The Blue Mountains of Australia

Our next excursion took us to the Blue Mountains, about 2 hours away from Sydney.

The first stop was at the Featherdale Wildlife Park, which turned out to be the highlight of the day. We were able to see almost all of the typical Australian wildlife in this one place.

What Australian wildlife park could pass up kangaroos?

Or the WallabyAnd although most koalas were asleep, we did manage to get our picture taken with this cutie who was actually awake.

I don't know how they sleep like this without falling out of the trees. This particular koala is the New South Wales version, which is larger than the typical Victorian version.

Crocodiles (large enough to eat a child- yeesh!)

Ghost Bat

Dingo

Wombat

Tasmanian Devil

Our time at Featherdale came to a close way too quickly. Next we were off to the bush.

Here we are after taking a brief bush walk (which basically means a walk in the woods).

Next all the boys learned how to throw a boomerang. Surprisingly the boomerang is strictly forbidden as a toy in Australia. These are the real deal...meaning they are deadly.

Jason's didn't quite come back to him, but then again...no one's did.

They actually have signs warning drivers to beware of kangaroo crossing the road.

Then we arrived at the Blue Mountains. They don't look blue in these pics, but from a distance they reminded me a lot of the Smoky Mountains with their blue haze.

At the end of our day with the Blue Mountains behind us.