Sydney - New Year's Eve 2011

Our first view of the Opera House was as we approached Sydney from Ayers Rock on the aeroplane. We are not sure why we found it so exciting, perhaps because it is such an iconic building. After settling in at our hotel, brilliantly situated in the Rocks area of Sydney we headed straight for a close up view of the Opera House. What we hadn't realised was that the tiles on the roof are patterned, we thought they were just white. Seeing the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge together was really spectacular.

The following day we crossed the bridge on a minibus on our way to the Blue Mountains. We had breakfast at a pretty town called Richmond, situated on the river, then drove up into the mountains. The tour was a bit of a disappointment as it comprised of just looking out from various view points. The Blue Mountains were worth seeing, particularly the Grand Canyon. The mountains get their name from a blue haze created from the significant number of eucalyptus trees that grow on the mountainside. Whilst in Sydney we went to eat at both Darling Harbour and Circular Quay. We far preferred Circular Quay which we felt was more up market.

We planned our whole Australia trip on being in Sydney for New Years Eve. We started the day off with a walk across the Harbour Bridge and had breakfast at a lovely little cafe on the other side. We had decided not to do the 230 dollar Sydney Bridge Climb but opted for the free flat walk across. We did pay to go up the pylon tower on the bridge, which gave great views. During the day we visited Manly on the ferry and went for a beautiful walk that took us partly around the coast and then through a nature reserve. Getting back there was a buzz around Sydney that we have never experienced anywhere else on New Years Eve. We couldn't help but get very excited along with everyone else. We had pre-booked tickets at Mrs McQuaries Point in the Royal Botanical Gardens, a really good spot to watch the fireworks. Tables were set out and we enjoyed a meal and a disco. We had a prime spot with the Opera House in the foreground and the Harbour Bridge behind. The 9 o'clock fireworks were a taster of what was to come at midnight. The fireworks seeing in the New Year went on for 12 minutes and were truly spectacular. It was hard to believe we were watching the Sydney fireworks live rather than on tv as we usually do, as they launch the New Year's celebrations across the world.

The next day we walked a little around the city. The highlight was the Queen Victoria Building, an indoor shopping arcade, where although the shops were shut the building was open and wonderfully quiet. It is such a beautiful building and it is incredible to think they considered knocking it down in the 70's. We then went to Bondi Beach which did not live up to our expectations. It was horribly busy and dreadfully commercialised. We had been suggested the coastal walk from Bondi Beach to Coogee Beach. This took about two hours and went past a number of less spoilt beaches with surfers. Both Bondi and Coogee were packed with limited space to put even a small towel down. We were quite happy to get back to Sydney.

The following day we did a tour of the Hunter Valley vineyards. We visited both small and large wineries. The wine tasting started at 10.30 in the morning and finished 31 glasses later at 3.30pm! We decided that we were not overly keen on the wines from this area and preferred the cheese and chocolate tasting we had en route.

Whilst in Sydney we visited the Opera Bar and the Blu Bar, situated on the 36th floor of the Shangri La hotel. Both of these are worth doing given the buzz of the Opera Bar and the view from the Blu Bar.

Sydney was special because of the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge but when asked what to do, most people suggest places outside the city. It is as though people want to escape from Sydney. However, we wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else for New Year's Eve.