Sydney Australia

Hi Guys,

Sydney Australia – Pacific Ocean 1 and 2 March 2011

(Longitude: 33 55’South   Longitude: 151 17’ East)

(Time +11 GMT)

We came into Sydney Harbor very early in the morning so that we would not interfere with the considerable ferry traffic that plies out of Circular Quay. They dodged around us like gnats as the Aurora came to a controlled collision with the pier.. We tied up by the side of the 5 ferry docks between the Sydney Harbor Bridge and the Opera House; we really could not get closer to the center of town or a better vantage point. We could spill off the ship to the buses, underground or the monorail for easy access to all points in the city.

We have two days in this jewel of a city however as we have been here before, we do not take a ship’s excursion but “do our own thing”. We walk down to the ferries and buy a trip to Manly, a town situated across the neck of a lovely isthmus of land up by the Heads. It takes about half an hour to get there on these efficiency ferries that have a bow at either end, so you really never know whether you are coming or going. I have a haircut for $15 and ponder my last haircut in Buenos Aires and the previous one in South Africa. We do a fish and chip lunch. We are not really beach people so we head back to Sydney and go down to China Town for dinner. We had hoped that Paddy’s market was open, but not on Monday and Tuesday, maybe tomorrow.  

The second day we explore south to China Town and Paddy’s market a four storey affair with stalls in the basement. We buy a bus ticket with 10 rides for $16; most convenient to hop on and off a bus. In the food court we find more Chinese food which we share. Paddy’s market is at the base by Darling Harbor and Circular Quay. We walk up to Darling Harbor; visit the Maritime Museum; cross the Darling harbor bridge and make our way back to the ship. Later, we venture out for an evening meal and a chance to explore the Rocks, the original landing site for the convicts. Today it is a charming area with older style buildings and lots of outdoor eating places and pubs, but they are full. We make our way round to The Four Seasons Hotel and find an Italian restaurant where we enjoy some fettuccini and spaghetti with a glass of wine ($70). We make our way back to the Aurora, get ourselves seated on the fantail about midnight and watch this huge ship pirouette out of Circular Quay and watch the vistas of the Sydney Harbor Bridge and the Opera House twirl before us. Next stop is Milford Sound in New Zealand.

Sydney Harbor Circular Quay

Sydney Harbor Bridge from Aurora

Aboriginals performing Dream Dance

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Roy & Susan by Opera House

Sydney Opera House at dawn

We spend two days in Sydney Harbour tied up in Circular Quay directly opposite the Opera House. Pity we did not have an outside cabin then we could have laid in bed and looked at the view.

Sydney harbor is on the Parramatta River with many inlets and coves. I looked at the map and concluded that it could be best envisioned as follows. if you were to lay your hands, palm side up with your left hand vertical and arrange your finger tips to almost touch without the fingers interleaving, then you have a quite good layout of the area of bays and inlets surrounding Sydney Harbor., the Heads or entrance into the harbor is between your little fingers; Sydney is between the middle and ring finger of your left hand. The bridge runs between your middle fingers. Out of Circular Quay runs a myriad of ferries both up and down the river. It is a most energetic and vibrant city.

The Captain reminds us that the seas are going to be rough in the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand (he wasn’t joking).  He also tells us the temperature is going to dip somewhat, once we get into NZ waters.  We have 2 days at sea which is pretty rough and cold.  Going around the horn was a piece of cake compared to this sea.