Today was spent mostly in the Blue Mountains. We entered the Blue Mountain National Park from Richmond. Interesting drive up the range, through valleys and orchards (mountain apples). About half way through the park we entered the area impacted by fires in October. The evidence is certainly visible. We had expected more complete charred landscapes, but in the areas we passed through, the underbrush and trunks were blackened, but vegetation higher in the tree...

Headed south of Armidale to Tamworth and Muswellbrook. Pleasant enough drive. Mainly cattle country. Further south is Scone, the centre of the stud industry in Australia. Further along are huge open-pit coal mines north of Singleton. By 2:00pm we reached the Hunter Valley, one of the oldest wine regions in Australia. We visited the Hunter Valley Gardens. Quite nice. Not up to Butchart Gardens but close. We returned in the evening when they turned on 1.5 ...

Our most active day of the trip. We started by climbing Bald Rock, 260 meters high (see photos). The climb was at a 30 degree incline. It was a good climb but we will suffer tonight. Next was a trek to Boonoo Boonoo Falls and Gorge, a much easier walk. Nice falls and a great gorge. Driving south from Tenterfield along the highlands of the Great Dividing Range, we stopped at Glen Ellis, the center of the Celtic heritage in Australia and home of the annual Au...

Disembarked the cruise ship today. After dropping our luggage at the hotel, we headed for the Taronga Zoo where we spent the day. Great setting for the zoo -- across the bay from and overlooking Sydney from the top of a hill. It is a really good zoo that dates back to 1916. It is well laid out and has a good, diverse collection. We place it at least on a par with the San Diego Zoo. Tomorrow we are off to Cairns to begin our road trek.

We will depart Sydney this evening for the first leg of our 34 day circumnavigation of Australia. Today was mainly spent checking out of the hotel and getting on the ship, Holland America's "Volendam", so no new pictures to post. Sydney was enjoyable but not overly exciting or spectacular. It seems a lot like Vancouver. The people are friendly, service for the most part is quite good and the city is clean. We noticed the absence of any noticeable exhaust fro...