Shops.......shops......shops!

Well.....today was shopping day! I went....but they kept me in the bag ALL day and I didn't really see much!

Today they went to The Macquarie Shopping Centre......one of the big shopping malls in the city! Again it was a Westfield but it didn't feel quite as glitzy as the other two main ones....which was good as the shops were a lot better! 

They took a bus around 10am and got there around 11am! First order was to look about to get their bearings! This centre was huge.....and over five levels.....but as you walk round you spiral up or down from one level to another and so you can easily find yourself on another level without really knowing about it! So after having a loom about it was coffee time again! Then they decided to look round all the shops before deciding on any purchases...which meant by the end of the day they had really been round the centre at least twice!

Lunch was in the food court....where as ever there was a massive range of outlets offering everything .......except mince and tatties!!!  Then they sat for a while and watched the skaters in the ice rink which forms part of the centre.....along with the ten pin bowling centre and the cinema multiplex! This is really party central!

So by the time they had had lunch and then had wandered round buying g up the items they had spotted it was suddenly time for tea! They had decided to have their tea out and again they hit the food court before it closed for the day! After this it was back to find the bus and the journey back home!

After two days walking the beaches and coves of the North and South of The Heads they had walked over 18000 steps on each day! Here they had spent the day in a shopping centre.....and managed to rack up 15000 steps over the day! 

Tomorrow is Saturday and they might be heading out to the hills or into the city again!

Bondi to Waverley Cemetry! And back!!

Bondi, Bronte and Tamarama Beaches.....and a Cemetry!

Great day to Bondi Beach today! Quite a journey.......bus......train.....and a bus.....then a long walk!

Bondi Beach!

Day......I don't know.......A day in Manly!

Another great day today....off to Manly!!!

Trip to Manly!

Day 24 - ZZZzzzzzzzzz

Ok......not much to update day! A recharge the batteries day!

A day.....walking to the shops!

The Botanical Gardens!

Today's blog entry.....a day in the lovely Botanical Gardens!

The Botanical Gardens

Day 23 - Palm Beach..........Home & Away!

Today's blog entry.......my trip to Palm Beach.......the one from that soap!!

Home and Away.......Palm Beach!

Day 22 Back Down to Earth!

Another good day.....Circular Quay in the warm sunshine is magical!

Day 22 Circular Quay

Day 21 - Part 2 - The Bridge Climb

What an end to the day....a climb up Sydney Harbour Bridge at night!
It was stunning!

Day 21 Part 2 The Bridge Climb

Day 21 - Part 1 Watson's Bay

Today was a great day......trains, ferries and climbing bridges!
Click on the link below for Part 1 of today's blog!

Watson's Bay - Part 1

Day 20 - A Down Day - In the Bag!

Well.....today was the quietest day of the holiday too date! I had it 'in the bag'!!

Yes......I mean I was IN the bag all day! However,....I still managed to get some great photos of the Day!

Day 18 - The Bridge!

Today's blog entry.......a great day round the Bridge and Opera House!

Day 18 - The Bridge!

Day 18.....Sydney or the shops!

Wel....today was their first 'down' kind of day of any sort since leaving! They got up late.....about 8am and were out by 9.15...... But all they did today was visit two, yes TWO, shopping centres ALL day! Come on.....I'm not used to this!

So...first of all they got dropped at Castle Towers....the local shopping centre! Well..this place is like 

Union Square, The Bon Accord Centre and the St Nicholas Centre...all rolled in to one...along with some supermarkets thrown on at the side!

http://www.castletowers.com.au/

Then...they were picked up at 1pm and went to Hornsby Shopping Centre which was .....well.....just like the first .

Anyway, I tried Dim Sum for lunch.....had some nice cookies at two different places and I got my passport stamped....at Immigration section of Build-A-Bear in Castle Towers! A had to go in and ask if the passport could be stamped.....and of course it was! I feel a bit bad....as I'm not officially a 'B-A-B' bear....I'm more upmarket than that...but hey ho......sometimes you just have to rough it and go with the flow!

Tomorrow...hopefully normal service will be resumed and I once again will be posting pics from the centre of town again!

Photos from today!

Here are some photos from Circular Quay today!
Circular Quay, Sydney

Day 17 - Sydney or the Bush!!

So....after two weeks on the road I made it to Sydney Harbour and Circular Quay and i saw the two iconic sights I had been waiting for.....the bridge and the Opera House!

However, before that they had to drop off the car in central Sydney! It had to be back by 10am as they picked it up at 10am! So...it was an early start at 6.45am to get up and ready....and they left by about 7.50......with an expectation that it might take them a while! It was a Monday morning and the schools were in and so there would be lots of mums on the school run!

So...we had Sheila for our final trip...and a list of instructions from A which was going to make things EASY! So.....we set off....1334k's so far and this last 30 were going to be the busiest and especially when you just want to get the car back safe and sound! Added to that they are particularly picky with the speeds in Sydney....and the school zones are all 40km/h....and people have been known to rack up enough points in a day to lose their licence....so people are extra careful now! 

So...long story short.....they made it by about 9.25...... Although Sheila took them about 200m past the drop off on a street that was difficult to tipurn on! However, by luck....the cars disappeared after a set of lights and A was able to turn righ round in to the other direction and so the problem was solved! 

So...car dropped off......it was time to head into town! 

The drop off point was behind Darling Harbour and so after a short walk we entered into the Darling Harvour area and started seeing places we recognised! However, the mono rail has gone....as it apparently needed a lot of work done to it and so it was scrapped! That's a pity as it was a good run round the loop! 

So..they crossed the bridge across Darling Harbour and they were going to head right for Circular Quay! They had made a pact.....no coffee without having reached 5000 steps......so......after 17000 steps today they have one cup of coffee and a cake they can use as a wild card! 

So...after a decent walk down George Street they made it to Circular Quay. For about the first time in all the times they had been there there was a liner berthed and it was obviously pick up and drop off day! People with piles of suitcases were milling about and the P&O Pearl Princess was moored alongside with oil being pumped in on the water side from a small tanker while supplies and other items were being loaded on from the harbour side!

So..they went down past the Art Gallery towards the Hyatt Hotel which is located U see the shadow of the bridge in Tne Rocks area and they sat for a while looking and admiring the famous coat hanger bridge!

So....after that they made their way back round the quay towards the other end where the Opera House is located! But before heading round they had hit the 5000+ mark and so stopped for or img coffee at 'City Extra' - one of the cafes fronting the quayside and is a great place to sit ND people watch and to watch the ferries come and go!

The same ferries, including the Charlotte, the Sirius and the Colorroy are still doing the runs they have done for many years and must be true workhorses......running multiple runs daily all round the harbour! This is one of the things they are looking forward to yet......the ferry to Manly, the ferry to Darling Harbour and the best one.....the ferry to Watson's Bay where they will go to Doyle's for great fish and chips!

So...having had their break they set off to see the Opera House....again another thing that never loses its excitement! By this time the sun had been partly obscured by clouds and the light was not as good as it had been....but it made for interesting photos!

It was quiet and and there were not the crowds that you sometimes get and this was a bonus as you could walk round and enjoy the views in peace! However, there were still millions of photos and selfies being taken......but when L tried the popular one this year.....jump up....then take the photo....it didn't quite work out!

Oh,......I see they now do UGGS IN HIGH HEEL VARIETIES! Whatever next??

From there they then checked some of the shops as the rain had come on! Then they had a walk to the QVB (The Queen Vic Building) which is a shopping centre located in a very beautiful building which used to be an old meat market! The shops are very up market, well most of them, but they are great to browse round! However, they had now passed the 10000 step mark and so it was coffee time! This was a it pricey but it was nice...and then it was time to wander back down through the CBDto find Wynyard Station so they could look for where the bus would leave from? There are only a few buses that go as far as where they need to go and so have to be careful not to miss the ones they need!

They purchased two Opal Cards - the equivalent of an Oyster Card in London - and this meant they could now just scan the card as they get on or off the bus, the train or the ferry! It can be topped up if required once the funds run low!

The bus was packed....it was the 4pm bus and already many of the workers were looking at heading home! They got a seat - but next time they won't sit and wait for the bus.....as being their first for it....they were last on as by the time it had do e the others had lined up and so were technically in fro t of them in the queue!

An hour later the bus dropped them off at James Henty Road and after a short walk they were back home!

A great first day.....and now they have to make a list of the things they want to do and plan when they would be best done!

Day 16 - Nelson Bay to SYDNEY!!

The morning view! 

So.....today we made it....to the final destination.....SYDNEY! It has taken two weeks to get here....but what a two weeks it has been! The last week on the road has been great...they have seen so much and travelled 1334Km from Noosa to Sydney! They drive for six of these days and had one in Brisbane!

So...today....they woke in Nelson Bay and it was......RAINING! What a pain! Anyway, the motel does breakfast and they were down for 9am....and the place was packed! It must be breakfast central, Nelson Bay! Any way.....L had eggs benedict while a opted for.......yawn......toast! But it was very nice toast! 

They were due to check out by 10am...and so when they got up to their room....they were distracted by birds! That is sometimes easily done....but this time it was of the feathered variety! Here on the balcony rail was a parakeet.....sitting bold as brass looking in to the room! It was sitting on one foot and was preening itself! Even when they got right up to the window and opened the net curtain.....still it sat and just looked at them! So.....they fluttered about (A and L I mean!!) and got cameras out fully expecting it to take off! But no.....it just sat......and then....along came it's friend! So...there were two brightly coloured birds sitting looking at us! I sometimes wonder if they are on holiday too and they just like watching the big folk to see how stupid they are! So....then they got brave and opened the sliding door to get photos without the glass getting in the way....and still they sat and preened!

L decided it might be a good idea to take one of the biscuits from the coffee tray and break it up and put it on the table! I bet the staff would love this ......here they are just leaving and they are encouraging the local wildlife to come and beg for food! Mid you....one of them had obviously been here before and didn't like the biscuits and so just ignored them altogether.....or perhaps it was a female bird.....and you guessed it......its on a diet! 

Anyway.....they eventually checked out and they were off! As it was raining they didn't go and explore the beaches....they just set off! As Nelson Bay was way out on a headland they had to double back along the road they came yesterday! The weather had kind of spoiled it as they Meade it all the way out but didn't really see much of the area at all! But they were heading now for Newcastle, then Swansea and the The Entrance! This was going to be another long journey....but they knew the end result would be Sydney!

They made it to Stockton and then made their only error with the sat nav! They tended to set it place by place which meant they could choose the route they wanted....as if you put in the final destination it would select the route which went by the main road and would avoid the scenic route! However, they ended up at one point heading back to Brisbane! L had set it for a place....but it picked a road of that name in stead of the town! 

After driving for two hours they decided they needed a break and they stopped in a place called Budgewoi (pronounced budgie-woy!) which was quite small and there wasn't relly much more to say about it! But it did have a bottle shop!!

Anyway, they continued on and drove on...this time down the coast yet again to a place called The Entrance! They had been here before with A and M and was famous for the Pelicans that 'live' there! This is within distance of Sydney and would be both a holiday destination and a day trip venue! It was quite busy and they enjoyed a lovely walk along the foreshore and back before the rain came on...and everyone rushed for the shops and the cafes! 

The Pelicans are fed at 3pm but they set off just before this! This was the last stage of the drive and they were excited to be reaching Sydney! The drive took them down the motorway and it was a stunning drive! The road leads you up into the mountains and and the motorway weaves through the thick forests in a route that has been carved out of the rock! The engineering that went into building these roads was amazing and at times you were driving through channels that were edged by sheer rock cliffs stretching way above you! From time to time you got great views of the forests round about and of the valleys before hitting the northern edge of the city! 

The sat nav took them right in and before long they started to see names and places that they recognised and then they were there! Even on a Sunday the roads were busy....but the sat nav was great!

So.....just before 5pm they turned into Ridgewood Place and I was sitting on the dash looking at our destination for the next three weeks!

The car has to be back in central Sydney by 10am tomorrow which means leaving at 7.45 to make it in through the traffic in time! And then....its down to Circular Quay to see the bridge and opera house!!

Day 15 - Port Macquarie to Nelson Bay

Well....it RAINED today which is not allowed.....but not u til we were nearly at NelsonBay!

But.....I need to tell you how rock and roll these two are.....here they are again....in bed by 7.30pm.....TV on, tea and coffee.....iPads and kindles.....I don't know how much more of this I can take! However, it is dark outside, NelsonBay seems quiet and it's POURING....so what e.se is there? I wish this more had a spa bath! Check them out......ice cream and all after having had tea in the hotel next door....which seemed more like a RSL club or a sports club!

Yes.....paint the town red for sure.....'away the Dons!

Anyway, today started in Port Macquarie a long time ago! It was bright and sunny and the sky was blue! The motel was very nice and had a sea view....which is great to have in wintertime! So A opened the curtains early and they enjoyed the view out over the beach and sea before getting ready!

As ever they started the day with a walk along the beach and the coast line. Port Macquarie is situated on 7 or 8 beaches and looks like it would have great walks to enjoy! They made their way down the beach nearest to them and out to a headland....for the view!

Loudspeakers could be heard and here was a surf competition going on for children or youths! Well, it is Saturday morning and most Aussie kids seem to do something sporty - so the parents were on the surf run! The tents and gazebos were up and there were a number out in the surf already!

This was a smaller beach than many they had seen recently but was very pretty and the waves were spectacular....as the wind was causing a very fine spray of white water to follow the waves as the rosê and crashed back into the sea. There were many walkers out- including a man who had obviously had a stroke and his so. Was helping him walk along the board walk...and even up the large wooden stairway to the top of the headland. A very tough workout in deed.

They wished they had longer but turned and made their way back. Today's drive was around 250k's and so they wanted to get going! The drive has been great...but relly needs longer so that you arrive and have a day where you are before heading off again. They are merely getting a feeling for the places they are visiting and are not relly getting to see them properly. But the scenery on the drive has been great!

So....they set off from PM with the sat nav set for Taree. This was going to be the mid day stop! They did stop at Taree services and had breakfast come lunch before heading off again. They set the sat nav to take the coast road down through Tancurry, Forster, Wallis Lake and Booti Booti Park.....which sounded really interesting!!

This route took them down to Pacific Palms and on to Bulahdelah.....and again was a great driving road! At one point you are driving down a narrow strip of land with the lake on one side and the beach and the ocean on the other! The only down side was the Forrest on either side of the road which really blocked the view! However, they stopped at Booti Booti Beach....say no more.....and parked up and set off through the path to the beach! The only fly in the oyster were the signs......Please take all your valuables with you.....don't leave cars  with valuables unattended! So....do we take the two cases, two hold-all and two flight bags and set off or do we just pop out for a quick view and back again? Well...the quick nip and look won! And it was just as well as not long after that the RAIN came on!

However, the beach they found was stunning....one of the best yet....and was named 'Seven Mile Beach'! I don't need to tell you why! But.....they could only see one other person on it......and they were so small it could have been......dingoes or kangaroos....or worse! If only they had time to walk ....what a walk that would be on a summers day! It was stunning in the sunlight as it was .....and with a picnic packed....it would have been great to explore!

Back in the car....the road started to climb again.....and would it's way up through rainforest and the hairpins wound back and fore and with the rain it made the surface quite slippy! So...here is the road rant for today......

1 they give you signs with speeds for going round corners...now......they still have to figure out if it is a recommended speed or an order! 

2 and after sitting on perfectly straight roads, with hard shoulders, at 80km/h why do they suddenly say you can drive some of these mountain roads at 100k's? It just does not make any sense!

However, we reached the 1000km point today on our journey! It really has not seemed that bad.....just when you are on great roads but have to sit at 50mph because of stupid laws!!

Anyway, even in the grey and rain some of the scenery climbing up and down the mountainous section was great! From here it was back on to the Pacific Highway and South again until they came off to head to Nelson Bay which is a little town on Port Stephens. They arrive mid afternoon and again Nelson Bay is a mix of very nice areas and a main central town that seems a little run down and in need of refurbishment! It seems set up for the tourist trade and the number of Appartments and holiday complexes shows this. But, like most places over the last week it seems quite quiet and almost off season......since the schools are back again this week.....but I think it might look nicer in the sun and with plenty of people going about!

Having had a coffee in a very strange cafe.....well...it was really a Korean Restaurant....which was more geared to people having meals....and was very ornate.....well...it was trying to be ornate but just felt tacky! Anyway, as ever....having had their coffee and moving on they find a 'Gloria Jeans' just up the road which was more what they were looking for!

From here they went in search of their last motel! They tried one they had seen in the tourist guide....but when they got there it did not look up to much and they moved on. They stopped at another one....but they had no Vaccancies! So....they moved on and tried the Nelson Motel......which is right on the Main Street. By this time it was pouring and so A parked and dashed in! Well....they had ONE room left....and so they took it! Next door was the Sea Breeze Hotel which had 'restaurant' attached! It was recommended by the lady at reception...but it was like a cross between an RSL (the equivalent of our British Legion) and a sports club! But...it was busy......and it had TWO big screen TVs showing sports....one of which could have been of Iron Byron giving tips on how to improve your golf technique! L loved this!

By the time he had finished his beer he realised that it was in an appropriate glass. But L would not slip it in her bag!!

Anyway, they had a good meal and on the way back.....they stopped off at the Drive Through Bottle Shop (Off license!! In Oz they are not allowed to sell alcohol in supermarkets and so you must go to the bottle shop! This, like many others, were drive throughs......which really feels odd.....as if it is almost linking drinking and driving together! Anyway......in they went......and what did they get? Two tubs of ice cream for pudding a chocolate! The guy seemed a bit bemused 

Anyway, rock and roll lifestyle as I said!

Tomorrow.....the last day on the road and we hit Sydney....and A and M's......for their last three weeks! 

The drive has been great and has included many things which they will remember! The first few days allowd them to do and see more as well as the driving. The .ast couple of days the drives have been longer and so have curtailed what they can do. But....it's been great and really good fun! 

However, they can't wait to hit sydney and revisit all the old favourites....the bridge, the bay's, the ferries and of course the Opera House! 

Ha ha.....very funny!

Ok......any good ideas for a caption??