Days in Sydney

I was able to take a week off right after Christmas and went to the capital of New South Wales - SYDNEY! From December 28th to January 3rd, eight friends from my hometown and I rented an Air B&B to celebrate the New Year 2018 in the largest city in Australia.

On the 28th, we took a flight from Melbourne to Sydney with Qantas Airline at 6:30 am. I was lucky to have a window seat and could enjoy a beautiful sunrise. The flight took about 1.5 hours, and I was pleasantly surprised by the luxury on such a short flight!

By 10 am, I arrived at the Air B&B after a bus and train ride. It was located in a prime location, about 15 minutes from Bondi Beach. The apartment was beautiful, and after some discussions about sleeping arrangements, we all had a place to sleep. Of course, it wasn't easy to accommodate eight people in one apartment and make decisions, but overall, it worked well for a week. In the days leading up to New Year's Eve, we went on explorations of the city, which was sometimes crowded and had temperatures as high as 35°C. Sydney has a lot to offer!

Here are my personal highlights in Sydney:

Sydney Harbour (officially known as Port Jackson) and Harbour Bridge

The natural harbor is 50km² in size and is one of the city's landmarks, as it is where the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House are located. Hundreds of ships, including huge cruise ships and container ships, enter and leave the harbor every day. The view of the harbor and the Harbour Bridge (built in 1932) is breathtaking, especially on a sunny day! The bridge connects the north and south coasts of the harbor and is referred to as the "Coathanger" by the residents of Sydney because of its appearance. Over 160,000 vehicles cross the famous bridge every day, but a high toll fee is charged depending on the time of day. Brave tourists have the opportunity to climb the bridge and enjoy a view of Port Jackson from the top, but this activity is extremely expensive!

The Sydney Harbour Bridge seen from the ferry

On the Harbour Bridge

Sydney Opera House

From the harbor, you have a great view of the famous Opera House, another landmark of the city. It was completed in 1973 after a change of architects and many disputes. The over 65-meter-high roof is very impressive and uniquely designed, captivating anyone who stands in front of it for the first time. Before leaving Sydney, I took a tour of the Opera House with a friend on my last day. Personally, I was a bit disappointed with the interior of the building after the hour-long tour. From the outside, it looks very impressive, and I expected the same impression from the inside. The Opera House has five theaters with a total of over 5,000 seats, but for me, the design of the halls wasn't as special as the architecture from the outside. Nevertheless, the tour was very informative, and we were able to witness some band rehearsals (unfortunately, taking pictures was not allowed).

Bondi Beach

As mentioned before, our apartment was not far from the famous Bondi Beach, which is known for its surfers and festivals. At that time, the beach was very crowded and not the calmest place in the city - of course, we also visited it multiple times! One highlight along the beach promenade is the "Bondi Icebergs Pool," an outdoor swimming pool right by the sea. It was beautiful to see when a big wave came and spilled over into the turquoise blue pool! The pool is definitely worth a visit, even though the water was colder than expected! :)

Busy Bondi Beach

Sydney Tower Eye

The Sydney Tower Eye is located in the Central Business District of Sydney and is the tallest building in the city, reaching a height of 309 meters. As with every major city I visited during my trip, I went up to the highest observation tower to see the city from above. Unfortunately, it took us a long time to finally reach the observation deck and get back down, much longer than, for example, the Burj Khalifa or the Melbourne Tower. However, the view of the city on a clear day was unique, and waiting was worth it!

Day trip to the Blue Mountains

Shortly before New Year's Eve, Melli, Max, Lina, and I took an early morning train trip to the Blue Mountains. This mountain range is about 60km from Sydney and is called the Blue Mountains because of the eucalyptus oil evaporating from the trees, creating a fine mist over the mountains that appears blue. The Blue Mountains are a sandstone plateau and have been inhabited by Indigenous Australians for over 14,000 years. Naturally, you can find various typical Australian animals, plants, and trees when hiking along the numerous trails. However, the highlights are the Three Sisters, a rock formation that was formed about 200 million years ago, and the Scenic Skyway, a cable car that crosses one of the large canyons. The national park is a bit similar to the Grampians, but I found the Blue Mountains to be even more impressive!

New Year's Eve

Last but not least, on December 31st, we finally went to Mrs. Macquaries Chair (located in the Royal Botanic Garden) after a long search for a good spot. This place is one of the official and free spots listed on the website for New Year's Eve. Many of these spots require tickets bought well in advance to secure a place among the crowd. Since our spot was free, it took us three hours in the heat of the morning just to get into the area. We arrived there at 10 am to stand in line! Throughout the day, people sit at their spots and have picnics. Drinks and food are sold from food trucks, and there is music playing here and there. As time went on, it naturally got more crowded - over 1 million people in Sydney watch the spectacular fireworks! The waiting wasn't as bad and boring as expected; we played games, took naps, and enjoyed homemade food :) At 9 pm, there was a small "Welcome to Sydney Firework" that was already very impressive, along with an air show. We changed our spot three times until everyone was satisfied with the view of the harbor and the fireworks! ;) When midnight finally arrived, we could watch the countdown at the Harbour Bridge, followed by a double firework display (on both sides of the bridge simultaneously) for a total of 12 minutes. It was truly impressive for all of us, the best fireworks I have seen on New Year's Eve so far! However, I wouldn't go through all the hassle again on that day, as I prefer spending the evening with friends and having raclette cheese fondue :) ...or you can treat yourself to a spot on one of the ships that are in the harbor during the firework show.

On January 3rd, 2018, I returned to Melbourne in the evening. I'm glad I made the trip to Sydney, it's a must if you're in Australia! HAPPY NEW YEAR