Razor-hurst Tour - Sydney

Although I was born and raised in Melbourne, I have spent most of my adult life in Sydney, as a result I have a few friends that live in and around Potts Point, Darlinghurst and Elizabeth Bay and to be honest - I've never really thought much about the areas history as our senses are always overloaded with an abundance of choices for restaurants, wine bars and pub/clubs.

Little did I know (and I am ashamed to say that) that this area holds such an amazing history and fascinating stories of gangs, alcohol restrictions, brothels, love and death.

So, in order to learn a little more about the history of the area, I took part in a walking tour run by Two Feet and a Heart Beat. These guys run several tours in Sydney and in Perth, and I highly recommend them based on m recent experience.

The Kings Cross Razor-hurst Tour.

We started the tour by meeting our guide, Valentino, under the infamous Coca-cola sign at 'the cross' section of William Street and Darlinghurst Road, Potts Point. To give you a little bit of history - The advert sign was built in 1974 by Coca-Cola and is heritage listed! How's that for a long lasting, still standing advertising slogan..... who feels like a Coke?

We start the tour with an overview and brief run down. The tour it is based on the stories of the once dominating Miss Kate Leigh and Miss Tilly Devine and compliments the Television Program Underbelly: Razor.

Now I'm not going to go into the details - that would ruin the story and the tour for you - but there is murder, prostitution, drugs, illegal betting, illegal drinking..... everything the 'underworld was known for back in the 1920's. The tour is amazing and definitely worth doing.

The tour guide we had, Valentino, knew EVERYTHING about the area and the events that took place. He was able to answer all our questions, keep us engaged and was thoroughly entertaining. I am still amazed at how much knowledge he has on the subject (and of Australian history in general).

If you are coming to Australia for a holiday, visiting Sydney or if you're like me, and have lived here for ages and haven't bothered to explore your own back yard... then jump on to Two Feet and a Heart Beat's website - buy yourself a ticket on one of their tours and get walking!

Prices for the tours can be fond on their website, but at the time of writing this blog it was $40, not to bad for an amazing and entertaining history lesson!

Sculptures in the garden

There are so many hidden spots on the Central Coast and this one at Kincumber is sure to please the nature lovers out there. I have always known it as the commemorative gardens and sculpture park, but it appears to recently have changed its name to the Greenway.

It has become a popular hot spot for weddings and functions. There is a chapel onsite as well as a new art gallery and function centre.

The gardens are beautiful to stroll through (it is hilly and some level of fitness and mobility is required) There are about 20 sculptures scattered through at the grounds - hidden in nooks or boldly standing in the centre of fields.

It is a nice spot to go to spend some quiet time away from the city and town centres, a great spot for quiet reflect, or a good for artistic inspiration.

Her name was Lola...

With Swinter (its a new season! a mix of summer/winter) over for 2012, we moved into Spring... No hang on Autumn? Or, no, wait, is that Summer that has now arrived?

Who knows, but this weekend the sun came out and the heat... turned on! So we took advantage of this rare occasion for 2012, and headed to Copacabana on the lower end of the NSW Central Coast.

I like this beach for one reason - It's so far removed from public transport and mass civilisation, that it is hardly ever crowded (well, I have never seen it over populated... but it probably does get there from time to time).

Its popular for those 'get-away' weekends and great for family holidays. The cliffs are lined with massive beach houses 90% of which are available for holiday letting. I have stayed in one, a long time ago, and it was beautiful. Full ocean views, slept 12 people! Good times!

The beach is patrolled which is great as it can get rippy, and if you can't read the ocean well, it's comforting to know that life guards have sussed it out, and directed you to the safest area to swim! make sure you always swim between the flags! 

Copacabana is about a 90min drive from Sydney, straight up the F3 or, about a 2hour drive from Newcastle.

Grab some mates - hire a holiday home and live a 'beach life' for a week or two!

It's OK, I've got you, jump... Splat!

If you like your Sundays (or any day) to be on the extreme side - then why not step it up a notch and give rock climbing a go!

I am an avid rock climber (well I was - I haven't been in years) and when I was invited to go one Sunday, I jumped at the chance! I was eager to test my strength and see if I could still pull myself up the rock face.

Now, we are talking about indoor rock climbing here, and we ventured out to Pulse Climbing centre at Adamstown, a 15min drive from Newcastle, Australia.

I have climbed many times before and would frequent the indoor climbing centres at St Peters and St Leonards, however this was many years ago, and unfortunately I had lost a lot of my upper body strength - pair this with the wrong shoes for climbing and I found myself working harder than I should of been.

Still it was amazing fun and a great work out. I do need to mention however, that there was a small incident.

One of the rock walls requires you to hook your guide rope towards the top of the wall, this is to stop you from hitting your anchored belayer in the face in the event that you fall and swing out. So I would like to thank Dean (who went up the wall before me and then checked the ropes) for not re-hooking it, I am joking when I say that and in all fairness it was my responsibility to check all the ropes prior to shooting up the wall.

So, halfway up the wall, I went for a 'jump' to grab onto the next hand grip only after being told by my trusted belayer and Dean that they 'had me'.

"It's OK, we have you - the rope is locked - JUMP!"

So I did.... SPLAT. I didn't make the jump, my hand slipped, so naturally I just lent back assuming I would fall into the harness only to find myself flat on my back sprawled on the ground (I only fell about 2 meters and... it was pretty funny). But DOUBLE CHECK ALL YOUR ROPES! Out of guilt I was shouted lunch at Grill'd at The Junction.

'Hmmmmm, great' I thought... 'take a veg head to a grill bar to say sorry for dropping you off the rock wall...'

But they had the best Veggie burger (a massive mushroom for the 'pattie') with a gluten free bun! I double checked to make sure it was cooked away from all the other meat products - which they do, using a separate skillet for veggie options

What a great way to spend a day in Newcastle! (thank you to Dean for getting a photo of me heading up the wall!)

What will it cost you to climb?

Adults - $15
Concession - $13
Kids u/12 - $10
Harness Hire - $5