Map of Oz
Where was I?
Date: 08/12/2006
I arrived in Sydney and stayed there for a couple days, then flew to Melbourne where I rented a car, drove a big loop (in red, above) and then went back to Sydney.
Coogee 1
Date: 01/22/2002
The beach at Coogee, a suburb of Sydney, where I stayed the first two nights
Coogee 2
Date: 01/22/2002
My guidebook tells me "Coogee is derived from an Aboriginal word, "koojah", which means 'stinking place', probably because of the intolerable smell of rotting seaweed washed up on the beach". I thought it smelled okay.
Coogee 3
Date: 01/22/2002
This is about 100 metres from my hotel and the start of a path along the coast to Bondi beach.
Coogee 6
Date: 01/22/2002
Since Australia is an island (the world's largest), I reasoned that I could walk all the way around it. I only got about six kilometres of the way, though.
Manly 1
Date: 01/23/2002
I got up early the first morning and drove to Manly beach. From Manly, there is a 10km walk to the Spit Bridge.
Manly 2
Date: 01/23/2002
It alternated between light drizzle and 'cats & dogs' for most of the walk.
Manly 3
Date: 01/23/2002
Crater Cove. The first huts were built here in the 1920s for use by weekend fishermen.
Manly 4
Date: 01/23/2002
The good part of all that rain is that there were almost no other people on the track.
Echo Point
Date: 01/23/2002
Echo Point
From Manly, I drove west about two hours to the Blue Mountains National Park. Because of the fog, I couldn't see fifty feet in front of me. Therefore, the views were not all they could have been.
This picture also shows my reverse Camry. I rented two cars in Australia and both were Toyota Camrys just like I drive at home. Well, not just like mine - they were newer and the steering wheel was on the wrong side. I've driven in England before but you have to relearn it each time. I did pretty good but I often started the windshield wipers when I meant to signal a turn because those levers were reversed as well.
I have already done the same thing on my car since I returned because I got so used to it the other way. I haven't forgotten to drive on the right side of the road, though.
From Manly, I drove west about two hours to the Blue Mountains National Park. Because of the fog, I couldn't see fifty feet in front of me. Therefore, the views were not all they could have been.
This picture also shows my reverse Camry. I rented two cars in Australia and both were Toyota Camrys just like I drive at home. Well, not just like mine - they were newer and the steering wheel was on the wrong side. I've driven in England before but you have to relearn it each time. I did pretty good but I often started the windshield wipers when I meant to signal a turn because those levers were reversed as well.
I have already done the same thing on my car since I returned because I got so used to it the other way. I haven't forgotten to drive on the right side of the road, though.
Blue Mountains 1
Date: 01/23/2002
I had lunch in Katoomba and then drove back down the mountain. On a lark, I took the Wentworth Falls exit and discovered this scene.
Blue Mountains 2
Date: 01/23/2002
These are the 'Wentworth Falls'; I overheard somebody say that these falls were in some film. Does anybody recognize them from a movie?
Sydney 1
Date: 01/29/2002
The Sydney Tower, 305 metres high
Look for it in the skyline pictures later on.
Look for it in the skyline pictures later on.
Sydney 2
Date: 01/29/2002
Sydney Town Hall
I was looking for this building because there is a plaque somewhere around it that says 'Eternity'. Some bloke chalked that word all over the city sidewalks for 30 years until he died in 1969. I never did find the plaque but I started wondering what your word would be.
I was looking for this building because there is a plaque somewhere around it that says 'Eternity'. Some bloke chalked that word all over the city sidewalks for 30 years until he died in 1969. I never did find the plaque but I started wondering what your word would be.
Sydney 3
Date: 01/24/2002
That night I took a Harbour Cruise on one of the Sydney Ferries. We departed from Circular Quay which is right near the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House.
Sydney 4
Date: 01/24/2002
The Sydney Opera House was very large and very cool. The building was designed by a Danish bloke named Joern Utzon and was inspired by the leaves of palm trees.
Sydney 7
Date: 01/24/2002
Some of the most exclusive residences in Sydney
The harbour cruise was narrated and anytime we entered a new bay or whizzed past some nice houses, the recording told us that these were some of the "most exclusive" residences in Sydney.
The harbour cruise was narrated and anytime we entered a new bay or whizzed past some nice houses, the recording told us that these were some of the "most exclusive" residences in Sydney.
Sydney 9
Date: 01/24/2002
On my last night in Sydney, I went to see 'The Marriage of Figaro' by Mozart here.
Grampians 1
Date: 01/25/2002
The next day, I flew to Melbourne, rented a car and drove west to Stawell, Victoria near the Grampians National Park. On Australia Day, I did the McKenzie Falls walk. This is the only kangaroo I saw on the walk.
Grampians 2
Date: 01/25/2002
Some critter on the side of the trail; I'm not sure what it is.
Actually, it turns out this is probably something called a 'skink'.
Actually, it turns out this is probably something called a 'skink'.
Grampians 4
Date: 01/25/2002
At the end of the walk, I spied an entire herd of humans, playing in McKenzie Falls. The Falls were beautiful and many of the people were too.
Grampians 6
Date: 01/25/2002
Near the Grampians was 'Bunjil's Shelter', one of the most significant Aboriginal rock art sites in the state.
Grampians 7
Date: 01/26/2002
From Bunjil's Shelter, I headed south to the coast. On the way, I passed the Grampian's visitor centre where a ranger had told me, earlier in the day, that there had been hundreds of kangaroos yesterday evening. Hoping to see another kangaroo, I stopped and hiked about a mile and a half. Finally I spied a hopper and followed him around for a while.
Great Ocean Road 1
Date: 01/26/2002
London Bridge - The whole thing was connected until 1990 when the middle part collapsed, stranding two people on the new island. A helicopter picked them up later.
Great Ocean Road 2
Date: 01/26/2002
This is the Loch Ard Gorge. This whole area is called the Shipwreck Coast because lots of ships used to go down here. One wrecked just off the coast and the only two survivors made it to Loch Ard Gorge.
Great Ocean Road 3
Date: 01/26/2002
The Twelve Apostles
Only about seven of the apostles are left; the others have succumbed to the unrelenting surf (and neverending rain).
Only about seven of the apostles are left; the others have succumbed to the unrelenting surf (and neverending rain).
Great Ocean Road 4
Date: 01/26/2002
Further along the Great Ocean Road.
Although it was impressive, I truly believe the Great Ocean Road was no better than the Pacific Coast Highway in Oregon.
Although it was impressive, I truly believe the Great Ocean Road was no better than the Pacific Coast Highway in Oregon.
Great Ocean Road 5
Date: 01/27/2002
The beach at Anglesea early in the morning. Just east of here is the beach where I learned to surf (sort of).
Great Ocean Road 6
Date: 01/28/2002
Bell's Beach near Torquay - one of the best surfing beaches in the world.
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