Advertisement
Published: March 21st 2006
Edit Blog Post
Hello from OZ
Yesterday was pretty much a write off. After we checked in to the hotel and got settled in we went down to the hotel restaurant for a breakfast buffet. It was nice, but was also over in about 20 minutes. Went back to our room and everyone slept about 18 hours until 6am Tuesday march 21st.
Tuesday morning everyone was up bright and early and we headed out to walk around downtown Sydney. Quite a busy place and everyone driving is in mad rush! Driving the campervan is going to be fun! Anyways, we walked down to the harbor area, called circular quay, saw all the ferries, and a large cruise ship. We ended up in a small restaurant called the Sydney pancake house, which serves every kind of pancake imaginable. Breakfast was very good.
After breakfast we walked from Circular Quay to Darling Harbour to go to Sydney Aquarium. Apparently it has the biggest reef exhibit in the world. The kids really enjoyed the aquarium, as they got to walk in a tube under the seal exhibit. There also was a shark tank which they got to walk through. We saw the platypuses, crocodiles,
and a lot of reef fish.
From the aquarium we walked up a bridge to the monorail station (our ticket to the aquarium also gave us a all day pass for the monorail) The monorail is a small train, running above the street, and goes in a 8 km circular track downtown Sydney. There are 10 or so stops. We go around the entire circuit and stop at the Sydney tower stop. This tower is a mini version of the CN tower, and with the aquarium tickets we get access to this, as well as a moving ride called “oztrek”
I think this must have been the day where all the schools were out on trips, as at the aquarium there were hundreds, now at the tower hundreds more! Up the elevator we went, some 400 meters. At the top there are 2 restaurants and an observation deck where you can see for miles and miles.
“Oztrek” is a simulation ride of all the different areas in Australia. The ride kind of reminded me of Jurassic park, as in the first part there is a digital guy in front of us describing the outback, the tropical rainforest
of North Queensland, etc. After each area the whole stage starts moving, and a new one slides in. Neat experience. The second part of the ride is where you get strapped down in a seat, with a 180 degree screen ahead. The ride takes you up in a helicopter, white water rafting, even in the rainforest with a croc about to chomp down on ya. The kids had fun there!
It was getting late in the afternoon and after walking 4+ km’s Wesley’s legs were starting to go. So we headed back to the hotel, walking down a really neat shopping area on Pitt Street. The entire street has been closed off to traffic. Busy place also!
More tomorrow!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.193s; Tpl: 0.011s; cc: 9; qc: 59; dbt: 0.0561s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.2mb
melissa
non-member comment
I love the picture of Wesley and the manta ray! Lee, your descriptions are so awesome...I feel like I'm right there with you guys when I read this journal :D. Keep updating! XX and OO Melissa and Co.