http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Oceania , Australia , New South Wales en-us Thu, 20 Jun 2013 03:42:31 +0000 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 03:42:31 +0000 This morning we visited the Cowra Visitors Information Centre to watch the 9 minute hologram which recounts the tragic story of the Cowra POW camp breakout in 1944. This is very interesting and very well done.We then drove out to the remains of the POW camp to have a look. It is hard to imagine the sadness and horror that took place in this peaceful and beautiful area.We set off home driving via http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Cowra/blog-791998.html 5 nights in this lovely place Cannot wait to wake up here and explore the wonders of London http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Newcastle/blog-791946.html Today we picked up our travel documentation Cash passports with 200 on them already international student cards travel insurance confirmation of Naples accommodation and of course our flight tickets Into London and out of Milan with 5 weeks of travel across Europe in between it is feelingso real now152 days but who is counting http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Newcastle/blog-791945.html And from Roger Cave today proof we were really there Thanks Crusher http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/blog-791537.html Our studio apartment in Woolahara was approximately 12 mile from the Allianz Stadium and the Sydney Cricket Ground and a 14 mile from the shops at Bondi Junction. Well arranged Sue However we were slightly disappointed with it as it was functional at best we expected better. We agreed it was like a newly painted student flat before the freshers get at it Several issues were fixed by the land http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Bondi-Junction/blog-791534.html Our big East Coast road trip had finally started and our first stop was Port Stephens Back in Sydney we packed all our stuff into Sheilas huge boot and then waited a little while for our landlord to arrive so that we could hand over the keys and he could hand over our deposit. We had a couple view our apartment the week before and they were happy to take over the lease straight away so we as http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Port-Stephens/blog-791505.html Up and out of the Nathan by 9.30am and sightseeing begins. We were intending to use the Hop on Hop off bus tour but found it didn39t start till 11.30am. In fact they must have been cancelled due to the weather as we didn39t see one all day. After 20 minutes walking the heavens opened and we had a torrential downpour for half an hour standing in shelter we people watched as pedestrians play http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Bondi-Junction/blog-791141.html The Big AustralianDay 167413 12 June 2013 As we are in a the mining town of Broken Hill the Original Home to BHP how could you not call this blog the Big Australian.How bad is this I am on my iPad typing away and uploading photos to the blog and Andy is sat on the laptop tapping away and also uploading photos to the blog I guess that39s the way life is for the both of us perhaps we sh http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Broken-Hill/blog-791075.html Today we drove from Darlington Point to Cowra via Griffith West Wyalong and Grenfell. We stopped for lunch at Caragabal. It was pouring rain and so we heated up some soup and ate it in the van.After lunch we came across a herd of cattle on the road. It took us about 15 minutes to gradually make our way through the herd. They kept walking in front of the carWhen we arrived in Cowra we went to vi http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Cowra/blog-791047.html Sunday 167110The day started slowly I tried to get the camp fire on the go but I am not really that good at it my half hearted effort does not get it going Andy appears and very quickly we have a fire going. We sit in the morning sunshine gazing across the sparkling and still lake watching the cormorants darters and wading birds of some description do their morning fishing. I tried to look http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Menindee/Lake-Pamameroo/blog-790889.html 530 am what is that we can hear OMG it sounds like terrential rain you have got to be kidding We lay in bed for about an hour as the intensity of the rain fluctuated from pissing down to pouring to finally ending. You little ripper lets get up have a shower do our walk and get cracking.Up we get down a coffee brekky down comes the rain again the sky is looking really angry and we de http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Cobar/blog-790887.html For our trip up the East coast we needed a car so we decided to begin the search in April which meant that if we bought one early we could take a few road trips in the areas surrounding Sydney that we probably wouldnt be passing on our travels later on. We budgeted around 2000 between us for the car which would need to include rego which is kind of like the UK equivalent to registration http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/blog-790874.html Today is the day we start our journey. The Day is met with mixed feelings excitement for the travel ahead and sadness with the goodbyes. As if saying goodbye to your children isn39t hard enough throw a grandchild into the mix and the goodbyes are really toughAs we make our way from Mildura destination Muttawintji N.P located about 130km from Broken Hill the weather report kept telling us http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Broken-Hill/blog-790873.html So its been a good few months since I even looked at this blog the last update appears to have been back in December just before Christmas so Ive got about 6 months of living and working in Sydney to cover here so bear with me Weve both been busy working over the last few months but now that we have finished our work part of the trip we will try to keep this more up to date with w http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/blog-790869.html Well one day to go and very excited now Dave Sue The Derricks and I have been planning this trip for a year. Sue has been fantastic at all the arrangements and bookings for the trip. We39re doing a part package with HSBC flights there and back and match tickets. Internal travel and accommodation we39ve done ourselves. It would seem we39ve saved ourselves a good wedge so more beer to http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Bondi-Junction/blog-790596.html Today visited the entrance to Sydney Harbour near Watsons Bay. Took the ferry from Circular Quay on the way there were three other stops but it was nice just watching the world go by. Watsons Bay looked like a really nice place to go for lunch and there were loads of people eating in restaurants dotted along the promenade almost on the beach so a lovely situation. I walked round to Cove beach wh http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Sydney-Harbour/blog-790418.html Day 16687 16698 167010Thursday 6 Friday 7 and Saturday 8 June 2013 We are settled in here at Lake Pamameraoo just outside the Kinchega National Park and North of Menindee we are literally 12 feet from the waters edge which is nice as you can hear the waves lap whilst you are in bed. Also to listen to the different birds calling including watching the waders do their fishing as they http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Menindee/Lake-Pamameroo/blog-790307.html Well one day to go and very excited now Dave Sue The Derricks and I have been planning this trip for a year. Sue has been fantastic at all the arrangements and bookings for the trip. We39re doing a part package with HSBC flights there and back and match tickets. Internal travel and accommodation we39ve done ourselves. It would seem we39ve saved ourselves a good wedge so more beer to http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Bondi-Junction/blog-790178.html Its midnight California time and according to the huge TV thats just too far away for me to actually be able to watch it without permanently damaging my neck I have about 10 hours left on this flight until my year abroad is over. And what a year it as been. In the past year Ive had the awesome opportunity to call three different continents my home Europe Asia and Australia. Its f http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/blog-790177.html SYDNEY Vivid one day...beautiful the next...the Vivid Festival.I saw the Sydney Opera House get built...walked around it heaps of times...photographed tourists against it so they could all be in the photo...even seen the odd recital there.Love the cream white tiles on it...like scales of a fish or exotic reptile.Love the sails that always evoke feelings how this building was so radical for its da http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/blog-790148.html