Warragamba Dam supplies Sydney with most of its drinking water and is worth visiting if only to find out where all of your water comes from.
How to Get to Warragamba Dam
Water Tower
A water tower located just before the main entrance is of a unique design and is worth a quick stop to have a look at. It would look even better if a local artist decorated it with a mural.
Water Tower
Workers Memorial
In the
car park, you will pass a memorial to all of the workers killed during its
construction. It is a tragedy that so many died in a workplace, something that
would not be acceptable today.
Memorial Wall
Also in the car park is an uptake valve that was originally used to transfer water into the pipelines. Its size gives to some understanding of the large scale engineering that was done here.
Original Intake Valve
Warragamba Dam
A great piece of civil engineering, the dam wall can be viewed from the Visitors’ Centre, where a viewing platform has been erected. From here you also get a great view over the surrounding bush land and can see the dam’s water level. The centre has a full history of its construction and design, detailing the geology and civil engineering that went into it. You can only walk over the wall on the weekends.
Warragamba Dam
Water Level
An additional viewing platform opposite the dam wall is located in the town. This provides a different view of the dam wall and is worth the small trip for the view.
Located in the town of Warragamba is as additional viewing platform, which is opposite the dam wall. This provides a different view of the dam wall and is worth the small trip for the view.
An interesting place to visit if you like to see civil engineering projects, or want to learn about Sydney’s water supply
We travelled to Broome as it was the starting point for a ten-day four-wheel drive safari through the Kimberley region. It took us three plane flights to reach Broome. The first flight was from Newcastle to Sydney, then Sydney to Perth and finally Perth to Broome. Yes, Broome is remote and hard to get to but is worth the effort.
We were met at the airport by a shuttle bus driver who took us to our accommodation at Cable Beach Resort where we stayed for two nights. Arriving late in the evening, and after a long day of travel, we had a meal and went to bed.
Fly to Broome
Cable Beach
After a fantastic breakfast early the next morning, we walked along Cable Beach which was right next to the hotel.There were already a few people there, but the beach is so big, it was really pleasant. People were in the water swimming, or paddle boarding and a few were fishing.
We wandered along the beach for a while and scrambled over some rocks at the north end of the beach, before returning to our room and getting ready for the day.
Cable Beach Early Morning
Broome Visitor Centre
We caught the hotels shuttle bus into town and went to the tourist information centre. We were looking for something different to do, as we had little time, and wanted to do something besides just walking up the main street.
Best seen at low tide, one of the big attractions is the dinosaur footprints, and as this was in the evening when we had a camel ride already booked we had to give them a miss. For the same reason the World War Two flying boat wrecks were also off the list. One of the friendly staff at the information centre suggested a tricycle motorbike ride around town with Coastal Trike Rides. We phoned him up, he was free that afternoon, so we booked it in.
Town Walk
From the information centre we walked to the main street and spent some time looking around the pearl sellers and other shops. By this time, we wanted a coffee, so we chose a café and relaxed in the air conditioning for a while.
Broome is famous for its pearls and there is a whole row of shops dedicated to them. If you like pearls, you will love Broome. Pearl Luggers on Dampier Terrace helps to preserve the history of pearling in Broome by displaying two old pearling luggers and artifacts. The boats are interesting to look at and walk over, particularly the Sam Male, which is in the best condition. In the grounds is an old-style dive helmet, which, if you are brave can put your head inside. There are no guarantees given you won’t get stuck.
Pearl Lugger Sam Male
Tricycle Motorbike Tour
After lunch, our guide picked us up for the tricycle ride around town. Passengers get headphones and a microphone so that you can talk to the driver, listen to the commentary and ask questions. The trip took us all over Broome, from the residential areas, shopping district, airstrip, beaches and surrounding areas. Throughout the ride, we had a great overview of the town and its history. We ended at Cable Beach where it looked as if most of the town had gone to spend the evening.
Coastal Trike Rides
Cable Beach Sunset Camel Ride
We finished our day’s adventures with a sunset camel ride with Red Sun Camels. This was the highlight of our stay. The guides greeted us with a beer or glass of champagne and then introduced us to our camels. Getting on the camels was easy, as there was a platform to walk onto where we simply sat on the camels. None of the wondering if you are going to fall off when the camel stands up, as it already is. Our guides then led us up the beach, where we got to watch the sun set over the ocean.
Sunset Camel Ride
Our stay in Broome was short but very enjoyable. What else would we do if we had time? There is a plane flight to Mitchell Falls, that would be great. Timing the trip for tides to see the dinosaur footprints and flying boat wrecks would be a good idea and booking the hovercraft ride in advance to see both would be ideal.
Our timing was determined by our follow on four-wheel drive trip, so matching dates for the tides was not possible.
For other great stories from Australia, please use the main menu above, or click on this link
The Tomaree Head Summit Walk is part of the Tomaree National Park near Nelson Bay New South Wales, Australia. This is a great bush walk to the summit of Mount Tomaree, which can be very steep in places, so take your time. Rest and enjoy the fantastic scenery and stunning views from the top as well as along the way. From the summit you can see out to the surrounding islands and waterways.
The walkways are very well constructed and maintained by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. At the base of the mountain they are paved changing to metal gratings, railings and natural rock paths as you get higher. There are several stairways and narrow walkways, so be patient and let others pass.
Tomaree Head Summit Walk
Steps on the Track
Metal Walkways
Parking
The car park at the start of the track is quite small and on weekends and during school holidays it can become full quickly. Some people park on the road or on one of the side-tracks, but even these can become full.
Xenith Beach
The entrance for Xenith Beach is a near the start of the Tomaree Head Summit Walk. If you don’t want to go onto the beach you get fantastic views from the top of the walk.
Xenith Beach
World War
2 Gun Emplacements
The track to the World War II gun emplacements leads off from the Tomaree Head Summit track. We took this track after coming back down from the top of the mountain. The walk around to the gun and placements is flat and consists of an old bitumen road, so is very easy after the climb to the summit. The emplacements themselves date from World War II and are of concrete construction. Although dismantled, leaving only the outer shells, they are still interesting to visit.
If you’re interested in World War II and the fortifications built in Australia at that time this is a great place for you to visit. As an additional bonus you get some great views over the surrounding ocean and out to the islands.
Fort Tomaree
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
