After figuring out where I’d be staying for the next few days it was finally time to start exploring the new planet I had arrived on. I’d come to Australia without much of a concrete plan and the week I spent in Sydney would be the perfect amount of time to figure out my next few moves. It’s a big city. But also one with great public transportation. Luckily, my hostel was in a convenient location for all the Sydney must see’s.
Obviously, it was time to take a selfie with the Sydney Opera House. I boarded the train at Central Station and took it a few stops to Circular Quays Station. Seeing places in real life that you’ve seen thousands of times in picture is always a strange feeling. I’d made it. The Sydney Opera House is right in front of you once you’ve left the Circular Quay station. I walked around the boardwalk to get the perfect shot. It was cloudy but I didn’t care. After a significant amount of Opera House selfies I wandered to find the Sydney Harbor Bridge Walk. A free alternative to climbing up the bridge. I would suggest doing that if you have a disposable income but it wasn’t in my budget. Half way through the bridge there are also slightly higher point where you can pay 5/10 AUD to get a little bit higher of a view. I kept on walking. The Harbor Bridge is long and provides beautiful views of North Sydney and Sydney Proper. Before I walked on the Bridge I saw Luna Park, a small amusement park and another quintessential Sydney photo-op.
While on my way to the Bridge Walk entrance I found myself in a market on The Rocks. I love useless little souvenirs. I take mental notes of the boomerangs,kangaroo stuffed animals, and crocodile fashion I’ll buy when I’ve got less months ahead of me.
The entrance to Luna Park is a large face, with an open mouth. Although it’s your typical amusement park it offers great views of the Sydney Harbor Bridge and the city’s skyline. I wandered around North Sydney a bit more, hung out in the park under the bridge and made my way back over the Bridge Walk again.
On my way to The Royal Botanical Garden’s I stopped off a convince store to get myself some TimTam’s. I’d heard that Tim Tam’s are better than Oreo’s. At first, that idea was a hard no for me. However… considering I’ve already purchased another box, I’d say they’ve grown on me.
The Royal Botanical Garden’s are lovely. But at this point in my day my feet just hurt. I sat in the herb garden and read for a bit, mustering up more energy. Eventually I made may way to Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair, the only view point where you can get both the Sydney Opera House and the Harbor Bridge in one picture. It was nearly sunset when I’d arrived and the view lived up to my expectations.
The rest of my time in Sydney was spent meeting friends at the hostel and becoming as caffeinated as humanly possible, mooching off free wifi offered by most cafe’s. On my last night I’d gotten in touch with my Australian friend Johanna, who I’d met in Barcelona the summer before. Jo and I were quick friends and reunited in Paris as well. So Sydney was our third city together and it was great to get some Australian insight about the adventure ahead of me. She recommended we meet at the Opera Bar, an unpretentious bar that looks out of the Opera House and Sydney Harbor Bridge. I would highly recommend going for at least one drink there if you find yourself in Sydney. It offers unbeatable views, great food and live music.
By the time I’d met Jo I had a plan all set up for probably the next couple months. I’d heard how great Workaway’s are for travelers looking for unique experiences and free accomdation. So I’d spent most of my time in those cafe’s reaching out to potential Workaway hosts. One of which was Peter, owner of a 42 foot catamaran looking for a crew to sail with him to The Kimberlies in the Northern Territory. My next couple months in Australia fell together pretty quickly. I Skyped with Peter, and booked my ticket to Darwin. A four hour plane ride to the North. The next morning, I’d heard back from another Workaway host I’d reached out to. This one, a cattle and horse farm four hours north of Sydney (with motorbikes!).
So as it turns out, losing my first reservations in Sydney enabled me to pack up and leave for Darwin on a whim. Which brings me to the outdoor living space in my hostel in Darwin, where I’m writing this now. While Darwin doesn’t have much going on as far as cities go, it’s going to be a jumping off point for what I think is going to be an incredible adventure ahead of me. Stay Tuned.