1 Day in Sydney before flying to Western Australia

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100% Recommended

Dawn Thompson

Bremerton, WA
South Island New Zealand Travel Agent Specialist

  “Certain things in life simply have to be experienced” -Paula CoelhaRichGreetings! 

I'm delighted to share my story with you, especially if you're ready to embark on an enchanting journey through the captivating landscapes of New Zealand....

Sydney Classic Bike ride with Bonza Bikes e-bike

I arrived at 6:15am at Sydney International airport, cleared customs before meeting my driver for my private transfer to the Four Seasons Sydney Hotel. Dropped my bags, used the Endota Spa to freshen up and by 9:00am I was having breakfast at the Park Hyatt Hotel with a stunning view of the Sydney Opera House. I absolutely love Muesli (like a homemade granola cereal in the US) but this morning I chose ricotta pancakes, malfroys honey, whipped ricotta and cinnamon with a side chicken sausage and a flat white (like a latte) and it did not disappoint. After a quick inspection of the hotel to see recent updates, I made my way outside for pictures of the harbour with a brilliant sunrise. 


By 10:30am I had checked into Bonza Bikes to start my 4-hour Sydney Classic bike ride tour of the city. It is one of their more leisurely rides and visits all the icons. I opted to pay the upgrade fee to get an E-bike which I was so happy about later when I did encounter a few small hills. On this tour I saw more than I have seen on any of my trips combined. I rode across Sydney Bridge where I stopped to see jellyfish. I rode through the botanical gardens wishing I had time to stop and take one of their Aboriginal Heritage Tours and then over to Darling Harbour. Darling Harbour had changed so much since my last visit, it has kept its small intimate feel but added lots of dinning choices and is still quite a family friendly destination in Sydney. 


Next, I rode through Hyde Park, through the International District and into Barangaroo Reserve. This was my first visit to Barangaroo which is one of Sydney newest harbor parks. It is a dedicated car-free zone so there were lots of runners, bike riders and skaters. There are so many different nature trails to explore, open grass areas to have a picnic, extensive cycling paths and lots of quite spaces to relax, meditate or read a book. 


As my bike ride came to an end, I made one last stop at the famous Mrs. Macquaries Chair which was a sandstone rock cut into the shape of a bench. It is a historical piece of art from the 1800's hand carved by the first convicts that came to Australia. 


So now it was time to be an American for a second and grab a Starbucks in the Rocks. I was looking for a souvenir card of Sydney but could not resist the smell of home, I am from Seattle so...


Next, I jumped on the train & the light rail and rode to Paddy’s Market to grab some cheap souvenirs, get a quick massage and eat famous cream puffs.


It had already been a big day, so it was time for a quick change before heading down to the Opera Bar at sunset for dinner, drinks and people watching. I ended the evening by watching a light show at the Opera House. This show happens a few times nightly for free and is about 5 minutes and depicts different stories of Australia. through light and sound on the Opera House sails.


 I then returned to my room where I was greeted with champagne and treats. After a quick nightcap I fell into my plush mattress for a deep sleep. It was a very long but truly amazing day. 

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