Australia

Blue Mountains, Ayers Rock, Great Barrier Reef, Cape Tribulation

Staying in Sydney for the first week of our visit gave us time to sort out the remainder of our trip. We both had different ideas on how and what to see in OZ, so splitting up and going it alone was to be the easiest way.

I knew I had to budget it around OZ, with Japan coming up next on the list I had already decided to cancel India because of 911 and fund shortages - there was no way I wanted to miss any more. So with camping set firmly in my mind I shopped for some decent (yet cheap) equipment and headed up to the Blue Mountains for a few days to try it out.

Camping gear tested I felt I could handle the rest of the trip and confirmed my flight to Ayers Rock. With an onward flight four nights later I would find myself in Queensland, snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef, having a guided rain forest tour at night in Cape Trib and ending up in Cooktown, the furthest north I had planned to venture.

We were very fortunate that Claudia (Kerrys mum) and Ken were heading off to Tasmania for a couple of weeks just as we arrived. Claudia kindly lent us her flat in Bronte which was very convenient for getting into Sydo central.
In the background you may just about see the blurry arc of the bridge and that white smudge on its left is the Opera house!

On our first morning we got the royal treatment with Claudia and Ken giving us a tour around the immediate area, passing through several bays (including Bondi beach) and walking along the cliff tops on the south side of the harbour entrance.
We rounded of the tour very nicely with fish & chips overlooking the sea. Cheers!

Along our walk near the harbour entrance we came across a lighthouse with a very 'fresh' looking paint job. Cannot remember if it was a working lighthouse or not, but there was some history to it.
In fact that shady character just walking away after studiously reading the plaque is Dave'o - perhaps he can cast some light on the subject.
It was a nice walk around with some good sunny weather.

The Bronte Baths.
A neighbour suggested that an early morning swim at the beach is well worth it, especially at the weekend when it starts to get a bit busy. Waking up early one morning it was exactly what I decided to do, but boy was the water C O L D !! It took a little while to get used to it, but I did manage a little swim.
The baths are off to one side of the beach and afford a safer swim from the quite strong undertow on the beach. Lifeguards are always on hand though, and swimming areas clearly marked.

Bronte beach was a great little beach.
With its nice grassy area off to one side and cool cafes, Bronte easily beats Bondi for being more laid back. Bondi was full of tourists and the usual tack that goes with them, although the fish & chips I had there was quite nice! Of course the surfing at Bondi was much better, being the main draw, though I would definitely recommend people to check out other nearby beaches.

In between shopping and changing flight details we caught up on sightseeing. While walking along the famous bridge we were lucky enough to be treated to this sight. It had just started to rain as we were part way across the bridge (hard enough to run for cover) and after the short shower we looked out to see a superb rainbow gracing the Opera house.
After we carried on to the small, but informative, museum located in one of the posts of the bridge. Here you can find out all about how the bridge was constructed.

It was great to get up closer and see the Opera House. Tours are well worth booking to have a look inside but I guess best would be really to see an event in one of the halls, though with the tour you get to see several areas.
The sails really are a fascinating sight.

And even closer!
The tiles that cover the house are all hand made, that would have been some job for sure. These days they are made in sheets and 'scored' to make them look individual.

A great little museum and the oldest existing observatory in Australia - will I get a chance to look through it before the end of the trip? Nope, no such luck with the weather.
Some of the first ever photographs through a telescope were taken here in Sydney, way back in the late 1800's. The observatory houses a transit circle in the 1st of its two domes, used to accurately measure time it only moves north & south. In the 2nd dome a modern telescope is present for members of the public to observe.
Topping the tower is a time ball, which was lowered every day at 1pm to signal the correct time in the harbour and city.

And a shot of the bridge.
Taken from just outside the grounds of the observatory. Very peaceful up here and your not far at all from the 'rocks' area of Sydney where you can find bars and eateries to suit most tastes.
However one pub we visited were not too keen on me bearing my legs come evening time (I was wearing shorts).

A true local that we found one morning. This large hunter spider was hanging around outside Daves door one morning - was it waiting to pounce I wonder?
It was quite a size, a good four or five inches across, certainly the biggest creepy crawley that I have seen out of a zoo! It hung around for a day or two (even though our neighbour tried to see it off with a broom) before finally disappearing. Which reminds me, must check the bottom of my sleeping bag...

	We were very fortunate that Claudia (Kerrys mum) and Ken were heading off to Tasmania for a couple of weeks just as we arrived. Claudia kindly lent us her flat in Bronte which was very convenient for getting into Sydo central. In the background you may just about see the blurry arc of the bridge and that white smudge on its left is the Opera house!
On our first morning we got the royal treatment with Claudia and Ken giving us a tour around the immediate area, passing through several bays (including Bondi beach) and walking along the cliff tops on the south side of the harbour entrance. We rounded of the tour very nicely with fish & chips overlooking the sea. Cheers!
	Along our walk near the harbour entrance we came across a lighthouse with a very 'fresh' looking paint job. Cannot remember if it was a working lighthouse or not, but there was some history to it. In fact that shady character just walking away after studiously reading the plaque is Dave'o - perhaps he can cast some light on the subject. It was a nice walk around with some good sunny weather.
The Bronte Baths. A neighbour suggested that an early morning swim at the beach is well worth it, especially at the weekend when it starts to get a bit busy. Waking up early one morning it was exactly what I decided to do, but boy was the water C O L D !! It took a little while to get used to it, but I did manage a little swim. The baths are off to one side of the beach and afford a safer swim from the quite strong undertow on the beach. Lifeguards are always on hand though, and swimming areas clearly marked.
	Bronte beach was a great little beach. With its nice grassy area off to one side and cool cafes, Bronte easily beats Bondi for being more laid back. Bondi was full of tourists and the usual tack that goes with them, although the fish & chips I had there was quite nice! Of course the surfing at Bondi was much better, being the main draw, though I would definitely recommend people to check out other nearby beaches.
In between shopping and changing flight details we caught up on sightseeing. While walking along the famous bridge we were lucky enough to be treated to this sight. It had just started to rain as we were part way across the bridge (hard enough to run for cover) and after the short shower we looked out to see a superb rainbow gracing the Opera house. After we carried on to the small, but informative, museum located in one of the posts of the bridge. Here you can find out all about how the bridge was constructed.
	It was great to get up closer and see the Opera House. Tours are well worth booking to have a look inside but I guess best would be really to see an event in one of the halls, though with the tour you get to see several areas. The sails really are a fascinating sight.
And even closer! The tiles that cover the house are all hand made, that would have been some job for sure. These days they are made in sheets and 'scored' to make them look individual.
	A great little museum and the oldest existing observatory in Australia - will I get a chance to look through it before the end of the trip? Nope, no such luck with the weather. Some of the first ever photographs through a telescope were taken here in Sydney, way back in the late 1800's. The observatory houses a transit circle in the 1st of its two domes, used to accurately measure time it only moves north & south. In the 2nd dome a modern telescope is present for members of the public to observe. Topping the tower is a time ball, which was lowered every day at 1pm to signal the correct time in the harbour and city.
And a shot of the bridge. Taken from just outside the grounds of the observatory. Very peaceful up here and your not far at all from the 'rocks' area of Sydney where you can find bars and eateries to suit most tastes. However one pub we visited were not too keen on me bearing my legs come evening time (I was wearing shorts).
	A true local that we found one morning. This large hunter spider was hanging around outside Daves door one morning - was it waiting to pounce I wonder? It was quite a size, a good four or five inches across, certainly the biggest creepy crawley that I have seen out of a zoo! It hung around for a day or two (even though our neighbour tried to see it off with a broom) before finally disappearing. Which reminds me, must check the bottom of my sleeping bag...