We've been back for almost a month now, and its taken me until now to craft this post. Every time I looked through our photos, or read over my travel notes, I would get a little weepy -- longing to be back on that side of the world, basking in vacation traveler mode.
We started our trip in Sydney -- a long overdue visit with my paternal aunt. She's lived in Sydney for quite some time, and though she still sounds like a Canadian, she can most definitely be considered a local. Being able to stay with someone who is so intimately familiar with a place makes all the difference while traveling. We never really felt like tourists, so much as insiders, getting to know the real Sydney.
The first 2 days in town were spent touring the neighbourhoods and getting a pretty solid lay of the land. We hit up the north beaches, Manly beach, the eastern suburbs, Darlinghurst, Surry Hills -- you name it, we saw it. Each neighbourhood was totally unique, with its own sense of identity and flare. Mid-week we decided to escape the city and boarded a train to the Blue Mountains. We spent the day hiking with friends from home, amidst a blue haze of eucalyptus trees. The following day we headed down to Bondi beach, and embarked on the scenic walk from Bondi to Coogee. The 6km coastal route winds its way through various beaches and neighbourhoods, each prettier then the last.
Finally there was New Year's Eve. My aunt has always said that NYE in Sydney is not to be missed. The whole city lines up along the shore of the harbour, vying for the best view of the fireworks. We were lucky enough to essentially have a front row seat, and I can assure you, having now experienced it, that Sydney does not disappoint (photos below can attest to that).
TO SEE + DO //
stroll through the historic area of the rocks
ride one of the many ferries whizzing through the harbour
pretend you're a kid at luna park
watch the sun set over the opera house and harbour bridge
all the local goodies at saturday's paddington market
check the jewlery (etc) at dinosaur designs
lounge in the bondi aquatic pools
coastal walk from bondi to coogee
day trip to blue mountains
spend NYE in sydney and watch the most epic fireworks of life
stroll through the historic area of the rocks
ride one of the many ferries whizzing through the harbour
pretend you're a kid at luna park
watch the sun set over the opera house and harbour bridge
all the local goodies at saturday's paddington market
check the jewlery (etc) at dinosaur designs
lounge in the bondi aquatic pools
coastal walk from bondi to coogee
day trip to blue mountains
spend NYE in sydney and watch the most epic fireworks of life
TO EAT + DRINK //
if you head to the north beaches, fish and chips at palm beach are a must
pick up a smorgasbord of seafood from the fish market
grab brunch at the grounds of alexandria
rewarding lunch post coastal walk at the coogee pavilion
dinner at pony (try the kangaroo carpaccio)
take away malaysian from kopitiam cafe
try a lemon lime bitters at one of the many hotels (bars) throughout the city
sneak a cocktail at the barbershop bar, tucked behind an actual barbershop on york st.
enjoy a flaming cocktail at the havana-themed lobo plantation
if you head to the north beaches, fish and chips at palm beach are a must
pick up a smorgasbord of seafood from the fish market
grab brunch at the grounds of alexandria
rewarding lunch post coastal walk at the coogee pavilion
dinner at pony (try the kangaroo carpaccio)
take away malaysian from kopitiam cafe
try a lemon lime bitters at one of the many hotels (bars) throughout the city
sneak a cocktail at the barbershop bar, tucked behind an actual barbershop on york st.
enjoy a flaming cocktail at the havana-themed lobo plantation
