Next Stop, Australia

Hello everyone.

Hopefully, you are joining me with another cuppa as we continue with our journey.

Stepping on board another plane and several hours later, we were blinking our eyes into the beautiful sunshine of Sydney, Australia.

When we arrived at our hotel, the receptionist very kindly told us about a drone light show about to take place close to where we were staying in Darling Harbour. This was to celebrate and welcome the coming of Spring.

On our first full day in Sydney, we used 'Hop-on, Hop-off' buses to get around the city. No visit to Sydney would be complete without a few iconic buildings, structures and landscapes. So here they are from various points during our stay.

Sydney Opera House

Sydney Harbour Bridge

We also passed by Bondi Beach on the bus. It was the local schools' half-term break that week, and it was very busy. However, we can say we saw parts of the beach.

We took the following two photos from the observation deck of the Sydney Sky Tower with its breathtaking views over the city and harbour. Neither hubby nor myself are keen on heights, but this was worth overcoming a fear. I ventured a little nearer the edge to take a peek at the very long way down.

We spent another day in the Hunter Valley, a major wine-producing region north of Sydney. We visited three independent, family-run wineries and enjoyed several glasses of their finest. At one of the wineries, we were told about the kangaroos who also like to visit and are very partial to the best grapes. They obviously have a taste for the good life!

While in Sydney, we joined a 'First Nations' guide, who explained a bit more about the culture and philosophy of her people and how that influences their lives in harmony with nature.

We then spent a leisurely afternoon wandering in Sydney Botanical Gardens, which we had seen previously from the bus.

We also managed to find a few friendly, sleepy animals at the Wildlife Sydney Zoo in Darling Bay. This is Ringo, if my memory is correct, a bare-nosed wombat. I thought they were slow movers - not on the day we visited, when he hurtled across his enclosure at the visitors watching him safely behind a heavy-duty screen. Wombats are marsupials, and they carry their young in a pouch on the mother's body. Unlike other marsupials such as the koala, kangaroo and Tasmanian Devil, wombats' pouches face backwards to prevent dirt reaching the joey while mum is digging.

This koala is still enjoying his 22 plus hours sleep time.

As we ended our time in Sydney, we were able to catch up with our DIL's godparents, whom we met at last year's wedding. We took the ferry to Mosman Bay to meet them and enjoyed a lovely meal while overlooking another beautiful area, Balmoral Beach. 

This is Manly Beach, another lovely place. 

And finally, George's Head lookout, which was a former military fortification, where we saw views of Sydney from the opposite side of the bay. 

From Sydney, we hired a car and drove to Katoomba in the Blue Mountains. The first place we visited was Echo Point and the rock formations known as the Three Sisters. Local legend says that these were three real sisters, turned to stone to save them from a tribal battle.

Not far from our hotel was an attraction called Scenic World, where, by various modes of transport, it is possible to view the outstanding surroundings from multiple levels. We tried the cable car first, which was amazing. 

The next mode of transport was less fun. One of the steepest passenger railways in the world, travelling at 4 metres per second at a very steep angle. My scream was very loud. I will not be trying that again!

Despite my fright, it was a wonderful day.

On the way back to our hotel, we saw this memorial to all those who helped build the first roads through the Blue Mountains.

Driving back to the airport, we were bound for our last destination in Australia - Melbourne.

Our hotel had a jazz theme with many iconic jazz singers and bands on the walls. We even had a framed saxophone on our wall! The view from our balcony was of Flagstaff Gardens, Melbourne's oldest park. 

I particularly enjoyed riding the circular tram route in Melbourne, which travels around the city's central area. It was fun travelling on vintage 1920s and 1930s trams. We used it when we visited the Melbourne Museum. This museum showcases First Nations culture, the history and growth of the city, and some prehistoric skeletons. There was a lovely garden outside with a variety of trees and plants.

We also spent a very enjoyable but very long day travelling along the Great Ocean Road. One of the places we stopped to take photos was a group of rock formations known as the Twelve Apostles, though only seven remain standing now due to erosion. 

Another place we saw that day was Loch Ard Gorge, the site of a shipwreck that claimed only two teenagers and for which the English-speaking world hoped for a romantic ending to the story.

It did not happen.

The views of the area, however, are stunning.

A few more photos taken along the Ocean Road.

Hubby was also very quick with the camera and managed to catch a koala and a kangaroo in the lens.

While we were in Melbourne, we also walked around part of the outside of their cricket ground.

And a few final views of Melbourne, including some of its unique architectural buildings.

After nearly a fortnight in Australia, our next destination was calling - New Zealand.

Have a lovely week, everyone. Hopefully you will come travelling with me again next week.