Diana and Billy

Goodbye Coogee...

Wow, it's time to go back to Vegas. I will be missing my morning walks around Coogee, an ice creams and having a lots of time... 

But I am also looking forward to new assignments and new challenges in Vegas. Life goes on!!! 

Blue Mountains / The Three Sisters

The Three Sisters, sandstone rock formations that are one of the best-known attractions in the region of Blue Mountains. It is really good place to visit because of the magnificent views, interesting trails, shops filled with art, crafts and antiques and most of all the fresh mountain air. I really enjoyed my one-day trip there.

 

Jarvis Bay

Back to Sydney...

We left NZ and we're on the way back to Sydney. We found  a warm summer there - 80 F. Perfect weather for the beach and sunbathing. There is a big chance that I will return to Vegas with a nice suntan. 

So for now I will take advantage of the sun and take the time to relax!"

Fiordland National Park / Milford Sound/ Mt. Cook

One of the most remarkable places for me from that trip was Fiordland National Park. You really feel the  power of the nature there. The only bad thing about it is the weather. The weather is extremely unpredictable & very often dramatic. Rain falls there more then 200 days a year (7-9 meters of rain a year). We were quite lucky - the weather was not perfect but it allowed us to do and see quite a few things. 

The last day in NZ we spent in the neighborhood of Mt. Cook- the highest mountain in Australia (3755 m). The climb was really worth the effort . The view from it was absolutely excellent. On the way back, we stopped at the lake for a late picnic. The lake was weird; it had a totally unnatural but beautiful blue color - the effect is know as Blue Crash. Blue Crash is caused by glaciers melting and the water carries a special material which is now lying on the floor of the lake.

 

Quinstown/ Glenorchy/ Skipper Canyon

Quinstown was very interesting;  Before 1962 the only way to get there was by  boat. Now anyway you want is available. I had a feeling that the whole South Island of NZ is facilitated only for  tourists (hotels, motels, and crazy things to do for those who have the courage)- it is very hard to imagine people living there full time. Anyway, in  Quinstown we experienced Skyline Gondola ride and then did a long walk on Ben LomondTrack (1748 m). Not far from Quinstown is Glenorchy, with a lot of opportunities for walking, viewing a waterfalls and the amazing Valleys and lake.  

Seeing and experiencing  nature so close gives you a peace with yourself and the world. It seems like everything and everybody has their own place, the right one. 

For these who do not know, The movie the Lord of the Ring was made in NZ. We were lucky to see some of these places and they are really beautiful. Skippper Canyon was one of them; there is a very narrow curly road and driving can be quite dangerous. Most of the car rentals companies do not offer insurance for that area. To experience  it we had to take a off road tour. Quite exiting.