Sydney, Australia

 

Sydney is the gateway to Australia for the many travelers who make their way down under. It’s the most populous city in Australia and Oceania. It’s a sprawling city that spans west towards the blue mountains.  But, the city is most known for is its harbor area and the unique opera house.

 

 

The Sydney Opera House dominates the massive Darling Harbor and has become a symbol of the country. The distinctive sale-like design of the building can be found in the harbor called the Circular Quay. Not only is it a hub for tourism but it’s also a center for transportation. You can catch the harbor ferry, train, and the city bus from here. Yes, the area has touristy restaurants and shops. It’s one of the top destinations in the world, what else would you expect.

 

 

I spent the majority of my first day in the Circular Quay in front of the opera house, visiting the shops, eating lunch, and simply taking in the moment. From there, I also walked to the Sydney Harbor Bridge to get a different perspective of the opera house and the harbor. I had no problems, or worries, about walking around the city. It’s a great way to see the city and I definitely put some miles on my shoes. I even walked from central station to my hotel in the Wynward area of the city, a total of 1.3 miles.

 

 

The Wynward area was a great place to stay with many of the local attractions within walking distance. 

 

 

The last night of my holiday I spent it walking back to the Circular Quay and to the bridge and I got some great dramatic night-time photos. 

Without a rental car, it was an advantage to have a relative living in the area. My cousin was able to take me around town, to the areas I wasn’t able to get to on my own.

 

 

We drove to both of  the famed beaches of Manly and Bondi beach. Unfortunately, it was cold and windy so swimming at these iconic beaches was out of the question.

 

 

I’m normally not impressed with most major cities and actually avoid them. I’d rather roam the countryside chasing adventure. Check my previous posts and you won’t see too many about large cities. But, Sydney was an adventure in its own way and I thoroughly enjoyed my stay here.