Exploring Australia's Blue Mountains, Hunter Valley, and Sydney

I've just returned from a short trip to New South Wales, the Australian state that's home not only to beautiful Sydney but also some of the country's most stunning scenery, some of it within just a two-hour drive. I went for just a week, snapping up a super-cheap ticket on Delta, which just began flying direct from LAX to Sydney this summer (currently, r/t economy fares on this route are still very affordable - between $950 and $1,000 - through much of the next couple of months).

I'll soon be writing and posting guides and galleries related to many Sydney neighborhoods and attractions, as well as my explorations of the nearby Blue Mountains (pictured here), Hunter Valley wine country, and Central Coast. Also, I had a great meeting with the organizers of one of the world's seminal Gay Pride events, Sydney Mardi Gras, and I'll soon be writing a preview of this two-week-long festival that takes place in late February and early March - there are some very cool changes in format planned for 2010 Mardi Gras.

In the meantime, here are links to just a few of the activities I especially enjoyed during this quick Sydney and New South Wales adventure:

Climbing the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge via one of the outstanding BridgeClimb tours.

Checking out the groovy shopping and cafe scene in Newtown and Erskineville, two lesbian-and-gay-friendly Sydney neighborhoods that relatively few tourists see (had a stellar breakfast in nearby Chippendale at Cafe Giulia, and dinner on King Street in Newtown at Thai Pothong).

Dropping by a bunch of convivial gay bars and clubs along Oxford Street in Sydney's uber-queer Darlinghurst neighborhood.

Driving just 90 minutes west of Sydney to the stunningly scenic Blue Mountains, where I hiked down the "Giant Staircase" from Echo Point, stayed at a lovely cliff-top B&B called Windradyne, and ate a superb dinner in the nearby village of Leura at Silk's Brasserie - oh, and artisan chocolate next door at Josophan's Fine Chocolates.

Spending time in the fast-emerging, acclaimed Wine Country of the Hunter Valley, just about two hours northwest of Sydney, where I stayed at one of the coolest small hotels I've been to all year, Tonic Hotel, and had perhaps my best dinner of the trip just around the corner at Mojo's on Wilderness.

Finally, there was my impromptu detour during my drive back to Sydney, checking out the lovely beachfront in the Central Coast seaside resort of Terrigal, and then feasting on plump, fresh raw oysters at a slightly dive-y locals joint in the tiny fishing village of Brooklyn, which is perched at the mouth of the Hawkesbury River.