Saturday, 16th of July 2011
Sydney German Choir meeting
Concordia Choir and guest choirs singing together and every choir with a selected choice of German folk songs. I did the videos.
Rowan Classen was dancing and singing with the Concordia Choir:
German folk dance: German Bavarian Schuhplattler Knee dance,Slap Dance
The Austrian Landler
Kategorie: New South Wales
Blackheath Mount Tomah – Windsor – Cathai
Friday 15th of July
Blackheath Mount Tomah - Windsor - Cathai
I left not to early, saying goodbye was not easy for me, but travelling is saying good day and good bye. Taking the back road to Mt. Victoria, Bell and then the Botanical Garden on Mt. Tomah. I had one nice guided tour and a light lunch in the restaurant with a great view over the valley.
No pictures, because no sunlight.
I made my way to Windsor, found some food shopping there and then I drove out to the piece of land where Rowan lives with his parents in a community.
It's a 120 year old shag with rough hacked iron bark timber. Open Fireplace, ancient too.
Some alpacas, ducks, 5 dogs ...
Blackheath – Wentworth Falls walking 
Thursday, 14th of July 2011
Blackheath - Wentworth Falls - walking
Today I take it easy, walking slowly because I am a little sour from my previous hikes up and down the sandstone cliffs here in the Blue Mountains.
So I made my way to Wentworth Falls by car on a busy street. I missed the exit three times, but finally I found the right one.
On my way down the cliffs I met a young German student, Swen and we where chatting all along the gorgeous National Pass trail until I descended to the Wentworth pass which was filled with really steep steel ladders and stairs. So I spend my lunch at Wentworth Falls base and made some great shots, even so there is not much sun down this southern walls. Back to the way up, I decided to do the National Pass again, this time looking and no "bla bla bla" and walking back the Under Cliff Pass. Great decision!
Nice recommendation of some people, to be here.
Back to Conversation Hut, I had a nice tea and one cake.
The evening I spend on the computer, picture downloading and checking, emailing, couch-surfing request ...
And I do not forget to mention my hosting family, which made a good tasting dinner and some conversation as well, not going into details, which are private.
Blackheath – Katooma – Ruined Castle 
Wednesday 13th of July 2011
Blackheath - hiking from Katoomba to Ruined Castle
I drove to Katoomba and left my car in the parking house at the Scenic World and walked down the cliff to the base of the Scenic railway.
I followed the pass to the Golden stairs and continued to the Ruined Castle. Nice lookout there. My way back was supported by a nice Australian I met on the stairs back to the dirt-road. Thanks.
Blackheath: hiking Evans Lookout – Grand Canyon 
Tuesday 12th of July 2011
Hiking around Blackheath
Govetts Leap - Evans Lookout - Grand Canyon - Neates Glen - Govetts Leap - Waterfall and up again
I went up to the Govetts Leap parking lot, got myself some info and a topographical map of the area at the visitors information centre.
I started at the cliff top track to Evans Lookout and descended to the Grand Canyon back up to Neates Glen.
I did the Brea Side walk and back up to Govetts Leap again.
Following Rodriguez Pass to the bottom of the Govetts Leap Brook waterfall and back up again the dropping wet vertical cliff walls, awesome!
Dubbo – Wellington Caves – Burrendong Arboretum – Blackheath 
Monday 11th of July
Dubbo - Wellington Caves - Burrendong Arboretum - Blackheath
Early up in the morning quick shower and laundry, same breakfast as always.
Hitting the bus for my co-couch-surfer at nine and off I went from Dubbo. Heading to Wellington accidental following the street signs to: Wellington Caves & Phosphate Mine
The complex comprises two show caves; The Cathedral Cave , The Garden Cave, and a series of smaller caves. These include the recently rediscovered Water Cave and the challenging River Cave, which are open to only the most experienced cave diving enthusiasts. The complex also includes The Phosphate Mine.
The cave is really worthwhile visiting, much bigger than Rose Margaret Cave in Victoria. Maybe I visit the Jenolan Cave as well, being here.
After that I followed the scenic route and found:
Burrendong Botanic Garden & Arboretum
Burrendong Botanic Garden and Arboretum was established in 1964 and covers approximately 167 ha. It is dedicated to the preservation and conservation of Australia's unique and incredibly diverse flora.
There's more to Burrendong Botanic Garden and Arboretum than just plants on show! Here you will experience Australian flora like never before!
It got almost dark before I hit Blackheath and I checked my host and found out, that I missed to confirm my arrival! Lost, no address, nowhere to stay, I send my confirmation, but too late.
I just went into 'The Gardeners Inn'
and had a tea and some dinner, quite good, but costly. Very noisy and chilly with all these holiday tourists. I got a sofa seat later in front of the fire place and then everything was ok!
Dubbo – Macquarie River walk – Malaysian dinner
Sunday 10th of July
Dubbo - Macquarie River walk - Malaysian dinner
It took us a while to get out of bed on a Sunday, relaxed breakfast, doing the laundry, she called her friend, we waited a little bit, made it to her place, picked her up and down to the Macquarie River. We did a short walk along the river banks which in fact was quite scenic. The Malaysian lady told us facts and stories most of the time: funny. After lunch time we went to the station to fetch the other couch-surfer, who arrived by bus. All joined together we walked through the park to the Dubbo Regional Gallery - WESTERN PLAINS CULTURAL CENTRE.
"ARTEXPRESS is an annual exhibition of exemplary artworks created by students for the Higher School Certificate. The works represent a broad range for subject matter, approaches, styles and media and reflect the high quality of Bisual Arts education in New South Wales."
Thereafter we went shopping for Malaysian food. She cooked a very well tasting meal, Malaysian style. I had to do the dishes 🙂
Nice chatting and telling each other personal experiences, travel places and funny stories.
Dubbo – Taronga Western Plains Zoo – Dinner with Fishdog 
Saturday 9th of July 2011
Dubbo - Taronga Western Plains Zoo
I spend some time in the Dubbo Taronga Western Plains Zoo. See the photos.
Being invited for dinner with artist Fishdog and his wife, delicious food and self-made cake as desert, thank you so much.
Category description
New South Wales (abbreviated as NSW) is a state of Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales encompasses the whole of the Australian Capital Territory. The state capital is Sydney, which is also the state’s most populous city. As of June 2010, the estimated population was 7,238,819, which was 34.5% of the population of Australia, making it Australia’s most populous state. Inhabitants of New South Wales are referred to as New South Welshmen.
The colony of New South Wales was founded in 1788 and originally comprised much of the Australian mainland, as well as Van Diemen’s Land, Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island, in addition to the area currently referred to as the state of New South Wales, which was formed during Federation in 1901. When Britain annexed New Zealand in 1840…