Sing-a-Long with Sydney -March 2017

There is so much to Sydney; its young and vibrant population of many cultures. My recent three-night stop off in Sydney was exciting. It was at the end of a cruise from San Francisco, although slightly tinged with sadness disembarking the Queen Elizabeth in the pouring rain (yes it rains in Australia). A swift transfer to our hotel in Darling Harbour was pre-arranged and early check-in meant we had the whole day to start discovering this really interesting place.

Darling Harbour is a great place to stay as you are on the edge of everything, in particular the area of Pyrmont with its little cafes and bakeries and Victorian houses. You’re just footsteps from the harbour side where water taxis can shuttle you into Circular Quay Harbour, so this is, in my opinion, the perfect location for a short break.

A stroll along the promenade, the Darling Harbour Walk is the perfect start to your stay and takes you around the Aquarium, Wild Life Sydney and Madame Tussauds with plenty of opportunities for a coffee stop to take in the charming surroundings. You can jump on one of the numerous ferries at Pier 36 to whisk you around Barangaroo and Dawes Point, under Sydney Bridge and into Circular quay. We bought a rechargeable transport card which makes this a very cheap from of transport compared to a taxi. Off then to explore The Rocks area, a quaint collection of Victorian warehouse conversions, a profusion of cafes and restaurants and a lively market at the weekends. I usually turn my nose up at markets, but this was very well organised and the quality of items on sale very high. I bought several artisan pieces here; I may have changed my mind about markets.

Time for a lunch stop, it was Sunday and live music everywhere created a really relaxed vibe. An afternoon stroll around The Rocks and a visit to one or two of the pubs reminded me of the heritage the early settlers left here. Sydney is rich in history with much preserved and carefully mingles in with a modern city.

An early evening water taxi to the Opera House is the way to arrive. I pre-booked tickets for a “Best Of” opera performance, just enough to get the feel of the Opera House whilst sipping a glass of bubbles overlooking the harbour. An hour-long performance gave ample opportunity to take in the atmosphere and architecture of this much photographed building, up close it looks a lot different!

Strolling around Circular Quay finding somewhere to eat is fun, especially when the Queen Mary 2 is berthed on the opposite quay almost overshadowing Sydney Bridge. I enjoyed The Sydney Cove Oyster Bar - Its nights like this you remember on a holiday.

A stroll in the Royal Botanical Gardens is an absolute must; allow a morning, with a stop at the restaurant. An afternoon shopping in downtown is a must, try the Westfield Central Plaza, Pitt Street Mall, the Queen Victoria Building and The Strand Arcade. Follow this with afternoon tea in The Tea Room with sublime Victorian architecture and Baccarat crystal chandeliers.