Australia & New Zealand - Day 39 - 4th July

Day 39


It's the first day of Cerys's school holiday and I have volunteered to look after her for the next two weeks Mon - Thurs while Amy & Alfie are in work. I've planned a few things and today we went whale watching.

Now I've been whale watching a few times previously with no success whatsoever, but this time it was different.  There were loads of sightings.

Sorry about the quality of the photographs but it was difficult to cope with a moving boat, moving subject and trying to focus quickly.

Cerys on the lookout for whales

It was not long after we sailed out of Sydney Harbour into the ocean beyond that there was an announcement that two Wales had been sighted directly ahead of our boat so we went outside and saw them both.

This was our very first sighting

Then this one

Then after that there were a number of them off to one side of the boat and we just sailed along with them.

After  a good while out at sea we headed back to the harbour and the view of the Sydney skyline in the background.

We passed very close to North Head and people were clearly seen at the lookouts here. It is a popular spot for whale watching.

As we entered the harbour we saw a seal having fun in the water just ahead of us.

As if we hadn't seen enough of the water, when we returned to Circular Quay, Cerys asked to go home on the Manley Ferry. The first thing she did when we got on board was take out her books and crayons and start colouring.

Australia & New Zealand - Day 38 - 3rd July

Day 38

Sunday morning and it's swimming for the kids so Amy stayed Home and Alfie and I took them to Lane Cove Aquatic centre for their lessons.

Cerys and I were later dropped off in the city by Alfie for our visit to the Crime and Justice Museum. This was probably a mistake as Cerys found a lot of the exhibits to be disturbing or even frightening.

The Crime & Punishment Museum

Exhibits - guns, knives and mugshots

She did like it in the courtrooms though, sat on the judges chair in an empty courtroom.

The judge in session

And here's a close up

So we left there and walked down to Circular Quay and booked to go Whale watching tomorrow with Fantasea Cruises

The boat we'll be out in tomorrow 

Then we went to Buckley's for lunch.  Cerys loved it there apart from the long wait for food because it was so busy.  A beautiful day and the crowds were out in numbers.

Waiting patiently

Getting restless 

Donning a Dragons cap

After finally receiving our food we caught the Manly Ferry, Colleroy back home.

The Colleroy 

Cerys on the ferry

And looking out at the Opera House

Australia & New Zealand - Day 37 - 2nd July

Day 37

What a way to start the day.  Up at 4.30 ready to watch Wales quarter final against Belgium, the highest ranked European country and second ranked overall in the world.

But Wales were magnificent. They only went and did it.  3 - 1. Feeling so proud at the moment.

I then enjoyed a leisurely morning while Dylan went to Little Kicks (football for little kids) and Cerys went to her Dance class. After lunch Amy, Cerys, Dylan and I went out to West Head Lookout. To get to it you have to go through Ku-ring-gai Chase a national park belonging to the local indigenous Aborigine people.

It is Sydney's most stunning lookout with views of Broken Bay, Pittwater and Barrenjoey Headland and lighthouse.

Looking out towards Broken Bay and Lion Island Nature Reserve 

Sailing boats entering Pittwater

Lion Island 

Leisurely sailing

Or more exhilarating

Across Pittwater to Palm Beach

Barrenjoey Headland and lighthouse 

Cerys and Dylan seemed to enjoy it there

After returning home we all got ready and went out for our evening meal. But not before Alfie and Amy stopped of to vote in the General Election.  It is law here that if you are eligible to vote, you have to vote and it seems to be accepted.

We then went to the Terry Hills Tavern for Dinner, a big, bustling, children friendly place with a large menu.  It also had a delightful outdoor eating area which was packed when we left.

Terry  Hills Tavern 

The outside seating area 

Australia & New Zealand - Day 36 - 1st July

Day 36

Well I've had a very domesticated day today,  It started out by talking Cerys and Dylan to school this morning followed by a McDonald's breakfast at Forestway Shops.

Forestway shops

Forestway shops

Then it was off to Castle Hill with Amy to pick the fabric for the blinds they had recently ordered.

Blinds from Shutters Australia, Castle Hill 

When that was sorted we went to Belrose to check out home furnishings and furniture. Only bought a few small items but Amy came back with loads of ideas.

Belrose Super Centre 

Back home after this before Amy went to pick up the kids from school and I prepared the evening meal.

Tomorrow we are off to West Head and there will be stunning photographs from there.