Back from 2 weeks in Oz
 

I'm back safe & sound, and am working on my trip report.

Wanted to give out a big THANKS!! to all the Fodorites that help me w/ my planning - you helped make a dream come true (and made it AMAZING!!!).

Thanks again!

waiting on the report.....

Margo is merely "waiting"; in my case, I am fasting until I read your report! Did you stay at the Russell, the Australian or the Cambridge Inn at a travel agents' rate? Did you go to Featherdale and cuddle a koala while four hundred Koreans and three thousand Japanese cuddled you? Did your tour take you to Euroka? I remember your posts very well, and very nearly topped one just two days ago when another poster came up with some almost-identical questions. By now, however, YOU'RE the expert on this subject, so please don't be too long reporting back (I'm feeling hungry already!)

Hey Alan,
I've comitted to taking two yanks to Euroka and beyond this saturday and I've never been there myself.

Are the roos down there through the day?
Whats red hands cave like?
Do you have to pay a fee to get in?
Is it dead easy ...just turn off the highway at Glenbrook?
Is there a bakery in Glenbrook to get some morning tea stuff?

Have given up on the Grose walk at Blackheath...whats the simplest/best walk down the valley and up the railway at Katoomba?

Is there anywhere to buy lunch at Mt Wilson? Or what time will you be cranking up the barbie sat lunchtime?

Seriously....is there any chance we could say hallo some time saturday?

Jeez, John, you'd better find some kangaroos - or AndrewDavid will presume we've lost them, too! ;)

They were there when I was last there! (about 2 years ago!)

Hi, John!
To take your questions one at a time (through the magic of cut-and-paste:

Are the roos down there through the day?

Usually, but it's hard to predict. I've had my best luck in late afternoon-- we took a Japanese exchange student down there at this time and she was surrounded! Last weekend we went down at nine-thirty and saw about 35. Being Easter, there were a lot of campers, which, of course, drives many of the roos off into the bush. Hopefully you will have better luck Saturday.

Whats red hands cave like?

Not spectacular, I'm afraid .... good for school excursions if you want to teach the kids about aboriginal art, but the fact is that it's VERY small and may not, in fact, be absolutely genuine, if you know what I mean. However, it's only about a fifteen minute walk from the road, so if you don't like it much, you haven't wasted much of your day.

Do you have to pay a fee to get in?

$6 per vehicle, if there is anyone on duty at the gate. On a quiet weekday you can usually just drive straight in, but at weekends the gate is generally manned.

Is it dead easy ...just turn off the highway at Glenbrook?

Yup.... turn left at the Tourist Information Centre, drive down through the village shops to the railway line, turn left again, and follow the railway line until you cross a railway bridge... the entrance is then straight ahead. Ther's not much in the way of signage, but there's really no way to get lost. Once you are in the National Park, there are signs telling you where to go to Euroka. You cross a creek, go up a hill, and then take a left (signposted) turn. The road then turns to dirt, and it's about a six minute drive.

Is there a bakery in Glenbrook to get some morning tea stuff?

If you have a car, drive one suburb further on, to Blaxland, where there is a hot-and-fresh bakery on the highway (two, in fact). This is only five minutes' drive. In Glenbrook there is a supermarket where you can buy "commercial" wrapped bread.


Have given up on the Grose walk at Blackheath...whats the simplest/best walk down the valley and up the railway at Katoomba?

If the Giant Stairway is open at Echo Point, walk down it and then head right to the station for the Scenic Railway. If that stairway is still closed, another good one is at the upper terminal for the Railway/Skyway complex.


Is there anywhere to buy lunch at Mt Wilson?

There's a tea-room fpr "light" refreshments -- can't remember if they also serve meals. I think you'd be wise to take in a picnic lunch and eat it in the park just a few metres beyond the tearoom.... at the T-junction.

Seriously....is there any chance we could say hallo some time saturday?

I'd love that, but Saturday is a work day (at Parramatta, far from the Mountains)for me. A dear friend has given my wife and I a gift of a night at the Hydro-Majestic (Medlow Bath)for Saturday night, and we will be there from around 7 p.m.... but that's a long way from either Euroka or Mt Wilson. If you're passing by, call in -- a good excuse to sneak a peek at one of the more up-market hotels in the Mountains (my first time staying there -- and, I am sure, the last, too, unless we can find some other friends to shout us!)

Is there a bakery in Glenbrook to get morning tea stuff?

Yes there is and it's in the village directly across from the park (has a zebra crossing right in front), the shop has loads of fresh bread, cakes, pies, made to order sandwiches etc. + fresh coffee, teas and cold drinks, it has a small seated area as well so absolutely no need to go further up the hwy to Blaxland. The bakery is much better at Glenbrook IMO!

Last time I went into the National Park at Glenbrook it was more than $6/car. Maybe you should ring up the National Parks service and ask before you go.

The giant staircase and walk around to the train/sceniscender is quite long and the stairs are steep in some sections (just a warning). BTW the Scenic Skyway at Katoomba is closed (March - Nov 2004) as they are putting in a new one.

I would suggest you buy food or go to a cafe in Katoomba or Blackheath before you go to Mt Wilson. Alternate to Mt Wilson is the Megalong Valley, some beautiful views from the top (take a left across the railway in Blackheath).

Have a great day whatever you do!!

Hey Alan,

AndrewDavid here reporting from Scotland Is. Johnj has kidnapped us and we are working as kitchen slaves.


Didn't realize the kangeroos would be celebrating Easter at Euroka; we would have planned our trip around it.

John has graciously offered to come up to the Blue Mts. w/ us Sat. AM ; that's why he's beseiging you w/ questions. Seems like he doesn't ever get to do the things we visitors do. We've already taken him from Clontarf to Manly. Unfortunately we couldn't get up to the top of the bridge yesterday.

John has to head back to town Sat evening for dinner, but we are staying at the Victorian and Albert Guest House in MT. Victoria Sat night and would be glad to drive over to say hello and thank you for all your help if you'd accept us as substitutes. ( That's if we can escape from Scotland Is. tonight before the last bus leaves Church Point.) Please advise.
If we don't connect, we'll look forward to your report of the Hydro Majestic.

cheers,
Andrew David

Waiting for that Report mishoe01 !
G'day Alan, I remember the day we went to Eureka clearing we were quite lucky, we saw several roo's although perhaps not the Dozens that you were expecting, it was a great experience for us. Enjoy it fella's its a great place.
AndrewDavid I hope you can escape from Johnj's clutches....good luck

Have fun

Muck

AndrewDavid: if you can get across to Medlow Bath Saturday night, I would love to see you.

John: The last poster is right about there being a bakery in Glenbrook -- I clean forgot about it! The cost of entry to the National Park was definitely $6 last weekend -- I can't remember it ever being more, but this was just for a standard car; it may well be more than this if you have a 4wd or a campervan.