Our stay at Bendeela, New South Wales, began with a refreshing morning walk alongside the river.
We were fortunate enough to catch a fleeting glimpse of a platypus, a creature that always feels a bit mythical, even when you see it with your own eyes.
Later in the day, we decided to explore the nearby heritage village of Kangaroo Valley. It's a remarkably preserved testament to an earlier time. The charming buildings and carefully maintained streets offer a real sense of stepping back in history. We had read about the local church, The King's Ark.
It is certainly unique.
Of course, no visit to Kangaroo Valley is complete without seeing the Hampden Bridge.
Its sandstone turrets give it an almost fairytale-like appearance, which is quite incongruous with its very practical purpose. It's certainly an impressive feat of engineering and design. We then had lunch at The Friendly Inn
, a beautiful old colonial building that has been lovingly restored.
We were quite amused to find a statue of Marilyn Monroe in town.
Steve was more amused, of course. And finally, to top off the day, we were greeted by a local wombat during our evening stroll in Bendeela.
These gentle creatures are a common sight, and we always enjoy watching them munch away on the grass. It's moments like these that remind us why we love travelling this beautiful country.
