May 2008 Australia.

We spend the first two days of May with Christopher in Sydney before he headed back to New Zealand and we finally were on the way to Canberra.

From Canberra we drove along the Hume Highway, stopping in little country villages, breeming with sheep, cows and horse farms, to New Castle.

Newcastle was a very interesting industrial few days amongst the big ships and their loads of coal.

We decided for the New England Highway opposed to the Coastal road, as we liked the people and the quiet country roads and we will see plenty of coast once we have passed Brisbane.

Darren-Christoher-Koala-Sydney-Australia April school holidays.

Darren took this photo on a night harbour cruise passing the Sydney Opera House, we thought the reflection of the lights look like music notes, do you?

Looking down from New Parliament House in Canberra, Australia's Capital, over old Parliament House, Lake Burley Griffin and up Anzac Parade towards the Australian War Memorial.

Lake Burley Griffin was formed in 1963 by damming the Molonglo River, it has 35 kilometers of shore, with cycling paths right around, of which we took advantage with our rented bikes.

In Canberra we went to a concert by Lee Kernaghan, an Australian hero who supports,through Country and Western Music the drought stricken farmers of Australia.

In Goulburn, a prosperous sheep grazing district this three storey Merino sheep represents, what it is all about .

Back at the coast in New Castle, we stayed in the Stockton campground at the Northern break water were the HUGE coal ships come and go 24/7, tooting as the pass through.

At any given time we could spot 30 to 35 of these big ships waiting, its loading turn in front of the entrance, out at sea. .

PP

From Stockton to Port Stephens, is 32 kilometres of sand dunes, some as high as 40 metres, with more sand than the Saharah.

After we left New Castle on the New England Highway we headed for some wine and port tatsing to the Hunter Valley. Were we took a detour to Denman to visit a 6200 acre stud farm, Woodlands, with 1000 horses.

This horse, Lowhar, being the most famous one, insured for 100 million,he lived the life of a playboy millionair all right!!

We encountered our first wombat in the country,the largest herbivorous burrower on earth, for us it just looked like a cute very large guinea pig!!

May has been a month of mixed weather with some large rainshowers and electrical storms but also very cold nights, even some frost and clear blue skies followed by a sunny day. However we are moving North and the weather will start warming up for us as we get closer to the tropics.

May 2008 Australia.

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