Ok, I know a few of you know what's been going on re my hip but I will recap for those that don't! The specialist basically said that an op wasn't necessary and it will heal with rest and time. So - no tennis for at least 6 weeks, no running, no walking up steep hills and no going up steps with my right foot first. That is harder said than done, although I always remember when I do it wrong as it hurts!! That was a week ago and it has improved in that week - I can now walk along flat, even paths without pain, and cycling doesn't hurt either so at least we can get out and about. Poor Bob, we didn't get to do the famous Coogee to Bondi walk that he so wanted to do. However, on the plus side we did get to see Olivia again and enjoy an amazing meal at Spice Alley, in Sydney, with her!

On being given the go ahead to travel again, albeit with some restrictions, we set off the next day. Spending 2 weeks in Sydney was not something we had planned on. However, there was so much to do, and transport was so easy that Winnie was basically parked in a National Park for 2 weeks. As a result we have, literally, hundreds of photos of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Opera House, Manly Wharf and it's beach, Darling Harbour etc etc. The biggest surprise to us was, having visited in 2010, that the monorail around Darling harbour has been dismantled and there has been huge redevelopment around the harbour. Pyrmont Bridge, which was a working railway bridge, is now pedestrianized and makes for a lovely walk, and there is a whole new area called Barangaroo!

Anyway, we left heading onto the Grand Pacific Drive, a scenic coastal route southwards. We didn't have to pay the Royal National Parks entrance fee as we said we were just driving through, but we were soon sidetracked and paid the $12 necessary to be able to stop and park. On good advice we did a small detour to Wattamolla and boy, are we glad we did. The turquoise sea laps white sand, which encircles a shallow lagoon with cliffs from which people jump and dive. Whilst in the warm lagoon we could see the fish swimming around us, it was so clear. The Grand Pacific Drive then took us over the Sea Cliff Bridge - basically an S shaped bridge over the ocean hugging the coast. Quite spectacular!

Another great stop was Shellharbour. I couldn't walk far, but just enough to make it to the historic local pub! We ordered 2 beers then were asked to go to the other end of the bar to take part in a dice game. We called odds and odds were rolled by the barman so our drinks were free - should have ordered cocktails - how bizarre! Then onto Bombo and its majestic basalt stacks. One thing we have noticed is that some of the 'attractions' are not signposted. We turned up at Bombo Heads and could only see a surfing beach, the road was at a dead end. Looking in the tourist blurb at the photo did not help as it did not resemble what we could see at all. We decided to walk round the corner and wow! Tall stacks meeting the sea, the result of quarrying in the 1900's apparently. On trying to get out of Bombo we encountered another dead end - literally a fence over the road, but no indication on the maps that the road was closed, lol!

Kiama's blowholes were next. The first, and largest, was not 'performing' as the wind was in the wrong direction. However, at the other end of the bay, and hidden between houses, was the small blowhole. The wind was obviously favourable for this blowhole, as spouts were occasionally ejected into the air. Weird that it was the wind and not the tide that dictated whether the blowholes blew! Catching one on camera became the game of the day!!

And from then on the weather has deteriorated. Greenwell Point, with it's multi-million $ oyster industry was only viewed with grey skies and wind! But the biggest disappointment so far was getting to Hyams Beach, Jervis Bay. This is one of the top rated beaches in the world, famed for its white sand and turquoise water, but we visited on a dull, overcast day. There were loads of tourists nevertheless but, funnily enough, they were all on the next beach down, where the cafe was, and didn't seem to realise! The water was obviously turquoise but only showed in flashes. Swimming had to be done and Bob did! I couldn't get out past the large surf waves so paddled instead. I would have struggled with the swimming anyway, as I'm not allowed to do breaststroke, so probably just as well!

Seeing as the weather was now so awful we detoured inland to the Fleet Air Arm Museum. Not normally my sort of stuff but this was actually quite interesting as the aircraft there had played a part in the Vietnam War, which we had also witnessed from the other side! The aircraft carriers had been made on Cockatoo Island, which was one of the places we had visited while in Sydney, so it all sort of came together in one place if that makes sense?!

And so to where we are now - Batemans Bay. Again, meant to be beautiful but all we have seen is grey skies and rain - a bit like England really. It is 16 degrees but, because we are acclimatised now, that feels really cold and we have had jeans and jumpers on for the first time since New Zealand. We went on a boat trip up the Clyde River, to Nelligen, to escape the rain and were treated to an amazing wildlife display. Firstly we saw huge rays that were at least 1 metre wide with even longer tails. We were told they were bull-rays, which are one of the largest Australian stingrays. Then we saw hundreds of large jellyfish in the water, they looked so pretty but I wouldn't have wanted to be in the river with them! And lastly we saw dolphins and all from the comfort of a dry boat! However, in order to get the boat up the river, the bridge had to be raised. The whole middle section of the bridge was raised up horizontally by a man waiting in a tiny hut on the bridge for such an eventuality. What a boring job - we have only seen it raised twice in 3 days and that was on our boat trip!

We had paid a visit to the local Soldiers Club on our first night and managed to win 2 prizes in the raffle, amounting to $55 to spend in the club on food and drink. So, tonight being very wet, we called up their courtesy bus. We were picked up from the site, spent the evening in their club, had a gorgeous Chinese meal and a bottle of Oyster Bay Chardonnay, and had to pay the equivalent of about £8. Oh, and got dropped back off at our site too! What service!

And now a change of subject matter. As we're driving around Bob and I have seen, heard and done some things that don't fit into any blog, but have left an impression on us. So here are a few of the best:

• They decorate their motorways with giant prawns, mango's, bananas and other large fibreglass items. It has become a game to get the obligatory photo!

• They put an O on the end of everything! Avo, rego, fisho etc and they also shorten every word possible. So 'We stopped at the servo to buy some avos one arvo then went to the fisho for dinner' translates to 'We stopped at the service station to buy some avocados one afternoon and then went to the fish and chip shop for dinner'.

• The seagulls in Sydney actually attack people. If they want your food they will have your food! We saw one poor girl scream in fright as the seagull snatched her fish out of her hands!

• On trains in Sydney you can literally pull the row of chairs and change the direction you're sitting in. Bob and I were amazed when we first saw this done but it's so simple - no more facing backwards!

• The L in Australia is totally optional - Austrayia seems to be the preferred pronunciation!

• Driving for an additional 2 hours is now considered 'a little detour'.

• The $1 coin is double the size of the $2?!

• The Aussies are not worried about political correctness. They say what they mean, even on the radio, and it's not censored. A bloke won a holiday to LA and, on being told, said "Well, I'll be b*****ed!" This has been replayed all day today with no bleeps!!

• Where it is not easy, or safe, to swim they have huge lagoon swimming pools that are completely free! And sunscreen is priced so that people actually buy it - we bought a litre of 50+ for $7.99!

• If it's 19'c it's cold according to Australians and they have coats and scarves on - meanwhile we're in shorts and T-shirts!

• The Aussies love street art and we have seen murals in a lot of towns along the way. However, the one we snapped at Nowra is probably the most striking.

• You get told that the petrol is the most expensive in the world then you realise it's still half the price that it is in England!

• In the supermarkets they pack all of your shopping for you into plastic bags. Reusable bags have not caught on yet, although no plastic bags becomes law next year in Queensland.

• Your wallet is an inch thick because you're collecting the petrol vouchers from Coles and Woolies. The cost of petrol here varies far more than in the UK. We use an app to check prices locally before we buy as the difference can amount to several dollars.

• The whole of Australia seems to be addicted to pie's!

• Cents don't exist but you can still buy something for $4.99 ?! Basically you're not getting any change!

• Kangaroo's are not bounding round everywhere. In fact we have seen more dead on the roadside!

So, there you have it. A few amusing, or not so amusing, things we have noticed so far! Let's hope the weather improves so we can enjoy the magnificent beaches of southern NSW before we cross the border into Victoria!