It's Friday morning! The sleep was wonderful, and I feel well rested. It's about 7.30, and a clear day. But the house is bitterly cold. The Aussies seem more resilient to the cold, relying more on fleeces and jumpers than central heating. Thankfully the showers are hot and the pressure is great.

Suzi kindly rustles up some bacon and eggs, which I enjoy after her equally wholesome home-made Museli. We have breakfast looking out over the verandah and take in the beautiful Australian morning. Rested and showered, I feel more able to converse this morning and Tony and Suzi describe some of the locations we'll be visiting.

After breakfast we head off to parish church for a liturgy based on creation. It invites us to reflect on how we can protect our world, but also on finding God in natural beauty. It's the perfect introduction for our task for the day. I'm more awake this morning, and able to appreciate the diversity of the Catholic pilgrims represented here. Their clothing, their customs, their greetings, the universality of the Church is revealing itself to us.

We head off as a group after Mass to Mount Tomaree, a lookout point during the war manned by the RAAF (Royal Australian Airforce). It is no more than a hill really, but one of the highest peaks around, offering spectacular views around Port Stephens and Nelson Bay. Keen spectators catch a glimpse of dolphins and whales in the distance, as well as a sea turtle closer in, but I am unable to see anything myself.

Community days like this are apparently rare in the parish and many people confess to never having visited this area of natural beauty in all the years they've lived here. Our young people have provided the impetus for them this time.

It's not easy to come down from the mountain - in many senses - but a short liturgy on the beach at the foot of Tomaree gives us an opportunity to reflect on the beauty we have just witnessed - indeed the beauty of the world we experience everywhere in our lives.

Nelson Bay boasts a beautiful coastline, well kept and maintained for visitors and the whole community. We're having a picnic a little way along and the walk allows me to chat to a few members of our group. Our group is bonding well and there's a really good atmosphere.

We have some free time this afternoon before a 'sausage sizzle' this evening. I might go whale and dolphin watching. It's an opportunity - I'm going to take it.