On Bruny again

It's quite a while since I was last on Bruny Island. There's lots to  see and do,and these days a lot more people are seeing and doing them. It was a Friday morning, outside the school holidays, and yet my car was only just able to squeeze into the last available space on the ferry. And ferries were running every half hour.








We drove down to Adventure Bay, and walked the Fluted Cape track, one I'd never embarked on before. It's a very scenic two to three hour circuit, and you get to peer down over some very high cliffs.

You pass the ruins of several old whaling stations along the coast here. Plus one of the most unsightly monuments you could hope to meet. It commemorates the visit to Adventure Bay in 1777 by Captain Cook during his second big voyage.

Putney 2112

I gave the suburb randomiser machine another spin (it's actually an Excel spreadsheet, but not to worry), and out popped the suburb of Putney. It's on the north side of the Parramatta River, about 10km west of Sydney's CBD.

I mostly think of Putney in the context of the Putney to Mortlake ferry. When I was working in Parramatta and living in the Inner West, I'd often come home this way. Slightly out of the way, but a pleasant little diversion.

Unfortunately on weekdays the ferry only operates during peak hours, and was closed for my visit. So no ferry ride this time.
I noticed a huge amount of new development since I was last there, and lots still going on. Putney seems to be quite the place. But then so is every suburb near the Parramatta River or with half-decent transport connections.

Here's the brand new Royal Rehab Hospital.

And here's an apartment block development which must have some of the best views of any is the Sydney area. It's on a ridge top. There's the city to the east, the river and Olympic Park to the south, and maybe the mountains to the west, plus the 'leafy green' suburbs in the north.

























There are parks, and riverside walks. Here we're looking across at the Rivendell complex.

Harbourside sights #281: Stately queens, trusty ferries, & crazy jet boats

There's usually a cruise ship or two in port in Sydney Harbour. The other day the Queen Elizabeth was in town.





The good old harbour ferries beetled back and forth as usual.

But for a lot of tourists it's all about the jet boat.

What's at Watsons Bay?

Another pleasant day trip the other day, by ferry from Circular Quay down the Harbour to Watsons Bay.

Watsons Bay beach

The view from Laings Point

The famous Doyles on the Beach seafood restaurant. 

Heading back

Messing about on the river

On the Parramatta River, to be precise. I took the classy option yesterday for the journey into the city: the Parramatta River Rivercat.

Most of the other passengers were tourists, and didn't they just love it! None of the discomforts of train, bus or car travel, none of the uninspiring scenery of the Parramatta Road or the main western line corridor. Just  clear blue skies, clear blue water, fine views of boats, bridges, Olympic stadiums, parks and bike tracks. And some rather well positioned and expensive real estate here and there too.

The Rivercats all seem to be named after famous female athletes. I found myself aboard the Betty Cuthbert. Betty was a world champion sprinter in the 1950s and 60s. She grew up in the nearby suburb of Ermington, and is still alive and living in Western Australia.

The cabin is warm, roomy and comfortable, but the location of choice is the front deck, where the views make up for any cold winds or stray sea spray. As you approach the Harbour Bridge, everyone vies for a good position, and the selfies and group pictures all get taken. Then it's the equally scenic Circular Quay and Opera House.

One of the highlights of the trip is the first leg, from Parramatta to Rydalmere, where you negotiate a narrow passage through the mangroves. A lowlight is that at low tide the vessel - a flat bottomed catamaran - nevertheless can't actually make it through this part. The service terminates then at Rydalmere, and passengers pile onto a bus for the rest of the journey.

I understand the Parramatta-Rydalmere leg will be withdrawn altogether soon, so use it while you can.