Sydney

Hi,

Sorry for the delay in posts - youth hostel life is very different to hotel life and the access we have to internet isn't superb but we are still alive don't worry!

We enjoyed three nights at Sydney Central YHA in the middle of Sydney and to be honest it was the best hostel I have ever stayed in. Ok so some bits weren't 100% clean but the leisure facilities and the kitchens and location were superb - and we were very lucky with our room mates. Would highly recommend it - there were actually families staying there in private rooms and I thought - Well why not, I probably would if I was coming back here with family or something (If whoever I was travelling with could look past all the young mental unwashed travellers who seem to be on the internet all day everyday!)

First day in Sydney - with serious tiredness setting in we went out for a walk (which we seem to do everywhere) and we ended upi at the harbour bridge and the opera house which was stunning I have to say. (The fantastic weather does help the aesthetics of course). After that we headed round a place called McQuarries point and then headed home via Kings Cross - we must have walked a fair distance round Sydney but it really helped for us to get our bearings. We were also able to find a supermarket and cook our first meal of the trip - only pasta and sauce with salad but it was blinkin good.

Second day in Sydney we wandered around some more and ended up at Bondi beach (now that is a heck of a walk from Sydney Central station) we sat and watched the sun go down with a bottle of wine and some tinnies which was great although it got so freezing cold I thought we could have been on Carradale Beach ;o)\

Third day and we decided to head back to Bondi - well we had to really, couldn't exactly miss it. Its had bad reviews for being cheesy and tacky etc but we really enjoyed it and we also enjoyed spotting the lifeguards from the TV show "Surf Rescue" (or something like that) - that made us laugh. After sunbathing for a wehile ) safely of course) we went for a coastal walk to Coogee beach (about a 5k walk but stunning) Coogee was really nice too but we were tired and the day was done, and we were packing up and moving on the next day so we got the bus home.

But when we got home we decided it was too boring to stay in so we headed to Darling which was fantastic in the dark - really very impressed although it was all just touristy london-esque bars and restaurants. I think I have some good pictures from there though - I will post them as soon as I can.

Today we left Sydney Central and we are now in a really small Coastal town called Collaroy - really relaxing so we think we might lay low for a week and plan the next stage of the trip. We are planning to go into Sydney centre tomorrow night though for a Saturday night out and to see the opera house in the dark. (if you know what I mean) Tonight we took a bike ride out to the big supermarket and we should have enough food to save us some $$$'s in the next few days.

The plan from here is a bit sketchy but it is definitely looking like planes trains and automobiles (hopefully hiring a camper van) up to Cairns, off to Ayres Rock and possible Perth before hitting Melbourne. Will keep you all posted!


Hope everyone back home is doing well, we miss you all folks but time is flying already - I think on Tuesday it will have been three weeks away.

Ok, I am off to drink some VB (Aussie beer) and then go off to bed - probably have some beaches we need to check out or soemthing tomorrow. ;o)

SB

p.s apologies for any spelling mistooks, I have no time left to check this - maybe later