We flew from Bali to Sydney, once again going through Bangkok. Here we are leaving the coast of Thailand, with the winding Chao Phraya River in the distance. We stayed at the Park Hyatt Sydney. Park Hyatt is one of our favorite brands, and this one is perfectly located across from the iconic Sydney Opera House, snug up against The Rocks historic district, and a stone’s throw from Circular Quay.Arching behind the hotel is the Sydney Harbor Bridge. It’s popular to climb up and over the top of the arch, leashing yourself to the girders. Even though you get a hat for the effort, we didn’t go.Looking across Campbells Cove, the city’s skyline rises over Circular Quay, with the older buildings of The Rocks on the right.Our visit coincided perfectly with Vivid Sydney, an enigmatic festival celebrating light, music and new ideas.It’s the light part that stands out. Front and center, the Sydney Opera House becomes a three dimensional screen for a cinematic projection of moving fantastical shapes.Elsewhere, colors dance across buildings and lights strafe the night sky.One evening we walked around the quay and along the point to the opera house.We wanted to see an opera, but a comedic play was the only thing on stage.The play was on a smaller stage in one of the several theaters housed in the opera house. The show was just okay.We took a day and rode one of the many ferries that sail from the docks on Circular Quay.We went to Manly, which lies a bit north of the headlands at the entrance to Sydney Harbor. The photo above looks out between the Sydney Heads to the Pacific Ocean.The town of Manly straddles the narrow peninsula the ends at the North Headland, the bay side being barely a third of a mile from Pacific side. Manly is a charming town, with a small, low rise downtown, trees, and stately churches.The headland itself is mostly the North Head Sanctuary national park, with the Barracks Precinct on a central rise. Now an army barracks, parade ground, and open air venue, it’s been a quarantine station, guarded the harbor during WWII, and served as the Army School of Artillery.We circumnavigated the North Head starting from the Manly Wharf and following trails that led along the shore. Even though we knew it was the wrong time of year, we looked for Fairy Penguins on Collins Beach.No penguins, but we had the quiet little beach to ourselves. Eventually, we arrived at Cabbage Tree Bay and Shelly Beach on the Pacific Ocean. There were a couple of small restaurants. We picked the Boat House, sat in the open air, and enjoyed lunch. The blogger had fish & chips. After our lunch, we continued along the shore and headed back to Manly town. This photo is looking north, back toward Shelly Beach.It wasn’t far to Manly Beach, which is on the Pacific side of the town and only a half dozen blocks across town from where we started at the wharf. As we took the ferry back to Sydney, we could see ourselves living in Manly.On another day, we hired a car one day and headed a couple of hours north to the Hunter Valley wine region, the only wine country near Sydney.We did some winery hopping, visiting Tyrrell’s Wines …Where we had a view of the broad flat Hunter Valley from the winery.And we visited Mistletoe Winery (above and below), with its compromised signage …And we stopped at Ernest Hill Wines (above and below) …Where we saw a mob of kangaroos in a far field …They saw us, too.For a light lunch, we stopped at the warehouse-like Hunter Valley Cheese Company.And ate cheese.On another day we walked two bays bay over to Harry’s in Wooloomooloo. It’s the place for savory pies and mushy peas.We sat on a bench at Finger Wharf and ate pies – without the mushy peas. They’re a taste of historical British cuisine. Unfortunately, historic British cuisine leaves much to be desired. But then it’s in Wooloomooloo, and who doesn’t like to say Wooloomooloo. Wooloomooloo.Between Wooloomooloo and Circular Quay is the Sydney Royal Botanic Garden. Established over 200 years ago, it’s 75 acres of urban oasis. Like every other place in Sydney, it was leaning into Vivid Sydney.We spent much of the afternoon enjoying the park, as were these Australian White Ibises.We’d often find ourselves on the streets of The Rocks, historic old Sydney where the first European settlers – many of them convicts – came ashore and setup shop.There are little street markets during the day …And restaurants for evenings, like Appetitos (above), where we were served Italian food by African students who were in Sydney on one year work visa.And Fish at the Rocks, where we ate fish …Halibut …And stuffed barramundi.Just before we left, since the hotel offered high tea, we had tea and nibbles (above and below).Then it was time to fly back home to Honolulu. Exit through the gift shop.
