Tag Archives: Sydney Australia

Australia

Sydney Australia Part 3

On our final full day in Sydney we decided to venture out and take the ferry to Manly Island. It turned out to be one of the highlights of our time in Sydney, and the moment we stepped off the ferry, we knew we were in for something special. The ride over was unforgettable in its own way. We had the perfect weather and the ferry ride was smooth and enjoyable.

 

As we left the harbour we watched the skyline stretch across the horizon. We could see Opera House from the water and from that angle. It was impressive. The sails of the opera house were shinning against the blue of the water.

Sydney Skyline from the Ferry

It was one of those views that seemed surreal and photos do not do it justice. 

Once we arrived in Manly, we wandered along the main street, taking our time as we browsed through the local shops, each with its own unique charm.

We saw surf boutiques, handmade crafts, cozy cafés and bars. The whole area was buzzing with energy but had this laid-back, beach-town feel.

We took our time and explored the shops and eventually, we found our way to a rooftop restaurant overlooking the beach. We enjoyed a nice meal and we were lucky enough to get a table with an incredible view of the beach.

View of Manly Beach

After exploring Manly Island we headed back to Sydney on the ferry. Once again we watched the breathtaking harbour views. But our day wasn’t over yet. After getting off the ferry we made our way to Darling Harbour for dinner.  We were in luck because it was the last evening for this dramatic Drone show in Darling Harbour. 

Ray and Shelley at Darling Harbour Sydney

We managed to find an excellent restaurant that had a great table for us to watch the drone show event. 

Our Table at Darling Harbour

This turned out to be one of the best nights of our time in Sydney.  As we ate, a drone light show lit up the sky, The drones dancing over the water in perfect formation. It was impressive and mesmerizing to watch, It was a blend of technology and artistry that left us smiling.

Dinner itself was unforgettable too. We decided to be adventurous and try kangaroo, and to our surprise, it was absolutely delicious. 

We had it paired with a beautiful bottle of Australian wine, it felt like the perfect way to celebrate our last full day in Sydney. 

Kangaroo meal in Sydney

We walked back to our room and the city lights were reflecting across the harbour, we couldn’t help but feel grateful for every moment. Manly had given us sun and seaside charm, and Sydney had given us magic after dark. It was a day a great day.

Tomorrow we are off to a new adventure.

“See you later Mate!”

Australia

Sydney Australia Part 2

We decided to spend the day exploring one of Sydney’s most fascinating attractions, the Sydney Sea Life Aquarium.  From the moment we stepped inside, we were surrounded by an incredible underwater world.

There were huge tanks with schools of tropical fish, some were uniquely different and other with bright colours.

We walked along the tanks looking at these fish and then at one point we felt like maybe we were the ones on exhibit because the fish were looking at us.

Of course, the sharks were impressive. Walking through the glass tunnels with these magnificent creatures gliding silently overhead was both thrilling and humbling.

It’s hard not to feel a sense of awe seeing such powerful animals so close.

We spent time in the tunnels watching the different sharks and stingrays swimming calmly all around us.

It was truly impressive and a little humbling watching these amazing creatures.

We even saw some dugongs which was a first for us. They are truly a unique and different looking creature. The dugong is largely dependent on seagrass for subsistence and lives near coastal seagrass areas. The northern waters of Australia between Shark Bay and Moreton Bay are believed to be the dugong’s main area of these amazing mammals. 

A dulong swimming in the aquarium.

We came to the penguin exhibit, which was curious to us. We watched those adorable little creatures waddle about and dive into the water. They looked so happy sliding across the ice and swimming effortlessly. They made us laugh at how clumsy on Land they are but graceful in the water.


We saw different jellyfish, they were on display in long glass tubes filled with different types. It was almost hypnotic watching them with their softly glowing colour and gently pulsing through the water. These creatures that looked like something from another world.

Towards the end of our day we came to an area which permitted us to literally pet some of the sea creatures, such as starfish.

Ray touching a live starfish

This was amazing experience, they are soft and quite smooth feeling. We even got to touch and feel Shark eggs.

Ray holding a shark egg

Spending the day at the Sea Life in Sydney was truly a fantastic day. We saw and experienced some amazing things. What an adventure!

Australia

Sydney Australia Part 1

We knew it would be an adventure visiting Sydney, but we didn’t realize just how much the city would capture our hearts.

We began our first day by  taking a stroll through the lush Botanical Garden of Sydney which is located in the heart of the city. We were surrounded by an array of beautiful unique flowers and vegetation.

The sound of birds singing from the trees was everywhere and as we strolled we came across a few of the local residents of the Gardens.

We walked along the winding paths of the Gardens working our way towards the Opera house. Eventually we could see the iconic white sails of the Sydney Opera House in the distance. 

We continued walking until we turned a corner of the Gardens and found ourselves in the heart of the Sydney Bay. What an amazing sight, there were restaurants and activity everywhere. Our first stop was to check out the Iconic Opera House.

The Sydney Opera House was one of the top things we wanted to see and it did not disappoint.  Seeing it in person was something special and photos just don’t do it justice. We took a guided tour and learned about the building’s fascinating history. We were able to walk through the interior of it and enjoyed seeing the amazing architectural design. 

When we were up close, the tile design is even more incredible. The tiles are made from ceramic created by the Swedish company. They have a self-cleaning glaze, which helps them stay bright despite the weather.  There are two main types of tiles, a glossy white and matte cream which are arranged in a chevron pattern. This gives the shells their shimmering appearance. There are approximately 1,056,006 tiles that cover the roof.

The inside of the Opera house is spectacular with glass walls, pink granite floor tiles, white birch plywood and brush box timber. (an Australian hardwood).

After exploring the Opera House we strolled along the waterfront admiring the views.  

That evening, we dined on a rooftop restaurant overlooking the Opera House, and honestly, it felt like something out of a dream.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the harbour turned gold and the lights of the city began to twinkle. We enjoyed our meal and celebrated our first day in Sydney. What an adventure it was.

“Cheers Mate”