Image 1/25

@ Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Hoooooooover Stingray begins his walkabout in New South Wales!

Image 2/25

@ Living on the Edge

White Daisy Egg
My pets are in awe of these beautiful eggs—they would love to try to paint their own one year. Easter and spring are times of joy as the earth awakens, plants are pushing forth from the soil, and the days are becoming warmer. Many baby animals are born in the spring, and life is burgeoning. May these eggs bring you joy and be a reminder of the earth renewing itself.

Living on the Edge
A cliff edge in the Blue Mountains National Park, New South Wales.

Image 3/25

@ Cliff Hanger
I still don't understand the significance of displaying a big prawn, Hoooooooover Stingray. I can get a FS prawn from the Mystery Boxes if I really want to look at one!
Cliff Hanger
The Blue Mountains, NSW.

Image 4/25

@ Maroubra, Sydney
"That's interesting, Hoooooooover Stingray—the oldest skeleton found in Australia was at Lake Mungo in New South Wales. It is believed to be 38,000 years old and is the skeleton of a female," intoned Duchess.
"So did they find out whodunnit?" asked Hoooooooover Stingray.
Maroubra, Sydney
Maroubra, Sydney

Image 5/25

@ Coogee, NSW
"So who was Lord Howe, anyway?" queried Schnupfen. "Some fuddy-duddy octogenarian in the Westminster House of Lords?"
"No, not at all -- or rather, I don't know about fuddy-duddy or his age, but he was an Admiral in the British Navy at that time."
Coogee, NSW
Coogee, in residential Sydney, is a very popular beach with large stretches of sand and inlet ocean pools.

Image 6/25

@ Sydney Opera House, Australia
"Our tour guide says that the first European to come ashore in 1770 in what is now Sydney, was the cabin boy, who jumped from the boat onto the sands of Botany Bay," remarked Gordon.
Hoooooooover Stingray chuckled. "I bet that really annoyed the important big-wigs behind him who wanted that distinction!"
"Yes! Still, I guess you have to have someone to hang onto the rope so the boat doesn't float away."
Sydney Opera House, Australia
In Sydney harbour stands the world-famous Sydney Opera House, the multi-venue performing arts theatre, a masterpiece of 20th-century architecture. Queen Elizabeth ll officially opened the theater on Oct. 20 1973. On 28 June 2007, the Sydney Opera House became a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Image 7/25

@ New Year, Sydney
"Our tour guide says that the first European to come ashore in 1770 in what is now Sydney, was the cabin boy, who jumped from the boat onto the sands of Botany Bay," remarked Blue Fire.
Hoooooooover Stingray chuckled. "I bet that really annoyed the important big-wigs behind him who wanted that distinction!"
"Yes! Still, I guess you have to have someone to hang onto the rope so the boat doesn't float away."
New Year, Sydney
A blaze of firework bursts light up the sea and Sydney's iconic harbour bridge in this display to celebrate the arrival of the New Year.

Image 8/25

@ Slumbering Sydney
"Are you looking forward to the snags at the sausage sizzle tonight, Hoooooooover Stingray?" asked Flopsy.
"Can you translate that, please, Flopsy?"
"Are you looking forward to a barbecued sausage wrapped in bread, with fried onions and other trimmings? Apparently the best snags are found in Nowra, so we're in the right State!"
Slumbering Sydney
The Opera House stands out as a landmark in this dark night scene. The Sydney Harbour Bridge can be seen on the far left.

Image 9/25

@ Sails in Silhouette
"Did you know that Sydney was named after an 18th century British Home Secretary? Originally the settlement was called Sydney Cove," remarked Hoooooooover Stingray.
"I'd like to have a city named after me," mused Cherry.
Hoooooooover Stingray snorted. "A city called Cherry! Get away with you!"
Sails in Silhouette
The famous "sails" of the iconic Sydney Opera House against a backdrop of the setting sun.

Image 10/25

@ Landmark Lighthouse
"Would you like a barbecue-flavoured Shape, Hoooooooover Stingray?" queried Corgalicious.
Hoooooooover Stingray accepted with thanks and examined his little biscuit. "It's got six sides. Why don't they call it a Hexagon, rather than a Shape?"
"Oh no—they're all different, Hoooooooover Stingray! The Cheddar flavour is a rectangle, Chicken is oval with a crimped edge and Cheese & Bacon is a sort of pillow shape."
Landmark Lighthouse
This historic and distinctive landmark stands atop a rocky cliff, guarding the entrance to Sydney Harbour.

Image 11/25

@ Fireworks over the Harbour
Hoooooooover Stingray was groaning and clutching his tum.
"Whatever is the matter?" queried MooBerry.
"When I said I would like a burger at lunchtime, the waiter asked me if I wanted it with 'the lot'. Of course, I said, 'yes, please!' The burger came with salad, sauce, pickled beetroot, a fried egg—oh, and a huge slice of pineapple!"
Fireworks over the Harbour
The night sky is lit up in shades of fuchsia and blue as huge fireworks enhance the celebrations for the New Year!

Image 12/25

@ Anzac Bridge, Sydney
"Did you know the Sydney Harbour Bridge has a little twin, Hoooooooover Stingray?" asked rainbow cookie.
"How little? And where?" responded Hoooooooover Stingray.
"It's the Tyne Bridge in Newcastle on Tyne, England. Both bridges were designed by the same London firm and both were built by the same Middlesbrough contractors. The one in Newcastle opened in 1928, four years earlier than the Sydney Harbour Bridge, simply because it's so much smaller, i.e. 1,276 feet in total length (389 m) compared to the 3,770 feet (1149 m) of the Sydney one."

Image 13/25

@ Bridge, Sydney Harbour
"Did you know the Sydney Harbour Bridge has a little twin, Hoooooooover Stingray?" asked Esmeralda.
"How little? And where?" responded Hoooooooover Stingray.
"It's the Tyne Bridge in Newcastle on Tyne, England. Both bridges were designed by the same London firm and both were built by the same Middlesbrough contractors. The one in Newcastle opened in 1928, four years earlier than the Sydney Harbour Bridge, simply because it's so much smaller, i.e. 1,276 feet in total length (389 m) compared to the 3,770 feet (1149 m) of the Sydney one."
Bridge, Sydney Harbour
Due to its shape, it is affectionately referred to as the "Coathanger" by Sydney residents!

Image 14/25

@ Oceanides Sea Nymphs
"The time zones are quite complicated and varied in Australia, Cherry!"
"How so, Hoooooooover Stingray?"
"There's a town in New South Wales called Broken Hill which does not adhere to the region’s time zone. Instead, it uses ACST, Australian Central Standard Time, which is 30 minutes behind the rest of the state!"
Oceanides Sea Nymphs
Oceanides by Helen Leete, installed in 1997, refers to the sea nymphs of Greek mythology which were often part human and part sea-creature. They represent bathers enjoying the sea and sun at Manly Beach, Sydney, NSW.

Image 15/25

@ Relax By The Water
Oh look ... you won a pet!
Relax By The Water
This looks like the perfect place to relax after a day of walking around museums. Here there is soft white sand, enough perfect rocks for sitting on, and inviting water to dip into and cool off. Bring a snack and some water, and enjoy the views while giving your sore feet a break.

Image 16/25

@ Sunset at Shelly Beach
"Are you looking forward to the snags at the sausage sizzle tonight, Hoooooooover Stingray?" asked Foxie.
"Can you translate that, please, Foxie?"
"Are you looking forward to a barbecued sausage wrapped in bread, with fried onions and other trimmings? Apparently the best snags are found in Nowra, so we're in the right State!"
Sunset at Shelly Beach
Sunset, Shelly Beach, NSW

Image 17/25

@ Rural Postbox
"Our tour guide says that the first European to come ashore in 1770 in what is now Sydney, was the cabin boy, who jumped from the boat onto the sands of Botany Bay," remarked Silky.
Hoooooooover Stingray chuckled. "I bet that really annoyed the important big-wigs behind him who wanted that distinction!"
"Yes! Still, I guess you have to have someone to hang onto the rope so the boat doesn't float away."
Rural Postbox
A sturdy makeshift postbox set up in the hinterland of Byron Bay.

Image 18/25

@ Tweed Heads, NSW
I still don't understand the significance of displaying a big prawn, Hoooooooover Stingray. I can get a FS prawn from the Mystery Boxes if I really want to look at one!
Tweed Heads, NSW
Where rainforest meets ocean! Tweed Heads is right next to the border with Queensland and offers all you could wish for a quintessential Australian holiday, whether it be hiking, kayaking or surfing!

Image 19/25

@ Chinwagging pelicans
"Did you know the Sydney Harbour Bridge has a little twin, Hoooooooover Stingray?" asked Freyja.
"How little? And where?" responded Hoooooooover Stingray.
"It's the Tyne Bridge in Newcastle on Tyne, England. Both bridges were designed by the same London firm and both were built by the same Middlesbrough contractors. The one in Newcastle opened in 1928, four years earlier than the Sydney Harbour Bridge, simply because it's so much smaller, i.e. 1,276 feet in total length (389 m) compared to the 3,770 feet (1149 m) of the Sydney one."
Chinwagging pelicans
These Australian pelicans are enjoying the scene below -- one wonders what they are talking about! It is a distinctive bird, large, with black wings and a long pink bill measuring nearly 20 inches (49 cm).

Image 20/25

@ Green tree frog
"Our tour guide says that the first European to come ashore in 1770 in what is now Sydney, was the cabin boy, who jumped from the boat onto the sands of Botany Bay," remarked Kikianna.
Hoooooooover Stingray chuckled. "I bet that really annoyed the important big-wigs behind him who wanted that distinction!"
"Yes! Still, I guess you have to have someone to hang onto the rope so the boat doesn't float away."
Green tree frog
Not to be confused with the green frog cakes in South Australia!

Image 21/25

@ Skink on the Brink
"Our tour guide says that the first European to come ashore in 1770 in what is now Sydney, was the cabin boy, who jumped from the boat onto the sands of Botany Bay," remarked Cheery.
Hoooooooover Stingray chuckled. "I bet that really annoyed the important big-wigs behind him who wanted that distinction!"
"Yes! Still, I guess you have to have someone to hang onto the rope so the boat doesn't float away."
Skink on the Brink
The pink-tongued skink cyclodomorphus gerrardii can be found in the Blue Mountains region of New South Wales and upwards to Cairns in Queensland.

Image 22/25

@ Iridescent Ibis
"Try this Violet Crumble bar, Hoooooooover Stingray! It's a honeycomb centre wrapped in chocolate."
"It sounds like a Crunchie, Cherry! Is it violet flavoured?"
"No, but the wrapper's violet coloured. I think it's nicer than Crunchie!"
Iridescent Ibis
The straw-necked ibis, named after its distinctive pale, spiky feathers down its neck, is found throughout Australia, except it avoids the arid interior environment.

Image 23/25

@ Little Pied Cormorant
"Wow, listen to this, Hoooooooover Stingray! In the 1830s, the story goes, a Sydney housewife threw out some rotting Tasmanian apples into the garden. They took root and grew, becoming the start of all the Granny Smith apples in the world."
"That's certainly an amazing tale, Chance! So—was that lady old Mrs Smith, then?"
Little Pied Cormorant
This is a very common bird on Australia waterways, fresh or saltwater. Its main diet is crayfish and other crustaceans.

Image 24/25

@ Sunset Silhouette
C'mon Hoooooooover Stingray, put that camera away and grab your surfboard and shades, because Bondi Beach is where all the cool dudes hang!

Image 25/25

@ Canberra ACT at night
Hoooooooover Stingray has now completed his walkabout in New South Wales! As he prepares to go home, he receives a wonderful gift!
Skateboarding Goanna, Black
Hey! Hi, how are you? I am just goanna go for a skate, hehe. I love my new skateboard, and it is such a lovely day the sun is shining; I have my new hat on my head, though I don’t need it to protect me from the sun, it is rather stylish. Let’s race over to the barbecue; I like mine rare, how about you?


Hoooooooover Stingray has enjoyed his walkabout in New South Wales, but it is time to go home now! Please select another pet as visitor, so it can also enjoy an Australian Walkabout!