Sydney

  Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Saturday, May 24, 2008

6.30am and I've arrived in Sydney outside Wake-up hostel and YHA. Two recommended hostels and I'm wishing I had booked in there rather than the walk up to Base where Sarah and Em are meant to be arriving. It's a bit of a trek with my 3 bags but a more central location. I check in but unsurprisingly my room is pitch black ( and stinks!) so I dump my bags and head out to get food, breaky, internet etc. I see on the Internet Caroline is arriving today - a bit earlier than I expected, but good news. I assume her flight will be in the early afternoon like mine was. Eventually at10am I return to my room and check my phone and see she is in Sydney already and arrived at about the same time as me. So I head off to find her (staying at Wake up, back the way I came!) for a second breakfast before our day of sight seeing!
 

Sydney sky tower

Walking tour time. It's very surreal to be in Sydney. I think as Caroline's here I keep thinking we are still in NZ. We start at the park with the ANZAC monument and head up the park past the water fountain. To our left we are overshadowed by the sparkling golden skytower against the backdrop of a bright blue sky. The sun is shining and it's a clear day - we can ALMOST take off our cardigans. To our right is the cathedral undergoing cleaning and restoration in preparation for the pope's imminent visit. We then head on through the botanical gardens, along to the waterfront where half the city appear to be jogging.

sydney harbour

And then into view comes the Sydney Opera House and then the Harbour Bridge behind.  We must be in Sydney now! And best of all it's sunny. 
 

Sydney harbour bridge

We wander around the Opera House and book in to a concert for Friday - Tea and Symphony with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. We are getting sophisticated in our old age! Then we head along the Quay for a spot of lunch - pretty tiring all this site seeing! The on to the rocks, the redeveloped docks area under the harbour bridge, and then up to the bridge.  The bridge offers spectacular views of the opera house, harbour  and the surrounding area. Then on to the observatory - a chance to sit and recover for a bit before heading on to Darling harbour, a harbour overlooked by the aquarium, animal santury, shopping centre, restaurants etc and then finally this brings us out exhausted by my hostel. A chance to have a chat with the travel desk before it shuts and time for tea - we are starving!! Well that's Sydney done in a day!
 

Train to blue mountains

Thursday and Caroline and I decide to head to the Blue Mountains. Emeline and Sarah are due to arrive into Sydney today as well. I meet Caroline at Sydney Central train station, again down by Wake up and YHA, at 8.15 ready for our 2hr train trip to Katoomba in the mountains. After wondering why all of the seats on our double decker train face the wrong way we finally realised that we could just swing them over to face the other way - so clever!  As the train gets closer to the Blue

Us on train

Mountains there really is a blue haze from the eucalyptus oils. We walk down to Echo point for spectacular views across the horizon and of the 3 sisters.

Blue Mountains, Echo point

Then its time for a bit of a hike - why keep it simple when there's an extended version we can do.  First off along the cliff top towards Lena falls/cascades.  It's a few kilometres with lookouts.

Parrots in the wild

We see wild red parrots in the trees above us. Finally when we can go no further we take the steep steps down the cliff face into the forestry below. The steep steps take us past attractive cascades. Desperate for lunch by this point we put it out to the universe and picnic tables appear in the middle of the forest! We continue on, still not reached the point where the regular reach meets our route. Finally we reach the steps back up to Echo point and continue along the foot of the cliff along a more defined path - rather relieved we must still be going the right way. Past a lucky tree and finally we make it to the scenic train. Thank goodness we don't have to climb back up the mountain. The train arrive dropping tens of Japanese tourists, however Caroline and I are the only 2 for the return journey. It's the steepest train in the world with a 52o  gradient. We get great views as the train rushes back up the hill and through a tunnel - hold on to your hats - well cameras. Its more like a roller coaster ride than a train. Time for a caramel slice and coffee - we deserve it after that trek and a half. Then time for our train back to meet Em and Sarah in China town for dinner.
 
Friday - time for Tea and Symphony.

Concert in opera house

Caroline drags all her bags up the street and moves to our hostel and then off for our 11am concert at the Opera House. We slightly underestimated the walk as we arrive at 10.59am. Running up the steps to take our seats we pass through the foyer full of cups of tea being cleared away - that's why its called TEA and symphony - no one told us there was a free cup of tea first - we would have ensured we were early - we are backpackers after all! We were informed to remember the Sydney Symphony Orchestra were playing live on radio also, and then the music commenced - an interesting mix of music, including some Argentinean works.
 

Manli beach

Two encores later, its lunch time so we decide to take the ferry from the neighbouring docks to Manly. It's a 30min ferry ride and we end up in what feels like a cross between the suburbs of Sydney and a pleasant beach town. You can smell the fish and chips as we alight from the ferry. Manly is known for its Surf beach, and as my sister now informs me the location of BBC's neighbours replacement soap! I initially wonder how on earth this tiny beach by the ferry terminal can be a renowned beach and a 'lovely walk', but a quick trip to the tourist booth across the road explains that - through the high street the other side of town is the main beach. That's more like it. A long wide expanse of yellow sand, and the sun is almost shining again! We take a stroll along the beach trying not to be put off by the group of aging leathery sun worshipers wondering around in their Speedos - it certainly isn't that hot!
 
We return to base to sort out the rest of our travel plans before heading out for our second last night together! This time we think we had better experience the legendry Kings Cross area, an interesting mix of bars, music blaring and the odd lady of the night walking the streets in the midst of the crowds of rowdy backpackers. We return to our hostel and I'm the first back in my room, make sure I'm all packed for tomorrow and climb my bunk to go to sleep. Sleep doesn't last long as I am awoken by my amorous room mates, shortly followed by the oz stone heads smoking in our small stuffy windowless room; and then the grand finalé - the amorous girl's friend returns furious that her friend had left her in some unknown place in Sydney, let the argument continue. I've learnt to sleep through a lot in the last 10 months but I am incredibly relieved to be leaving in the morning.
 

Aquarium

Friday morning, the travel plans are finalised, Fraser Island and Whitsunday's booked, so we all head off to the aquarium for our final day. The Aquarium is absorbing, especially as you enter the shark filled area. Enormous open jaws appear by your face, then huge shadows cross you as the giant stingray glides effortlessly overhead - I could watch for hours mesmerised, engulfed by this sea life.

Aquarium shop, Kangaroo and Koala!!

We emerge out of the aquarium complex into the glorious sunshine of Darling Harbour. Time for an ice cream and people watching as the tourist and locals all come out to enjoy this fine bit of late autumn weather.
 

Ice cream at darling Harbour

All good things come to an end. Time to head back and pick up my bags and airport shuttle. We make a quick stop at the supermarket; almost a soon as we arrive the alarms start up, the automatic voice kicks into action, 'please evacuate immediately and follow directions'. This voice is on repeat and ringing in our ears. We look to leave but everyone is still shopping, the staff still serving and stacking - oh well, we may as well continue shopping too. The staff let more people into the shop. Its not until at last the fire fighters arrive that we are finally evacuated. The staff appear to have no idea of course of action in such a situation - I'm guessing someone will be in trouble over this botched job! Alls well, no fire, we're allowed back in and still in time to get my shuttle.