Barranjoey Lighthouse

This past weekend we decided it was time for another family bushwalk. Usually the way they work in our family is that I suggest we go on a bushwalk. One or more child/ren are usually on my side while the others complain. It is too hot. I am tired. It is boring. Then we either a) go anyway or b) spend so much time whining that it is nearly lunch time and too late to start the expedition because nap time is quickly approaching. This Saturday was the option "a" variety. I suggested we tackle the stairs up to Barranjoey Lighthouse. Despite a decenter or two, we went anyway. We had a great day!

It was a bit hot and sticky which made the sea breeze that much nicer. It is a lot of stairs - straight up in fact - but we just proved we had strong legs.




We found a neat little rock overhang that was a great little cave and a perfect water stop.


We found a special friend.


Our littlest munchkin got put in the backpack after a bit but the others proved their strength and resilience and made it to the top.


We were rewarded with beautiful views out across the water, a lighthouse, and yes, that gorgeous sea breeze.



We stopped for lunch at the local RSL club. Took a pass on the pokeys and ate our fill of hot chips, burgers and nachos. Yum! Then at home, we realized we had brought a few friends home with us. We first noticed a stowaway in M's hair at lunch. Then again, another crawling on her bed... hmmm. Is this head lice? Please say no, no, no.

No. It is just a paralysis tick.



Lucky for us, they mostly only paralyze dogs and we were pretty safe from their toxins. None the less, we all did the obligatory tick search, stripping the little girls down to check those favorite tick hiding places. Luckily, all was clear and the Monaco family will live to see another day.

Headland Park

This morning (after much moaning and groaning from the kids) we decided to head out on a little family bushwalk. We joined onto the trail that runs from Balmoral to Chowder Bay and spent most of our time exploring around Headland Park. The views out to Middle Harbour are amazing. We could see right across to Watson's Bay. It was lovely. Most of all, the kids enjoyed the cannons and old tunnels. They spent lots of time climbing on cannons and wishing they could get into the old fortification tunnels that were designed to protect Sydney over 100 years ago. They do give tours once a month so we will have to add that to the list of things to do. After much exploring, we had lunch at the cafe at Headland park followed by more frolicking in the sun. The kids loved the modern art sculpture that seems to be more of a climbing frame with all the kids on it. Here are some photos from the day.

Uluru

Uluru. The big rock.

Big? Yes.

Beautiful? Yes.

Worth the trip? Debatable.

We flew 3 1/2 hours from Sydney to Ayers Rock Airport to go see "the Rock." We arrived and took the resort shuttle to the hotel. My first impression was it felt like Disneyworld. A master planned resort community with all the shuttle buses and tourists you can handle. With Uluru lurking in the background, it had the sort of unreal, scenery backdrop sort of feeling that Disneyworld has too.

This is where the similarities end. We arrived at the hotel (us and all the other people from our flight) and there were TWO hotel workers to check us all in. Fortunately I ran ahead and got in line while Jason sorted the luggage so the wait was not too long. Of course our room was not ready yet so we went to grab lunch. After that, we headed to our $400 a night, 2 bedroom apartment. While not the most expensive accommodation ever, it was enough money that I had expectations. For example, I expect a clean apartment. I expect sheets on the beds. I expect no mold - especially in the desert where humidity is not a problem. I did expect insects and spiders being in the Outback and all. I did not expect furry friends in the room. What did I find? I found a baby cot with no sheets and a dirty blanket that looked like it had been eaten by mice. I found a filthy apartment with mold all over the bathroom. I found a pull out bed with no sheets. I found 2 mice in the apartment. Other than that, it was great. Nice and big with plenty of room for our family - I just wish I did not have to put on my shoes to go to the bathroom because I was so grossed out by the floors and what was lurking under the couch! In the end, what do you expect? There is one hotel company with NOTHING else around for hundreds of miles. They've sort of gotcha on this one.

Settled into the hotel, we chose a sunset camel ride for our first activity. I took the big kids as the little ones were not allowed to join us. We had a wonderful time. Riding the camels was lots of fun. The big man got to ride along with the guide while M and I rode together. The scenery was amazing and yes, the rock was beautiful. We enjoyed an amazing sunset and watched as the rock changed colors as the sun hit it. This experience is what it is all about. Doing it while on top of a camel was just an added bonus.



The next morning, we got up early and headed out to see the sun rise on Uluru. The time difference was an hour and half earlier than Sydney so the kids were up before dawn anyway making this not too difficult. We almost missed it because we were a little slow but fortunately saw the beauty of the colors changing once again. It is so big and again, breathtaking. It is sort of like the Grand Canyon in reverse.

Next stop - the Cultural Centre. We had some breakfast and then headed out to do a little hiking. It was hot and the flies were bad but we made the best of it. Fortunately a friend had warned us about the flies and loaned us fly nets so we were all set. We chose the Kuniya walk that took us the the Mutitjulu waterhole. It was very serene and again, beautiful. Bright Orange and just unbelievable in size. I can see why Uluru is such a wonder.


After this we headed back to the car and drove all the way around the rock to see it from all angles. We stopped at the place where you can climb it. Of course the kids wanted to climb but it is very steep and the aboriginals request you don't climb. I did let them go up a few feet so they felt like they had conquered the Rock!


By this point, we were hot and tired. Enough flies and heat for us so we decided to drive on to Kata Tjuta. This is another part of the National Park and was equally beautiful. The domes may have even been prettier. We had some very tired children by this point so we did not get out and hike but just drove to a few lookouts and then headed back to the hotel for naps.


Naptime brought a thunderstorm - this seems to be a theme for us on our vacations lately! M and A were not happy as we had promised the afternoon at the pool. Instead, it was a few more rounds of Rat-a-tat Cat for us. Fortunately by about 4 the skies had cleared and we headed to the pool.

Sunday morning came and it was time to go home. We waved goodbye to the Rock and headed back to Sydney. I was very happy to leave the dirty hotel and sleep in my own bed. My final thoughts as we left Uluru... if this is the best of Australia tourism, it is no wonder we needed Oprah to come and try to sell it. I hope she did not have mice in her room!