Sydney

This past Wednesday (4/25/12) was ANZAC Day (Australia and New Zealand Army Corps) in Australia, which is a public holiday, which meant no school. Since I only have classes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, this meant my school week consisted of only one day and my weekend consisted of six.. so what better time to take advantage of another travel opportunity :) With this time off, Autumn and I traveled to Sydney!

We flew out of the Gold Coast Wednesday morning and arrived just a short time after in Sydney :)

First thing Thursday morning we climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge! We had set our minds on doing it when planning our trip. I was a bit nervous, since I have a slight fear of heights, but I wasn’t going to let that keep me from the experience. The whole encounter took about three hours, with briefings, gearing up, practice climbs, and such. We were on the bridge itself for a total of about two hours. We were guided along the outer arch of the Bridge on catwalks and ladders all the way to the peak. Making it to the top felt amazing - it was so beautiful, and we had perfect weather. We had 360 degree views of Sydney, including the Sydney Opera House, the Blue Mountains, and the Harbour city surrounds. It was an absolutely amazing experience, and I am so glad that I did it!

We spent the rest of the day walking around the area where the Bridge and the Opera House are. Autumn and I toured the Opera House ourselves, and then simply walked around for the rest of the day, exploring what Sydney had to offer.

Friday morning we went to Paddy’s Market and journeyed our way through isles and isles of varied products, from fruits and vegetables to clothing and jewelry.


Our next outing was to Bondi Beach, one of the world’s most famous beaches. There is a popular Coastal Walk from Bondi Beach to Coogee Beach that we decided to explore. The walk is a combination of beaches, parks, and spectacular views. It is considered one of the “hidden gems” of Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. The walk starts at Bondi, passes Tamarama Beach and Bronte Beach, and ends at Coogee. This was certainly the part of Sydney that I most underestimated, simply because I didn’t know much about it. This walk blew me away. It was so beautiful, and again we had perfect weather, making for a great day. We leisurely strolled along this path, taking in the scenic views. This area captivated me, and I left relaxed with memories of sun, surf, and sand.

Later that night we decided to treat ourselves to a nice dinner out at a fancy restaurant right on the Darling Harbour. The atmosphere at this area was pretty cool, as restaurants, bars, and clubs are all centered around the Harbour. It was beautiful with the city lit up over the Harbour.

Saturday we started our day by going to the Chinese Garden of Friendship. It was like stepping into Asia, as we experienced the natural beauty, architecture, and culture of one of the only Chinese gardens outside of Asia.

We also took a train ride through the Royal Botanic Gardens to check that off of our to do list. It was a quick and easy way to see the whole area, while relieving our feet from all of the walking that we had been doing :)

After walking around the areas of The Rocks and Circular Quay a bit more, we decided to catch a ferry to Manly Beach. Again, I totally underestimated how beautiful this area was. It was similar to the coastal walk from Bondi to Coogee, where we walked along the path taking in how beautiful the views were and enjoying the weather.

On the ferry ride back to the city, we timed it perfectly to catch the sunset over the Bridge and Opera House. It was incredibly beautiful and absolutely breathtaking.

We had a great time in Sydney, and I am glad that I was able to explore another city in Australia.

For more pictures, check out my Facebook page.