A Perfect Day in Sydney
It
is hard to think of a day in Sydney that wouldn’t be perfect! It’s a city
that has plenty to keep you busy but inspires a relaxed, “no worries” attitude.
Our favorite day on our most recent trip to Sydney began with breakfast at
The City Extra. They have a huge menu with everything from raisin toast and
scones to a full on bacon and eggs feast. It’s located across from Wharf 3
in Circular Quay.
We walked off our breakfast with a hike past the Opera House to Mrs. Macquarie’s
Chair. The Chair was carved into the rock for the wife of Governor Lachlan
Macquarie by convicts. It's a beautiful walk along the harbor with views of
the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. You can also watch the ferries going out.
We walked through the Royal Botanic Gardens on the way back to Circular Quay.
The flowers were in full bloom since it was the end of summer. The flying
foxes were definitely a highlight of the walk. These giant fruit bats hang
from the trees throughout the Gardens. After a leisurely walk enjoying the
flowers, we found a shady spot to sit and take in the sights.
Lunch
was a meat pie at one of the food vendors in CQ. The meat pies are a favorite
with my kids. Tomato sauce is the condiment of choice. It is almost ketchup,
but not quite. The vendors have bottles so you can add it to your pie, but
if you want the tomato sauce packets, you have to pay for them.
Next, we took a ferry over to Manly from Wharf 3. The ride is about 30 minutes
long. The ferries are big and clean, and the Manly ferries have bathrooms.
I highly recommend purchasing a weekly travel pass. It is good for buses,
ferries, and trains. The red + green zone pass covers most tourist locations.
When we arrived in Manly, we headed straight down the Corso to the beach.
The boys were ready to get in the water so we rented boogie boards from the
rental guy right on the beach. A boogie board was about $12 AUD for an hour
and a half rental. He required a driver's license or monetary deposit to ensure
that the boogie board would be returned. We spent a lovely afternoon playing
in the water and lounging on the beach.
An important thing to know about the beaches in Sydney is that the lifeguards
only supervise the area "between the flags". Currents can be dangerous
so heed the warning. Also, the sun is very harsh in Australia so buy some
Australian sunscreen when you arrive and use it!
We
wanted to do some beach combing before dinner so we headed to Shelly Beach.
A walkway to the right (as you face the ocean) of Manly Beach leads you right
to it. We climbed on the rocks, hiked around, and looked for shells until
the sun began to set.
Wood and Stone was our choice for dinner. This wood-fired pizza restaurant
is back down the Corso just across the street from the ferry terminal. We've
been there many times and have always enjoyed Impeccable service and the very
unusual pizza and salads. My 14 year old son likes to order the Kangaroo Pizza,
but we vetoed him and ordered the Spicy Moroccan Beef Pizza and a Marguarita
Pizza. Excellent!
After dinner was a return trip on the ferry, and a short walk back from CQ
to our hotel for the night. The night views of Sydney Harbour are spectacular
so try to soak those in on the ferry trip as well.