Lizard Island on The Great Barrier Reef

We really enjoyed our stay at Lizard Island.  We had our own bungalow with a marvelous view of the harbor.  The restaurant provided extraordinary tasty and creative menus with Australian wine pairings - so the food was great!  But - we came for the water sports!  This location provided perfect access to diving on the reef.  Since the major dive sights on the reef as so far off shore the only options for divers is to stay on a live aboard ship or take a day trip (sea sick?).  The live aboard was too intense for a new diver and the short stay for the day trip simply does not allow the time to see the reef.  So we splurged and went to Lizard Island.  Actually - a storm moved throuh while we were at the Great Barrier Reef and all the shore trips were cancelled - so we lucked out to be able to enjoy our dives!

Video tour of the resort  - link is below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cc7EtsezLpw  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cc7EtsezLpw

http://www.lizardisland.com.au/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=lizard%20island&utm_campaign=Lizard+Island

Fly over Great Barrier Reef

Fly over the Great Barrier Reef.  We fly from Sydney to Cairnes which is in the Australian State of Queensland.  Then we board a smaller plane to fly to Lizard Island - a private island resort near Ribbon Reef 10 on the Great Barrier Reef.  It is an overcast day - but the views of the Reef start popping immediately.  The Reef system is massive - it is amazing to fly over the world's largest living organism.  Lizard island contains a resort and a research station.  The Airport is a one lane strip but we were made to feel welcome immediately.  One of the villas will be our home for the next 5 days.

Below is a video of our flight arriving into Lizard Island - made by our fellow traveler Robert Fleishman:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8ggE331c0U

Sydney Olympic Park and Ferry Ride

After our day at Featherdale and The Blue Mountains - we were able to visit the Sydney Olympic Park - a well designed and continued use facility located just off the river north of downtown.  And we finished the day with a ferry ride from the Olympic Park back to the Circular Quay - including a ride underneath the famous Harbour Bridge.

Blue Mountains - views of the Sublime Point from the floor at Scenic World in Katoomba, New South Wales.  We rode the cable car down and then the Scenic Railroad - world's steepest cog RR - back up.  Monuments to the miners of the region are found in the park.  An ice cream stop in the old mining town now tourist village of Leura. Our tour guide Menansh of Dingo Travel teaches us to throw the boomerang - which is very difficult.

The Blue Mountains

The Blue Mountains - Continuing a day trip from Sydney we arrive at the Jamison Valley in the UNESCO World Heritage Blue Moutains - with the blue haze similar to the Great Smokey Mountains to those of us from Tennessee.  View of the Royal Tableland from Sublime point.  Scenic World - we rode the cable car to the floor of the of the rain forrest.  Views of the Three Sisters rock formation is one of the most recognizable features of the Blue Mountains.  Tree ferns are found in the floor of the canyon and theygrow only a few centimeters per year.

Koala Sanctuary at Featherdale Park

Koala's - Such sweet animals!  Eating eucalypse leaves.  Our first stop traveling into the countryside north of Sydney was at Featherdale Koala Sancttuary.  Additionally, we saw for the first time some of Australia's most unique animals - kangaroos, wallabees, and a Tasmanian Devil - with a fierce look.

Sydney Ferry Ride and Bridge climb

Views from the Ferry ride back from Manley Bridge to Sydney Harbour!  We could zoom in on the people climbing the harbour bridge - but decided it would take too much time (a 1/2 day) so we just enjoyed watching the show!

Ocean World, Manley Beach

We had fun touring the Ocean World Aquarium at Manley!  There is a tunnel and you can walk underneath the sharks!  Also - people can scuba inside the aquarium with the sharks! 

Manley Beach, Syndey Australia

One of the most famous beaches in a city with many beaches is Manley Beach - a ferry ride away from Sydney.  Darrell has his monocular searching for beautiful (and sometimes topless) women!  We walked just a few blocks from our hotel down to the Circular Quay and caught the Manley ferry - about a 30 minute ride.

Beautiful day downunder! Attending Puccini's Turnandot at the Sydney Opera House.

Wonderful performance of Turandot at the Sydney Opera House!  Fantastic staging and voices!!  Just a joy to hear an opera inside at Sydney.

Sydney Opera House

Sydney Opera House

Our 7th Continent!  After traveling 28 hours it was wonderful to arrive in Sydney, Australia which is is the state of New South Wales.  The City is fantastic - harbour views are spectacular!  We are staying at the Intercontinental Hotel which is adjacent to the Royal Botanical Gardens.  We have wonderful views of the Sydney Opera House.  We walk from our hotel down to the Opera House for a few photos and lunch.  Everywhere we look is just amazing.

The Sydney Opera House is one of the most recognizable city landmarks in the world.  We toured the Opera House just after arriving in Sydney!  The history of the construction or better yet - how it almost didn't happen is just part of the legend.  The interior is also most unconvential but the acoustics are fantastic.  A great start to our visit in the land Downunder!

Darrell and I Arrived Sydney. 28 Hours travel. 15 hours in plane from LAX and 7700 miles. Crossed the International dateline so we really never saw Sunday the 11th.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone

7th Continent!

Arrived in Sydney on March 12, 2012 - This is our 7th continent to visit. We stayed at the Intercontinental Hotel adjacent to the Royal Botanical Gardens with views of the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge! We are traveling for 49 days touring Australia, New Zealand and 5 islands in the South Pacific. Our vacation includes traveling around Australia with a land trip then boarding the Oceania Regatta for a cruise from Sydney to Papette, French Polnesia!

Baby Miles Cleek

One of the happiest days of my life was the day I became a Grandmother to baby Miles Cooper Cleek!  I am telling Miles goodbye for a short while as we are leaving for our trip to Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific for about 7 weeks.  I know he will grow and change while we are gone - but I look forward to keeping him many times when we return!!