Canberra, ACT

Ratings:  CP *  Surroundings ***** (Parliament and War Memorial)

Parliament House with Lake Burley Griffin in the foreground

Parliament House seen four kilometres away from the steps of the Australian War Memorial

The Australian War Memorial

The Australian War Memorial is by far the best memorial or museum I have seen in Australia

Two of the several fighter planes on display

Yass, NSW

Ratings: CP *** Surroundings ***

Yass is a rural town with a rich colonial history. It is situated on the Yass River and its name is probably derived from 'yharr', an Aboriginal word meaning running water. It is home to the famous Australian born explorer, Hamilton Hume, who first set off from Yass to explore New South Wales and Victoria at the age of 17.
This court house reveals part of Yass' history and stands in the main street along with many other well preserved buildings. The original courthouse was built in 1847 and allegedly had a tree outside where convicts were flogged. The tree was removed when the courthouse was rebuilt in 1880 and the court house remains in use.

Shellharbour, NSW

Ratings:  CP ***  Surroundings ****

Good morning Shellharbour!

Lines and crevasses etched into granite exposed at low tide where shells were discovered wedged in the cracks.

A playful humpback whale on its way back to Antarctic waters

Oberon & the Blue Mountains, NSW

Misty blue vapours of eucalyptus trees and weathered sandstone cliffs seen from Echo Point, Katoomba.  The Greater Blue Mountains Heritage Area includes country from six different Aboriginal language groups and the traditional culture of the Darug and Gundungurra peoples can be learnt about at the Waradah Aboriginal Centre near Echo Point.

 Tall eucalypts, deep valleys and sandstone cliffs seen from Sublime Point, Leura

Small and insignificant against the ancient and stunning backdrop of valleys and mountains at Sublime Point, Leura.

The Three Sisters, named Meehni, Wimlah and Gunnedoo, seen from Echo Point.

Towering sandstone cliffs eroded by wind, rain and rivers over time.  Apparently, when you look at the Blue Mountains, you're looking at the plateau created by an uplift around 150 million years ago. Since then deep valleys and gorges have been cut into the landscape.

Hours spent wandering through Mayfield Garden, a cool climate garden where the stone and water garden with its carefully selected plants delighted my senses. The 160 acre garden is privately owned and is situated close to the village of Oberon.

Mudgee, NSW

Ratings: CP ***  Surroundings ***

The serene gently flowing Cudgegong River skirts the caravan park and Mudgee and provided many hours of walking or quiet contemplation sitting on its banks. This is Wiradjuri country and the totem of the Wiradjuri is the Girrawaa or goanna. The name Mudgee is derived from the Wiradjuri term Moothi meaning 'Nest in the Hills'.
Mudgee was the centre for the local goldfields although no gold was found in the close vicinity of the town.  Mudgee is also the birthplace of the Australian poet Henry Lawson. Today coal is mined nearby at Ulan and the Mudgee district is a thriving wine producing region and cattle and sheep are farmed with a wide variety of produce grown.

Venezuelan takeaway for dinner! We were fortunate to be in Mudgee for the food and wine festival where multicultural and local foods were enjoyed! The main streets were closed to allow for the numerous food and wine stalls, musical entertainment and the crowds....we left as the queues began forming!

Mudgee wines...the wine industry was started by German Adam Roth in the 1850s and today there are more than 50 vineyards and over 30 cellar door outlets where we sampled some red and white wines.

The street in front of the Regent Theatre was closed off and preparations were underway to allow for the entertainment during the food and wine festival.
This Art Deco theatre was built in 1935. It was renovated in 2009 when it fell into a state of disrepair. Sadly there are plans for the rear of the building, including the theatre and stage, to be demolished and transformed into an apartment complex but the facade will remain.

Horse sculpture of branches and twigs.