Australia - NSW - Sydney Environs Road Trip!

The first part of my New South Wales adventure was a road trip with my pal Lou. I stuck with Apollo hiring a two berth campervan which would give us the freedom to travel the reserves bordering Sydney and take in some of the spectacular scenery that the Blue Mountains, Morton National Park, Royal National Park and Barren Grounds would offer. The only fly in the ointment was the weather that closed in after our first day providing tropical rain storms for the majority of the adventure. 

Birding highlights were limited but there was a clear winner for me as we drove into the Fitzroy Falls car park and spied a male Superb Lyrebird with amazing tail plumes. The bird was having an early morning feed before the numerous tourists descended on the area.

To our amazement we saw a second bird that was so engrossed it let us get within a few metres to watch the birds legs scratch away the leaf litter to expose its morning feed. Both individuals retreated into the scrub on arrival of other vehicles.

(Striated Thornbill Morton National Park)

A quest that was not successful despite some good location specific recommendations was Rockwarbler. The weather was probably then main reason for this as one book describes birds not emerging until the sun hits the rocks. There was certainly no sunshine to be seen despite plenty of suitable habitat!

(Laughing Kookaburra Royal National Park)

The tour included my first rugby league game between the Sydney Tigers and Mandrah were right on the first whistle the heavens opened once more. We decided a trip to the cinema to see Hotel Mumbai would be a much drier option but we had to swim a small lake to get back to the truck at the end of the movie!

(Bassian Thrush Barren Grounds NP)

Despite the rain trip was a great success with many moments of comedy along the way. Lou has now flown back to Perth leaving me a couple of days to visit the opera house and the Botanical Gardens. 

My next stop will be four weeks covering New Zealand and the last instalment before returning to Perth.