We woke feeling refreshed but still very full from the mahusive meal the night before!
Jodie had planned for us to do the coastline walk from Coogee beach to Bondi beach for the morning. We set off thinking it would be a breeze but it was fairly hilly and took us about an hour and half. We stopped for a smoothie half way, it seemed an area where health and fitness is very much a priority. There are restaurants and cafes everywhere and the general dress sense was active gym wear. It also seemed a culture very much based on brunch, everywhere advertised breakfast and brunch. People even have breakfast dates before work.

On arriving at Bondi beach, we had a little wonder around to check the place out. I had been here 2 years ago with Sarah but it was pouring down with rain the last time. This time, it couldn't have been hotter. Matt decided to try the surf at Bondi even though it looked pretty rough out there. He hired a board for an hour while Jo and I hit the Bondi beach shops. We stopped of for a Proseco and Cocktail while we waited for Matt. It was so nice to have sister time, just the two of us. I really miss having her around all the time but she seemed so happy doing what she is doing in Oz and that's all I really care about.

Jodie had also booked us in for lunch at the famous 'Iceberg' restaurant that overlooks Bondi beach and the Bondi swimming pool. We had an amazing lunch there followed by wine and beers while we watched the Bondi world go by. It was one of those surreal moments where I literally had to pinch myself about what I was doing, I thought to myself how lucky I was! We caught an Uber back to the Air BnB and spent the rest of the afternoon having a browse around the Westfield shopping centre in Sydney City. There were lots of Christmas decorations up which felt a tad bizarre as it was sunny and hot outside. I suppose this was a sign of things to come for the next month. I bought Jo a chocolate advent calendar at mums request as I think Jo is starting to miss home after being here for 9 months. Christmas is always a family time so I think it was starting to remind her just how far away she was going to be this year. After having a look around the shops and both Matt and myself purchasing a new pair of black vans and Matt receiving a third pair of Vans for free, we stopped for a cup of tea and a mince pie (apparently a real novelty out here) before catching an uber back to the apartment. That evening we started watching the series 'West World' together and chatted over red wine, cheese and biscuits... this was the life!

The next day we met Charlotte, Jodie's best friend from home who has been living in Coogee now for 5 years, for brunch at a cafe down the road. We sat outside which over looked Coogee beach. I had the most incredible breakfast of sweetcorn fritters, crispy bacon, avocado and tomato chutney- hands down the best breakfast I've ever had!

After brunch, Charlotte dropped us back at Westfield shopping centre as Matt had only been given one shoe in his Vans shoe box. We were under strict instructions by Jo we were only to pick up the missing shoe and leaving immediately as she had lots planned for us that day. It was pretty ironic as the only person who disappeared for 20 mins was Jodie and we found her in a clothes shop frantically trying on new clothes! We caught the bus from there to Sydney Harbour where we visited the Sydney Opera house. Even though I've been there before, it's the sort of place that next ceases to amaze me! It's so big and such a beautiful building. We sat down at the Opera house restaurant for a drink while we over looked the Opera house and the Sydney Bridge. Obviously Matt hasn't been there before so he was completely amazed by it all.

We caught a ferry over to Manly beach, the North side of Sydney. The ferry ride over was incredible, we could see most of the largest natural harbour in the world. Weirdly, Poole harbour in Dorset is the second largest! After arriving, we sat at the harbour restaurant with a glass of wine each, this was the life! After, we walked through the town of Manly to see the beach. It was a lovely beach but he sea looked very rough so we didn't stay long. Besides, Jo had another treat in store for us. We caught an Uber to a restaurant right on the outskirts of Sydney called 'The Burnt Orange' which was famous for Afternoon Tea, my absolute favourite thing in the world! The restaurant was adorable with a wooden porch all the way around the outside- a classic Ozzy style house. I was so excited to be experiencing Afternoon Tea the Australian way. The sandwiches were very authentic and original including Avoca bread with tarragon chicken, and charcoal bread with salmon, cream cheese and dill- all delicious. The cakes were also good with a homemade scone too. I was in my element! My mum and Jo had treated us too this for our Christmas present which was really kind of them.

Our tummies we're full with sandwiches and cakes, all washed down with endless pots of tea. As the Uber was rather pricey on the way, we decided to get a bus back to Coogee. However, the next one from The Burnt Orange was in an hours time. So we waited on one of a bench on top of a hill that overlooked Manly beach. Eventually, our bus arrived and we made the 35 minute journey back to the apartment. That night we just chilled out watching more programs and chatting away. We also FaceTimed Mum and Dad to see how they were getting on. As it was the 1st December, every year mum usually produces the most incredible, thoughtful advent calendars, but this year she wouldn't be able to do that... or would she! Mum informed us that she had in fact put together a huge parcel consisting of all of our advent calendars (sacks of presents that are numbered from 1 to 25) and had sent it to Oz from the UK two weeks ago but it unfortunately hadn't arrived yet. She was absolutely gutted bless her. We didn't mind at all, we felt lucky she had even thought to do it. We would try and have it sent to New Zealand if it didn't arrive in time before we left Sydney.

All together it had been an amazing day, We had one more day planned with Jo before she had to go back to work!