| Sydney has more to offer travellers than the | | | | with its golden sands and pounding surf also |
| Opera House and Bondi Beach. Just one hour | | | | offers protected inlets and entry into Port |
| south of the city is the Royal National Park. One | | | | Hacking; safe haven for boats and other |
| of the oldest National Parks in the world and | | | | watercraft, and a natural area for experiencing |
| home to dramatic cliffs, peaceful rivers and acres | | | | our wonderful native birds and sea creatures. A |
| of bush waiting to be explored. Black cockatoos | | | | simple trip out into its waters can catch you a fish |
| fly overhead, white cockatoos gather in the tree | | | | or the experience of a lifetime as a whale |
| tops, rose cockatoos [we call them Galahs in | | | | breeches or dolphins come in to follow the local |
| Australia], congregate below. A birdwatchers | | | | ferry service from Cronulla to Bundeena. Fairy |
| paradise, all kinds of lorikeets watch out for free | | | | Penguins used to be common in the bays and |
| offers of food and lyrebirds haunt the more | | | | though now sadly missing from our shores can still |
| isolated regions of the park. You probably won't | | | | be seen if you're very lucky and are extremely |
| find a koala, but the lucky individual might get to | | | | observant. Port Hacking also provides access to |
| see a fox, wombat or echidna, and more than | | | | the river system that reaches into the Royal |
| likely will see the tell-tale sign of deer.Kurnell, | | | | National Park via the Hacking River - even more |
| southern end of Botany Bay and north of the | | | | places to swim, picnic and fish, and an old |
| Royal, is the birthplace of modern Australia: the | | | | Aboriginal walled fishing site. The Botany Bay and |
| landing place of Lieutenant James Cook. James | | | | Port Hacking region is part of the Dharawal nation |
| Cook is one of the world's most famous and | | | | of Aborigines with the Hacking area being home |
| certainly most well-travelled early explorers. Cook | | | | to the Gweagal people. Evidence of their once |
| and his crews made three great voyages into the | | | | flourishing lifestyle is still available in the form of |
| unknown discovering and mapping the east coast | | | | rock carvings and middens. The most well-known |
| of Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Tonga, Samoa, | | | | carvings, thousands of years old, are at the end |
| Tahiti, any other Pacific Island they came across | | | | of Jibbon Beach on the southern point of Port |
| on the way and the North West passage.The | | | | Hacking.The area also has a thriving community |
| Botany Bay and Royal National Parks, provide | | | | arts, restaurant, pub and nightclub scene, so |
| excellent viewing points for whale and ship | | | | there's always something to do.All this is easily |
| watching with access to cliffs and beaches | | | | within reach of the city via train or car. If you're |
| seemingly far from the crowds. Whales migrate | | | | coming to Sydney or planning a trip to Australia, |
| north every June & July for breeding in the | | | | don't forget to look a little further afield than the |
| warmer waters and it is relatively easy to get | | | | usual tourist jaunts. I promise you, a great |
| close enough [but still land-based] for some good | | | | adventure awaits!~~~~~~~Trish is a freelance |
| photographs and great experiences. Just seeing | | | | writer with desktop publishing, promotional |
| these wonderful beasts glide through the water, | | | | material, content sourcing, location and information |
| rising to breathe and sink soundlessly to the | | | | research, fiction critique and web group |
| depths again is an awe-inspiring moment!Cronulla | | | | management skills tucked firmly into her workbelt. |