Checking out Sydney's famous harbour!

My first glimpse of Sydney! Can you find the harbour bridge?
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Well, I arrived in Sydney eager to check out the pretty harbour city. I decided to stay at Bondi Beach which is a bit out of the city centre. But, I figured the location was prime. And, I knew that there was going to be a beach here and no false advertising like my Brisbane hostel. Bondi is pretty terrific. The water is a pretty blue, and the buildings around it are build into the hill and don't rise too high to steal its spotlight. The day I arrived was pretty windy - so I decided to just wander the area as opposed to hit up the beach. Lots of cool, trendy shops in the busy area.

A look at Bondi Beach.
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The next day I took a bus to Circular Quay - the main ferry area in Sydney. Talk about location. It's right near the beautiful Harbour bridge and the amazing Opera House. I was actually stunned at how great the whole area was. Therefore, I spent an entire day exploring the area and taking it easy. I walked across the Harbour Bridge and even went up one of the pylons to check out the museum and get superb shots of the Opera House, and people climbing the bridge on tours. I hung out and watched the sun set in the harbour and it was beautiful. And, tons of boats on the giant harbour. But, this is only a chunk of the harbour - as the bridge sits about half way on over 20km of water heading inland. The skyline was beautiful at night too with the bridge, city lights, and Opera House all lit up. Plus, the place was packed all day with people. It seems to be a central area for eating, drinking, and being merry.

Beautiful Bondi Beach!

What a nice day for my first day in Sydney.
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On day 2 I hit up the Opera House for an interior tour. It was pretty cool inside and we went inside 2 of the 5 theatres. Including, the biggest - the concert hall which sits a couple thousand people. It took 14 years to build and was supposed to be built for 7 million and ended up costing 102 million (that's government for you!). Inside the Opera House there are spectacular views of the harbour too as there are windows all way around. And, the acoustics are known to be some of the best in the world. After my tour to the Opera House I headed to Manly beach on the ferry that took my about half an hour (heading out towards the ocean). Manly was a really cute area that had a small town vibe. Lots of beach stores, but it still felt quaint. I would come and stay here when I visit Sydney again for sure.

The infamous Harbour Bridge.
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But, the city is beautiful. I loved my visit. And, next time I will give myself a few more days to explore.

Off to New Zealand now!