Vivid Festival of Light

The Vivid Festival of light brightens up the dark winter evenings here in Sydney, when each year around sixty light installations and projections are put on display at the Opera House and around Circular Quay.

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The Museum Of Contemporary Art lit up by projected light display

Another projected light display at the Museum of Contemporary Art

Bruce enjoying the show

The Harbour Bridge with Walsh Bay wharf in the foreground

The Sydney Opera House lit up by projected light display

The Sydney Opera House lit up by projected light display

The Sydney Opera House lit up by projected light display

The Sydney Opera House lit up by projected light display

The Hunter Valley

This long weekend, Chris and I went on a trip to the Hunter Valley. It was my treat to make up for all the weekends I’ve had to spend at work recently.

One of Australia’s oldest and most famous wine producing regions, the Hunter Valley is well known for its picturesque (almost English) rolling hills and vineyards. We stayed at Spicers Vineyard Estate, a picturesque lodge just on the fringe of the winery region.

We arrived on Sunday and spent the day wine tasting before having an outrageously expensive (but delicious) meal at the estate’s own restaurant.

Monday wasn't quite as sunny (as you’ll see from the pictures) but we did have fun visiting a historic valley town (Wollombi) and then driving home through one of Australia’s largest National Parks – The Wollemi National Park.

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The entrance to Scarborough Wine Co.

Chris outside Scarborough Wine Co.

Blueberry Hill Vineyard who make the nicest Merlot we've ever tasted!

The view from Blueberry Hill Vineyard

Directions at Blueberry Hill Vineyard

Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard tasting rooms

On the veranda at Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard

The view from Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard

Bruce at Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard

A family of Wallabies, Wallaroos and Kangaroos!!

A lone Wallaroo

The Hunter Valley at sunset from Mount View Lookout

Log fire blazing away in our room

Our hotel, the Spicers Vineyard Estate

Bruce admiring the view from our room

Our room

His (Chris) and her's (Bruce) sinks

Chris outside the hotel

Another one of the hotel

Bottlebrush

The hotel pool - too cold to swim in unfortunately!

Weird chairs...

...which Bruce rather liked sitting in.

Hotel lounge and lobby

Hotel lounge

Hotel pigs!

Historic village of Wollombi

Autumn in Wollombi

Bruce at the Penang Mountain Gardens

Amazing rainbow following a brief torrential downpour!

The Rocks Markets and Cremorne Point

Today I wondered around The Rocks markets before taking a ferry to Cremorne Point where I spent the afternoon walking the Cremorne Reserve.

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A huge cruise ship docked at the Overseas Passenger Terminal in Circular Quay

The Rocks Markets. That is the Harbour Bridge south approach in the background.

All aboard the Cremorne Point ferry

Looking back at the cruise ship with city buildings in the background

The Opera House 

Looking East towards Fort Denison (aka Pinchgut Island)

Cremorne Point Reserve

The view from Cremorne Point Reserve

A large Angophora Eucalyptus tree

There are lots of pretty old federation houses in Cremorne Point similar to this one

The view from the other side of Cremorne Point looking towards the suburb of Mosman

North Head

After our walk (previous post), Jules and I drove to North Head where there is a scenic drive and a short walking track at the end offering without doubt the most stunning views of Sydney.

More info on the Sydney Heads available here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Heads

Here is a location map:


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Jules and I at North Head Lookout

The view of Sydney and the harbour from North Head lookout.

Looking South down the coast towards the suburbs of Vaucluse and Dover Heights

Looking North, huge cliffs!

Looking down!!