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Published: April 1st 2009
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Wednesday 25th March - Picked up next Maui campervan - very similar to NZ van - and then tried to find our way out of Sydney en route to Blue Mountains. Bit tricky as very busy - all feels so different from NZ!! Eventually on right highway and headed for Katoomba, found a site at Blackheath (so many English names - Windsor, Woolwich, Richmond to name a few). Pretty weary so early to bed.
Thursday 26th March - Made our way to nearby Information Centre for info on walks. Helpful lady gave us loads of info. Decided to start off with a short walk actually from Info centre - the Fairfax Heritage Trail. Walked through lots of gum trees and tea trees, loads of colourful birds including a small nectar sucking bird with long pointed beak. Lots of brightly coloured Parakeets and huge type of parrot (must get a bird book!). Loads of small lizards. Then amazingly the view opened and WOW - there was this huge chasm (Govetts Leap) approx 300M deep, heavily wooded in the valley with blue gum trees and sheer cliff face (sandstone). Had our lunch overlooking Govetts Leap and then headed for Katoomba Falls.
Took
the cliff top walk to Echo Point which is a footpath along the edge of the cliff always overlooking another huge set of valleys/gorges/chasms as far as the ey can see. Spectacular waterfalls and cascades. Met a lovely lady who had used the wheelchair access - she told us how we could get to the valley floor via the Three Sisters pinnacle rocks then bushwalk to catch the cable car back to the top- saw the cable car which almost has to travel vertically - not sure if Lyn would cope with this one!! Took the road walk back - more exotic birds, cockatoos, parakeets etc.
Friday 27th March - Opted for the Grand Canyon bush walk as the day dawned misty and a bit cooler. Drove as far as Evans Point and parked. Then began the long descent down rocks and deep steps towards the canyon floor. Before long we were in dense rain forest with slippery rocks and waterfalls - this is not an environment which you take lightly. Absolutely fabulous feeling as you seemed to be the only people in the canyon and felt so remote - in fact we only saw five other people in
the whole bush walk. Giant overhangs, more waterfalls and even a natural tunnel to negotiate all the time seeing new gorges open up to one side. In places the canopy of trees and the narrowness of the gorge cut out so much light you seemed to be walking in permanent twilight. This was an awesome experience that made you realise how courageous the early pioneers were for this is a very hostile environment and a “walk” that will never be forgotten. Climbed out to the top of the canyon which was easier than going down ironically - we must be getting fitter!!
Finished the day by going to Katoomba - buying some books in the secondhand bookshop (Katoomba is an interesting place a mixture of backpacking, eco awareness and hippies). Then on to a brand new cinema with a screen 6 storeys high to watch a half hour film entitled ‘The Edge’, a documentary on the Blue Mountains and some of the more remote wilderness where trees that were thought to be extinct were only discovered a couple of years ago. In fact there are some parts of this region that have still not been explored at all - and
its only a few hours from Sydney!!
Tomorrow we must move on as we will never get to Cairns in time for the 14th April !!
Saturday 28th March - Left Blackheath by 10.15 filled up with fuel and took the ‘Bell Road Off Line’ which was the first road to run through the Blue Mountains. Constantly changing scenery, mountains, then plateaux with loads of fabulous thoroughbred studs (this is Australia’s thoroughbred breeding centre) ironically it is also an area of gigantic coal mines - absolutely huge pits. Stopped for a lovely free camp next to a stream at Wallabadah which also had a really impressive memorial garden to the First Fleet of Convicts. This is a beautifully sculptured garden which also has a list of the names of all the convicts plus the crew and officers who made that first voyage to Australia in 1787. This garden is also now visited by descendants of those early settlers. Guess what we found one convict by the name of Higgins a woman convict who was transported out with the second fleet!
Sunday 29th March - Up early sun shining - hit the road by 9.00!! Still travelling north on
the New England Highway which again took us through incredibly varied country - barren bush, huge gum trees, narrow twisting roads over gorges and through passes then flat lush fields with beef cattle and more wonderful thoroughbred stud farms around Scone. At Tamworth we saw what appeared to be an Olympic or sports stadium - it turned out to be the Equine and Stock Centre for the area. Apparently this area is second only to Kentucky for the breeding of thoroughbred horses. Left the New England Highway and took a road towards the coast called ‘The Waterfall Way’. We thought this is strange as it was such a flat plateau - detoured off to see the Wollomombi Falls. WOW suddenly there is this massive gorge - a huge deep spectacular crack in the ground, dropping vertically for over 300M. The Falls at 260M are one of Australia’s highest. Although its been dry there was still quite a lot of water pouring over the edge. Apparently after rain you hear the thunder of the water long before you can see the waterfall itself. Back on the road and suddenly we are having to contend with hairpin bends and rain forests -
not in the least expected - as proved by a car that had overturned and was on its roof! Reached the Pacific Highway - the busy coast road in contrast to our quiet country roads. But we have seen our first Wallabies and they were alive inspite of being next to a busy road! Stopped for the night at a campsite near Ballina - lovely hot showers which were necessary after driving 480Km today. Torrential rain in the night, 45mm in 2 hours (bit worrying as we are on a flood plain!).
We are now staying in a beautiful area 'Kenilworth' part of the Mary River Valley - weather really hot, superb grassland so an area rich with stock - particularly horses and cattle - birds and flowers. Rather tempted to stay a bit longer. More details and photos on next blog.
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Fra
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Corfe
Hi - just back from a great week in Dorset and even saw Ian, Emma and the girls on the last evening. Had my usual weather of course!! Pete and I got really brave and did some call changes at Tuesday practice. They were very welcoming but I was shaking like a leaf. You are obviously having the time of your lives - continue to enjoy. Lots of love.