Taronga Zoo, Sydney

Taronga is an aboriginal word meaning "beautiful view" and this zoo totally lives up to its expectations ...Officially opened in 1916 (7th Oct), this is one of the most oldest zoos in the world and managed by Taronga Zoological Parks Trust. Spread over 21 hectares this park is home to over 2600 animals of 340 species. Recently elephant breeding program has been successfully implemented and it has no. of different exhibits like Reptile World, African Waterhole, Wild Asia, Great Southern Ocean, Wild Australia etc. The zoo is located at the north end of Sydney Harbour in the suburb of Mosman. It takes about 12 minutes by ferry from Circular Quay. If you want to take plenty of photos then it requires nearly entire day as there are many bird or animal shows during the day. For more information, please check the link below.

http://www.taronga.org.au/

Here are some of the pics....enjoy!

Wallaby (L) & Red back Kangaroo

Chestnut Teal with cute ducklings

Emu

Black swan duckling

Koala enjoying his lunch of Eucalyptus leaves...no wonder they sleep up to 20 hrs a day

Giraffe

Sudden arrival of Peahen (female peacock) with her young ones...enough to freak few small kids :)

Pelican...

Penguins...

Asian Elephant with trainer...

King of the Jungle

Majestic tiger...

Meercat

Red Panda

Mountain Goat

Hippopotamus...

Ostriches...

Chimps happy to show some moves :)))

Coogee-Bondi walk

Coogee-Bondi beach walk:

Bondi is one of the most famous surf beaches around the world and also one of the closest to the city (approx. 8 km). A coastal walk from Bondi to all the way to Maroubra is known as Eastern beach coastal walk). Coogee-Bondi walk which is part of Eastern beach walk is very popular among the tourists as well as local people, this walk takes about 2 hours (approx. 6 km distance). There are shops to eat and beaches to swim and we can easily spend an entire day as I did. This is mostly level walk with gentle slopes except a slightly steep section...On the way are spectacular coastal views of the Pacific, Waverley Cemetery where many famous australians lay in peace and beaches with different characters (Clovelly-sheltered and safe family beach, Gordon's bay popular for scuba diving & snorkelling & Tamarama- a renowned gay beach).

Following are the major stops along the way from Coogee to Bondi...

Gordon's bay: Popular for scuba diving and snorkelling.

Clovelly: A sheltered beach, safe for children to swim and very popular family spot.

Waverley Cemetery: With a dramatic views of the pacific, this is final resting place for many famous australians such as Henry Lawson (famous poet), Victor Trumper (very famous cricket player arguably in the same league as Sir Don Bradman).

Bronte: Beautiful beach but rough surf...have plenty of cafes around

Tamarama: Renowned for being one of Sydney's gay beaches

Mackenzies point: Views of north and south bondi, also aboriginal whale carving into the rock.

For more information, please check following links.

http://www.frogandtoad.com.au/nsw/sydney/bondi/index.html

http://www.visitnsw.com/town/Bondi_Beach/Bondi_to_Coogee_Coastal_Walk/info.aspx

   Such a clean water...even close to the shore

© Mandar Risbud, 2009

Coogee Beach

                                     © Mandar Risbud, 2009

Sulphur crested Cockatoo...

© Mandar Risbud, 2009  

© Mandar Risbud, 2009

Gordon's bay

© Mandar Risbud, 2009 

Clovelly baths...

© Mandar Risbud, 2009

View near Waverley...

© Mandar Risbud, 2009 

Spot the Lorikeet...

© Mandar Risbud, 2009

© Mandar Risbud, 2009

Bronte beach...on the way to Bondi

© Mandar Risbud, 2009

Tamarama Beach...

© Mandar Risbud, 2009

Spectacular view of the Pacific...

© Mandar Risbud, 2009

The famous Bondi beach...

© Mandar Risbud, 2009

Botany Bay national park: Coastal walk 1

Located at the entrance of botany bay,sydney (about 15 km south of Sydney City centre) this park is the site of first contact between James Cook's Endeavour's crew and australian aboriginal people in 1770.This is also the place where France's famous explorer Jean François de Galaup, Comte de Lapérouse, arrived within a week of the British First Fleet in 1788.

This park is separated in two parts Kurnell and La Perouse separated by bay and covers about 450 hectares of land and is much smaller compared to other national parks like Royal National Park. This park represents a nice, less crowded leisure site for family with 15 min to 2.5 hr walking tracks rated from easy to medium difficulty and is a very nice getaway from busy city life.

For more information, please check the following link

http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/NationalParks/parkHome.aspx?id=N0066










Congwong beach
























Barrack Tower (this was used as watch tower or used to direct stray vessels and also later by customs to stop smuggling etc)









thats me...relaxing on the beach....far away from thesis and work tensions :)))









A container vessel carrying goods from the refinery























This bridge connects Bare Island (where there was old prison) to mainland









A chopper used by Refinery people at Kernell nearby











































Crab in the rock crevice on the beach...i got good close up of it though from a safe distance :)










Its easier to spot plenty of creatures around...only necessary thing we have to keep our eyes open and mouth shut :))











Golden wattle: Australia's national flower

































A nice path through the bush












































A nice view of Bare island from the walk...

Botany bay National Park: Coastal walk 2

A lizard we spotted during the walk...so well camouflaged











Fishing at Brown's rock











A bird colony near Brown's rock











View of bare island and little bay from Henry's head





























Oil refinery at Kurnell













a very nice way to spend saturday morning...























































































Willie wagtail


































seawater as an artist...near Bare Island































Bare Island...the fort was built to protect Sydney's back door (Botany bay) from invasion






Spectacular panoramic view of Little bay from Henry's head




Congwong beach view