Somersby Falls is a stunningly beautiful little walk in the Brisbane Waters National Park near Gosford in New South Wales. Getting there is very easy. From Sydney you follow the M1 north and take the Gosford exit towards the Australian National Reptile Park. From there you follow the signs to Somersby Falls.
Entry to the park is a nominal $8.00 per vehicle. You pay at a parking machine and display the docket on the dash-board of your car. The machine takes credit cards. This entry fee covers you for the whole day.
The car park has toilets, a picnic area and signage about the walks and the park. The walk down to the falls is well constructed, with much of it being formed steps. However it can be wet and slippery, so wear good walking shoes or boots. The vegetation becomes more dense as you get closer to the bottom and you become enclosed in temperate rain forest of trees and ferns.
Steps on the Track into Somersby Falls
Somersby Falls
At the falls, if the water is low, you are able to walk up to the water to take some wonderful photos. Be careful as this area is very rocky and slippery. It is possible to walk downstream a small distance but you need to be sure of your footing as you will need to climb up and down rocks.
Somersby Falls
Somersby Falls
Somersby Falls
Somersby Falls
The Base of Somersby Falls
Bush Turkey at Somersby Falls
Climbing back up the path to the car park can be tiring, so don’t rush, stop look around and take in the beautiful scenery.
Bondi Beach is probably Australia’s most famous beach. Its fame attracts visitors from Australia and overseas. Not only is the beach fantastic and the surf amazing but its lifeguards have their own TV show, adding to its fame.
Bondi Beach
Getting There
Getting to Bondi Beach can seem to be a little daunting. Car parking is limited and very expensive. This can be fixed by catching public transport. The problem is that the Sydney trains do not run all the way to the beach. If going by train you need to change to a bus at Bondi Junction . This bus can be packed and very uncomfortable during busy periods such as school holidays. The state government is planning to run light rail to Bondi which will fix this issue.
Bondi Beach
Rock Wall North Bondi
As well as the beach Bondi has an excellent range of bars restaurants and cafes on the street next to the beach. You certainly have plenty of choice here. The atmosphere is relaxed and you can sit outside, admiring the view.
Street Art at Bondi on the side of a cafe
If you need to change to go to the beach or shower afterward there is an old pavilion with showers and change rooms for you.
Street Art
On the wall facing the beach by the car park is a series of great street art . These are worth checking out even if you have looked at them before because they are often changed and renewed.
Street Art at Bondi
Star Wars Street Art at Bondi
Street Art at Bondi
Street Art at Bondi
Icebergs Swimming Pool
To the south of Bondi Beach is Icebergs Swimming Pool. It is open to the public and if you are brave, people swim here even in winter. Icebergs also has a nice bar a restaurant, with great views over the ocean.
Icebergs Swimming Pool
Black Sunday Memorial
Near Icebergs is a small memorial to those lost when a freak wave swept swimmers out to sea on what is now called Black Sunday. In 1938 over 250 swimmers were washed into deep water by freak waves. Due to the heroics of the surf life savers, only five people drowned.
Black Sunday Surf Rescue Memorial
Bondi to Bronte Coastal Walk
The Bondi to Bronte Coastal Walk is a 3 kilometer walk from Bondi Beach to Bronte Beach. It takes you past Tamarama Beach and fantastic views of the ocean.
Bondi to Bronte Coastal Walk
Honey Comb Weathered Rock
Bondi to Bronte Coastal Walk
Sculptures by the Sea
An annual event held here is Sculptures by the Sea. This attracts artists for all over the world to display their works. Usually held in October, the event draws huge crowds to view the sculptures. If you are visiting around this time, check to see what dates it is showing. It is worth going to see as it adds another dimension to this iconic beach.
Sculptures by the Sea
City to Surf Fun Run
Also held annually is the city to surf fun run. Starting at Hyde Park in Sydney the 14km run ends at Bondi Beach. Crowds cheer the participants along the way. Competitors range from professional athletes to people in fancy dress people pushing prams and walkers.
The Royal Australian Navy has its Fleet Air Arm Museum at Nowra NSW. It is adjacent to the naval base HMAS Albatross. When we arrived at 2:00 PM there were only four other people visiting. Effectively we had the whole museum to ourselves.
Propeller From HMAS Sydney
The Collection
The museum has an almost complete collection of the aircraft operated by the RAN. This ranges from the early 1950s when HMAS Sydney and Melbourne were acquired to a recently retired Seahawk helicopter. A purpose-built air-conditioned building houses all of the displays. Inside a raised mezzanine floor provides an excellent overhead perspective of the displays. This is something that many aviation museums are lacking. There is also plenty of space between each display so that they can be seen easily without the crowding that some museums use.
The 1950s
The Hawker Sea Fury, Fairey Firefly and Fairey Gannett represent the 1950s. All three are camouflages in Dark sea grey with sky undersides. The Firefly is also wearing Korean War black and white stripes.
RAN Fairey Firefly AS.5
RAN Fairey Gannet AS.1
Hawker Sea Fury
The Modern RAN Fleet Air Arm
The jet age is represented by the Douglas A4G Skyhawk, de Havilland Sea Venom FAW Mk.53 and Grumman S2G Tracker.. Training aircraft from this period include the Macchi 326, Vampire T.22 and Skyhawk 2 seat trainer.
De Havilland Sea Vampire MK T.22
De Havilland Sea Venom F.A.W. MK 53
McDonnell Douglas A4G Skyhawk
Grumman S-2G Tracker
Drone Collection
Drones have formed an important part of the Fleet Air Arm, removing the risks involved in towing targets for Royal Australian Navy Ships. On display is an old Radioplane MQM-33 propeller driven drone. The Australian designed Turana (based on the Ikara anti-submarine missile) and the Jindivik are also on display. The more recent US designed BAE Kalkara is located next to the Skyhawk.
BAE Kalkara
Radioplane MQM-33
GAF Turana Target Drone
GAF Jindivik
Fleet Air Arm Museum Helicopters
There is an impressive helicopter collection, which includes a large display to the RAN Helicopter Flight Vietnam. In line with the rest of the museum, the helicopter displays are well set out and have explanatory boards. This provides you with a thorough history of the types use within the Fleet Air Arm.
Bell UH-1B Iroquois
Bristol 171 Sycamore HR.50
Bell 47G Sioux
Bell UH-1H Iroquois
Aerospatiale AS350 Squirrel
Westland Wessex Mk31B
Westland Sea King Mk 50
RAN Bristol 171 Sycamore HR Mk 51
Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk
Other Displays
In addition to the aircraft of the FAA, the Fleet Air Arm Museum has some other excellent displays. A Sopwith Pup fighter from World War Two shows the beginnings of aviation. Nearby two six-inch guns from the original HMAS Sydney (a cruiser) illustrate what the aircraft have replaced.
HMAS Sydney the aircraft carrier, is represented by its bell, 32 foot cutter and a propeller (outside near the entrance).
A unique aircraft in the CAC Winjeel is also on display. This particular aircraft is the prototype for the design that went on to become the primary trainer for a generation of Australian military pilots.
An unusual inclusion is a MiG-15 UTI in Polish colours. A very interesting aircraft to see, but its inclusion here seems out-of-place.
Sopwith Pup
6 Inch Gun From HMAS Melbourne (I)
HMAS Sydney Bell
CAC CA-22 Winjeel prototype
HMAS Melbourne 32FT Cutter
Douglas C-47A Dakota
Aermacchi MB-326H
Polish MiG-15 UTI
All of the displays are accompanied by descriptions and a detailed history of the FAA is provided as you progress around the museum.
There is a gift shop that also caters to the local RAN base so there is a good selection of merchandise available.
A great place to visit if you are interested in aviation or naval history.
