G'day mate! - Sydney

Day 1: Christmas Eve
After a 3.5 hour flight from Auckland to Sydney we made it to Australia! We took a taxi to Bondi Junction, where we were staying at a friends of a friends for a few days while they were in NZ. The only thing we managed to squeeze in was grocery shopping for Christmas day breakfast.

Day 2
Merry Christmas! There was  no snow, no rain not even a cloud in the sky! It was the perfect hot Christmas day!! We made breakfast of French toast with strawberries and syrup, grapefruit and a bottle of bubbly to start the day off right!

Our Christmas breakfast





We put on our bikinis and I put on my antlers and Charlotte her elf hat to go to Bondi beach. This seemed like the place or home for all the orphaned travelers. For most, swimsuits and Santa hats was the dresscode! Not being home for Christmas could have been lonely but not with these hundreds of other people loving the sun and surf! After spending the day at one the worlds most famous beaches we had chicken sandwiches, watched the tv series Vampire diaries and freaked out about a giant cockroach.

Bondi Beach on Christmas Day



Christmas spirit on the beach

Day 3
We tempted ourselves and went Boxing Day shopping at the Westfield mall down the street. It is a giant mall that seemed twice the size of the Eatons centre. The mall was busy, chaotic and overwhelming and nothing was bought. We had been doing a lot of walking the past 2 days so my foot was a little sore so that gave us an excuse to watch tv all evening.

Day 4
You would have thought we were at home not Sydney, Australia by how much we were lazying around.  We moved locations to Charlotte's friends, Harriet and Mark's apartment while they too were in New Zealand for the holidays. Also in Bondi Junction, this place is referred to as the palace. It was a very nice apartment that even had a roof top pool and garden area.

Day 5
Finally, we got our tourist hats on and took in the sights of Sydney. We took the bus to Sydney Harbour and saw the icons of Australia, the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. The opera house has been said to be designed as segments of a whole sphere if put all together. But sadly, the designer was fired from the job before completion and then never made the trip to see it in person before he died. The bridge and Opera House were bigger than I thought but closer together than I imagined. We laid in the sun while in the Botanical Gardens and had a $9 AUD drink under the Opera house overlooking the bridge. Next, we walked to the Rocks, the first European settlement in Sydney. We went to the Rocks Discovery Musuem, which was boring even for a museum. Then we walked back to Sydney harbour to take a ferry to Darling Harbour. I think taking the ferry is the cheapest way to get great views of the famous harbours and city skyline. This was a day full of pinch me moments!
I was really looking forward to seeing Jen and Robyn the next day!

The famous Sydney Harbour Bridge

Charlotte and I at the Opera House

Sydney Harbour from the ferry

Day 6
I got up early to be ready for when the girls arrived at their hotel. When they did call, Charlotte and I took the train to central Sydney to reunite with Robyn and Jen. I also got to meet Jens new boyfriend, Gerrit who was joining us for 9 days of our Australia adventure.  It was tourist day on repeat but in reverse. We started with a walk through Darling Harbour, took the ferry to Sydney Harbour and went to The Rocks for drinks at the Orient Hotel. We took the train back to their hotel and planned to go to the beach for sunset. Hours went by while the 5 of us drank in the room and we completely missed sunset. Gerrit, Jen and I kept the party going and went to 'The Cross' (Kings Cross). We even got a picture with the giant Coca Cola sign, which I found out is as much a Sydney icon as LA's Hollywood sign. Kings Cross is the place to go on a night out even with the occasional drag queen and strip club. Never a boring moment in THE CROSS!

Art in motion with the Harbour Bridge



Gerrit, Jen, Robyn and I with the Opera House



Jen and I at the Cross

Day 7
We did have a slow start because of hangovers and jet lag. Once we did get going it was off to Bondi Beach, again but it was something I thought the girls couldn't miss! After staying for a couple hours lounging and playing in the waves we planned to meet one of my old Whistler co workers, Bec. Charlotte, Robyn and I left the couple to go to the Clovelly Hotel for dinner. It was good to see Bec and we talked about boys, Whistler and our New Years Eve plans for the next night. Bec was actually the person that told us to come to Shore Thing monthssss ago! We didn't stay out late reminiscing though, in order to save ourselves for big NYE night.

Day 8
The last day of 2011!
Robyn, Jen and Gerrit went to the Botanical Gardens to see the fireworks over Sydney harbor. They had to leave early afternoon to get a spot in the gardens so it was cya next year for them!
Charlotte and I spent some time by the pool and then slowly started getting ready. You can't rush someone on vacation ;) ! We went to a pre drink in Surrey Hills with Bec and her friends. Then, onto the big event - Shore Thing at Bondi Beach! There was big lines for drinks but Snoop Dogg was a good distraction at least. He even played one of my favourite songs at the moment. Living youngggg and willldddd and freeeee!! Calvin Harris brought us in to 2012! Happy New Year!!!!! Fireworks YAY! Unfortunately no hunk to kiss this year at midnight, only Charlotte! The night was then just like being at a really cool concert and listening to Calvin Harris and Pendullum.

Bec and I at Shore Thing

Shore Thing at Bondi Beach

Happy New Year!

Day 9
In our last few hours in Sydney we all laid by the rooftop pool. Nothing too strenuous due to the previous nights activities. We took the train to the airport and then we were off to Brisbane!

Goodbye to Sydney...for now! xo