Having learnt our lesson from Melbourne, we planned ahead for Sydney and made sure we knew what we wanted to see, in short: Bridge, Opera House, The Rocks & the Botanic Gardens. Fortunately these are all pretty much next to each other. After being awoken at night by something nibbling a milk carton in the tent we made a slightly later start than planned for the two hour train trip into Sydney, this was uneventful apart from being surprised by getting a doubledecker train.
Our train
Another type, more clearly double Decker
Once in Sydney we caught another train which surprised us by going over the harbour bridge, this stopped at the other side so we could then walk back along it.
Walking back along the bridge gave us the opportunity to get some good photos of the Opera house.
Once inside the Opera house, you can only get passed the foyer on an organized tour or by seeing a performance, so we made do with the outside and then headed for the botanic gardens.
The governors house
The botanic gardens
After this we headed to the Rocks, this was the first area of Sydney to be settled by Europeans, this has lots of small lane-ways and alleys, and also provided a good opportunity for tea + cake, we don't have any photos but my fruit tart and Joanna's home made wagon wheel were both worth it!
The Rocks
We then headed back to the campsite via the train in rush hour, all in all as it goes for us doing city we think we did it well.
Till next time
David & Joanna
PS Here's a bonus shot of an Australia XPT train at Central Station, this is an export version of the well loved Intercity 125