Secondly, since we were docking at the brand new White Bay Terminal instead of the more accessible Darling
Harbor, the authorities requested everyone on board to get off the ship for Immigration and Customs Inspection . Previously, these clearances and inspections were done on board before we even docked. This time, they wanted a zero count and none could get back on the ship until they gave the go ahead. The inspection started at 7:45 in the morning and there were only five booths opened (only four manned), to clear more than 900 people, plus 600+ crew. This, is all after everyone had paid at least AUD$20 per person, to fill out and file an online Visa application. Further to this we also had to fill
out and file Landing and Departure cards?? As a consequence, all of the tours had to be re-adjusted. Bert had witnessed this many times while flying in and out from Singapore to OZ. They are continually
trying to “re-invent the wheel” (in all fields). We didn't get our tour group complete
until 9:45 a.m and left around 10:00 a.m to get to the Blue Mountains which are about one and half hours away . The good thing was our
guide Nigel, of Activity Tours, was very reassuring and adjusted everything to our sightseeing schedule.
Our first stop was the Featherdale
Wildlife Park where we had an hour gawking and fussing over koalas, wallabies, baby penguins, emus, kangaroos, dingo`s and other animals and birds native to Australia.
Next stop was for lunch at Leura Village, and then we went to Warandah Aboriginal Museum at Echo
Point. The weather was spectacular, and it was a clear day at Echo Point so we had a clear view of the Three Sisters. We didn't have time to walk at the Three Sisters and we only had thirty minutes at
Echo Point before we rushed back at Warandah for the special aboriginal show for our small group of nineteen (19) people .
At Warandah, four (4) Aboriginals welcomed us in a small theatre. They had white paint stripes on their faces, arms, and chest. They tried to explain the different groups or tribes of Aboriginals all around Australia, but it was so hard to understand them with their Australian accent. It was even more difficult to understand them without the use of any microphone
at all. They danced for us several times but it was obvious that it was just a tourist trap presentation.
After the show we got a surprise from our guide Nigel. He got us a big tray of lammingtons. They are an
Australian specialty dessert which are sponge cakes rolled in chocolates and coated with coconut flakes .
Our last stop in the Blue Mountain was at the Lincoln Point or what Nigel called the Flat Rocks. The view
here was spectacular and it was worth the long drive. It looked like the Grand Canyon full of gum trees These trees are responsible for the blue haze they emit and that`s why it is called the ``Blue`` Mountains.
We chose to return to Sydney via Parramatta River on a ferry boat. It afforded us the view of the
Sydney Harbour Bridge and the iconic Sydney Opera House.
It was a relaxing way to end the day on our return to the Land of Oz!
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