New South Wales - Sydney. 30th December 2005 - 5th January 2006

Sydney

Sydney would have to be one of my favorite cities in the world and believe me, I haven't just lived in Australia all my life...OK....I will admit it..I was born in Birmingham (Sutton Coldfield to be precise) but that's not at all a camparison to Sydney but in my view, niether is San Fran..

Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb

Lynne, Beth Chloe and Dan will be venturing on one of Sydneys Highlights. I know...Ive done it. They are doing the Twilight Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb. BridgeClimb is a 3½ hour adventure and an experience that will never be forgotten on one of the world's most modern wonders … The Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Spending approximately two hours on the bridge itself, they weave through catwalks, up ladders and then to the most spectacular point of all - the upper arch Climb. At this point these guys not only have a birds eye view of the beautiful Sydney Harbour and city, but have the exhilaration of a truly rewarding experience of reaching the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Early Twilight Climbs take place as the sun goes down. In this period most of the Climb is by daylight and you are offered a breathtaking 360-degree view of the world's most beautiful harbour and its surroundings. Depending on the weather, you may experience the magic of the sun setting while you are on the arch, and will return to Climb base after the sun dips beneath the horizon. If the sun is not visible, you will enjoy the drama of the darkening sky and appearance of the city lights, signalling a close to the day and the night world coming alive.

The Blue Mountains While I was in Sydney, I operated tours to this region. I worked for many companies while based in and around Sydney but my fav was Wild Escapes which is the company I have selected and advised Lynne and her family as a choice of tour to the Blue Mountains.

Australian Wild Escapes - Blue Mountains High Country Ecotour
This fantastic Ecotour begins at your hotel & the historical Rocks area of old Sydney. Heading westwards across the coastal plain they make their way to the Great Dividing Range of Australia. It is here you will leave the ‘average’ Blue Mountains tourist behind & enter the National Park to unlock a piece of Australia you would never have known existed.

We visit an ancient Aboriginal site & outstanding lookouts; examine rock formations & the unusual plants & wildlife that abound the area. From the quaint little village of Leura we skirt around Cliff Drive to Katoomba where you will find yourself looking out over the magnificent Jamieson Valley (Australia’s Grand Canyon) & the Three Sisters.

You will enjoy a delicious barbeque lunch including a selection of fine Australian wines with a cheese platter under the canopy of the Australian bush. Before returning to Sydney you'll drop into a hidden valley where we roam the area, seeking out the many kangaroos that graze in the wild (conditions permitting). Reluctantly we leave the National Park passing through the Olympic 2000 site, arriving at your hotel around 5.30pm.

The Blue Mountains and it's legends
The Legend...
The Aboriginal dream-time legend has it that three sisters, 'Meehni', 'Wimlah' and Gunnedoo' lived in the Jamison Valley as members of the Katoomba tribe.
These beautiful young ladies had fallen in love with three brothers from the Nepean tribe, yet tribal law forbade them to marry.
The brothers were not happy to accept this law and so decided to use force to capture the three sisters causing a major tribal battle.
As the lives of the three sisters were seriously in danger, a witchdoctor from the Katoomba tribe took it upon himself to turn the three sisters into stone to protect them from any harm. While he had intended to reverse the spell when the battle was over, the witchdoctor himself was killed. As only he could reverse the spell to return the ladies to their former beauty, the sisters remain in their magnificent rock formation as a reminder of this battle for generations to come.

The Blue Mountains