Bit of a Blog : Solstice : Auckland – Fremantle – Sydney : February 14th 2016

[NorbertsNiece]

 

 

 

Met up with my wonderful friend and have ticked off some items from my list of gifts to take home; head back to locate more specific souvenirs.

 

 

Inside the Queen Victoria Building

 

 

Not in an inside stateroom any more..... Radisson Blu

 

[NorbertsNiece]

On my way to the Opera House for a performance

 

 

 

It's buzzing

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

 

She's reversing out

 

 

 

The next day there is a group of Solstice and Princess guests heading out to the Blue Mountains.

 

 

The Anzac bridge looked lovely in the early morning light, even though it was raining, the car lights led the way

 

By the time we have reached our destination the weather has cleared

 

 

Whilst the other coach has managed to take the railway down we have to take the cable car

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Ooops something wrong with a link up there......

 

 

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The Cable car / gondola down

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 25, 2016 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

 

 

The interior, empty

 

 

 

Walk through the rain forest

 

 

We pass many, many tourists coming from the train..... including the other coach.

 

[NorbertsNiece]

 

There are many informative signs

 

 

 

 

 

Description below

 

Edited March 25, 2016 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

It's here I come unstuck and need to upload a whole bunch of pics I've missed out...... will do that in Sydney.... the best laid plans etc etc.....

 

If you are ever in Sydney do a tour to the Blue Mountains. Definitely. The long drive up there is well worth it.

Edited March 25, 2016 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Uluru was amazing. I have no idea what prompted me to book the little side trip but I am so glad I did. Could have done with more time to be honest..... maybe another day..... but it was a perfect way for me to shake off the Cruise experience and have something that is substantial to bring me back down to earth.

 

Am bemused right now; checked in to the Rydges Hotel in Sydney on recommendation; superfast wifi...... it's coping really well with the very many pics from the last 3 days. They have a power hub on the desk which is geared for various international plugs. Never seen that before.

 

Time change to deal with again. And more to come. Someone on the TBus to the hotel commented that there won't be shopping at Changi as I'll be there late in the evening doing my 'get off the plane get back on the plane' thing..... That's ok..... spent most of my remaining $AUD at Sydney T2 where they've opened a branch of my favourite shop!! You know what a double take looks like? That. Only problem is they're geared up for Autumn / Winter of course rather than Spring / Summer but still managed to find something I liked ;)

[goodycruising]

Uluru was amazing. I have no idea what prompted me to book the little side trip but I am so glad I did. Could have done with more time to be honest..... maybe another day..... but it was a perfect way for me to shake off the Cruise experience and have something that is substantial to bring me back down to earth.

 

 

I am pleased you enjoyed your side trip! I am really looking forward to the pics. It was a long way to go after all your travels so far, and we have been reluctant in the past to do anything after a cruise, so it is good to hear it worked out well. :)

[NorbertsNiece]

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 26, 2016 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

 

That's one thing about the whole trip..... the birdsong..... everywhere.... noticeably different to back home

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 26, 2016 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

 

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

 

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

 

 

On their way up

 

 

Looking down

 

 

 

Looking up

 

Edited March 26, 2016 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Have arrived at Sydney International way too early..... there's no bag drop facility here as they have at LHR...... two hours to wait till that opens.... may as well make myself useful eh? .......

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 27, 2016 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

 

They didn't look too terrified as they came in...... hanging on to toddlers....

 

 

 

Now here's the predicament...... there's mesh right in front of me sitting in the very front seat.....

 

 

I have pics of the ride up that are totally spoilt by that mesh...... it wasn't in the least bit scary travelling that way.... have seen a video a friend posted of their ride down...... looked like fun..... There's a tunnel portion so riding down you come into the light then have a sharp drop.

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

The Skyway gondola

 

 

We head off to lunch nearby to an old fashioned hotel

 

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

They have a super view

 

 

The hotel is called Mountain Heritage so not sure what this relates to.... former days?

 

 

 

 

Edited March 27, 2016 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

From this site which has more info

 

Three sisters, Meenhi, Wimlah and Gunnedoo had a father who was a witch doctor. His name was Tyawan.

 

Long ago there was a Bunyip who lived in a deep hole who was feared by all.

 

Passing the hole was considered very dangerous, therefore whenever Tyawan had to pass the hole in search for food, he would leave his daughters safely on the cliff behind a rocky wall.

 

One fateful day, Tyawan waved goodbye to his daughters and descended down the cliff steps into the valley.

 

Meanwhile at the top of the cliff, Meenhi was frightened by a large centipede which suddenly appeared before her. Meenhi took a stone and threw it at the centipede. The stone continued on its journey and rolled over the cliff, crashing into the valley below which angered the Bunyip.

 

The rocky wall behind Meenhi, Wimlah and Gunnedoo then began to split open and the three sisters were left stranded on a thin ledge at the top of the cliff. All the birds, animals and fairies stopped still as the Bunyip emerged to see the terrified girls.

 

As the Bunyip began to approach the girls, to protect them from harm, their father Tyawan used his magic bone to turn them into stone.

 

Angered by this, the Bunyip then began to chase Tyawan. Becoming trapped, in order to flee from the Bunyip, Tyawan changed into a magnificent Lyre Bird, yet in the process dropped his magic bone. Tyawan and his three daughters were now safe from the Bunyip.

 

Once the Bunyip had disappeared, Tyawan returned in search of his magic bone, yet this was never to be found.

 

The Lyre Bird has been searching for this magic bone ever since. Remaining in rock formation, The Three Sisters stand silently overlooking the valley hoping that one day he'll find the bone and turn them back to former selves.

 

When visiting The Three Sisters, if you listen carefully you may be able to hear the Lyre Bird, Tyawan, as he continues his quest for his lost magic bone.

 

 

Taken from the Queen Elizabeth lookout, named for her visit in 1954.

 

My eye was drawn down.... a flock of white birds..... by the time I get to focus in clearly they are gone....

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

 

A really informative and eye opening centre where my eyes are opened to aboriginal culture. More about the centre here

 

 

We are told tales, first about the nature of the 'laws' or markings that are painted on their bodies which tell of their individual origins.

 

Then the story of how the didgeridoo came into being; each aspect is illustrated for the sound he is emulating

 

 

And the smoking ceremony

 

 

And the creation of the world

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

 

 

There is an education centre..... I had known very little of the history of the indigenous people of Australia and what I was to read and hear in here was truly shocking and upsetting.

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

 

 

 

Just a very small reminder of what took place

 

 

 

[GUT2407]

Your white birds are probably Cockatoos, plenty of them here.

[NorbertsNiece]

We head to Featherdale Wildlife Park

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is here my camera battery dies on me so I decide to bring my new phone camera into service.

 

His name is Cooper

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Many native birds find their way here, I have seen these out and about

 

 

Not seen too many of these since Akaroa..... and that seems a lifetime away

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quokka can be seen in their native habitat on Rottnest Island which is off Fremantle. I hate to see animals caged up. I really do, but they run a conservation, rescue and hospital here and hope this fella gets liberated.....