Mount Portal Lookout

Mount Portal Lookout is part of the Blue Mountains National Park near Glenbrook.

The lookout is perched above the junction between Glenbrook Gorge and the Nepean River.

The 2-3 km drive into the park is through magnificent tree-lined roads.

It's wheelchair friendly and easy to access via a regular small car.

This post is part of Saturday Snapshot.

Thursday Travels

Thursday Travels @Exploring the World is a new photographic meme that highlights your favourite and best holiday pics.

One at a time.

Some easy to follow rules:

• Pick just ONE photo that shows something unique, unusual or quintessential about your travels.

• You can label it, write a story or do a travelogue piece about your photo if you so desire.

• These photos are about the place, the environment (man-made or natural), panoramas, macros - whatever captures your eye.

• All photos must be your own.

• NO selfies or family pics please.

We're all about the scenery at Thursday Travels!

Today I'm in the Blue Mountains of NSW
Govett's Leap is a lookout over the Grose Valley.
It's part of the Blue Mountains National Park and is open for bush walking.

#ThursdayTravels

Bathurst Winter Festival

Recently I visited my family in Bathurst.

The area around Bathurst was originally the home of the Wiradjuri peoples. 

Bathurst is now the oldest inland settlement in Australia. Last year the city celebrated 200 years of white settlement with a big festival and street party.

It was so successful they've decided to make it an annual event to coincide with the two weeks of the winter school holidays.

Bathurst has had a number of very cold, snowy days and nights this year, but it's never usually cold enough for the snow to last for very long (it usually melts by lunchtime each day). 

So even though their new Winter Festival features lots of snow related activities, there was very little real snow in sight (although the freezing cold wind was blowing in from somewhere snowy close by!)

Bathurst has done a lovely job of celebrating the cold with markets, food and wine festivals, an ice skating rink, ferris wheel and Vivid-like lights. 

I'm sure this is a festival that will continue to grown and evolve.

Bathurst Court House looked beautiful with it's Winter Lights.

My parents enjoying the light and snow display.

Apparently there is a new ice hockey comp happening in Sydney this year.

Several of the teams travelled to Bathurst for the Winter Festival to play some exhibition games.

 The line for the Ferris wheel was too long at night, so Mum & I returned the next day.

It would have been lovely to see the town all lit up at night, but the daylight ride gave us a fabulous panorama view of the surrounding areas.

This post is part of Saturday Snapshot.

Road Trips

Over the past few months, we've enjoyed a few family roadtrips.

1. A trip to Albury in southern NSW for my father-in-laws 80th birthday party.

We encountered stormy weather on the drive down, which made for some amazing views.

Gunning Wind Farm

After the storm

Lake Hume

2. A quick trip to Blackheath in the Blue Mountains last month revealed beautiful autumnal streets.

3. A recent soccer trip to Mudgee gave me a chance to photograph my old home town in all it's wintry glory.

Lake Windamere

This post is part of Saturday Snapshot

Magnificent Mudgee

I spent 18 years of my life living in the gorgeous town of Mudgee in Central West NSW.

I don't get back to visit my dear, dear friends anywhere near often enough.

But when I do go, I love sinking back into the warm embrace of those who have known and loved me for most of my life. Old friends and old places that make me feel instantly at home, safe and at peace.

My recent visit included non-stop lunches and dinners and trips to local wineries.

It was exhausting, but soul satisfying at the same time.

Just seeing these photos again makes me feel warm and gooey all over.

Lovely Mt Frome

My besties back yard

Another side of Mt Frome

The lunch time view at Lowe Wines

This post is part of Saturday Snapshot

Blue Mountains in Summer

 

Mr Seasons & I love the Blue Mountains and visit whenever we can.

We love it in all seasons and all weather.

But nothing beats a lovely summers day when you can enjoy the views, uninterrupted.

When the cicadas sing & the bush gives up a lush eucalyptus scent you could be a million miles from anywhere.

Yet Sydney is just an hours drive east.

 

Megalong Valley, Leura

It wouldn't be the Blue Mountains if it didn't rain at least once during your stay!

 

Walking out to Sublime Point, Leura

View from Sublime Point, Leura (click to open in full for an even better view).

Hargraves Lookout, Blackheath

Mount Blackheath

Kinimbla Valley from Mount Blackheath

 And folks a little more dare-devilish than I, like to use Mount Blackheath for reasons other than viewing!

 This post is part of Saturday Snapshot

H is for Holidays at Hastings Point

Hastings Point is on the far north coast of NSW in the Tweed District.

My dad grew up nearby, so we've been returning to the area for family holidays ever since.

It's a beautiful, semi-tropical, hot, sultry place to be. 

Torrential summer storms, followed by steamy, breathless days. 

The beach is long, unspoilt & quiet with an estuary at the southern end.

Cudgera Creek is tidal & great for kayaking and playing with young kids.

The New Year week was not long enough to explore this particular hamlet - we will be back!

But for now, a few pics for Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday.

Even in the pouring rain - man & his dogs enjoy a swim in the estuary.

Early morning fishing on the estuary.

Early morning walk was interrupted by several photo stops!

This is a panorama shot on the edge of the beach & estuary - click on it to make it bigger for best viewing.

This is the section of the creek my dad played in as a boy with his siblings & cousins. It has barely changed in all that time.

My holiday reading - something for the beach, the pool & the long, hot evenings under the air-con!

I hope you all enjoyed your New Year with family and friends as much as I did.

Happy Holidays!