4 Days in Sydney
Part 1 – Planning, costs, flights
Day 1
My friend picked me up at the airport and gave me some “exciting news” – there was a high chance that I would need an umbrella during most of my visit in Sydney – the weather forecast didn’t look look promising for the next few days. Well, since it wasn’t raining on the day of my arrival, he suggested we take advantage of the sunny day and do a quick one day road trip to Port Stephens to see “real beaches”. Works for me! A quick stop home to drop off my backpack, shower/change and another stop at Room 10 for a cup of cappuccino flat white to start the day. Just an FYI – flat whites taste totally different (in a good way) in Australia than in the States! I wonder if it has something to do with the water or have Australians mastered the art of a flat white? …hmm, how about some breakfast before the trip?
Port Stephens is about a 3 hour drive from Sydney – probably not the most appealing idea after spending 15 hours on the plane, but is totally worth the drive – the area is stunning. I’d say it’s a perfect weekend getaway if you want to escape city noise and recharge your batteries. I bet it gets much busier and crowded during the summer months, but with seasons reversed in the southern hemisphere, September is the beginning of spring down under – which meant that there weren’t too many people on the beach. To be exact, there were only 5 people walking by the water.
If you get lucky and visit during low tide, you can cross the Fingal Spit (I believe that’s the spot where the half naked girl was waiting for me about 10 years ago in the “So where the bloody hell are you?” ad campaign) to another island and visit a lighthouse. Well, since I was a bit late and she wasn’t waiting for me anymore, I was at least hoping to have my “Moses” moment….but the stars weren’t playing along – that day it was impossible to cross it on foot because of the strong waves.
Another 3 hours in the car on the way back to Sydney, delicious risotto at Mantecato for dinner and it was time to call it a night.
Day 2
The weather forecast turned out to be correct – it was pouring. My friends had to work so I was on my own; well, at least Rihanna was willing to keep me company for most of the day. Uber to the city for a pretty late breakfast (or early lunch), glass of wine at the Opera House, a cup of coffee at the Contemporary Art Museum (very good views at their outdoor cafe) and it was time for a happy hour at my friends’ workplace – apparently that’s what they do on Fridays in Australia. Couple hours went by chatting with “Australians” from Mexico, Colombia, Lithuania, Argentina etc. and it was dinner time at Yachiyo. The place looks a bit shady from the outside but the food was surprisingly good and fresh; not sure if it has something to do with my friends being frequent guests at the restaurant, but the waitress recommended dishes based on the freshness of the seafood – yes, was caught/bought this morning vs. no, that’s from yesterday’s batch.
Day 3
Rain decided to take a day off after working a double shift the previous day – it was perfect weather to spend outside and explore local beaches! There are plenty of options to choose from when it comes to beaches in (or close by) Sydney, but my favorite way to see it is taking a “coastal” walk – one of the most popular seems to be Bondi to Coogee. Therefore, a good portion of the day was spent at a very slow/relaxing pace: checking some street art at the Bondi Beach, quite a few coffee/wine “tasting” stops at beach cafes and people watching. Not sure if that’s a fair comparison, but the area and the atmosphere kind of reminded me of California’s west coast, especially San Diego.
One of the spots that I really liked during my previous visit to Sydney was the Opera Bar – it’s right by the Opera House, has a cool vibe and offers incredible views of the Harbour Bridge. Since weather was cooperating (no rain and pleasant temperatures), this was the top choice for the evening; the place is always crowded (might take a while to get a table) and a bit on the expensive side. However, I’d say it’s well worth it just for the views – especially at night when everything lights up; ideally I would want to attend an evening show at the Opera House and stop here for drinks.
Day 4
Guess what – the sun is out again!! That means more vitamin D, leisure walking, coffee/wine tasting and people watching time. First stop was at some random place for breakfast in Darlinghurst (ended up being one of the best I’ve ever had; too bad I forgot the name of the place), then off to Rushcutters Bay, Elizabeth Bay, Potts Point and Woolloomooloo. It’s a bit different from the “coastal” walk – still nice views but takes you through various neighborhoods where people actually live, shop, eat and work.
The Woolloomooloo is known for a few reasons: as the most orgasmic neighborhood in Australia – total of 8 “O’s”, its celebrity resident actor Russell Crowe, and for one of my favorite chocolate bars made in Chicago by Vosges. Well, to be honest it’s not entirely true….I made up the first part (still, so many “O’s” is a bit suspicious), Woolloomooloo chocolate bar was discontinued, Russell does own property in the area but I’m not sure if that’s his primary residence. Anyways, one of the must stops in this area is the Poolside Cafe – a perfect place to grab a drink/coffee and enjoy the views. For even better views I would recommend to keep walking to “Mrs Macquarie’s Chair” – the best views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. Also, if you have never seen parrots roaming freely – the Royal Botanic Garden is steps away; you can even sit down on the grass and have a chat with the birds.
The last stop for the day to wash off the sweat and tiredness – a glass (or two) of “water of life” at Eau De Vie – pretty cool cocktail bar. Not sure if that’s the intention or not but the place is literally a “hidden gem” – the bar is located behind a boutique hotel, so either you have to know about the place or just get there by accident as a hotel guest.
