Welcome to Sydney

We arrived at the Sydney Airport a couple hours late and head off to the bus terminal. It was a bit confusing since buses weren't travelling directly to the Circular Quay (pronounced key) where we were staying. It looked like it would take a good hour before we arrived. We decided on taking the train which runs right under the terminal. Since there is a lovely levee placed on outgoing trips we payed $15 each to only go about 5 stations down the track!!

Compared to what we were used to, finally walking out in the open air around 11:30 pm felt like walking about during a late summer evening! The place we were staying at was only a couple minutes walk which was nice (red square below "Circular Quay" on map below).

The next day we walked back to the train station. We were so surprised to find that it was located right between the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge! We just hadn't noticed its ideal location the night before. Right behind the station is a nice garden/park and walkway and all the other tourists were out taking photos. A block away was a small market (square to left of "Sydney Cove") which we browsed through on the way to the tourist information centre. After picking up some maps and a couple handy tips, we head towards the bus depot which was also beside the train station.

View from the Quay

Bridge View

Map of Sydney CBD

Looking back in towards the Quay

Older looking section of The Rocks, with the Harbour Bridge in the background

Bus #555 is a free bus that circles around the city centre. It's not a tourist bus so stops aren't always announced but on this occasion the bus driver was announcing what upcoming stops were near to. We finally got off about 3/4 of the way around and turned right to walk across the street to the bottom section of Hyde Park.

St. Mary's Cathedral

Hyde Park is quite a treat in the middle of the city, and offers great views of two very impressive buildings: the Anzac Memorial  in the bottom half, and St. Mary's Cathedral in the top section. We crossed the street  back into town and all the way across to Darling Harbour. The bridge that crosses this harbour is for people and their sky train (mono rail). Around the inside edge of the harbour are many restaurants and even an IMAX theatre. For those unwilling to walk, for a price a small train will carry you from one side to the other. We found the cheapest place for lunch (just under $10) right beside the bridge (red square below bridge). After lunch we walked down to the bottom of the harbour and through Tumbalong Park. Construction for what appeared to be a mini amusement park was hidden behind colourful blockades. The park has a ferris wheel with gondolas and the Chinese gardens (which have an entry fee) are also located here.

Darling Harbour from the  pedestrian bridge

City View (note the tower) from Darling Harbour.

To the right of the Bridge is where we ate.

Chinese Garden.....taken from outside the garden

We wandered towards Chinatown (above "Haymarket") and decided to come back when we could for another meal out. Walking through Chinatown led us out across from Paddy's Market (along "Darling Drive"), an indoor market full of stalls selling everything from hats and sunglasses, shirts, scarves, jerseys, and fresh fruit and vegetables. Eventually we wound our way back to the centre of town, guided by the Sydney tower (diagonally down and right of "Sydney").

Self explanatory!

Canuck jersey for only $45 Aus. ...in Paddy's Market

The tower really is not that attractive and costs a fair amount to go up to so we passed by and instead visited a friend of Nya's who was working in a yummy Patisserie in the MLC centre (just up from the tower). As it was near closing time, she bagged up a variety of goodies for us and even bought us both cup of tea from the shop next door. We were very grateful, and planned on seeing her later that night for the Swedish Midsummer event taking place at a backpackers hostel.

The best the tower will ever look!

After walking back home (yes we did quite a bit of walking, but as it was flat, it was totally do-able) we rested a bit and decided on going to IKEA for some Swedish meatballs. We purchased train tickets (only $4 return this time!) and figured out which stations to get off and which trains to catch feeling quite proud of ourselves. The ride however was much longer than anticipated (around 3/4 of an hour) and we ran from the station to the mall housing IKEA so that we would make it in time before the restaurant closed. We made it just in time and finished off the last of their meatballs as well! Nya said that IKEA felt like home as many of their homes also contain IKEA furnishings. After dinner we were able to get quick tour of the place before they closed, and stopped at Coles (one of the only other stores still open) to buy some essential groceries for the coming days.

As the ride was quite long, it was late when we got home. We were both rather exhausted and Nya was getting a headache so we called off attending the Mid Summer event (which we were also told was becoming more of a backpackers event anyway). It was a rather odd way to spend a Friday in Sydney, however we had really enjoyed our day and were content in all that we had accomplished in the one day!