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Published: January 4th 2008
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Sydney Harbour Bridge
((c) image purchased from iStockphoto) I paid up to spend New Year with
Contiki Tours...
Monday 31st So, dinner last night was microwave popcorn, I was awake until 3am when my 'share-mates' got in, and it's now 850 and I'm getting on the bus for a tour of Sydney. Have met a few people over breakfast - I just asked 'are you with Contiki?', so have some nice people to hang out with (Sarah, Carly and Helena). None of us are impressed that the itinerary for today does not include a guaranteed spot for the fireworks tonight - their marketing material was badly worded and everyone thought it was!
The bus tour, however, gave an insight to bits of Sydney I've not been to, including King's Cross (which has the same reputation as King's Cross UK), Rosie's Bay, Watson's Gap and, finally, Bondi Beach. Bondi Beach was hot and heaving with people - many in the water, but the waves were pretty big (the Northern Swell they'd been talking about in surf camp). Relaxed for an hour then we headed back into the city where we could already see queues to enter the best viewing points. We finished at the Opal Museum, but wasn't interested
in that today and headed off to meet Karl & Will, my Manchester connections!
Finally caught up, too late for food but had a beer (yes, have developed a taste for Toohey's New), then dashed back to hotel to change into something more festive. Headed for Mrs Macquerie's Chair - a prime viewing stop, via the 7-11 (note to Karl, one of many!). It's boiling hot and thousands of people (max 22,000 though), so any half-decent spots have gone. We find a spot of bare rock where a tree beautifully blocks any view of the Bridge/Opera House, anticipating that we'll be able to move later, when everyone stands up!
We've got there about 4pmish, many people have been there since 10am, and probably queing outside since dawn! Too hot for all that, but another time I WOULD find the money somewhere for a guanteed spot (probably a Harbour Cruise)... Although I thought I had, of course! We hung out, chatting, eating junk food and keep hydrated! Time went pretty fast. First fireworks to be 9pm. Will, who'd gone up to the toilet/refreshment area was caught when they stopped people going up/down the stairs to where we were, although
I think he saw them from the top. They were nothing impressive though, and to be honest I'm not sure why they bothered... But we managed to get right near the front as the crowds swirled around afterwards, and sat on a (very small) patch of grass!
The midnight fireworks started off a bit poor, but the final 5 minutes was pretty impressive (think I've just seen too many firework displays though, none really get to me any more). Unfortunately Will had gone up again at 11pm and they'd blocked him back at the top, so he missed those too. We're not impressed but Karl's not getting phone reception and I've run out of credit so that's that! After trying to find Will, we get back to their hotel but he's given up and gone to sleep, so Karl and I head to the nearest pub for a beer. It's full of Emos, but seems OK, but by 330am the eyes are rolling so Karl walks me back and I get in just as my share-mates are ready to go to sleep... They look rather ill after 7 hours of drinking on a boat!
Tuesday 1st January 2008 Why am I awake at 8am?! Manage to sleep til 10am, then ensure am ready to go out for the Contiki lunch. We walk to Darling Harbour where our lunch of fish & chips turns out to be garlic-salmon, chips and salad - all delicious (apart from for those people who don't eat salmon and had been expecting battered white fish.. And there was no alternative until Nick, our rep, stepped in and got extra chips/salad!). Included glass of wine too, before we headed to the jetty for the 2pm ferry. This was 1/2 hour late, and looked pretty full, but Nick had ensured that our group had priority!
I'd been looking forward to the ferry ride, and it was beautiful weather for it, plus we managed to get front/outside seats. We enjoyed the ride to Circular Quay (plenty more shots of the Bridge/Opera House there!), the zoo, Watson's Bay and then back. Got off at Luna Park, as did Sarah, and we found the end of the bridge and walked back across it. After a wander round the rocks we made our way back to the hotel. I had a quick shower, decided not to join the Contiki
bunch going for dinner (sounded like the pub was going to live up to Contiki's reputation as a bit of a booze & bonk bus), went to the internet café, then joined Karl and Will for a beer and a Chinese! By 1030 all shattered so say goodbye and crash out (in the dark, I'm not the first in!)!
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