9/21 and 9/22 - Cronulla & environs and a Journey to Woolongong

09/21/2012 - We walked Cronulla for quite awhile.  The path wanders from the beach along some cliffs above the water.

Fascinating Rock / Geology

The Walkway is well kept and well used

Fabulous Rocks

 The history here is interesting, too.  A converted convent and a nun's swimming area to name two.

Convent turned to Retirement / Assisted Living

Swimming area... used to be the nun's swimming place

 

Great Rocks...

...and Great Waves

We got caught in a rain shower - a fairly hefty one - and Kevin went and got the car.  Jenny, Lee, and I met a few ladies who knew Boeing and some of its' executive and they offered suggestions to include in our upcoming visit to Bondi Beach.  What a nice groups of ladies... we were all under the shelter to get out of the rain.   One hearty woman had just finished swimming.


We drove to Bass & Flinders Point and the rain let up a bit.,

Damp but happy!

Tides Get 'Cutting' here!

Home on the Bay

Kookaburra sunning on the Memorial

Then we drove to Capt Cook's landing point and strolled around to the memorial and historical markers.  Well Done!

The Sun Arrives and the water is so clear.

Terrific Ocean View

We had a lovely lunch at a corner cafe and then drove into Botany Bay National Park.  

Tides take a toll

Awesome Shoreline

 Kevin and Jenny gave us another wonderful look at Sydney suburbs and Parks.


09/22/2012 - Today Kevin and Jenny took us through the Royal National Park on our way down to Woolongong, where Jenny grew up.

The park is great with a wide variety of stops, picnic areas, birds, and beasts... though the latter 2 groups successfully hid from pictures.

In the Royal National Park...

... is a lagoon...

...Fed by the ocean when possible...

... bordered by cliffs!

On down the road was a community that has requirements not to change the houses they have ain addition to not being able to drive into the town.  Right on the ocean!

Small town accessible mostly by foot

Shoreline is great

Sea Cliff Bridge from Afar

After that, we came to a spot where people were able to jump off this perfectly good cliff.  Para-sails and hang gliders were zipping out in amazing numbers

If they can't land on the small area near their take-off point, they have to land on the beach on slightly inland. 

Busy Launch Area

Coastline

Good Landing

Beach as seen from the launching Area

We stopped a bit by the Sea Cliff Bridge... amazing!

Then we headed into Woolongong for a great fish & chips lunch and walk around the marina.

Swimming Pool below the Lighthouse

Marina entrance at Woolongong

Woolongong Lighthouse

Beautiful Birds everywhere.

Old Swimming Area

Kevin took us up to the Mt Keira lookout... you can see forever and you can see how far UP we drove.  The lighthouse below is near where we ate lunch!

Woolongong Lighthouse from Mt. Keira

We headed home after a great tour!