Wow...wow...wow...

Prepare yourself for a photo loaded entry. As many, many more acomplished writers have quoted before me...a picture says a thousand words...

We entered a National Park area, a couple of hours West of Sydney, called the Blue Mountains. The area is known as the blue mountains due to the mist that forms as a result of the vapours evaporating from the eucalyptus trees. The whole place was spectacular, although the drop in temperature (coming from Sydney) was very noticable!

On our first full day in the Mountains, in a town called Katoomba, I was unable to persuade my travelling companions to join me on a 12km hike down into the valleys & the rainforests. I went down the Great Stairway, which was quite precaurious, & through the jungle like rainforest. It was spectacular - so much diversity in such a (relatively) small area...

Echo Point - the "Three Sisters" rock formations

View across the valleys

The Great Stairway down, & some of the obstacles faced

Leura Forest

More trails

Leura Falls

The town itself wasn't much to write home about, as the area is treated as a getaway destination - so very tourist driven. We managed to get by drinking beer & playing pool in the local during the evenings.

The next day I WAS able to persuade Mr Small to join me on my next hiking excursion - although I feel I have a big task ever persuading Mr Dicks to do the same! The destination for the day was down into the Valleys again, to find Wentworth Falls.

The way down & a recent rock fall

The walk was a little challenging in places (aka - steep), although Smalls & I agreed that it was well worth the effort, as the scenery was fantastic! I have finally found a place in Oz that can compete with NZ for natural beauty. I hope there are many more.

I don't know what the caves are like in NZ (sadly we didnt get round to that one), but I can vouch for the jaw-dropping spectacle that is the Jenolan Caves. Dixy took the van & headed off to Sydney (to be there for the Man U champs league game - which wasnt on in the Mountains), so Smalls & I got the coach up to the caves. The entry to the cave visitor centre was a good omen for things to come...

We signed up for the two tour package, giving us a guided tour through two of the more popular (and impressive) caves. First off was the "Lucas" Cave.

These caves were formed between 350-400 million years ago!

Many of the caves remain untouched, because any damage to these natural structures certainly can't be rectified in our life times! It is illegal to remove any rock or crystal from the caves, & rightly so if it means protecting these stunning views for many to enjoy...

Our second tour took us into a smaller, but even more impressive cave - known as the "Orient".

The colour variation is brilliant

These staligtites are the model for the caves' marketing pieces

I especially liked the folds, as I have not seen them as big or as colourful as these

Some of the tour guides have given some of the formations names over the years. The one below is known as the "lone actor."

"Praying man" (they aren't the most poetic or inventive geologists!)

The ceiling of the tallest chamber (35m) was impressive too

I cannot apologise for overdoing it on the piccies front...I would obviously recommend this outing to all!

After our chilly, but exhilarating, three day stint in the Blue Mountains it was time to get back to the coast & the warm weather! Our next destination was a little place called Tumbi Umbi (I love that name), to catch up with an Aussie pal of mine from my time in Canadia land...Nathan

On our first night at his folks house, Alan & Gail's, we got stuck into some of Alan tasty home brew beers & played darts long into the night. I didnt know Nathan owned a dart board until this visit - in all the time I have known him it has never showed! ;-)

The next day we decided to clear our heads with a dip in the sea at Shelly Beach...not a bad place to have within a ten minute drive of home!

Afterwards we dropped Nathan off at Uni & headed for Australia's Reptile Park! AWESOME!

We were lucky enough to see the largest Python in captivity in the Southern Hemisphere - he was over 7m & weighed a lot!

There were plenty of spiders to see there - none that could bother us though

It wasn't just creepy crawlies & reptiles though...

The talks by the staff were very good, & there were some brave kiddies in the audience!

The next day was match day. Nathan plays for his local AFL team, the "Bombers," so we headed down to the club to support for the day. I had hoped to get a game (regardless of not knowing what I am doing) although decided against it - I still have another 3months of travelling & didn't feel like gambling it away! Next time...

Nathan's game was very entertaining, as it was close right up until the last few minutes. Nathan had a solid performance (from what I could tell), although as a full-back he doesn't get much of the glory opportunities.

As with English sports, in Australia it is customary to go out & get throroughly plastered afterwards...so we did. Otherwise it wouldn't have been sport, right? ;-)

We managed to catch up some more friends from Canada & all drank far too much! There aren't a lot of bars in the area, so we stayed at one from 7pm-3am (mainly because it was tipping it down outside).

On our last day with Nathan we got ourselves down to the beach again. I tried to convince Smalls to get out on the board, but her preferred merely to pose with it (one day...). We then set off for a town called The Entrance to get food & watch the Pelicans getting fed

View of "The Entrance" - which is the point the sea feeds the massive salt water lake = hence the name!

We then headed out to Nora's Head to see the lighthouse, & take in the nice views...

On our way back to Nathan's I captured another sunset for all to enjoy...

After a thoroughly enjoyable three days with Nathan & his incredibly hospitable (& very friendly) family, it was time to push on. Time is getting tighter to fit the remainder of the East coast in before we fly out to Asia, so we set off for a little town called Nimbin.

Nimbin is Australia's answer to Amsterdam - it's that simple. Far from being plush, the town is rickety & thrown together out of anything earth friendly, giving the place a very hippy vibe (or is that due to the Marijuana in the air?)

The museum was "interesting"...

The place reminded me a lot of the hippy commune Smalls & I visited in Hawaii - although the hippies appeared to be a lot crustier here!

Next stop for us is Byron Bay & Surfer's Paradise, which are two party towns located on the Beach. Should be good! Hopefully we won't encounter too many more problems on the way...

I am signing off with something a little different from a sunset this time - although a nonetheless enjoyable sight

written by

johnnoble on May 6, 2009 from Katoomba, Australia

from the travel blog: John's year off...

Send a Compliment

I love the use of the word 'staligtites' in this blog entry. It cunningly merges the two words 'stalactites' (the ones that grow down from the ceiling) and 'stalagmites' (the ones that grow up from the ground) together to make it sound like you know which one's which, but you're not fooling me!

Did anyone else spot the mistake? No? I'm hardly surprised...!!

written by Ricky Noble on May 8, 2009

Dude - i never knew you were such a big rock formation fan :-)I've enever seen so many pictures of stalag wotsits! how much longer do you have of your trip...... seems like you've been gone for ever......!?!?

Enjoy the rest of the world

written by Erin Gillham on May 17, 2009

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