Kait Down Under

Same blog, new name, different country

[kaitdownunder]

SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES

Day 5:

Sydney Opera House & Back to Adelaide

After climbing the Harbour Bridge pylon, we  took one last walk around the Sydney Opera House. It was a surprise to me to see how different the Opera House looks close up. It’s an off-white colour with a geometric pattern all throughout - I had always figured it was just plain white! We then took a walk into the city centre where we did some last minute shopping, and then walked back to our hostel where we had been storing our luggage. Then it was a subway ride to the airport and time to say goodbye to Sydney and head back home to Adelaide! It was a jam-packed and fun filled four days in one of the worlds most iconic cities!

[kaitdownunder]

SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES

Day 5:

Sydney Harbour Bridge - Pylon Lookout

On top of the great views, you also get a ton of history when you climb the Sydney Harbour pylon. Construction on the bridge began in 1924 and was completed in 1932. The safety equipment that we use today was pretty much non existent back then! On hot days the bridge expands and can ‘grow’ up to 180mm. To allow for this the engineers built hinges at both sides of the bridge. The length of the bridge span is 503 metres and is made of steel, granite and concrete.

[kaitdownunder]

SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES

Day 5:

Sydney Harbour Bridge - Pylon Lookout

We had an early evening flight back to Adelaide which gave us the morning and afternoon to get in some last minute sight-seeing in Sydney. We started the day with pancakes at Pancakes on the Rocks, and then walked across the Harbour Bridge. Two days before we completed the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb, and our tickets also included passes to climb one of the Harbour Bridge Pylons. It’s a great idea to take advantage of the Pylon passes - that way you can get some nice pictures of your own as you aren’t able to take your camera on the Bridge Climb.

[kaitdownunder]

SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES

Day 4:

Sydney Harbour Dinner Cruise

That night we enjoyed a lovely dinner cruise around the Sydney Harbour - thanks to Ben’s Dad for organizing it for us! We had a perfect spot by the window to enjoy a 3 course dinner with a bottle of wine. It was great to see the Sydney skyline at night. A must-do if you have a free evening in Sydney!

[kaitdownunder]

SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES

Day 4:

Taronga Zoo

As our day at Taronga Zoo came to an end, we took a cable car ride to the bottom where we boarded the ferry back to the harbour.

[kaitdownunder]

SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES

Day 4:

Taronga Zoo

[kaitdownunder]

SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES

Day 4:

Taronga Zoo

These chimpanzees were definitely feeling the cold that day - just look at them cuddling to keep each other warm. I could have watched them all day! If you look closely you can see a few babies in there. The one chimpanzee was using a twig to dig ants out of a hole in the rock. It never ceases to amaze me just how smart and human-like they are.

[kaitdownunder]

SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES

Day 4:

Taronga Zoo

[kaitdownunder]

SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES

Day 4:

Taronga Zoo

The next morning we took a ferry to the popular Taronga Zoo. You have probably seen pictures of the giraffes at Taronga Zoo with the famous Sydney skyline in the background. It was a chilly and rainy day in Sydney (which we were not dressed appropriately for at all, because it was sunny and warm when we left!) but I love animals, so a little rain wasn’t going to ruin my day!

[kaitdownunder]

SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES

Day 3:

Dinner at Hyde Park Noodle Markets

That evening we walked to Hyde Park where we met Chris. We had dinner at the Hyde Park Noodle Markets, where there are over 50 stalls set up, all selling their version of noodles. Delish!

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SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES

Day 3:

Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb

After breakfast we made our way to the Sydney Harbour Bridge to do the Bridge Climb. If you like a bit of adrenaline (and don’t mind paying some big bucks) then you should definitely try the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb. Before you actually begin the climb you have to go through a “training” session, where you gear up and then practice climbing and descending on some indoor equipment. There’s also paperwork to fill out (you know, if you fall off the bridge or something), and you have to take a breathalyzer test.  You then connect to the ‘safety line’ with your group and your guide and you’re set to go. The most nerve-wracking part of it for me was walking across the thin wooden planks at the beginning - before you actually begin climbing the bridge. Looking below you have a clear view of the SEVEN vehicle lanes, 1 bus lane, two train lanes, a bicycle lane, foot lane, and of course the water. I didn’t particularly enjoy climbing up and down the ladders at the beginning and the end - there’s something about climbing ladders that freaks me out a little. But once you are on the bridge it’s really not scary at all. It’s so huge and made of such sturdy steel that you feel pretty safe. You aren’t allowed to take your camera or phone up with you so the only pictures I have are the ones that the guide took every now and then. It’s a pretty cool feeling to be 134 metres up while enjoying the iconic views of Sydney!

[kaitdownunder]

SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES

Day 3:

Breakfast & Sydney Harbour Wanderings

The next morning we packed our things at Chris’s place and took a cab to where we would be staying the next two nights - the Sydney Harbour YHA. We couldn’t check into the hostel until later that afternoon, but we were able to purchase lockers and store our luggage for the day. We took a walk around the area and had breakfast at a really nice place nearby. It was my first closeup sightings of the iconic Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, and they didn’t disappoint! We walked around the harbour and then made our way back to the Harbour Bridge, because we were booked in for the famous bridge climb!

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SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES

Day 2:

Dinner & Fireworks at Darling Harbour

That night we walked to Darling Harbour, an area of Sydney full of attractions and places to eat. It reminded me a lot of the Southbank area of Melbourne, a busy area with tons of restaurants lining the harbour. I forget the name of the place we decided on, but we had a lovely dinner with a great view of the fireworks. It was no special occasion, rather there are fireworks at Darling Harbour every Saturday night!

[kaitdownunder]

SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES

Day 2:

Bondi Beach

After relaxing on Bondi Beach for a while, we decided to do the "Bondi to Coogee Walk," except we didn't quite make it to Coogee Beach. The complete walk is 6k, winding through beautiful coastal cliffs, beaches, parks and bays. It's a busy path, with lots of people using it as their daily running route. After Bondi, the first beach you come to is Tamarama Beach. That morning there was a shark sighting at Tamarama, so I made sure to keep a lookout while we were there -  but unfortunately (or fortunately?) no shark sightings for me! After Tamarama, the next beach down the coast is Bronte. Here we stopped for a rest and a drink - it was a hot and sunny afternoon on our first full day in Sydney. We decided to head back rather than carry on at this point, not because we couldn't complete it but because we were both hungry and looking forward to some lunch back at Bondi! After some food we looked around in the shops and then made our way back to Chris's apartment where I tried to sneak in a quick nap before our evening out!

[kaitdownunder]

SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES

Day 2:

Bondi Beach

Our first full day in Sydney started out with a yummy breakfast at a cafe in Surry Hills - I wish I could remember the name because the food and service was excellent. We then took the subway and then a bus to get to the famous Bondi Beach. After seeing Bondi Beach many times on television (hello Bondi Rescue and Bondi Vet), while it was beautiful, it was smaller from what I had envisioned in my mind. While there wasn't anyone swimming (I guess it was too cold? To me it was perfect!) there were lots of people in the water surfing. I was surprised by the amount of jellyfish that were scattered all over the sand. Apparently these ones are called bluebottles and they can deliver a venomous sting. There were so many of them it was hard to walk along the beach without almost stepping on one! I was kind of glad I decided not to bring my bathing suit as I don't know how I feel about swimming alongside those things!

[kaitdownunder]

SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES

Day 1:

Adelaide to Sydney Drinks & Dinner

In October, shortly after returning from Tasmania, I headed out on my last Australian adventure - this time to Sydney, New South Wales. Ben's friend Chris who I first met while living in London currently lives in Sydney, so the first couple days of our trip we were staying with Chris in his beautiful apartment in Surry Hills. We arrived later in the afternoon and took the subway (I think they call it a subway in Australia? Or maybe train? Either way they don't have them in Adelaide so it was my first time using one since London!). It actually felt strange to be surrounded by so many people again, and to think that it was my way of life for two years in London. We met Chris at his apartment, where we also met his adorable pet bunny, and then the three of us went for drinks at a nearby bar called The Winery. We then had dinner (and more wine!) at a yummy Italian place called Pizza Birra. It was a nice evening of catching up, and Ben and I were looking forward to the next day when we would explore the famous Bondi Beach.

[kaitdownunder]

TASMANIA

Day 7 - Hobart

Museum of Old and New Art (MONA)

I spent a good 3 hours exploring all of the pieces inside and outside of MONA. I still had an hour or so before my ferry back to Hobart, so I explored more of the museum's surroundings. I came across a bar, a restaurant, a stage, a brewery, a library and even accommodation called "pavilions." I decided to put in the rest of my time outside in the sunshine with a milkshake from the cafe. I boarded the 4pm ferry back to Hobart, took a little walk around the downtown area and then walked back to the home I was staying at. That night I went to an Italian restaurant for dinner.

Day 8 - Back to Adelaide The next morning was a cold and rainy one. Because I was staying at a home rather than a hotel or hostel, I had to walk a fair distance to catch the airport shuttle at another location. On the way there I stopped at a cafe for my last Tasmanian mocha, and then waited in the rain for quite a while until the shuttle arrived. It was time to say goodbye to Tasmania and fly to Melbourne and then back to Adelaide. It's almost as though my 8 days in Tasmania were two separate trips. The first four days the surroundings were harsh, mountainous and full of rainforests, and the weather was cold, windy and rainy. The second half was hot, sunny and full of turquoise waters and white sandy beaches. I guess it just goes to show how vast one island is, and just how much Tasmania has to offer!