Sydney

Yes it's us..... and Sydney Opera House.
We were so excited as we flew in from Cairns and could clearly see the Sydney Harbour Bridge and SOH below us, so it was a quick dash to the hotel to meet up with the relations!

Our next destination, Sydney and the Russell Hotel situated on The Rocks. The hotel was chosen because of its location and was more like an old boarding house rather than a hotel, none of us was impressed and it had cost the earth! But we had all the necessities - bed and a shower... and it was clean..... so as we all dug deep as we could never have found other accommodation on The Rocks at this late stage and had to be in Sydney for New Year's Eve ... it was a must! Diane and Geoff, Doug's sister and her husband have also been travelling and we ensured we met up to celebrate Geoff's birthday big time... 31st December. The City of Sydney even agreed to put on a bit of a fireworks display for him!

Geoff, Diane and Doug

All the usual highlights - Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Central Quay, boat cruise of the harbour, bus-top tour of the city, etc before the big day.

Then 8 hours of sitting on a pavement waiting for the party! We were sat right below the SOH and surrounded by other parties.

Two sets of fireworks - one at 9pm and one at midnight. Afraid the photos were useless, but take it from us the fireworks were spectacular -360 degrees for at least 20 minutes (millions of dollars of fireworks) and like we have never seen before. It was the 75th anniversary of the Bridge this year so the Aussies had really made an extra effort.

Cheers!

A soggy picnic sandwich was washed down with large quantities of beer and bubbly and a good time was had by us four - and the million other people who had descended on Sydney for the big night.

Apparently - it's traditional to go to Bondi Beach on New Year's Day, so we did - in the rain! But by lunchtime the weather had cleared and we all topped up our suntans. Doug and Geoff thoroughly enjoyed bodysurfing in the breakers and Diane and Diane thoroughly enjoyed looking at all the lovely young men!

Did you know that it is the 100th birthday of the Surf & Life Saving Clubs in Australia and that Bondi Beach was the first one?

There's also now loads of girls now as lifeguards... equality and all that!

Bondi Beach Surf & Life Saving Club

Next day Diane and Geoff headed off to Uluru - and we made our way to the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Dear friend, Gemma, back in the UK , had conspired with Diane to get fantastic tickets for part of Doug's 60th birthday treat - to watch the England team being humiliated in the final match of the Ashes!

Sydney Cricket Ground

Fortunately the Barmy Army thrashed the Aussie equivalent when it came to banter and anthems.... in fact we learned some interesting new words to Waltzing Matlilda courtesy of the

Barmy Army.... ask us when we get home!

Lee to Cook

So our Australian adventure is over....

now on to New Zealand .....

and a month in a campervan... that should be interesting!