Tag: Australia

  • Picton New South Wales

    Picton New South Wales

    Picton New South Wales

    Stopping at Picton on our way south to Jarvis Bay, we spent some time looking around town to break the driving and get a coffee. Picton’s Main Street contains several old and historic buildings which we stopped to take photos. There was also a variety of cafes and restaurants to choose from if you wanted something to eat and drink. There is plenty of parking.

    Picton Viaduct

    Not far from the Picton railway station is the viaduct, a huge sandstone bridge spanning a gully and small creek. Parking is limited as no dedicated car park is available, but we found parking in a side street.

    There is a walkway down to the creek where you can cross to the other side of the viaduct from a different perspective.

    The Picton Viaduct From Stonequarry Creek
    The Viaduct From Stonequarry Creek
    The Picton Viaduct
    The Picton Viaduct

    The Mushroom Tunnel at Picton

    Another rail related attraction is a disused rail tunnel  that you can visit called the Mushroom Tunnel. We missed the entrance the first time as it is quite small. The dirt road into the tunnel can be rough so drive carefully. The tunnel itself is quite interesting,  having been repurposed from a train tunnel to a mushroom farm (hence its name) and now a tourist attraction. We drove though it in the car, then turned around and drove back before walking through it. Remember to take a torch.!

    Mushroom Tunnel Piction New South Wales
    Mushroom Tunnel

    New South Wales Rail Museum Thirlmere

    How to Get There

    Only a 10-minute drive from Picton is the NSW Rail Museum Rail Museum. The museum houses the majority of Transport Heritage NSW large collection of historic locomotives and rolling stock. The importance of this collection means that it is well protected and mostly housed under cover as well as having a modern display hall containing the most important items.

    Parking is on the road outside of the museum in marked parking bays. Entry is via the new building where the staff will give you a map of the museum and answer any questions you may have.

    The Collection

    The main building houses the historic E18 and E78 trains as well as the Governor’s train.

    Oldest Loco E18 New South Wales Rail Museum Thirlmere
    Oldest Loco E18
    Locomotive E78 New South Wales Rail Museum Thirlmere
    Locomotive E78

    The majority of the collection is held outside under cover and away from the elements. This huge collection would take many hours to explore if you wanted to examine it all in detail. There are arrows painted on the walkways to make walking around the collection easier.

    Old Carriages New South Wales Rail Museum Thirlmere
    Old Carriages
    Rail Pay Bus New South Wales Rail Museum Thirlmere
    Rail Pay Bus
    D55 Class Locomotive 5595 New South Wales Rail Museum Thirlmere
    D55 Class Locomotive 5595

    As well as the trains and rolling stock, there is other memorabilia at the museum.  As you walk around you will find old station clocks, time-table departure boars and baggage carts.

    Old Departure Time Board New South Wales Rail Museum Thirlmere
    Old Departure Time Board
    New South Wales Rail Museum Thirlmere
    Baggage Cart

    Unfortunately the on site café was not open when we visited,  but there are options available just a few minutes walk away at the Thirlmere shops.

    Train Photographs

    More photographs fro the NSW Rail Museum can be found here.

    Thirlmere Station

    While at the New South Wales Rail Museum have a look at the Thirlmere station and station master’s house as they are well maintained and make some great photos.

    Thirlmere Station New South Wales Rail Museum Thirlmere
    Thirlmere Station
    Boom Gates at Thirlmere New South Wales Rail Museum Thirlmere

    The old boom gates where the road into Thirlmere crosses the rail tracks are also worth having a close look at.

    To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

    Our photos are available for purchase on

  • Newcastle Street Art

    Newcastle Street Art

    There are several places to find street art in Newcastle, although it is not as widespread as in other cities. In the city centre there is a collection in Morgan and Newcomen streets.

    Civic Lane near the old Civic Railway Station also has some interesting art works on the backs of some buildings.

    Further afield, you can find some great pieces at Hamilton and Wallsend.

    In addition to the street art, Newcastle has some amazing sculptures scattered around the city, so keep an eye out for them.

    New Street Art March 2021

    City Centre Street Art

    Newcastle’s Pillar People

    One of Newcastle’s initiatives to brighten up the city centre, is the Pillar People. These telecommunications pillars have been cleverly painted to represent local identities, or reflect the businesses they are located near.

    There are over a dozen of them, see if you can find them all.

    Painted Power Boxes

    In a similar initiative to the Pillar People, electrical boxes around the city have been decorated with nautical themes. They brighten up an otherwise dull box. Look for the amusing mice, painted on some.

    Newcastle Sculptures

    Destiny Monument

    Located on Newcastle Harbour on Dyke Point, Carrington, the Destiny Monument is difficult to reach because of its location. Dyke Point is part of the Newcastle Port Authority’s operating area with no public access permitted. The closest viewpoint from land is the Honeysuckle Footpath at Honeysuckle, where you can look across the harbour to the statue.

    This nine metre tall bronze statue commemorates the 200th anniversary of Newcastle Port operations and was inspired by the figureheads of early sailing ships.

    Destiny Statue on Newcastle Harbour
    Destiny Statue on Newcastle Harbour

    Hamilton and Wallsend Street Art

    Located further from the city centre, these art works a more difficult to get to, as you will need a car. If driving past them, they are worth a stop to admire, as they brighten up and add interest to otherwise dull buildings.

    To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

    Our photos are available for purchase on

  • Penrith White Water Stadium

    Penrith White Water Stadium

    Penrith White Water Stadium

    One of the many great legacies of the Sydney 2000 Olympics, is the Penrith White Water Rafting Stadium, which still caters for elite athletes, but also has given locals the opportunity to experience the thrill of rafting.

    Penrith White Water Stadium Entrance
    Penrith White Water Stadium Entrance

    Booking

    Booking beforehand is essential, so phone and book well in advance on (02) 4730 4333. The staff member will give you all the information you will need, and send a confirmation email, which also contains the necessary details for this thrill.

    Arriving a half an hour beforehand gave us the opportunity to complete the necessary paperwork and grab some wetsuits and to see the local kayak club training, which was great.

    The stadium provides all of the required safety gear, helmet and life vest. If needed, wet suits are available for hire, but not essential, as t-shirts and shorts are acceptable. However, for safety, closed in shoes are essential. Bring a change of clothes as you will get wet, even if you don’t fall in. The bathrooms are huge and have a big area for changing. There are also lock up areas to store your bags and valuables until you have completed rafting.

    The trip starts with a safety briefing and a description of the next hour’s events, as well as life vest and helmet fitting. Safety is their priority, and the briefing made us feel very safe. We did not start our lap until everyone was happy that we were ready to do the course. It is also emphasised that you can get out at any time, so if you feel unwell or are not enjoying the experience, the guide will stop at the next safe stop and you can get out of the raft.

    The Course

    The course starts at the loading ramp where we carried the raft into the water, followed by instructions from the guide in how to paddle the raft. Once they are satisfied that you are OK, the fun begins with a trip up a conveyor belt, that transports the raft to the upper pool. From here, you follow a circular route through rapids, back down to the starting location. We managed about eight trips in our allotted time, each one becoming more difficult at our request. The guide decides how difficult, each trip is, depending on how your party is going.

    We had a great time and highly recommend this for anyone looking for a more adventurous experience while being in a safe environment.

    To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

    Our photos are available for purchase on