Snuggled along the picturesque shores of Australia’s eastern coast, Sydney is known for its iconic landmarks, such as the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, as well as its sun-kissed beaches and lush green spaces. This cosmopolitan metropolis beckons travellers with its allure and charm. We are in Sydney, where every cobblestone tells a story and every sunset paints a masterpiece in the sky. Here is our account of exploring Sydney on a two-day visit.
Ferry Ride to Manly Wharf
On a trip to Sydney, we visited Manly Beach, which is in the suburbs. The best way to get to Manly is by taking a ferry from Circular Quay, Sydney’s main ferry terminal. We use our Opal cards to book a ferry ride and are just in time for the ride. The engines rev up, and the ferry sails with the wind caressing us. The azure blue waters, clear skies with bright sun and sweeping views of the harbour make this ride sheer bliss. We glide past the Sydney Opera and Sydney Harbour Bridge, both icons of Sydney, which have graced so many souvenirs and brochures. Soon, we approach the Manly Wharf and alight from the ferry at around 9:30 in the morning.
Corso
We walk along the Corso- the main street and a part pedestrian mall with shops, cafes, galleries and pubs. You have them all, from aboriginal art stores to bohemian fashion stores selling hats, bags and jewellery to bookstores, pharmacies and souvenir shops. I pass chic cafes, restaurants offering alfresco dining, a thrift store selling preowned items, and the century-old St Mathews Anglican Church. It’s a pleasure to stroll along leisurely compared to the hurried and fast-paced lives we lead back home.
Manly Beach
We soon reach Manly Beach, and as far as we can see, there is a vast expanse of the sea and sand. But why is the beach called Manly? Capt. Arthur Philip is credited with giving the beach this name after the indigenous people. He wrote, “Their confidence and manly behaviour made me give the name of Manly Cove to this place”. We walk on the promenade lined with pine trees and watch as children and families enjoy a day at the beach-swimming, snorkelling, surfing, making sand castles, sunbathing, and relaxing. This is what life should be all about, rather than spending hours in front of laptops and phones, scrolling on social media feeds. The mood is relaxed as there is no rush, and everyone seems to be having a great time. Hours pass quickly, and soon, it’s time to take the return ferry to Sydney.
Sydney Harbour
We are back at the Circular Quay near Sydney Harbour. Sydney Harbour is the heart and soul of Sydney, with more than 240 km of shoreline and the location of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. An artist is demonstrating local aboriginal art using dots, circles and lines to portray objects and living beings. The walkway near Circular Quay has shops and cafes and is vibrant and buzzing with tourists. At the end of the walkway is the Sydney Opera House.
Royal Botanical Garden
We sign up for a guided tour of the Sydney Opera House. Since we have 45 minutes before the guided tour, we decide to explore the Royal Botanical Garden within walking distance. I pick up a brochure of the botanical garden and am awed by the opening lines. “Welcome to the Royal Botanical Garden Sydney. We invite you to walk on the grass, smell the flowers, hug the trees, listen to the birds and picnic on the lawns.” This is a far cry from several gardens we have visited back home in India, where guards will whistle if you walk on the grass, decide to picnic on lawns or touch any flowers!
Established in 1816, the Botanical Garden is home to unique exotic flora native to Australia and overseas. We see unusual-shaped trees, a tree without a single main trunk but several trunks that have risen from aerial roots. A crackle of cockatoos is screeching and flying around as visitors try to click pictures of them. People are relaxing on the lawns, children are playing, and a couple of youngsters are reading.
Some highlights of the Royal Botanical Garden are fernery, tropical garden, succulent garden, herb garden, rose garden and so on. There is even Mrs Macquarie’s Chair carved out of sandstone. Governor Macquarie commissioned it for his wife, who loved to sit here and watch the Sydney Harbour. It will take you a good 2-3 hours to explore the entire garden. It is time for our guided tour of Sydney Opera, so we bid farewell to the garden.
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a testimony to creativity and a great example of modern architecture and design. The lotus-shaped building comprises three groups of ‘shells’ which cover two performance halls and a restaurant. It is surrounded by terraces that provide a vantage view of the Sydney harbour and surroundings. Our tour guide gives us headsets, and we test them for audibility. Our guide tells us that if performances are underway in the performance halls we will not be able to take pictures; otherwise, we can click as many as we like.
Construction of Sydney Opera House
Our tour guide explains the architecture behind the Opera House and the technical, financial and political challenges encountered in its construction, which took 14 years! The man behind the architectural marvel, Dane Jorn Utzon, was awarded the contract by an international jury in 1957. He resigned in 1966 due to political and financial challenges and never saw his labour of love when completed. In 2007, the Sydney Opera House was awarded a UNESCO World Heritage Site tag, and it soon joined the company of other illustrious heritage structures like the Taj Mahal, the Pyramids of Giza, and the Great Wall of China.
Our guide shares architectural details of the building, like the materials used for construction to optimize acoustics and the cream-coloured tiles that appear to be cream, which are actually yellow and grey. We see a video and then visit the various performance halls. The pièce de resistance is the Concert Hall. We are lucky that no performance is underway, so we can click pictures. Next, we visit the Joan Sutherland Theatre, the second largest venue with a seating capacity of 1500 people. We are impressed by all we have seen and heard and hope we can watch an actual performance at the Sydney Opera. A few months after our Sydney trip we visited the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre in Mumbai for a musical at the Grand Theatre. We were surprised to see it bearing a striking resemblance to the Concert Hall.
Sydney Harbour Bridge
Our tour has ended, and we stroll on the terraces, watching the Sydney Harbour Bridge against an ochre sky as the sun sets. The largest steel arch bridge in the world spans 500 metres. One can walk and cycle across it and even climb it to get an adrenaline rush with breathtaking views of the surroundings.
Hyde Park
We have only a day to explore Sydney, and it is already dark as the sun sets. Although we want to explore Hyde Park, it is not the best time to admire its beauty. We decide to go nevertheless and hail a cab to save time. We arrive at Hyde Park and take a leisurely stroll along walkways in the park. The park has monuments, fountains and myriad trees, which we know would be a treat to see in the daytime.
Sydney Tower Eye
The 40-acre park is in the heart of Sydney’s central business district. We can see tall illuminated skyscrapers and the Sydney Tower Eye or Centre Point Tower, the tallest building in Sydney. A popular tourist attraction, it offers an unobstructed 360-degree view of Sydney, including its iconic structures and amazing sunsets.
St Mary’s Cathedral
Across the street from Hyde Park, we head to St Mary’s Cathedral, the largest church in Australia and the seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Sydney. The cathedral, made of sandstone, is lit up and looks stunning at night. Made in the Gothic Revival style of architecture, it reminds us of the Notre Dame in Paris. Because of my convent school upbringing, cathedrals and churches hold a special place for me. I can spend hours in them in quiet contemplation and reflection.
Blue Mountains
The next day, we visit the Blue Mountains, an hour and a half’s drive from Sydney. You can read about it here.
Dinner at Sydney Harbour
In the evening, we have a delicious Southeast Asian dinner with our Australian friends, the Mankads, at the harbour. The place is filled with locals and tourists enjoying a meal, and the view of the harbour is incredible at night. There are dinner cruises and chartered yachts for a night of fun and partying anchored at the harbour. The energy and vibes of the Sydney Harbour are exceptional.
Sydney stands as a vibrant tapestry of culture, natural beauty, and iconic landmarks, offering travelers an unforgettable journey through Australia’s largest city. From the majestic shells of the Sydney Opera House and the towering arch of the Sydney Harbour Bridge to the golden sands of its beaches and the lush greenery of the Royal Botanic Garden, each attraction is a testament to Sydney’s diverse charm. As our time in Sydney draws to a close, we reflect on our incredible experiences in this vibrant city. It’s impossible not to feel a sense of gratitude for the experiences shared and the memories created.
GETTING THERE
Nearest Airport: Sydney Airport is the closest with connectivity to major cities around the world. Distances: Circular Quay-Manly Beach: 30 mins by ferry. Where to stay: We stayed at the Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel at Circular Quay. The advantages of staying close to the harbour are the sweeping views and proximity to the Sydney Opera, Harbour Bridge and other attractions. The downside is that hotel rates are steep. You can do a net search for hotels depending on your budget and comfort level. Travel Tip: We recommend purchasing an Opal Card to help you move around easily on the ferry and trains.