BLUE MOUNTAINS – SYDNEY – BELLINGEN

BLUE MOUNTAINS

After our lovely week in Vanuatu, John and I flew back to Sydney and went to the Blue Mountains the next day, just for 3 days as we wanted to be back in Sydney for Christmas. We had some really nice days up there and the weather was not too bad, even though we had a bit of rain every once in a while.

The YHA we stayed at was very nice and the staff friendly and funny. We even got an upgrade from a dorm bed to a family room, just for the two of us (honeymoon special). If you are on your honeymoon, tell the hotels/backpackers etc. as they might be willing to upgrade your accommodation. Beside hiking and sightseeing we enjoyed being away from big cities. Sydney is nice but we both prefer to stay in smaller places and spend time in the nature.

--> Photos of the Blue Mountains

SYDNEY

After 3 days in the Blue Mountains we took the train back to Sydney where we spent another two nights in a Backpacker. We thought that Sydney would be a good place to spend Christmas.

On Christmas Eve we went to my cousin’s place for a few drinks and on Christmas day we choose to go to a restaurant in ‘The Rocks’ where we ordered Kangaroo with vegetables (yummy!!!). 

A little bit about Sydney:
Sydney is often mistaken for the capital of Australia because it is probably the most known about city. You won't be bored in this lovely place as there is so much to see and to do. Needless to mention that the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House are the most famous sights. A lovely botanical garden attracts also thousands of tourists every year as does the Jewish Museum, which is located in Sydney's Darlinghurst suburb, near Kings Cross.
I can also highly recommend a day trip to Manly which is easily reachable by ferry. Manly has a lovely beach and several little café's and restaurants. One of Sydney's most famous beaches is the Bondi beach, known for it's great atmosphere and very popular with surfers, backpackers and students.



General information about travelling on the east coast of Australia:
Travelling is easy in Australia, especially on the east coast. There are several bus companies that travel not only from Sydney to Cairns and vice versa but also around Australia with several stops in between. The probably most known one is Greyhound who operates all over Australia. I suggest buying a bus pass that allows you to hop on and off whenever you want and wherever you like to stay. You can use the bus pass in one direction only but it is a cheap option of travelling around Down Under.

Greyhound usually stops in every town or village at the main bus station and from there you can either walk to your hostel/backpackers or get a taxi, depending on the distance. Some backpackers have their own mini vans and often we were picked up from the bus station if we booked our accommodation ahead.

Another option is Oz Experience. They are great when you travel on your own as they target backpackers. Oz Experience doesn’t only operate in one direction (from A-B) – they are almost like a tour operator who takes you to different sights and with whom you can book special trips to National Parks etc. Check their website for fares and offers.

On December 26th we caught the Greyhound bus to Newcastle for just one night. There was not much to do for us as we arrived in the evening and all shops, pubs and restaurants were closed on Christmas day. This stop was pretty much just to avoid an overnight journey on the bus. I have to admit that the Greyhound buses were not the most modern ones, politely spoken. Every journey with them was an adventure on its own.

--> Photos of Sydney


BELLINGEN

We left Newcastle early in the morning to catch the bus to Bellingen, a lovely small town, just perfect to chill out and to enjoy the nature and wildlife. I knew this place from last time when I visited Australia and I was keen on going back there.

Bellingen is known as the Jazz Capital of “The Holiday Coast”, with Jazz nights on the first Friday of every month and the famous three day Bellingen Jazz Festival in August. The Internationally respected Global Carnival unites many of the world's cultures in a four-day festival every October. Stamping Ground, a Male Driven Action Arts Festival, runs over 16 days every January. 
The Bellingen Markets attract thousands of visitors on the third Saturday of every month. The Bellingen Natural Produce Market caters to the discerning tastes of the Shires population on the second Saturday of each month. The annual Autumn and Spring Plant Fairs cater to the very large number of people who find gardening or reafforestation of interest. Bellingen is fast becoming the "Arts and Crafts Capital" of New South Wales' Mid North Coast and is renowned for the blend of Alternative and Traditional Lifestyles that it's residents follow.

Our hostel was close to the woods and the terrace faced the lovely forest from where you can watch the Flying Foxes leaving their high tree top perches to look for food through the night. There were thousands of Flying Foxes, all over the place, covering the sky around 20 kilometres out of town. 

The next morning we went on a 3 hour kayak trip, down the Bellingen river. The weather was fantastic and we enjoyed spending some time in the nature, far away from tourists. 
On our last day in Bellingen, we went on an amazing rainforest walk in the Dorrigo National Park.

The same day, we had to catch the Greyhound bus to Byron Bay and therefore we had to return to the hostel in the early afternoon to pick up our bags and hop on the shuttle minivan to the Greyhound pick up spot.

--> Photos of Bellingen/Dorrigo N.P