Mum's Aussie Adventure Days 4 - 6

Sunday 8th March 2015

Aware that we had plenty of time in Sydney to complete my 'must do' list, we veered off list first thing, taking the bus all of the way up Glebe Point Road.  Spending a lot of time in a city means that you can find suburbs that are still central but aren't always visited by tourists so I took advantage of having staying in Glebe prior to Mum's visit to show her this lovely area.  We took a quick look at a Chinese temple which I'd meant to look at while I was staying close by but never got round to.  Then we wandered round Jubilee Park and Bicentennial Park before taking the Light Rail back to Capitol Square. 

After lunch I began to panic about the Groupon vouchers I'd bought for the Opera House that afternoon.  I hadn't actually read the details and was worried that I should've made a seperate booking using the vouchers as payment.  With much relief, our tickets were waiting for us when we arrived.  We'd booked to see Operea Greatest Hits - 90 minutes of all the well known arias, simply performed with soloists and a piano but with all of the gusto you'd expect from an opera singer. 

 

After the performance, we strolled round the Opera House along the waters edge and induldged in an ice cream at Circular Quay. 

 

Back at the apartment we Facetimed Stuart and Jamie before settling down to enjoy the Mardi Gras coverage on TV.  Last year, SGLC got no coverage so it was really exciting this year to hear and see us singing as part of the flag rasing (I think I could even pick out my voice!) and then to catch a brief glimpse of us tangoing behind the commentators.

Monday 9th March 2015

An early start was in store for us today because we wanted to make the most of a day in the Blue Mountains.  We caught the 8:18 train from Central Station to Katoomba and raced ahead of the crowd to buy tickets and reach the stop for the Explorer double decker bus to Scenic World.  Once inside, Mum and I know our priorities so our first stop was for tea and cake - but with this stunning view!
 

Enjoying the views over and amongst the rainforest, we glided to the valley floor on the cableway, the steepest aeriel cable car in the southern hemisphere, and took a long walk along the round the walkway to the railway. 
 

Filled with fear, I was adamant that I wasn't going to ride on the steepest incline railway in the world after my last hair raising experience!  Mum was more that welcome to have a go with me meeting her at the top but she settled for having a seat in one of the original cars!
 

Instead of taking the railway, we returned to the top in a far more relaxing fashion on the cableway.
 

Back at the Scenic World centre we waited in quite a queue for the Skyway.  While the Cableway takes you down into the valley, the Skyway soars between clifftops. 

"Suspended 270 metres above ancient ravines, the Skyway provides a unique thrill as breathtaking views are revealed beneath your feet through the electro-glass cabin floor. With 360° views, the 720 metre journey provides the best views of Katoomba Falls, the Three Sisters, and Jamison Valley stretching to the horizon." - www.scenicworld.com.au
 

Once at the eastern station, we enjoyed our lunch in the sun before capturing the 'three sisters' rocks on camera. 
 

 

We took the skyway back to Scenic World and cought the sightseeing bus round to Honeymoon Lookout. Last time I was in the Blue Mountains I was aware of several walks to and from different point on the tour bus's route and had bookmarked taking advantage of these during Mum's visit. From Honeymoon Lookout we walked back to Echo Point but dissapointingly we had to take a detour along part of the road. After refreshing drinks and ice lollies and another lookout to the 3 sisters we had no time to visit the toy musuem - there always seems to be too much to see and do in some places!
 

With a tricky decision about what to do next, we decided that with a 2 hour journey ahead of us that we would return to the train station but with a little time before the train would depart for Sydney we wandered up and down the main street of Katoomba.

Arriving back in Sydney at 19:22, we were pretty exhausted so we were very extravagent and ordered room service from Macchiato - the restaurant we'd met Janet and Clive in on Mum's first day.
 

We fitted in a few games before bed time.
 

Tuesday 10th March 2015

After a busy day yesterday we had a bit of a lie in.  Checking the weather forecast, we made the most of the nice day by purchasing tickets for the CitySightseeing bus and travelling out to Bondi with lots of lovely views.  We weren't too concerned about leaving the bus, a passing view of the famous beach was enough so we returned to the city and had lunch in the Queen Victoria Building.
 

Back on the Sightseeing bus we rode from the Town Hall round to the Botanical Gardens and spent quite a long time admiring the different sections.  Near Farm Cove there were several very tame Cockatoos so I managed to take some amazing photographs.
 

 

 

 

Re-boarding the bus at th State Library, we completed the circuit, following Hickson Road to Dawes Point.

 

 Disembarking at the QVB to stock up on cake and hot chips from Grill'd (the essentials!) we returned to the apartment for leftover pizza for dinner.  As we enjoyed our view of the city skyline at twilight, we planned out the resrt of our time in Sydney.
 

 

You're off to great places, today is your day.  You're mountain is waiting so get on your way. - Dr Seuss