Destination's Journey

Category: Building

Building

  • Singleton New South Wales

    Singleton New South Wales

    Singleton New South Wales

    Singleton is located in the New South Wales Hunter Valley. The region is known for its vineyards and coal mines. Often used as a rest point or base for further adventures in the area the town has a few things that are worth looking at if you are in the area.

    Burdekin Park

    At one time this was the centre piece of the town. A nice park with mature trees (cirrus pines) and the town’s war memorials. Unfortunately a colony of fruit bats colonised the trees and over the last few years have severely damaged them. As a result most of the large trees have been removed. The Park is now very open, but safe to enter.

    If you are interested in the fruit bats there are still some inhabiting the remaining trees, but not the vast numbers that were previously present.

    War Memorial

    The Singleton War Memorial is located in the centre of Burdekin Park. It commemorates the sacrifices made by local residents in wars Australia fought in. The ANZAC ceremony was held here until the bats arrived and has now been moved next to the civic centre.

    War Memorial Burdekin Park Singleton NSW Australia
    War Memorial
    South African War Memorial Burdekin Park Singleton NSW Australia
    South African War Memorial Burdekin Park
    Monument Fountain To Mayor Munro Burdekin Park Singleton NSW Australia
    Mayor Munro Monument Fountain

    Historical Museum

    Also located in Burdekin Park, the Museum houses some interesting relics from Singleton’s past. If the Museum is not open, there are some external exhibits of old farming equipment on display. For the full story about the museum, please click here.

    Singleton Historical Society Museum Singleton NSW Australia
    Singleton Historical Society Museum
    Singleton Historical Museum Burdekin Park Singleton NSW Australia
    Tractors at Singleton Historical Museum

    Townhead Park

    If travelling from Newcastle this is the first park you will see when entering town. There are plenty of car spots available along with picnic areas and covered tables. There is also a great playground for kids to let them run around after hours in a car.

    The town’s tourist information site is located here, along with a café with outside seating available overlooking the park.

    Also located in the park is a Matilda Tank used by the Australian Army in World War Two.

    Matilda Tank Townhead Park Singleton NSW Australia
    Matilda Tank Townhead Park Singleton

    Saint Catherine’s Church

    Located on Queen Street, Saint Catherine’s is the town’s Catholic Church. The area comprises the church, school and convent of the Sisters of Mercy. The sisters have a tour available called Sacred Spaces which allows you to see their buildings and gardens.

    St Catherine's Catholic Church Singleton NSW Australia
    St Catherine’s Catholic Church Singleton

    World’s Biggest Sundial

    The World’s biggest sundial can be found on Ryan Avenue overlooking the Rise Point sports fields. A present to the town from a mining company to celebrate Australia’s bicentenary.

    Giant Sundial Rose Point Singleton
    Giant Sundial Rose Point

    Jacarandas in Bloom

    If you visit Singleton during the jacaranda flowering season, around October, you are greeted by a sea of purple..

    Jacarandas in Bloom
    Jacarandas in Bloom

    Civic Precinct

    The civic precinct contains Singleton’s council buildings. In addition there is a statue commemorating early European settlers in the area and a memorial for service personnel. This memorial is the location for the Anzac Day dawn service held each year on the 25th of April.

    Pioneer Statue Civic Centre Singleton NSW Australia
    Pioneer Statue Singleton
    War Memorial Civic Centre Singleton NSW Australia
    War Memorial Civic Centre Singleton

    Court House

    The Singleton Courthouse is located in Elizabeth Street. Built in 1841, it is still in operation today.

    Court House Singleton NSW Australia
    Court House Singleton

    Wynyard Street Corner Shop

    This is one of the original corner shops that used to exist in small towns but have mostly disappeared. The sort of shop that stocks the essentials so that you don’t need to visit the supermarket.

    General Store Singleton NSW Australia
    General Store Singleton

    Uniting Church

    A nice church shaded by a lot of trees in the centre of Singleton.

    Uniting Church Singleton NSW Australia
    Uniting Church Singleton

    All Saints Church

    Located in High Street the All Saints Anglican Church dates from 1913, although there has been an Anglican Church on the site since 1845.

    All Saints Anglican Church Singleton NSW Australia
    All Saints Anglican Church Singleton

    Presbyterian Church

    The old Presbyterian Church is located just up from the Court House in Elizabeth Street.  No longer a Presbyterian Church, it is used by the Singleton Evangelical Church.

    Presbyterian Church Singleton NSW Australia
    Presbyterian Church Singleton

    Apex Lookout

    The lookout is situated out of town near the light industrial area. It gives a nice view over Singleton and the surrounding area. While you are here have a look at the mural painted on the toilet block. Unfortunately it is a little faded and over sprayed but worth a quick look.

    Street Art - Toilet Block Lookout Singleton NSW Australia
    Street Art – Toilet Block Lookout Singleton

    York Street Aboriginal Mural

    What used to be an old rusty iron fence has been painted in an aboriginal theme. Is is located near the Singleton RSL in York Street.

    treet Art York Street Singleton NSW Australia
    Street Art York Street Singleton

    Singleton Train Station

    The Singleton Train Station dating from 1863 is a nice old building on the edge of town.  Worth having a look at if you are passing by.

    Railway Station Singleton NSW Australia
    Railway Station Singleton

    Nearby

    Camberwell

    Located in the small village of Camberwell 15-minute drive north of Singleton is St Clements Anglican Church. No longer in use for services, the church’s interior was extensively damaged by fire in 2009. If you are driving the New England Highway and want to see a typical small village church, stop here and have a look.

    A small dirt track leads down to the church just past the turn off from the highway. On arriving we found the gate to the churchyard unlocked, so we walked around the grounds.

    This church was often booked by people from out of town for weddings because of its appearance, but unfortunately the fire has stopped that.

    St Clements Anglican Church Camberwell NSW
    St Clements Anglican Church

    Whittingham

    Two memorials can be found on the east side of Singleton at the intersection of the New England Highway and Range Road, Howe Memorial Reserve, Whittingham. Located near the rail overpass to Range Road, a parking bay makes stopping to have a look easy.

    The first and largest commemorates the sesquicentenary of the arrival of John Howe`s exploration party in the vicinity on the 15th March, 1820.

    Sesquicentenary of John Howe Expedition Memorial
    Sesquicentenary of John Howe Expedition Memorial

    The second, smaller monument commemorates those from the district who served in World War One. Originally the Whittingham War Memorial had a German machine gun on top, but this is now missing.

    Whittingham War Memorial
    Whittingham War Memorial

    So if you are passing through Singleton or staying for a few days, there are a few things to see around town that will keep you occupied for a few hours.

    To see what else there is to do in the Hunter Valley, please see some of our other stories.

    Our photos are available for purchase on

  • Amsterdam

    Amsterdam

    What Did We Do In Amsterdam?

    Here’s a quick list of what we did in the great city of Amsterdam. Click on the links below to go straight to that section, or just start at the top and read your way through.

    How Did We Get There?

    Where did we stay?

    Getting Around

    Dam Square

    Royal Pallace

    Canal Cruise

    Anne Frank’s House

    Rijksmuseum

    Van Gogh Museum

    I Amsterdam Sign

    Zaanse Schans

    What Did We Think?

    How Did We Get There?

    We travelled to Amsterdam from Brussels as part of our 30 day European tour.  As they are so close, we found it easiest to catch a train.  Even easier when we had a centrally located hotel in Amsterdam, so we could walk there from the train station.  The train departed Brussels Central and took just over two hours to get to Amsterdam.  Our trip was  direct, but had a stop in Antwerp.

    Amsterdam Time
    Amsterdam Time

    We booked through SNBC before leaving home at a cost of 45 Euros each.  There is no seating allocation, but as we had an early train (5:45AM) there were plenty of seats available.  Travel time was around three hours, so we arrived just after 9:00AM.  This gave us time to drop our bags at our hotel before setting out to explore.

    Where did we stay?

    As most of Amsterdam’s attractions are located around the old city, we chose a hotel in the centre.  The NH Collection Amsterdam Doelen looked like a good choice, being an up-market property within walking distance of everything we planned to visit.  From arrival to departure, the staff were some of the best we have met.  They were attentive to our needs without smothering you.  The check-in procedure is at a desk, where the guests can sit down, while the paperwork is carried out.  Fantastic, as you really don’t feel like standing after your trip to get there.

    The rooms were very nicely appointed.  Unfortunately, street noise from parties at nearby pubs kept us awake, so sleeping was not great, even though the bed was fantastic!

    Breakfast was fantastic.  Great wait staff and a good selection off the menu or buffet.

    Getting Around

    We found the easiest way to get around central Amsterdam was to walk.  When you first look at the map it looks a bit daunting, because of the canals and bridges.  However, we used Google Maps and found it quite easy.  When you walk you also get a better sense of the city and experience it better.  Remember that bikes get right of way!  If you don’t pay attention, it’s easy to get in their way.

    Amsterdam Canal
    Amsterdam Canal

    To visit attractions further afield like Zaanse Schans, we used public transport.  This was very easy to use, with the buses leaving from Central Station.

    Amsterdam Walk
    Amsterdam Walk

    What did we do?

    Dam Square

    This is a large public area next to the Royal Palace and the National Monument.  There are a lot of cafes around it and we grabbed a snack and a drink and watched the people walking by.

    Royal Palace

    As with most attractions we visited, where possible we bought a skip the line ticket.  This wasn’t really needed here as there was no huge queue out the front, but as the cost was the same, it just meant we could walk straight in. 

    There is a cloak room for backpacks and coats and a desk where you can get a map and an audio guide.  The guides are great and give detail of each stop on the map, along with some optional extra stops if you are interested.

    Not as magnificent as some palaces we have seen, but a beautiful building none the less and worth taking the time to see and have a detailed look around.

    Royal Palace
    Royal Palace

    Canal Cruise

    This is one of the must do activities in Amsterdam.  As the city is designed around canals, the historical and modern city can be seen to advantage from them.  The cruise we took lasted an hour and navigated many, many canals.  We saw house boats, old warehouses, modern architecture and more.  Unfortunately, the boat had a closed roof which severely limited the views and photo opportunities.  We thought this was a major problem.  I can understand that in winter, an enclosed, heated boat would be required, but in summer, the lack of viewing areas is very disappointing. So, if you can, get an open-topped one.

    Anne Frank’s House

    Another of the must-see places in Amsterdam.  I don’t use the word attraction, as that is not really its intent.  There was a massive line up.  Groups go through every 15 minutes.  You are rushed through, no photos are to be taken, and you are going through so fast you don’t have time. However this was an amazing experience to see this.

     

    Rijksmuseum

    If you are an art connoisseur, then the Rijksmuseum is a must.  The collection of Dutch masters is fanatic and no to be missed. Rembrandt, Vermeer, and many more.  Even if you are not into art, a visit is worthwhile, even if just to say that you have seen masterpieces like The Night Watch and the Milkmaid.

    To avoid the queues, buy you ticket online and skip straight to the entrance.

    Van Gogh Museum

    A fantastic museum containing most of the great artist’s best works.  Buy your ticket online, to avoid the huge queues that can form outside.  It can also be very crowded inside so don’t expect solitude to contemplate any of the art works.

    No photographs allowed, although this didn’t stop a lot a people from taking them.  If you do take photos, expect a stern telling off by the guards.

    I Amsterdam Sign

    Located near the Rijksmuseum, this is one of the must do tourist places in Amsterdam.  Unless you get there very early, don’t expect to take a photo of just yourself, as the crowds can be quite large, with many people more interested in getting their own photo, than staying out of yours.

    We saw the afternoon crowds, but came back at 6AM and had it all to ourselves.

    I Amsterdam Sign
    I Amsterdam Sign

    Zaanse Schans

    Zaanse Schans houses a collection of windmills, most of which still operate. If the wind is strong enough, they will be working as they were designed, producing the products they were designed for.  When we visited, the wind was too light, but were still able to go inside them and look around. 

    Zaanse Schans
    Zaanse Schans

    Entry to each windmill and museum must be paid for, so when you walk around, you do not have to go to all of them, and only one you could walk up to the roof and take a good picture, all the rest you were not allowed to do this. You can buy a Zaanse Schans card which gives you:

    • Free admission to the Zaans Museum
    • Free admission to the Weaver’s House and Cooperage
    • Admission to a windmill of your choice; extra windmills with a 50% discount. You can choose from: paint mill De Kat, sawmill Het Jonge Schaap, oil mill De Zoeker or oil mill De Bonte Hen.
    • Free access to the Zaan Time Museum (peak season + Sundays)
    • 30% discount on admission to the Honig Breethuis and the Windmill museum
    • 10% discount in souvenir shops and catering establishments (when you spend more than €10.00)
    • Parking Zaanse Schans daily rate for cars of €7.50 (instead of €10.00)

    The card can be purchased for 15 Euros at the information centre.

    Zaanse Schans Windmill
    Windmill at Zaanse Schans

    We spent the morning looking around  tasting cheese, trying on clogs, (which you can buy) and then had a nice lunch at one of the restaurants on site. The site is massive, but well worth the walk.  You can also walk over the bridge at the other entrance to the museum area and see the amazing houses on the water front and have a nice look around.

    Zaanse Schans
    Zaanse Schans

    We travelled there and back by bus.  A 50 minute trip, departing about very 15 minutes from Amsterdam Central.

    What Did We Think?

    Amsterdam is one of those places to visit, it has something for everyone, but there was more to see and do in other places that we visited. The old city and canals are very nice and we enjoyed the Van Gogh Museum.  However, we found the city was very noisy at night and sleeping was difficult. 

  • Pisa

    Pisa

    Getting There

    We caught a train from Venice to Pisa, with a change in Florence. Departing at 7:30, we arrived in Pisa at 11:00AM.  A quick walk to our Hotel ( Hotel Bologna) to drop off our bags and we walked to the Main Street to get some lunch. There are plenty of restaurants to choose from. We decided on a simple snack and a drink before walking to the piazza where all of the monuments are located.

    Pisa Time
    Pisa Time

    Pisa Walk
    Pisa Walk

    The walk was easy, but we felt uncomfortable due to the large number of males in their twenties, either trying to sell sunglasses, water, selfie sticks and other low quality junk, or hassling tourists.

    What We Saw in Pisa

    After running the gauntlet of hawkers, we arrived to find a huge crush of tourists. We had expected this, but were still amazed at the number of people there.  We walked around the Leaning Tower taking pictures and then went to the ticket office.  You must go here to get tickets for all of the monuments.

    The Leaning Tower of Pisa
    The Leaning Tower of Pisa

    The wait for the Tower was over three hours, so we decided not to climb to the top. First stop after getting our tickets, was the Baptistery of St. John  (Battistero).  A great looking building, particularly on the outside.  The interior is somewhat Spartan.  Take the stairs to the upper level.  This allows you to look down onto the baptismal font.  There is also a great view out one of the windows to the Cathedral.  The view is a little different to that from the ground.

    Baptistery of St John in Pisa
    Baptistery of St John in Pisa

    Interior of Baptistery of St John in Pisa
    Interior of Baptistery of St John in Pisa

    Font in the Baptistery of St John in Pisa
    Font in the Baptistery of St John in Pisa

    The Pisa Cathedral is on of the three attractions in the Plaza of Miracles.  Spectacular on the outside, it is grander on the inside.  The painting are fantastic, along with the alter, which is spectacular.  We spent a lot of time wandering around inside admiring the artworks.

    Pisa Cathedral
    Pisa Cathedral

    Pisa Cathedral Interior
    Pisa Cathedral Interior

    The Plaza, still has the old city walls running down one side.  These are worth a look, as many old Italian cities no longer have them.

    Pisa City Walls
    Pisa City Walls

    On our way back to the hotel, we walked along the River Arno, enabling us to see a little more of Pisa.

    Pisa From the River Arno
    Pisa From the River Arno

    Eating Out

    We found plenty of options for food.  Near our hotel was a selection of Italian restaurants.  We chose one at random and had a great meal with some local beers, followed by gelato, for dessert.

    What Did We Think?

    The Hotel Bologna was clean, quiet and comfortable.  There was air-conditioning which worked perfectly and we had a great night’s sleep.  Centrally located, we were very happy with it.

    As expected, Pisa was very crowded with tourists.  What we didn’t expect was the hordes of hawkers and others, who made us feel extremely uncomfortable.  On our walk back to the train station the next morning, we were followed by a group of men, and we went into an open café until they went away.

    Had we known how little time we would spend, a better option would have been to leave our luggage at the train station in a locker.  We could have then travelled on to Rome the same day.

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