A Leisurely Morning
Today was our last full day in Sydney, and we took it at a much more relaxed pace. We headed down for breakfast around 9:00, then spent the morning wandering through the weekend market at The Rocks. It reminded me a bit of Portland Saturday Market—though with less patchouli and more eucalyptus oil.
Coastal Walk: Coogee to Bondi
After the market, we made our way to Coogee Beach to begin the coastal walk to Bondi Beach. The trail runs about 3.5 miles along the coastline, linking a string of beaches and ocean views. It was a bit chilly and windy, so we didn’t stop to sunbathe, but it was still a gorgeous walk.
We even spotted a few whales off the coast—an unexpected surprise since it’s not peak viewing season!
The walk ends at the famous Bondi Beach, which was lively and crowded despite the cool weather. The sand was soft and powdery, and we dipped our feet in the ocean (definitely chilly!). I’d need it to be a lot warmer before I’d be tempted to swim.
Dinner and a Show
After lunch, we headed back to the hotel for a quick swim in the pool before getting ready for our evening out. After much debate, we decided on a lovely French restaurant, where I had one of the best French onion soups I’ve ever tasted.
Then it was on to the main event — a show at the Sydney Opera House.
When Mom and I began planning this trip, one of the first things we agreed on was that we wanted to see a performance at the Opera House. During our stay, the two main options were a ballet and an orchestral concert featuring the music from the video game Death Stranding.
I’ve tried (and failed) to play Death Stranding a few times, but I’ve always loved its soundtrack. After warning Mom that the accompanying visuals might be a bit bizarre, we decided that was the one to see.
The experience was incredible. The acoustics in the Opera House are every bit as amazing as you’d expect. Even sitting near the back, it felt like we were listening through high-end headphones, with perfectly balanced sound from every direction. The concert was fantastic and left me already dreaming of coming back someday to hear one of my favorite classical pieces performed there.
What’s Next
Tomorrow we’re taking a hop-on-hop-off bus tour to see a few more city sights before boarding our cruise ship and officially starting the next leg of our adventure!