Day 22 - Last day in Australia

A group of our players went to Blue Mountains to visit a couple of sisters and take some pictures of liquid fall from the sky. On their way back they visited the Olympic centre meeting up with Dutch top sport history.

Part of our group went into the city to do their last down-under shopping. The weather turned a blue sky into grey but fortunately everybody stayed dry.

The last group went for a Palm Beach ride. Also we managed to catch some raindrops. The area around Palm Beach showed us what winter can be like, just a couple of kilometers north of Sydney.

After a short look at the Ocean side we took a ferry to Hardys Bay and back. On our way home we welcomed the sund and visited Kashmir Club in Newport to conquer fish and chips.

Finally we backed up with the group, had our final barbi at Marks' place. Players are on their way to say goodbye to city nightlife, tomorrow is a travel day. We will certainly miss the families, the country, the people and the korfball!

Thanks for following us!

Day 21 - The last day of korfball in Sydney

We're close to saying goodbye to this cosmopolitan city. With a late morning drive to the 'Domain', going outdoor, sunny, warm and oldfashion turf like in the old days. 

Meeting with the city-players we build up the court and started to play fast korfball, pulling the attraction of passengers in the patk. Local players were ready to flyer and give information about what sport they were offered this morning.

In the afternoon we went to the Cook and Phillip park, just to do a quick fitness and core stability session. Followd by a training session for the Sydney redback, a mixed game and a training on ball handling skills.

The korfball session was over, we have finished our job. Leaving 2 days of leasure and preparing for our trip back home. Just a quick drink with the Redbacks in town and we're heading for a barbecue at the Zilms.

Tomorrow some players will say goodbye to the city, others want to visit the Blue Mountains!, we'll keep you informed...

Day 20 - Bondi Beach Korfball!

If you want to make something big about korfball, you should probably adapt the sport to the countrystyle. We are from Europe and to be honoust, there is do much potential in down-under. We saw schools, most of them private, with jealous-making sporthalls and playing grounds.

Most of the kids play 34 sports, so they do not only prepare for ball sports but are skilled in martial arts, swimming and running. Australia is well known for its AFL. AFL-style korfball would be really interesting to get blokes active on the korf. To be seen and get the real exposur beach korfball can not been played elsewhere than atthe world famous Bondi Beach. So that is where our Australian Korfball Promotour went today. On a partly clouded morning we went out to play the game. 

No Scheveningen, Ouddorp, no Aalsmeer or De Dam. The place to be on Saturday 13 July: Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia.

Just a couple of sandwiches away we took the bus and went for an open clubtraining. Together with some players from the Sydney Redbacks we trained a couple of skillful netball players. 

The training ended with a 2x 10 minute exhibition match followed by 3x 10 minutes mixed game where trainers from the European Promoteam played together with the local community.

Finished by a decent Thai meal and a group of players waiting for the bus to arrive. Heading to our last day of korfball tomorrow!

Day 19 - Blue Mountain, barbi and citylife

Some of us just lived the night during the morning. We had an early breakfast and Tomas Fik, a former Czech Republic players from Ceske Budejovice, living already 12 years in Sydney, picked us up from home to visit the Blue Mountains. This sight-seeing area is situated approximately 90 min west of Sydney. Due to last day of the school holidays we met a lot of highway patrol on our trip to the outback.

A beautiful view brought us close to the three sisters at once. The grey-blue mie scattering by terpenoids from the eucalyptus leaves coloured the surrounding blue.

Together with the Frysian girls we made a small hike down to the waterfall and saw amazing ferns, a green and almost prehistoric landscape.

Winter in Australia makes it fast to go from dusk till dawn. So already around 4 pm we were trying to look for the sun. 

A lovely trip back through the mountains, meeting up with a couple of wilf kangaroes around the highway.

At home we had a propper barbecue and most of the players went to the city to misbehave themselves in Sydney nightlife!

Day 18 - Sydney, Manly and citytour

An early morning surprise wake up at the Zilm's castle with 10 players, an injured referee, Mark Zilm and a coach. We left the estate by bus and travelled through a busy Sudney on a beautiful Thursday morning.

We arrived at Manl Warf to pick up the players from the city and went to the beach in front of the penthouse where two of our group players stayed.

A small tour to the hills of East Manly, Sydney Harbour National Park, where we stayed to have a good view on the city. In the bay we noticed a small group of 3-4 whales, surrounded by whalewatch boats.

After a lunch at Manly's beach we took the ferry to the Opera house.

Players enjoyed the city centre and in the evening we met some of Sydney's korfball players.

Still a long night to go for many players. We already prepare ourselves for the coming day: Blue Mountain Friday!

Day 17 - flight to Sydney!

We all thanked our host families for the wonderful time we've spend in Adelaide.

A good breakfast in the Aussie way, having our suitcase done, finishing the wines and we were off!

After a goodbye at the airport we left Adelaide by Virgin Australia to meet Mark Zilm in Sydney.

The program in Sydney will be more or less a weekend full of training and clinics. Thursday and Friday we will update you on the local program.

Just arrived in Sydney:

In the evening we were with most of the group together @Zilm's Castle.