The Carrington Hotel Katoomba

... to rain, so we gave up and went back to the hotel.

We were all really hungry this evening and somehow ended up eating some dodgy ‘all you can eat’ buffet. We did try our best to fill our boots, eating loads of giant prawns, seafood and then Chinese food, but it wasn’t the best food in the world and we were all left wondering whether we would be seeing it all again in a few hour’s time! (we didn’t).

... through tunnels and open faces of the cliff.

We walked along past the redundant coal mine, drinking water from a stream along the way (it did say it was drinkable, I hope the sign was correct!), to get to the Scenic Cable Car.

6. The Cable Car was nothing spectacular, just good views as you went up.

Caught the Trolley Bus to Leura where we had a Devonshire Tea and went to a lovely ...

... walk from the 3 sisters one of the main attractions in the BMs. The view was pretty amazing, didn't look very blue though (apparently from the haze of the eucalyptus trees). We went for a walk down to the 3 sisters where we walked across and you can stand on the nearest of the 3. We then went down into the valley where you can do an hours walk along the bottom before getting a cable care ride back up. Nicola & Sarah wimped out and took the more scenic ...

... Point not only viewed the Three Sisters, but the whole expanse of the Jamison Valley. It stretched for miles, and the canyon was rich in lush, thick vegetation that looked like a sea of greenery. I then decided to take the bus home and call it a day. I popped into the grocery shop on the way back and bought ingredients for Fiona's Pasta Surprise and cooked that.

The evening was very calm and relaxing. Most ...

... a two hour walk and you needed sturdy shoes, no sandals, etc., and I was pretty excited. In NZ everything was "easy enough to do in trainers" and Kristen and I were implicitly mocked for "looking the part," so I was happy to wear my hikers with pride. Of course the "walk" wasn't much walking at all really, as our guide stopped every 25 feet to look at something else or show us something else. His enthusiasm kept me from ...

... of ladies like myself heheh. I finished up the walk back at the touristy Scenic world where I took my first Skyway (giant cablecar) across the valley and past Orphan Rock. The car was so rammed that I couldnt really appreciate the view. But it DID have a glass bottom walkway which you could trot over and look down. I forced myself over the walkway even though i was slightly petrified of the skyway and we made it safe to the other side. I paid my 25 dollars for three rides then headed ...

... mom were there.  Michael came with Shanaenae and I later to see the midnight ones down by the Harbour Bridge.   We had originally found a space at the rocks, but fortunately they shot off a couple of fireworks early, so we could tell that we wouldn't be able to see them from our original place.  We moved to a spot just next to the bridge where we had a great view of the fireworks ove the Opera House, the fireworks they shot off the bridge itself, and a decent view of the fireworks that ...

... about. We did see a giant ram...concrete, not flesh and fur. The highway isn't too bad. But once you get closer in to Sydney, watch out for the Speed Cameras. I think I got caught by one or two of them. We'll find out if I get any tickets in the mail. We had to go to Sydney to pick up our SeeSydney Smartvisit cards. You pay a set amount of money and you get free admission and other freebies at lots of attractions. We got the 7 ...

... to health goes out the window for the night.  Fiona's fiancé is a wine buyer for a fancy restaurant in Sydney so dinner was not complete without several bottles of good wine and once I've had a glass or two what was a few more? Then after dinner we head off to the local hot-spot to hear a band play and guess what...have a few more drinks.  NEVER believe an Australian who says he can't drink because he's in training. That is complete BS! Finally ...

... the forest, which was not particularly taxing but was most pleasant.



Check out the size of these tree ferns!



We then decided to take "the world's steepest railway" back to the top. At its steepest point it's 52 degrees ...