Easter in Sydney

We took the opportunity to make the long Easter weekend a bit longer and make the 5 hour flight to see Sydney in New South Wales. This is a longer distance than the flight from Cairo to Amsterdam we used to make regularly!

During the flight we overtook slowly another plane!

We stayed near Darling Harbour, close to the maritime museum and metro and monorail stations. The Maritime museum had an exhibition on Darwin's exploration journeys (it is after all the Darwin year) and the permanent collection had a vintage submarine, a replica of James Cook's Endeavour and a restored schooner.

James Cook's Endeavour with the Sydney skyline backdrop

We liked the area of the Rocks and Circular Quay a lot. It has nice harbour views, including the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

There is usually lots of traffic on the water, and often an enormous cruise ship is parked at the Overseas Passenger Terminal. There are many restaurants here with good views and atmosphere. Also the Museum of Contemporary Art is here, where we saw an interesting exhibition of Yayoi Kusama.

Sydney Harbour Bridge from the Rocks

We took the opportunity to see the Sydney Dance Theatre on our second night.

Sydney Opera House from a distance

After seeing the Opera House from a distance from the Rocks we had to visit it too. It is an impressive building with nice views on the city skyline, harbour and Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Sydney Harbour Bridge reflecting in the Sydney Opera House

We learned that the architect Jorn Utzon was not able to finish the building the way he liked. The interior is therefore not everywhere as impressive as the exterior. Only one room was in Utzon style. Currently his son is helping to restore the building in his father's style.

Corine admiring Utzon's design

Sydney is surrounded by water, and many places can be visited by ferry. We took a ferry tour from Darling Harbour sailing under the Sydney Harbour Bridge, stopping at Circular Quay, The Opera House, Fort Denison, the Zoo and some of the outer suburbs.

Fort Denison with the Sydney skyline backdrop

Sydney is an impressive city with many iconic landmarks and a more cosmopolitan feel than Perth.

Looking back from the ferry