Early starts are becoming quite common these days so just after 7-15am we were waiting for our bus for today's trip. We were to join a group of eight others and our guide/driver, Justine. He was insistent that it was 'Timberlake' not 'Bieber'!! Which caused quite a lot of merriment.
Our journey took us across the harbour bridge and out into the suburbs and onto Sydneys superb tunnel and motorway system . Justin telling us lots about the redevelopment of the suburbs and the new housing plans. Some really nice properties about.
Our first stop was the Featherdale Wildlife park.we had been there before but it was great to see the park and the animals without the damp and drizzle of before. It was breakfast time for the marsupials so most for them were up and about. We saw wallabies and kangaroos, wombats and then it was our turn to go cuddle a koala. They are still cute and quite cuddly and this one was especially keen to eat his eucalyptus. After this it was penguins, birds and dingos.
A great visit.
Next it was up into the Blue Mountains, Justin was soon full of information about plants and how they have adapted to the prospect of fire that occur most summers here as the area becomes so dry. He also told us the story of the Three Sisters whose father, a great chief, turned them into stone to save them from a ban yip. He then turned himself into a lyre bird who spends his time searching for a magic bone to turn them back into humans . The noise the bird makes is said to be him reassuring them he is still looking! He said there were lots of variations on this story but this is the most interesting!
Next was lunch - chicken pesto pasta followed by pavlova!! Yum. The restaurant where we ate had an interesting shop and museum with lots of really interesting displays.
From lunch it was off to the Botanical gardens; this one specialising in the plant life from the mountain areas so lots of trees and low plants. The. Is it started with Justin producing bottles of sparkling wine for us all to enjoy a drink before we looked around.The views across the gardens and the mountains were spectacular.
Sadly this was our last stop and we were soon making the return journey back to Sydney.
Another great day and we get to do this all again tomorrow!