The Old Days: Family holiday in Australia (Day 1 & 2): Sydney and Katoomba

My two sons, Cheng Kai and Cheng Jie, had tried skiing in Mt Buller Snow Resort during the September school holidays last year. They participated in 2 hours of basic skiing session for beginners initially, and ventured into skiing on their own after that. They were so thrilled with the entire experience and had asked to go there again this year.

My daughter, Cheng Yee, is a first year Law undergraduate student in Monash University and would be coming home on 23 June for her one month semester break. I thought it might be good to meet up with her and plan for a family vacation (including skiing) in Australia before her return to Singapore. Best still, we could all return on the same flight home from Melbourne.

Unfortunately, I was unable to get the same return flight with Cheng Yee on Qantas (they were fully booked for that day). Worse still, the return trip from Singapore - Melbourne cost over $1300 per person (from SIA). While browsing of other cheaper alternatives, I accidentally came across Scoot airline which offered trips to Sydney at ~$190 per trip (including meal/seat). Even after paying additional $30 for seats with bigger leg room, the return trip costs only slight over $400 per person. This is definitely much cheaper than the regular commercial flights offer by other airlines. The only caveat is we have to fly to Sydney, then drive all the way to Melbourne (about 10 hours drive).

I have been to Sydney only once a few years' back (attending a Neurology Conference then), but hardly seen much of Sydney except for wandering around Darling Harbour and paying a short visit to Sydney harbour (for the Opera House and Harbour Bridge). Since my wife and children have never visited Sydney before, I thought it may be good to take this opportunity to travel to Sydney.

And here goes the journey ......

Day 1 (13-6-2012): Singapore --> Sydney
On the plane of Scoot airline... the seats with extra leg room are quite comfortable.

My wife and I .... on seats with extra leg room

Cheng Kai and Cheng Jie .... taking up regular seats

Arrived at Sydney

Checking into Wolloommooloo Water Apartment Hotel on the first day. It was drizzling on that day.

In front of the Apartment Hotel

The street opposite the hotel...

Walking towards Sydney Harbour.....and passed by the following landmarks...

The Art Gallery of New South Wales

St Mary Cathedral

Sydney Tower

Hyde Park Barracks Museum

Walking towards Sydney Harbour, around the library building

Opera House and Harbour Bridge (Coat hanger):
I am quite impressed with the view offered by Sydney Harbour, with Opera House on one side and Harbour Bridge directly opposite across the river.
For some reasons, the entire set-up never fails to give me a soothing and yet exhilarating effects; even though this is the second time I visited the place.

Harbour Bridge

Opera House

We were very hungry, after having fasted for the entire night (the last meal on the Scoot airline was around 3-4 am). Hence, just jumped into any restaurant there was open at that time... (the Chinese restaurant that we first approached would only be open for business at 5 pm).

Lunch at Sydney Harbour

Walking around The Rock
If you are expecting some ruins or historic castles or "rocks", you couldn't have been more mistaken.
The entire place is quite touristic, with a lot of trendy shops and restaurants around.
It was raining a few hours earlier. Hence, the floor was wet and glistening under the neon lights.

Chance upon this place @ The Rock where there is an excellent view of the Bridge and Opera House at night!

Night View of Opera House from The Rock

Night View of Harbour Bridge from The Rock

All of us were so tired by 7pm, and decided to call it a day. Lucky for us that the rains started to pour the moment we boarded a taxi back to our Hotel. But alas, the taxi driver dropped us at the wrong spot, and we had to walk another 100 meters or so to reach the Hotel (under the rain).

Day 2 (14-6-2012): Darling Harbour --> Mrs Macquaries Chair --> Jetboat Ride at Sydney Harbour --> Katoomba

I could sense that Cheng Kai and Cheng Jie (particularly CK) were keen on riding the Jetboat in Sydney Harbour. The last time they had Jetboat ride was in Tasmania a few years back (after the adrenaline pumping thrill of Jetboat ride in New Zealand previously). Hence, I called to book 3 seats for the boat ride at 11am.

We checked out from our Hotel at 9 am, and went strolling around Darling Harbour (walking pass the Aquarium, Wax Museum, Chinese Garden).

Strolling around Darling Harbour ...

below Pyrmont Bridge

Pyrmont Bridge with monorail track

Australian National Maritime Museum at the background

After Darling Harbour, we drove to Mrs Macquaries Chair for a view of Sydney Harbour and Harbour Bridge, from another angle.

Magnificent view from Mrs Macquaries Chair... worth a trip!

Time for Jetboat Ride .... rushed back by car to Sydney Harbour. The private car park rate was quite exorbitant - AUD 19 for 1 hour, and AUD 30 for 2 hours! What to do? We had to park the car somewhere....

Jetboat Ride @ Sydney Harbour

(Cheng Kai, Cheng Jie and I; my wife declined the "challenge")

The Jetboat ride itself was "so-so". I think the best Jetboat ride we had experienced so far was the one we took during our family trip to South Island of New Zealand -- that was truly classic. Nevertheless, the view along the banks of Sydney Harbour during the boat ride was quite worth the trip.

After the Jetboat ride, we bought some Fish and Chips for lunch, then drove off to Blue Mountains. It took us about 4 hours to reach Katoomba. After checking into Katoomba Motel, we drove straight to Echo Point for a view of the famed Three Sisters.

Reached Echo Point @ Katoomba. Sunset view of the Three Sisters and the surroundings...