Monday 4 April 2016

2015 May - Day 2 (Wollongong - Blue Mountains)

TODAY'S ITINERARY

DAY 2: PLACES VISITED
        1.        Wollongong  
        2.       Nan Tien Temple
        3.       Warilla Beach
        4.       Kiama Blowhole
        5.       Coolangatta Estate
        6.       Hyams Beach, Jervis Bay
        7.       Cambewarra
        8.       Kangaroo Valley
        9.       Fitzroy Falls
        10.   Katoomba 
        11.      Restored 20th Century Flat
        12.    Woolworths

Woke up, check out and headed out to our first stop which is Fo Guang Shan Nan Tien Temple!  

Nan Tien Temple
Address: 180 Berkeley Rd, Berkeley NSW 2506, Australia
Hours: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Phone: +61 2 4272 0600


Nan Tien Temple is a Buddhist temple complex, located in the industrial suburb of Berkeley, on the southern outskirts of the Australian city of Wollongong, approximately 80 km south of Sydney. It is said to be the biggest Buddhist temple in the southern hemisphere which fits it name as "Nan Tien" in Chinese literally means "Paradise of the South". 

Since the opening of the temple in October 1995, it is an important cultural centre bridging different cultures and a venue for local and international tourists to visit with it being located in a quiet and peaceful environment, overlooking Mount Keira and Mount Kembla. Nan Tien temple features rose gardens, a beautiful pagoda, two sizeable shrines, a museum auditorium, 100-room accommodation and conference facilities.
As we started early due to the planned long day ahead, we have to give the visit into the interior of the temple a miss and heads off to our next destination which is supposed to be the Kiama Blowhole. However, due to miscommunication in regards to destination, we chanced upon a pretty beach,  Warilla Beach!  

It was not a planned destination but nevertheless, it was an awesome location. The morning sun, the endless blue sea, the foamy white waves, the clean beige beach, the green grass and the pretty white clouds!
It was so peaceful and quiet location with pretty houses facing the sea. Definitely a great place to live in and waking up to the beautiful scenery.

Another stop that is not in our itinerary was our breakfast location, which is McDonald's. In our itinerary, I actually did not plan in our meals, so most of the time we just make do with what we have or what we see. And here we end up at McDonald's while on vacation~ >.<


After a hearty breakfast with hotcakes and bun, we head off to the next planned destination, which is Kiama Blowhole in Rotary Park!

The place is so peaceful and relaxing; hearing the waves land onto the stones, the water splashing upwards and feeling the cool breeze.

The pine trees, the sky, the grass and of cos, the weather makes the whole scene a good time to spam photos!

Kiama Blowhole is a natural wonder with safe viewing areas for you to view the amazing 60m high plumes of water that are forced into the air through the natural rock formation. The anticipation of the gush of water that goes through the blowhole and finally how high it will goes, is just a wonderful experience. Each time, the height of the water differs due to the air pressure and the waves. Nature is just so amazing!

Around the Kiama Blowhole, there is the Kiama Lighthouse which was established in 1887. 10 years after the creation of the Robertson Basin, a man-made harbour to service Kiama's supply of crushed blue metal and paving blocks for the streets of Sydney.

The original apparatus was an oil burner with a catadioptric fixed lens producing a light that was visible for nine miles. This was upgraded to the local town coal gas in 1908 with an intensity of 1,500 candelas and a range of fifteen miles. This was further upgraded to acetylene gas and group flashing in 1920, which the light was de-manned. In 1969, the light was converted to 240-volt mains electricity. It is still an active lighthouse in Kiama.

There is a Visitors Centre which you can take a look for goodies and souvenirs. We actually went in there to take a rest from the cold wind and have a toilet break.

As we were leaving the Rotary Park, we noticed that they do have accommodation available. Looks like a good place to take a break from the fast-paced city area.

Off we go for our next destination! The journey to any next destination seems to be always so scenic. It just feels so relax, looking out of the car and seeing the cows lazing around, munching their day away.

Coolangatta Estate
Address: 1335 Bolong Rd, Coolangatta NSW 2535, Australia
Phone:+61 2 4448 7131

And we reached the next destination, Coolangatta Estate! This original convict-built village is now surrounded by sprawling vineyards and landscaped grounds, set with golf courses, and cottage stays.


Coolangatta Estate, built in 1822, is the site of the first European settlement on the South Coast of NSW, Australia.


‘Collungatta’ was the Aboriginal word for fine view, which indeed it is, with the vast greenery.

The entire photographic history of Coolangatta Estate is available for public viewing in the Cellar Door which is open 10am – 5pm daily, along with self-guided tours of the estate.

You can also purchase their wines at the Cellar Door, which they allows testing before purchase. We saw people buying the wines in crates, and we bought two bottles only as we don't really drink much but regretted not buying more afterwards. I really like their Rose Frizzante but could not have their wines at any other locations.

Anyway, we head off to the next location! As you can see, I'm not tired of the scenery yet! It's so beautiful everywhere!

We drove passed a circus, and that was the first time I see a real-life circus tent! It's so grand!

Our next location was the Colourful Cottages at Hyams beach.

The Hyams Beach Seaside Cottages were originally built as fishermen’s cabins in the 1920’s and have been transformed into cottages – exclusively for couples seeking a romantic getaway or solo travellers looking for the perfect escape!


We were supposed to look for Hyams Beach, Jervis Bay which is famous for the sand that are known as the world's whitest sand. However, we did not get to the right area for the beach, and hence, the sand is not as white as it supposed to be.


After that, we head off to the next stop which was supposed to be Hampden Bridge, Kangaroo Valley. However, we chanced upon a beauty (The Lookout Cambewarra Mountain) on the way there! This is what makes road trip fun! Exploring and chancing upon things on the road!

Cambewarra
Address: 182 Cambewarra Lookout Rd


Cambewarra Lookout, perched high on the summit of the Cambewarra Range, provides a magnificent panorama of Shoalhaven City, stretching from Coolangatta Mountain in the north, way down to Pigeon House Mountain just inland from Ulladulla, in the south. The view also includes Point Perpendicular and the beautiful Jervis Bay National Park.


After chilling and relaxing in the amazing view, we head off to our destination, which is the Hampden Bridge, Kangaroo Valley. Depending on which direction you are coming from, you will either enter or exit the Kangaroo Valley through the Hampden Bridge. 


The Hampden Bridge is Australia’s last surviving wooden suspension bridge and has a very special design with Gothic Victorian sandstone towers that make it look like the entrance to a secret medieval castle. It has only a single lane on the bridge but it caters to traffic for both ways. We stood there to observe the traffic and noticed that the vehicles will stop at either end and make sure there is no vehicle from the opposite side before moving onto the bridge.  

Fitzroy Falls
Address: Morton National Park, Nowra Road, Fitzroy Falls NSW 2577
Opening hours: 9am-5pm daily (closed Christmas Day)
Phone: (02) 4887 7270

Next stop, Fitzroy Falls in Morton National Park. We parked in the carpark which we had to purchase the parking ticket from the machine and place it in the car. It is a day-pass which means you can park the whole day at the flat rate of AUD 3. It is similar to per-entry fee in Singapore. 

Right outside the National Park, it has a few boards that shows local national parks and scenic drive from Fitzroy Falls. 

Fitzroy Falls consists of a boardwalk which leads alongside the creek and through restored native bush land to a lookout at the top of the falls.Through the walk, you will be able to see some tidbits of the residents in the National Park. 


It's just a simple stroll on the boardwalk to reach the lookout of the Fall. It's easy and simple to follow through, and you will be rewarded with the amazing view at the end. The lookout is slightly above the water fall, but you will still be able to feel the sprays and the rush of the water. 

Walked back to the entrance area which housed Falls cafe where we settled our late lunch at. Right beside the cafe, it is the main area of the centre which housed information of the National Parks. Do take a look around the center which will provides interesting information before you leave the park. 


After the meal, we had to head off for Katoomba, which is a 2 hours non-stop drive from Fitzroy Falls as we hope to reach there before nightfall.  

And we made it to our Airbnb house before nightfall! 

The house is indeed similar to the pictures on Airbnb! However, as it is a Restored 20th Century Flat, the heating system is not as great as modern houses. It had individual standalone heaters in all rooms and a fireplace which burns methylated spirits (metho). It's my first time seeing and using a real fireplace with real fire!

After dropping our luggages, we head out to look for dinner which we settled it at FISH & CHIPS TAKEAWAY as most other restaurants are packed.
Different kinds of Fish & Chips and a burger were our dinner!
Woolsworth Katoomba
Waratah St
+61 2 4345 4503
Open until 12:00 AM

After dinner, we went to Woolsworth for grocery shopping!

And we end our day with the Rose Frizzante from Coolangatta Estate and a pie from Woolsworth which we heated up with the oven in the house, in front of the fireplace. 

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