NSW 2013: Kiama Blowhole

After half a day spent in Illawarra Fly, we headed to Kiama for trying our luck to meet the ever famous blowhole. Kiama Blowhole, apparently is the largest in the world.

In geology, a blowhole is formed as sea caves grow landwards and upwards into vertical shafts and expose themsleves towards the surface, which can result in blasts of water from the top the blowholes. The smaller the opening, the larger the spray and during a high tide is when the spray can be the most powerful.

It was not high tide when we were there. But the girls were stunned by the eruption of water through the hole. Breathtakingly, the openness of the coastal was amazingly stunning, though the weather still gloomy.

Happily, the girls ran to see their very first blowhole (in life) as well as the spectacular coastal scenery.

And we had some great family time here. The girls chased after the birds. Here and there.

The daddy rolled the girls down the slope. One by one. (Good heavens! I have two only.)

No toy, no gadget, we had so much fun here. So, so much fun! We had our family photo shot done here too.

We continued our exploratory to Kiama's Little Blowhole.

Little, it is. And we called both bothholes, jiejie (big sister) and meimei (small sister).

Do you know that, Kiama Blowhole is one of the six best blowholes in Australia? It is also part of the Grand Pacific Drive, hence one of the "must go" places along the way down south from Sydney. 

On the side note, my aunt was telling me that, when she brought her sister-in-law here, it was low tide, no eruption of water and totally a disappointment to go all the way there.

However, I realised that the blowhole became secondary to us, the breathtaking scenery and the openness of the space made us stay on longer than we thought.

Getting there

Both of the Blowholes are located in Kiama, South Coast of NSW. The main Blowhole is located on Blowhole Point and the Little Blowhole is located on Marsden Head. 

It took us about 45 minutes drive from Illawarra Fly to Kiama Blowhole. We then took Princes Highway to return to Shellharbour, and home sweet home right after sun set. 

Admission and car parking: Free

But, to catch a spectacular eruptions of water through the hole, you have to avoid low tide. In addition, a blue sky kind of weather would make a joyful memory to the visit.  

NSW 2013: Illawarra Fly Treetop Walk

One of the agenda in this trip of ours was experiencing one of Australia's premier rainforest walk.

Little did I know, the treetop walk at Illawarra Fly was suspended, swaying and averagely 25 metres from the ground.

My legs were a little shaking when I walked through the elevated steel walkway. Extremely scary when I can't stop my mind popping the scenario of "what-if" those swaying cantilever arms broke and we all fell down, all the way down. Highest, 50m down, that is. 

At that point of time, I saw my self heavier than 800 wombats. Even though the signboard said the cantilevers can hold a maximum weight of 28 tonne or 800 wombats. 

Do you think acrophobia is rational to analyse exactly how much is "28 tonne or 800 wombats"?

Making Props for Voyage of Dreams: Only Believe.

When I thought I lost the ability to play with colours,
Sarah of The Playful Parents assigned me to make some props.

Making props, by using recycled cardboards. Specifically mentioned by Sarah

I interpreted as, "Do painting with cardboard, aunty!"

Life, should call back those colours to befriend with me once again!

I took it up without much thought of my packed schedule. 

It was only two months later (like somewhere three weeks ago?), I started to paint.

Of course, how can I miss the opportunity to let the girls have some fun too?

Play. Love. Bond., below is one of their joint-effort of work.
I did the final touch-up. Little here, and little there.

Surprisingly, Little Bomber has a good sense of brushing and mixing colour.
Jiejie, on the other hand, learnt dipping her coloured brush for the first time from her mum.

All the fun was done in between time. (I don't really have time)

Layer by layer. Sign after sign.

Play. Love. Bond. One of my favourite here.

The more I do, the more I get hang of it.

Something extraordinary happened last night.

The welcome mat in MamaJ's Natural History Museum popped into my mind.

All the sudden, I had a strong urge to try out her's way of painting.

I shaped the letters with washi tape, double checked the spelling.
Then held the brush and ran wild with rainbow colours over the words.

In the end, the rainbow sign put a smile on my face.

'Cause it is very much telling myself that, the skill of playing with colour is back. 

So is the ability of stirring brain juice for new attempt!

We're the Playful Parents, inspired by MamaJ.

Coming Sunday, 13 October 2013,

come join the fun of Voyage of Dreams: Only Believe at Central Library (Bugis)
(click for more detail)

It is FREE Event.

And PLEASE, take one or two signs from the Photo Booth to snap away!
(Even if you don't like it, give some face, ok?)