Different sort of day today! Alison got rid of me for the day! Needed after three and a half weeks! I did one of the optional trips to the Blue Mountains, accompanied by 4 others from our group. Joined another 30 from various other tour groups of varying nationalities. First stop at Featherdale Zoo Park. Not our favourite method of seeing the indigenous animals, birds and reptiles, nevertheless a few photos follow:
Driving on to the lunch stop in the small town of Leura- very pleasant. Onward to reach the Blue Moutains, so named since they are covered in eucalyptus trees which, in the middle of the day, exude a sap on their leaves, which in the bright sunlight give them a blue sheen from a distance. Main viewing was from Scenic World, a collection of aerial and train access which transported us to the rim of the rainforest valley.
This huge circular valley is claimed to be Australia’s equivalent of the Grand Canyon in the US. The various hairy means of access were another reason that Alison didn’t attempt this trip. The first was the Skyway, a 6min crossing at a height of 270m in a cabin with a glass floor and containing apx 100 people. The second, was the Cableway. Again a large single cabin without the glass floor, but a much steeper descent for about 5 mins. At this point there was the opportunity to take a long or a short boardwalk. The 5 of us chose the former which included passing a number of modern art installations,
at the end of the 1hr walk we joined a train – claimed to be the steepest train journey in the world!
– returning us to the Scenic World departure point once again. Eventually managed to travel on, once we recovered some Columbians who had got lost – in the souvenir shop! Brief stop at Echo Point to get some good photos of the Blue Mountains and the Three Sisters rock formations.
Taken back in the direction of Sydney and dropped at the Quay to board a ferry on the Parramatta River to cover the final leg of the journey back to Sydney via the Harbour, Bridge and Opera House. A few messages arranged to meet Alison for tea, and discover what she had got up to today.
Alison’s day had started about 08.30 with a walk down Macquarie Street,
admiring Parliament House and the Mint,
before continuing on to Circular Quay.
A walk to The Rocks ensued with the necessary stop for coffee. Browsed the shops and walkways in the area, before heading round the Quay to the Opera House. Return journey included the Botanic Garden, St Mary’s Cathedral
and on go Hyde Park,
with a stop to view the Anzac Memorial – more about that tomorrow.
M & A in Oz 