Thursday 9th September – Ocean World and the Flight Home

The day had finally arrived; my last day in Australia. After just over 7 weeks exploring her land it was already time for me to say goodbye and return to Scotland.

I didn’t have long before my flight but I wanted to make the most of my last few hours and so set on my way exploring Manly’s Ocean World and shops before returning to the B and B to collect my bags and say goodbye to my lovely hosts of the past few days.

Maria, the owner, kindly gave me and my bags a lift to the Wharf, from where I boarded the ferry and made my way, for the last time, back to Circular Quay. Soon I found myself saying goodbye to the City as I carried my luggage onto a train and began the final stage of my journey to Sydney’s International Airport.

As I boarded the plane for my first flight, 17 hours to Dubai via a stop in Bangkok, I sat and thought to myself about everything that had changed since I had left the UK, what seemed like a decade ago.

A lot had changed over the past two months. My knowledge, appreciation and understanding of children’s outdoor education had certainly changed, as had my appreciation of the Australian culture and history I had journeyed through. I had met wonderful people, heard fascinating stories, seen with my own eyes the power and strength found in outdoor education when facilitated in the right way. I had made incredible, life withstanding memories that I would carry close to my heart always and I had experienced things I had never dreamt were possible. I had experienced the passion of people working in outdoor education, in a country that shares this passion and understands and feels the need for its growth and development for the purpose of benefiting the adults of its future society. My perspectives of all of this have been taken, moulded, adjusted and nurtured until I now find myself challenging and readdressing all of my previous notions of outdoor education.

I owe this all to so many people; the wonderful and supportive people of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust for funding this research and believing in the need for my knowledge and experiences to grow, my PhD supervisors for supporting my journey and encouraging me to apply for a fellowship, my friends and family for believing in me and of course, without doubt, all the wonderful people in Australia who let a stranger into their lives, their centres and their minds and allowed me to explore their knowledge and experiences when they could have simply said no. Thank you everyone. You have changed my world and I will never forget this magnificent and eye opening experience.

Wednesday 8th September – Sydney Bridge Climb

Today I had the most incredible experience. Today I climbed Sydney Harbour Bridge.

I woke early at around 6.30am so that I would have time to walk to Manly Wharf, catch the ferry and walk to the climb centre situated at ‘The Rocks’ to the right of Circular Quay. As I walked through ‘The Rocks’ and up into the city via the Bridge Stairs, I was already bursting with excitement at the activity I had chosen for my last full day in Australia. With still a short time before my climb instructions were due to start, I wondered around the climb centre’s shop, read details on the climb and looked at the pictures of the many celebrities who had completed the climb since ‘Bridge Climb’ began.

Soon I was being called into a room with a small group of other people who I would be completing my climb with. First step was a breathalyser test and disclaimer form. Once the practicalities had been dealt with, we moved into another room where we each introduced ourselves to the other members of the group, we would be climbing together for 3 hours after all, before receiving our climbing suits. Next we moved into a third room where we left the female staff member we had been with until this point, and were now greeted by our male climbing instructor. Here he began clipping various ‘accessories’ to our suits; jackets, hats, beanies, gloves and handkerchiefs. All of these items had been specially designed for Bridge Climb so that they could be clipped onto the wearer in response to government safety regulations put in place with regards to Bridge Climb being established.

Next, our instructor showed us how to put on our harnesses and gave us each a radio, also clipped on, so that we would be able to hear him at the top of the bridge – we were warned it could get very windy up there. Finally we were given a set of instructions and asked to walk through a dummy run which involved us climbing two open wrung ladders, across a wire mesh catwalk and down two more ladders at the end. This stage was to ensure everyone was physically capable of the manoeuvres required during the climb. Satisfied that we would all be able to complete the climb, our instructor took us through a door which led through a tunnel cut through one of the bridge’s pillars. It was time to begin the climb.

The climb started with a walk along a wire mess catwalk, this time for real, over cars and people walking through the city of Sydney, already over a storey below. Next we had to climb up four long, open wrung ladders that would lead us to the base of the bridge’s steel arch. These ladders rose up through the traffic of the Harbour Bridge and into the sky above the fast moving traffic below. The view was already spectacular. Time now for the hard bit: we all stood as a group looking up towards the steep arch, waiting to climb.

As we climbed the views were breath taking and I don’t think anyone felt the burn in their legs or the fear in their hearts, all distracted by what was around them. The sky was clear, the wind was still and we couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day. We stood at the top, amazed to be standing there and witnessing this incredible bird’s eye view of Sydney in all her glory on a fresh spring morning, the Opera House shining and standing proudly on the waters edge below.

To climb down we had to first cross the arch at its summit, over the rushing cars and bustling city, hundreds of meters below. This part of the climb gave us views out past the city, towards the Blue Mountains and Olympic Stadiums. The four ladders down, passed between railway tracks and not traffic lanes as the ones on the way up had done. As we exited the bridge, I couldn’t believe how quickly the experience was over but I was certainly glad I had done it. Soon we were all changed back into our own clothes, and each member of the group was being handed a certificate and group photograph taken at the top of the bridge; a great token to take home.

Leaving the centre, I went to settle myself on some grass in the sun where I enjoyed sandwiches for my lunch. As, for health and safety reasons, cameras were not allowed at the top of the Bridge, entry to the top of one of the bridge’s pillars was included in the purchase of the bridge climb and so, after I had finished eating, I made my way here to capture on film some of the beautiful scenery I had seen during my climb. I spent some time here, watching the boats passing beneath the bridge and the trains and cars passing across it, taking so many photographs of the views and reading the detailed plaques informing visitors of the history in the building of Sydney Harbour Bridge.

I climbed down the stairs encased in the pillar and made my way back to Circular Quay where I waited for the next ferry to Manly, passing my time browsing the shops along the waterfront. Boarding the ferry, I settled myself on the top floor and marvelled at the views of Sydney from a more natural level. Tonight I wanted to take a walk to Shelly Beach, situated just a short walk further round the bay from Manly Beach. I walked through the town of Manly once again, along the waterfront of Manly Beach and around the winding path along the bay, joined only by joggers and dog walkers out in these twilight stages of early evening. Shelly Beach is just a small, private beach and, as the name suggests, is covered in tiny shells washed up from the Ocean. Strangely, Manly beach, only a 10 minute walk away, has no shells on its shore line. I took my time here, watching the night sky darken, and the lights of Manly brighten in response as I sat relaxing, drawing pictures in the sand. As I walked back it was dark and, after a quick dinner of fish and chips on the water front, I made my way back along the shore and up the stairs, the sound of frogs croaking in my wake as I return to my B and B for a good night’s sleep before waking in the morning to pack and say my final goodbyes to a beautiful City and a magnificent country.

Tuesday 7th September – Bondi Beach

Today I had decided to venture out to Bondi Beach, famous for the swarms of sunbathers and surfers that grace its shores each year, and see what all the fuss is about. This journey involved my now usual ferry from Manly to Circular Quay, followed by a short train journey to Bondi Junction and then a bus to the water front.

As I arrived it was still early morning, yet already the water was dotted with surfers enjoying the waves, in spite of the strong wind which was tearing along the waterfront. I took my time, strolling along the sand and onto the rock faces at the end of the beach, where I climbed along walkways leading to viewing platforms across the beach. Here I stood with the wind in my hair and the sea spray in my face. I strongly believe, at the edge of the ocean will always be my favourite place to be. I lay on a bench and closed my eyes, letting the sounds of the Pacific Ocean wash over me as I lay thinking through my journey and everything I had learnt during my time in Australia.

Walking back through residential streets, I marvelled at the magnificent views the dwellers must have looking out over the ocean and along the beach. I ate my lunch as I walked along the water’s edge, stopping to explore a few of the shops along the way, before boarding a bus back to Bondi Junction.

I spent the remaining hours of the afternoon exploring the shops within the massive, five storey shopping centre located at Bondi Junction. Here I got lost many times as I wondered through the levels, purchasing gifts to take back home with me. Before long evening had arrived and I ate diner in the shopping centre before returning to the train station below and making my way back to Circular Quay.

With time before the next ferry, I decided to walk along the harbour and through the town to Darling Harbour, wishing to take in this beautiful place, illuminated for night, one last time before I departed on Thursday. Instead of walking back, I took the ferry to Circular Quay, enjoying the views as I sat resting in a seat at the back. This ferry arrived in time for me to catch a Manly Ferry and I again sat back and rested, watching the City as its lights became distance as we approached Manly Wharf. Arriving in Manly, I walked through the town and along the cold sands of Manly beach before walking up the sea front stairs and into the B and B for some relaxing time in the living room before bed.

Monday 6th September – Sydney Tower

Today I again woke to the sound of the wind crashing against windows. Fortunately, by the time I was ready and leaving the B and B, the wind had ceased and in its wake removed all the clouds from the sky, leaving a beautiful, hot spring morning. Perfect as today I wanted to see the Sydney sights from a different perspective, from the top of Sydney Tower.

I made my way down the seafront stairs once more and across the golden sands of Manly Beach, heading towards Manly Wharf where the morning ferry would depart from. Around me, the streets were already buzzing, filled with joggers, dog walkers and business people on their way to work; what a morning commute indeed, travelling across sandy shores and getting a ferry to the City each day.

The ferry journey to the city was as perfect as yesterday, with smooth water and a clear sky creating the perfect, picturesque setting. Before long I was standing in Circular Quay and looking at a map to guide me to the Sydney Tower. A further brief walk through the main part of the city and I was there, at the foot of the Tower, ready and waiting to travel to the top of the highest building in the city.

As I stepped out of the lift, having reached the top of the tower, my breath literally caught in my throat as I was struck by the immense size and beauty of the city that surrounded me. The tower provides a spectacular 360 deg view of Sydney through curved glass windows that allow you to marvel at the views for miles into the distance, across the city and onto such wonders as the Blue Mountains, Watsons Bay and Manly too. The views were spectacular.

I spent much of my day here; sitting in the window bays and watching the world go by below me as busy little ants and toy cars made their way about the city and tiny ferries travelled out into the distant waters in pursuit of their own adventures.

After some time had passed I made my way back down the life and into a large room at the base of the Tower. Here I strapped myself into a seat and waited to experience ‘Oz Trek’, a virtual ride that takes you on a journey across Australia and through its history. This was a fun and interesting experience and well worth a try.

Leaving the Tower entrance I made my way back through the streets of the city and returned to Circular Quay. Here I caught a ferry to Luna Park, an amusement park situated on the opposite shore at the base of the Harbour Bridge. This park has been part of Sydney’s culture since the early 1930s with little modernisation made to its original art work and style and I wanted to experience its enchanting atmosphere for myself. Unfortunately, as I arrived it was already near closing time, the park not opening during late, evening hours during the week until later into the summer season. However, I was still able to explore the park and observe people enjoying its fun and games, although I couldn’t try any of the rides for myself. I can’t say I was overly disappointed as most of the rides terrified me as I watched them twist and spin the riders upside down along the water front. I did enjoy the atmosphere and vibrancy of this place very much though and, it was clear, so did all the joyful children and families around me.

The evening was beginning to set it and with it the usual sudden temperature drop, so I made my way back to the Wharf to wait for the ferry back to Circular Quay. On my way I stopped as two, impressively large cruise ships passed each other under the bridge, sounding their horns in hello as they passed.

Arriving back in the city, I made my way not back to the train station, but instead back through the streets I had passed earlier in the day and on to Hyde Park. Here I took my time, exploring the dark pathways, illuminated trees and majestic fountains. The, now dark, sky was dotted with flying foxes (giant bats) performing their evening migration and I stopped to watch these beautiful animals as they soared through the night. I was fortunate enough to have one land just above me and I watched as it twitched and moved, settling itself on a branch just meters above my head.

As I was already in the City, I stopped for dinner here before returned to Tower to see the City by night (again I had a pass which meant I could return to this venue an unlimited amount of times – very handy!) The view was as spectacular as the day, with the city lights illuminating and enhancing an already magnificent view.

The night was now late and it was time for me to return to Manly. So, walking back through the city, I made my way to Circular Quay and onto the Manly Ferry, settling myself for the smooth ride across the dark water. As I arrived on Manly’s shores, night had well and truly set and I enjoyed walking along the shore, the night sky illuminated by the City lights of Manly, the ocean reflecting its glow, before returning to the B and B for a good night’s rest.

Sunday 5th September – Manly Beach

Today I woke to an empty house. A wind storm had ripped through the street during the night and with it taken one of the fly screens from my friend’s house. Fortunately, a neighbour had retrieved it and returned it first thing this morning.

The time has come already for me to move on again, with my plan being to spend my last few days enjoying a brief, four day holiday in Manly before flying back to Scotland on Thursday. I spent the morning packing my bags and tidying up after myself before leaving the house and placing the key I had been using during my stay, through their letter box. It felt very strange leaving in their absence, especially after they had so kindly let me stay with them for the past few days.

I made my way to the train station enjoying the morning sunshine, the wind of the night past having left a beautiful spring day in its wake. I boarded my usual train to the city, only this time I changed trains half way through my journey so that I would arrive at Circular Quay and not have to walk through the city with my luggage as I had done on previous days. The next stage of my journey would involve getting the ferry to Manly. This is a thirty minute journey which departs from Circular Quay and allows for beautiful views of the city, Harbour Bridge and Opera House as you make your way across the water.

Arriving in Manly I was instantly struck by the change in scenery and suddenly overcome with the feeling of arriving in another country as appose to just another suburb. The water glistened in the sun, reflecting green and blue sparkles, the beaches were lined with surfers enjoying a spring day filled with crashing waves and the shops and streets were busy with shoppers, their hands filled with bags. I had been here only 5minutes and already I had fallen in love. The walk to the B and B I would be staying for the next few weeks took about 30 minutes, during which time I took in my surroundings and the glorious day I had been blessed with. As I made my way up the driveway of the B and B, I was greeted by the friendly owners who showed me around their beautiful house and it was instantly clear why this place had been recommended to me with such enthusiasm. It was an older house, with high ceiling and stained glass. The bathroom was finished with gold details and the large bedroom I would be staying opened out onto a patio area via beautiful French doors. The owners had kindly left the other room empty for the duration of my stay and so I would have the whole B and B to myself, their own living areas being entirely separate. This was fantastic and certainly a great way to spend my last four days absorbing all I had taken in over the past 7 weeks.

After storing my bags, I made my way out of the B and B, round the corner and down a flight of sea front stairs, the bottom of which I was greeted by the glorious, shimmering sea of Manly Beach. By now most of the day had past and it was well into mid afternoon, so, it being Sunday and all, I took it upon myself to lye on the beach and spend some time watching the range of people around me; children, couples, surfers and friends all laughing as they enjoyed one of nature’s playgrounds.

As the sun began to lower, and with it the temperature too, I moved myself to explore the town of Manly, walking through its streets before settling for dinner in one of its sea front restaurants. Today was father’s day in Australia and everywhere was filled to the brim with people laughing and enjoying their families’ company. This was nice to be around and I spent the evening enjoying my meal and thinking fondly of my own friends and family back in the UK.

Tonight I returned to the B and B early so that I would be well rested for the day ahead. Manly is one of those lovely places where you feel safe regardless of time and, despite the pitch back night, I felt welcome as I made my way up the seafront staircase to the B and B.

As I settled for the night, I smiled, knowing I was going to enjoy my last few days in Australia in this beautiful, peaceful and comforting setting.

Saturday 4th September – Blue Mountains and meeting a Fellow for Dinner

Waking at 5am, I tiptoed around my friend’s house getting ready for my earlier departure. Today I had booked a tour to the Blue Mountains and I would need to leave the house at 6am in order to arrive in the City on time for my coach. By the time I was nearing ready to leave, my friends were also making moves at getting ready for the day as they were going away for the weekend. This meant, sadly, that we would have to say our goodbyes this morning as, when they returned from their weekend away, I would have moved on to my next location. This, I felt, was the saddest goodbye of my trip, made worse by the fact that they would soon be having a baby and I didn’t know the next time I would see them again. Still, at least I had managed to see them during my time in Australia.

I made my way to the train station, boarded and settled myself in wait of my destination. Today I would not be going as far into the City as the Quay, but instead would be getting off of the train at Central Station, crossing the road and boarding my coach outside a hotel there.

Boarding the coach, I realised I was the first pickup and so settled myself at the front behind the driver to whom I chatted as we made our way around the hotels collecting the remaining passengers. Today we would be going to Featherdale Wildlife Park, Govettes Leap, Katoomba, Jamison and Megalong Valleys, seeing the venue of the Olympic Park Games and stopping for lunch at Leura along the way.

First stop on the list was Featherdale Wildlife Park. This is a wildlife centre where visitors are able to stroke koalas and feed kangaroos by hand. There is also opportunity to stroke kookaburras and tawny frog mouth birds as they are handled by the wildlife staff. This was a wonderful experience for me and I especially liked being in such close contact with the native animals of Australia.

As the day was filled with my visiting many different spots, time here was only brief and after just over an hour had passed it was time to return to the coach and begin the long drive to the Blue Mountains. During this journey the drive spoke frequently over the intercom, informing the passengers of Australian history and culture as we passed sights of interest along the way, including Katoomba; one of the original towns in New South Wales.

Reaching Govettes leap, we disembarked the coach and I made my way excitedly to the lookout point. Here I saw the Three Sisters for the first time; a beautiful rock formation of three rocks at the edge of a cliff face which I had been looking forward to seeing with my own eyes since arriving in New South Wales. The driver told us of the Aboriginal story behind the naming of these three rocks – a father turning his three beautiful daughters to stone to protect them from their imminent and unwanted marriage to three boys from another family in the village. They were magnificent to see, especially as, despite the threat of bad weather, the rain and darkening clouds remained at bay until, fortunately, the last passenger returned to the coach.

The driver then took the coach on the short trip to Leura where we would be stopping for lunch. Leura is a lovely little town which reminded me fondly of Dunkeld, Scotland (my original home town) and I enjoyed having some time to explore its winding streets and small, enticing shops and boutiques.

Next we drove on to the Jamison and Megalong Valleys. As part of the Blue Mountains, these valleys were our main destination for the day and where we would best view this spectacular setting. In order to access these valleys there are two options. The first is via ‘the world’s steepest railway’ and the second is via a cable car. I chose the first option and soon found myself sitting in a small, meshed railway carriage as it travelled, almost vertically, into the valley, the sound of Indiana Jones’s theme tune playing through the speakers. Brilliant!

Arriving at the bottom I was instantly struck by the amazing scenery and the spectacular views of the mountains as you look up. Also, in spite of the many people who were flocking to explore the valleys, it remained peaceful, calm and beautiful and I was very glad I had taken the opportunity to visit such a remarkable place. In the base of these valleys is a walkway through the bush which leads you around points of interest in the construction of the, now disused, coal mines which are found here. This was beautiful and informative, with many features such as the original railway carriage, the original counterbalance for the carriage and fallen, broken pulleys being highlighted to visitors along the way.

At the end of this walkway I took the option of riding the cable car to the top of the valley. Soon glass walls were all that was between me and the departing ground as I took off and across the gapping valley. The views were spectacular as we glided along the cable, up through the valley, the span of mountains all around us. It was now sadly time for me to leave this beautiful place and I made my way back to the coach with the other passengers for the remainder of our onward journey. The next stop on the coach tour was a second view point from where we could see further spans of mountains and valleys. The wind was now gusting all around us with great force but, thankfully, keeping the rain at bay.

Sadly the day was nearing an end and it was now time to begin our journey back to the City. On the way, the driver took the coach through the Olympic Park; home to the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000. Costing in excess of millions of dollars to build for the sole purpose of the Olympic Games and now used by many sporting events and organisations, this was an impressive site to see. The attention to detail, the building structures and the sporting ‘zones’ were all more than impressive and it became very transparent why these games had been such a wonderful event when they had been set in such a spectacular venue.

Leaving the park, our tour ended at the river side where the other passengers and I would be boarding a ‘Sydney Rivercat’ in order to return to Circular Quay. This was a great end to a great day. The water was still and calm, the weather had died down to an insignificant wind and there was plenty of opportunity for me to admire the views of the city from this new angle and dimension.

Before long I was disembarking the Rivercat and waiting to meet Joanna Fraser, another 2010 Fellow, for dinner. Seeing Joanna at the harbour’s edge was a strange, yet welcoming, experience. Having only ever seen her in Dundee, Scotland, it took a while to get my head around the fact we were meeting for dinner in Sydney, the other side of the world from our hometown. We spent some time walking through ‘The Rocks’ next to the harbour, talking about our travels and experiences, whilst looking for a suitable place to eat. Finally settling, we continued our chat through dinner and mounds of dessert in a small cafe near the water front. The evening passed quickly as we shared stories and before long we were making our way back to the train station where we would both be departing from to our resting places for the night. Joanna’s stop was a few before mine and so we said our goodbyes on the train, agreeing to meet up again in Scotland once we had both returned.

Soon, I was putting the key in the door of my friend’s house. It felt sad to arrive in an empty home which had been filled with conversation and laughter as I had arrived each of the previous nights. I settled briefly on the coach watching television, but before long I departed to bed, tired after a long and eventful day and knowing I needed to pack in the morning ready for my departure to my next location.