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Published: September 12th 2009
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Sydney Harbour Bridge
In the distance you could see people walkong the Harbour Bridge. The ferries were constantly docking in and out of the harbour it was the main hub of the city. There are times in your life when you find you need to pinch yourself to make sure you are awake and not imagining things, well today was one of those moments. We were about to realise a dream and see the iconic Sydney Bridge and Sydney Opera House, only ever seen until now on the BBC and in travel brochures.
Kevin and I had found some time to meet up in Sydney following a business trip Kevin undertook two days previously enabling me to fly down after work on the Friday and have the opportunity to explore some of the city sights over the next two days.
My one and only experience of Jet Star Airways was scuppered when I arrived on time to check in to find that the flight had been cancelled and I had been transferred to a Qantas Flight 90 minutes later!!! This was a disappointment as I had hoped to fly down whilst it was till light so I could enjoy following the coast line and the approach into the city.
Our hotel was central to all locations and a short walk from the hotel to the station and past our first sighting
of a London Plane tree with no leaves….a rare occurrence for us now as the trees in Queensland are permanently green! It made us realise how much we miss the seasonal changes with the flora and fauna along with the lighter evenings and crisp frost mornings!
So with a daily travel pass and travel book in hand we headed for the most visited icon in Australia, the Sydney Opera House. We arrived at Circular Quay and marvelled at the hustle and bustle as people boarded ferries destined for trips across the harbour or further a field to Taronga Zoo and Manly. We walked across the road to the Customs House and discovered a huge model display of the city under a Perspex floor. We then followed the wide pedestrian path along the side of the quay for our first sight of the Opera House, a truly memorable moment.
We had booked a tour for later in the morning so we enjoyed walking around the outside and took numerous photos from every conceivable angle! The tour was very informative and very interesting, listening to the story of its conception and the dreams of one man, Jorn Utzon from Copenhagen,
when against all odds won the competition to design a unique building estimated to cost $3million to build. His design was not complete with diagrammatic drawings and many of the ideas and concepts had not been resolved before the building work begun. The original project was to be completed in 3 years but in fact took 13 years and cost a huge $102 million and by 1975 the entire cost had been repaid through lottery funding and entrance fees. It was a fascinating tour. Wherever you stood the building dominated the skyline and looked even more magnificent when framed behind by the Sydney Bridge especially later on in the day when we walked through the Botanical Gardens and sat and watched he sun set amidst the harbour. Magical.
We walked past Government House wandered along Macquire Street and past high raised buildings to Martin Place a traffic free precinct and the site of the Anzac Day War Memorial. Just around the corner past the Strand Arcade, built in the late 19th Century was the Sydney Tower offering a birds eye view 305m above the city skyline. We could see for miles and appreciated the geographical make up of the
area with its relationship with the sea.
A little further on we stopped for a late lunch and watched a game of chess being played on a giant chess board in Hyde Park, all very civilised. St Mary’s Cathedral dominated the skyline beyond and her bells rang out as a wedding party arrived in six vintage black and grey Bently’s, for a late afternoon ceremony.
The following day we took the train across the Harbour Bridge to Luna Park and enjoyed the views from across the harbour, yet another photo opportunity from a different angle of the Opera House!!
We took the ferry to Manly Beach along with what seemed like half of the residence of Sydney and enjoyed the trip out into the bay. We followed the twists and turns of the coast line and waved to the many sailing boats and yachts that sailed by. Not a bad way to spend a Sunday cruising around the bay! We were herded off the ferry and followed the throngs up the high street passed the brass band playing musical renditions of ‘Oliver’ on the Corso, Manly’s esplanade to the narrow stretch of beach. We watched an aeroplane
stunt display and wandered along the shaded board walk before heading back to the ferry. A must do trip according to the locals and the tour guide book, we were not so sure, with a little imagination one could imagine how it once looked with it’s traditional hotels and pubs and shop fronts before the signage and hording was erected to change its appearance, a bit disappointing.
A stroll around The Rocks Markets and Coffee Shops offering an eclectic range of craft items and jewellery all in the name of Australia! We passed through the restored Overseas Passenger Terminal and the Museum of Contemporary Art many buildings having been restored to their former glory capitalising on the old wool sheds and warehouses converting them into restaurants and hotels offering wonderful views of the harbour. All very trendy and similar in kind to Covent Garden in London.
Finally we had just enough time to take a trip out on the bus to the suburb, Paddington, now a much sought after area to live and wander along Oxford Street, past many pubs and designer clothes shops. The streets behind offered architectural delights of Victorian terraced houses and high gabled rooves
on ‘Gingerbread’ style houses along tree lined streets displaying Gothic style fret work and ornate porches. Such a different style to the rest of Sydney and the Queensland style house we have become used to seeing.
Our visit to Sydney was brief and sadly we had to head back to the airport for an early evening flight back to Brisbane but resolute in returning to explore more and spend time discovering other areas as yet not visited. It is definitely a must stop detour when coming to Australia on your way to see us in Brissie!
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