October 6-7 Sydney

October 6, 2013: SYDNEY

 

Because our flight to Sydney left at 7 from Christchurch we were up before 4 AM. Our shuttle got us to the airport promptly and our bags got checked. What we were not aware of was that carry-ons are weighed as well so we had to rearrange some items. The flight was a little over three hours on Air New Zealand.there was no first or business class and I have been in a plane with seats so close together.

 

Arrival in sunny Sydney was uneventful. We were able to get a shuttle to downtown with about eight other people. Our stop was next to last so it took a while. The Westin is beautiful and we were upgraded to a 23rd floor king suite with Club Lounge privileges. We stopped at the Lounge to get a snack as we had little to eat in the morning.

 

Then we walked about half a mile down to Sydney Harbor to take in the sights. A big event called the Fleet Review was going on so the quay was packed with people trying to get on tour boats to see the ships. There were some three masted ships as well plying the waters between Sydney Cove and Port Jackson neared the mouth of the Harbor. We walked around the beautiful Sydney Opera House and then up into the Royal Botanical Gardens on the eastern side of the central business district where our hotel was located. It was very warm and we were exhausted by the time we returned. So due to our early morning and our walk we got showered and rested and read in the afternoon. Our room faced the harbor but because of the intervening buildings we had only a couple of peeks at the harbor.

 

In the evening we took advantage of the Club Lounge for wine and hors'doerves. As the sun set the lights in the nearby buildings clicked on. So ended our first night in this wonderful city.

 

October 7, 2013: SYDNEY

 

We were up early given the time change. It was Labor Day and many people were in the downtown quay area for the Fleet Review. Breakfast in the Club Lounge was interesting. Besides scrambled eggs and bacon, there was baked beans and green beans. We were offered baked beans on the ferry from Wellington, too.

 

Sydney has a series on hop on hop off Explorer buses so we figured this was a good way to see the city. We went most of one circuit then hopped on the bus out to Bondi Beach south of town. The beach was beautiful so we got out and had lunch and Donna bought a shirt for Caitie. The return ride gave us some grand views of Sydney Harbor from the south. We passed the naval base where thousands of people were lined up to see the ships on display. Once we were on the city circuit bus, the route took us past some of the other smaller bays in Sydney. We passed the aquarium, a large pier side shopping center, Chinatown, and finally under the Sydney Harbor Bridge that took nine years to build in the 1920's.

 

Once back downtown we hiked back to the hotel and spent some time reading before going upstairs for wine and hors'doeurves.