Mount 'N' Beach safari!

Final full day in Sydney and we get a 7.30am pick up from the hotel for the Mount 'N' Beach safari. Basically it's a trip to the Blue Mountains 70km west of Sydney (140km by road). We were picked up by Mel in her 4x4 minibus:


Mel is a real Sheila, big, loud and great fun. She quickly got to know everyone's name on the bus (15 people in all) and gave us all a commentary and a history of Sydney, the suburbs, the Blue Mountains and the plants and wildlife. Her enthusiasm was infectious.

First stop was in the bush at a camp stop and hopefully a wild Kangaroo to view. She explained the local kangaroos were grey kangaroos and not the big red kangaroos you find in the centre. She also explained there were many different types. We're in luck and see wild kangaroos for the first time:


Then off to the blue mountains and spectacular views:


The mountains are 1017m above sea level and despite being shrouded in sunshine it's quite nippy. From our first view point we moved onto a sky lift across the mountains delivering more spectacular views:


We got talking to another couple on the trip with a son also aged 13 years. Incredibly they are from Esher and used to live in Hersham!


We then travelled to the base of the valley on the steepest train in the world:


As we got on, Les wearing his 'Indiana Jones' style fedora hat gets approached by one of the staff who says, "alright Indy, you're going to love this journey, wait 'till you hear the music" the train sets off full of people, Les wearing his Indiana Jones fedora to the theme tune of the Indiana Jones films! Very embarrassing! Still at the bottom, we wander through the woods on raised platforms looking at the birds and wildlife before getting a sky lift back to the top:


The off to a hotel in a mountain village for lunch. After lunch we set off to a wildlife park that rescues animals that have been orphaned or injured in the wild. They have over 2200 animals and is entirely sponsored by public contribution. It's smaller that the place we visited near Perth but you get quite close to most of the animals:


Calum and Jen with a sleeping Wombat


Jen and Calum feeding the grey kangaroos

Then back to the hotel dropping off people as we go. We see new bits of Sydney we haven't time to see fully. We will miss this place, it's very special. Calum loved the roof pool and jacuzzi:


Even at night the views from the hotel are fantastic towards the bay. You can just make out the bridge:


Off to see Jen's cousin Julian in Melbourne tomorrow!

More to follow:

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