The Purple Penguin

We decided to drive to Sydney via the last bit of the Coast Road that we could safely do. So we checked out of the hotel in Wollongong and made our way to the Grand Pacific Drive. Leaving Wollongong behind we had to make to sharp right turns into various little lookouts to see the cliffs and the sea, but couldn’t see the Sea Cliff Bridge until we were on it! And even then it was only a few spots that you could see it was a bridge (K: I dunno, I was driving and pretty sure I was on a bridge.)

We stopped at the suggested parking after we’d been over the bridge and started down the path to have a view. But we came into a neat little gully where we saw a water dragon (K: no really, that’s what they’re called!) We also saw dragonflies and eels. (K: little tiny eels.) But we didn’t go any further because our legs complained. (K: and we wouldn’t get a view of the bridge, it was a path to lead us onto the bridge.)

We stopped at a few more spots until we eventually came to Bald Hill Lookout, where you can get a really nice view of the bridge. (K: we promise to upload and label photos soon. Probably this weekend at home. Probably.) We then used the toilets and both came out giggling because it was all automated, with a voice that explained how things worked, that you had 10 minutes (K; leading one to worry that maybe one takes longer than 10 minutes? Surely not?), and then calm lift music plays. Everything was operated by a push-button, even the toilet paper. The toilet also flushes when you wash your hands and when you open the door. It was all rather surreal. Joe said it was a cross between Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy and Doctor Who.

We drove on into the Royal National Park which was very pretty to drive through (K: twisty little roads that climbed steeply up and then dropped down meant I was driving slowly and paying attention to the road. But Joe is right, it is pretty!) We stopped just before we left the park by a piece of water and watched a cockatoo. Then we drove through the Sydney Suburbs to Botany Bay to see where it all started.

We stopped at the Kamay Botany Bay National Park Visitors Centre and had a quick look at their eight days that changed Australia display before walking down to the shoreline and past various monuments to events that happened, including the landing place of Cook.

After this we put our exit plan into operation, which involved stashing bags at the airport and returning the hire car. We then retired to our very nice suite for our last night in Sydney (K: and Australia. Don’t wanna go.)