All posts filed under: Australia

Part 7: Kuranda & the Reef

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It’s time to check out Australia’s World Heritage rainforests, and there was no better way than to soar above it. Jay and I took a five-mile ride on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, which dropped us off in a village called Kuranda, but not before giving us incredible views of the forest canopy. After making it to Kuranda, we went to find some wildlife and headed to Kuranda Koala Gardens. I promised Jay that we’d find him a koala to cuddle, and many of our guidebooks told us this place was our ticket. They had an enclosed feeding/petting zoo full of friendly wallabies, kangaroos and wombats. And no, the koala stamp on Jay’s wrist is not permanent. Koala cuddling accomplished! While they are completely adorable, Jay observed that they are not as soft as they seem. Ok, wombats are now my favorite marsupial. Just look at those short little legs. Exploring the jungle walks in Kuranda. This pizza was delicious. What was next on the agenda? Snorkeling the reef! And finally, (and I’m afraid this will …

Part 6: Welcome to Cairns

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I am not sure how it is January 2013 and I am still posting photos from Australia, but here we are. Please excuse the long detour from my last post. Now on with the rest of the show! Giddy with excitement to see another part of the country, we left Sydney and flew into Cairns, Queensland, about a 3-hour flight. We were hoping for tropical weather, but was greeted with gray skies and a dried up harbour. Hmm, not quite the paradise we had in mind, but we made the best of it. Cairns is best known as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, something we promised ourselves we wouldn’t miss while we were in the country. We spent our first day walking around and getting the lay of the land. In a couple of photos… Above is a photo of the Esplanade, a 51,667-square-foot saltwater lagoon. We would’ve taken a dip, but it wasn’t quite warm enough (even though it was much warmer here than in Sydney). Stop back again soon to see …

Part 5: Manly Beach

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It was our last day in Sydney, but we started this day the same as the others — with coffee and goodies from the nearby Chinese bakery. I miss “living” in the city! Coconut bun, sweet bun, and an egg custard tart. Why didn’t I pack, like, a million of these to take home with me?! We walked across Sydney Harbour Bridge for this view. That’s when I knew I had to come back that evening to get more pics. A shot from the ferry. We’re on our way! After setting foot at Manly Wharf, we did some exploring. We couldn’t leave without digging our toes into the sand. Wish I could take credit for this, but I’ve never made a successful sandcastle. The Manly Ferry – best sunset cruise in Sydney? Fact! Finally, here are my favorite photos of the city taken from the bridge. Looking at these pictures again is not helping my travel itch. at all. Hope you’re all enjoying the calm before the storm that is called the holiday season! Part 1: …

Part 4: Blue Mountains

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On this day, instead of taking our time with our coffee, we grabbed them in a rush and headed toward Central Station to catch our morning train. Destination: Katoomba Mission: Conquer World Heritage Blue Mountains National Park We had some down time on the train. Two hours to be exact. We have arrived! The mountains have a blue coloring due to the evaporation of oil from the eucalyptus forests. It was a beautiful day, so Jay and I made the most of it by ditching our tour bus and walking many of the trails. You’re looking at an ancient seabed. The famous Three Sisters rock formation. From left, Meehni, Wimlah and Gunnedoo. These gals are made of sandstone and were formed by erosion. You can read about the legend of the sisters here. These waterfalls nearly killed me. No joke. My hiking gear consisted of flip-flops and poor planning, and I almost turned around on several different occasions because the mud pits were too intimidating. BUT, Jay didn’t let me quit and I am so grateful! Wentworth …

Part 3: Bronte & Bondi beach time

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After soaking up the city for two days, it was time to soak up the beach! We hopped on the #378 bus and took it all the way to Bronte Beach, about a 40-minute ride. What a view. We walked the ~1.5 mile cliff walk from Bronte to Bondi (pronounced “bon-dye”) and, of course, stopped often to enjoy the views. At right, steps from the cliff descend into pools that lay side by side with the ocean. The Bronte Baths. Doesn’t get cooler than this, does it?! At left, a view of the cliff walk. At right is a swimmer at the Bondi Baths, also known as Bondi Icebergs. We also passed Tamarama Beach, also known as Glam-a-rama beach. Here’s a look back at what we passed. Funny story… the nice couple who stopped to take this photo for us was the same couple who asked me to take a picture of them in Sydney on our first day. Turns out they were heading to Cairns too, but they left before we got there. Bondi …