The Manly Ferry, Sydney
Manly Beach, Sydney
During our visit to Sydney in December 2008 we took the train into the city and then caught the Manly Ferry. This huge ferry seats over a thousand people and it was hard to find a seat. I guess everyone was heading to the beach at Manly that afternoon. It certainly is a popular place.
Crowded Manly Ferry, Sydney Harbour
The ferry ride takes about a half hour. During the journey all passengers are treated to magnificent views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the many bays and points along the harbour. It is a very relaxing way to see the sights of Sydney Harbour. On a hot day it can also be very refreshing with the cool breeze off the water.
Taking the Manly Ferry was one thing I really wanted to do on this particular trip to Sydney. On our last trip we didn’t take a ferry on the harbour.
One of the many ferries at Circular Quay, Sydney
Lizards of Lane Cove National Park, Sydney
No Comments »18th January, 2009; Category: Animals, Hiking, Holidays, National Parks, New South Wales, Sydney
Eastern Water Dragon, Lane Cove National Park, Sydney
A few days after Christmas last year we had a family get together picnic while we were in Sydney. We all went to the Lane Cove National Park for lunch. While there we saw numerous Eastern Water Dragons moving around the picnic area. Some of them posed nicely for my camera. Two of them, one a baby, even came to visit my wife while she was sitting at a picnic table reading; they went between her feet.
Several of us went on a short hike through the park. We were lucky enough to see a large goanna crawling up a tree. It was hard to get a good photo as he kept much of the tree trunk between us and him. The photo below is the best I managed.
Goanna, Lane Cove National Park, Sydney
Picnic lunch at Lane Cove National Park, Sydney
No Comments »16th January, 2009; Category: Holidays, National Parks, New South Wales, Picnics, Sydney
Picnic spot in Lane Cove National Park, Sydney
After our walk through a part of the Lane Cove National Park in Sydney we joined the rest of the family for a picnic lunch. We were soaked through as a result of the walk, mostly due to the heat and humidity.
Lunch was mainly leftovers from our Christmas Day family lunch two days earlier. Christmas leftovers make an excellent basis for a picnic lunch. After our delicious meal we sat around chatting for a few hours.
Picnic spot in Lane Cove National Park, Sydney
A walk in Lane Cove National Park
1 Comment »14th January, 2009; Category: Birds, Hiking, Holidays, National Parks, New South Wales, Picnics, Sydney, Walking
Lane Cove National Park, Sydney
Several days after Christmas the family had another reunion, this time in the Lane Cove National Park. This park is about a ten minute drive from my son’s home in Artarmon, Sydney. we knew it would probably be somewhat busy because of the Christmas holiday break, so we went early. Before having lunch four of us went for an hour and a half walk through the park.
Members of my family going on a walk through Lane Cove National Park
It was quite hot and humid with no breeze, so in no time we were all soaked from the effort. My son and I had our cameras and we were on the lookout for interesting things to photograph, especially birds. I think I may have converted him to being a moderate birder after he was pleased to receive a bird field guide for Christmas. Perhaps “bird photographer” would be a better appellation.
Lane Cove National Park, Sydney
2008 Road Trip: Unexpected Christmas visitors
Blue Tongue Lizard
On our 2008 Road Trip to Sydney our main objective was to reach Sydney in time for Christmas. This was so we could spend Christmas and New year with our son and daughter in law who live in Artarmon, just a few train stops north of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. This time our daughter came along too, so it was also a family reunion.
We had a great Christmas lunch and were joined by our daughter in law’s relatives; it was good to see all of them again too. L’s parents only live a half hour drive from us, but we rarely get to see them, so it was good that they could fly over from Adelaide for the festivities. As usual I ate too much for lunch. And dinner.
In the afternoon we were relaxing out on the back lawn. The more energetic ones played a few games; the rest of us chatted and snoozed during the balmy afternoon.
During our post lunch siesta we were visited by a beautiful butterfly. It was a Dainty Swallowtail Papilio anactus and is shown in the photo below. They are quite common in the Sydney area.
Most people drifted indoors late in the afternoon, but my son and I stayed outside chatting. We, too, rarely get together these days, except on the phone. When everything was quiet the resident Blue Tongue Lizard came out to see what all the fuss had been about.
Dainty Swallowtail Papilio anactus