May 26, 2012

Sydney Excursion - Maritime Museum

Australian's National Maritime Museum, in Darling Harbour, has a large fleet of historic vessels, including a destroyer and a submarine, HMAS Onslow. The Oberon Class submarine was recently moved to dry dock for maintenance, and is due to return on 1st June.



 I especially enjoyed being able to go on board these vessels*, and hope to visit again and attend a guided tour with one of the volunteer guides. The museum website includes virtual tours of some of these exhibits.





The destroyer, HMAS Vampire was the last of Australia's "big gun ships" and is the museum's largest exhibit. It was built at the Cockatoo Island Dockyards and was commissioned in 1959.
The Navy last used Vampire as a training ship, and it was decommissioned in 1986.

The Maritime Museum also has permanent exhibitions, as well as special exhibitions indoors.





*Link to the Museum's admission details                              

May 5, 2012

South Lawson Waterfalls

The waterfalls on this popular walk at Lawson in the Blue Mountains, were looking great after recent heavy rain. Unfortunately a bridge over the creek had been washed away, but as we saw stockpiles of sandstone blocks near the track, I expect repairs to the track will not be too far away.

Adelina Falls


Federal Falls


Cataract Falls, Lawson



I have had lunch at Federal Falls before in the summer, but it was too cool and shady on this occasion, so we climbed further up the hill and stopped for lunch there.

The waterfalls circuit can be completed by returning to Lawson along Honour Avenue, or by walking along fire trails and roads to Hazelbrook, as our group did.



location map

My GPS trace 







This walk can also be extended to join the Terrace Falls walk at Hazelbrook.
(see my Lawson to Hazelbrook post)