Clare's adventures

New Year's Eve, Sydney

Wednesday, 1 Jan 2014 | Views [334]

What a way to welcome in the New Year and yes, the fireworks were indeed spectacular. We started with a boat trip from our luxurious apartment down the Paramatta river into Sydney Harbour. It was a real festival mood with hundreds and thousands of ... Read more >

Blue Mountains - canyons, cliffs and waterfalls

Sunday, 29 Dec 2013 | Views [1343]

The Blue Mountains - never heard of them but so glad we came. Two hours out of Sydney is a high sandstone plateau, carved into canyons and cliffs by rivers which now tumble thousands of feet over the edges. Covered with trees and plants only ever seen ... Read more >

Tags: blue mountains, trekking

Dolphins and a Great White shark at Byron Bay

Friday, 27 Dec 2013 | Views [1763]

Thanks to my very generous colleagues at Severnside Housing, we spent a fab morning kayaking in Byron Bay. The surf was fortunately quite calm as we paddled as furiously as Maori war canoeists to get out from the beach (singing Hawaii five-oh - well ... Read more >

Cuddles with koalas at Steve Irwin's zoo

Sunday, 22 Dec 2013 | Views [359]

Spent a day at Steve Irwin's zoo, founded by the late great man himself, he of crocodile and snake hunting fame - "crikey he's the most venomous dangerous snake in the world, let me just pick him up and put him near my face" - that Steve Irwin. Yes, ... Read more >

Tags: koala, steve irwin

Swimming with turtles

Saturday, 14 Dec 2013 | Views [732]

We went out ona boat to Lady Musgrave Island on the outer Great Barrier Reef, this place is simply paradise with a sting up its sleeve. The reef encircles a coral island and large seawater lagoon, perfect for diving and snorkelling. The sands are pure ... Read more >

Turtles at Mon Repos

Tuesday, 10 Dec 2013 | Views [345]

amazing experience watching turtles lay their eggs on a moonlit beach at Mon Repos near Bunderburg. We watched one Loggerhead turtle (about one metre long) come up the beach, dig a deep hole with her flippers and lay 131 eggs in it before burying them ... Read more >

Photos: First leg- Australia

Monday, 9 Dec 2013 | Photo Gallery

First steps - UK to Brisbane, Australia

Monday, 9 Dec 2013 | Views [327]

Finally, house sold, contents stored, rucksacks packed and ready to go - all 35 hours of travel by train, plane and foot from Shrewsbury UK to Brisbane, Australia. Brisbane is a very relaxed, friendly and civilised city full of parks, museums, galleries ... Read more >

Tags: brisbane