It Just Isn't Done That Way - Sydney and the Blue Mountains - TR Complete #284.

[PrincessInOz]

It Just Isn't Done That Way!




Greetings! Welcome to this "It Just Isn't Done That Way" Trip Report.



For those of you that don't know me......this is me.








Don't worry if you don't know me. You aren't missing out.....much.




This trip was hatched at the end of May for travel at the end of June. With no overseas travel in my horizon for 2014 (yet), I figured a quick trip across the northern border wouldn't hurt. Despite its size, Australia only comprises of six states and various territories (including the ones off-shore). There really isn't a lot of choice for interstate travel!

I did debate about posting this on the Dis. Afterall, there will be nothing Disney related in the Trip Report. There are no visits to a Disney Park, no rides, no Mickey ears. Nothing. It Just Isn't Done That Way!

Not only that.....there was no pre-trip report, no countdown, no detailed planning, no obsessing over ADRs, FP+, touring plans. Nothing. It Just Isn't Done That Way!

There are no currency issues, no cell phone coverage to contend with, no travel insurance (although I did check that my ambulance subscription did cover emergency transfers back to my home state), no language barriers. Nothing. It Just Isn't Done That Way!




And an Australian travelling in Australia writing a Trip Report??? And posting it on the ANZAC section of the Boards????


It Just Isn't Done That Way!






Right?

 

[PrincessInOz]

Quick Links




Introductions
Start of TR



Blue Mountains

Day 1 - Blue Mountains 27 June 2014

Clearing out of Melbourne and Getting to the Blue Mountains, Sydney style
You DO know which way to go, right?
Jenolan Caves House and Mountain Lodge
The Wondrous Binomil - Into the Jenolan Caves Parts 1, 2

​

Day 2 - Blue Mountains 28 June 2014

You Can Take the Girl out to Holiday but you Can’t Stop the Girl from Waking up Early
Our Second Caves Tour. The Amazing Orient Caves! Parts 1, 2
Katoomba Accommodation
Bringing Melbourne Weather to the Three Sisters
I'm Blacklisted in a Restaurant in the Blue Mountains; but it's not at Pins Lurline
One Cold Snap only and one Brain Freeze

​

Day 3 - Blue Mountains 29 June 2014

Sunrise; A Little Late but Sunrise all the Same
A Simple Breakfast at the Villa
Shiny Falling Water
A Quick Stop at Gordon Falls
Wentworth Falls
In Search of Leura Mall
Blue Mountain Chocolate
In Search Of....True Sunset at Echo Point
Beware When Seeking Dinner on a Sunday Night

​

Day 4 - Sydney 30 June 2014

Always Listen to your Gut When it Comes to Sunrise in your Eye
Home-cooked is ALWAYS Best
All Packed Up and Ready to Go
Welcome to Sydney, Park Royal Style
Family Time in Sydney
Lunch with a View
Hanging about that Coat Hanger
The Rocks Tourist Precinct
All I Ask is a Tall Ship and a Star to Steer Her By
Dinner on the Soren Larsen

​

Day 5 - Sydney 01 July 2014

Circular Quay Transport
Where the Wild Things Are - Taronga Zoo

Not the Usual Australian Animals
The Bird Show
Reptiles and more Reptiles
Sea-Lion and Seal Show
The Lack of Insects
Animals on the Side​

The Sydney Opera House
Royal Botanic Gardens
A Ferry Ride to Darling Harbour
A Star Dinner

​

Day 6 - Sydney 02 July 2014

Breakfast at the Park Royal
Sydney Tower Panorama
The Strand Arcade
Queen Victoria Building
St Andrew's Cathedral
Shushh....We're having a DisMeet
Chinese Garden of Friendship Parts 1, 2
Home - Thai Dinner
Winter Festival

​

Day 7 - Heading Home 03 July 2014

Last Breakfast
On Our way Home

​

Thanks for Reading!

 

[zanzibar138]

I'm following

I enjoy my domestic travel just as much as international. There are so many great places to go and things to see here, and it certainly is easier, though not necessarily cheaper

The Blue Mountains area is definitely somewhere I'd be keen to visit in the future. If this TR is anything like your others, it will probably convince me to go sooner than anticipated

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Yay! I'm following along.

Good on you for not letting a lack of overseas travel plans stop you from getting out and seeing your own country. I'm looking forward to hearing all about it

 

[LisaAJ]

Any sort of travel works for me!!

 

[Caroline NZ]

I will enjoy reading along too

 

[Aussie Wendy]

 

[losfp]

Subscribed

The Blue Mountains is one of my favourite places in the world. It's only a short drive for us, but very relaxing and pretty I hope you managed to make it as far as Jenolan Caves. THAT is my favourite spot up there!

 

[Aust]

The kids and I went to the Blue Mountains just yesterday, we had a great (if cold) time. I've been so many times since I was a kid but still am blown away by the scenery every time. Looks forward to seeing your perspective on it.

 

[Aussie Wendy]

Sounds lovely. We have had a couple of trips to the Blue Mountains but all before they did the skyway ride over the gorge etc - which sounds, while a bit over-commercialised compared to our first pristine visit, a lot of fun! Looking forward to reading more. Love your first pic!

Did you go through our favourite Holburn with its submarine in a park? We always stop there for loo's, snack and pics (haven't checked it might not be on your route since we are going in a different direction!) The one thing we adore on road trips in Aus is all the "oddities" we find in little towns along the way - I have no doubt you will have some new ones to share!

 

[tiggrbaby]

You are writing about your trip - yay! Can't wait to learn more about it!

 

[BecBennett]

I enjoy my domestic travel just as much as international. There are so many great places to go and things to see here, and it certainly is easier, though not necessarily cheaper

Yes if only it was cheaper... We'd all see a lot more of it!

 

[CJ2001]

I'm reading along!

From the photo it looks about how windy it is here tonight!

 

[jedijill]

I'm here! Definitely using this as research for the great Adventure Down Under 2015.

Jill in CO

 

[dolphingirl47]

Checking in. I am really looking forward to this.

Corinna

 

[zanzibar138]

Yes if only it was cheaper... We'd all see a lot more of it!

We'll be spending a week in Thailand in November for less than $1500 for both of us, including flights, accommodation, internal travel, and all tours/entry fees. In January we went to Tassie for 3 nights, and it cost us more than $1000 for flights, accommodation and car hire (well, me anyway - it was part of DH's birthday present ).

 

[shushh]

Okly dokly I'm here and waiting to see your pics of Sydney!

 

[PrincessInOz]

I'm following

I enjoy my domestic travel just as much as international. There are so many great places to go and things to see here, and it certainly is easier, though not necessarily cheaper

The Blue Mountains area is definitely somewhere I'd be keen to visit in the future. If this TR is anything like your others, it will probably convince me to go sooner than anticipated

This holiday was not cheap! I'm still refusing to work out the total because I know it would have been cheaper to head to Asia.

Yay! I'm following along.

Good on you for not letting a lack of overseas travel plans stop you from getting out and seeing your own country. I'm looking forward to hearing all about it

Thanks for reading along!

It really isn't the lack of OS travel plans that stops me from seeing more of Australia. It really isn't cheap to travel locally.

Any sort of travel works for me!!

Me too!

I will enjoy reading along too

Thanks Caroline. Glad to have you here.

Subscribed

The Blue Mountains is one of my favourite places in the world. It's only a short drive for us, but very relaxing and pretty I hope you managed to make it as far as Jenolan Caves. THAT is my favourite spot up there!

The kids and I went to the Blue Mountains just yesterday, we had a great (if cold) time. I've been so many times since I was a kid but still am blown away by the scenery every time. Looks forward to seeing your perspective on it.

Part of the debate about posting this TR was whether anyone on the ANZAC section would read-along. Going to Sydney and Blue Mountains is like playing in your backyard and I know a number of you live in Sydney and head to the BM pretty regularly. In the short time I was there, we pretty much only did the standard things and even then I barely scratched the surface. Hope you'll still want to read along.

Sounds lovely. We have had a couple of trips to the Blue Mountains but all before they did the skyway ride over the gorge etc - which sounds, while a bit over-commercialised compared to our first pristine visit, a lot of fun! Looking forward to reading more. Love your first pic!

Did you go through our favourite Holburn with its submarine in a park? We always stop there for loo's, snack and pics (haven't checked it might not be on your route since we are going in a different direction!) The one thing we adore on road trips in Aus is all the "oddities" we find in little towns along the way - I have no doubt you will have some new ones to share!

We flew into Sydney. I don't think it was on our route. Or perhaps I missed it?

You are writing about your trip - yay! Can't wait to learn more about it!

Thanks for stopping in here!

Yes if only it was cheaper... We'd all see a lot more of it!

Me too! I do try....it's just hard to justify in the last few years with the dollar as high as it has been.

I'm reading along!

From the photo it looks about how windy it is here tonight!

It was super windy!

I'm here! Definitely using this as research for the great Adventure Down Under 2015.

Jill in CO

Hey Jill! I was thinking of you when I was in Sydney! Glad to have you here.

Checking in. I am really looking forward to this.

Corinna

Glad to have you here, Corinna.

Okly dokly I'm here and waiting to see your pics of Sydney!

Nice to see you back on the boards!

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Room for a Brit? then I'm in! 6 states! Wow. Big country a big hole in the middle like a polo where no one lives? Is that how it goes? I am glad you posted this please treat me like an idiot a dummies guide to Australia. I'm a keen learner but I know not of your demographics like where you currently reside in relation to where you went. Looking forward to this!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Room for a Brit? then I'm in! 6 states! Wow. Big country a big hole in the middle like a polo where no one lives? Is that how it goes? I am glad you posted this please treat me like an idiot a dummies guide to Australia. I'm a keen learner but I know not of your demographics like where you currently reside in relation to where you went. Looking forward to this!

Hey Paula! Absolutely plenty of room for everyone here. Nice to see you here.

And yes....you could say that you got Australia down like a hole-in-one.