Featherdale Wildlife Park

Part of our trip to the Blue Mountains included a stop at a wildlife centre to view many of the Australian animal & bird species. It was a very interesting experience to see them.  We also plan to visit the Toranga Zoo in Sydney, where we will see more animals.

The Wallaby

This is a Cassowary, a colourful cousin to the Emu.

The Australian Pelican

Who doesn't love the Koala Bear.

The Koalas sleep in trees up to 20 hours a day.

Petting a sleeping Kangaroo.

This is a Wombat, who usually hides in a hole most of the day.

 Australia has lots of Giant Lizards.

Yes, these are giant Bats, called Fox Bats.

The famous Tasmanian Devil is quite small, but vicious.

A magnificent Australian White Eagle enjoying his lunch.

An Australian Buzzard Strutting his stuff

Tiny Penguins enjoying the pool.

The Blue Mountains

On Thursday, we took our first day trip up into the Blue Mountains. It was a great trip.  The Blue Mountain name comes from the blue haze produced by the oils of the Eucalyptus Gum trees that fill the forests there. We took a cable car tram down into the valley floor and walked through the rain forest.

The Three Sisters

Notice the Blue Haze

The cable car down into the valley.

Walking in the Rain Forest

Old coal miners cabin

Kotoomba Falls

We also got to see an Aboriginal cultural show, which gave us a good picture of their background culture. They played the Didgeridoo for us and preformed some native dances. They even got some audience participation and I was chosen to attempt the Kangaroo Dance. On the way home we stopped at an Australian Wildlife Preserve to see many of the native creatures, which I will include in a separate post.

Playing the Didgeridoo

Aboriginal dancers

Wannabe Aboriginal dancer (me) doing (attempting) the Kangaroo Dance.

Accepted into the clan

We also got an unexpected treat by 1) touring the Sydney Olympic site and 2) taking a cruise down the Hunter River back into Sydney.  It was a fantastic cruise past some very expensive homes, right into Darling Harbour.

Sydney Olympic Park

Cruising down the river to Sydney

It sure was windy on deck

Lots of Million dollar homes on the river

Fantastic Sydney skyline

Harbour Bridge

 Beautiful Darling Harbour.

Hop-on, Hop-off Bus Tour of Sydney & Bondi Beach

Today (Wednesday), we jumped on the hop-on, hop-off bus and took two trips around Sydney, one in the morning and one in the afternoon (approx 90minutes each). The morning trip was all around the city centre, while the afternoon trip was out into the suburbs to the famous Bondi Beach.  We saw a lot and learned a lot about Sydney.

Morning trip included:

Open air bus

The first hospital built in th1 1800s.

St Mary's Cathedral

The Harbour Bridge from below

Buildings in the historical Rocks

The Rocks area was where the early seamen congregated.

Afternoon Trip included:

Arriving at the beach

Beautiful Bondi Beach

The waves were big that day and there were lots of surfers.

Soaking up the sun.

Famous Bondi Beach Pavilion

Our Apartment

We lucked out with our apartment. It is very nice and in an ideal location, close to all the action. We can catch the 555 free shuttle bus down to the Circular Quay harbour area or walk (15 minutes). We are also only a 5 minute walk to Darling Harbour. We are on the 33rd floor and have a great view from our balcony.  Check it out.

The apartment is very spacious and modern.

It has a well equipted kitchen.

With a comfortable bed.

There were great views of the city from the balcony.