The Blue Mountains

Waiting to go on the train down the cliff.

The Three Sisters

On the train down to the bottom

Train tracks running at a 52 degree angle down hill

Kids in the old train carriage

Replica showing how the coal was brought out of the mine

In the cable car on the way back up

After leaving Sydney, we travelled around 120km west to the Blue Mountains. We camped at Katoomba Falls Caravan Park, which is just a short walk from The Three Sisters and the lookouts over the beautiful mountains. The Three Sisters (rocks) are shown in one of the photos above. The Aboriginal Dreamtime story of the Three Sisters says that they were actually 3 sisters from one of the local tribes who wanted to marry a man from another enemy tribe. The witchdoctor of their tribe stopped them marrying that man by turning the sisters into stone temporarily. Unfortunately the witchdoctor died soon after doing this and the spell couldn't be undone - so the sisters are still large rocks now.
We travelled form the top of the cliffs down into the valley on the world's steepest railway (52 deg). We had to hold on really tight to stop ourselves falling out (Justin held Pia). After a rainforest walk, we caught the cable car back up to the top. After all that walking, we had lunch and spent the afternoon relaxing, playing soccer and exploring Katoomba. Katoomba is a beautiful town full of art deco buildings that were erected when it was a very popular resort town for people for Sydney-siders. It's really hot here during the day, but quite cool at night when we are sleeping.

Pia is having a great time

 

We thought we'd just take a moment to reassure you that Pia is having a great time, despite not having a house to call home. We're mainly travelling when she is sleeping, and she is travelling in the back-pack when we go for bush walks. As you'll see in the picture above, she had a great time dressing up at the Montgomery's in Sydney. She has also started to enjoy her baths in the green bucket.

A day out in Sydney

Waiting to go the ferry

 Today we spent a day seeing the sights of Sydney. We caught the ferry from Manly into Circular Quay, and passed the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge on the way. Much colder today, so we got a little cold.
Everyone enjoyed the ferry- particularly Pia, who was very happy that it had stairs to climb. Sydney was very busy with tourists from all over the world, but we were still able to visit the Opera House and wander around The Rocks and see all the old buildings there. We also visited the Museum of Contemporary Art, which is located right in that same area.
We caught the ferry back to Manly and made the big journey up the hill. Maia did a great job walking, even though she had a blister between her toes. We arrived back at the Montgomery's to find they had arrived home. Great excitement as the girls caught up with their friends and we all enjoyed a take-away meal together. Off to the Blue Mountains tomorrow!

Maia, Isla and Tilly on the ferry

Tilly on the ferry

At the Opera House

All of us at the Opera House

Tilly at the Museum of Contemporary Art

Dinner with the Mongomerys

Crossing paths with the Mazzottas

We've been lucky enough to be in Sydney just as our friends, the Mazzottas, were about to make their way back to Brisbane. We had great weather as we met at a park at Neutral Bay for a coffee and a play.





 

Arrived in Sydney

The girls watching the Sydney fireworks

Aftre packing up at Crowdy Bay and heading south in the car (and with just a stop in Toronto for lunch), we arrived in Sydney late in the day on New Year's Eve. Justin got busy with trying to back the camper trailer into the tiniest parking space in history, while also dodging heavy traffic. The girls quickly had a bath (to clean off the black dirt from camping) and ate dinner just in time for us to head down the road at Manly to watch tje fireworks. Everyone loved them. Everyone was hoping to stay up until midnight, but Lisa and Justin were the only ones that made it (just). Big sleep before exploring Sydney.
We're luck enough to be staying a really lovely house at Manly, thanks to the Montgomerys. The girls are hoping to catch up with their good friends Sienna and Nia.

A day out around Port Macquarie

Isla at Dunbogan Lookout



The Mottrams at Dunbogan Lookout, near Port Macquarie



Koala Hospital, Port Macquarie. Koala with spinal problems being fed.

Tilly, Isla and Maia listening to a giude talk about the sick koalas.

While camping at Crowdy Bay, we decided to spend a day out seeing the sights of the region. Went up through Dunbogan and Lake Cathie on the way to Port Macquarie. Stopped at Lake Cathie for a swim, but unfortunately Isla was bitten on the finger by a crab and wasn't very happy. Maia made some friends there though (as she always does), and they had a great time playing on skate boards. Travelled to Port Macquarie after lunch to visit the Koala Hospital, where we arrived just in time to join the walk and talk tour, and see the sick koalas being fed. Many koalas are brought back to health there and then released, although some stay there for the rest of their lives because they are just not well enough to look after themselves. As you can see above, we also did a bush walk to some beautiful coastal lookouts - the coastline is really stunning through this whole region. Next step to pack up and head to Sydney!

Arrived in Sydney

We've arrived in Sydney and will blog an update on all the fun we are having here very shortly.