We entered the state of New South Wales after leaving Canberra and made a beeline to the World Heritage listed Blue Mountains. Located only 60 km from Sydney, this popular destination is famous for its breathtaking views, waterfalls, and rock formations. We visited the Three Sisters, Scenic World, Katoomba & Wentworth Falls, and Katoomba’s Beverly Place street which is full of street art. From the Blue Mountains, our next destination was the beautiful waterfront city of Sydney. With its many beaches, museums, viewpoints, eateries and coastal walks, we thoroughly enjoyed our time in this vibrant city. After leaving Sydney, we made our way to Caves Beach, Merewether Ocean Baths (the largest ocean baths in the Southern Hemisphere), and Hunter Valley for some wine tasting at the excellent Tulloch Winery. Then it was koala time as we moved on to Port Macquarie, where nearly 100 colorful koala sculptures can be found on the “Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail”. The nearby Koala Hospital is not to be missed, as koalas injured by speeding vehicles or attacked by pets are rehabilitated with the intention of eventual release back into the wild. Tacking Point Lighthouse and Guulabaa Koala Breeding Center rounded out our time in Port Macquarie before we drove onward to Dorrigo Mountain National Park for the excellent Wonga Walk (Tristania Falls, Crystal Shower Falls and the Skywalk Lookout Point). Then it was time for yet more waterfalls as we drove on Waterfall Way (Dangar Falls, Ebor Falls and Wollomombi Falls). Two more of Australia’s quirky “big things” were checked off our bucket list – The Big Banana at Coffs Harbor and The Big Prawn in Ballina before we made our way to our final stop in NSW. Bryon Bay is a coastal town popular for its surfing and beautiful beaches which explains why it is on every east coast itinerary. We were able to step foot at the Easternmost point of mainland Australia at Cape Byron Lighthouse and spot wild koalas in a gum tree near Fisherman’s Lookout. Next up is Queensland as our epic road trip continues.
Standing in front of "The Big Merino", a 50 foot (15.2 meter) tall concrete statue of a merino ram located in Goulburn
The Three Sisters are an unusual rock formation in the Blue Mountains
Towering above the Jamison Valley, the Three Sisters were formed around 200 million years ago and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000
"Honeymoon Bridge" on the Giant Stairway at Blue Mountains National Park
Rebeca and Robby inside dinosaur eggs at Dinosaur Valley in Scenic World; Blue Mountains National Park
Katoomba Falls descending into the Jamison Valley
Riding the world's steepest railway with a 52 degree incline (128% gradient) at Scenic World
Katoomba’s Beverly Place has several massive murals from some of Australia’s most talented street artists
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Enjoy a self guided tour of Katoomba's street art in the town center
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An oversized wall mural in pretty Katoomba
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Becky next to a supersized mural in Katoomba
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Wentworth Falls in the dry season
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Kangaroo steak for sale at a supermarket near Sydney
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International Towers in downtown Sydney
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Modern architecture on a building overlooking Darling Harbour
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HMAS Vampire was one of three Daring class destroyers in the Royal Australian Navy
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Darling Harbour's waterfront scene
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A lady wearing a kimono attends an event at the Sydney Town Hall
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Stained glass windows and cast iron railings inside Queen Victoria Building
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The world's largest hanging animated turret clock inside the Queen Victoria building
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Archibald Memorial Fountain
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Standing in front of the Sydney Opera House
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Suspended stone circle at the Art Gallery of New South Wales
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Weekend market at The Rocks in Sydney
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Sydney ferries in front of the Opera House
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Circular Quay view from the ferry
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Riding a ferry with the Sydney Opera in the background
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Sailing club in the Sydney Harbor
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Teenagers partying on Manly Wharf
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Two men hauling a boat up a ramp at Gordon's Bay
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Fish mural on a building at Clovelly Beach
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Coastline on the Coogee to Bondi Beach hike
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Bronte Baths with Bronte Beach in the background
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View from Tamarama Beach looking back toward Bronte Beach
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Rugged coastline on the popular Coogee to Bondi walk
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Sitting in front of a Bondi Beach mural
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Beach volleyball at Bondi Beach
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Bondi Beach is one of the most visited tourist sites in Australia and the beach was packed today!
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Sun's out, buns out - Bondi Beach mural
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Australian National Maritime Museum
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A replica of the HMS Endeavour
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Darling Harbour Woodward Water Feature
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Barangaroo House - a Sydney bar and restaurant
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A network of sea caves can be explored at low tide at Caves Beach
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The aptly named Caves Beach
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A foggy day at Merewether Ocean Baths
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Enjoying a cold swim at Merewether Ocean Baths
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Robby and Rebeca at the entrance to Tulloch Wines in Hunter Valley
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Wines on offer at Tulloch Wines
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Robby enjoying our wine tasting at Tulloch Wines
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Our excellent sommelier at Tulloch Wines
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Feeling merry after our wine tasting at Tulloch Wines
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Becky at "The Big Kookaburra" statue
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A handful of the 90+ koala sculptures spread across Port Macquarie as part of the "Hello Koalas" Sculpture Trail
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"Olly The Blue Eyed Boy" koala sculpture
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Royal Hotel in Port Macquarie
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Koala crossing sign in Port Macquarie
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Koala munching on eucalyptus leaves at the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital
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A rehabbed koala recovers from injuries at the Koala Hospital in Port Macquarie
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Koala souvenirs for sale at the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital
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Roto House in Port Macquarie
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Becky with "Australiana below the surface" koala
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Australiana down under koala
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There are lots of koala caution signs on display in Port Macquarie
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Becky sitting on a railing overlooking Little Bay in Port Macquarie
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Becky with Port Macquarie's "The Big Koala"
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Detailed painting on The Big Koala
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A koala asleep in a tree at the Guulabaa Koala Breeding Center
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A koala wedged itself into a tree branch for an afternoon siesta at the Guulabaa Koala Breeding Center
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Newell Falls at Dorrigo Mountain
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A red necked wallaby at Dorrigo Mountain National Park
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View at the start of our Wonga Walk at Dorrigo Mountain National Park
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Strangler fig tree in Dorrigo National Park
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Selfie at Tristania Falls
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The surrounding scenery on our Wonga Walk at Dorrigo National Park
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View of Crystal Shower Falls and the nearby suspension bridge from the rocky cavern behind the waterfall
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Becky on the suspension bridge at Crystal Shower Falls
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Skywalk lookout at Dorrigo National Park
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Sunset over Dorrigo National Park from the Skywalk Lookout Point
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Posing for a photo at the base of Dangar Falls
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Close up view of the lower waterfall at Ebor Falls
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Scenery at Guy Fawkes River National Park
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The Guy Fawkes River plunges 100 meters over two waterfalls at Ebor Falls. This is the viewpoint over the upper section of Ebor Falls
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Beautiful Ebor Falls at Guy Fawkes River National Park
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Wollomombi Gorge in the dry season
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Heritage Hotel Dorrigo with a world famous bistro
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The small town of Bellingen located on Waterfall Way on the Bellinger River
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Hammond and Wheatley Commercial Emporium in Bellingen
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Posing at The Big Banana in Coffs Harbour
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Becky in front of The Big Prawn in Ballina
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Bird's Nest Fern in Byron Bay
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"Drive Slow for Wildlife" sign in Byron Bay
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Tallow Beach in Byron Bay
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Posing at "the most easterly point of the Australian Mainland" at Cape Byron Lighthouse
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Aboriginal artwork on display at Cape Byron Lighthouse Maritime Museum (in the original lightkeeper's office)
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Fisherman's Lookout at Bryon Bay
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Pedestrian crosswalk in busy Byron Bay
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Selfie overlooking Cudgera Beach
