Just to think that just outside Sydney, hidden away in the Brisbane Water National Park you will…read morefind some Egyptian Hieroglyphics carved into a granite rock outcropping. If you don't believe me go and check them out yourself. Okay, they aren't 'real' hieroglyphics, and they definitely don't mark the tomb of an Egyptian prince that found himself lost in the Australian bush four thousand years ago, but they are certainly one of those really bizarre things that a huge number of myths and legends that developed around. I'd heard about them years ago, but only remember of their existence recently, and this made the effort to hike out there to check them out. Okay, while I'm only an amateur archaeologist at best, I can say for certain that these glyphs aren't four thousand years old (I would probably say a hundred years at most, though there are quite a number that are a lot more recent - it seemed as if somebody started a fad attracting all sorts of people to add to this rather odd spectacle). Mind you, they aren't listed on any of the Sydney tourist brochures, but if you like the weird and strange, and don't mind a but of a hike, then definitely go and check it out (I have placed the marker on their exact location, and Google Maps is also pretty accurate as well).

Took the walk from the opera house to the royal botanic garden and we stopped to see the ruins…read more Cool spot.

Walking past I thought it looked like a strange art project. Love walking around all the different…read morepieces of the old architectural pieces from the city. This is just outside our hotel (Sir Stamford) on our way into the botanical garden

This is actually a private residence. Have I gone balmy? Why am I reviewing a private residence on…read moreyelp? Well... it's like this, see? It ain't just any private residence like a fibro shack or a McMansion. OK, it might be a bit of a McMansion. A Georgian version of a McMansion anyway...because it's Australia's oldest private residence occupied by the descendants of its founders: the historically significant John and Elizabeth Macarthur. And for just one weekend a year, (the third weekend in September) it is open to the public. We set out for Camden Park House and Garden early on a Springy, sun-drenched Sunday morn. In less than an hour our suburban world lay behind us. O'er the one-lane bridge, past Belgenny Farm - where a number of the sheep today are descendants of the original and famous Macarthur Merino sheep - and at the end of a rather rough, dirt road was Camden House in all her circular driveway-ed, pillary glory. Vintage cars were on display and, tho' 'twas still early, a long line of people trailed from the impressive cedar doorway across the driveway and beyond. The owners' dogs trotted by us with indifference, as tho' there was nothing at all abnormal about so many strangers congregating on their doorstep thus. The line moved quickly enough, but it was also ever-present with more and more members of the public arriving throughout the day for a sticky beak. Therefore, I recommend you do arrive for a tour of Camden House as close to the opening time as possible to avoid standing in that line when the sun is at its peak. It was all very well organised, especially considering the sheer amount of human traffic that consistently moved through the property for hours on end. Visitors enjoyed a tour of the house by following the roped off areas and stopping in rooms and passageways where owners of the house and other relatives / volunteers were stationed to dispense relevant historical facts about their ancestors, the architecture, portraits and artefacts on display. Think mudstone and black marble flooring, mahogany tables and chairs, neo-rococo cabinetry and a whimsical book passage - an extension of the main library. Historical homes always have a quirky item or two and the standout one for me on this occasion was the breakfast table designed to double as a viewing table for the dearly departed! The numerous bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs were spacious and decorated in a manner authentic to the era. The wine cellar below the house was vast with many little alcoves we could walk through and inspect with more agricultural and domestic artefacts on display. Some of the wine bottles tucked away there were as old as the house itself! There was even a billiard table down there. Outside, Spring was busting out all over with wisteria draping itself like some sort of saucy nymph o'er ostentatious strengthy Georgian pillars and such. A history talk beneath a shady tree and tours of the sprawling gardens, which featured a fantastic garden sculpture exhibition, were also available on the day. I didn't get to the garden tour myself, but I did sit in and admire the beautiful, relaxing garden whilst enjoying a nice BBQ Sausage Roll with mustard and the obligatory onions as well as some jam and cream scones for dessert. With the very friendly extended Macarthur-Stanham family and their dogs amongst the attendees, I felt like I had gatecrashed a random family BBQ, but I didn't feel the slightest bit awkward about it! The big winner of the day was the wee Macarthur-Stanham dog that looked like a sausage with eyes and had the Oliver Twist act down pat. Methinks her name was "Poppy." I saw her score BBQ morsels from around 12 different people...and that is probably a conservative estimate! Who knows how long she'd been at that caper before I got out there. Overall, a delightful way to spend a few hours and a rare opportunity to tour a grand (private) home that is a part of our nation's history. * Review originally written and posted 20 October 2013.

Absolutely a picturesque view! Words often don't due nature as beautiful of this any justice. If…read moreyou love nature and you find yourself nearnearby, then definitely visit and be awed by nature. While you're here, see if you can spot the waterfall.

There is just something amazing about the views that you get from the Blue Mountains. I suspect…read morethat it has a lot to do with you basically starting at the top of the mountain and going for your hikes from there, which is basically the opposite of most other mountainous regions that I know, where you basically start at the bottom had literally have to make your way up to the top. What is even better about this place is that there is a bus that takes you from the railway station to the entrance to the park, so you don't actually have to walk all that far. However, the catch is that the bus doesn't come all that often. I'll have to come back, even if it is just to walk into the valley, and out again.

I literally passed by this museum on my way to the botanical gardens several days ago. Noting the…read morelimited hours I slightly rearranged my schedule to make the Tuesday hours work. I was expecting a small museum that would take 30 minutes max to go through. Thankfully I was so wrong. Before even opening the door of the museum I was greeted by one of the docents who was lovely throughout the tour. The entire tour lasted about 70 minutes and was fascinating. She explained the origins of the hospital and detailed history of the nursing staff who truly started the practice of nursing, as directed and sent by Florence Nightingale. While I was vaguely aware of the Nightingale connection I was surprised to find so many items that were either owned by Nightingale or given to the nurses from Florence Nightingale. With all the objects of the museum donated I think they have a truly remarkable collection, including old medical objects, photos of nursing staff, training uniforms, chemist set, to go bag of pharmaceuticals (for visiting rural areas), and medals received for service in the Crimea War. In general, I think it helps to have a medical background in order to understand how great this collection is and to be able to easily compare the collection to current medical practice. That being said, the docents ask prior to the tour if you have any medical knowledge. The only area of the museum that I didn't enjoy was part of the new wing and was two rooms of medical specimens, including the preserved fetus from an abortion. There were many different cancers (breast, ovarian, colorectal) also on display. I think generally people should be warned prior to going into those rooms. $5 Admission per person, cash only Photos are ok, no flash Will be asked to leave larger items (camera bags, backpacks) in the office Very limited hours! Martin Place metro stop