around australia

My first day with a car (Tuesday), turned out to be a bit longer than intended! My initial thought was to leave Sydney and leisurely travel through the Blue Mountains, head towards Canberra, and then back up the east coast of New South Wales. However, after looking over the map and realizing I won’t have the opportunity to do this again for awhile, I decided to expedite my pace and enlarge my loop. I picked up a Sydney to Melbourne route map, mentally made my own adjustments and started driving.

I did not exclude my trip to the Blue Mountains. This area is unique. Not only do the mountains appear blue (due to an oily haze in the air from the eucalyptus trees), but they are viewed from the top down rather than looking up to them. The most nearly look like canyons rather than heightened peaks. I took in the view from Katoomba at Echo Point. From this place there is a nice view of the Three Sisters; rock formations jutting out of the cliff-side.

From this place, I also took a hike down the Giant Stairway which is a track leading hikers straight down the rock face via stairs. I hiked nearly ¾ of the way down before returning to the surface before my parking meter expired.

After snagging some pictures, I spent some time at the supermarket picking up some odds and ends for lunches. It was good to buy my own food for wonce and not worry about what other people would want and need.

On the road again, I kept heading west on the Great Western Highway and then a bit southward to begin heading to Canberra. I drove through kilometer after kilometer of eucalyptus and gum tree forest, farmland, and rolling hills that ended at the mountains. The blues and vibrant greens were quite soothing.

And, I saw my first kangaroo! He even posed for a picture for me! I have to say, it was a strange experience watching him watch me and then bound off when I revved my engine to get going. I think that may have been the highlight of the day.

I reached Goulburn and hoped to find camping before Canberra. I pulled off at a rest area where another couple had pulled off for the night as well. I set up my tent at the end of the road under some gum trees. These made a wonderful foreground for the early sunrise!