Spiders / Snakes / Animals, Sydney

We arrived in Sydney during the Spring Season (October) on Liz's first trip. We noticed an unusual amount of flies and swarming gnats. According to some locals this is common place for this time of year. We managed to get through the trip with only a couple of bites but next time we will bring some bug repellent.

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Here they come - what a life of luxury it is living in the UK with virtually no creepey crawley scarey bugs or scarey poisonous things to watch out for - just the bombers and the pollution and the politics maybe but then thats another story!- and back in Sydney just a few minutes and here they appear!

The giant cockroaches! They are prolific in Brisbane and the warmer norther parts where they seem to congregate in almost hundreds so that when you come home at night and turn on the light they are scurrying all ove the place as if they think theyll get out of sight in time!
Like the huge cane toads, these huge cockroaches have made their ways further south and now are quite a normal sight around your homes in Sydney. Its not about lack of cleanliness - they just get in anyway.

For me its the flyspray that has to be handy - if anyone else is home I get them to deal with them - and Im not into crunching them underfoot myself and definitely prefer not to be in hearing distance if someone is happy to execute them that way.

Obviously the ocean has numerous dangers.
Watch out for Blue Ring Octopus along the coast. Especially near rocks.
Blue Ring Octopus can be deadly and at the remote places, the hospital care you will need can be too far away.
There have been numerous sightings at the beaches along the Cronulla coast.

Apparently it is ok to touch some of the native animals, provided you see them in a wildlife park, near someone who works there!!

Terry, my tourguide, gave us a lot of information about this before we entered the park!!

KANGEROOS: DO NOT TOUCH THEIR EARS!! But u can stroke them under the chin, but if you see they are about to jump, let them and move!

WOMBATS AND KOALAS: They have surprisingly sharp teeth, so be careful, but just don't stroke near their mouth!!

This sign is posted near the Chinese Garden of Friendship. As we all know, swooping birds often leave a little something behind. Wear a hat (and maybe a shower cap over it).

Seriously, though, they are usually just trying to guard their nesting areas. If you need to, protect your head and eyes and simply move away from the area.

Ferrel dog attacks are something to take into serious consideration when out in rural areas. Just like wolves these dogs also hunt and stalk in packs.

Australians often abandon their pet dogs in bush land particularly at Christmas time when they rather go on holiday. The result is an ever increasing number of dangerous dog packs roaming the countryside.

Also beware of urban dogs, Aussies have a habit of not keeping their dog on their property. Though not exactly wild a strange dog should always be viewed as dangerous.

One thing you will notice about Sydney is that there are a lot of cockroaches. Don't be alarmed if you are eating at an outdoor restaurant and you see them on the floor. Or in your hotel room. It happens. They can't help it, so don't put the blame on anyone working at a place you see one.

If it doesn't happen to you, it is actually funny. I was eating at a very nice restaurant which I will not name, and an older lady at the table next to me was all dressed up, and a cockroach was climbing on her arm. She knocked over her glass and plate, screamed hysterically, and jumped out of her chair until my friend stepped on it. I know it's mean, but I couldn't help but laugh.

Although not dangerous, these are incredibly pesky. At certain times of the year, like November, there are a LOT of them, and they seem to like buzzing around people's faces and ears. I don't think there is a repellant for them, but expect to be shooing with your hands very frequently. The good news is that in bad weather they stay inside.