We were up early today, had a very quick breakfast and went down to the lobby in good time for our pick up at 0710 as we were going to visit the Blue Mountains and Featherdale Wildlife Park. We were met by our driver-guide for the day, Peter, who then proceeded to collect 3 more couples, all from the USA as it turned out, from other hotels.
We were a small fairly intimate group and got on very well together chatting thoroughout the day about our various travel experiences in Australia and elsewhere in the world. One couple had got engaged on the bridge walk yesterday, rather romantic!
We travelled to the Blue Moutains National Park and made our first stop for morning tea, coffee, Lamingtons and Anzac Cookies as a picnic at the base of an extinct volcano. We were all rewarded on arrival by the presence of two very small kangaroos who did not run away immediately and enthralled the rest of the party with their antics, none of them having seen kangaroos before. Even though Lesley and I had seen many during our time here, they were still enchanting. It was also fun to hear the bell birds again who apparently are fairly common in this area but, as in Melbourne where we first heard them, they tend to be in particular spots in the forest but for no apparent reason.
We then drove deeper into the park stopping at a number of viewing points. The first was a flat table of rock overlooking the valley shrouded in cloud, but very atmospheric.
The second allowed us to see the 3 sisters, who, according to a local story were always talking, making a noise and being quarrelsome and refusing to be quiet so the elder turned them into stone, where they stand today in silence!
The final spot, referred to as the Grand Canyon, certainly showed why this area is known as the Blue Mountains as, even though the sun was not shining brightly, neither was it very hot, there was an unmistakable blue haze and distinctive odour from the eucalyptus trees spread across the valley.
We lunched in Katoomba at the historic Heritage Inn with amazing views over the canyon and then drove to the wildlife park. I am not normally a great fan of such parks but this one is a private organisation, quite small with only indigenous animals, birds and reptiles.
We saw up close some species we had seen from a greater distance which allowed me to take some better photographs and we also saw some animals and birds we had only heard about. Chief amongst these were the Cassowary and Tasmanian Devil but there were also Wallabies, including one with a joey in their pouch, and several owls and other birds we had heard and possibly glimpsed through the trees but did not get a good look.
The park was well organised with some animals, such as wallabies, kangaroos and emus, roaming loose. We also saw several wombats, koalas and for the first time, 'Little Penguins' who can be found in several places in the South including at Manly and in Melbourne. The hour went very quickly and we were soon on our way back into Sydney.
Arriving back in our apartment we edited some photos, enjoyed the sunset from our balcony over a glass of wine and nibbles then went shopping further up George Street for provisions, made use of the free wifi at another shopping mall then went back to the apartment for dinner.
We watched Star Trek, First Contact, again then went to bed.
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