Sullivan Rock to Monadnocks Campsite Walk

In a thick drizzle we assembled in the car park at Sullivan Rock, about 30km from Armidale on the Albany Highway. Ten walkers and two Bibbulmum Track Foundation guides. 

The 15 km circuit was to take us over Mt Vincent and Mt Cuthbert stopping for lunch at Monadnocks Campsite on the Bibbulmum Track, returning along a relatively flat fire track.

The early drizzle ceased as we began our way up Sullivan Rock - a shiny, slippery granite dome.

Setting out up Sullivan Rock

Guide Tony (left) points to Mt Vincent our next objective

 Winter flowers

 View from Mt Vincent

 Back down the saddle

Nearing Mt Cuthbert

Brief rest on Mt Cuthbert

Lunch at Monadnocks campsite 

At the Monadnocks campsite our guides Tony and Ian gave an equipment demonstration for overnight trekking.

Paruna Sanctuary Walk June 2012

Saturday 9th June 2012: Myself and seven others walked the 12km Numbat Trail at Paruna Wildlife Sanctuary, Avon Valley, WA.
http://www.australianwildlife.org/AWC-Sanctuaries/Paruna-Sanctuary.aspx
The walk was organised by Glyde-In Community Learning Centre
http://www.glydein.org.au/
and expertly guided by Simon and Emily of Inspiration Outdoors
http://www.inspirationoutdoors.com.au/index.html

Peter Brock memorial
I arrived a little early and decided to drive on down picturesque Clenton Road for a few minutes. Much to my surprise a came across a memorial to the late Peter Brock, who died in 2006 while rally driving the road.

Peter Brock Memorial, Avon Valley

Numbat Trail
The day was dry, cool and cloudy, perfect for walking.

 Briefing from Simon among Powderbark and Wandoo trees

There are three trails at Paruna - Quenda, Numbat and Possum.

Trail markers

The entire 12km Numbat Trail walk is up or down and reasonably taxing.

Steep terrain

Lunch at a lookout

The Paruna Wildlife corridor was opened in 1998 linking Walyunga and Avon Valley National Parks. 

Plaque to mark the opening of Paruna

A train passing through Avon Valley below us 

Stone Survey marker

Nearing the end of Numbat trail

A difficult but most interesting walk.

Sea Princess cruise January 2012

Wednesday afternoon 11 January 2012 Mary and I boarded the Sea Princess in Sydney and set sail for New Zealand.

Leaving the wharf

Waving to Harbour Bridge walkers

Out through the Heads

As first time cruisers we were surprised how quickly we adapted to ship board life - the eating competition (meals), the entertainment, the hot spa and pool, the activities. We quickly decided two meals per day was enough (formal breakfast, formal dinner and fruit, small snack or nothing for lunch). We spurned the lifts, slogged up and down the stairs (floors 5 to 14!), walked the decks.
After two rough days on the Tasman Sea our first port of call was Bay of Islands, in perfect weather, followed by Auckland, Tauranga (Bay of Plenty), Napier, Wellington, Akaroa, Dunedin, then a full day cruising the fiordland.
Some photo highlights follow.

In Bay of Islands we visited three lovely gardens

(can you sense we like gardens?)

At anchor Bay of Islands

Berthed in Auckland

ahhh - that's nice - on the waterfront Auckland

Tauranga - Bay of Plenty

Oil spill clean up crew at work

A little way up Mount Maunganui

Further up

From the top of Mount Maunganui

Sea Princess berthed centre frame

Sail away Tauranga - beach lined with well wishers

An Aussie shouts from the ship 'we love you Kiwi's!'

Sunset at sea

Napier's Bell Chimes

Art Deco - Napier - I seem to fit in!

  Mary loved this

Wellington

Wellington

Rose garden, Wellington

Mary chats to volunteer guide, Shrine to Hiroshima, Wellington

Akaroa

Sea Princess at anchor, Akaroa

'You are here' half way up the hill. I turned back at this point

Standard fuchsia, Dunedin

Royal Albatross Centre, Dunedin

Milford Sound

Our cabin

Our dinner friends

Final night - Bombe Alaska!

We sail back into Sydney