Sydney - 30th August



See photo - Our camp site at Narrambeen.

With so much to see we just had to keep going, it had dawned on us that by the beginning of September we will only have 8 weeks left!............. it was time to hit the Big Ticket tourist sights!

As we left Newcastle the boys quickly fell asleep (I think the late nights wore them out). This made for a quiet drive, as we drove over the Hawesberry River we saw fantastic bridges and amazing cuts in the mountain as the motorway winds it's way towards Sydney. What a change of pace Sydney has brought to the trip we truly hadn't realised how densely populated and how intense the infrastructure was in Sydney. After setting up camp at the North Narrabeen Big 4 and some house keeping, Bell found the family bathroom had a bath!! We got a great winter special and the location was brilliant, right in the heart of Narrabeen next to a lake and the ocean.







See photo - Our view from the top of the Pylon.

With a bus stop at the caravan park, the only thing to do was jump on and head to Sydney. We purchased a 7 day public transport pass that covered Bus, Ferry and Train (Adults $40ea ) and for up to 9 kids you only need one ticket (who has 9 kids!). So the boys where in heaven, although disappointed the first bus was not a 'bendy bus', it was the first time in a while we've done the public transport gig, but what a great way to see everything........ The round trip into Sydney took us 1 1/2 hours, catching a bus to Manly Wharf, then the ferry to Circular Quay. On our arrival we found an aboriginal busker playing a didgeridoo, he had recently signed to have one track included in the arrival entertainment on inbound International Qantas flights (track 2 in our slide show), we bought the CD and asked if we could use the tracks in our blogg, he was more than happy!  We explored the main attractions around central Sydney, but the Harbour Bridge was by far our favourite (you can tell by the large quantity of photos!). We did a Pylon Climb inside the bridge granite supports located at each end of the bridge, this included a museum which really helped bring into perspective the significance of the widest steel arch bridge in the world. Here are some interesting facts:

• Sydney Harbour Bridge began to be built in December, 1926 and took 1,300 men 8 years to build.
• It took approx. 6 million rivets, as welding was unreliable and nuts and bolts expensive
• 19th March 1932 officially opened and named the 'Sydney Harbour Bridge'
• The Bridge is 1,149 metres long, 49 metres wide and 134 metres high, weighing 52,800 tons.
• Sydney harbour bridge's foundations are set in 12 metres of sandstone.
• It has eight lanes for road traffic, two railway tracks, a foot walk and a cycle lane.
• The roads and railway tracks actually hang from the arch, 59 metres above sea level.
• There can be up to 15,000 vehicles cross the bridge in just one hour!
• It takes 30,000 litres of paint to cover the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
• It's sometimes called the coat hanger.
• In 1998 a company lead climbing tours over the arch, and by December over 3 million people would have climbed.
• Sydney Harbour Bridge is not the longest bridge but it is the widest steel arch bridge in the world.

See photo - View from the Pylon.

See photo - Watching the train leave...

We also explored the 'Rocks' which is the oldest part of Sydney with a good portion of the history still intact, the Rocks covers the entire time span since European settlement in Australia. We even did a quick run on the 'double decker' train over the Sydney Harbour bridge and back to give the boys their train fix, something they had been asking for all day, Sydney........ a little boys paradise.

See photo - Bell and Chris on the .. you guessed it!

All the excitement about the bridge led us "big people" to finally do the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb. We were lucky enough to have an offer from our cousin Michael to look after the kids for the arvo. The tour and climb was worth every penny and we strongly recommend it. Neither of us have experienced anything like this and it was an adventure to remember. The boys had a great day with Micheal visiting the Oceanarium at Manly Wharf and then terrorising Manly on scooters, they told us they had a blast with uncle Mike (thanks heaps).


See photo - Bell and the boys at the Opera House.



See photo - Riley touching a piece of Endeavor.

Our next day took us on Sydney's trusty public transport and guess what, the bendy bus came through for the boys! Back to Circular Quay we explored the Opera House and then headed to the Monorail this time, cruising to the Powerhouse Museum at Darling Harbour, entry was FREE :) Very interesting and so much to see you could spend a whole day, but with our trip back to camp 2 hours away we had to hit the train, ferry and bus!

The next day found us once again back in Darling Harbour to explore the wharf and visit the Maritime Museum, again free entry apart from the ship tours. The Welcome wall was amazing, with so many names of people from all over the world and messages, one in particular we liked from Wendy McCarthy 1973.

"I remember seeing the Swan river and just being amazed at it, particularly as in India rivers are not as big and nowhere as pretty but also people live along the river in huts. There wasn't any of that on the Swan and it just blew me away!"

We got to climb a timber and steel clad lighthouse which was relocated from Queensland, view the worlds fasted boat still to this day, which was made by an Australian in his shed (wives take note), also touch a piece of ballast from the Endeavor which was thrown overboard whilst trying to keep the ship afloat on June 11 1770 on the Great Barrier Reef, we also got to experience the Pyrmont Bridge (built 1899 - 1902), the largest pedestrian bridge in the word that has a rotating centre section to allow larger than normal boats through. 

See photo - Michael and the kids

See photo - Happy Fathers Day from North Head.

Finally we thought it best to explore the northern beaches by road, we drove to Palm Cove (for those Home and Away fans!) .then south along the coast to North Head. It was Father's Day, so we had a more relaxing day of sightseeing, we saw some spectacular views and houses perched along the cliffs along the way. We headed down to Michael, Sharon and Nicks for Fathers Day dinner and drinks.
We all had a blast especially the boys, we watched some footy and shared some great stories over more than one drink!!

Here are some facts about Sydney and most of all Australia Day;

They arrived in Botany Bay on the 29th April 1770, where upon anchoring, it was discovered there was no fresh water locally available.  Eighteen years later, on 21 January 1788, after arriving at Botany Bay, Governor Arthur Phillip took a longboat and two cutters up the coast to examine Cook's Port Jackson. Phillip first stayed over night at Camp Cove, then moved down the harbour, landing at Sydney Cove and then Manly Cove before returning to Botany Bay on the afternoon of the 24th. Phillip returned to Sydney Cove in H.M. Armed Tender Supply on 26 January 1788, where he established the first colony in Australia, later to become the city of Sydney. A formal flag raising ceremony was held by Arthur Phillip on the shore to proclaim the Colony of New South Wales, in the name of the King of England on this day.

This day is now celebrated as Australia Day.

See photo - View from Sydney Harbour Bridge Pylon.

So with this in mind enjoy out latest video