Another day another country

We have just returned from our five day tour of Sydney. We've spent five very sunny and hot days chilling out with Anna and Gavin. Anna and Gav were great hosts and tourist guides, even though our tour sometimes felt like a fat camp as for a walk through a seemly flat city we had climbed lots and lots of stairs. Our tour consisted of a short walk around the harbour then a walk to the most famous view of harbour bridge and the opera house (Mrs Macquarie's Chair view), after that we walked through the city centre to the bridge where we climbed 250 steps to the top of bridge pillar so we can check out the city from above. After the long climb we went for a well deserved drinks on the Rocks and somehow ended up in a bar in the fashionable area of Darlington Harbour.

One day we took ferry to Manly so Rob could take a walk down the memory lane. "This is where I used to live, this is where my job was and this is where I spent my money (the bar of course)". Manly is a lovely little place with a beach restort feeling to it.

Our last day was spent doing everything we hadn't got around to. We went searching for the 'Summer Bay' - yup it had to be done - we drove all the way to the Palm Beach where they tape 'Home and Away' and we took a dip in the ocean surrounded by the familiar scenes. Then we quickly drove to the view spot in pretty Blue Mountains (well Blue hills anyway), overlooking the three sisters. But to top it all we stopped in the zoo for a quick survey of Australian animals. Koala bears, kangaroos, deadly spiders and snakes - the lot.

Tired but happy we went out for a farewell drink with our hosts and then it was back to NZ for the volcanos, hot pools and the other delights of the North Island.