What a difference a day makes. Went to bed with ferocious thunderstorms raging overhead and torrential rain pounding on the tin roof. And woke to clear sky's with the worlds third tallest mountain bathed in sunlight visible in all its glory from the comfort of my warm bed.

Another long drive took us to Khecheopalri, a lake holy to both Buddhists and Hindus. Climbed up to the view point to see the lake in all its glory. It was a long climb up but hopefully improved our Khama.

The afternoon the guide decided we would visit the Rhododendron Festival taking place this week in a tiny village high up in the hills. Getting there involved a 8 km ride up a dirt ridden track, all ten of us crammed into. 4 wheel drive jeep. Quite an experience. They were pleased to see us when we did arrive and gave us VIP seats in the First Minister of Sikkim's hut.

Spending the last few hours in Australia enjoying the signts and sounds of the city.

Walked down to Bondi Beach, where he surfies were all out in force. There are some beautiful cliff walks down here, but for some bizarre reason the coast is dotted with various works of modern art, part of Sculpture by he Sea. I'm glad I found out as it was inwardly tutting about people dumping their rubbish on the beach.

Spending the last few days of my short holiday in Sydney, a city you really do have to love. Even in its rather smoggy state, thanks to the fires in the Blue Mountains, it is still a glorious place, full of energy and character.

Staying at Bondi Junction this time, a little way out from the centre but with a gorgeous view. Yesterday visited the Maritime Museum at Darling Harbour, which has some amazing vessels. One is a replica of James Cook's ship HM Bark Endeavour, the vessel he was traveling in when he landed in Australia and claimed it for George III. Its a tiny vessel, difficult to comprehend 90 people traveling on it for three years during that expedition.

Today took the ferry over to Manly and walked the Coastal way to Spit. Some great views and it gives you a real sense of the size of the harbour.

Continued following the state line up the course of the river. Back into Victoria to pass the Hume Dam, now charged with regulating the level of the river annually. Funny being in a state full of Victorians. And not one in a frock coat or dressed in crinoline.

The terrain is very different here as I head up into the Australian Alps. Some impressive hydro electric plants on the way up. The water is piped through the mountains where it is used for electricity before being used to fill the reservoirs and irrigate large chunks of three states.

Eventually left the river and crossed the pass back into New South Wales. Some beautiful scenery with snow, appropriately enough, capping the Snowy Mountains. Finished the journey in the national capital Canberra.

Back to the course of the mighty River Murray. (It's compulsory to use the word mighty when mentioning the Murray).

Stopped off in Echuca, once the home to the rivers biggest fleet of paddle steamers. There are still quite few, now chugging up the river with cargos of tourists rather than bales of wool or logs.

The ships are original, and still powered by steam, so quite impressive that they are still working after a hundred years or so.

The city is also home to fleets of houseboats hired out for trips up and down the river. It was quite entertaining to sit on the river bank, watching the bucks parties loading up the tinnies, and launching themselves into the water.

Now in Aubury, just over the border in New South Wales.

Headed north again this time towards the beautiful Port Macquarie nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Hastings River. Another beautiful stretch of coastline in the way up. Went for a walk along the cliffs and met a rather large Lace Monitor coming in the other direction. Now Lace Monitors are not poisonous, but have rather unhygienic eating habits due to the way they feed, which is usually by sticking their head up a dead Kangaroo's bottom and eating the insides, so a bite gets very infected. Needless to say I gave it a wide berth. Today ventured even further north taking in the Waterfall Way. I saw one, which is hardly a "Way", but it was a nice one. Also passed through the town of MaClean, which thinks it is in Scotland. It has an annual highland games and pictures of Nessie in all the shop windows. The image is slightly spoiled by the 35 degree heat. If they wanted reality they could at least have simulated driving rain and a howling gale. Arrived in Byron Bay this evening and climbed up to the lighthouse just in time for a fantastic sunset. Was a bit freaky coming down the the dark.

Left the City of Sydney and headed north towards Newcastle. Not the Tyne version but Newcastle Upon Hunter. It's much the same as it's namesake back home except for the fact it's 30 degrees warmer and the girls wear more clothes. Oh and you can understand the accent which helps. It's a bit more industrial than Sydney, instead of Cruise Liners in the harbour there are Oil Tankers creeping out between the heads. On the way up dropped in at the Australian Reptile Centre where they have a big Alligator breeding programme. Obviously they think that Australia doesn't have enough dangerous species already and they want to up the numbers by breeding non indigenous reptiles as well. And very successfully by the numbers in the lake. They also had the usual deadly serpents and spiders to thrill the kids.

Yesterday left the heat of the city and ventured west into the Great Dividing Range and more specifically the Blue Mountains, so 60KM west of Sydney. The last time i was here, in 2000, it was thick fog and I couldn't see a thing, but Friday you could see for miles, a truly spectacular view. From Katoomba you can gaze over a vast basin filled with millions of Eucalyptus trees, all giving off that peculiar blue haze which gave the region its name. You can be dropped down the worlds steepest incline railway 415m to the bottom where there is a forest walk, or for the intrepid the start of the climb back out. I took the cable car out. Today just wandered around the city taking in the views. It was to hot to do anything else.

Back in Sydney, still the most stunning city in the World. It certainly is anyhow on a day like today, with glorious sunshine lighting the effervescent Quay framed between the steel gray of the colossal Harbour bridge and the pale white sales of the stunning Opera House. Arthur Philip hit the nail on the head in 1788, when he declared Port Jackson the finest harbour in the world, having the previous week turned his nose up at the port suggested by Captain Cook, Botany Bay to the south..I did all the tourist things today, starting with the Bridge Climb. Yes I did it before, but that was 10 years ago. Once every ten years is not excessive and it is one of the great events you can do in the world. It takes three hours, but feels about 30 minutes as there is so much to see. The views are amazing, from the Blue Mountains in the West to the Heads at the mouth of the Harbour. In the afternoon I had a tour round the Opera House and then caught the ferry back to Darling Harbour. I had the Bridge on my left, the Opera House on my right and someone changing a babies nappy right in front.

Reached Sydney on Friday evening after my 2000Km trip from Adelaide. Saw some wonderful Scenery on the way including the 12 apostles and London Bridge, which fell down in 1990. Melbourne was a lovely city with a lot going on. It is Autumn here so everyone is getting very active before winter arrives. In Melbourne it was the Moombar Walter festival and here in Sydney the Easter show has just opened at the Olympic park.

Sydney is as wonderful as ever, even in the rain. Actually the sun has been out today which makes the harbour even more wonderful.

Did some shopping today and visited some museums. Will relax over the next few days and prepare myself for 22 hours on a plane.