Barigar to Gar – Day 2 – North section – GPT

Sunday, 26 April 2026
Temp – Low of 11-21°C
Distance 11.99km
Up 605m Down 133m
Time 5:38 hrs Moving time 3:39 hrs
Enclosed shelter at Gar
Food: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

It was a very balmy night last night and only reached as low as 13°. We had a leisurely morning just packing up, enjoying a chat and breakfast. We finally left camp this morning at about 10am.

Today was a big climbing day, 720m up over 11km, it is a big up day. The terrain was varied again, but a lot of rocky walking on angles again, some amazing well hand made steps that went up, up and up some more. There were some beautiful sheer rock cliffs that after rain would have been lovely waterfalls. There was also some beautiful green bushland. As always the intricacies of nature blows my mind. The fine details of all the seed pods are amazing. There were scenic views aplenty, these were actually continuous views for a lot of the day. We were on the trail for 5 hours today and I feel as though I handled it a lot more comfortably today.

We arrived at camp about 3pm and were gobsmacked at the sheer beauty of the location. It was on the edge of a cliff ridge with each camp having its own private entrance that walked straight out to the most amazing view. It is incredible that they haven’t put a safety rail for OH&S purposes, but we are grateful they haven’t. The camp shelter had a great setup again. We had a few less people tonight. Andrew and Bernie from Brisbane, Chloe and Tiffen from France, Tom and Leah (2 ICU nurses) from Melbourne and 3 young men.

We setup camp and then enjoyed the beautiful sunset view of the escarpment before heading in for a social dinner in the shelter. Many stories were told and shared by others of previous or upcoming hiking adventures, as the group slowly gets more comfortable together. It is really quite interesting how everyone eventually starts to share there stories, from where they have been to what there packs weigh, to life in general. It is a lot cooler tonight, we are at 700m above sea level.

National Parks Notes
Day 2: (N2) Barigar Hike-in Campground – Gar Hike-in Campground
Start: Barigar campground 
Distance: 11.3km 
Grade:4
Key elevation points: Barigar 230m. Mt Difficult (Gar), 806m, Gar Hike-in Campground 700m
Elevation: 700m up, 230m down
Names and meanings: Barigar = ‘Parigar’: mountain stream. Gar = pointed mountain, Bar = river, hence mountain stream.
Highlights: Seasonal waterfalls (after rain), a heath covered plateau, Mt Difficult (Gar) mountain summits.
Hike uphill from Barigar passing through grassy woodland. A final switchback up rock steps brings you to a ridgeline with extensive views of the Mt Difficult Range, and an easy descent to Roses Gap Road. Spring wildflowers, Yellow Box eucalypts and Grampians Thryptomene feature on the lower slopes. A steady hike follows Dead Bullock Creek up the imposing Mt Difficult Range escarpment. Enjoy stunning waterfalls after rain. The trail gets harder as it steepens, zig-zagging upwards on steep rocky steps, close to cliff edges and below massive rock walls before reaching the Gar Hike-in Campground. Gar = ‘big mountain’, is the highest on the western side of the Range.
Important safety information:
– Rainwater tanks at Barigar and Gar Hike-in Campgrounds
– Serviced water tank at Gar Trailhead (Roses Gap Rd) 

Mt Zero Trailhead to Barigar – Day 1 – North section 1 – GPT

Saturday, 25 April 2026
Temp 29/13°C
Distance 13.95km
Up 528m Down 514m
Time 5:59 hrs Moving time 4:06 hrs
Bandaid FB left upper arm – rub from phone pouch
Enclosed shelter at Barigar.
Food: Breakfast at Hall Gap, Lunch, Dinner

Today was the start of a new adventure. The Grampians Peaks Trail. 160km with about 8000m elevation to traverse over 13 days. After a little more organising we met the Grampians Peaks Walking Co at the Halls Gap Visitor Centre at 9am to be driven on their bus to Mt Zero trailhead. This was about 50 min drive through scenic fire trail roads. We had a full bus – a family of 5 from Melbourne doing a 3 day walk. Another couple (Andrew & Bernie) doing the whole trail end to end in 10 days, and 2 girls from France (Tifenn & Chloe) doing 4 days. Our driver Kayla was a young girl who worked with the Co in the hiking season (autumn and spring) and usually went travelling in the winter. This winter she is doing 9 days on the GR20 in Corsica and 13 days in France on the Tour Mont Blanc. We had a great chat about hikes we have both done and the time passed by quickly.

After sending out our messages we finally started the hike about 10.40am. Today’s distance is about 12km with elevation of about 600m which started immediately, straight up a rocky slope platform. Up, up and up some more. We continued for about an hour following the yellow markers enjoying the most spectacular views until we came to the Mt Stapylton side track. We took off our heavy packs and started the climb to the summit. This started out quite easy until we came to a lookout which we thought was the summit. It was a spectacular view. We then realised it wasn’t the summit, so we continued on, following the red arrows which became more of a scramble and then some climbing. As we haven’t been doing much scrambling/climbing of late, I hadn’t grown my rock scrambling legs yet, so I reached my limit about half way up , so I sat and enjoyed the view whilst David climbed to the top. This gave him 360′ views of the area. I was a bit sad I didn’t go to the top but I will look at his photos later. We then headed back to our bags, had a quick snack, 5 mins rest and started on the main trail again. We still had about 10km to go and it was already 12.20pm. The rest of the trail didn’t disappoint with some amazing views. When it wasn’t single trail going through bushland similar to home with a few little flowers, it was walking up and down rocky plateaus which were often on a camber of anything from from 10-45° and most often very angular. This was a little taxing on your body. We kept walking until about 2.30pm when we stopped in a little clearing for our gourmet lunch of a peanut butter wrap, small bag of chips, a snickers and a hydralyte. After a short break we were on our way again. We continued on for another 2 hours and walked another 7.5km. The last hour was long. Our first day had been about 6 hours with a 12kg pack for me and 14kg for David, so a tough day at the office.

We arrived at the camp at about 4.30pm, the camp had fantastic facilities (enclosed shelter with tables and benches, stainless steel cooking bench and locked rodent proof cupboard for food bags, 2 drop toilets and 2 water tanks) . We found our tent pad (no. 3) and set up our tent. It was the first time we have set the tent up on a wooden suspended tent pad but we were happy it was relatively easy. I set up everything inside whilst DB filtered some water for dinner and tomorrow. We then headed to the enclosed shelter to cook our delicious dehydrated dinner. We met Bernie and Andrew who at the speed end to end hikers who have just completed 39 days hiking the Alpine trail. There were also 5 mums from. Ballarat who had joined forces to get away from life’s stresses and do single overnight hikes together. We also met Lucas and his daughter Frankie who was 6 and 3/4. She had walked in from Gar trailhead which was about 6km. Amazing effort fopr someone so youngf. She carried a backpack with some of her gear. I started with soup and then a honey soy chicken with some new added vegetables this time. They definitely improved the taste. Day 1 of 13 done and dusted and we went pretty well. We are in bed and off to sleep at 9am. Yeehah!

National Parks Notes
Day 1: (N1) Mt Zero – Barigar Hike-in Campground
Start: at Mt Zero Picnic Area.  
Distance: 12.1km 
Grade: 4
Key elevation points: Mt Zero Carpark 250m, Mt Stapylton 518m, Barigar Hike-in Campground 230m
Elevation: 600m up, 610m down
Names and meanings Barigar = ‘Parigar’: mountain stream. Gar = pointed mountain, Bar = river, hence mountain stream.
Highlights: Ridgeline hiking, Taipan Wall, Mt Stapylton viewpoint and seasonal rockpools and waterfall.
A day of ridgeline hiking around and under boulders and crossing open rocky slabs. Expect views of Stapylton Amphitheatre, Mt Stapylton (Gunigalg) and the magnificent orange wave of Taipan Wall. Watch for the aptly-named Bird Rock and early season spring wildflowers. Hike through low forest and dense shrub to Golton Creek and on to Coppermine Track. From here climb to exposed rocky battlements then hike downhill towards a high wind-blown cave and creek crossings over open rock slabs dominated by boulders with small seasonal rockpools. Look ahead to the dramatic Mt Difficult Range. A steep descent to a scenic seasonal waterfall (after rain) heralds your arrival at Barigar Hike-in Campground.
Important safety information:
– Serviced water tanks at Mt Zero Trailhead and Coppermine Track Crossing
– Rainwater tank at Barigar Hike-in Campground 

Shepparton to Halls Gap, VIC

Friday 24th April 2026
Today we headed off on the last leg towards Halls Gap for the start of our adventure.

We were on the road about 9am and travelled through beautiful countryside. The roads were varied, from single lane to two way with bigger highways a little of the way. We passed through many little towns with the old pub and we stopped for morning tea at St Arnaud. Wow! This doesn’t happen very often. A cuppa, a biscuit, some yoga and a walk through the botanical gardens. It was a lovely little break. We then headed to Halls Gap through Stawell, the place of the Stawell Gift sprint race.

We arrived at Halls Gap about 1.30pm, checked in to the Kookoaburra Motor Lodge and unpacked. We then headed to the Grampians Peak Walking Co to drop off our food drops, get some last minute instructions and we were organised, sort of.

We went back home to the motel to do some more organising and shuiffling. A few more decisions.

We headed to Roccalto Pizza for dinner. It was very yummy! Then a bit more reading for me and some last minute organising for DB.

I had a bad nights sleep but I had so much go around and around in my head.

Davistown NSW to Shepparton, VIC – Grampians Peak Trail Adventure

Thursday 23rd April 2026
Today we are on our way for our next adventure. The Grampians Peak Trail – a long hike of 161km from Mt Zero to Dunkeld carrying all our gear on our backs. Traversing difficult terrain, up and down over 8000m elevation. My starting weight is about 11.6km including 4 days food and 2 litres of water. thankfully as the days progress we eat some food which lightens my load by about 330g per day. Thank goodness for eating. Unfortunately the rest of the load stays the same.

After a couple of days of organisation we head off, leaving a little later than expected at 10.20am. Ther forst couple of hours driving was hectic and David was wshing he was driving in Europe with the attentive, courteous drivers yet again. After the initial chaos it was an uneventful day. We changed drivers with quick pitstops for a bathroom break and a stretch but relatively quickly were on the road again. We arrived at Shepparton, VIC at about 7pm and enjoyed a nice dinner at Pho Viet Restuarant before heading to our bed for the night at the Peppermill Inn. Only 316km to go tomorrow. Time for a good sleep and hopefully we will be on our way early.

For our record – the hike came with a few organisational expenses including:-
– Transfers from Halls Gap to the start of the hike at Mt Zero in the north
– Return transfer from the hikes end of Dunkeld in the south back to our car at  Halls Gap
– $192 each
– Food drops at Halls Gap $0 and Jimmy’s Creek Rd $90 for $25 for 2nd container
– Total $115
– 11 nights camping in the National Park $53.30 per camp
– $586.30
– Plus accommodation at Halls Gap on night 4 as the camp ground was full due to the public holiday and the last night at Dunkeld before transferring back to Halls Gap.

Blue Waterholes Camp, Kosciuszko NP to Davistown – Day 4

Thursday 12th March, 2026
Nichols Gorge, Cooleman Cave and Murray Cave, Kosciuszko NP

After a lovely quiet night without the road noise of the previous camp, we got ready for what we thought was a short hike to the Cooleman and Murray Caves with a little exploration of a couple of small caves. We were very wrong. This ended up an over 4 hour activity. Oh well! The usual story for a Broady Adventure but the lead tour guide was missing this time. I must have learnt a few of his tricks. Oopssss!

We started off about 9am, walking the grassy Nichols trail along the dry creek bed, with some furry company along the way. We arrived at Cooleman Cavea short time later and only 500m along the trail. After reading the cave information and ensuring that by taking a left continuously, we wouldn’t get lost, we put on our head torches and explored the most amazing cave. It was formed by water creating the tubular formation. We enjoyed exploring this cave for about an hour. Wow, it was amazing. Much more than we were expecting.

We then headed further along the trail to Murray Cave, another spectacular sight. This was another amazing exploration with many of the usual spectacular features – stalactites and stagmites, curtains and many low formations requiring a little muddy crawling. I had brought the bright camp light as well which showed the splendour of this amazing cave. Once again we spent about an hour exploring this cave, not worrying about the extra time as it was such an amazing cave.

After we finished in Murray Cave we decided to continue the loop trail of Nichols Gorge. We still had about 4km to go but decided it was worth the extra time, rather than heading back along the 2.6km return trail. It was a lovely walk, firstly up a steep incline at the side of Murray Cave and we then meandered through the beautiful plains. We saw some lovely colourful flowers as well as the carcass and skull of a brumby. Unfortunately, this was the only brumby we saw. We walked into Magpie Flat campground which was also a nice space, chatted with a mother and daughter, and then continued back to Blue Waterhole Camp.

Time for a quick cup of soup and lunch, pack up our dry tents and get on our way, as it is far later than the 12pm departure we had planned. But not before a quick dip in the waterhole to refresh ourselves for the long drive home.

We were on our way at 2pm. Oops! Now I get to experience the drive home that DB normally does on his own, as I sleep at the end of an exhausting few days of adventures. Our first stop was to see the Cooleman Huts but this was thwarted by an emergency from our mother and daughter who we had met earlier. Her husband had had a crash on his motorbike, broke his shoulder and we weren’t sure if emergency services had arrived. We followed her along the 20km dirt trail just in case she needed any help. Luckily for her husband, the abulance were there by the time we reached him which was at the start of Long Plain Road. As we weren’t needed, we kept moving. Dear me, it was a worrying sight as we drove passed.

Now for the long drive home. A quick stop and cuppa at Black Perry lookout on the way out, we were then on our way again. It was a very long drive. What should have been about 6 hours, ended up about 8, as there was a continuous roadwork along most of the M7, which had me driving at 40kmh for what felt like forever. Then when we were almost off the F3 there was more roadworks near the weighing station. 40kmh again. Oh no! I am done.

We finally arrived home at about 10.45pm. What an amazing trip. Although we didn’t fit in everything that was planned, we enjoyed our time to the fullest. Yeehah! My big girl pants are tried and tested now. Bring on the next adventure!

“The 7km Nichols Gorge walking track, suitable for experienced hikers, follows Cave Creek and passes some karst features before rejoining Blue Waterholes trail.
You won’t be very far into this challenging 7km walk – just 500 metres or so – before you’ll come across the opening of Cooleman Cave. Make sure you’ve got a torch with you so that you can explore inside. Back out in the sunshine, follow the often dry Cave Creek. Don’t move too quickly across the surface because you can find ancient fossilised shells of brachipods and sea lilies on its bed.
There are some unique longer views of the limestone gorge and on to the snow grass plains surrounded by the wooded slopes of Gurrangorambla Range and Tom O’Rourkes Peak. For photographers, it’s an absolute gem of an amble. Birdwatchers, too, will be well-rewarded with sightings of magpies, flame robins, and soaring wedge-tail eagles.”

Yarrangobilly to Blue Waterholes Camp, Kosciuszko NP – Day 3

Wednesday 11th March, 2026
Blue Waterholes, Clarke Gorge and Cooleman Falls, Kosciuszko NP

Once again, a slow start to the day. We enjoyed our coffee and breakfast waiting for our tents to dry off a little. We then packed up and headed on our short but long drive to Blue Waterholes campground along Long Plain Rd, a dirt road that goes about 25km through the beautiful plains of Kosciuszko National Park. We were hoping to see some brumbies along the way but their culling of them has been very successful as there were none to be seen.

On arrival at Blue QWaterholes Campground, we decided on a camp site, set up camp and enjoyed some lunch. It was then time to explore the area. First adventure was the Clarke Gorge walking trail along Cave Creek to the amazing Cooleman Falls. As we were about to start we recognised a fellow Avoca surf club buddy who was here on a 4 day loop hike around the area. We had a short chat and headed off on our way on our hike, we went down to the Blue Waterhole which was very pretty, and then started along the short 5km return trail, crossing the babbling creek 9 or 10 times. Water shoes were definitely on the agenda and muchly appreciated. The first creek crossing was a big shock as it was very, very cold, but by the time you were up to the next few, the cold wasn’t noticeable at all. We enjoyed the stroll through the magnificent towering limestone rocks in Clarke gorge. It was beautiful. The trees were also amazing as we continued to the end where we looked out from Cooleman Falls through the Wilkinson Gorge. It’s absolutely stunning and the pool at the base of the falls is big enough for a swim, if you don’t mind the cold water. It was very cold but worth the exhilarating dip. We enjoyed a very cold swim and then warmed up in the beautiful warm sunshine with a cuppa and cake for afternoon tea. What a delight!

After our break, we headed back along the trail to camp, wondering if the dark clouds would eventuate in some rain, which it did not. We then enjoyed the activity of the kangaroos and birdlife around our camp before cooking our dinner. After the beautiful sunset we then enjoyed some more stargazing and a game of cards before heading off to bed for our last night sleeping in the bush. Such peace and tranquility. I love it! Reminding me it is time for another adventure Mr Broadbent.

WHAT AN AMAZING DAY!

“Escape to Blue Waterholes campground, the perfect spot to enjoy the great outdoors, with hiking, caves and Kosciuszko National Park’s northern wilderness on its doorstep.
This beautifully positioned campground is the perfect place to stay if you’re planning to hike the Clarke Gorge and Nichols Gorge walking tracks, and explore the nature and historic huts in the Northern Plains and Wilderness area of Kosciuszko National Park.
From the campsite there are lovely views of the limestone cliffs and rock formations of Clarke Gorge and Cave Creek. Wander down the short track to the turquoise waterhole that gives the campground its name. It’s a great spot to paddle your feet and enjoy a picnic on a hot summer’s day, as kangaroos cast a curious eye and eagles soar overhead.
Nearby campgrounds at Cooleman Mountain, Cooinbil and Long Plain offer alternative places to stay in the popular summer months.”

“The 5km Clarke Gorge walking track follows Cave Creek downstream through limestone gorges and cave formations. Stop along the way to do some fishing and birdwatching.
As you hike through the narrow gorge cut by Cave Creek, spectacular limestone cliffs, and cave formations on either side, you’ll never imagine that Clarke Gorge walking track could get any better. But it does, finishing at the top of Cave Creek Falls . There’s a 15m drop of water as well as views down Wilkinsons Gorge. Unsurprisingly, this walk is very popular with photographers.
As well as the beauty of the rock features, some of which were formed more than 400 million years ago, the landscape is dotted with snow gums and black sallee (another high-altitude eucalypt with dark bark), rare discaria shrubs, and vibrant yellow billy buttons. You’ll likely see grey kangaroos bounding in the distance and wedge-tail eagles circling overhead. Fishermen might also want to bring their lines with them because there are a few waterholes along Cave Creek where they can try their luck catching trout, before returning to the walk’s starting point at Blue Waterholes campground.”

Yarrangobilly, Kosciuszko NP – Day 2

Tuesday 10th March, 2026
Yarrangobilly Village Camp, Visitors centre, Thermal Springs, South Glory and Jersey Caves, Bluff Lookout, Kosciuszko NP

We both slept really well, even with the howling dingoes (we think) in the distance. We got off to a slow start. breakfast, coffee and a little chatting.

We headed off on our way around 11am with our first stop being the Yarrangobilly Visitors Centre to organise our itinerary for the day. I am glad we waited until daylight as the trail down was very narrow with sheer drops on the left and many hairpin turns. A slow drive for me. Cave tour organised and paid for ($38 each for 2 caves). Then we were off on our way.

We drove down to the Thermal Springs carpark, setup the solar panel (new task for me) as the fridge was playing up. It had frozen our food and flattened the auxilliary battery. Once this was done, we headed down the steep road on foot to the thermal springs. No time for a swim at this stage as we are on a time constraint to get to the guided cave tour at 1.30pm. We enjoyed a pleasant walk along the Yarrangobilly River Walk trail and then headed up to the South Glory Cave. This was a self-guided cave which was quite magnificent with its stalactites, stalagmites and amazing caverns.

“Take a leisurely self-guided tour through the lofty chambers of South Glory Cave at Yarrangobilly, near Tumut. It never fails to astonish. Europeans first explored this underworld in 1834. Like them, you’ll be awestruck by the immense size of its limestone chambers, decorations and rock piles. The cave is accessed along a 500m gravel track, taking you from Glory Cave carpark to Glory Arch, with its impressive opening to the sky. This self-guided experience means you can explore the cave at your own pace, with information signs throughout and sensor lights that switch on as you approach. You’ll see the white formations of the Ice Age Chamber, others known as the ‘Lamb’s Fleece’ and ‘Judge’s Wig’, and even a daylight hole 55m above you.”

The South Glory Cave was a one way path through to another trail which we then followed up to the start of the Jersey Cave tour. Luckily, we had just enough time to have some lunch, a coffe and a chat with some fellow tourists before the start of the tour.

“The Jersey Cave boasts incredible cave formations 1.5 million years in the making. Cleopatra’s Needle – a 4 metre column that reaches the ceiling, rare displays of black and grey flowstones, and forests of stalactites and stalagmites, are just a few highlights of this 1.5 hour guided tour. One of the ancient limestone caves in northern Kosciuszko National Park, Jersey Cave’s magical interior and setting make it popular with photographers, families, and visitors throughout the year.”

We enjoyed an informative tour of the Jersey Cave with Chloe answering some of our questions about the cave formations. It was a great 1.5 hours and a joy to see some amazing sights within the cave. Woohoo, once again Australia has such magnificent sights to see.

After the Jersey Cave, we followed the trail up the the Bluff Lookout which has a view down to the Visitors Centre. Completing the loop trail we headed down to the picnic area, enjoyed an ice block at the visitors centre before heading back down the trail for our long awaited swim in the thermal springs.

Our first swim was in the waterhole of the Yarrangobilly River, then back over to the thermal springs pool to enjoy a pleasant 27°C swim. It was a lot quieter than when we were here with the kids at Christmas time in 2024. After a lovely relaxing hour, we then headed back up the steep trail for the slow return drive back to the Yarrangobilly Village Camp.

Another nice dinner, star gaze and off to bed for a little read (maybe 10 mins) before falling asleep to more dingo howling. A great day !

Davistown to Yarrangobilly Village Camp, Kosciuszko NP – Day 1

Monday 9th March, 2026
Davistown to Yarrangobilly Village Camp, Kosciuszko NP

Well, the day started with a few changes. Alice was unable to join Ange and I, so we had a change of vehicle and change of driver to enable us to continue with the aranged plan. Yay, me! I put on my big girl pants and did the driving. We headed home from the pool which was our original departure point, did some luggage reshuffling, checked the car, got some mechanical and electrical instructions from DB and set off on our way at about midday.

The drive was very straight forward but nonethless a bif day out for me. We had a couple of stops along the way, first at Partridge VC Roadstop, The Old Bookham Church and finally arriving at our destination – Yarrangobilly Village Camp at 6.15pm.

Time to decide on a camp, we drove in a little way and came back towards the entrance. We settled on a little spot on the creek where we set up camp. We thought about driving down to the Yarrangobilly Thermal Springs for a night time dip, but decided to leave that drive for daylight and just enjoy a quiet dinner and the magnificent stars. What a treat!

Tokyo to Osaka, Honshu, Japan to Davistown, Australia

Wednesday 30th July 2025
We got up and checked out of the hotel about 10.30am this morning.

We then went by train for another visit to Ueno. This time to the National Museum of Nature and Science for David and the Modern Art Gallery for me.

David rushed through 2 floors – the advanced technology section , 360° theatre and an animal section – he said it was great. I struggled to find the major part of the Gallery, so I just enjoyed the calligraphy in the Citizens art section and a rest in the cafe.

We met in the park at 12.30pm and were then on a schedule. We headed back to Amanek  Hotel Asakusa to collect our bags. At the station, we recharged our train cards, and I somehow lost mine between there and the hotel. Now that’s a bit stressful. I now have to find where to buy one and recharge the 2000Y again. Oops! Needless to say, I had a momentary meltdown. David, the ever calm soldier, kept his cool, and we went about getting to the station. I could buy a ticket, but the card is so much easier and was all linked, ready for the Shinkansen ride. We had allowed an extra hour at this stage to get to the Shinkansen at Shinagawa, so we should be okay. At Asakusa Station, I bought a PASMO card and recharged it, and off we went.

Asakusa-> Shinagawa by train
Shinagawa -> Shin-Osaka by Shinkansen
Shin-Osaka -> Kansai International Airport by train
Kansai -> Sydney by plane.

It is 541km from Asakusa, Tokyo to Osaka Airport, 7 hours by car but only about 4.5 hours by trin and shinkansen. Thank goodness for the bullet train.

All this whilst watching the tsunami alerts all along on the east coast of Japan from the 8. 8m earthquake in Russia. 

See you all soon!

National Museum of Nature and Science – Explore the wonders of the natural sciences.
Located in Ueno Park, the National Museum of Nature and Science is one of Japan’s biggest science museums. The museum is home to over 25,000 exhibits that explore everything including outer space, dinosaurs, Japanese ecosystems and even the world’s latest advances in technology.
The National Museum of Nature and Science is filled with authentic artifacts and interactive learning opportunities. The exhibits, created around the theme of “coexistence between the human race and nature,” help deepen our appreciation of the Earth, life, science and technology. They also encourage people to think about how humankind, the natural world, and science and technology should best relate to each other. Exhibits include the preserved remains of Hachiko and two famous pandas, a fragment of the Nantan meteorite that hit China in the 16th century, and much more.
One highlight of the museum is theatre 360, a 360-degree movie theatre in the round. There is also an exhibition room where you can investigate various physical phenomena hands-on, an indoor exhibition space for preschoolers with their parents, and a museum shop with dinosaurs and other natural science-related goods.

Tokyo – Day 3

Tuesday 29th July 2025
We have had another partial rest day today until 3.30pm.

We then caught the train to Uena for a walk around the Shinobazuno Pond, with one section totally filled with lotus plants and flowers. It was very beautiful. In the middle was the Benten-jima Buddhist temple. The other section of the pond was water, with paddle and row boats available for hire. It was a very hot afternoon and the perspiration was rolling down my chest continuously. There were markets around the pond as well as a windchime boardwalk. After a loop of the pond, we headed into Ueno park where we saw the Ueno Toshogu Shrine. A magnificent golden shrine and pagoda near the zoo. We then walked towards the fountain which had everchanging fountain spouts. Then by this time it was 6pm, so we walked back via the National Museum of Nature and Science and the National Museum. Unfortunately, these were all closed.

It was very hot today. My perspiration levels were at an all time high.

We headed back to the hotel and then went out for a lovely dinner at an ICHIRAN Ramen restaurant in Asakusa, specialising in Tonkotsu ramen. It was delicious. David did think about dinner at the Skytree for our last night but unfortunately the buffet dinner was booked out and the ala carte was off the charts expensive. Maybe next time.

We followed dinner with a walk around the market alleys and Sensō-ji Temple that we had visited when we were here 6 weeks ago. Once again its 5 storey Pagoda and its night time viewing was still amazing. We then walked back to the hotel where we enjoyed a quiet drink on the rooftop with a view of the everchanging colours of the Skytree Tower.

A fitting end to a fantastic holiday.

Tomorrow, we will do a little sightseeing in the morning and then head back to Osaka to fly home tomorrow night.

Shinobazu Pond is a large natural pond filled with lush greenery and rich cultural importance. The pond has three sections, a duck pond—populated by ducks and other local waterbirds—a lotus pond, and a boat pond. Sitting between the lotus and boat ponds is where you can rent out small paddle boats to admire the park from a different perspective. There are three different boats available for rent, row boats, pedal boats, and swan boats. The lotus flowers hit full bloom in July and August, but they only open between 7:00a.m. – 9:00a.m., so visit early to see them in all their glory. Oops, we missed that.

In the middle of the pond is an island called Benten-jima with a small temple dedicated to the goddess Benzaiten called Bentendo. As with many popular sightseeing spots in Japan, it is rumoured that if you cross the bridge to the island with your lover, that you are destined to part ways (other spots to apparently avoid include Tokyo Tower and the ferris wheel in Minatomirai).

Ueno Toshogu Shrine – An Edo period shrine that stood through wars and earthquakes. You will be greeted with a facade of gold as you walk towards the Ueno Toshogu Shrine in Ueno Park. This gorgeous building is designated a Cultural Property of Japan for its resilience in surviving devastating wars and earthquakes since it was built in 1627. Thanks to a major renovation in 1651, the shrine has distinctive features from the Edo period (1603-1867). Pay attention to the gold leaf trimmings and intricate carvings. Most visitors come to the shrine to pray for good fortune, such as passing examinations, vocational success, longevity, and recovery from illness. Of course, you can also come to simply admire the characteristics of traditional Japanese architecture.

A little bit of interesting information on perspiration in Japan because everyone carries a little sweat towel or walks around with a little battery operated fan.
While perspiring in public in Japan is a natural bodily function, there’s a strong emphasis on cleanliness and discreetness in Japanese culture. It’s not necessarily “bad manners” to sweat, especially during Japan’s hot and humid summers, but how you manage it is key.

Here’s a breakdown:
– Minimizing visible sweat: Japanese people often use small towels or handkerchiefs to discreetly wipe away sweat from their face and neck. You’ll see many people carrying these, especially in summer. It’s considered good etiquette to have something to dab away sweat rather than letting it drip excessively.
– Body odour: While not directly about visible sweat, there’s a cultural sensitivity to body odour. Many Japanese people have fewer of the sweat glands that produce strong odours, and they are generally very conscious of personal hygiene. Using deodorant and maintaining good cleanliness is always appreciated.
– Oshibori (wet towels): When you’re given an oshibori (a warm or cold wet towel) in a restaurant, it’s primarily for wiping your hands before eating. While you might occasionally see Japanese people discreetly dab their faces with it in very casual settings, it’s generally considered impolite to use it to wipe sweat from your face or neck.
– Dressing for the weather: Wearing breathable, quick-drying fabrics and lighter colours can help manage sweat and contribute to a more comfortable experience for yourself and those around you.

In summary, it’s less about the act of perspiring itself and more about being mindful and discreet in managing it. Having a handkerchief or small towel on hand to gently wipe away sweat is a polite gesture in Japan.