Sydney to Sunshine Coast and everything in between!

Well, it's been far too long since I last blogged - don't know what happened - seemed to forget all about it. There have been some relaxed days at my brother's house in the Gold Coast but otherwise it's been all go. If... all go means sitting on the beach, hiking and taking part in drum classes.

I spent 4 days in Sydney and 2 in Bondi Beach. Syndey was very interesting, for the history and iconic buildings. It felt a bit surreal walking round into Circular Quay and suddenly the harbour bridge and Opera House were in view. I was lucky enough to get a last minute standing ticket for the Madama Butterfly opera at the Sydney Opera House. I called and they said there was one ticket left, so I bolted and ran to the Opera House as you couldn't pay over the phone. I did feel a little embarrassed walking in sweaty and red, wearing my vest top with holes in it, but I managed to put a dress on for the evening. I also managed to get an empty seat for the second half, which I had eyed up, despite the doorman looking for me just as the lights went down. Ha! Lucky I had got a little chilly and put my pink scarf round me. He mustn't have recognised me then. It was a lovely show, really beautiful with the set, music and oriental flowers.

Taken from the grounds of the Opera House

Bondi beach, again, was a bit surreal 'cos I'd seen it so many times on Bondi Rescue! I particularly enjoyed the Iceberg pools at the end of the beach, which are salt water swimming pools that sit out on the ocean. As the tide came in, people sitting with their feet in the pool would get thrown in by the waves.

I also did a tall ships cruise of the harbour bay, which wasn't so successful as a storm hit just as we got on board. Nevertheless it must have been quite similar to Captain Cooks original journey in a similar ship in 1770! The next day I actually got a better view of the Opera House and bridge from the beautiful botanic gardens.

After Sydney I headed to the Blue Mountains, which were absolutely amazing. There is no end to the hikes you can do, some easy some hard. Some very sore on the thighs as there are constant steps up and down. I met some fun people at the hostel and we did 3 days in a row of hiking. Day 1 we did the short, easy walk to the Three Sisters and Leura Cascades. On Day 2 we hiked down into the Grand Canyon, which was a beautiful rainforest with native birds and brush turkeys. Once we hiked back up the countless steps, the view was breathtaking and ...blue.

The rainforest of the Grand Canyon

Day 3 we then did part of the National Pass, which is a cliff walk that runs half way down the cliff and gives you a view of Wentworth Falls. The town of Katoomba and Leura are quaint with lovely coffee shops, gift and craft shops and pubs.

Elisa, who I met in the Blue Mountains was heading next to volunteer (through Helpx.net) at a drumming school/music venue in Gosford, an hour outside Sydney. I decided it sounded too fun to say no! So I joined helpX and turned up. I stayed 10 days. Each day we worked at least 4 hours, but a lot of it didn't seem like work. We cleaned and set up for drum classes and gigs. We cooked and baked tasty food for the gigs and events. We went to the supermarket! And got to join in djembe and taiko classes. I always wanted to be a drummer but I think I must face the reality that I don't have good natural rhythm! Djembe...maybe with practice I might master on a basic level. We also got to enjoy the gigs and music...and food. On days off we could relax and read one of the many books, or go to Terrigal beach.

Giant Taiko drums!

I popped into Port Macquarie for a couple of days and met some ladies from the North West of England, near to my neck of the woods. We did a sunset cruise and watched the giant colony of bats flying over the water to one of the islands for the night. The Port Macquarie Koala Hospital was one of the recommended thing on TripAdvisor. It was well worth the leisurely 30 minute walk from town. Some of the koalas had very sad stories, or claws being burnt off in the bush fires, or injured limbs in road traffic accidents, and many with chlamydia and eye infections. Some can never be reintroduced to the wild due to their injuries and not being able to feed and defend themselves. There was also an Intensive Care Unit which we were not allowed into. Apparently when a koala is born it is smaller that a butter bean and stays in the mother's pouch until it gets bigger.

    The patient board at the Koala Hospital - I actually asked if I could take a photo of it and they yes dear it's not like a human hospital! 

Byron Bay was next. I'd heard so much about Byron and I was expecting it to be more alternative than it was. Apparently it has changed a lot over the last 10 years. The beach at the lighthouse end, Clarkes Beach, had a crystal clear lagoon with shallow warm water. My hostel did a free walking tour up the lighthouse which proved a good way to meet people and to see some wildlife. We spotted dolphins jumping out of the water and frolicking together. It was beautiful. I hope I will be able to see some dolphins a little closer up, perhaps up the coast.

 Beautiful view from the Lighthouse hill in Byron Bay, where we could see dolphins frolicking

Clarkes Beach, Byron Bay

Lastly I went to the sleepy town Murwillumbah, surrounded by sugar cane fields. I was hoping to climb Mount Warning and was lucky to meet a few others at the hostel who also wanted to climb it. I knew the last bit had a chain to help you and required a bit of scrambling so I didn't fancy doing it alone! It was a great experience, hard work for the last bit and unfortunately no view but fog and a few tree tops from the summit!

I'm now up on the Sunshine Coast, wwoofing, after having spent a relaxing 9 days at my brothers 's the Gold Coast.

More to follow....
If I remember.