Wollongong 2003

Wollongong December 2003

As Wollongong was close to home we decided to take a weekend trip and have a look around this beautiful city and its wonderful beaches and surrounds, although the weather was overcast we made the most of our weekend. 

 

We have made many day and short weekend trips down the south coast so getting to Wollongong was not difficult our Motel was right in the hub of Wollongong within walking distance to shops, entertainment centre and the beach.

The Foreshore Parks are wonderful with large grassy open spaces and spectacular coastal views, Stuart Park located at the bottom of Cliff Road, North Wollongong, McCabe Park, Church Street, Wollongong and WA Lang Park, Marine Drive, Wollongong.

We visited the headland called Flagstaff Hill on Endeavour Drive where the light house stands since 1936 to assist shipping entering the Port Kembla Harbour.  

  From this site there are magnificent views up and down the coast and is a very popular spot on the weekends a lot of young people cruising around.

We did a quick trip around Port Kembla which was established in the 1890’s for the export of coal and since expanded to include many other industries and is the largest vehicle import hub in Australia.

On our return home we drove up the coast travelling past the beaches of Bulli, Thirroul, Austinmer and Coledale Beaches all very spectacular, beautiful coastline then up to Stanwell Tops and into the Royal National Park.

Bathurst 2003

A weekend trip to Bathurst we left after work Friday and had a two night stay at a B&B not accommodation we usually use. 

We stayed at A Winter Rose Cottage 



in Morrisset Street it was truly a quaint, very clean, beautiful cottage, the décor suited the cottage beautifully, right down to the spectacular garden outside.

Breakfast in the lounge room was delicious and a wood fire burns in the cool weather, our room was very comfortable with our own bathroom. 

Dinner can also be arranged although we decided not to have dinner as we wanted to explore Bathurst in the short amount of time we had,

Bathurst is on the Macquarie River and 207km from Sydney it is Australia’s oldest inland city and has many historic buildings. 

Walking around the streets is just wonderful to see the old buildings, Howick Street, Keppel Street and Railway Station, Westpac Bank, William Street and many, many more.

  We had lunch at the Crowded House Restaurant in Ribbon Gang Lane,



 this site was originally a church dating back to 1850 and has been beautifully restored it felt wonderful to sit and enjoy this historical building.

 The name ‘Ribbon Gang’ came from a gang of bushrangers committing robbery and murder and they were known as the Ribbon Gang after the ribbons they wore in their hair.

Of course no one could come to Bathurst without going around Mt Panorama we paid our money and off we went right on the starting block and we had poll position, funny there was no competition.







  This circuit (6.2km) was established in 1938 and is opened to the public has beautiful scenic views, the speed limit is 60kph. 

We had a lot of fun going around as many times as we wanted stopping in a couple of spots to take photos. 

We will return to Bathurst to spend a few more days to have time to visit more of the historical sites.

We left on Sunday morning to return home and we decided to go through the old gold town of Sofala only 46km from Bathurst.  









Sofala is Australia’s oldest surviving gold rush town and very pretty on the Turon River. 

Walking around the streets we felt the oldness of this town the buildings are amazing with the mountains in the background it is very beautiful.