Park with Swan River to the right

Sunday 03/11/2013 Arrival in Perth

Arrived Perth on schedule.
Met up with Anthony & Rebecca and travelled down to Freemantle. A very picturesque town on the coast with an arts festival in full flow. Went to late lunc/dinner at Little Creatures Brewery - a working brewery with restaurant attached & overlooking a fishing and boating harbour. Weather glorious 39C+ and beautiful sunsets over the Indian Ocean

Anthony & Rebecca at the Little Creatures Brewery

Sunset over Indian Ocean