As my last bog for Sydney got up to New Year's Eve, that's where I will start this one from! We didn't know where to go for the day to start with, all we knew was that we were going to find a good spot and get a picnic and watch the fireworks. If you're in Sydney for New Year that's what you have to do really. We met up with Claire and Fi from the group in Thailand, and got some food and drinks together. Luckily another girl who they had met had found a good spot for us to go called Lavender Bay. It was in North Sydney across on the ferry on the opposite side of the bridge to the Opera House and near Luna Park. We met up about 10.30 and by the time we arrived at the bay it was about 12. It was so hot that day, probabaly the hottest day we had had in Sydney so far, and it was a struggle to carry everything there but we managed in the end. I think it was a place only local people knew about really as it was quite small, but we had an amazing view of the bridge and were really close to it. Also you were able to bring your own alcohol, which yoy couldn't do at any of the main venues with good biews. Anything to save a bit of money! We had been told last minute that they were searching bags to stop you bringing it, so we tried to hide everything with the food, but there was no need in the end.

We sat there in the heat all day, but it went quite quickly considering we ended up sitting on the same patch of grass for 14 hours. It was a mistake getting dressed up though. We thought it would be fun to, but it was so hot I just wished I was wearing my bikini so I could jump in the water. As we waited more of our group turned up, friends of the others, their friends, and people we had met at the hostel. There was a massive group of us there in the end. One group of locals had brought a huge sound system so we had music all day too. It got quite busy as the evening went on but we still had the best view. There were fireworks at 9 and then obviously at midnight, and they were amazing - just like you see on TV! It seemed a bit surreal being there really. I had a great time though and loads of fun. It was my best ever New Year, and to prove ot O completely lost my voice! By the time we got back to the hostle after the long ferry ride that kept going round in cirlces I was very worn out. It had been a great, but long, day.

On New Year's Day we spent most of the morning recovering, and I still couldn't speak. We went for lunch at Darling Harbour and then to Hyde Park to chill out for a bot. Apparantly New Year's Day is just as big a thing here as NYE, so we met all the others again at the pub in the afternoon, and just sat outside there all night. That was fun too but everyone was still tired from the night before. We still didn;t want to go back to bed though!

The next day was another hot one. Maybe stupidly we decided to do the Bondi to Coogee Beach Walk. I say stupidly because although the views were amazing, it probably would have been best to do it when the weather was slightly cooler. Anyway we got a bus to Bondi in the morning and stayed there for a bit as we hadn't been yet. We stopped for breaksfast and then went down to the beach. Bondi is one of, if not the most famous beaches in Australia so we had to see it. It is really nice and very big, but it was also really busy even that time in the morning. Also I think most people would agree it is overhyped, which kind of makes you think it's worse that it really is. It was nice to chill out there for a bit though before we started the walk. The walk basically takes you along the coast to Coogee Bay, passing through a few other beaches like Tamarama, Clovelly, Bronte and Gordon's Bay. The views are really amazing but it took us 2 hours altogether. It was nice to see some waves at the beaches though, as stupid as that sounds, as everwhere we have been so far has been very calm. We got to see quite a few people surfing which was good too, so I would definetly recommended. When we eventually arrived at Coogee beach, nearly passed out from the heat, we met the girls and another member of the Thailand group who we hadn't seen as yet. We stayed there into the evening as it is a really nice beach to sit and chill out on. We also had some drinks and dinner at the famous Coogee Bay Hotel (or the CBH to the locals.)

The next morning I had a great time on my own. I left Justin in bed and went shopping to buy some clothes. I got only things I needed honestly, and didn't spend too much money. It was nice just to have a wander around before the streets got too busy. Also I saw someone famous in the street who walked right past me. I say famous but not really - it was Andy Peters! That makes a count of two already now. You will never guess what we did for the rest of the day - that's right met up with even more people from the tour! That seems like all we were dojng to start with but it has been so good to catch up with everyone. The other girls came, but also the South African guy Pete who had been travelling in New Zealand and the two Irish girls. We all went for lunch and some drinks at Draling Harbour. I was really good to see them all and hear about what they had been up to and the things they had been doing. Me and Justin just went to the park and relaxed for the rest of the day.

Friday was Justin's birthday so we had a lay in and he opened his card and ate his birthday muffins (I couldn't find any nice cakes.) We then went for a walk around Paddy's Markets. It was just like being in Thailand again as the markets are in the centre of China Town, but he got himself a few presents! After lunch we went to the cinema to see 'I am Legend' the new Will Smith film that Justin had been wanting to see. As it was his day I had to let him choose for once. We went for a meal in Darling Harbour that night which was my present to him, at a really nice restaurant called Blackbird. The food was lovely, and I had a Kangaroo steak. I figured that it was best to try it before I went and saw any and it was actually really nice. After that we met the others for drinks both at the harbour, and then moved onto a bar nearer the hostel called Side bar, which is more for backpackers. Justin being Justin had to have more tequila shots! I had suggested going up the tower restaurant or to the ice bar for somehting special, but neither of these things were cheap and he said he wasn't bothered about either of them. It was a really good night though and I think he had a nice day.

The next day was our last full day in Sydney before we left to Melbourne. When we got up the weather was rubbish and it rained alittle bit. This was the only bad day we had had, but luckily it cleared up soon enough. We went for a tour up the AMP tower, which was really good to do. We got there just in time for a good view before it started to get too cloudy to see much. I prefered this one much more than the tower in KL, and as we knew the city better it was good to find all the places we had been and our hostel etc. After that we went on the Oz-Trek, which is something they include in all tickets up the tower now. As we had paid for it, we thought we might as well see what it was. It was like a virtual ride through Australia, where you sit on a moving seat in front of a big screen. They showed you all different parts of the country and taught you about the different landscapes. It was aimed more at children really but it killed half an hour so it was ok. That night was the first night of the Sydney Festival so they had put on free music all across the city. We were going to have alook around all of them, but ended up at the concert in Martin Place which was more dance music, and had some famous bands and DJs performing. It was really good considering it was all free, and it was completely packed so we were lucky to get near the front.

Sunday was our last day in Sydney, and we were catching a coach to Melbourne later in the evening. We left out bags at the hostel and went for a big fryup to celebrate which was very nice. After breakfast we went to Coogee for the day as three of our friends are renting an apartment there and it was their first day, so we went to have the guided tour. It's a bit basic, but loads cheaper than staying in hostels and obviously niocer as it's your own space. It's definetly something we are thinking about but we don't know where yet. It's a good area as Coogee is lovely, and it has views of the beach and is right behind the CBh pub. It also has entertainment, as we sat listening to a fight between the landlord and one other resident. He had thrown the sofa down the stairs so he got thrown out! We spent the afternoon in the pub and had a BBq there, and then after that we were off to catch the bus. Bye Bye Sydney! I have really loved it here, and we have decided we are definetly coming back soon!