Day 8: Port Stephens and Nelson Bay, Sydney

Rose and shone this morning at 630! Pretty sure I'll be leading a healthy early lifestyle when I head back to Singapore.. Bought some kebabs from a store just across the road from our hotel (impressed that there were stores that were open, despite them closing so early)

 Kebabs and hummus!

Set off on a coach from Star City, or APT Departure Point for the north coast region for some bottlenose dolphin watching! Stopped at the Australian Reptile Park en-route for about 1.5hrs. This, though not as huge nor diverse as the Singapore Zoo, rivals it fo sho.

 Australian Reptile Park

It's way more interactive (got to feel an owl, baby croc, some kangaroos, koalas, a snake etc). Caught a tarantula antivenom tutorial at the Spider World as well, and I've got to say, every zoo ranger is awfully friendly. There were no pesky kids running about or cutting your line as well, so that made it even more perfect.

 Friendly croc, friendly ranger

Eucalyptic lovers

 Tassy devils and their tumor disease :( breaks my heart

Wise old tortoise

 Anti-venom show at Spider World

 Sis and kangaroo nomnoms

Not hedwig!

Didn't want to leave but we had to. The key reason I hate guided tours, but it would probably cost more than a bomb if I had to head out on my own. Took about an 1.5hrs to get to Nelson Bay where we boarded the dolphin watch cruise and headed out to sea.

 Nelson Bay Marina

We cruised around for a bit, and couldn't help but to wonder if we would be so unlucky as to not see them at all. After a long wait of about 45 mins (felt like it was 45 days), finally we heard some kids scream from the lower deck "THEREE!!!!!!!" and true enough, we saw a pod of dolphins rising to the surface of the glistening ocean.. Thought it was great, until about six more appeared from the other side of the boat, including a lil pup and its mother.

 Pod of bottlenose dolphins!

I mean, I've seen dolphins in aquariums and all, but seeing wild ones was just extraordinary.. It's just different seeing an animal roaming freely around where it belongs, rather than somewhere its being force-placed at, nyam saying (think polar bear in Singapore).

Watched the dolphins play for about a quick twenty minutes before the cruise began heading for the marina again. It's here when the released the boomnet (they should really have opened it from the beginning, so we sort of get to "swim with dolphins"). Water was too cold though, and there were tons of rowdy kids, so actually maybe it would've been a bad idea.

 Boomnet and slide before it was opened

Back on shore, we were driven out to the nearby sand dunes for some sandboarding. My sis and I did it a couple of times in Oman and Dubai with a plastic box (yeah, not an actual board), so it definitely wasn't as epic as sandboarding in Australia!

Sand dunes near Nelson Bay

 Nothing like SG with its greens

 The dreaded climb up the dune

 Make sure you head further out, away from where people have slid before for the best experience!

The journey up the dunes were well dreaded though - you'd be sliding back down with every step you take. So it takes about 4x the effort to get our butts up to the top. We rode on it about 6 times before our mooscals gave way. Literally climbed back onto our 4WD bus.. The driver had to spam us with bottles of water.

 Our 4WD bus

Amazing beach right next to the sand dunes

The coach ride back to Sydney was much needed. 3hrs to recover from a tiring but awesome day out.. We then rested a bit at the hotel again before heading out again for a late dinner and a late night visit to the Opera Sydney Opera House. Amazing views from far, but not as majestic when upclose.

 Sydney Harbor Bridge

 Sydney Opera House at night

Flight to Cairns tomorrow.. Good night!