Sunday 30 December we were picked up by Alison at 3am to head to Heathrow. Thankfully the fog that had blighted airport departures/arrivals in recent days had started to disperse. Arriving in good time for check in (even allowing for the additional hour required for flights travelling to the Middle East). We were straight onto the machines (having already checked in online) but the machine said ‘no’ and we had to wait for a human to check our documents. Finally we were given the all clear to go to the baggage drop machines which was quick and simple and we were finally free to clear through security. Security queues were minimal and we were delighted that new scanners had been installed at Terminal 4 at Heathrow which meant that we didn’t have to decant most of our belongings to go through the scanner (including the electronics and liquids).

We then headed to Costa Coffee before making our way to a seating area where we waited for our gate information to become available. The airport was pretty quiet so it wasn’t too much of a struggle sitting around waiting…..once we were informed of the gate number we made our way there….only to find there was in fact a 30 minute delay to our flight (although relieved to find the plane parked there in readiness). Finally we boarded and we were very happy to have secured upstairs seats on the double decker A380, 2nd row back in their small dedicated economy section (just behind the business class bar). Much better than being in the main body of the plane downstairs in rows of economy seating which means usually that your choice of meal is unavailable by the time they get to you LOL. So we settled in quite happy for the first six and a half hour flight. Unfortunately the woman in front of me was pretty inconsiderate in that she preferred her seat reclined, even during meal service. This pattern continued throughout the flight and I just had to suck it up! Eventually we landed at Doha and disembarked…we found the Red Bar and purchased their cheapest bottle of wine at £53. Wow! But actually considering Qatar is a ‘dry’ country suppose we were lucky to be able to purchase alcohol at all LOL

After a couple of hours we made our way to the next gate to rejoin another A380 aircraft. Again, happy to be 2nd row back in the upstairs economy compartment. This journey was also somewhat marred by the irritating German woman in front who appeared to be unable to manage her seat controls – so it was up, back, back, back, back, up, back throughout the 14 hour flight. At this stage I have to ask why me??!!?? LOL

We arrived into Sydney and got through immigration quickly using the e-Gates and, after retrieving our baggage which took a while (although with the Apple tags we knew they had arrived in Sydney with us) we headed over to the red channel to clear customs. If in doubt you declare everything in Australia – they are pretty hot on everything – so we declared our tea bags, our prescription medication and our packet sauces (as we intend to self cater throughout this trip). Quickly we were cleared and off to exit the airport. We booked an Uber to bring us direct to the Rocks area of Sydney which was to our base for the next 7 days. We arrived, got checked in, dumped our bags in our basic but completely acceptable en-suite room and headed to the roof top bar to check out the view. This did not disappoint although the wine selection was awful! Anyway, after a very long travelling time (28 hours door to door) we didn’t linger for too long before heading to bed.

For those wondering where this gem of a place is…well sit down prepare for a surprise…it is the Sydney Youth Hostel, The Rocks. Not the sort of place we would usually stay but getting a room with a view for New Year’s Eve in this area is very difficult.

After a really good night’s sleep, we woke up reasonably early and headed to the breakfast buffet – basic but adequate – and met some Australians who lived in the country who had come here to watch the fireworks too.

We headed out with a shopping list of things to do – the most important was to check the credit on our Opal cards (which we had from last time) so we could use the transport system here in Sydney. But this became insignificant when we realised that we had no internet coverage so couldn’t use our phones to navigate around the city LOL. Way too expensive to use our UK plan here so the need for a local SIM became the number one target. We walked for miles…it was very hot and humid….and the crowds were building. At every turn we increasingly came across security checks and areas sealed off for the NYE event….and there were security officials and police everywhere. So after scrambling through crowds we called it a day and returned to the sanctity of our room. Amazing that by 12 noon many public locations to watch the fireworks were at capacity and people were being turned away. Can’t imagine waiting 12 hours or longer sitting around on blankets for the event to begin! Complete madness.

At around 6.30 pm we headed to the rooftop bar, received our wrist bands, enjoyed our complimentary first Prosecco of the night and found somewhere to sit. At which point the food started circulating on platters….sushi, oysters, tiger prawns, satay, beef sliders, curry puffs….which continued to be served throughout the night. We knew the NYE party (which was included in our room rate) said that food was included, but this was exceptional in both quality and quantity.

Around 8pm a male singer / guitarist started on his set and he was amazing. The youngish crowd were keen to engage and the dance floor was full….despite the music being more our era. Check out the crowds below us lining the streets…..and the tall riggers all lit up for the party…

Anyway, around 8.50 the guy took a break and the countdown started for the first fireworks of the night at 9pm. These were noisy, amazing, inspirational and emotional all at the same time. This was bucket list stuff….and it wasn’t even midnight yet!

After these we enjoyed listening to the guy again and chatting to our neighbours – who were from Lincoln here to explore the East Coast by renting an RV up north (Cairns) to drive back towards Sydney over a 11 week period. We discussed problems with securing house / travel insurance that we had encountered in trying to put this trip together which, thankfully, we had both overcome but agreed that it had been a more difficult process than it should have been!

At 11.50 pm we were each handed another complimentary glass of Prosecco and made our way to the rail in preparation for the big show. At midnight, the church bell rang and the city exploded before our eyes – the noise was something else – and the smoke created was significant. We could also see people on privately owned penthouse balconies doing their own thing…guess that would cost more than a lottery win LOL. And they had the same view as us!

Anyway, as you can probably tell, we would recommend this place for New Year’s Eve festivities. It is not as cheap as its name suggests but considerably less than the 5-star swanky places around whom don’t even have a rooftop bar for guests to watch the fireworks…..So win win for sure.

New Year’s Day we were back out on a mission to get our list completed – but, of course, it is a public holiday so many stores were closed. First stop was the Hat Shop where we picked up some nice breathable matching ones then jumped on the Big Bus for the Hop on Hop Off City Tour. We managed to get seats on the top deck and enjoyed the breeze but the hard moulded plastic seats were incredibly uncomfortable.

We didn’t particularly want to visit any of the stops as we realised that we had seen much of this the last time we were here. Feeling uninspired and very hot and bothered we got off the bus having done the whole loop and started walking. We found a supermarket (closed), couldn’t find a Telstra store that was open (for the SIM card) and having got our Opal cards sorted we returned to the hostel on the train network. Enjoyed the historic Museum station…

We went to a local old pub for an early dinner and, realising just how tired we were, went back and crashed. Another 10k steps day in the bag…phew! Finding this a bit challenging in the heat and humidity as my legs still hadn’t recovered from the long flight.

Thursday 2 January we finally found a Mall that was open and had a Telstra store. So SIM card purchased and Coles supermarket visited, we headed back to the hostel. We picked up their WiFi and got our Australian SIM up and running. Was very pleased to be connected again LOL.

At lunch time we went back down all the steps to the Fortune of War pub – Sydney’s oldest – where we had agreed to meet Ernest and his son Jack. Thought Jack might be shy around strangers but he wasn’t and completely embraced us (literally at times LOL). As it was a cruise ship day the area was rammed so we picked up Ernest’s van and headed out on a drive around. First stop was a famous pie shop Harry’s Cafe de Wheels which was opened (originally in 1936) and then again in 1945 near the Naval Dockyard in Woolloomooloo when Harry Edwards realised that it was impossible to get good late night food anywhere in Sydney. The wheels came because of a by-law at the time that food trucks needed to move 12 inches each day to remain legal – so it was dutifully moved every night to comply. And it serves amazing pies / hot dogs etc….in fact the day we were there we had to queue up for at least 10 minutes. And yum….probably the best pie we’ve had in Sydney….

Moving on we headed to Rushcutters Bay (which is the location for the start of the Sydney to Hobart race) and where Ernest and his family had been based prior to their circumnavigation when he was a child. Very brave back in the day without all the things we take for granted now like GPS etc and his parents were complete novices. Ernest never lost his love for the ocean and now lives on his boat SV Crossbones. We originally met him in Cuba and multiple times in Queensland during the covid restrictions. Such a great bloke and, as this was the first time we saw him with one of his sons, we realised he was a great father too….

We continued down the coast stopping at various bays and coastlines admiring the scenery – interesting to drive through some very affluent neighbourhoods and some not so…. We travelled beyond Bondi Beach and continued following the coastline trying not be pranked by Jack along the way LOL. Oh yes and admiring how a Ferrari managed to smash into someone’s property in the middle of the afternoon.

After a really nice visit catching up with Ernest he drove us back to the hostel – thank you guys for a great tour – and then went to the rooftop bar for a BBQ. It was nice but chilly so we decided to have an early night. We did try to buy a bottle from the bar to take to our room but was told that this was against the rules so definitely not allowed. Guess they don’t want people partying in the rooms…and there can’t be one rule for a couple of oldies sharing a private room versus a dorm full of backpackers.

Friday 3 January we went out and about and decided to explore by Ferry….so took the 90 minute trip to Parramatta. The river was nice to check out but, because of the height of the tide, we couldn’t get under the final bridge and had to get a bus replacement for the last 10 minutes or so. Arriving into Parramatta we went for a wander into the mall and that was about it. We headed back to the quay to find a huge queue waiting for the first ferry of the day…we managed to get onto the boat when it arrived noticing that it had dropped its navigation lights on the top deck to get under the final bridge. The water level had dropped but not significantly…

On the return trip we got off early at Darling Harbour and had happy hour Indian beers and snacks for a late brunch. Lovely it was too…. We then walked back up the steps (and there are lots of them in the Rocks area) to the hostel, got cleaned up, and headed back down to the quay to meet Richard’s ex-NDY colleagues in the Cruise Bar on the dock. The scenery was marred by a huge ship but, not long as we all met up, it departed so the Opera House came into view again. Sam and her parents (who are currently over from the UK visiting) arrived first shortly followed by Margaret and her husband and young son. Her husband and son left us shortly afterwards having done the introductions and left Margaret with us. `It was a lot of fun as they all caught up on their respective news….

Saturday 4 January we explored again using the train / tram network – this time we headed to Chinatown and eventually ended up in Paddy’s Market which was good as I needed to buy a pink hat (explanation later LOL). Afterwards we had some Chinese street food before returning to Darling Harbour where we had a couple of beers watching the acrobats who were running a training school during the Sydney Festival. Lots of fun! We then walked back to Circular Quay and had a drink in a lovely Turkish restaurant before heading back up to the hostel for the night. All those steps!

Sunday 5 January we were up early and got kitted out all in pink to go to the cricket. This was the final test between Indian and Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. This was held at the Sydney Cricket Ground and all monies raised were for the McGrath foundation which is a cancer charity (hence the pink). And boy was it a sea of pink! We used the light rail network to go from Circular Quay to Moore Park. On arrival we met up with my nephew Jamie and one of his son’s Adam. Was lovely to see them again after such a long time….

It was such a fun atmosphere and Australia needed to bowl India out so they had the target for the day. The match started well for Australia – the crowd were completely engrossed – and we had to learn lots of Aussie slang and hand signals for fours as well as take part in Mexican waves. We had lots of Indians in the audience too and the noise of the drums and musical instruments was pretty loud. Finally Australia were batting for the cup……and the crowd got louder and louder LOL. Eventually at around 2.30 pm the final ball was bowled and Australia hit a six. The crowd erupted. This was the first time that Australia had won the cup for 10 years! A historic moment and we were there to see it. So grateful to Jamie for inviting us along to be part of this day. Plus the Foundation raised over 6mn AU $ too….amazing!

Although sitting in full sun for much of the day in 38 degree centigrade temperatures was pretty brutal – and even though we happily indulged when the men came round with sun tan lotion for all and water refills we still managed to get a little crisp in places….my neck got burnt between my bandana and my blouse. Damn….

After the cricket we headed back on the Light Rail to Circular Quay – was like a commuter day in London LOL. We were enticed back into the Cruise Bar by a really good two piece band – the girl had an amazing voice and her rendition of Amy Whitehouse was as good as any.

But it was dead….nobody around….perhaps all the cricket fans peaked too early LOL?? Anyway we decided to check out the Rocks to see if we could find somewhere to have dinner before returning back up the hill. We ended up in Munich Brauhaus which was strange but fun. We had a reasonable meal and bottle of wine before retiring. Pretty early by our standards because we had to pack for our morning departure.

Monday morning we checked out and stayed in the hostel whilst we chatted to some young British backpacker women who were all travelling solo. One of the best things about being in the hostel was mingling with such a variety of guests of different ages / nationalities and backgrounds. Anyway, so that wraps up our stay in Sydney – come back soon for the next instalment of our Australian adventure.

Bye for now, Jan