Picked up at 07.30 this morning to transfer to the 08.00 coach for The Great Ocean Road trip. Long coach drive today, but with numerous stops for photos/comfort breaks. First spectacular view of the day was some of the Twelve Apostles (only 6 or 8 left)!

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Driving on to the Razorback :

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Moving on further to Shipwreck Bay:

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Next was the formation named London Bridge (with the left hand span recently disintegrated):

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Lunch was had in Port Campbell, which was known to be the safest harbour for early settlers, due to the high limestone cliffs providing shelter from storms. We were now on the Great Ocean Road built by WW1 survivors in memory of their fallen comrades. Further stop at Cape Otway, and again a bit further on to photograph a mob of Eastern Grey Kangaroos hopping about a field (photo below- roos in distance- you’ll need to take my word for it! ).

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Back to hotel just after 8pm after a long, but very interesting day!

Now to do a small bit of repacking in readiness for the homeward flight tomorrow. Arrive back about lunchtime on Tuesday .

Finally, an amusing shot from one of the delicatessen stalls at the Queen Victoria Market yesterday:

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Thanks for reading some of these blogs – hope they haven’t been too boring!

A morning of wine tastings – well, someone has to do it!

First one was the Dominique Portet vinery, owned by a French family but now producing wine from their own vineyards just outside Melbourne. Our oenologist is pictured below –

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Moved 15mins down the road to the Rochford winery. Nicer wines here – in fact, we purchased a few bottles! Picture follows of the tasting.

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Drove on to the small town of Healesville, and stopped only long enough to grab some lunch – typically of Australia a small lunch is huge – a BLT sandwich arrives 6″ high!

We had to rush on to meet our booking on the Puffing Billy Steam Train, departing from Menzies Creek to Lakeside. A few photos follow which show that we weren’t travelling business class! A grand journey was had, however, on this 2ft 6in gauge railway run entirely by volunteers. Built around 1860 it served the people of the area for a number of years before going in to disrepair. Now fully restored, it is a major tourist attraction –

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Dropped back at hotel around 5pm, in time for us to walk to the Comedy Theatre for tonight’s performance of Barnum. Unfortunately, the publicity hadn’t made clear that this was the opening night of a week of previews, not the opening night of the run! Pre-show, we were warned by the Director, that there may have to be some stops during the show for technical reasons – there was one, when a clipped on backcloth became detached on one side, and the scene had to be restarted. Good physical theatre in the show, inc acrobatics, hoop, trapeze and silks, although one of the two girls on the silks was definitely not having a good silk day! Excellent entry by the female Ringmaster who dropped horizontally from the fly into the outstretched arms of 4 guys!

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Barnum was obviously, locally, well known, since all his asides and ad libs brought cheers from the audience. Charity was excellent as was Jenny Lind – who was born in Aberdeen, Scotland.

Back now to get this done and prepare for an early start tomorrow.

Yesterday’s blog now updated with photos!

Early start this morning (without the aid of a fire alarm!). Left hotel at 7.15am for coach transfer to airport, to catch the 09.30 to Melbourne – our last internal flight of the trip! Landed in Melbourne 1hr30 later, and met by coach to do an orientation tour of the City. Visited areas such as North, South and West Melbourne, together with Docklands, Southbank, Carlton and Fitzroy. Short stops at Cooks Cottage – relocated brick by brick from it’s original home in Yorkshire.

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Another stop at the huge Queen Victoria Market, featuring amazing selections of fruit and veg, meat and fish of all sorts! Had a snack for lunch here too.

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Were also given close up views of the collection of sports arenas inc. Melbourne Cricket Ground, Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.

Taken along part of the Yarra River and other areas which included buildings of architectural interest.

Dropped at hotel at shortly after 4pm – no complaints from anyone!

Anzac Day over here.

Earliest start so far, thanks to a fire alarm in our hotel at just after 4am. Thankfully it was a false alarm and the Voice Evac System stood us down before we left the room. Back to bed and sleep!

Headed into town about 10am to watch countless military personnel, together with brass and pipe bands from all over Australia and New Zealand, marching through the centre of Sydney. Fly pasts of all sorts if military aircraft- old and new. March past lasted three hours, we lasted about 1hr in the glaring sun. Sorry cannot upload any photos of march past, since WordPress won’t allow me to upload video.

There followed a walk via Circular Quay to the Opera House for a tour.

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Interesting tour of Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland theatre. Also on roof beside the ceramic tiles that make up the shells.

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And a few more photos of the Opera House.

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Different sort of day today! Alison got rid of me for the day! Needed after three and a half weeks! I did one of the optional trips to the Blue Mountains, accompanied by 4 others from our group. Joined another 30 from various other tour groups of varying nationalities. First stop at Featherdale Zoo Park. Not our favourite method of seeing the indigenous animals, birds and reptiles, nevertheless a few photos follow:

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Driving on to the lunch stop in the small town of Leura- very pleasant. Onward to reach the Blue Moutains, so named since they are covered in eucalyptus trees which, in the middle of the day, exude a sap on their leaves, which in the bright sunlight give them a blue sheen from a distance. Main viewing was from Scenic World, a collection of aerial and train access which transported us to the rim of the rainforest valley.

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This huge circular valley is claimed to be Australia’s equivalent of the Grand Canyon in the US. The various hairy means of access were another reason that Alison didn’t attempt this trip. The first was the Skyway, a 6min crossing at a height of 270m in a cabin with a glass floor and containing apx 100 people. The second, was the Cableway. Again a large single cabin without the glass floor, but a much steeper descent for about 5 mins. At this point there was the opportunity to take a long or a short boardwalk. The 5 of us chose the former which included passing a number of modern art installations,

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at the end of the 1hr walk we joined a train – claimed to be the steepest train journey in the world!

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– returning us to the Scenic World departure point once again. Eventually managed to travel on, once we recovered some Columbians who had got lost – in the souvenir shop! Brief stop at Echo Point to get some good photos of the Blue Mountains and the Three Sisters rock formations.

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Taken back in the direction of Sydney and dropped at the Quay to board a ferry on the Parramatta River to cover the final leg of the journey back to Sydney via the Harbour, Bridge and Opera House. A few messages arranged to meet Alison for tea, and discover what she had got up to today.

Alison’s day had started about 08.30 with a walk down Macquarie Street,

admiring Parliament House and the Mint,

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before continuing on to Circular Quay.

A walk to The Rocks ensued with the necessary stop for coffee. Browsed the shops and walkways in the area, before heading round the Quay to the Opera House. Return journey included the Botanic Garden, St Mary’s Cathedral

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and on go Hyde Park,

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with a stop to view the Anzac Memorial – more about that tomorrow.

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Morning drive today, heading further south towards Sydney. Brief comfort stop at a service station en route.

Then plans changed! We were due at Sydney’s Circular Quay to be on board the ship at 12.30pm, for a cruise, with lunch, round Sydney Harbour. However, roadworks connected with Sydney’s new tramline installation fooled our driver’s Truck Nav, causing us to miss the boat. Does this sound familiar to anyone who has had to drive in Edinburgh recently? Driver John totally devastated, and Tour Director, Marcus, into “change of plan” mode! Discussion with the ship tour office found us now booked on an evening dinner cruise with additional free bubbly and wine. Also brought forward was our city tour by coach. A call to the Sydney coach company doing the City tour, enabled this to be brought forward, and 30min later we were on another coach and setting off on a very comprehensive, and well commentated tour including The Rocks, Chinatown, Paddington, Circular Quay, Woolloomooloo, and finally Bondi Beach.

Felt the Harbour Bridge actually looked a bit grimy, and is definitely no match for the Forth Rail Bridge!

A couple of iconic images of Sydney follow, followed by 3 or 4 of Bondi Beach.

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This time our local Sydney driver returned us to the Quay in plenty time for our evening cruise. A pleasant dinner was served shortly after departure, with the bubbly and wine of course! Some photos follow of Sydney Harbour at night.

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We all reckoned we scored with the evening cruise rather than the lunch one.

On return to quayside our coach was waiting to transfer us to the Sydney Boulevard Hotel.

And thus an exciting day ends!

Left Coff’s Harbour this morning, continuing on our way to Sydney. First leg today, 200km. Morning comfort stop at Port Macquarie a small town of apx 45000 inhabitants, originally noted for its sugar cane industry – however, no longer.

Lunch stop at the lovely small town of Tea Garden, situated on the Myall River, which, in turn flows into Nelson Bay.

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After a light lunch boarded coach once more for another 150km drive, stopping next at the Hunter Valley Winery. Introductory talk in vineyard,

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followed by DVD of making, and then a tasting of 3 whites and 3 reds – very palatable!

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Relocated to coach and 10mins later arrived at hotel. Negotiated check-in and chose to experience a bar meal tonight. Very enjoyable, without any of the hastles of last night!

End of the longest driving day of the trip!

Onward into Sydney tomorrow!

Have a good day and sleep well everyone!

Departed Brisbane today for Sydney. Two day trip by coach stopping tonight in Coffs Harbour. However, before leaving Brissy, John, our driver/guide, gave us a final tour of the city, stopping for a photo call at Kangaroo Point.

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After sufficient clicking, we moved on through miles of countryside to Danger Point. This, we were reliably informed, is the most easterly point of Australia. Found this colourful koala outside an art shop on the main street.

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Captain Cook Memorial and Lighthouse at Danger Point on the shore, together with long beaked bird. Helen, your colleague, Ian, might identify!

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And some other views of Danger Point!

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The first photo above shows an ultra-modern house built on the cliff by a retired opthalmologist (with obviously too much money!).

Onward to Byron Bay. A paradise for beach lovers and surfers! There is a main lighthouse for Byron Bay, located on top of the hill, which you might see in the next photo –

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The town was however choc-a-block with visitors for the Easter weekend Blues Festival, so plans were changed to travel on to Bangalow for lunch. Interesting glass art workshop which specialised in lampshades made of copper-edged glass triangles and rhombi.

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Another shop found good uses for Easter Bunnies – sorry about the reflection –

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Moved on another 70+ km, for a brief stop at the small town of MacLean – named after Alexander Grant MacLean, former NSW Surveyor General. Claims to be “the Scottish town in Australia.”

Piled back on the coach and after a number of quizzes soon arrived at Coffs Harbour and our apartment hotel – in the middle of nowhere – so, we were advised to book a table in the hotel restaurant for dinner.

Appeared in the restaurant at 6pm as arranged to be told that they were fully booked and couldn’t take us before 8pm! Back to reception to complain. Unhelpful guy, purporting to be the restaurant manager was summoned, who told us there was nothing he could do – even with 50 empty seats in the room? Sorry mate,please don’t mess with me when I’m hungry!😈. So, back to room and quick email to our Tour Director. Phone call a few minutes later from Marcus to say if we could come down in 10 mins, they would find a table for us. Duly did, and met by Marcus, who was on the case, not only for us, but, also for others in the group. He had been in touch with the hotel manager suggesting they up their game or risk losing Titan’s custom, which is, apparently substantial. Anyway, good meal and back to room to do ironing – the ironing board fell apart! Give up for day, and write blog – maybe a Trip Adviser report too, and get myself banned from yet another restaurant. Not that I’m likely to be back here anyway !

Better day tomorrow, hopefully!

Had brekkie this morning after a gap of 2 or 3 days. Alison took a wander into town while I showered and breakfasted. While in town she discovered there was a National Brass Band competition on today, all the 50 bands competing were currently marching down Adelaide Street.

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We decided mid morning to have a wander to downtown Brisbane. This took a bit longer than expected, due to having to dodge torrential showers – some longer than others! Not having packed anything waterproof! I decided to bite the bullet and purchase a waterproof jacket – put to good use today! Passed the Anzac Memorial on the way

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Visited the City Hall just in time go hear the results and adjudication for the junior section bands. A visit to the Brisbane Museum, housed in the same building, followed. One of the first exhibits we came upon was this main entrance door from Brisbane House in Largs!

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Before leaving the hotel this morning, I booked a cruise on the Brisbane River for this afternoon, so with a couple of hours to fill in before said cruise, we took the river taxi to the south bank and had a wander along there. Carved Japanese house, below, was a remnant of the 1988 EXPO.

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Further along was the Centre for Peforming Arts, just spilling out after a Roald Dahl children’s performance. Had a quick look in the auditorium before I was evicted by an over- enthusiastic usherette!

Boarded the MV Neptune for a two hour cruise down the river and back- seeing Brisbane from a different perspective as the 18th century Custom House shows, surrounded by modern day skyscrapers.

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Also a paddle steamer tourist boat still being used.

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Further along on the South Bank we passed the sheer cliffs at Kangaroo Point. These were left over from old quarry workings which provided a large quantity of the sandstone, Brisbane Tuff, which found it’s way in to the building of much of Brisbane’s 18th century architecture. Now used as a popular training area for rock climbing and abseiling, due to it’s proximity to Brisbane’s Main hospital!

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Back ashore, and after getting the River Cat back to the North bank, decided that dinner tonight would be at the aptly described “typical British Pub” , the Pig and Whistle. Back to hotel to scribble this, and being reminded that I didn’t mention in last night’s blog that we had part of our dinner in darkness thanks to a blackout in the premises!

Good night to all

Coach waiting at 09.00 to whisk us to Brisbane. Journey time about 2.5hrs (135km).

A couple of stops en route. The first at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. Really a small zoo for indigenous animals, marsupials, birds and reptiles. Apx 170 very sleepy koalas,

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plus opportunity to see wombats, kangaroos, dingos, platypuses, birds by the dozen etc,

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in addition to Tasmanian Devils, but, the little devils wouldn’t emerge from their hidey holes. Spent about 90mins here before journeying on to Mount Cool-Tha Summit Lookout. The Aboriginal “Cool-Tha” translates as “place of honey” the honey made in the area by a species of stingless bee – we need them in the UK!

Fantastic views over Brisbane in it’s spread-out entirety.

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It used to be the largest city (in area) in the world, but now it ranks seventh.

On further in to Brisbane city, but before arriving at the Novotel Brisbane, our driver, Michael, gave us a comprehensive tour of the city centre.

Out for some food later, found a sort of pub – full of locals, so thought, this can’t be too bad – and it wasn’t!

Back to do this blog and chill!

Roll on free day in the city tomorrow!