Sydney - Australia Day 🇦🇺

We had a rocky start when we arrived in Sydney! Firstly we got the wrong bus from the airport, then got on a train that wasn't going to move for at least an hour because of train strikes, then the first couple of days were extremely windy and rainy and we'd come down with some kinda lurgy from the plane alongside the jet lag. Initially I struggled to warm to the city, and therefore the country. I definitely said to Matt, at least once, 'have we made the right decision?' 

The sun arrived though, in spectacular Aussie summer style, and we began to fall for the city. We headed out to view some campervans, we needed a home for the next few months. We visited a dealer and then viewed a private sale, the latter being exactly what we wanted. However, it wasn't available until the 28th Jan but hands were shook and we had a another week to enjoy Sydney. 

I can't go through everything we've been up to so I'll mention the highlights, I really should have done a blog earlier but I have found it hard to muster the courage to carry on with this, but I know in the long run I'll be glad I did! 

Being stuck in Sydney meant we were here for Australia Day, which as you can imagine goes off with a bang in one of Australia's biggest cities. I've never seen so many boats! There was music and celebration for the whole day, and it was great to experience alongside Emily and Charlie, a couple of fellow Brits we met at our hostel. We watched the events on the water, such as the Ferrython, explored the markets at the rocks, enjoyed a few drinks with a view before the finale fireworks which were a contender against Ho Chi Minh City's independence day show. 

Beaches! I think another reason we've loved Sydney is its coastal location, and you really are spoilt for choice when it comes to a beach day. We went to Manly, spending time mainly on Shelly beach and walking around the headland. We experienced our first large spiders, the Australian golden orb-weaving spider, suspended above pathways. I don't mind them as long as they stay where they are! 

We visited Bondi twice, once early on when it was windy and rainy and then another time when it was just windy. I don't think we therefore experienced it in its well known glory! We had a glorious day out at Watsons Bay with Emily and Charlie, again exploring the headland, and then swimming in the sea at Camp Cove before sitting on the beach for a short amount of time before moving as we were all going to burn to a crisp. 

For a swim in the city we headed a few times to Marrinawi Cove, near the Barangaroo Reserve, where a shark net means you can have dip with a view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. 

Museums! There is a lot of choice when it comes to free Museums in Sydney, which is useful when you need to stay in a hostel longer than expected. We visited the Australian Museum which is like a natural history museum, the Rocks Discovery Museum which explains the history of the Rocks area, and the Hyde Park Barracks museum which explains, and deals with, the somewhat controversial begining to what we know as Australia. 

We managed a Parkrun on our second Saturday, along the waters edge which was a lovely but very sweaty affair. We spent a lot of time in the Botanical Gardens, we may regret not queing for 3 hours to witness the Corpse Flower bloom, but it seemed like such a long wait at the time. The Botanical Gardens are home to many White Ibis's, in fact they are seen everywhere across the city, they're known (very aptly as we've witnessed) as 'Bin Chickens'.  

That's an idea of our time in Sydney, i'm sure we barely grazed the surface so we're looking forward to returning here at the end. We're about to leave our hostel, in about 40°C heat, to pick up the van and head off towards the Blue Mountains, so I'll post again soon introducing you all to our home on wheels 🚐. 

Lots of love, 

Lisa and Matt 💕