Earlier this year I was fortunate to venture off to a country I have been wanting to visit for 18 years:  Australia! My friend and I packed our bags and headed south for two weeks. Most of our time was spent in Sydney, but we did head north for a few days to visit Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef.

Sydney is a gem in itself. The landscape of the city is a beautiful blend of luscious greenery, cliffs overlooking the Tasman Sea and sprawling beaches within each suburb. Locals, with their captivating accents and adorable mannerisms, are quick to offer assistance and hospitality. 

During our stay we packed in a variety of activities, while still allowing time to relax. Towards the top of our must-see list was a visit to the popular Sydney Opera House and Harbor Bridge. 

Sydney offers a variety of free tours around the heart of the city.  The tour provides history as well as stops at historical landmarks. We enjoyed the walking tour so much that we went back the next day for a bus tour that reached notable suburbs and stunning lookouts. The tours laid an early foundation of local knowledge and awareness of our surroundings.

After spending two days within Sydney we did a tour out to the Blue Mountains, approximately 90 minutes outside of the city. The Blue Mountains provide breath-taking views at the peak summits of the mountains and a glimpse of rainforest climate in the valleys. Gondolas allow travel between the mountains and cable cars descend down the mountain, up to 57 degrees at their steepest points.

In the afternoon the tour stopped at Featherdale Wildlife Park to see a wide range of Australian species.  In between seeing Australian dingos, sheep, birds and a massive crocodile, we were able to hang out with friendly kangaroos that hop around the park. The visit is complete with petting the beloved koalas.

Between snacking at one of the many gelato and ice cream shops, we would often walk around town. My personal favorite walk went from Sydney’s Bondi to Coogee Beach. If you enjoy walking, this is a must! The 6 km coastal trail includes beaches, several scenic overlooks, beach homes and an Australian bowling green. They say it takes two hours to complete the walk but my friend and I spent about four hours beween walking and admiring Bondi Beach’s artwork and stunning cliffs on the water. 

Overwhelmed by the incredible views on the first coastal walk, we jumped at the opportunity for an additional hike, known as the Manly Scenic Walk. With a narrow pathway through the rainforest and many stairs to climb, the hike itself was more strenuous but offered incredible scenery at a variety of high and low altitudes. During our stay in Sydney, people repeatedly mentioned Australia’s deadly spiders and snakes. Knowing that we were in the home of these spiders and snakes, there were parts of this walk we practically sprinted, through tall grass and narrow paths in the rainforest. We saw monstrous lizards but fortunately made it through without seeing any spiders or snakes. Whew!  

During a weekend evening we joined a pair of locals and attended our first rugby game. Loved this! With determination, the athletes battle a game similar to American football but with limited stoppage and padding.

Between planned activities, the beach would occupy our afternoons. Sydney has several beaches and we made it our mission to visit as many as possible. Most beaches had cafes and an adjoining swimming pool that would self-fill with ocean water with cycles of waves splashing into the pool. 

Stay tuned for Australia:  Part Two, where we travel north to see the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland’s rain forest, and explore more of Sydney.