Waking up for work... At our new pad

645am morning sunrise from our new balcony! I can see people running surfing and doing yoga on the beach! Motivation!

cockatoo island....

Cockatoo island is just a hop skip and jump from Sydney....seriously it is a 10 minute ferry ride.  WE love ferries! 

On the way to cockatoo island we passed Sydney's amusement park Luna Park ( we have not been yet...)

Ah ok- before we arrive- here is some history- thank you wikipedia:

  Cockatoo Island is the largest island in Sydney Harbour in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Cockatoo Island is a former imperial prison, industrial school, reformatory and gaol. It was also the site of one of Australia's biggest shipyards during the twentieth century. The first of its two dry docks was built by convicts and was completed in 1857. 

The latest trend: people camp here....tents are up year round.  ( take note potential visitors)

Cockatoo also has some interesting industrial art work....

And of course there is one bar on the island- 

With a beautiful view

And ending with sunset! 

Till next time- 

Getting Intimate with the Ausie Wildlife

During TandA's travels around Ausie land we have had a few opportunities to "interact" with the wildlife...  From our interactions we learned many things...

Ausie sharks are more interesting dead than alive, and that T is still scared of this one

Wallabies like to be fed by A

Kangaroos like to be fed by T

Welll I guess they'll take any hand that has food in it

Even Roo's with joey's like to be fed

Koala's sleep a lot... And the fur is thick like a brilo pad

T likes fluffy chickens, but apparently the feeling is not mutual...

T does not hear better with fox ears

Not only do Koala's like to be hugged....

But they also like to give hugs!!

TandA takes a loong walk...

So we decided to do this trek from Manly to Spit, but what is a Spit?...

 Beginning of the walk.

Manly seven miles from Sydney a 1,000 miles from care...

 We agree...

 T has taken this to heart...

Before she knew we were on a 4 hour hike...

T watch out for the possum!!

T where is Manly???

There's Manly! Bay on one side beach on the other! 

Aboriginal fish carving, still going strong! 

Is this a Spit??? 

 Is this a Spit?  No this is a water dragon iguana, I think...

We finally made it!!! 

Time for a well earned dip in the water... 

Well we thought we made it, gotta keep going...

 This is Spit!  All that walking for this???

That's a 4 lane highway... Had to take a bus back to Manly.

Oh well! We earn a beer or 2...

Bird is the word

Australia has the most beautiful birds.   So many that we consider this our "big year" .
These are crimson rosella- seen in the blue mountains.  absolutely stunning

This one frequently visits our balcony- known as a Rainbow Lorikeet.

The one was in the zoo, notice they tagged its legs

This may be a duck- but hey it is beautiful

Just another Cockatoo, they also frequent our balcony and make a loud squawking noise.  Happy to trade the NYC horns and  sirens for the word of the bird.  

Tagged

Kookaburra

Not sure what you are.....

 but Australian streets are filled with random empty "artistic" bird cages- waiting for you!

A flock of Galahs- in the vineyards at hunter valley 

 a roadrunner - spotted during a hike in Blue Mountains

Oh and more Cockatoos, on Hamilton Island

Birdy, why do you look so sad.....

because Australian's drive around in "no birds" cars

yep that's right- rental cars named "no birds"
still trying to figure that one out!

Cheers!