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
Enjoy a self guided tour of Katoomba's street art in the town center
An oversized wall mural in pretty Katoomba
Becky next to a supersized mural in Katoomba
Wentworth Falls in the dry season
Kangaroo steak for sale at a supermarket near Sydney
International Towers in downtown Sydney
Modern architecture on a building overlooking Darling Harbour
HMAS Vampire was one of three Daring class destroyers in the Royal Australian Navy
Darling Harbour's waterfront scene
A lady wearing a kimono attends an event at the Sydney Town Hall
Stained glass windows and cast iron railings inside Queen Victoria Building
The world's largest hanging animated turret clock inside the Queen Victoria building
Archibald Memorial Fountain
Standing in front of the Sydney Opera House
Suspended stone circle at the Art Gallery of New South Wales
Weekend market at The Rocks in Sydney
Sydney ferries in front of the Opera House
Circular Quay view from the ferry
Riding a ferry with the Sydney Opera in the background
Sailing club in the Sydney Harbor
Teenagers partying on Manly Wharf
Two men hauling a boat up a ramp at Gordon's Bay
Fish mural on a building at Clovelly Beach
Coastline on the Coogee to Bondi Beach hike
Bronte Baths with Bronte Beach in the background
View from Tamarama Beach looking back toward Bronte Beach
Rugged coastline on the popular Coogee to Bondi walk
Sitting in front of a Bondi Beach mural
Beach volleyball at Bondi Beach
Bondi Beach is one of the most visited tourist sites in Australia and the beach was packed today!
Sun's out, buns out - Bondi Beach mural
Australian National Maritime Museum
A replica of the HMS Endeavour
Darling Harbour Woodward Water Feature
Barangaroo House - a Sydney bar and restaurant
A network of sea caves can be explored at low tide at Caves Beach
The aptly named Caves Beach
A foggy day at Merewether Ocean Baths
Enjoying a cold swim at Merewether Ocean Baths
Robby and Rebeca at the entrance to Tulloch Wines in Hunter Valley
Wines on offer at Tulloch Wines
Robby enjoying our wine tasting at Tulloch Wines
Our excellent sommelier at Tulloch Wines
Feeling merry after our wine tasting at Tulloch Wines
Becky at "The Big Kookaburra" statue
A handful of the 90+ koala sculptures spread across Port Macquarie as part of the "Hello Koalas" Sculpture Trail
"Olly The Blue Eyed Boy" koala sculpture
Royal Hotel in Port Macquarie
Koala crossing sign in Port Macquarie
Koala munching on eucalyptus leaves at the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital
A rehabbed koala recovers from injuries at the Koala Hospital in Port Macquarie
Koala souvenirs for sale at the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital
Roto House in Port Macquarie
Becky with "Australiana below the surface" koala
Australiana down under koala
There are lots of koala caution signs on display in Port Macquarie
Becky sitting on a railing overlooking Little Bay in Port Macquarie
Becky with Port Macquarie's "The Big Koala"
Detailed painting on The Big Koala
A koala asleep in a tree at the Guulabaa Koala Breeding Center
A koala wedged itself into a tree branch for an afternoon siesta at the Guulabaa Koala Breeding Center
Newell Falls at Dorrigo Mountain
A red necked wallaby at Dorrigo Mountain National Park
View at the start of our Wonga Walk at Dorrigo Mountain National Park
Strangler fig tree in Dorrigo National Park
Selfie at Tristania Falls
The surrounding scenery on our Wonga Walk at Dorrigo National Park
View of Crystal Shower Falls and the nearby suspension bridge from the rocky cavern behind the waterfall
Becky on the suspension bridge at Crystal Shower Falls
Skywalk lookout at Dorrigo National Park
Sunset over Dorrigo National Park from the Skywalk Lookout Point
Posing for a photo at the base of Dangar Falls
Close up view of the lower waterfall at Ebor Falls
Scenery at Guy Fawkes River National Park
The Guy Fawkes River plunges 100 meters over two waterfalls at Ebor Falls. This is the viewpoint over the upper section of Ebor Falls
Beautiful Ebor Falls at Guy Fawkes River National Park
Wollomombi Gorge in the dry season
Heritage Hotel Dorrigo with a world famous bistro
The small town of Bellingen located on Waterfall Way on the Bellinger River
Hammond and Wheatley Commercial Emporium in Bellingen
Posing at The Big Banana in Coffs Harbour
Becky in front of The Big Prawn in Ballina
Bird's Nest Fern in Byron Bay
"Drive Slow for Wildlife" sign in Byron Bay
Tallow Beach in Byron Bay
Posing at "the most easterly point of the Australian Mainland" at Cape Byron Lighthouse
Aboriginal artwork on display at Cape Byron Lighthouse Maritime Museum (in the original lightkeeper's office)
Fisherman's Lookout at Bryon Bay
Pedestrian crosswalk in busy Byron Bay
Selfie overlooking Cudgera Beach