Sydney - my top 5

I've just said goodbye to my parents after a great two months of having them over here from the UK. To say this week has been stressful and very upsetting is an understatement. It seems to be much harder this time than it was when we left the UK seven months ago, but I suppose that is because I knew I would be seeing them again in just a few months plus we had lots going on when we first arrived in Australia.

Anyway, this post is not a depressing one I promise. We did so many wonderful things while they were in Sydney that I thought I'd compile a list of the best; it may just inspire you whether you live here or you're  just passing through.

1. Walk over the Harbour Bridge.

 

Of course you can just pay to do the Bridge Climb, but I am too much of a wimp to scale the famous structure, so we opted instead to walk from The Rocks to Milsons Point on a damp and grey afternoon after a lazy Saturday lunch. The other half and I had already done this walk one lovely bright and sunny Spring day (read about it here), but it was just as impressive in the drizzle! If you want to see the world's most famous harbour without having to pay for the Bridge Climb, or if like me you're just too scared, then I would recommend just getting your trainers on and pounding across the pedestrian path one morning before it gets too hot, or in the evening when the sun is setting.

Obviously taken on the bright and sunny Spring day!

The pedestrian crossing on the Harbour Bridge.

2. Explore the harbour from the ferries.

 

This is probably the best value for money; much better than paying top whack for a harbour cruise. A MyMulti day pass is AUD 22 and allows you  unlimited travel on all buses, ferries and trains for one day. We actually ended up doing the same thing the next week as we had so much fun the first time, but didn't have the time to get on all the ferries. We began at Milsons Point as this is close to our house, from here we got the ferry into Circular Quay and then back out to the Eastern Suburbs. This takes in Double Bay, Rose Bay and ends up in Watsons Bay. We had the famous Doyle's fish and chips by the beach with a cheeky glass of wine and then made it back on the ferry for the return trip to the city.

Double Bay from the ferry.

The second trip was down the Parramatta River as far as Abbotsford; this takes you under the Harbour Bridge and to places like Cockatoo Island and Drummoyne. The Sydney Rowers Club at Abbortsford is perfectly positioned next to the ferry terminal for a drink or bite to eat depending on how long you have to wait for a return ferry.

Going under the Harbour Bridge on the way to Abbotsford.

We ended our day on the ferries by getting one to Manly to enjoy early evening drinks on the wharf with friends (see more on Manly in number 5 below).

3. Balmain.

 

Balmain is by far my favourite place that I've been in Sydney. I really love the feel of the Inner West. Don't get me wrong, I also love the Northern Beaches but being a city girl and coming from London I feel more at home in the suburbs of Balmain, Rozelle and Glebe. This is ideally where we want to live, but lack of rental properties was a major stumbling block when we were looking. When I visit Balmain, I get the feeling that I wouldn't really need to leave for anything which is how I felt living in North London. There are plenty of shops, cafes, bars and restaurants to amuse us for a very long time. The buildings are beautiful, with lots of Victorian architecture and it's so easy to get lost in the back streets while having a nose at the houses. You could easily spend a day exploring round here, and from Circular Quay it is only a 10-minute ferry ride.

4. Lunch at the Kirribilli Club.

 

Or dinner, or breakfast, or just drinks... Regular visitors to Australia will know that they have a club system, similar to working men's clubs in the UK, as well as golf and country clubs. If you live within five kilometres of the club then you must become a member to be able to drink there. In the UK, working men's clubs conjour images of tatty, run-down community halls with a few unsavoury types propping up the bar. In Australia though, these RSL clubs are normally pretty modern and some have spectacular views. There is also the added bonus of subsidised drinks! Our local is the Kirribilli Club and we joined a few months ago. It has stunning views of Lavender Bay and the harbour bridge. We took the parents there for a New Year's Eve lunch - the sun was shining and we drank wine and beer while eating fresh fish and overlooking the sparkling waters. If you're ever in Milsons Point (and you live outside of the 5kms or have someone who can sign you in) then get yourself down there for drinks and/or food out on the terrace. A bottle of good Sav Blanc is only AUD 25...

5. Manly.

 

I couldn't finish my top 5 things in Sydney without mentioning a beach. Forget the Eastern Suburbs (or actually, keep going to Bondi as Manly locals really don't want an influx of tourists!); my favourite Sydney beaches are the Northern ones. Manly is by far the most famous, and I am quite biased towards going there as some of my husband's family live nearby so it's the most familiar place for me in Sydney.

Manly Beach.

Apart from the beach, Manly also had a fantastic number of great bars and restaurants, as well as a few good shops that aren't to do with surfing! Our favourite place to while away a few hours has to be Murrays. It brews its own beer, so the other half is happy, it has a fantastic wine list to keep me happy, but best of all it has the best terrace overlooking the beach. This is where we took my parents almost as soon as they had touched down at Sydney Airport. The best way to get to Manly is of course on the ferry, and one of my favourite things to do is to catch the fast ferry on a Friday evening with a glass of wine or a beer while watching the city fall away.

What would be in your top 5 things to do in Sydney? Drop me a comment below; I need some new ideas!

Details

Sydney Ferries website
Website: www.sydneyferries.info

MyMulti ticket info
Adult: AUS $22; Child: AUS $11; Concession: AUS $11.
Website: www.131500.com.au/tickets/explore/mymulti-day-pass 

Doyles on the Wharf, Fishermans Wharf, Watsons Bay
Website: www.doyles.com.au

Sydney Rower's Club, 613 Great North Road, Abbotsford
Website: www.sydneyrowingclub.com.au/barsanddining.php

Kirribilli Club, 11 Harbourview Crescent, Lavender Bay 
Website: www.kirribilliclub.com.au

Murray's, 49 North Steyne, Manly
Website: www.murraysbrewingco.com.au/manly/manlyWelcome.php

Sydney Fast Ferries
Website: www.sydneyfastferries.com.au

Instagram pics: the last few months

Belated Happy New Year!

Well, again I've been really slack with blogging but my excuse this time is that we moved into our new place and my parents came to stay! So here is just a quick round up of my Instagram pictures from the last couple of months, mainly consisting of Sydney views, Birthdays and Christmas...

Morning coffee on Shelly Beach.

The walk from Fairlight to Manly

Catching the evening fast ferry into the city.

Birthday cards!

Birthday arvo in the sun watching cricket and drinking wine.

The kitchen of our new house.

Beautiful hydrangeas in our living room.

The Opera House on a very grey day.

Christmas present for the hubby.

View from our New Year's Eve lunch.

Table set for New Year's Eve dinner.

Customs House interior.

A Sunday walk over the Harbour Bridge

As we've had to furnish an entire house, pay the bond and first month's rent, all on a single salary, we have been pretty broke over the last month. Thankfully this will change on Wednesday (plus I have some temping work so will have some pocket money to finally start giving the house that feminine touch!).

Yesterday though, we'd had enough of counting the pennies and staying within a kilometre radius of home so we don't spend money. As the sun was streaming through the blinds when we woke up, we decided to walk into the city over the Harbour Bridge. According to Google Maps it's just over four kilometres so easy enough.

And it was an easy walk as it is all downhill (we got a bus back!), and it's interesting to see North Sydney during the weekend. It's pretty dead but you can find the odd coffee shop open and we enjoyed delicious cappuccinos on the walk down to the water. We climbed the steps to get onto the bridge at Kirribilli, although the Sunday market was in full swing, so we had a little detour there for a browse.

Heading up to the bridge.

Once on the bridge, you practically forget the freeway is right next to you. The pedestrian walkway is quite wide and there are lots of places to stop and take in the view. And the view is pretty spectacular. It's just another great way to see the Opera House and the harbour.

Of course, if you want a real view of the harbour you should do the Bridge Climb. I'm afraid I'm too scared to get up there, but for many it is the highlight of their trip to Sydney.

Bridge Climbers beginning their ascent.

Once you come off the bridge you find yourself in the Rocks area, which is one of my favourite parts of the city. It is quite touristy, especially at the weekends, but has a great vibe and you can always avoid the crowds by ducking down a lane or alleyway. There is some lovely architecture here, some of the best in Sydney I think, which reminds me of Victorian buildings in the UK.

 All in all, a great Sydney afternoon!

Details

Kirribilli Markets www.kirribillimarkets.com

Sydney Bridge Climb www.bridgeclimb.com
 

Somewhere to call our own

Yes, we finally have somewhere to live. Apparently we were really lucky as we were only rejected for three places before being approved for a house in Cammeray which is just north of the city, over the Harbour Bridge. We were told to brace ourselves for rejection from at least 10 places, but in the end we decided to look away from Manly where competition for rentals is fierce. We are paying slightly over our original budget, but commuting to the city will be much cheaper so we are actually saving money.

And we have a house! The last time I lived somewhere with stairs was when I was still living at home with my parents, so this has got me very excited. We now have the task of furnishing a two bedroom house on a somewhat limited budget. Thank goodness for places like 2nds World - I don't want to spend valuable money on washing machines when I could be spending it on candles and cushions (!), and to be fair I don't really mind what the washing machine and dryer look like as they will be behind closed doors (did I mention we have an internal laundry room?!). So this month's wages will be going on a sofa, fridge, bed, TV and basic kitcheneware. Next month's will be spent on a BBQ, outdoor furniture and a bed for the spare room (my parents arrive in less than two months).

So we finally have something to get excited about - a place of our own again. After nearly four months of being nomads, it will be such a relief to close the front door and relax in our own space. It's a pretty blank canvas so I'm looking forward to being able to start from scratch and style the house how I want it. I will post pictures as and when we get organised!

The delights of Sydney real estate

Well I could do a whole blog on the trials and tribulations of the Sydney real estate market. We've only just started applying for rentals, so I know we're still in for a whole world of pain, but I'm already sick of open houses (I never thought I'd say that!) and trying to make small talk with real estate agents. We've been to open houses where we were the only people viewing, and we've also been to one where there were over 30 people trying to squeeze into a two bedroom unit! Suffice to say this one went within 24 hours (it had the most beautiful view of Sydney harbour).

This morning I submitted two applications for properties in Manly. We both LOVE one of them - its balcony hangs right over the water, there is a secluded beach and freshwater pool one minute walk away, and it is only a 10 minute walk to the ferry to get into the city. The other one we saw a couple of weeks ago and I was sure it was going to be snapped up immediately so we didn't bother putting an application in as Steve hadn't started his job at that point. Fast forward two weeks and it's still on the market and is in a brilliant location; again 10 minutes walk from the ferry and a five minute walk to the local cafes, shops and the beach.

Beautiful Manly beach.

So I would be really happy in either of them and I have everything crossed that we get one. I know we will be so incredibly lucky if we are considered for either property, so I am still on the hunt. We are also looking in Balmain, Neutral Bay/Cremorne and North Sydney. We feel that we are pretty laid back with where we live, as long as we get two bedrooms (for ALL our guests from the UK to stay - come on guys!), outside space and a relatively new bathroom and kitchen. But you don't get much for your money round these parts, even coming from London.

Will keep you updated...

Instagram Sydney-style

I haven't done a picture post while I've been in Australia, so here are my Instagram photos since I arrived in Sydney in July. They give a snapshot of our life over the last few weeks, and as you would expect they are mostly of beaches, the opera house and lots of sunshine!

At the airport, my fab husband bought me a new iPad so I can FaceTime family and friends. Note: large glass of wine, sorely needed after many tearful goodbyes.

First morning in Oz, and the sun is shining!

On the Manly Ferry to the city to pick up our bank cards.

The garden where we are staying in the Northern Beaches. Looking forward to afternoons spent in this pool when summer arrives!

Manly beach

You can just about make out the hubby.

Kilo of prawns in Gerringong.

Palm Beach AKA Summer Bay.

Breakfast by the beach in Manly.

Manly flags!

A visit to Hyde Park Barracks

Being a History geek, I got very excited a couple of days ago when I stumbled upon the Historic Houses Trust website. For UK readers, it's the Australian equivalent of the National Trust and they have a number of historical houses in and around Sydney. We were going into the city yesterday for a wander around, so I dragged the husband to the Hyde Park Barracks museum on Macquarie Street. He wouldn't admit it but I know he enjoyed it!

Between 1819 and 1848, Hyde Park Barracks housed male convicts who had been transported to Sydney to serve out sentences handed to them in the UK. After 1848 the main building housed female immigrants, mainly from Ireland, who had been encourgaed to emigrate out to Australia. The main building and surrounding outhouses are now a museum after several reincarnations as courthouses and government buildings during the 19th and 20th centuries. It is a beautiful building from the outside and there are lots of Victorian features still evident inside.

Hyde Park Barracks. (Image from Time Out Sydney www.au.timeout.com/sydney)

The museum itself is definitely worth the AUS $10 admission fee with exhibits on the transportation of convicts from the UK, their daily lives in the barracks and the integration of reformed convicts into Sydney society. There are also fascinating models on how the building itself was transformed during the 19th and 20th centuries.

My next visit will be to the Museum of Sydney and then I will hopefully make my way though the list of other historical houses. Check out the Historic Houses Trust website if you're into all things historical like me and you happen to be in Sydney!

Details

Hyde Park Barracks, Queens Square, Macquarie Street, Sydney 2000. Open daily 9.30am-5pm (Closed Good Friday and Christmas Day). Adults: $10; Child/Concession: $5.

Historic Houses Trust www.hht.net.au

Sydney...by Sydneysiders

We have recently booked our flights to Sydney (more about that later), so to balance out my recent post on what I want to do before I leave London, I thought I’d blog about what I've got to look forward to about life in Sydney. In fact I have asked three friends of mine, currently residing there, to let me know what they love about this city and its surroundings, and their favourite things to do. So this is Sydney, according to Sydneysiders...

Heather is my cousin-in-law and lives in the Northern Beaches.

• Running from Queenscliff to Shelly Beach as the sun is setting - you can't beat the fresh ocean air. 
• Having coffee at Pilu Café overlooking Freshwater Beach with my girlfriends. 
• Balmy summer nights out on the jetty at the Wharf Bar in Manly, watching the Sydney Ferry cross the harbour.
• Eating fresh seafood at the Fish Café, Manly.
• Drinks at the Opera Bar in Circular Quay, under the Opera House and with views to the Harbour Bridge.
• Taking part in the annual City-to-Surf fun run. The views and crowd atmosphere as you run through Bondi is amazing!
• Shopping in Paddington.

Opera Bar at the Sydney Opera House (image from Opera House website).

      Michelle emigrated to Sydney from the UK nearly four years ago with her Australian husband, and lives in Sydney's Inner West. She has a two-year-old daughter.

• Getting my fab skinny chai latte at Ashfield pool cafe after a swim with my daughter. It's the best chai latte in the Inner West!
• Going swimming at the outdoor pool at Cabarita at the start of summer...beautiful.
• Going for a swim on the beach on New Year's Day. It blows away the cobwebs...and the hangover!
• The outdoor playgroups that happen all year round are great. I'm pretty sure any mum will agree the fresh air tires the kids out more!
• I love going into the city early on a Sunday morning and driving over the Harbour Bridge on the way to a beach...it's breathtaking.
• Everyone seems to have embraced me and my family since we moved here. And everyone wants to talk and say hello...

Harbour Bridge (image from Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb)

     
 Teya is also my cousin-in-law and lives in the Northern Beaches.

• Going to any of the markets, including Bondi, Manly, Balmain, Rozelle, Kirribilli, Glebe, depending on what you're looking for.
• Catching the ferry from Manly to Circular Quay is the perfect way to get to the city. The fast ferry also serves booze, but the service is too quick to finish a piccolo of champagne!
• Going to any of the outdoor cinemas in the summer - I went to the one in the Botanic Gardens earlier this year.
• Canoeing or kayaking on Narrabeen Lakes or in Middle Harbour.
• Sculpture by the Sea from Bondi to Bronte.
• Eating yum cha in Chinatown.
• A pub crawl around the Rocks, including taking in the view from the Glenmore Rooftop Hotel.
• Playing two up on Anzac Day.
• Enjoying a hot Christmas Day and having seafood and cold cuts for lunch with a cold crisp glass of champagne or Sauvignon Blanc...or beer.
• Any restaurant that's BYO booze (I believe this is rare in the UK)!

Sculpture by the Sea in Bondi (image from website)

Do let me know if we have missed anything off this seemingly never-ending list of things to do and enjoy in Sydney, if you live there or if you have just visited.

Details

Pilu Restaurant,  Moore Road, Freshwater NSW 2096. www.piluatfreshwater.com.au

Manly Wharf Hotel, Manly Wharf, East Esplanade, Manly NSW 2095. www.manlywharfhotel.com.au

Manly Fish Café, 25 South Steyne, Manly, NSW 2095. www.fishcafe.com.au

Opera Bar, Sydney Opera House, Lower Concourse Level, Sydney, NSW 2000. www.operabar.com.au

Sydney Ferries www.sydneyferries.info 

Sculpture by the Sea www.sculpturebythesea.com

Rooftop Hotel, 96 Cumberland Street, The Rocks, Sydney, NSW 2000. www.glenmorerooftophotel.com.au (currently closed for renovation).