Katoomba and Jervis Bay
The view from on top
A short train ride west of Sydney are the Blue Mountains, an airy range of picturesque peaks that divides the coastal plain from the arid deserts inland. The starting point is an old-fashioned, touristy little town called Katoomba full of rustbucket cars and quaint antique shops. I spent a very long day in the sweltering sun walking to the Ruined Castle, a rocky lookout point high above the forested valley floor.
BBQs and beaches
South of Sydney lies beautiful Jervis Bay, a perfect circle of stunning beaches ringed by national parkland. I visited my friend Nik there and we spent an idyllic few days freediving, fishing and walking. We stayed with his parents, first in a lovely house overlooking the sea and then at a sprawling farm. In the evening we sat around and watched fruit bats climbing in the fig trees. We cooked almost every meal on the barbecue, of course.
