Blue Mountains

Today was an early start as we get picked up a short distance from our hotel at 7:10 am. Our driver is Jed and he’s a pretty funny guide.  There are about 15 of us which is a nice size.  Jed drove around a bit showing us a few landmarks as the last pick up was 8:10. 

This is Mrs.MacQuarie’s chair.  Mr. MacQuarie was the Governor who created/designed the core of Sydney.

Sandstone is what makes up this whole area.  Most of the older buildings were all built out of sandstone.

Trees in Australia are amazing.  This amazing tree was by Mrs. McQuarie’s chair overlooking the harbour.

We then head out of Sydney heading to the Blue Mountains with our first stop at the zoo.

Some beautiful birds...

Some strange birds...

Big birds...

Penguins...

Cute and cuddly...

Tree kangaroo...

Tasmanian Devil...

Dingo...

Then we travel to a lovely town called Laura where we eat lunch before going to “the rides”

So sweet...

This ‘train’ does a 52 degree incline!  Felt like we were standing up. 

You can even adjust your seat. 

Goes way back...

The Three Sisters...the views are amazing..

The track that the train climbs...

Then we walk the boardwalk through the Rain Forest...

When the miners were here this would have been a shelter for them

The rain forest is so dense.  The Blue Mountains get their name from the eucalyptus giving off a blue haze that mixes with the moisture in the air.

This rock formation is called “Boar’s Head”

Then we get dropped at the Olympic Park Wharf to catch the boat back to Circular Quay.

Under the bridge...

And back to the Quay.

Dinner at our favourite Italian restaurant in The Rocks...spaghetti marinara...yum!

Then home again, home again, jiggity jig!

Walking the Bridge

Today we decide to head for the harbour to walk Sydney Bridge or affectionately called the coat hanger.

We start at the train stop close to our hotel.

We take the train to Milsons Point which is the side of the bridge by Luna Park.  We walk to the bridge deck and begin.  It’s 1.5 km across.

Great views from up here.  Pretty windy.

And she’s off!

This is the side opposite The Opera House.

Some people were climbing the bridge....it’s crazy but a lot of people do it.  They walk across on the very top!

After we finish walking across the bridge we go to an area called The Rocks.  Lots of restaurants and shops.

We then take the ferry from Circular Quay to Manly.



First stop is gelato!  So good.

Manly is a lovely place.  Great place to stay.

Another beautiful beach.

Not too crowded.



We then head off on the walkway to Shelly Beach which is about half hour away.

This pool looks inviting.





It’s getting late so we head back.  We stop at Cole’s (grocery store) and load up on food as we are leaving very early tomorrow on our trip to the Blue Mountains.