National Botanic Gardens, Canberra
Sturt Desert Pea, Australian National Botanic Gardens
After our short holiday in Sydney last year we drove to Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory. We were visiting friends of our daughter. After unloading the car we had a few hours in the afternoon free so we decided to head over the the Australian National Botanic Gardens.
These botanic gardens would have to be our favourite such garden in Australia. On our last visit in 2007 we spent a whole day there. This time we only had a few hours on a beautiful summer’s afternoon and evening.
I had a great time photographing birds and flowers. My wife concentrated on the plants only while our daughter found several comfortable seats to read a book.
Banksia flower, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra
Flower in the fern gully, Australian National Botanic Gardens
National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour
National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour, Sydney
National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour, Sydney
National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour, Sydney
The South Steyne Floating Restaurant
South Steyne floating restaurant, Darling Harbour, Sydney
The South Steyne is one of Sydney’s old ferries. We passed it while walking through Darling Harbour on our recent holiday in Sydney. It is permanently moored there now and is used as a floating restaurant and function centre. It has a long an interesting history. The following is taken from its website:
The S.S. South Steyne is a 224′ (70 metre)
long steamship making it the world’s largest operational steam ferry. Built in Leith, Scotland for the Port Jackson and Manly Steamship Company, the South Steyne was launched on April 1st, 1938 and on July 7th 1938, it steamed the 22,000 kilometres to Australia arriving on September 19th the same year. The South Steyne has been an icon of Sydney since 1938. As the famous Manly ferry, it crossed between Circular Quay and Manly over 100,000 times over its 36 years, carrying well in excess of 92 million passengers.
You can read more about this ferry on its website here.
Sydney Mono Rail
Mono Rail, Darling Harbour, Sydney
A few years ago while on a holiday in Sydney my wife and I took a ride on the mono rail. We didn’t go on it on our most recent trip to Sydney. Instead we walked under it so I was able to get several good shots of this transport system.
The Sydney Mono Rail takes passengers through some of the CBD and links with several railway stations on the subway system. It also links with both trains and light rail trams at Central Station.
This is an excellent way of seeing some of the highlights of the city, with stops at some of the main features of interest, such as Darling Harbour where I took these photos.
Mono rail, Darling Harbour, Sydney
Sydney Harbour Water Taxis
Water taxi on Darling Harbour, Sydney
One of the fascinating things about places like Sydney Harbour is the constantly moving water traffic. There are boats of all sizes, from great sleek cruise ships with several thousand passengers through to small dinghies with one passenger out fishing. And everything in between. All shapes and sizes, colours and purposes.
One of the common types on Sydney Harbour are the water taxis, like the one shown above. This morning I checked out some websites because I knew very little about them. The few companies I checked out claimed that they will pick up passengers almost anywhere, including beaches. They will likewise take you almost anywhere on the harbour much faster than public transport or even driving there yourself.
That’s probably true and they do look very convenient. There’s only one catch: you need a very deep pocket as they are relatively expensive. Yes – they might be quick, but it will cost you. Mind you, it would be a great way to have a private cruise of the harbour if you had a large group of people, say 20-30 to share the cost.