Twixt Tassie and New Zealand

diciembre 2022 - noviembre 2023

Interesting(?) events between returning from Tassie and going to New Zealand. Leer más

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Janette and John Twixt Tassie and New Zealand
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- 11 abr 2023, 9:28
- ☀️ 11 °C
- Altitud: 303 m
- Australia State of New South Wales Cowra -33.834347, 148.69384833°50’4” S 148°41’38” E
Día 132
COWRA
11 de abril de 2023, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C
Spent the morning in Cowra, visiting the Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre, the POW camp and the Japanese Cemetery.

First stop, the Gardens Cafe for breakfast.

On entering there is the peace bell, the only one in the world not in a city. It was made from coins donated by 117 countries. It has a lovely tone.

We have been before, many years ago, and the gardens have matured beautifully, They were designed by Ken Nakajima (1914-2000). He created gardens around the world but considered Cowra to be his finest work. He is buried in the garden.

Last time we were here we purchased a vase as a souvenir - this time we bought two small vases.

We then drove to the site of the POW camp where the infamous Cowra breakout occurred.

Four Australian soldiers were killed, 231 Japanese soldiers were killed and 108 injured.

Janette's Uncle Lex was there. The breakout was two days before his nineteenth birthday.Leer más
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Viajero Perfect weather for a visit to Cowra and the gardens looked beautiful. Lovely to keep memories of Uncle Lex alive.
11/4/23ResponderTraducir
Bev Lee I never realized the gardens were so beautiful - such a peaceful way to remember such a tragic event.
16/4/23ResponderTraducir
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Janette and John Twixt Tassie and New Zealand
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- 11 abr 2023, 14:19
- ⛅ 15 °C
- Altitud: 858 m
- Australia State of New South Wales Orange -33.27636, 149.102633°16’35” S 149°6’9” E
Día 132
Young-Cowra-Orange
11 de abril de 2023, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
After a very chilly start to the day - 0.8 degrees - most of the day was spent in Cowra at the Japanese Gardens.

There are some more Cowra photos in this post.

Had a coffee and cake at Canowindra on the way from Cowra to Orange.

Late lunch snack at Orange information centre followed by a visit to the adjacent gallery.

Took a drive out towards Wellington and looped back via Molong. Our ulterior motive was to confirm that Molong really does have an IGA supermarket.

Dinner was at the Duntryleague Golf Club.Leer más
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Janette and John Twixt Tassie and New Zealand
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- 12 abr 2023
- ⛅ 20 °C
- Altitud: 142 m
- Australia State of New South Wales City of Sydney Glenhaven Spain Reserve -33.71656, 151.00688233°42’60” S 151°0’25” E
Día 133
Orange to Castle Hill
12 de abril de 2023, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
Day spent travelling to Sydney.

Stopped in Bathurst for coffee and a muffin.

Turned left at Lithgow and headed for Richmond and Windsor.

Lunched at Windsor.

Arrived at Trish and Paul's at 2ish.
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Janette and John Twixt Tassie and New Zealand
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- 13 abr 2023, 13:50
- ☁️ 23 °C
- Altitud: 18 m
- Australia State of New South Wales Auburn Sydney Olympic Park Sydney Showground -33.843235, 151.06790233°50’36” S 151°4’4” E
Día 134
Four kids at the show.
13 de abril de 2023, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C
Sydney Royal Easter Show day today. After a hearty breakfast we took a bus to the Showgrounds.

Managed to wander round for four hours amid the crowds and the noise of the fairground. Checked out the animal pavilions, the wood chop and the CWA scones and jam and cream.Leer más
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Bev Lee What a happy day! It must have brought back lots of memories.
16/4/23ResponderTraducir
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Janette and John Twixt Tassie and New Zealand
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- 14 abr 2023, 14:26
- ☀️ 21 °C
- Altitud: 6 m
- Australia State of New South Wales Wyong Shire Davistown The Broadwater -33.482555, 151.36100833°28’57” S 151°21’40” E
Día 135
Davistown for lunch.
14 de abril de 2023, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
Today we went to visit Trish and Paul's friends, Margaret and Doug, in Davistown and have lunch at their local RSL.

Drove to Castle Hill Showgrounds Metro Station. Took a train to Epping. Changed platforms and took the Newcastle train to Woy Woy where we were to catch the 10.45am ferry on the Hawkesbury River to Davistown.

Once at Woy Woy, we had half an hour before the ferry departed so we had a coffee at Wanita's coffee lounge.

As the ferry neared Davistown, Margaret was on her front deck waving and Doug was at the jetty to meet us. A short walk along the river bank and we were at their house. Morning tea while we admired their most amazing location and then a walk to the RSL for lunch.

Great lunch spot with views and good food.

Took the 3.45 ferry back to Woy Woy and 'ran' (would you believe walked very quickly) to the station just in time to catch a train back.

A most enjoyable day for a $2.50 train fare and an $8.00 ferry fare.Leer más
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Bev Lee Oh to be near the water, to be with you on the ferries, to see the views! Thanks for sharing such lovely photographs.
16/4/23ResponderTraducir
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Janette and John Twixt Tassie and New Zealand
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- 15 abr 2023, 12:30
- ⛅ 25 °C
- Altitud: 21 m
- Australia State of New South Wales Hawkesbury Cornwallis -33.58725, 150.81126433°35’14” S 150°48’41” E
Día 136
Collector's plant fair.
15 de abril de 2023, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
After a big breakfast we headed off to the Collectors' Plant Fair at the Hawkesbury Race Club, Clarendon, near Windsor.

We expected it to be popular but it was packed.

Many of the exhibitors are specialist growers of rare and collectable plants. Some of the plants are priced in the hundreds of dollars.

We purchased a pitcher plant and a venus fly trap for Harrison.Leer más
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Bev Lee Obviously a popular event with lots of interesting plants to see - Kathy Z would love it!
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Janette and John Twixt Tassie and New Zealand
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- 16 abr 2023
- ☀️ 24 °C
- Altitud: 142 m
- Australia State of New South Wales City of Sydney Glenhaven Spain Reserve -33.71664, 151.00688233°42’60” S 151°0’25” E
Día 137
A Meller family BBQ.
16 de abril de 2023, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Quiet day. Trish and Janette went shopping. Went to Nikki, Brendon, Chloe and Harrison's at 3.00 for a BBQ. Atina, Warwick, Charlotte and Madeleine came too, so we met the whole family.

We were treated to a tour of the house and garden. Both are a work in progress. They are very enthusiastic about their plans and it's amazing how much they've achieved already.

Nikki and Brendan were terrific hosts. Brendan was in charge of the barbie while Nikki was flat out inside - especially impressive as we found out later that she was coming off a really busy day.

The four young ones were fed first and the eight oldies sat down at the second sitting.

A most enjoyable occasion.Leer más
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Janette and John Twixt Tassie and New Zealand
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- 17 abr 2023, 11:44
- ⛅ 20 °C
- Altitud: 7 m
- Australia State of New South Wales City of Sydney Woolloomooloo Royal Botanic Gardens -33.863453, 151.2175933°51’48” S 151°13’3” E
Día 138
Ferry rides and food.
17 de abril de 2023, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
Plan for today is lunch at a Vietnamese restaurant, Botanic House, in the Botanic Gardens.

We drove to Sydney Olympic Park to catch the rivercat ferry into Sydney down the Parramatta River. It's a 55 minute ride past waterfront properties that show how the other half live.

We disembarked at Circular Quay and headed toward the Opera House. Just past the Opera House is the Botanic Gardens and a short stroll took us to lunch.

On the way we stopped at a sculpture by a sculptor much admired by Paul, Bronwyn Oliver.

Lunch was a nine course degustation, Vietnamese cuisine. It was delicious!

A new exhibit, the Calyx, was highly recommended so we headed off to see that. This area can be hired for weddings, parties, anything…

We then headed back to Circular Quay. On Trish's suggestion, we took the ferry to Watson's Bay and back before heading back to home. (A seniors card holder in NSW can travel on public transport for $2.50 per day).

On arrival back at the Olympic Park Wharf, we had to walk past some shops back to the car park. One shop, an asian grocers, had peking ducks hanging in the window. It was decided then - dinner was to be spring rolls. Trish went in to buy rice paper, capsicum,spring onion, cucumber etc while Paul bought a duck and had it chopped up. Dinner was sorted.Leer más
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Janette and John Twixt Tassie and New Zealand
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- 18 abr 2023, 9:03
- ☀️ 17 °C
- Altitud: 208 m
- Australia State of New South Wales The Hills Shire Dural Edna Brown Reserve -33.693783, 151.01934833°41’38” S 151°1’10” E
Día 139
A walk in the park.
18 de abril de 2023, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
Trish, Janette and I went for a walk in the local park, Castle Hill Heritage Park. This is Trish's regular walk with her dog, Pippa. There are stone blocks at regular intervals along the path and Pippa will sit on each, wait for Trish to catch up knowing she will get a treat.

The following is taken from the park website:-

Castle Hill Heritage Park, located off Banks Road in Castle Hill, is a nationally significant site being one of the earliest and potentially least known Government Farms dating back to 1801. The farm was the staging point for the first-ever convict rebellion on Australian soil in 1804.

The park’s features include concrete walking tracks, picnic areas, playground and public toilets in a heritage-listed site within a bushland setting. The majority of the reserve is accessible for people with disabilities.

With its 20 hectares of rolling landscaped hills and remnant Blue Gum forest, Heritage Park is a great location for family picnicking, walking and learning about nature. It is the birthplace of Castle Hill.

Home to the critically endangered ecological community Blue Gum High Forest, Castle Hill Heritage Park is one of the largest remaining stands of Blue Gum High Forest reserved in the world. The threatened species Powerful Owl is known to use Castle Hill Heritage Park for hunting.Leer más
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Janette and John Twixt Tassie and New Zealand
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- 18 abr 2023, 18:27
- 🌙 20 °C
- Altitud: 13 m
- Australia State of New South Wales City of Sydney Garden Island Fleet Steps -33.86113, 151.22087133°51’40” S 151°13’15” E
Día 139
A night at the opera.
18 de abril de 2023, Australia ⋅ 🌙 20 °C
A highlight of this holiday has to be attending Madama Butterfly!

The setting is amazing with views across to the Opera House and Bridge to the right of the set and the city to the left.

The story is old and known, about an American sailor (30y.o.) and a young (15y.o.) Japanese girl, Cio-Cio-San, (Butterfly). He tricks her into a sham marriage in order to sexually exploit her. He has to leave with his ship, promising to return. She waits and waits and waits… certain that he will return.

Three years later he does return, but with an American wife. He finds out that Butterfly was pregnant when he left and he has a son. He says he and his wife will take and look after the boy. They take the boy.

In true opera tradition, Butterfly kills herself.

It's actually a brutal, grubby and shocking story.

Soprano Karah Son played the role of Cio-Cio-San (Butterfly).

The production, though, has a modern feel with motor vehicles delivering players to the set. The set for the second half was craned in, using two very large cranes, during the interval. In fact, the interval was very entertaining in itself.Leer más
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