Stunning Sydney - Summer in Oceania's Largest City

[OhioGuy]

After spending 12 days in New Zealand visiting Auckland (photos here), Napier (photos here), Wellington (photos here), and Queenstown (photos here), I flew off to Australia and spent a week in Sydney. It was exactly one year ago today that I wrapped up my time in that wonderful city (and headed off to Melbourne). Not sure why it took me so long to post these phots but I hope you enjoy them. I’m so glad I was able to do this big trip just before the world basically shut down for the coronavirus. I absolutely loved my time in Sydney. I knew I would enjoy it but wow it was even more fantastic than I anticipated. The quality of life there is amazing. It’s no surprise it often ranks high among the most livable cities in the world.

1) Having said all of that, I encountered a rather smokey scene upon arrival at Sydney International Airport due to the immense bushfires that made news around the world a year ago.


2) Taking the train from the airport to downtown. Quick & convenient!


3) The Museum station was the closest station to my hotel.


4) Walking around Hyde Park in the smokey weather. Many people were wearing masks. Little did we know this would become commonplace throughout the world just a few weeks later.


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6) The next morning the view - while cloudy - was vastly improved from the prior day. The smell of smoke was gone.


7) Back to beautiful Hyde Park


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10) St. Mary’s Cathedral


11) Registrar-General’s Building


12) Royal Botanic Garden


13) Royal Botanic Garden


14) View from Mrs. Macquaries Point at the Royal Botanic Garden


15) View from Mrs. Macquaries Point at the Royal Botanic Garden


16) Sydney Opera House (though it needs no introduction)


17) View from the Opera House


18) These birds swooped down to a lunch table, stole a packet of sugar, and were in the process of ripping it open and eating it when I snapped this photo.


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20) Taking the ferry from downtown to the zoo


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24) Back in downtown Sydney at The Strand Arcade. Gorgeous!


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27) Pitt Street Mall


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29) Sydney Town Hall


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31) Queen Victoria Building


32) Inside the Queen Victoria Building – another beautiful arcade!


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34) Government House


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37) Heading out across the Sydney Harbour Bridge. My friend and I opted to climb the stairs of the bridge pylon rather than do the vastly more expensive climb up and over the span. The views were still great!


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41) Wandering around Kirribilli on the north side of the bridge.


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47) North Sydney


48) Milsons Point


49) Taking the train back to downtown Sydney from Milsons Point


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51) Wynyard Station in downtown Sydney


52) Wandering around downtown


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57) Macquarie Street


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59) Heading to the Opera House for a tour


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62) The interior reminded me a bit of the Kennedy Center in DC, both having been built at similar times (constructed in the 60s/early 70s).


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65) After the Opera House tour I wandered around The Rocks and had dinner in the area.


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71) After dinner I passed back through downtown, including the Pitt Street Mall, on my way to my hotel.


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74) Paddington


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76) Paddington has plenty of classic terrace homes. Really beautiful!


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81) Walking along Queen Street through Woollahra from Paddington to Double Bay


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83) Double Bay


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89) Elizabeth Bay


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93) Potts Point


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98) Taking a ferry to Manly Beach


99) Manly Beach


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109) Checking out the projections on the Opera House


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112) A message for the firefighters battling the epic bushfires


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116) This was a fantastic flat white and toasted banana bread with espresso butter from Single O in Surry Hills. Definitely recommend it!


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118) Took the train to Bondi Junction. Starting off at Martin Place Station


119) Bondi Junction Station


120) Bondi Junction


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122) I walked over to Bondi Beach for a little bit but took more photos the following day when it was sunny (see further below).


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125) Heading from Haymarket to Newtown with the University of Sydney along the way - Railway Square.


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127) Chippendale Green


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129) Broadway Shopping Centre


130) Victoria Park


131) University of Sydney


132) Flat white from Brewtown Newtown


133) Newtown


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136) Newtown Station


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138) After returning to downtown I headed over to the Central Chalmers Street light rail station which was adjacent to the Central railway station. This light rail line had just opened the month before. I took the line out to the end at Randwick.


139) Randwick


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142) From here I made my way down to the waterfront at Coogee Bay


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148) Starting the coastal walk from Coogee to Bondi Beach. This was the best weather day during my time in Sydney. It was spectacular!


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161) Well this is certainly an impressive resting place for eternity!


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171) And there’s Bondi Beach


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176) Next I wandered around Surry Hills. Wow what a gorgeous neighbourhood! Leafy green with beautiful homes and little restaurants and cafes mixed in among the residential.


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184) Flat white from Artificer Specialty Coffee Bar & Roastery


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187) One more flat white with a late lunch at Reuben Hills Coffee Roastery & Cafe


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189) Checking out the historic Central railway station


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195) I spent an evening walking around the Paddington neighbourhood. Reminded me a bit of Surry Hills. Very lovely place to live!


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199) This I did not enjoy seeing…


200) Started off my final full day in Sydney with a flat white at Mecca Roastery + Café in Alexandria.


201) Then I took the ferry off to Watsons Bay


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214) Back to downtown Sydney and then off to Darling Harbour for the evening.


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217) Darling Quarter


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224) Darling Harbour


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227) Chinese Garden of Friendship


228) Heading into Darling Square


229) Darling Square


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236) Chinatown


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239) Elsewhere around downtown on my final evening in Sydney


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242) I woke up the next day to learn that my morning flight had been canceled and I was rebooked on an afternoon flight to Melbourne. So I hopped on a train to check out a coffee shop in Marrickville. I exited at the Sydenham Station.


243) ONA coffee shop


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245) Marrickville


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247) Heading back to downtown Sydney from Marrickville.


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250) After picking up my suitcase from the hotel I headed back to the train station one last time to head off to the airport.


I really can’t praise Sydney enough and I’m anxious to visit again. The final stop on my trip to New Zealand and Australia was Melbourne. Hopefully I’ll get those photos posted soon.