Updated 1/26
Last night we saw "2001: A Space Odyssey" at the Sydney Opera House. The movie was accompanied by the Sydney Symphony and Choir. It was a great way to end our Sydney visit and get ready for our last stop.
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| ©2013, R. Ono |
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| ©2013, R. Ono |
Today we drove about three hours to the Wolgan Valley Resort which is along a dirt road several miles from Lithgow. Along the dirt road drive, after a Lithgow lunch stop, we stopped to find the Blackfellows Hand Cave. This aboriginal site, as with many, wasn't really marked very well on any map and, in fact, the only sign points in the wrong direction. We almost gave up our search after leaving the car and walking over a half mile along a well-worn rocky track. Just before we returned to our rented RAV4, we found someone to ask and the cave was actually a few meters from our car in the opposite direction of our earlier attempt.
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| Cave Is In Opposite Direction! ©2013, R. Ono |
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| Our Search ©2013, R. Ono  ©2013, R. Ono |
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| Arrival, At Last ©2013, R. Ono |
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| Cave Art Work ©2013, R. Ono |
After driving several miles on the wash-board dirt road we arrived at the entry to Wolgan Valley Resort. We parked at a perimeter gate and were driven into the resort via a road that crossed two creeks. We were informed that the truck could ford a 36 inch deep creek without a problem.
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| ©2013, R. Ono |
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| ©2013, R. Ono |
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| ©2013, R. Ono |
As we were driven into the resort, sipping cold water given to us by staff, we were soon met at the lodge by reception staff. At the lodge, were were provided a cold wet towel and champagne to freshen up. After a brief introduction, we and our luggage were driven (all personal cars are left at the entry gate) to our villa in an extended length electric golf cart.
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| Local Transportation ©2013, R. Ono |
The eco-resort resort, owned by the Emirates Airline Group, covers 4,000 acres, with 2,600 of the acres coming from a former cattle ranch and the remaining acres from a conservation organization and private pasture land. The resort opened in in 2009. The valley setting is surrounded by the Gardens of Stone National Park, Blue Mountain National Park and Wollemi National Park.
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| TV©2013, R. Ono |
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| ©2013, R. Ono |
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| ©2013, R. Ono |
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| ©2013, R. Ono |
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| ©2013, R. Ono |
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| ©2013, R. Ono |
This rare pine was discovered in 1994 in Wolgan Valley.
Fossils of this plant have been dated to over 100 million years old.
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| Australian Magpie ©2013, R. Ono |
The villas were extraordinary. The furnishings and decor, living room, individual lap pool, bedroom, dressing room were unlike any we've seen in our travels. Each villa is stand-alone and there are 40 on the property.
For our first dinner, we joined another couple that we met on a resort hosted wildlife tour for a nine-course degustation dinner. Each course, over a three hour dinner, was paired with a different wine.
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| ©2013, R. Ono |
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| Our Villa ©2013, R. Ono |
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| ©2013, R. Ono |
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| Villa Dressing Room ©2013, R. Ono |
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| Villa Shower ©2013, R. Ono |
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| ©2013, R. Ono |
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| ©2013, R. Ono |
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| ©2013, R. Ono |
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| Villa Living Room ©2013, R. Ono |
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| Villa Vanity ©2013, R. Ono |
| Villa Bedroom ©2013, R. Ono
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| Central Lodge Gym ©2013, R. Ono |
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| Central Dining Room (All meals and wine are included. All mini-bar snacks and beverages are included except fine spirits and the Moet champagne) ©2013, R. Ono |
©2013, R. Ono |
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| ©2013, R. Ono |
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| View of Villas ©2013, R. Ono |
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| ©2013, R. Ono |
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| ©2013, R. Ono |
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