Category Australia
Boxing Day at the opera house
The most iconic building in Australia is Sydney’s beautiful opera house. Jutting out into the harbour on a spit of land that had been used for centuries by aboriginal people for song and dance, the opera house is massive, unmissable, and mesmerising — and we had tickets for a guided tour first thing the day […]
And then the giant bats came out…
After visiting the zoo on Christmas Day we walked up through the neighbourhood known as The Rocks (the site of Sydney’s oldest settlement) and discovered a beautiful scenic lookout with an observatory on top. With the hilltop bathed in the golden light, we settled down with tourists and locals alike to watch the setting sun. […]
Christmas at the zoo!
Christmas morning dawned warm and sunny. Amanda arrived from the States mid-morning and, after a quick settle-in at the Airbnb flat and a call to Justin (for whom it was still Christmas Eve), we decided we’d spend the afternoon at the zoo! Because anything that involves koalas is always the right answer. And also the […]
Christmas Eve down under
Have I ever enjoyed the weather on Christmas Eve so much? I doubt it. Sunny and clear, in the high 70s and with a light breeze — it could not have been more perfect. I started the day with a visit to the Royal Botanic Garden. The lush expanse of green lawns and colourful flower […]
Sydney at last!
As we touched down in Sydney, the flight attendant gave instructions on where to collect our bags (claim 2) and how not to get eaten by sharks (stay between the buoys). How welcoming!! I had rather dreaded that last stretch from Perth to Sydney. After 15+ hours in a brand new Dreamliner, the idea of […]
60 minutes in Perth
This is what the other side of the world looks like! Oh man, does it feel far away! I don’t know how big Perth is, but the look of it from the air, and the size of the airport give it a remote, middle-of-nowhere feel similar to certain places in the American West, but even […]
Australia for the Holidays!
All I want for Christmas is sun, beach and city. Sydney fits the bill! Wish me luck on the longest flight of my life… London to Perth, then on to Sydney in just under 24 hours. I may set a personal best for number of movies watched in a row. 😜
A More Gentlemanlike Manner 