No hard and fast plans as yet, we are out on Tuesday night at Cafe Sydney in The Customs House to celebrate Lesley's Birthday. 

Tuesday 23rd Feb. Arrived in Sydney and checked into the Holiday Inn at Darling Harbour. Just enough time to unpack and get some provisions in, Tonic for the Gin and Lemon for the Vodka, before getting dressed to go to Cafe Sydney. We arrived at 7.45pm and was shown to the bar to await our table. Glass of Perrier Jouet and a G Vine Cocktail and then shown to our table. Outside on the top of Customs House looking out over Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Wow what a location and what a table. Oysters for Bob and Crab for Lesley to start, then Swordfish for Bob and Duck for Lesley. The food was exquisite, Happy Birthday Cheese Plate for Lesley topped off the night.

Wednesday 24th. Explored the waterfronts, walked all the way from Darling Harbour to Circular Quay, taking in Harbour Bridge, The Opera House and all the waterfront activities. Then caught the Ferry to Manley, so saw a lot of the harbour and the various bays as we sailed to and from Manley. Then a quick beer stop at the Quay Bar, even OB got in on the act, then a train up to Central Station so Bob could see Sydney Cricket Ground. Sat and ate lunch in Moore Park next to the Cricket Ground, with a Kookaburra for Company. Caught the bus back into town to get ready for a beer and Dinner with Olav Hunshammer this evening.

Thursday 25th Feb. Blue Mountain Tour, with Experience Oz. Up at 0700 for the coach at 0815, Forecast for today was 42 deg C so expecting a hot day. Coach picked us up around 15 mins late so not a good start. We then drove out of the City, driver and guide Adam giving us a running commentary on the Sites plus his own run down on why Australia and its government are failing. We stopped at a small river crossing to have a drink and sort out the tickets for Scenic World. We then got back on the coach to our first stop at Leura where we saw the Katoomba Falls. We then stopped in the town of Leura for lunch. Lesley and Bob being so tight bought a sandwich, some crisps and a drink at the local Woolworths and sat at the bus stop, very Sad!!! We then got back on the coach and went to Scenic World, and experienced the highest cable car ride in Australia 270 metres above the Jamison Valley, a ride on the biggest cable car, carries 84 people down into the Valley and then returned on the Steepest incline , 52 Degrees, Railway in the World. All in one day and we also did a 20 minute walk along the valley floor. After that back on the coach and off to Prince Henry Walk to see the Gordon Falls and the Three Sisters. Then back on the coach for the journey back into Sydney before taking a one hour boat ride from the Olympic Park to Darling Harbour. All in all a very hot and busy day which we were both glad to see the End of

Friday 26th Feb. Hunter Valley Wine Tour with Grayline. Up at 0615 for a 0730 depart, picked up by hotel shuttle and then dropped off at Darling Quay to pick up our group. Small group of 18 people with Michael as the driver and guide. Set off for the Hunter Valley, approx 2hr 30 min drive. Again driving over the Harbour Bridge with Michael giving us a history of the various sights and also the schooling available in Australia, Public, open to all no fees, Catholic, some fees all be it 2 or 3 thousand a year, with the final option of Private school at up to 30 thousand a year. The Australian state contribute to each of the fee paying schools the cost of public education for each pupil. After approx 30 mins the coach decided it needed its filters cleaning, an automated process. So we stopped at a shopping mall for Coffee then off to the Hunter Valley with a quick comfort break on the way. We arrived at the Hunter Valley around 1045 at which point Michael used the coaches entertainment system to show us a video on Hunter Valley. More of the entertainment system later. 

At 1130 we arrived at the Ernest Hills Boutique Vineyard. A small vineyard producing 72,000 bottles a year. Each Vine produces between 1 & 2 Tons of Grapes. Here we tasted, Semillion, which the Hunter Valley is famous for, a Verdelho, a Portuguese Grape that Hunter Valley had been using to make , Madeira Wine, but since the change in popularity in Europe was now being used for "table wine." Chardonnay, Shiraz Rose, Merlot, Shiraz and then two slightly carbonised wines a Shiraz with 2% and a Semillion with 3% carbonisation. Finally a Gewurtztraminer, which Bill from Ernest Hills Wines told us is great with Creme Brûlée . All were very enjoyable Lesley liked the Shiraz Rose but best of all the Sparkling Shiraz which had a beautiful Cherry taste, for Bob the Semillion , full of "Zesty Lemon" taste was the best. 

Back on on the coach to "Two Fat Blokes" restaurant for a gourmet lunch and wine tasting from De Iuliis Wines again a small boutique Vineyard. The Reds were Merlot, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon and the Whites were Semillion, Chardonnay and Verdehlo. For Lesley, who had the Reds, the Beef Bourginon with Shiraz was the best. For Bob, who had the Whites, it was the Semillion with Chilli Prawn Spaghetti. Although Lesley said the Cab Sav with the Vintage Cheddar and Brie was also very good!!

Back on the coach to a very large wine Producer, McGuigan's ,which some of you may have tried as it is sold in the UK. They produce over 130 Million Bottles for Export with the UK being a big market. Here we tried Semillion, Chardonnay(Lightly Oaked) , Gewurtztraminer , a Select Shiraz, Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and a summer Shiraz supposed to be similar to Lambrusco. Then two fortified/sweet wines, a Botrytis Semillion and a Reserve Tawny (Port). The Botrytis Semillion was like a Sauternes or Pacherenc du Bilh, absolutely beautiful with a sweet desert. Overall other than the last one we felt you could tell these were mass produced, nothing particularly was "special" of the wines we tasted.

Last stop was at the Hunter Valley Shopping Village, where you could buy Hunter Valley Food Produce plus other Hunter Valley Gifts. We managed to find a shop which was doing tastings of Beer, Wines and Spirits. They had over 800 different beers from all around the world. As a result of the earlier consumption Only Bob managed a tasting, White Tawny Port, which was nice.

Back on the coach for the drive back to Sydney, two and a half hours!!! However Michael came to the rescue with his entertainment system, showing an Australian Cowboy movie called The Man from Snowy Mountain. Kirk Douglas kept us entertained all the way back. Then to finish it a Chinese Takeaway from Chinatown round the corner from the hotel. What a very enjoyable day(hick!)

Sat 27th Feb. Last full day in Sydney. Spent the morning walking around Sydney, Paddys Market, The Mint, Sydney Hospital, Parliament and the Botanical Gardens.Thought we would then walk up through the park, past the Arts Museum and through Hyde Park. Well blow me the Sydney NSW Cellar Door Festival was on, so we had to stay a while and taste a few more wines;-) didn't we ?? Great festival lots of people sat talking, catching up over their favourite glass of wine on a beautiful sunny day. Well that's our excuse. Train and Tram back to Darling Harbour, quick visit to Coles to buy some cheese to accompany the bottle of Sangiovese from Glandore Wines that we bought at the Cellar door. Quiet night, get caught up with the blog, check in for the flight to Brisbane tomorrow.