16 Dec 08
Manly has Sydney's best known Pacific beach - the ferry ride from Circular Quay is great value, with superb views of the city and the harbour surrounds....
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/scuba50/FerryRideToManly?feat=directlink
Walked to Manly Beach from the ferry terminal,
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/scuba50/ManlyBeach?feat=directlink
then around to North Head which is now a National Park (formerly home to the Aussie Royal Artillery - very well preserved barracks which closed in the 1990s.). Some pristine bushland with great views back over the harbour to the city...
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/scuba50/ManlyNorthHead?feat=directlink
Sunday, 28 December 2008
Sydney Tower
A trip up Sydney Tower allows for a good appreciation of the city and the harbour.....eye popping views!
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/scuba50/SydneyTower?feat=directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/scuba50/SydneyTower?feat=directlink
Sydney Harbour
Hi All
A lot happened since the trip to Tasmania but the blog's very out of date! Testing out a more convenient way of uploading pics - this is Sydney Harbour in the sun.....
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/scuba50/SydneyHarbour?feat=directlink
A lot happened since the trip to Tasmania but the blog's very out of date! Testing out a more convenient way of uploading pics - this is Sydney Harbour in the sun.....
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/scuba50/SydneyHarbour?feat=directlink
Monday, 22 December 2008
Glorious Sydney
G'day All
My love for Oz started on a rainy day in Sydney in 1999. Arriving in this fabulous city for the second time, from Hobart, the weather was much the same but luckily the clouds moved on after day one and I was lucky to enjoy the harbour and its surrounds in all its glory for several days! Lots to report on Sydney 2008, but for now just wishing you all a Merry Xmas and all the Best for 2009!
Cheers, Peter
My love for Oz started on a rainy day in Sydney in 1999. Arriving in this fabulous city for the second time, from Hobart, the weather was much the same but luckily the clouds moved on after day one and I was lucky to enjoy the harbour and its surrounds in all its glory for several days! Lots to report on Sydney 2008, but for now just wishing you all a Merry Xmas and all the Best for 2009!
Cheers, Peter
Wednesday, 17 December 2008
Tasmania - part two!
Cradle Mountain National Park - high up in the west of Tasmania, the weather can be very mixed - it was just 4 degrees overnight. Luckily, it didn't rain too much during my trek around Dove Lake although views of Cradle Mountain were partially obscured by cloud. Its a popular spot for coach tours, but get 300m or so from the car park and the crowds (of noisy Asians!) start to thin out. A lovely walk, with plenty of interesting plants and flowers to look at in between admiring the mountains and lakes. 
Deforestation is still a big issue in Tasmania - there are great tracts of bare hillsides - even some of the ancient forests are under threat - 600 year old giant trees being felled, to be pulped and turned into paper. Incredible, but true. Its not something the tourist board major on!
Mount Wellington protects Hobart from the worst of the weather coming in from the west. It was snowing when I drove up there!
By way of contrast, Queenstown, on the west coast, has a long history of mineral extraction. Its now a deforested moonscape of poisoned soil and rocky waste. Quite despressing to drive through this area although there is a good steam railway - it used to be the sole mode of transport to the coast (for the mines) but its now restored as a pricey tourist attraction.
Deforestation is still a big issue in Tasmania - there are great tracts of bare hillsides - even some of the ancient forests are under threat - 600 year old giant trees being felled, to be pulped and turned into paper. Incredible, but true. Its not something the tourist board major on!
My final expedition was into the wilderness that makes up the South West National Park. This is an amazing place. Imagine the English Lake District, with one gravel road and 2 or 3 cars per hour. That's it! Some of the hiking trails take several days, with aircraft pick up when you get to the far end!
Ironically, the lakes which form a key part of the landscape are mostly man made, for hydro electric power. Lake Pedder is the largest body of fresh water in Australia.
...and last but not least, Hobart's harbour is just lovely - a perfect natural setting, lots of boats, and floating fish n chip restaurants!
Mount Wellington protects Hobart from the worst of the weather coming in from the west. It was snowing when I drove up there!
That was Tassie - I'll be back!
Monday, 15 December 2008
Tasmania - "Fill your Eyes"
Hi All
Better late than never! The time I'd previously spent hand crafting the blog is now occupied with driving, exploring, finding accommodation, cooking and talking to fellow travellers!
Back from 10 days in Tasmania - brilliant place! Weather was typically changeable but when the sun shone, the natural beauty of the place was just mind blowing. Some of the vistas defy description, overloading your senses with colour, light, contrast, flora and fauna. Whether its wide open mountain ranges or damp fern gullies at the base of a rainforest, the state of Tasmania really does deliver on its promise of a great visitor experience.
For tourists, the two key features of Tassie are probably the convict/settlement history and the landscapes.
Port Arthur is perhaps the focal point for history buffs - from 1830 to 1877, serial offenders from the British Empire ended up here. It was a harsh regime of work and punishment, and many people never left. Today, the site is partially restored and you can easily spend a day there wandering around the buildings and gardens - the tour includes a cruise around the tiny Isle of the Dead, where more than 1000 people rest in peace - most of them must have been buried vertically!
Port Arthur is located on the Tasman Peninsular which is characterised by a very dramatic coastline with the highest cliffs in the southern hemisphere. I did a fabulous 3 hour "ECO Cruise". This was the best 3 hours of the whole holiday, no question. The boat ride alone justifies the price of the cruise - three 275bhp engines, unparalleled handling and stability and fantastic all round (open air) viewing.
We were riding the swell right up against the base of the ocean cliffs, putting the nose of the boat into caves and circumnavigating rock pinnacles with surging white water all around. Total fun! Couple this with the coastal scenery and gin clear waters, it was sensory overload....really... almost too much to take in.
Then there was the wildlife, oh yes, the ECO bit! Colonies of Australian, and smaller New Zealand fur seals....
....circling Albatrosses; a pod of inquisitive dolphins; cormorants, gannets, and the highlight, a young Humpback Whale, feeding just metres from our stationary boat! I'd seen plenty of Humpbacks off the coast of WA, through binoculars, but this was incredible, you could hear it exhaling, and on one occasion it even surfaced with its mouth wide open. Fantastic!
Better late than never! The time I'd previously spent hand crafting the blog is now occupied with driving, exploring, finding accommodation, cooking and talking to fellow travellers!
Back from 10 days in Tasmania - brilliant place! Weather was typically changeable but when the sun shone, the natural beauty of the place was just mind blowing. Some of the vistas defy description, overloading your senses with colour, light, contrast, flora and fauna. Whether its wide open mountain ranges or damp fern gullies at the base of a rainforest, the state of Tasmania really does deliver on its promise of a great visitor experience.
For tourists, the two key features of Tassie are probably the convict/settlement history and the landscapes.
Port Arthur is perhaps the focal point for history buffs - from 1830 to 1877, serial offenders from the British Empire ended up here. It was a harsh regime of work and punishment, and many people never left. Today, the site is partially restored and you can easily spend a day there wandering around the buildings and gardens - the tour includes a cruise around the tiny Isle of the Dead, where more than 1000 people rest in peace - most of them must have been buried vertically!
Port Arthur is located on the Tasman Peninsular which is characterised by a very dramatic coastline with the highest cliffs in the southern hemisphere. I did a fabulous 3 hour "ECO Cruise". This was the best 3 hours of the whole holiday, no question. The boat ride alone justifies the price of the cruise - three 275bhp engines, unparalleled handling and stability and fantastic all round (open air) viewing.
We were riding the swell right up against the base of the ocean cliffs, putting the nose of the boat into caves and circumnavigating rock pinnacles with surging white water all around. Total fun! Couple this with the coastal scenery and gin clear waters, it was sensory overload....really... almost too much to take in.
Then there was the wildlife, oh yes, the ECO bit! Colonies of Australian, and smaller New Zealand fur seals....
....circling Albatrosses; a pod of inquisitive dolphins; cormorants, gannets, and the highlight, a young Humpback Whale, feeding just metres from our stationary boat! I'd seen plenty of Humpbacks off the coast of WA, through binoculars, but this was incredible, you could hear it exhaling, and on one occasion it even surfaced with its mouth wide open. Fantastic!
Another major tourist draw on the east coast of Tasmania is Cape Freychinet, which includes the astonishing Wineglass Bay. Did a long, hot walk around this National Park.
The Tasmanian Devil is probably the iconic local species today (the Tassie Tiger is long extinct). The wild population is under threat from disease (and human activity) and various wildlife parks exist to support them. Funny little creatures, the size of a small pig, with a grizzly appetite for meat, bone, fur and feather - as scavengers they have to eat fast and efficiently!
The Tasmanian Devil is probably the iconic local species today (the Tassie Tiger is long extinct). The wild population is under threat from disease (and human activity) and various wildlife parks exist to support them. Funny little creatures, the size of a small pig, with a grizzly appetite for meat, bone, fur and feather - as scavengers they have to eat fast and efficiently!
Tiger snake
Ostrich - probably the funniest bird on the planet - got a great movie of this fella running around! 
.... and me feeding some friendly locals.
.... and me feeding some friendly locals.
that's all for now .. more from Tasmania soon, and then glorious Sydney!
Sunday, 30 November 2008
Update from Melbourne!
Dear Readers, we're getting really behind with the blog here! Dodging the showers in Melbourne seems to have taken up a lot of time! The Great Ocean Road seems a long time ago now. Couldn't get over the sheer scale of metro Melbourne - the drive from Adelaide was 1300km, but racked up a further 500km in 4 days of motoring around Melbourne before handing the trusty Toyota back. Commuting must be a way of life for most folks here but the population is growing faster than the infrastructure, so train problems, traffic delays and water shortages are common.
Downtown Melbourne could be mistaken for Hong Kong or Taipei at times.... the extent of immigration from Asia is another local theme.
My 2 weeks in Melbourne has been a mix of scenic trips around the Dandenong Mountains and Yarra Ranges NP (including a free ride on the footplate of "Puffing Billy", the local steam railway) and endurance walks around city attractions such as the Botanic Gardens, the fabulous State War Memorial, various Art Galleries & Melbourne Museum. Despite some shocking weather, its been great, and there'll be plenty of pics to follow.
Current location, Cockatoo...its 1.5 hrs on public transport to the city from here
http://maps.google.com.au/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=-37.933638,145.489197&spn=0.133498,0.263672&z=12
1 December - off to Tasmania for the next major installment. In the meantime, I'll try and get you up to date with some photos!
P.
Downtown Melbourne could be mistaken for Hong Kong or Taipei at times.... the extent of immigration from Asia is another local theme.
My 2 weeks in Melbourne has been a mix of scenic trips around the Dandenong Mountains and Yarra Ranges NP (including a free ride on the footplate of "Puffing Billy", the local steam railway) and endurance walks around city attractions such as the Botanic Gardens, the fabulous State War Memorial, various Art Galleries & Melbourne Museum. Despite some shocking weather, its been great, and there'll be plenty of pics to follow.
Current location, Cockatoo...its 1.5 hrs on public transport to the city from here
http://maps.google.com.au/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=-37.933638,145.489197&spn=0.133498,0.263672&z=12
1 December - off to Tasmania for the next major installment. In the meantime, I'll try and get you up to date with some photos!
P.
Sunday, 23 November 2008
Great Ocean Road - limestone spectacles!
15 November
Whilst the Twelve Apostles is the most pictured view from the Great Ocean Road, there are actually many more lookouts along the coast between Port Fairy and Melbourne. Dramatic views of limestone rock formations, shaped by the ocean over 100s of years. With fewer tourists and a less commercialised setting, these were actually the more satisfying spectacles. It was a blustery, overcast day, making for a more raw experience than the one seen in your average picture postcard. From west to east…..
Bay of Islands
Whilst the Twelve Apostles is the most pictured view from the Great Ocean Road, there are actually many more lookouts along the coast between Port Fairy and Melbourne. Dramatic views of limestone rock formations, shaped by the ocean over 100s of years. With fewer tourists and a less commercialised setting, these were actually the more satisfying spectacles. It was a blustery, overcast day, making for a more raw experience than the one seen in your average picture postcard. From west to east…..
Bay of Islands
Bay of Martyrs 
The Grotto 
London Bridge…the main arch connecting London Bridge to the mainland collapsed into the sea in 1990 
The Arch 
Blowhole - waves surging through this tunnel cause compression of the air, creating blasts of spray 
Thunder Cave
Thunder Cave
Razorback
Loch Ard Wreck Site (location of a 19C ship disaster) 
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