Halloween 2017

Leadbetter Beach bird frenzy in three parts

all in all...

All in all it was a great trip. We explored four major cities, four states and territories, eight national parks, four botanic gardens, and numerous small towns and transit systems. We saw more interesting landscapes, plants, animals and birds than I count. Last but not least, the people we encountered were all friendly, thoughtful and educated. I therefore give Australia and this Australian journey an A.

one last walk around Sydney

Harbour Rock Hotel

Our hotel in Sydney, the Harbour Rocks, was an excellent boutique hotel in a renovated historic building in a very historic neighborhood - The Rocks - which is in fact in fact the oldest developed part of Sydney, dating back to 1788. In terms of the city's main attractions - the harbor, the bridge and the opera house - it could not be more centrally located.

Wollemi pines

Wollemi pines were thought to be extinct until 1994 when a park ranger stumbled upon some in the woods. Truly they are living fossils, dating back to the dinosaur era. Today they are alive and well and growing in places like the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, where we saw them at the end of our Blue Mountains excursion. One of many botanical curiosities from the land down under.

Blue Mountains National Park

By my count Blue Mountains National Park, about 50 miles west of Sydney in rural New South Wales, was the eighth and final Australian national park of our trip.