Thurs 2nd October

I cannot believe how fast time has gone!!! It's finally time to meet wee Banani and Stevie J from the giant seagull! We feel like we have waited a lifetime on this holiday!

We got an early flight to Sydney the day before the parents arrived. Taxi driver ripped us off though - big time, ($60 from the airport to Darling Harbour when it should have been between $20-30) moron!

Mum had booked us into her hotel but there was a slight mishap… so we were staying at the Ibis Darling Harbour (where the parents will be staying) for the first night then we will move to Novotel next door for the 2 nights after. We upgraded the room for $20 to get the Darling Harbour view which was well worth it!! So beautiful!

What a difference it is doing these trips second time round (non backpacker style haha).

After we got changed and unpacked, we done some shopping and had cocktails at The Hard Rock Café (MY FAVE!!!) then later had dinner at a restaurant - both on Darling Harbour haha, location location location - which was so lovely, however they did mess up our orders…. It ended up being a bit of a farce. The food was good though. And the wine….

Friday 3rd October

The next morning, Ryan and I got the 6am shuttle to Sydney airport to meet Mum and Stephen. They had already been delayed an hour, but by the time they got their luggage and came out, it was about 8.15am. Its tiring standing there with your home made sign (I made a Welcome to Oz, Team Joyce sign haha) trying to watch 2 different entrances they could walk through at the same time… a lot of people walk through there!! My eyes were like squares by the time I left! The reunion wasn't as teary as I thought thankfully, so we grabbed a quick drink whilst we waited on the transfer shuttle and headed back to the hotel.

We were checking out and moving to Novotel next door (4 stars, wooooo) as mum and Stephen checked in. We went for a wander around Darling Harbour then the parents went for a nap. Ryan and I went and done the Aquarium then Madame Tussaudes which were both AWESOME. I have done the Aquarium before but the MT was such a good laugh. There was a Miley Cyrus wax work and I swear she was the absolute double. They had a wrecking ball wax work made up too, to make it look like you were sat on the ball. So funny.

We had drinks in Darling Harbour and dinner nearby at an Italian then called it a night.

On the Saturday (4th October) Ryan picked up some Gluten Free rolls and sauces for Stephen from the supermarket, as we were struggling to find options of meals at restaurants for him. We went to the Hard Rock Café for cocktails and lunch which was paid for by my beautiful friend LB (shiny bright star xx) then headed to the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. We had drinks at the Opera bar then got a ferry back to Darling Harbour which was so cheap and an awesome way to see everything. We got some amazing pictures. Although it about shattered wee Anne's nerves haha.

Ryan and I then went to the Sydney Tower Eye to do the 4D cinema experience then the Observation deck. Its pretty similar to the one I done in Melbourne (but not as good) but the cinema experience was so cool! It was a 4 minute long feature film of Sydney from a 'birds eye' view, which had water splashing at you and smoke going off all to tie in with the film.

We all met in our Novotel room as we upgraded again and my mum didn't get that option when she checked into the Ibis. Perfect location to watch the Darling Harbour fireworks!

We then got ready and headed to Pacha to see Uberjacked and Tommy Sunshine. Flight the next day was not fun….. Tactical spews all around!

I absolutely LOVED staying in Darling Harbour and seeing Sydney again. It was an awesome way to start off the holiday.