too old for dreads

We’ve talked for years about getting to Australia and always promised our friends Tess & Ben that we would get to see them …one day. Finally we’re here and we’re loving the Sydney life. 

Thanks to T&B for their outstanding Australian hospitality – and for the use of their washing machine. We’re clean again now.

India was all about contrasts; from the weather to the food and from the welcome we got to the variety of the places visited. Australia is already giving us a whole lot of contrasts, some of which we weren’t expecting. 

Our first day started with a beautiful walk along Mona Vale beach – one of the Northern beaches in Sydney. What a fantastic spot and a great place to clear the head and get rid of jet-lag. And of course this is just one of hundreds of beaches to choose from up and down this incredible coast line. What’s not to love?

From the beach it was back to West Pymble and to the amazing Australian garden birds (no ‘little brown jobs’ in this country); Rainbow Lorikeets that eat from your hand, Parakeets by the dozen and noisy Cockatoos screeching from the trees. Then we discovered a secret Sydney contrast – the sun went down and it was absolutely freezing. Whatever anyone tells you, take our word for it that Sydney can get cold! Socks in bed that night. 

The next day it was back to the sunshine and heat and the Australia we all imagine. What a city this is. 

It’s so naturally and effortlessly beautiful with a drop dead gorgeous view around every headland. What a contrast to India (and to the UK for that matter); it’s spotlessly clean and tidy and everyone is so friendly. It’s a refreshing change from the dirt and mess (but loads of charm) of the last couple of weeks. 

Today we’re up in the Blue Mountains staying in Katoomba for a couple of days. It’s a 90 minute drive from Sydney and the views deep into the rainforest from the cliff side are extraordinary. 

The legendary Three Sisters (top left of the pic) are an amazing sight. The whole thing is made more incredible by the fact that the view in this pic is from a road at the end of the town. Katoomba just stops and then the vista and miles and miles of rainforest opens up in front of you. Beautiful – if not a tad touristy. We’ve got stuck-in today as tourists (I’d prefer to say we’re ‘travelling’) and it’s true to say that Oz does the whole tourist thing very well. Scenic World (dreadful name) is brilliantly designed and a great way of seeing the Blue Mountains from cable cars and from the world’s steepest railway. Great job all round Oz. 

And speaking of contrasts, it was high 20s / low 30s yesterday as we hiked through the Bush to Mackerel Bay. What a place that is. Only accessible by footpath or boat and just a perfect beach. We got ourselves in the sea and saw a pod of dolphins swim by. All very beautiful. Amazing spot for a summer house (there are quite a few on the market Google ‘houses for sale in Mackerel Bay NSW’ for a bit of property porn). Anyone fancy going halves? 

Today as we climbed in to the mountains the temperature plummeted. It’s currently 10 degrees, windy and a bit damp. This isn’t the Australia we all envisage. It’s still incredibly beautiful though and we’re all set for a walk tomorrow down in to the valley and through the rainforest. Can’t wait. 

And then we’re off to Tasmania. Spring may not have fully sprung there (it definitely has here – the Japanese tourists are loving the cherry blossoms around the town) and it’s definitely going to be a tad chilly.

We’re already 10,500 miles from home and going to Tassie will truly feel like being on the other side of the world.