We all met up at Heathrow Airport for our long flight to Sydney. It was quite uneventful with everyone managing to get a bit of sleep with a short stop over in Singapore. We arrived in Sydney at 5:30 in the morning on the 3rd June.
Sydney
We arrived at about 7 in the morning at our hotel. We managed to check in to one room so we all took it in turns to shower and freshen up before we took a walk down to Sydney Harbour. We saw the Harbour bridge and Sydney Opera house. After lunch we saw where they print the Australian money at the mint and the government buildings. We had a walk through the botanical gardens and took lots of photos. We were very tired that evening when we got back to our hotel!
After Breakfast as it was raining, we decided to visit the Australia Museum. It was very interesting, first we looked round the 200 treasures of the Australian museum before discovering all sorts of animal species from across the world in Wild Planet. The First Australians galleries showed us the history and culture of one of the worlds oldest cultures. After lunch we all wanted to look at surviving Australia where we learned about the key to survival for Australia animals and finally onto pacific spirit to experience the colour and culture of the Pacific. That evening we all enjoyed our dinner at a rooftop bar.
This morning we had an early start as we set off to visit the Blue mountains. First, we drove to Echo point so we could see the three sisters. They were supposedly the three daughters of a whitch doctor that he had turned to stone to protect them from another tribe trying to kidnap them during a battle, according to Aboriginal folklore. We saw the blue haze that the mountains get their name from in the Jamieson Valley. Next, we took a ride on the skyway then a cable car down into the valley where we took a walk in the rainforest past the coal mines before taking the very steep railway back up the mountain! The views were amazing. After our lunch we visited Featherdale Wildlife Park to see some of Australia's native wildlife and had a photo with a Koala. We all enjoyed feeding the kangaroos and seeing the dingos which had puppies along with the devils! The final part of our trip was a boat back to Sydney harbour under the Harbour bridge and past Sydney Opera house.
This morning after breakfast we set off on the train to Bondi to see the famous Bondi Beach. Even though it is winter here it was a lovely warm sunny day and we enjoyed feeling the sand beneath our toes and a paddle in the sea which was amazingly warm! We walked to the coastal path round to Bronte beach before heading back to the hotel to pack and go out for dinner..
This morning after an early start we were picked up to begin our journey to the airport to fly to Alice Springs, the Red Centre. We soon collected our luggage and met our driver to take us to our hotel. After lunch everyone was really tired and voted for a rest to catch up on our sleep and the change in several time zones as we are 10 hours ahead of the UK!
Meeting the koala
This morning very early Peter, Kirstine and Luke set off for their hot air balloon ride. It was very cold but it was fascinating to see the balloon as it was inflated. We saw the sun rise and enjoyed looking out seeing the red centre and could even see some kangaroos in the wild. After the ride we enjoyed breakfast with champagne. Peter said it was fantastic. We arrived back at the hotel to meet the others just going for their breakfast! After Breakfast we went to the centre of Alice Springs to the Flying Doctors museum. It was fascinating to see how the flying doctors was started and the support they currently give to the whole of Australia today. After lunch we had a bit of retail therapy and enjoyed the warm sunshine.
This morning we were collected for our drive to Ayres Rock. It was a very informative day with our driver telling us lots of stories regarding the history of the area and some Aboriginal folklore. We stopped a couple of times on route for drinks and we saw camels and emu. We stopped also to take photos of Atila (Mt. Conner) which people often mistake for Ayers Rock. It did look very similar but we knew it was not! When we arrived at our hotel we dropped our bags off and went for lunch in the town square. The resort is especially built for tourists wanting to visit the area and to enter the National Park. It was lovely despite the 100s of flies!! That evening we went to watch the sunset and watched Ayers Rock gradually change colour. It was very beautiful and we all enjoyed champagne, orange juice and snacks. It was certainly a highlight of our holiday. That evening for dinner Peter and Michael each tried Kangaroo burgers!
This morning we had a bit of a lie in as we are not flying to Cairns until this afternoon. After breakfast we relaxed by the pool while we waited to be collected. We soon made our way to the airport where we landed in Cairns to the lovely tropical heat! Our apartments are lovely and we were all looking forward to relaxing for the next couple of days as we have been so busy.
Our visit to the Flying Doctor Museum
This morning, after a leisurely breakfast, we walked up to the local supermarket to get our groceries for the next few days. We had a drink in the café next door before walking back. We spent the day relaxing either by the pool or taking a walk along the beach front where we had a drink in a café. That evening we had a lovely dinner of Spaghetti bolognaise with Garlic bread followed by ice cream and Chocolate sauce it was delicious. After dinner some of us chose to go to a local bar for a drink.
Our trip trip Blue Mountains
This morning we had another leisurely day relaxing by the pool. We went for a walk along the beach front and had drinks in a café. That evening we had an Aussie BBQ for dinner which was really good.
This morning after breakfast we set off on our trip to Port Douglas to catch our boat out to a pontoon on the Great Barrier Reef. It was raining on the way but by the time we arrived it was beautiful sunshine. We enjoyed a glass bottom boat ride where we saw turtles, lots of different fish brightly coloured including a clown fish like Nemo and even a white tip shark!! After our lunch on the pontoon Chris had a go at snorkelling which he really enjoyed and then we went in the underwater viewing area. All too soon it was time to catch the boat back to land, everyone agreed it was an amazing day.
Today everyone was very lazy and got up late! After breakfast Ben had a swim in the pool and Peter and Michael went with Geraint for a walk along the beach front. We are yet to see any of the crocodiles we are warned about but we have seen lots of wallabies! Everyone voted for a Chinese take away for dinner tonight which was really nice.
Our trip yesterday
Today we went to visit Tjapukai which is an Aboriginal Cultural Park. First we learnt how to throw a spear then to throw a boomerang! We watched a show called The creation which is the tribe folklore how the world was created. We watched some traditional Aboriginal dancing and got to join in! Chris said he was really enjoying his day out. We also learnt about traditional medicine and weapons used and finally how to play the digeridoo!
We then went up the mountain on the skyrail rainforest cable way about the rainforest canopy to Kuranda stopping to see Barron Falls on the way. At the village we wandered round the Heritage markets before enjoying the spectacular views from the Kuranda scenic railway as we made our way down through 15 hand cut tunnels and past spectacular waterfalls.
Today we flew from Cairns to Brisbane for the final city stay of our holiday. We soon arrived at our hotel and had Pizza for dinner that night.
The view yesterday from the Skyrail
This morning after breakfast we walked down to South Bank by the river. It is a really nice park area with lots of Cafes and a vegetable garden! There is even a man made beach which lots of people were enjoying. Peter, Ben and Michael chose to go on the Brisbane Wheel and enjoy the sights of Brisbane. We had a look round the shops before making out way back to the hotel. That evening we went out to a Mexican Restaurant.
Today we went to Australia Zoo which is the home of the Irwin family. It was an amazing day were we all held a koala bear, we saw the famous croc shows that Steve Irwin used to do. Giant tortoise, tigers, camels, hippos, lots of kangaroos and wallabies. Peter and Chris chose to have an encounter with the giraffes where they got to feed them. Chris also chose to feed a wombat which were much bigger than we thought. Everyone really enjoyed the day out and thought the zoo was marvellous.
Today we went to O’Reilies Vineyard and Lamington National Park. We first stopped off at a village for a coffee break and a look round the shops. Then we went to the O’rellys Vineyard where Michael did the wine tasting, Peter and Chris walked an Alpaca and Ian and Ben fed the Alpacas. They were very soft and friendly. We then went on to the National Park stopping on the way as Geraint spotted a Koala in a tree! The first Koala we have seen in the wild! We saw quite a few wallabies. After lunch we had a walk in the rain forest including in the jungle up in the trees on walk ways. We saw lots of different types of birds and other wildlife.
Today everyone voted to look round the shops and get some gifts and souvenirs to take home. We got lots of things to remind us of our stay in Australia including hats, jumpers, boomerangs, t-shirts, key rings and fridge magnets. That evening we went out to a steak restaurant which had a roof top bar where we had a few relaxing drinks.
Our trip yesterday
Today was the last day of our holiday. Ian and Peter walked with Kirstine to Kangaroo point to look at the amazing view of the city whilst Geraint, Ben, Michael and Chris visited the maritime museum. After lunch we relaxed by the pool for our last bit of sunshine before the bus came to take us to the airport for our long flight back to the UK. We all agreed that it had been an amazing holiday and can’t wait to return to Australia. Michael said he felt like he lived in Australia and Ben loved looking at all the different trees in the Rain forest. Peter said he enjoyed seeing Sydney Harbour Bridge and the hot air balloon ride.
