Our Short Sydney Break - 13th-15th March 2018.

Tuesday 13th March 2018 Flight to Sydney from Melbourne - Dinner with Loraine and Dan at Nick's Seafood Restaurant Darling Harbour

We flew with Qantas to Sydney on a perfect afternoon. We drove from Wheelers Hill to Tullamarine, where we parked the car in an off airport parking lot and then used the shuttle bus to get to the Airport.

The process of Check-in was quick and easy and we then went to the lounge area before we boarded our flight from Melbourne to Sydney. It was a comfortable A300 Airbus and whilst a full flight, it was relaxed and the service was of a good standard.

The flight was comfortable and although we departed some 20 minutes late, we landed almost on schedule.

Luggage collection was also relatively quick and our chauffeur texted us to advise he was parked outside.

We exited the terminal and our driver then waved , he was only allowed to pull up for 5 minutes at this drop off area, but it worked very well. He then drove us through the Anzac Highway area, past the golf courses and then into South Sydney. Then through a tunnel and we exited and he drove us to the Novotel Darling Harbour, where we were using a free night under the Accor Le Club membership scheme. Our check-in was quick with excellent friendly service. Our room has a wonderful view over Darling Harbour.

Following unpacking, we decided to go for a walk around Darling Harbour, to identify our restaurant for dinner with Loraine and Dan. We are dining at Nick's Seafood Restaurant and Cafe, Sydney institution . It was an enjoyable walk around this fascinating tourist centric area and growth area of Sydney.

The day is not particularly hot 29 degrees Celsius, but the humidity is almost 90 percent and any walking becomes a strenuous activity.

We take photos and also enjoy the walk, particularly when we get to some shaded areas.

From here we seek to walk back via the Harbourside Shopping Centre, purchase some sunscreen and a gift for our American friends.

Then we are back and decide to enjoy a drink in the bar area overlooking the skyline and relaxing, comfortable surroundings. It is a very comfortable hotel and whilst we are someway from the central CBD area, it is a burgeoning tourist area and we see many tourists from a wide range of nations as well as many Chinese.

By this time we are beginning to wonder and to contemplate a special seafood Dinner and an exciting evening with Dan and Loraine . They have been good friends over some 30 years and are always excellent company and a good evening is assured.

Dan has arranged to have a table very close to the front of the restaurant and near the promenade and the water. There is a bustling passing crowd. It is exciting, they are wonderful entertainment and we enjoy seeing them.

It is a beautiful evening, the humidity is still high, but once the sun has gone down it is a beautiful calm evening, with a lively and enthusiastic crowd. The restaurant is full and tables turn over several times predominantly with a clientele of Chinese tourists. We enjoy a special meal of beautiful fresh fish, a lovely white wine and excellent company. Four hours pass very quickly as we converse as to the family issues and what we are doing including their business in the Whitsunday Island chain.

We reluctantly say good night after a wonderful evening overlooking the passing traffic, the boats on the water and the City Skyline behind us. But we do have an early morning start.

The walk back to our Novotel hotel is spectacular and there are thousands of people walking on the promenade / board walk with all sorts of performers doing their acts.

Inside on the 5th floor ,the skyline is spectacular on a clear night with wonderful lights and a fantastic view leave us with fond memories..

We are in bed before 11.00 PM knowing that we have a long day with an early start, but also appreciating that it will be a very hot day with 34-36 degrees celsius and high humidity.

It has been a spectacular day travelling and enjoying this part of Sydney, whilst appreciating that we will see the tourist icons tomorrow.

Wednesday 14th February, 2018.

Meeting Karen and Rich friends from Washington State , USA travelling on Oceania Regatta

We awake at about 6.30 AM and it is an overcast morning with scattered showers and a glum outlook. We are wondering what the weather will do. We depart the hotel at 7.30 AM and have to drop our luggage off at the Hilton Sydney, Pitt Street. So we get a taxi into the CBD and 20 minutes later we drop our luggage at the Hilton, then get the same taxi to drive us to the White Bay Passenger Terminal, in Glebe, and it necessitates us travelling over the Anzac Bridge in heavy traffic. We arrive a little after 9.00 AM and we see Karen and Rich and rehire the same taxi to take us back into the city and to Circular Quay and the Podium level in Macquarie Street for the Sydney Opera House.

It is 9.30 AM by the time we arrive and whilst it remains a little gloomy, we can see that the clouds are going to lift. The Opera House in all of its finery is world icon and we walk the circumference and our guests are truly excited. We then decide to take photos from the next leverl up. So we climb several stirs to the level on the forecourt. It is simply stunning to take in the Opera House, Sydney Harbour and Sydney Harbour Bridge.

We spend another 45 minutes walking , taking in the spectacular views. We didn't book a tour of the interior because time will not alow and we have much to see and enjoy.

From here we walk back along the Promenade against the Harbour to Circular Quay, where the ferries are based. We purchase oyster cards and travel on the Manly Ferry across to Manly. It is a 30 minute comfortable ride across the Harbour then across the Sydney Heads to beautiful Manly. We sit on the outside on the right side, take in trhe sea view of the Opera House then to Garden Island

We enjoyed a perfect trip across as the cloud cover lifter and the sun came out and it was perfect blue skies. However, with the sun out you realise that it will heat up very quickly. We walked from the wharf along the shopping area , then decided to have a coffee and cold drink . This was a thirty five minute chat and catch up. We listened to their news and details of the cruise. The weather in New Zealand has been patchy.

But they loved the easy going nature and quieter life of New Zealand. appreciated the beauty of the South Island , loved Dunedin and the Scottish influence. Thoroughly enjoyed the cities and ports visited. The trans Tasman crossing was a bit choppy with a heavy swell. not rough but plenty of movement.

Time to get underway and we walked along the revamped Corso, Shopping precinct, and then to the beautiful Manley Surf Beach. There were rolling waves of 4-6 feet and plenty of surfers. There were hundreds of people on the beach., sunning themselves and also plenty of people swimming, mostly within the red and yellow flags of the patrolled life guard area. Just very special.

We walked along the beach, but it was apparent that the heat and humidity were effecting Rich and Karen, and we are not used to it as well. So we sought out a pub meal. We walked back along the Corso and found a refurbished hotel named "The Ivanhoe." We all enjoyed a favourite being their Manly Burger, salad and chips with a cold drink. It was also a timely relief to be inside a comfortable air conditioned venue and out of the heat.

The luncheon break of over an hour also refreshed us and following almost 5 minutes time to make our way back to the Wharf for the 2.15 PM ferry. We sat inside away from the extreme heat. We watched the other yachts and ferries making their way across the harbour passed the Zoo and the site of the HMAS Sydney.

It was 2.50 PM by the time we reached Circular Quay. The weather was sweltering both high heat and energy sapping humidity. But from Circular Quay we took photos of the Harbour and Opera house, decided it was too hot to walk around the Harbour to Lady Macquarie's Chair and the Gardens. We opted for a walk through the historic rocks area. all of the old Wool Stores, the trendy and refurbished old stores and residences from the 1820's. We walked for almost an hour and at 3.45 PM decided it was just too hot, so we walked though the Rocks district and found another quiet cafe , where we enjoyed cool drinks and a snack.

It was apparent that our guests were wilting. We decided to walk back slowly along George Street through the Rocks to the major hotel area, where we found a cab to take them back to their ship.

We had enjoyed an excellent day, but the weather was extreme and make extended walking quite a challenge. Rich and Karen were delighted to see us we enjoyed their company and had an excellent day sight seeing in Sydney a beautiful global city around the superb harbour with its icons being Sydney Opera House, The Harbour Bridge beautiful gardens.

We also pointed out the Sydney Aquarium, the Darling Harbour Precinct, The Queen Victoria building.

So we said our goodbyes at about 5.20 PM, put them in a cab and they departed.

Jeanette and Ken walked back to Circular Quay Station and used Opal tickets to catch the train to Town Hall Station from where we walk past the Town Hall and down George Street about 200 metres to the Hilton Hotel. We had checked in so collect our room keys . Our Room is 2607 and has views back across the CBD and gardens and then we look out across the Harbour to the Sydney Heads. Our luggage arrives 15 minutes later. It is a superb executive room, but we don't have access to the Executive Lounge. Time for a long cold shower.

We dine that night in City Tatts club, and have an enjoyable meal. The Hilton was booked out for Valentines Day dinner. The hotel was over booked and had a waiting list of some 120 people. It has been an excellent and enjoyable day. Our friends saw many of the city's sites and particularly the Opera House and Harbour Bridge and Manly Beach. Rich had visited 50 years ago and went to Bondi Beach. we explained that it was out of our way and time was a factor.

Thursday 15th February, 2018 Morning in Sydney CBD at Hilton Hotel and then flight Home to Melbourne.

We both slept really well in "dream " Bed ensemble, just so comfortable. We has breakfast in the Glass Restaurant and it was a lovely buffet breakfast ( continental) included in our room charge/ ( we used Hilton Honors) points.

Ken walked across the road to the beautiful Queen Victoria, building took photos of the superb architecture and range of shops, walked back to the Town Hall and also enjoyed a coffee. Jeanette stayed within the hotel and relaxed.

We quickly packed and departed the hotel with a late check out (1.00pm) caught a taxi to the airport and to the Qantas checkin . It has been a fantastic short visit to Sydney.

Our flight again departed 20 minutes late at 3.20 PM we arrived in Melbourne at 4.45 PM and waited 15-20 minutes for the Car Park Shuttle bus. A 10 minute drive at peak hour back to the Car Park . Into our cart and then drove home in about an hour and 15 minutes. Home in Wheelers Hill at approximately 6.30 PM.

Just a fantastic 3 days break and the opportunity to catch up with our friends in Sydney and those cruising on Oceania Regatta.

Our Wonderful World

Our Wonderful World

Sydney February 2018

Our Wonderful World

Our Short Sydney Break - 13th-15th March 2018.

Wednesday 14th February, 2018.

Our Wonderful World