So, here we are, about to leave Sydney! It’s been one hell of an exciting week and we are sad to see the back of this city!
First things first, we have had the worst week for sleeping that we’ve ever had. We have a rhino in our room who snores so loudly you can hear it shaking the room through ear plugs. The other night some idiot was being sick keeping us awake and then then night before that we had TWO fire alarms which did actually scare us. I swear there was smoke filling up the staircase and believe it or not we were 7 whole floors up – turns out drunkens were spraying chemical spray about.
So over the last few days we’ve been on the monorail and have been strolling around Circular Quay completely taken aback by the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and an aboriginal man playing the digeridoo on a kangaroo’s skin chair!! The Rocks and Darling Harbour are pretty cool too. Sydney is really buzzy and busy and the city workers are all out in force! We took an open top bus from George St and saw all the sights including Woolloomooloo Bay and the Star City casino complex! It was our very first warm day with the sun shining so cheeers to that!
We couldn’t resist having a tour of the Opera House and it just so happened there was a dance show happening that night so there were hundreads of girls running about in tutus, quite entertaining! The Opera House was v.impressive so we had a drink in the bar outside as it filled up for ‘after-work’ drinks with plenty of designer divas, we definitley stuck out in our hoodys and boots! Brilliant atmosphere.
On Monday it was one of our favourite days yet.. WE CLIMBED THE SYDNEY HARBOUR BRIDGE!!! It felt like forever preparing for the climb with safety talks and loads of equipment being attached to us. We were given really attractive grey boiler suits to wear and got harnessed on to the bridge. So exciting, I was talking jibberish. It was absolute perfect weather and with only 4 short steep staircases then a huge slope to walk up over the arch of the bridge we reached the top in one piece, and it was SO worth the struggle! We could see for miles over the harbour and even to the Blue Mountains. Our guide took loads of pictures which we got sucked into buying, so I’m sure you will see them once we get back. Afterwards we had a pizza at The Australian Hotel in the Rocks – I wasnt quite brave enough to try the crocodile or emu though!
We had a nap and somehow managed to look half decent with our limited clothes to experience some exquisite dining. We went up to the Sydney Tower revolcing Restaurant which spins around giving you sky night light views over the whole city! It was amazing, it really was. And the cocktails were nice and strong too!
Yesterday we caught a bus to Coogee Beach and HIKED for an hour and a half through Gordons Bay, lots of other cliff side town and villages, to Bondi Beach!! It was meant to take 2 hrs but I was so hungry I practically made Claire (who is quite ill at the mo) run. Massive huge surf waves, white beaches, surfer dudes and warm sun as well as another pizza (eventually) – it was so worth the walk/hike. Bondi Beach is fabulous – everything you can imagine and more.
That evening we went on the Sydney Showboat – 3 course meal, unlimited alcohol and a razzle dazzle show all whilst watching the harbour float past. Glass of champagne in hand, opera house one side, harbour bridge the other, city skyline in the night distance, 5 star meal on the table and your best friend infront of you, Could life get any better than this??! Time of our lives. We even visited some bars in Darling Harbour afterwards.
We got picked up with a banging headache (made worse by lack of sleep as the monster was growling all night in our room) to go to the Blue Mountains!! The bus was full of old grandads so if you’re booking tours out here go for the student companies! Nevertheless, again we had an amazing day. The mountains are beautiful and we went to some amazing look outs. I took great pleasure hanging off the rock edges while Claire screamed get back get back all day. We went on the steepest train in the world straight down the cliff edge (which was so scary, videos to follow) then caught a cablelift back up the mountain – breathtaking. The rainforest was cool too but no it was not hot like you might think. We saw the 3 sisters and heard their story too which was interesting. On the way back we headed through the Sydney Olympic Park and caught glimpses of all the amazing stadiums.
Yesterday we got a Sydney SeaPlane! Was wicked sailing through water, then all of a sudden we flew over Bondi Beach and the amazing harbour and we could even see Manly beach in the distance. It was just us and our pilot - our very own seaplane! Last night we needed to take it easy so we decided a trip to the city theatre was in tow - to see Billy Elliot – cried like babies the whole way through – was a brilliant show.
Today we kind of said our goodbyes to Sydney and walked for hours soaking up the atmosphere. With just under 2 weeks here we’ve done everything possible. Even treked up one of the Pylons on Harbour Bridge just so we could see the view for a final time. Had a smooch around Star City, went shopping at Harbourside and are now getting ready for our final night of city lights and free drinks!
Sad to be leaving, but prepared ready for the next place – byron bay and brisbane – ox experience here we come!
p.s. stay in Base hostel or Wake Up – both are brilliant but Base is more central!!!! West End backpackers is disgusting BUT they give you 15 free drinks vouchers – yes 15!!!!!!!
