Newcastle- we had a day trip to Newcastle.  We didn't like it much! Very much a mix of some old buildings mixed with horrible 70's architecture.  We went to the waterfront to find a nice restaurant for lunch, unlike Melbourne totally devoid of nice eateries.  A couple of photos showing the better bits.

We are staying at the Blue Lagoon park, the pool is wonderful, very nice & warm. Apart from the big pool they have a seperate spa pool with 6 little lagoons which bubble away

Ginny in the spa pool 

Last photo of the Triton next to our van- tomorrow we go to Orange  to pick up our new VW, then a quick visit to Melbourne  to see the family, then on to QLD

Buy Buy tubby

Bateau Bay

Hi everyone, a busy few days.  We drove over the Blue mountains to Orange (without the van) to check out a new car. We will pick it up next week, it is a VW Tourareg, 4x motion deisel, with heaps more power than the Triton & far more comfy! There were not many places to stop & take photos

, but I've posted a couple below. We stayed in Orange for 1 night, I will take some photos when we go back to collect the car. It is a lovely town & looks spectacular with all the trees showing their Autumn colours. We are staying in Bateau Bay about halfway between Sydney & Newcastle.  The caravan park is right on the beach (again) & has lots of rockpools.

 Ginny in the rookpools

 Today we drove around the Hawkesbury River area near Gosford

Ginny Lavery & Mark Lavery  Cousin of my former husband- met entirely by chance at the caravan park here, when he mentioned we had the same surname when we checked in!

Sydney Day Trip

Hi all, it was a nice day for a drive and we thought we would explorer our planned bypass root around Sydney without the van in-tow. It took 2 hours to travel from Gerroa to Pennant Hills which will then allow us to get onto the highway to Bateau Bay where the Blue Lagoon caravan is. We are staying there for a week.

 Memories it hasnt changed

 The Trip was made easy with Tom Tom the GPS

 Looking back to Wollongong in the distance

 The Sea Cliff Bridge in the background.This bridge used in many tv commericals

 Hang Gliders all over the place enjoying thermals and views

The Old road travelled along the cliff face, now covered with debris from the cliff

The New Sea Cliff bridge was opened in 2005

Kangaroo Valley & Berry

Hi everyone, a few days ago we went to Kangaroo Valley, a small town in the mountains, close as the crow flies, but to get there the road is very steep & winding, with a few switcbacks. The photos below are of the oldest suspension bridge in Australia, built by convicts in the 1890's. It was like finding a little bit of England in the bush.

We also visited the Pioneer Museum there, photos below

Giant rocking horse

Grae's best angle!

This rock has lots of fossils embedded in it, close up below

Close ups of a pioneering family's tree

No television in those days!

Playing a bush instrument, didn't sound too bad

View from the suspension bridge & below the local pub

Found some interesting shops in nearby Berry; this one also had beautiful grandfather clocks as well

Museum & adjoining guesthouse

Old Courthouse, now a reception centre