The first stop of our journey was Australia most famous city: Sydney.
The city spreads on a very extended surface, so there is a lot to see. Our must see list is: The Rock, Sydney Harbour, Darling Harbour, Manly and Bondi Beaches.
The Rock is the area where the Opera House and the Harbor Bridge are located. It is the place where the prisoners from the Old Continent were disembarked, since they were sent away from home rather than finishing their days in their own country’s jails. This district is often considered as Sydney’s historical center, if you can say so, since it is only about 200 years old. Its streets are narrow and the buildings looking out onto them are made of stone.
In this district there is also the steel bridge that connects the port to the north coast of the city and, for those who want to have a special experience, there is the possibility to climb it and enjoy a splendid view of the bay.
The Rock is also the starting point of the various ferries available for whale watching excursions along the city bay. Although it wasn’t the first time we saw these beautiful animals, the experience is always exciting. In addition, whales here are known for their jumps, adding an unforgettable moment to your trip.
From here ferries also depart to reach Manly Beach. The district, despite being very touristy, is nice in the evening due to a great abundance of cozy bars and restaurants.
Sydney Harbor is really nice, especially in the evening as the surrounding buildings reflect their lights on the water and offer a great skyline.
Darling Harbor is the pedestrian area along Port Jackson Bay, which was created at the end of the 80s by stealing land from the port. A vibrant location both by day and night. It developed a lot, up to the point of becoming one of the major shopping areas, with a lot of restaurants and leisure activities to offer. Not too far away, there’s Sydney Cove area, called ‘The Cove’, halfway between the harbor and the Opera House.
Manly: your eyes will enjoy this bay on the Circular Quay. You can reach Manly with a ferry in about half an hour, along the way you will see dozen sailing boats that seem to be swarming in the bay.
Manly is a very different from the more urban neighborhoods of Sydney. Beautiful houses, surfers and nice walks make the trip worthwhile. Time here passes very quickly, by simply watching surfers riding the ocean waves and jumping on them. The beach is very lively, you will meet people jogging, doing yoga and any other type of physical activity.
Bondi Beach is even more accessible than Manly, you can reach it with a bus ride from the city center. Bars, shops, restaurants and of course a lot of surfers are always present here. I did my first surfing lesson in Bondi, it was amazing and I was also able to stand!
Sydney can be visited all year round as it offers a sunny Mediterranean weather with more than 340 days of sunshine. Summers (our winters) are very hot, and winters (our summers) are mild.
