Touring Sydney

After taking the train back into Sydney, we had a more laidback time in the big city. We ate lunch in Hyde Park, walked around Circular Quay, and ate dinner in Darling Harbor. We also took the ferry over to Taronga Zoo on a hot day -- being out on the water in Sydney is a highlight. The water is sparkling blue, the sky is beautiful blue, and the Opera House and Harbor Bridge can't be beat. Besides the humidity, Sydney is a sweet city. On the last night, we caught the end of a fireworks show somewhere close by, and they were higher-quality fireworks with a lot more colors than we usually get in Christchurch, so that was a cool way to end their trip.

Welcome to Australia: Sydney

We arrived in Sydney in the morning (after the time change) and took the train from the airport to the hotel to leave our bags at the counter before check-in time. I thoroughly enjoyed my first glimpse of the Opera House and Harbor Bridge from the train. They look spectacular on the waterfront. 

Next we were off on the search for food. The hotel (Napoleon on Kent) ended up being in a great location downtown, within walking distance of most tourist locales. We happened upon a shopping market with lots of booths and wares. We sampled some licorice and bought a small bag for D. Although I don’t like black licorice, it actually tasted a lot better than the processed stuff from stores in the U.S. We ate a quick lunch at Subway, took some pictures of the Opera House and Harbor Bridge, and enjoyed walking in the sunshine. Compared to the freezing temperatures in Christchurch, the mild winter here was a relief.

I had read online that the Australia Museum was having a free weekend for kids and adults, so we decided to brave the large crowds to save some money and fill up our first day before my conference started. There were definitely hundreds of people there, with kids in tow. It was hard to move around (major fire hazard) but there was some good dinosaur stuff and info on the continent’s history. A photography competition’s winners were also on display, with some gorgeous photos of landscapes and wildlife. We did our grocery shopping for the week (staying at an apartment-style place with a kitchenette) and crashed early.