Spit Bridge to Manly Scenic Walkway

Today I met up with Jules and we walked part of the Spit Bridge to Manly scenic walkway.

The walkway meanders around the harbour foreshore from the Spit Bridge via Dobroyd Head to Manly. The full length of the walkway is 10km and takes around 5 hours to complete however there are a number of connecting tracks which lead to beaches and lookouts, so you could easily make a whole day of it.

We walked 3km from Spit Bridge to the Grotto Point Light and back, which took around 3 hours.

More info on Grotto Point Light here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grotto_Point_Light

You guessed it, Bruce was working again this weekend (his last apparently), so unfortunately he doesn't appear in this post!

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Looking out over the Spit Bridge and Port Jackson towards South Head in the very distance

Clontarf Beach

One of the many beautiful houses on Monash Crescent along Clontarf Beach

Jules on Clontarf Beach

A lucky boat-owning Aussie enjoying the sun! Looking towards Chinamans Beach

If it were Summer, I'd be straight in that water!

As above

Australian Bottlebrush

Washaway Beach (disappears with the tide) looking towards Middle Head

On the rocks above Washaway Beach looking towards North Head

At Grotto Point Light looking towards Balmoral Beach.

Looking out at the Pacific Ocean with two Manly ferries about to pass each other and North Head visible on the left

Balmain

As well as visiting Ballast Point Park, I also spent a bit of time exploring the suburb of Balmain last weekend. As an old suburb, Balmain has a number heritage buildings many of them industrial, which have since been converted into apartment blocks. It has a village feel but is very also very close to the city, a bit like Hampstead in London. Can you guess where we are looking for our next apartment?

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Thornton Park, next to the Balmain East ferry wharf

Lovely terrace houses behind Thornton Park

Illoura Reserve looking towards the suburb of Pyrmont and the Anzac Bridge

View of the Harbour Bridge and city from Clarke's Point in Woolwich. Balmain is the suburb in the foreground.

Balmain streetscape

The old Colgate Palmolive warehouse, now apartments

An old Ford Falcon parked in Balmain. Note the Merry Christmas lights!?

Mother's Day

It was Mother's Day in Australia today and we were invited to join Chris' old next door neighbours, the Byes, for lunch at a pub in the suburb of Randwick.


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From left to right: Bill, William, Alice, Julia, Lizzie, Maureen, Chris & Bruce

One of us!

Sunset

Sydney skyline and Harbour Bridge at sunset from The Gap Park in Watsons Bay

Ballast Point Park

Today I visited Ballast Point Park, a redeveloped industrial site which previously belonged to the large Australian oil company, Caltex.  The park not only boasts amazing views of the harbour and of the city, but includes a great design in which the old materials from the Caltex site have been incorporated.

More information on Ballast Point can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballast_Point_(New_South_Wales)

Sorry that we don't appear in any pictures, we will do as soon as Bruce stops working weekends!

Here is a location map:


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Ballast Point Park entrance

Structures built from the remains of old buildings and oil tanks found on the site

One of the open spaces, ideal for a picnic

Impressive views from most places in the park

Looking towards the suburbs of Wollstonecraft and Greenwich

Looking towards the suburb of Birchgrove

Where I ate my pack lunch!

Another view from the same seating area

Coffee with a view!

I stopped for a coffee in Circular Quay on my way home this evening. As usual, I couldn't resist taking a few pictures of the city's most famous landmarks!

The Sydney Harbour Bridge

The Sydney Opera House from an unusual angle

Blues Point Reserve

I took some photos from Blue's Point Reserve, as I happened to be in North Sydney today.

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View from Blues Point Reserve of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House

Looking towards the city with Walsh Bay wharfs in the foreground

Lost...

This could easily be mistaken for the jungle, but this photo was actually taken in the Sydney Royal Botanical Gardens. Bruce walks through here every day to get to work, very lucky.

Lost...

Double Bay (Double Pay!)

Bruce had to work again today, so I explored the notoriously expensive Double Bay (hence the nickname Double Bay, Double Pay), Point Piper and Rose Bay.

On my way I stumbled upon Blackburn Gardens, in which the Double Bay Library is located, the Murray Rose sea pool and also Felix Bay beach at the end of Point Piper.

Here is a map of my route:


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Mercedes 280 SE of 1970s vintage on Knox Street

Woollahra Municipal Council offices: pretty nice!

...and the view isn't bad either! Looking down towards the Murray Rose sea pool

On the walkway surrounding the sea pool looking towards Darling Point

Some historical info on Blackburn Gardens

Blackburn Gardens entrance stairway

Blackburn Gardens with the Double Bay library on the right hand side

Felix Bay at the end of Point Piper

Looking out over Rose Bay from Point Piper

Not too far from London...

Paddington Reservoir Gardens

Bruce had to work today, so I wondered up to Oxford Street and checked out the Paddington Reservoir Gardens.

More info on Paddington Reservoir: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paddington_Reservoir

Here is a location map:


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The Paddington Reservoir Gardens from across Oxford Street

Paddington Reservoir entrance gates

Inside the original reservoir

Inside the original reservoir

Reservoir gardens with Sydney Tower in the background

Paddington Markets

Looking down William Street

Shops at Five Ways on Glenmore Road

Old houses in Paddington

Autumn setting in with harbour in the background