Radelaide

On Thursday we decided to go for an adventure into Adelaide city, partly to use the tram, and partly to see what was there. We found that there really wasn't much there :-) But I guess that is what Adelaide is. After trying to find where you get tickets for the tram (we looked all around the station) we eventually checked on the tram and there you go, they are bought on the tram. Good to know for next time. :-)

Daniel was good for the tram ride. He enjoyed hanging out on James' back and watching the different people getting onto the tram. When we got off the tram in the city we realised that we didn't really know what we wanted to do there. We walked around trying to find the Information place and while James found out different attractions we could go and see I gave Daniel some milk. We then decided to go for a walk to the Botanical Gardens so that Daniel could have a nap. I was a bit nervous about this as the last time in Melbourne he didn't have a nap easily in the Ergo. But fortunately he was tired enough to go to sleep pretty quickly. We wandered up the streets and entered the gardens. They really are pretty. I loved it how they had random greenhouses with cool plants inside. We went into one to look at giant lillypads. 

They were massive!

 James went to get us a muffin while I kept walking around with Daniel napping. I really do love the times he sleeps in the Ergo as I get to have nice cuddles with him. He just seems so content there. Very precious moments.

Sleepy bubba

 We saw this cool looking greenhouse. We didn't go into it as the last one was quite warm (as they are) but it did look very cool from the outside. Around it was a cactus exhibit where there was interesting information about them and it had a great variety of cacti. I find them such fascinating plants.

Considering the time we decided to head to the tram station so that we could then head to lunch and be ready for our tour of Haigh's chocolate factory. We walked down one of the main streets and I loved looking at the old, massive buildings - churches, unis, etc. 

We ended up walking a full circle from where we originally got off the tram. We got off where the tram terminated and walked across a park to where we had our lunch. It was pretty cool to see Mount Lofty Summit from the park.

Up on the mountain in the middle is the little white tower that was up the top of the summit

After a quick lunch break next the awesome BMX track we walked over to Haigh's chocolate factory. 

Yum!

We had called up that morning hoping to get a tour and they only had the 1pm tours available. Very glad we called up. We went into a little room and were told about the history of Haigh's chocolate. Pretty interesting how it has been passed down through the family buisness and that there are only stores in Australia - 2 of which are in Sydney (James was excited about that!). We then learnt about how chocolate is made and then we got to taste some of their chocolate - 2 pieces of dark chocolate and 2 pieces of milk chocolate. Yummy. We then went for a walk through the factory viewing area. It was interesting that they make all the chocolates by hand, pack them by hand, check each one, decorate each chocolate by hand. What a process! We saw a worker who was coating pineapple in a sugar coat so that it can be dipped in chocolate and the chocolate wouldn't just run off it. After a walk around the shop (and a purchase with our 10% off voucher of chocolate coated macadamia nuts) we headed back to our house so Daniel could have a nap in his bed - first one for the holiday!). He enjoyed the tram ride again.

Ding ding

Happy chappy

 After Daniel had his nap we decided to go for a walk along the Glenelg foreshore and have dinner beside the beach, watching the sun set. I love sunsets! It was Daniel's first time in the pram - we had to use it considering we brought it all this way. He was pretty happy to be in it.

Not so happy when we stopped walking

My 2 boys

We walked all the way up to the pier and then went for a walk to get some icecream. We got yummy Cold Rock - I haven't had that for ages! We ate our icecreams as we walked to the end of the pier. 

Pretty!

The sun was on its way down. It was very nice to stand at the end of the pier and just listen to the water and watch the beautiful sunset.

James and I

 We then decided to walk back to the grass so that Daniel could have a bit of a crawl around and have his dinner. He didn't really care for the sunset.

It was a lot of fun crawling around and having Daniel climb on each of us. He found it so funny climbing up and down on James and I while we were trying to rest for a bit. The colours that appeared for the sunset were beautiful!

Relaxing

Gorgeous!

Sun safe

After watching the sun set Daniel enjoyed crawling around on the grass while James went to get us some fish and chips for dinner. While we were eating our fish and chips Daniel wanted to crawl over to them. I was pleased when he was distracted by having some of the paper to play with. He was ripping it, waving it around, trying to eat it, having a great time and James and I were able to eat our fish and chips. Yummy.

Friday morning we woke up early and headed for the start of the trip back home. We decided to drive based upon Daniel - when he wanted to sleep and when he wanted to have a feed and when he was happy to be in the car. He did quite well. The long stretches he slept or was happy to play and the shorter stretches he travelled well too. For lunch we decided to stop next to the Murray River. Daniel loved watching the seagulls and tried to chase them. We were amazed by the house boats. They were huge! James looked up one and we couldn't believe the price for them but it did also have a spa on it!

Happy boy with a houseboat behind him. That houseboat had the spa

Hi seagulls

We then continued on our way to Hay where we were staying for the night. We came to the most amazing house! Hay doesn't have much in it but it did have the Murrumbidgee
River flowing through it and it was in our backyard. It was nice to just sit outside at the table and watch Daniel play on the grass. He was pretty excited to be out of the car and to be able to crawl around. We had dinner and then an early night because we wanted to leave early to get home.

Such a beautiful setting. "I have a leaf!"

Beautiful reflections

James and Daniel looking at the river

Relax!

On Saturday morning we woke up early and got ready to get on the road again. We were taking the longer route home but the more scenic one. We had lunch at Bathurst Maccas and Daniel got to have a bit of a play in the kids area. We drove around Mt Panorama for James' joy but unfortunately at the top of the mountain there was a skateboarding comp so it was closed. We drove around half of the track in the end.

Not much else happened during Saturday.

Once we got back home it was basically back to normal routine - dinner, bath, bed for Daniel. James went and did some shopping, I did some washing, we had our dinner and then we went to bed. 

Overall is was a great holiday. 10 days with my wonderful boys. Amazing countryside and views. I am constantly amazed at our country. The fact that we could drive from the city, to the country, to another city, to massive cliffs, beautiful views of the ocean, limestone rocks, crashing waves, to flat planes and desert areas, long rivers, to the blue mountains and back home again. And that is just part of our country. God's creation is amazing! I look forward to exploring more of Australia in the future.