A Week in Sydney Australia, Sydney, Australia

After all the effort to get to Australia my month is finally at a close. I had hoped to get to Darwin, Perth, then Whitsundays and southern Australia. But state borders remain either closed or require quarantine so it will be for another trip. I’m still feeling very lucky that I jumped on the flight from New Zealand when I did, or the borders would have shut again. And, I only got into Australia because I happened to be in New Zealand at the time. Twice blessed.

While in Sydney, I managed to walk almost 20,000 steps a day, much needed by my pandemic belly! I filled my days with many joyful activities. Here are some of my favorites:

This was my number one favorite activity in Sydney. The gardens are beautiful, and with the iguanas appearing everywhere, made quite a treat! Careful you don’t step on one, and yes, they are real. You can meander slowly around the beautifully carved paths, in and out of pagodas, and stare out at the pond. Chinese zodiac symbols can be found if you look for them.

Though somewhat touristy, I enjoyed looking out over the water, and found it worthwhile to return at night, when the lights make the harbour come alive. While the restaurants around the water are very expensive, you can find some really fun places inbetween the harbour and Haymarket, along some of the side streets. One of my favorites was Dopa, a funky donburi restaurant. The food was delicious for such a casual eatery. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).