So New Years Eve, and we finally got a great night's sleep! Ya beauty!
And what do you do in Australia on New Years Eve? Go to the beach of course! Headed down to Brighton Beach in Botany Bay for the day where we really got hit by the sun...factor 30 all the way over here!
A quick bite for lunch, then it was almost time for the main event...New Years Eve in Sydney!
We headed in at about 5pm to experience the pre-match buildup in Darling Harbour and Circluar Quay, before heading to the botanical gardens for 7.30pm for the Harbour Lights evening. And what an evening, such a great location, such a good view, great food, good wine and the fireworks, well wow, absolutely unbelievable! Words actually fail me!
Train home in the nicest post drinking atmosphere ever and in bed to listen to the wailing man at 2am! Haha
Monday, December 31, 2012
Day 3
To be removed: date should be one day less!
Following a couple of days of city slicking, we decided it was time to explore a little bit more of New South Wales, so we headed off to the Blue Mountains about 80km west of Sydney for a day trip.
After a very early pick up of 7.20am, we headed up to Katoomba and to Scenic World, where we rode a cable car, a 56 degree sloped train and the Sky Way, which included walking around the rainforest where we saw the web of a funnel web spider, the most poisonous spider in the world.
Following this we went to an aboriginal experience, learning about the didgeridoo and other customs. An interesting photo was obtained at the end. After a bit of fancying about on an annoyingly unorganised trip, we had lunch before visiting the old town of Leura, which had a great wee candy shop.
Then it was back down the road towards the city stopping at ferndown animal park where we got to see all the famous animals of Australia, including Kangaroos (which you could feed) and Koalas that you could have photos taken with.
Back on the bus to the Olympic Park, where we boarded the boat for a river cruise back to Circular Quay.
Then at night we found Gary and Helen Parker's house and enjoyed their lovely company and hospitality!
Following a couple of days of city slicking, we decided it was time to explore a little bit more of New South Wales, so we headed off to the Blue Mountains about 80km west of Sydney for a day trip.
After a very early pick up of 7.20am, we headed up to Katoomba and to Scenic World, where we rode a cable car, a 56 degree sloped train and the Sky Way, which included walking around the rainforest where we saw the web of a funnel web spider, the most poisonous spider in the world.
Following this we went to an aboriginal experience, learning about the didgeridoo and other customs. An interesting photo was obtained at the end. After a bit of fancying about on an annoyingly unorganised trip, we had lunch before visiting the old town of Leura, which had a great wee candy shop.
Then it was back down the road towards the city stopping at ferndown animal park where we got to see all the famous animals of Australia, including Kangaroos (which you could feed) and Koalas that you could have photos taken with.
Back on the bus to the Olympic Park, where we boarded the boat for a river cruise back to Circular Quay.
Then at night we found Gary and Helen Parker's house and enjoyed their lovely company and hospitality!
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Day 2
Again, not too sure exactly how and when this is being posted, but Day 2 our first Saturday in Australia was a belter.
With residual jet lag still in our bodies, a 4am wake up led to a 7am breakfast in the cafe next door, stuffing our faces on French bread, lovely!
Then it was back to Darling harbour to hit the tourist information to book our trip to the blue mountains. Then it was a long old walk back to the opera house before a tour around the opera house, a fascinating I site into how it works now and how the design was decided and created. The sun came out in a big way during the tour.
This meant that we left on the ferry to Manly in bright blue skies with fantastic views of the harbour city. Manly was absolutely lovely, a bit of lunch, then a walk the full length of the beach followed by an ice cream, which Amanda obviously loved!
Back into town aboard the Manly ferry, a wee sleep and then dinner back in Carling Harbour, with a brief drink with Henry Kitchen and his wife.
A good day, now if we can just lose this sodding jet lag, life would be, to coin a Bert Le Close phrase, unbelievable!
With residual jet lag still in our bodies, a 4am wake up led to a 7am breakfast in the cafe next door, stuffing our faces on French bread, lovely!
Then it was back to Darling harbour to hit the tourist information to book our trip to the blue mountains. Then it was a long old walk back to the opera house before a tour around the opera house, a fascinating I site into how it works now and how the design was decided and created. The sun came out in a big way during the tour.
This meant that we left on the ferry to Manly in bright blue skies with fantastic views of the harbour city. Manly was absolutely lovely, a bit of lunch, then a walk the full length of the beach followed by an ice cream, which Amanda obviously loved!
Back into town aboard the Manly ferry, a wee sleep and then dinner back in Carling Harbour, with a brief drink with Henry Kitchen and his wife.
A good day, now if we can just lose this sodding jet lag, life would be, to coin a Bert Le Close phrase, unbelievable!
Friday, December 28, 2012
Day1
I think I might be a bit behind the times with writing this, but it's pretty safe to say that Day 1 saw us arrive and also be very jet-lagged!
We landed at Sydney a little after 7 am and after a long but fast moving queue to get us through immigration (take note America!) we were headed into town on our pre-booked van at 8 .30am arriving at the Park Regis City Centre hotel by 9am. Sadly our room was not ready so following a pit stop we headed out and about to discover Sydney!
First stop was a walk around Darling Harbour to find the tourist information centre. A quick Internet and breakfast stop at Starbucks followed, before we managed to see the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the opera house, Circular Quay and the first look at the Botanical gardens.
We walked back to the hotel and at 1.30 could finally check in and have much needed washes after close to 30 hours in smelly clothes! Some lunch and a slightly too long sleep next, then we headed back to Darling harbour for a long walk then stopping in at The Blackbird restaurant for a beer and a beef burger. Carlton Draught was my poison and it was very nice too.
Back to the hotel and bed by 9.45pm, although Friday nights in Sydney are quite noisy so wasn't the greatest nights sleep ever!
Ho hum!
Off to the Opera house for a tour, Manly, Lunar Park, cross the bridge on Day 2!
We landed at Sydney a little after 7 am and after a long but fast moving queue to get us through immigration (take note America!) we were headed into town on our pre-booked van at 8 .30am arriving at the Park Regis City Centre hotel by 9am. Sadly our room was not ready so following a pit stop we headed out and about to discover Sydney!
First stop was a walk around Darling Harbour to find the tourist information centre. A quick Internet and breakfast stop at Starbucks followed, before we managed to see the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the opera house, Circular Quay and the first look at the Botanical gardens.
We walked back to the hotel and at 1.30 could finally check in and have much needed washes after close to 30 hours in smelly clothes! Some lunch and a slightly too long sleep next, then we headed back to Darling harbour for a long walk then stopping in at The Blackbird restaurant for a beer and a beef burger. Carlton Draught was my poison and it was very nice too.
Back to the hotel and bed by 9.45pm, although Friday nights in Sydney are quite noisy so wasn't the greatest nights sleep ever!
Ho hum!
Off to the Opera house for a tour, Manly, Lunar Park, cross the bridge on Day 2!
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Fancy Toilet
Sunday, December 09, 2012
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