Our next flight takes us to Sydney by Virgin Australia, uneventful 3,5 hours. Hired car at the Sydney airport. Our newly built self catering accomodation in Penrith is about an hour drive to the Northwest of Sydney on the foot of the Blue Mountains.
Australia Day, 26th January 2018
It happens to be the Australia Day, a national holiday, today with lots of events and celebrations in town. At dusk there is a fantastic magnificent firework at Circular Quay with thousands of public viewers.
Harbour Bridge
Shows and fireworks.
Still hot and humid here. Sweating is for sure part of the daily programme. 47,5°C was recorded in Penrith few weeks ago. In addition to visiting relatives and sightseeing. By train it takes 1,5 hours from Penrith into downtown. A convenient way to drive a car is to buy a prepaid SIM Card for 2 AUD, available in any corner shop, sometimes you get it as a freebee. Just louk out at the ads of your hotel reception. Activate it online with your passport number. Top up a minimum of 10 AUD, then you will have mobile phone, texting and mobile internet for the next 7 days at least. Enough to use Google map on your smartphone as a Sat-Nav.
Our hired car.
For public transport use Opal Card. The card itself is free, available in any convenience shop. Top up minimun is 10 AUD. Wipe off on entering the bus, train or ferry. Sundays you can use the whole transport network as long as you wish for one payment of 2,60 AUD.
Koala.
An afternoon in the zoo: Featherdale Wildlife Park. A small size zoo where you can see most of the popular Australian animals: Cockatoes, koalas, wombats, kangaroos and so on. The small size of the cages and enclosures raises the issue of adequate keeping of the animals. We believe the Australian authority does have a favour for the welfare of them. Otherwise this would be a no-go area!
Kangaroo
By the way, we did see them in the wilderness on our Australia backpack tours numerous years ago. With a Greyhound Coach Pass for 10.000 km or 20.000 km distances. A journey by coach from Brisbane to Sydney or from Sydney to Melbourne took 24 hours. Nostalgia!
Sydney Harbour
We take the regular ferry Cicular Quay – Manly, the Manly Beach is nearby, alternatively another long ride with regular ferry is Circular Quay – Parramatta. Then a walk along the promenade and back to Sydney central by bus.
In the evening dinner with the relatives in Burwood: Long time no see. We are pleased to see them still in good manners and order. Former kids become well trained professionals. They all do well.
Blue Mountains: The Three Sisters
Next day a trip to the Blue Mountains. The mountains consist of sandstone bedrock, high cliffs and eucalyptus forrests, listed as an UNESCO World heritage area. Just an hour away by car from Penrith. We enter the park at Echo Point as the usual way. Expensive car parking on the road side. Up and down the Giant Stairway with endless staircases, along the Federal Pass walking track to Katoomba Falls, Furber Steps and back to the main road at Katoomba Falls Tourist Park. From there, free car park with plenty of spaces, a regular bus takes us back to Echo Point. The heat is getting unbearable. The Opal Card for public transport payment still works here!
An evening in the opera: “The Merry Widow”
The following day we have a chance to visit the Liverpool Hospital, the largest hospital in New South Wales. A distant relative is there in care currently. Bright, modern and spacious. Then a stroll through Cabramatta suburb nearby with lots of authentic Asian restaurants and food marts.
The Quay at night
Last evening in Sydney: We attend the delightful operetta “The Merry Widows”. Admittedly we do not go to the opera very often, but I can not remember whether I have ever been there in shorts and T-shirt! We did ask beforehand and were told there is no dress code. Just turn up as we are. And so we do. Fortunately, we are not the only ones with very casual dress. However it is very enjoyable, simply due to the phantastic scenery around and the operetta itself.
See you next time, opera!