A coastal walk in Maroubra with a swim in the sea pool and brekkie, of course!
Jacarandas in bloom…
Lorikeets in the front garden (I do love these birds)
Shanes’s birthday dinner with the gang ahead of our trip to Vanuatu. Delicious Mexican food at Nu’u by Nativo and a really good spicy margarita.
Watching the main man play baseball.
Poolside drinks in the garden.
Lunch with Hilary and a visit to her new office along with some shameless advertising of her amazing business that is now ten years old. Go Titian Consulting!
An aerial view over New Caledonia on the way home from Vanuatu (see seperate blog post for the week in Vanuatu – it was spectacular).
Arriving back to Sydney and seeing the beautiful coastline …. Manly beach I believe…..
A visit to the New South Wales gallery to see the new wing and some contemporary art.
Some beach time at Brighton Le Sands. The water was so warm and as there are no huge waves I was able to swim between the nets… delighted with myself as I could actually do laps!
Dinner at St Georges Sailing club for sunset and of course a shnitty!
A visit to “Ramses and the Gold of the Pharaohs” exhibition at the Australia museum plus a little bit of shopping in town as there was rain.
Got to play tennis a few times with my Greek ladies and it was a blast. The walk home along the coast was stunning.
A week in Queensland where we stayed at Kirra beach and I was able to get into the water everyday. We arrived late Friday night and were up early to tick a new parkrun off the list… Varsity Lakes. A 7am start and it was still roasting!
Post parkrun we jump through some fairly strong waves (well strong for me) at Kirra beach and then walk towards town for some brekkie. In the afternoon we do a little shopping and then have one at Precinct Brewing in Miami (yes Miami!!)
On Sunday we take a trip to Springbrook National Park. This national park makes up a quarter of the UNESCO world heritage listed Gondwana rainforest. We get a great view of Mount Warning and the surrounding hills and countryside, see all sorts of lizards and beautiful birds and there are plenty of wallabies on the road but they scarper when they hear the car coming. We also see two beautiful rosellas bathing in water – beautiful blue and red birds.
We walk the Twin Falls circuit and see two separate waterfall from a number of vantage points including walking behind the falls.
It was a really hot morning but the coolness from the waterfalls was really pleasant and the walk was mostly shaded by trees.
Beautiful viewpoints out over the valley. I was fascinated by the one small red colour among all the green vegetation.
A short drive away (but still part of the heritage site) we visit Natural Bridge where I saw a snake very close up and some bats in a cave. There are glow worms in the cave but you can’t get far enough in away from daylight to see them well.
The drive there and back was really lovely. We drive through some farmland and stop at a farm shop where I buy a fruit that I’ve never heard of before…..
Black sapote fruit aka “chocolate fruit” that we picked up at a roadside farm shop. It really does taste like chocolate – looks awful but it was delicious.
Tonight we have mushroom and truffle pizza from Bread and Butter – one of the best pizzas I’ve ever had… and some nice Aussie cider from Barossa.
During the week I take advantage of being across from the beach and fit in as much as possible…. A game of tennis in Terranora with Greg & Kylie.
After a couples match, us ladies teamed up to beat the lads!!
Cocktail time on Shane’s mums veranda looking out on the valley … always a stunning view.
I made a spinach dip in a cob loaf that I came across in the Cole’s magazine (Cole’s is like Dunnes or SuperValu for my Irish friends) and I have to say, it was delicious. I will definitely be making this at some stage over the upcoming festive season. I also packed from Dublin a bottle of Moet & Chandon which was a gift for my 50th and it was lovely to share it here.
Shane’s mam cooks a beautiful piece of lamb with roast potatoes and we have some very special wine… [side note the “veg” is coleslaw and salad because it’s just too hot]
A run around the very hilly Terranora where I admire the beautiful poinciana trees in bloom.
Runs along the beach….
The final beach walk… Coolangatta to north Kirra.
Back in Sydney – a Friday night vegetarian Indian meal…
Kamay parkrun in Sydney – another hot 7am start.
Hilary’s 50th birthday is today (well officially tomorrow but the party is today) – a beautiful lunch at the Fenwick in East Balmain. We take the ferry which gives us a lovely view of the Opera house.
Fab party with a gang of Hils friends and an absolutely delicious lunch with gorgeous cocktails and wine….
On the day the temperature threatened to hit 40 degrees so it is like a sauna outside but it’s beautifully air conditioned while we eat and drink… happy days!! I had bought a beautiful dress from a boutique near Hils office last week but it had a sleeve and I was afraid I’d be too roasting so there was another Gold Coast purchase made… a much better option.
It’s a 1pm start so I think we all know where this is going!
Beautiful view of the Sydney Harbour bridge so we take advantage of a slight drop in temperature for a shot outside with all the girls.
We always knew this would end up in the pub… great fun all round!
It’s a busy weekend for my final weekend away and next morning we are meeting the gang for a swim in Iceberg’s – the famous sea pool and fancy lunch spot overlooking Bondi beach. We swim first…
Then it’s time for the beautiful banquet lunch
The food was so good, I’m still thinking about the tuna and the beef tartare.
The sky was very overcast this morning after the crazy heatwave yesterday but it brightens up for a photo with blue sky.
From there we take a short walk by the beach, where the Bondi Rescue team are shouting to swimmers to get out of the rip (just as you see on the tv program) and have a few in Curly Lewis.
Monday is my last day. A fitting final visit to the beach with the birthday girl to round off the birthday celebrations. We hit Cronulla which is gorgeous.
Lunch at the RSL and the lovely Foof joins us. Check out that fabulous view … and the food was really good.
Back home it’s the final meal of homemade pizza in the new outdoor pizza oven – amazing!
Goodbye for now Sydney! See you soon!
odohertyelaine 