Showing posts with label Hunter Valley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hunter Valley. Show all posts

Tuesday, 24 October 2023

Hunter Valley Gardens

On our way home from the Hunter Valley we went to the Hunter Valley Gardens.

The gardens are divided into different areas.  Some were based on area of the world and demonstrated the style of that area. Others were more generic.






Then there was an area for the children: Story Book Garden


There were gardens dedicated to different story book and nursery rhyme characters.  There were rides to go on and face painting opportunities.

I couldn't resist taking photos of the palettes.




There was a lady creating beautiful large bubbles and I was thrilled to be able to capture them with my camera.


And just as we were leaving I saw this sign for this rose.



After lunch, Andy drove us back home and we packed for the next stage of our hoilday.

Thanks for joining me today
Bernice

Saturday, 21 October 2023

Creeks, Loops and Fighterworld

We stayed in the Hunter Valley from Sunday to Friday.  Andy had lots of activities planned.  There aren't many photos in this post of the actual activities as I was mostly taking photos  of the grandchildren and I don't share those on social media.  There are two exceptions in this post.

Monday morning saw an early visit by the kangaroos - hoping for breakfast.

We visited a special sculpture trail called Sculpture on the Farm.  I don't think we had explained to the children that there were no animals on the farm.  However they enjoyed looking at the various sculptures and choosing their favourite to vote for at the end.



I liked this one because of the shadow it made against the wall behind it.



Back at the holiday home a Kookaburra came to visit on the decking.


I love this photo that looks as if Andy and C are playing Piggy-in-the-Middle with a kangaroo.


As there was no water supply to the holiday house, the owners moved us to The Carriageway.  We were moving there on Wednesday anyway, so it was only a couple of nights early.

We stayed in one of the cabins in a row that was made to look a bit like a station.


The family stayed in a converted railway carriage.


The train line was very close.  This was the view from the back of our cabin.


We went out to find a creek.  It took 3 goes until we found one with sufficient water in it.  This is Telegherry Creek.  There was lots of paddling and dam building - but obviously not by me!



Wednesday saw us setting out for another creek in Barrington Tops National Park.  This one had plenty of water and a loop walk of 3.5km.  Plus more dam building and some swimming.



And a chance to get a photo of the scenery on the way home.

On Thursday we visited Fighterworld at RAAF Williamtown outside Newcastle.  It's a museum about fighter planes.  

C landing a plane in the simulator

We went to have lunch in a small town called Paterson, where we saw this quirky cemetery.



A full few days with another one to come on our way back to Sydney.

Thanks for joining me today
Bernice

Thursday, 19 October 2023

Heritage and Wildlife

The first weekend we were in Australia had two distinct flavours.  On Saturday, Andy drove us to Wollondilly to a small Heritage Museum.

Inside the schoolroom there were books I remember from my childhood.


Admittedly we used the English version not the Australian version of The Happy Venture series


We were the only ones visiting the museum and a lovely volunteer guide took the three grandchildren on a private tour.

Sunday saw the 7 of us set out for the Hunter Valley and a few days away.  Andy took us to the Australia Wildlife Centre on the way where you could walk amongst the kangaroos.



Some of the animals were fenced in but the children were still able to feed the goats and the pig.


After a picnic lunch, we continued our journey to our holiday house where we were met by a mob of kangaroos waiting for us to feed them.



And the view was spectacular


What a great start to a family holiday.

Thanks for joining me today
Bernice