“We can not thank Jan and John enough for their warm and gracious hospitality. When we arrived at their lovely home, we were greeted with hugs and a delicious Moroccan lamb dinner paired with the perfect Australian wine. We had a delightful evening sharing travel experiences and getting to know one another. We felt "at home" the moment we arrived. What a wonderful welcome to OZ! Jan and John have a lovely, spacious home which is comfortable, charming, immaculately clean, beautifully furnished and very well equipped. Their view of Lake Macquarie is "picture perfect" any time of the day or night. We often enjoyed dinner on the veranda complimented by a glass of wine and a spectacular sunset over the lake. The many "Kodak moments" were priceless. The garden is a perfect place to BBQ or simply sit, relax and watch the many birds and butterflies flitting around the colorful flowers. Three Kookaburras put on quite a show for us one afternoon. I think the two males were vying for the female's affection. Having internet to keep in touch with family was very convenient. There was even a computer available for guests to use if needed. The off street parking was a big plus for us as well. In addition, Jan has compiled a resource notebook with travel information, maps, brochures, and websites to assist with planning. We found it to be very helpful. Nearby, Warner's Bay has nice cafes, restaurants, a grocery store, a bottle shop, post office and just about anything you would need. There are also beautiful beaches, parks, recreation areas and quiet spots for picnics and relaxing. Queen's Wharf in Newcastle has several nice restaurants with a view of the boats docked at the waterfront. There is a Trolley Tour that picks up passengers at the waterfront. The guide gives an interesting overview of the history of Newcastle and hits the major city highlights. Newcastle is also a great home base for day trips. It is a short trip to the beautiful Hunter Valley with its famous wineries, olive groves, tours and wine tasting. If you enjoy beautiful horses, a trip to Scone is a must. Australia's most famous stud farms are located there and the pastures are filled with beautiful brood mares and their precious foals (future champions). Port Stephens is another fun day trip. There are numerous whale and dolphin watching tours available as well as a family oriented dinner cruise with good food and live music. We made the drive into Sydney several times to connect with various tours. Driving in Sydney is an adventure in itself. We took an interesting all day tour of Sydney which covered Manley Beach in the North to Bondi Beach in the South. It included a lunch cruise on beautiful Sydney Harbor and the many impressive city highlights. Kudos to our driver for his limitless patience and nerves of steel. We also took an all day tour from Sydney to Canberra. The War Memorial, Houses of Parliament, museums and Floriade Flower Festival were very impressive. It was nice to relax, leave the driving to someone else and just savor the experience. We made an overnight trip to the misty Blue Mountains. The drive was beautiful. Our comfortable B&B in Katoomba was close to the Three Sisters and Scenic World. A side trip to the Jenolan Caves was spectacular. This trip provided a wonderful opportunity to see wild life in their natural habitat. * Caution when driving is necessary especially in the early morning hours and late afternoon as animals are often on or near the roadway. Be prepared to capture more unforgettable "Kodak moments". We enjoyed staying in Newcastle not only because of its proximity to Sydney and the other sites that we planned to visit, but also as a quiet, relaxing retreat from the heavy traffic and bustling activity of the big city. We highly recommend Jan and John's lovely home. The best part, however, is the genuine friendship we have developed as a result of this exchange. We look forward to hosting Jan and John at our vacation home and hope they will enjoy their holiday as much as we did ours!”
