It’s been a long wait to get overseas again, but I finally made it. This time, Mom and I are off to explore a bit of our last continent, Australia—with New Zealand added in for good measure. We’re taking a two-week cruise between the two countries and bookending the trip with a couple of days in Sydney and a couple in Auckland.
Arrival in Sydney
We touched down in Sydney on November 6th, around 9:00 AM, two days after we left. Amazingly, it was the easiest long-haul flight I’ve ever done. Everything ran smoothly, and I even had the happy coincidence of catching up with some good friends who ended up assigned to the same row as me on the flight to San Francisco.
After landing, we made our way to our hotel, where the staff kindly let us check in super early. Then it was off to explore.
We wandered The Rocks and got our first views of Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. The Opera House really is an icon—it had that same “wow” factor as seeing the Eiffel Tower or the Pyramids for the first time.
Ferry to Manly
After a short decompress at the hotel, we followed the suggestion of a lovely local couple we met at baggage claim (everyone here is incredibly friendly) and took the ferry to a nearby area called Manly. The ferry offers great harbor views without tour-boat prices and drops you right into a spot known for beaches and adventure activities.
We wandered around Manly, visited the local art museum, and dipped our toes into the Indian Ocean for the first time. Still following our new friends’ recommendations, we ended the evening with dinner at a local hotel’s rooftop bar. After delicious dumplings and chicken satay, we were more than ready for bed.
Day Trip to the Blue Mountains
The next day was our big exploration day: a trip into the Blue Mountains outside Sydney. I originally planned for us to take the train, but after reading countless posts recommending driving, I decided to give left-hand driving a try. Overall, it went surprisingly well—at the very least, we returned the car in the same condition we got it in.
After picking up the car, we drove about an hour and a half into the mountains, stopping along the way for breakfast.
Scenic World
Our first stop was Scenic World, a former mining site turned tourist attraction. Their biggest claim to fame—the steepest railroad in the world—was closed, but the two operational trams still offered fantastic views of the surrounding mountains. The rainforest walkways had also been transformed into a dinosaur exhibition, which was more fun than I expected.
Wentworth Falls
From there, we headed to hike Wentworth Falls. The path to the falls was crowded, but once we continued onto a loop trail beyond them, the crowds disappeared. The loop took us through rainforest and under sandstone cliffs—fantastic and definitely my favorite part of the day.
Evening Back in Sydney
After the hike, we headed back toward the city. I managed Sydney’s rush-hour traffic and no one died, so I’m calling it a win. We wrapped up the day with a pizza from a local Italian restaurant and a bottle of Australian Rosé from a nearby wine shop, enjoying a relaxed dinner in our room.
Coming Up Next
Tomorrow brings a slow morning, a beautiful beach stroll, and an evening of culture with a show at the Sydney Opera House.
Stay tuned for more!