Saturday, 26 September 2009

Cowra 26-27 Sept 2009



The village of Lyndhurst is located 43kms from Cowra.  
We stopped to have a look around noting the old buildings left from the gold discoveries of the 1870’s. 
It was a private township then based around the gold mining.  It was in March 1885 Lyndhurst was proclaimed a village.
A lot of the homes still have the scars of yesterday it is a shame some of these old town buildings are left to rot and not preserved for our history.


At Cowra
 
we stayed in a cabin in the Cowra Caravan Parkabout 4km from the town centre and right next door was the Cowra War Museum.


Words cannot describe the memorabilia in this museum it was absolutely fantastic. 

It had an extensive private collection of war, rail and rural memorabilia in a covered two acre complex.  In the War Museum section a comprehensive Prisoner of War and Military Camp displays and one of the largest German Infantry displays in the world. 
The Rail Museum section had a gigantic Model Train layout and walk through passenger carriages from 1940’s. 
The Rural Museum section with a large range of mill steam engines, early 19th century agricultural machinery and much more.  This museum is well worth a look and you will need a whole day at least.
A visit to Cowra would not be a visit without going to the Japanese Gardens they are truly beautiful.
  In 1977 Ken Nakajima world famous landscape gardener was appointed as designer and is responsible for the final site choice. 

In October 1979 the garden became a full time tourist attraction. 

In 1986 stage two was finished and this completed the original plans of the Garden. 

The garden is just wonderful to walk through with the two lakes and surroundings very peaceful and serene.


We stopped at Mandurama which is near Lyndhurst,
















Sunday, 28 June 2009

Bonnie Vale Camping Ground Bundeena 2009




BONNIE VALE CAMPING GROUND
BUNDEENA

After spending a few years bushwalking and walking many times in various places in the Royal National Park there was just one little spot which had not been visited, Bundeena. 

On checking on the web we found Bonnie Vale Caravan/Camping ground this was a very pleasant family friendly park. 

Located on the north end of the Royal National Park it is an easy pleasant drive from the main park entrance at Loftus or catch a ferry from Cronulla, with a 15minute walk for Bundeena wharf. 




Bonnie Vale faces Port Hacking which allows for canoeing, small tinnies or inflatables and swimming, lots of walking tracks and fishing.

The grounds have been upgraded and the amenities although basic were superb. 

No powered sites, this is not a problem.  



No wood fires or wood barbeques allowed, there are several gas barbeques and picnic tables dotted around the area. 

These grounds are fully wheelchair accessible with wheelchair accessible toilets and disabled parking.


This is a very popular spot in summer and holiday times so bookings are essential at the Royal National Park Visitor Centre at Audley Weir and fees must be paid in advance.

On our visit we found the camping ground deserted as it was at the end of winter but still perfect walking around and watching the bird life, we were able to see spoonbills in a creek wading around in their natural habitat, a wonderful sight and in other areas cranes and other water birds enjoying their freedom. 

This is a spot we will definitely revisit and camp a while.





















Saturday, 13 June 2009

Vivid Sydney 2009


VIVID SYDNEY JUNE 2009

VIVID SYDNEY


We visited Sydney in 2009 for our first and only experience of Vivid Sydney.  We arrived early in the afternoon to take photos of the city before it became night time, it was a lot of fun.

When darkness came the color came alive a festival of light, music and illumination lighting up the Opera House, Customs House, the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Observatory. 








Viewing each building changing images and color and trying to capture this on photos which do not do the real scene any justice, the waterfront dazzling in light and color.









Vivid Sydney is an absolute delight to experience and we will go back for more.


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