Brooklyn Dam

A beautiful spot to cool off on a warm day, Brookly Dam is one of the hidden treasures high above the small fishing village of Brooklyn. Build back in the late 1800's to provide water for Steam Trains the Dam still stands offering a great home for many of the native animals.

You can reach the Dam in many ways, by either taking the longer option from Cowan train station walking via Jerusalem Bay and finishing up a Brooklyn. Where you have Hawkesburry River railyway station to get a train back. Otherwise you can also just start from Brooklyn and walk approx 2 k's to the Dam and return back the same way.

Brooklyn offers some great Fish and Chips and a well deserved rest at the Anglers Arms before heading home.

Cockatoo Island

If your struggling for ideas of your next adventure, then I would highy recommend exploring Cockatoo Island. Cockatoo Island is located on Sydney Harbour and is a short ferry ride from Circular Quay.

Once a peaceful natural habitat with many trees and scrubs and home to the local Aboriginal People it became an island that would house convicts and other colonial requirements. It more recently was an island trandformed into a major ship building yard, with many of the original buildings still standing.

You can explore the two tunnels that have been cut through the sandstone directly through the island. Walk through the old buildings and explore the old dry docks whilst admiring the tall cranes that have since ceased operation. Venturing to the top of the island you can explore the old convict sector and an amazing hall, that has been restored.

For the more adventurous you can even camp or book accomodation on the island and experience all the glory after dark. There are even audio tours which give a great explantion all over the island.

Part of the old ship yard housed an art exhibit which within the old work shops of n old ship yard gave a great atmosphere.

Best of all the entrance to the island is free and just requires you to pay for the ferry ride, though the audio tours my cost something extra its well worth the effort.

Looks like they have more plans to restore more parts of the island, so who know if the admission will be free for ever.

Camp Ovens

What every adventurer needs is a good feast. If you've got the hunger for some great home style cooking while out in the bush, then maybe a camp oven is for you.

Made from cast iron, they are a lot heavier then your average cooking gear, but once you discover the culinary delights you can produce in the middle of nowhere you'll soon see that its worth every extra gram.

Roasts, baked deserts and cakes. If you can do it in the oven at home there's bound to be a camp oven receipe for it.

If your using your camp oven for the first time, you'll have to cure it. Its very similar to curing your BBQ hot plate for the first time. This process will ensure your camp oven is in good condition for cooking and for future preservation.

You can purchase gas burners that are designed to heat a camp oven, but it spoils the fun. Nothing better then making a great hot fire and placing the camp oven directly in hot coals.

You can search the internet for many great recipies for your camp oven, each of them requring different cooking times and methods, some of them may require extra pans or trays. I think a lamb roast with roast vegetables has to be one of my favourites.

What ever you decide to cook, make sure you oil the camp oven after its cooled and cleaned out. They will rust very quickly if not maintained correctly.

You may also want to purchase a camp oven tool which is used to pick up the camp oven from the fire when hot. Saved burning yourself. It contains a special hook that allows you to remove the lid with ease. A good pair of thick gloves also comes in handy as well as a shovel if your planning on using the hot coals from the fire.

Above all your in for a treat with your camp oven, and will surely want to take it away on every trip.

Sea Cliff Bridge - South Coast NSW

If your looking for an adventure on the South Coast then why not check out the beautiful Sea Cliff Bridge. Located at a place called Coal Cliffs just south of Stanwell Park on the NSW South Coast. The bridge offers a fun drive as well as a spectacular walk with views along the scenic coast line.

I found it easiest to park in the designated parking area on the Northern Side of the bridge which was clearly sign posted. The streets on the Northern side were fully parked out when I visited but the parking area still had a few spots remaining. There was also some road side parking on the southern side of the bridge but this is more or less first in best dressed and very limited and can be tricky to get into if the road is busy.

Sydney's Luna Park

It had been many years since I had last walked through Luna Park. I can still remember as a kid coming here when the park was in its hey day. Though it certainly has changed from the days when a Ghost train fire changed its direction for ever and it faced certain doom. Having spent some years before in a derelict state facing uncertainty.

Though the big dipper may be no more, it was great to see that Luna Park is still alive bringing a day of fun for many Sydneysiders. It is surely a great place to go for an adventure. Plenty of people seemed to be walking around the park and were being entertained by the Luna Park clowns and other performers. There were also several weddings having their receptions in the reception rooms, one couple even took to the Merry-go-Round, for some photo's.

If you decide to come to Luna Park, I suggest taking the train or even the ferry, as the parking was $5.50 - 6/hour, something better spent on fun and enjoyment other then parking.

Murphy's Glen

If your after a great camping location in the Blue Mountains one should not look pass Murphy's Glen. With the road in being two wheel drive accessible it provides a location that is surrounded by some of the tallest trees in the area.

Simply follow the signs near Woodford train station off the Great Western Highway and you'll soon be at the camping area. There is only a single windy loo here, but it was clean and had plenty of toilet paper.

If your intending to have a camp fire, you may wish to bring your own firewood as none is really provided. Though your not supposed to take firewood from the park, most of the other campers before you have already done it, so wood can be scarce.

Not a large sized camping area, so if your camping on a busy weekend you may have to arrive early to ensure a spot.

Make sure you bring water, as I didn't see any water tank or flowing creek on my visit, however the day vist area may have water, but I didn't check it out.

Overall, its a very peaceful camping area that offers easy access and well sheltered spots.

Mt Banks Fire Trail

Spent the weekend in the Blue Mountains West of Sydney on the Mt Banks Fire Trail. Not far past the Mt Tomar Botanical Gardens on the Bells Line of Road, this fire trail offers superb views of the valley bellow and the surrounding sheer cliffs.

There is various tracks, one of which takes you to the peak of Mt Banks, while the main trail continues to the look out and beyound. Though the track is perfect for walking I decided to ride my mountain bike. There are a few hills but one can manage them very easily.

Make sure you have plenty of water and I'd suggest packing some snacks. On this occasion my friends and I stopped at the lookout and had lunch while enjoying the view. There is no shade at the lookout, so ensure you bring a hat. If you are there before midday you can shelter under one of the rocky outcrops, but take care as you are very close to s sheer drop.