secret walks

Took an amazing all day walk last weekend that started with a ferry ride to Taronga Zoo and then along the coastal path that takes itself through a bit of the Sydney Harbour National Park, wrapping around the (Middle) headland and ending up at Balmoral beach (where you can catch the bus back to the Zoo ferry stop). The weather was perfect, like a warm English summer's day, and the walking was pleasant - following the path in and out of a series of beautiful little coves.

These all overlook the south shores of central Sydney - so very much part of the city - but surprisingly quiet, and with bays mainly all to myself. With Banished and the Secret River both currently being shown on TV here, the coastal bush landscape (although much domesticated) still echoes of its small but distinctive differences from the previous worlds of British and Irish-born settlers and convicts.

pretentious, moi?

Would recommend a walk through Kings Park in Perth to anyone. Mainly tailored bushland but beautiful all the same. Having negotiated the dense thicket of joggers who use the steps of Jacob's Ladder as part of their weekend workout, I (of course) had to have breakfast before my walk. Boiled eggs and soldiers in a wooden box, with the eggs contained in part of a cardboard egg carton.

I do think Australian city breakfasts are the best in the world, but sometimes just a tiny bit up themselves.

about devils

This picture is for A, who like me, first heard about Tazmania as a child through the Looney Tunes cartoon character of Tazmanian Devil. If I knew where the country was, I think it was a while longer before I knew devils were real, and even longer to be sure how big they are (small dog) and what their actual rather than cartoon characteristics were. However, as with A, the devil is the first thing I think of when anybody mentions Tassie.

And now the devils are at risk, their numbers seriously depleted by devil facial tumour disease. Despite the sign I did not see one (perhaps because they are nocturnal) although I did see a wallaby –shaped thing, which could have been, I learn from the parks and wildlifeservice, a potoroo, pademelon or bettong.

following the pipeline

After a day underground, I had a fabulous 3hour walk from Fern Tree down the side of Mt. Wellington, all the way back to the waterfront. I had originally planned to take a tourist bus up to the summit, but was stymied by a huge group off a cruise liner, so got the local bus half-way up instead. Lucky really as I took what was called the easy bushwalk from Fern Tree - the pipeline track - since I was stupidly wearing flip-flops, and it still involved a steep and dangerously uneven incline at Gentle Annie’s Falls (ha, not gentle at all!).

The track follows the original construction of Hobart water supply from the 1860s and its various additions from stone to metal to concrete pipes; the sound of underground water follows you most of the way down to the waterworks reservoir; and the views are fantastic.

sculpture trail

Sydney's annual Sculpture by the Sea event hit the eastern suburbs over the past few weeks - meaning that the coast path is heaving with people, all having a very good time. The pieces aren't really curated (either to their specific sites or to each other) but the sheer number and variety are a pleasure to see.