Photos: Australia Day 16 -- May 1 Final Day

Notes; Australia Day 16 -- May 1 -- Final Day

1. Weather terrific today.  Forecast sunny and 21 degrees (70 degrees to all those on the F scale).  Decided to take the bus to town at the Circular Quay and then the ferry to the Taronga Zoo.

 

2. Great scenic ride on the ferry with great views of the opera house and the bridge.

 

3. The zoo was in a very scenic area of the harbour, overlooking the city with great views.  Spent about 5 hours walking around and taking in the seal show.

 

4. Got back to Circular Quay around 3:30 and spent time walking the harbour and the Rocks.  Stayed until dark to get a good view of the opera house and city lights.

 

5. Took the bus back to the hostel but there was a big traffic tie-up due to a Sri Lanka demonstration taking place at the Town Hall.  Had to detour and fight the traffic jam so it was slow going -- but still beat walking.

 

6. Packing up my bags for the flight home tomorrow.  It was a great trip but it will be great to get back home.

 

7. So long from Down Under.

Photos: Australia Days 14 and 15 -- April 29 and 30

Notes: Australia Days 14 and 15 -- April 29 and 30

1. The night at the Hawkesbury Heights YHA was an interesting one.  I was the only one in the lodge that night.  I built a fire in the fireplace and it warmed it up a bit (no other heat source).  I even got up a few times during the night to throw another log on the fire.

 

2. Heading back to Sydney, I stopped at the historic town of Parramatta and walked around the park where there were some interesting structures.

 

3. The trip into Sydney was an adventure again.  The street names on my map were different than the names on the signs, so I made a few wrong turns in the heavy traffic and had to ask for directions at a gas station.   I was glad to get the rental car turned back in with no dents or dings.  Took a taxi back to the same YHA hostel I stayed in when I arrived.

 

4. One of the things I wanted to do in Sydney was to take a ferry ride in the harbor.  Well, when I got up in the morning it was a steady rain so I decided a ferry boat ride was not a good idea. Instead, I took a walk downtown, dodging the raindrops under the awnings, avoiding the umbrella tips, and jumping away from the bus splashes.

 

5. One of the buildings that sounded interesting was the Queen Victoria Building, so I figured that was a good place to be in while it was raining.  Well, it was a very interesting building.  Built in 1898, fell into disrepair, and then rejuvinated into a shopping center in the 1980's.  For anyone interested in geometric architecture; the dome, railings, and multiple levels were marvels to behold.  I took a lot of pictures there.

 

6. The rain continued off and on through noon, so I did get in a bit more walking around town and had lunch at a Thai restaurant.  Then I walked back in the rain to the hostel and rested my weary legs.

 

7. About 3 o'clock the rain let up, so I walked over to Darling Harbour and enjoyed the sights until it got dark.

Photos: Australia Day 13 -- April 28

Notes: Australia Day 13 -- April 28

1. Went back to the Pulpit Rock overlook where there were 70mph wind gusts on Sunday.  The gusts had diminished to 50mph today so I went all the way out onto the overlook.  Thank goodness for the handrails so I could hang on tight.  Nice view but no reason to stay and linger -- besides, it started to sprinkle.  While I was recuperating back in the car, I spotted another kangaroo hopping around.

 

2. Not far from the overlook in the town of Blackheath, there was a Rhododendron Garden.  Walked around there for awhile.  Very nice area with lots of pathways, ponds, and color.  Would be very nice in spring when the rhodies were in bloom.

 

3. Drove to Mt. Wilson, very nice area with lots of gardens.  A lot of the trees here were deciduous, so there was a lot of color and leaves on the ground.  There was also a walk down to a waterfall -- it was a rainforest area.  About an hour walk with a lot of up and down -- wheew.

 

4. Drove to Mt. Tomah Botanical Gardens.  Very extensive and lovely.  Lots of different shrubs, flowers, and trees.  I was surprised at how much was still in bloom at this time of the year (mid-autumn).

 

5. Drove directly to the Hawkesberry Heights YHA hostel.  What a surprise.  Had a hard time finding it.  I had made a Google map with the location shown, but it wasn't there.  I drove further up a winding hill for a couple more miles looking for a YHA sign while the traffic kept piling up behind me -- stopped a couple of times to let them go by.  I finally found it as it was getting dark -- just barely marked and up a long winding dirt drive, but it was locked and no one was there.  I finally found a nearby house with the caretaker for the place.  There was a bag with my name, linen and a key on the porch.  So I proceeded back to the building and made myself at home.  Interesting place, like a large cabin in Northern Michigan.  Looks like I will be alone in the place tonite.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photos: Australia Day 12 -- April 27

Notes: Australia Day 12 -- April 27

1. Winds subsided a bit this morning, but still quite breezy.  Cold front moved in, high in the mid 40's today.

 

2. Stopped at a few more overlooks on the way to the end of the Blue Mountains around Mount Victoria.  Descended into the valley below into the town of Lithgow.

 

3. Rode the Zig Zag Railway.  About a 2 hour ride on a vintage train down a historic rail line built in 1869 and used until 1910.  It got the name because it descended halfway down the hill to a switching station where the train was switched to the track going the opposite direction down the rest of the hill.  The train then went in reverse down this section to the bottom.  After we reached the bottom we toured a facility where they were refurbishing other antique engines then retraced the route back to the top.

 

4. I returned back to Katoomba on the road that circled back into the mountains.

Photos: Australia Days 10 and 11 -- April 25 and 26