10.04.2026

Our last tourist day in Sydney! After breakfast, we headed towards Darling Harbour. We wanted to take a look at the wildlife that we might encounter along the way. In the middle of the city, by the harbour, are 'Sea Life' and 'Wild Life'. We started with the underwater world: many colorful fish, starfish, corals, sharks, manatees, sometimes in small or large aquariums. Different penguins were also present. A touch pool with sea urchins and starfish was a hit with both young and old. Often, we went through glass tunnels, so that sharks or turtles swam above our heads. After that, we moved on to the land animals. Of course, we first encountered kangaroos, lounging comfortably in the sand. Wombats, cassowaries, similar to emus but with blue heads and little 'crowns'. Snakes, rats, and of course koalas, which were lazily hanging in the trees here as well. Let's see what nature has in store for us. We still had plenty of time to stroll through the 'Royal Botanic Garden'. Well-maintained, organized by themes, and very spacious! A large group of white cockatoos were happy to be fed. From there, we went directly to the Opera House, where we participated in a German tour of the building. Our group was really large. The history of the construction is quite remarkable: a Dane was awarded the contract for the building in the 50s. He was let go in the 60s because the city council only saw a 'foundation slab' for the planned 7 million dollars. An Australian took over the leadership, and the Opera House was inaugurated in 1973. Cost: 102 million dollars! That sounds familiar... Back then, costs also overshot the target. There are 6 different theaters inside. We briefly watched 2 rehearsals of the ballet. The halls are without grandeur, and in the lobbies, you can see the structure of the sails made of gray concrete. Currently, it is the off-season, so 'The Phantom of the Opera' is being performed on the floating stage. The buildings and the lighting look spectacular in the dark. We are excited...