NEW YEARS EVE & End Of Sydney

So the big night, the one we had watched onto TV so many times over the years, New years Eve!!  Due to a couple of unfortunate events our planned night of a party on a roof terrace had to be changed last minute, so we ended up opting to go for the full experience of watching from Mrs.  Macquaries Chair.  To make sure you got a spot you had to turn up at 9am, to stand in a queue that by this time had already built up to at least 3000 strong… We where going to be here a while :-/

By about 2pm we where finally in whoop whoop now to relax and enjoy the show…. Hold up a min not quite, now we had to find somewhere to sit.  It was like a festival camp site, but instead of tents it was people jammed into every possible tiny little bit of grass with a view… we managed to squeeze ourselves into an improbable small square of grass (which over the course of the next hour we slowly managed to expand into a quite respectable large area).  So we settled in for the long wait till midnight, with the scorching sun blasting down we all tried to squeeze under what little shade we had in our little patch.  When a small cloud passed over the sun, a huge sigh of relief escaped the whole crowd gathered on the grass!  However thankfully after a couple of hours the suns intensity started to wane, and we could start to get comfortable and start the drinks flowing.  

Auckland

When we arrived in Auckland we went straight to our hostel which we thought was the same one I had stayed in a few years ago… we were wrong! The hostel we were staying in ended being the worst hostel we had stayed in by far… that includes Asia! We walked into a tiny eight bed dorm with people who clearly have no respect for other people had left their clothes and belongings all over the hostel and beds! It smelt of feet and it was dirty.. yuk! Never the less we went up to Moutn Eden and had a look round the city… we tried to find some springs but ended up walking for a couple of hours round dogdey roads getting lost! When we finally found the city again we went for a lovely lunch with the best lamb salad ever!!

That afternoon, we thought we would head to the quay and see what there was to do there… not a lot apart from a drink! After about 5 glasses of wine and the biggest steak sandwich we ended up in an Irish bar. The bar was the typical high energy fun place with a fantastic band who played everything from The Script to Eminem! Steen even asked me to dance! Amazing night J

Lil & Luke

Ahh the weekend… not much difference to us as everyday was a weekend, but great as it gave us the opportunity to meet up with two of Emily’s friends Lil & Luke.  Fantastic friendly couple, who became our unofficial tour guides of the city… even if they did get us on the wrong ferry ;-)

We had a great walk along the coast from Manly beach, finding loads of little tiny gems of beaches… What an incredible place to live, literally everywhere you look there is another beach!   On our journey we stumbled across a great rock outcrop about 7 meters high, with amazing views back to the city… Well couldn’t pass up jumping of this rock, what would Eddy my Coasteering manager think J Amazing!!

After a long day walking in the sun with Ems picking up the most incredible X man tans lines on her back we headed back to Lil & Lukes for a proper aussie BBQ, chicken kebabs, burgers, tofu and incredible Smokey Scottish whiskey.  What a great night!!

Bondi Beach

The next day we had planned a beach day… but the wind had picked up so not great for lazing in the sun, but still good for a walk.  We met up with Lil and Luke again and as I hadn’t been yet of we headed to Bondi beach!  Obviously as it was windy it wasn’t that busy, but it was the sea that was the winner today.  With massive waves crashing onto the rocky shore as we wound our way round the shore line.    We finished the day back at city centre where I had an amazing rack of ribs.

Good bye Asia Hello Australia

After our flight on one of the 18 double jumbo jets we head off to meet my friends, Lil and Luke, for them to show us the flat they kindly offered us to stay in over Christmas.

The flat was a lovely little place and I felt confident we would be happy here for the week.

So, we were in Sydney! The greatest city in Australia!! However the first day we had a well-deserved catch up with Lil and Luke, which was lovely as I hadn’t seen them since last time being in Sydney two years ago, made some dinner and went to bed!

The next morning we awoke feeling fresh after our lye in and tea in bed and so headed into the city to go and see the famous sights of the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. The first time Steen saw the Opera House, I have to say, his reaction was not what mine was when I first saw it two years ago! 

However, the sky was a little grey, and I forget it is actually cream, so without the sunshine it does almost look a bit dull! However, when we walked round the harbour a little more we got to Mrs Macquarie’s Point which is where you are able to see both the bridge and Opera House. At this point I could see Steen was more impressed at the famous skyline J

Blue Mountains

So the blue mountains, so named due to the blue haze that hovers above them given of from Eucalypts trees that grow throughout the area.  We got on the MTS, and to our great pleasure our rail card got us all the way out to the blue mountains main tourist point, the three sister.  After fighting our way through the tourist crowds we managed to get a few quick pictures before escaping the crush!   Do have to mention the signs in the toilets “For hygiene reasons please throw used toilet paper into the toilet and not the waste bin”  Just coming from Asia this sign made a lot of sense

To try and avoid any more tourist crowds, we opted to take a small side path, hoping to find a nice viewing point to take some pictures, as we were in flip flops and had no food or water except an orange we planned on only going for a short stroll… roll on 4 hours later as we emerge at the next town, hungry, tired and thirsty.  But what an incredible area, stunning panoramic views and waterfalls.  To our incredible pleasure we found the most amazing little café that serves ginormous Frittatas!! Amazing I just had to take a picture J