I’m Heading to Sydney, Australia!

This week I’m flying to Sydney, Australia. That in itself is quite exciting – both the flight and visiting Sydney. But this particular trip is extra special to me on two other counts.

First of all, it’s a stepping stone on my first ever trip to New Zealand. I’m so thrilled about finally getting to New Zealand, that anything else having to do with that trip has special significance. Visiting Sydney will amount to an extended lay-over, or perhaps a side-trip, to my big NZ adventures.

dinner party at Kat’s house in Australia

Even more importantly though, I’m heading to Sydney specifically to visit one of my best friends, Kat. Last time we got together was in 2010 when she came to visit me in Thailand. At that time I was so busy running my bakery/cafe that I hardly had time to fit in a few good chats with her, let alone get up to any of our usual pranks and ventures.

Over the years Kat and I have hung out together in Bali, Thailand, the USA and Australia. But this is one of the longest breaks we’ve had between global meet ups. So I’ll have to make this 2-week visit to her home a very long-over-due catching up and mis-adventuring visit. I’m sure we’ll have a grand time.

Meanwhile, this won’t be my first trip to Sydney. In fact, it will be my fourth if you count each separate stay I’ve had in the city. When I toured Australia for nine months back in 2003, I visited Sydney on three separate occasions.

with Denis at the amazing Sydney Opera House

The first time I arrived on Christmas day, 2002, to re-unite with my then-German-boyfriend Denis. We hadn’t seen each other for more than two months, so it was an exciting reunion.

Truth be told, however, I was just as thrilled to finally visit Sydney, Australia. I’d been dying to see the iconic Sydney Opera House for years. I’m crazy about architecture and had always considered that controversial building utterly stunning.

So upon my arrival in Sydney, I promptly begged Denis to take me to the Opera House and neighboring Botanic Gardens. I couldn’t wait any longer to see it! I think he was a bit miffed that I got side-tracked sight-seeing, but he dutifully gave me my requested tour of Sydney before driving us out to our ‘home’ at Cove Lane National Park, north of the city.

charming Kookaburra

He had purchased a super-delux caravan and pick-up truck. We stayed at Lane Cove three weeks, but only ventured down to Sydney a few times. We were much too absorbed in romance and enjoying Lane Cove’s gorgeous natural setting and amazing Australian birds.

We did manage to take a scenic ferry ride through Sydney’s sprawling harbor out to Manly beach. We also drove to famous Bondi Beach and hiked along a beautiful coastal park. We spent New Year’s Eve at central Hyde Park watching fireworks and dancing at two large clubs. Sadly, that was about it for our explorations of Sydney.

Luckily for me, I returned to Sydney twice more in 2003, staying with Kat for 2-3 weeks each time. During those visits I had time to really explore the city in depth.

I discovered that Sydney has a lot more to it than just the Opera House, Harbor Bridge and other touristy sights. The city boasts many gorgeous historic buildings and neighborhoods, several world-class museums, refreshing parks and gardens, quirky boutique neighborhoods and its famous vast & stunning harbor.

On those two visits I must have explored just about every nook and cranny of the city. I strolled through the wonderful harbor-side Botanic Gardens again, admired the Opera House from every angle available and meandered around touristy Circular Quay.

Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens

I cycled bumpy cobbled streets near the wharf, peddled through Sydney’s posh high street area and rode out through massive Centennial Park.

Kat showed me her favorite areas of Sydney. We browsed quirky boutiques in Newtown, visited her former university and strolled through several parks. We explored Asian neighborhoods, where we ate delicious Chinese and Vietnamese food. Since we’re both huge fans of Asian culture, she also took me out clubbing to an almost entirely Asian dance club, right in the heart of the city.

Art Gallery of New South Wales – Sydney

We went to the Museum of Contemporary Art and Art Gallery of New South Wales. We attended a few performances and went out clubbing. She also hosted a couple dinner parties at her house so I could meet her friends.

I’ve been very fortunate with all my visits to Sydney to always have a place to stay, rather than checking into a hostel or hotel. Besides living with Denis in our caravan and staying with Kat at her house north of Sydney, I also managed to stay right in the city center a few times with various local friends I’d met.

If I would have needed hotel accommodation in Sydney though, I personally would have opted to stay at a hostel or hotel in trendy Newtown or near the Opera House and harbor. I have to admit from experience that staying right in the city center is much more convenient for exploring Sydney than staying in the outskirts of town, like I did at Lane Cove and at Kat’s place.

Sydney Opera House and ferry

Although I was grateful to have wonderful places to stay for free, it did mean that I had to spend a lot of time, energy and train fare to explore Sydney. The few times I was able to stay with friends right in the heart of Sydney, I was able to enjoy my city explorations at a much more leisurely, relaxed pace and in more depth.

In any event, between my solo cycling explorations, jaunts with Dennis and guided visits with Kat, I must have managed to explore just about every section of Sydney in the end. I’m not sure if there’s much left for me to see this time around. I would at least like to re-visit the amazing Opera House and nearby Botanical Gardens. I also hope to browse the boutiques in New Town with Kat once more and visit the museums.

Exploring Sydney again would be more than welcome, but this trip is really all about meeting and hanging out with my friend Kat. My two week visit will just fly by, I’m sure. Before I know it I’ll be leaving again, on my way to Auckland, New Zealand.

QUESTIONS:

If you’ve been to Sydney, what were your favorite sights and experiences?

What do you think of the controversial Sydney Opera House architecture?

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You might also enjoy:

My First Trip to Sydney

Travel Misadventure: Tent Escapade

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