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Friday, March 4, 2011

Hawkesbury River - Sydney

Like many people who have decided to buy a boat we often find that ours sits there for a year before we organise ourselves to go out in it. It's a pity, Sydney has an amazing collection of bays, beaches, rivers and of course one of the best harbours in the world.

Friday March 4th. was one of the days when we finally got it into the water. Just a few hours but enough time to travel 20kms. downriver to one of our favourite places. It's a small sandy beach which is part of the national park. Unfortunately swimming is out, too many sharks in this part of the river but it's a great place for lunch with a cold glass of white wine or a beer.




We are never short of company at this place, Goannas have realised that humans often bring food, it's a constant battle to keep watch so they dont steal our lunch. Today there were four Goannas, working as a team. One would act as a decoy while the others approached from the opposite direction. One very large one at about 1.6 metres. The one in the following photo was around 1.3 metres. These ones are not afraid of humans, they will retreat if you approach but are soon back on the prowl when you turn your back.


The river is home to the Jelly Blubber, it got this name because people could not remember the official name. Some can grow up to 35cm. diameter.
Species:
mosaicus
Genus:
Catostylus
Family:
Catostylidae
Order:
Rhizostomeae
Class:
Scyphozoa
Phylum:
Cnidaria
 
If sharing your lunch with Goannas after wading through swarms of Jelly Blubbers is not for you it's possible to charter a plane and dine at The Berowra Waters Inn. 


Saturday, February 26, 2011

Cooks River Cycleway - Sydney

Sydney Olympic Park to Botany Bay.

This cycleway follows the river for most of the way, there are a few kilometres of side streets after leaving Olympic Park but from that point on you are riding through parks, beside golf courses, playing fields, market gardens and the river.

This would be a perfect ride for visitors to Sydney, take a train to Olympic Park, rent a bike there and then ride out and back to Botany Bay. The total distance is approximately 50 kms. depending on how far along the shore you ride at Botany Bay. This morning there were cricket matches, womens soccer, golfers and hundreds of families enjoying the parks. 

If you decide to do the ride make sure you stop at Adora, this is a small  chocolate factory and coffee shop. Order a coffee and you get one free handmade chocolate to taste. Most customers can't stop at one. You cant miss it, located around the halfway point of the ride out to Botany Bay so you can stop there in both directions.





 It's not all good, a few small sections of old industrial areas.


 Dont miss out on a great coffee with a free homemade chocolate at Adora.

Market gardens at Kyeemah.

Looking north towards the airport terminal.
Botany Bay and the main runway at Sydney Airport, a few more kilometres and you have a selection of coffee shops and restaurants at Brighton Le Sands.

Photos were taken using a very simple Sony T707 phone.