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                              

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)

Cockatoo Island

Cockatoo Island is the largest island in Sydney Harbour, and is only a short ferry trip from Circular Quay. An informative booklet was available from the visitors centre near the wharf, with suggested self-guided tour itineraries.

The island was called Waremah by the Eora Aboriginal people. It is recognised as one of  'the best surviving examples of large-scale convict transportation and the colonial expansion of European powers through the presence and labour of convicts'. Cockatoo Island became the Commonwealth Naval Dockyard in 1913 and remained a naval dockyard until 1992.

Link to the 'Turbine Shop' sign and extra photos

Inside the huge 'Turbine Shop'

One of the oldest surviving steam cranes in Australia (below) was restored by volunteers.

Steam Crane, Cockatoo Is.

The last time I visited Cockatoo Island was to see the Biennale of Sydney (see my earlier post). Australia's largest contemporary visual arts event, Biennale of Sydney, will be held 27 June – 16 September 2012.

Walls Ledge - Blackheath

This walk, at Blackheath in the Upper Blue Mountains, although reasonably short, had a variety of scenery, as you can see from the photos.

Centennial Glen Creek, Blackheath

Flannel flowers

View into Kanimbla Valley

Walls Ledge is a popular spot with rock climbers.

Our walk was around 4Kms return to the station.
The only section I didn't enjoy was the return walk along Shipley Road, which we shared with a surprising number of cars considering it was midweek.


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