I arrived in to Sydney on Monday evening after the 11.5 hour train journey, which wasn't as bad as I thought it would be! Luckily, I had a cabin to myself for the first 9 hours which helped!
Tuesday Lizzy and I headed out early and walked from Kings Cross to Sydney Harbour. On route we stopped off at the famous Harry's pie stand and I got a steak and ale pie, with mash potato on top, then mushed peas on top of that with gravy, was awesome! We then headed in to the botanical gardens and headed round to the Sydney Opera house. It was a clear sunny day so the opera house looked awesome, as did the gardens behind and the harbour bridge in front. We bought a couple of tickets for the ferry to manly then grabbed a corona and sat outside the opera bar in the sun waiting for the ferry! We sat outside on the ferry taking in the view as we travelled out to manly then headed straight to the beach when we got there. The beach and manly as a whole was awesome, I really liked the atmosphere there.
After sitting on the beach for the day and a bit of wave body surfing we headed to the bar for a few cold drinks!
The ferry back to Sydney harbour was stunning as by then it was dark and the opera house, bridge and the sky scrapers were all lite up and looked incredible.
That evening we found a local bar where they did a steak, sauce, fries and salad deal for 10 bucks, I wasn't expecting too much for that price but it was awesome! The steak was then washed down with a couple (of jugs) of beer!
Wednesday Lizzy had surprised me with a trip to the blue mountains and the zoo! We set off early on the coach and stopped off on route at a couple of scenic spots for some photos. Then we stopped for a bit of food before heading off to the gondola to the point where you can see and take pics of the 3 sisters, a famous formation of rocks.
Another gondola took us 200m down to the rainforest where miners used to work and stay. After a brisk stroll around we caught the gondola back up to the top and headed for lunch!
After lunch the coach took us on to the zoo, which was awesome! We started off with the wallabies that were just wondering around and you could touch, then headed through to the kuala bears! a couple were awake and feeding and there was one you could go up to, stroke and have your photos with! next up were the kangaroos and emus. We picked up a packet of food and fed both, the emus were a lot less gentle than the kangaroos though so I didn't hang around them to long! After numerous photos of feeding, hugging and lying with the kangaroos we moved on to the pigs, goats, birds, snakes, dogs, penguins and crocs!
The coach on the way back went through the Olympic park where we stopped for some photos before getting back in to kings cross.
That night we headed back to the same bar for the steaks and beers again!
Thursday we were up early again and bought a day pass for all the transport. We headed in to Sydney central and had a look around Westfields before walking down and around Darling harbour. Then we caught the ferry round in to Sydney harbour before jumping on the train to Bondi! When we got in, we jumped on the bus straight down to the world famous beach. Before heading down we stopped at a bar for a corona in the sun, of course!
That afternoon was spent on the beach and in the sea, then we headed back up to the bar for a few more coronas as the beach emptied and the bars filled!
Thursday evening we headed back to the same bar for another steak (it was literally that good!) and also took part in trani bingo which was very funny in deed!
On the Friday Lizzy was heading off to the airport to catch her plane so we said our goodbyes and I moved on to a hostel in Sydney central. After checking in I went for a walk around other subburbs before heading back for some dins and then met an old friend from brighton for some drinks in sunny hills.
Saturday was my last full day in Sydney so I set out early and went to the market and paddys market, followed by Chinatown where I had the best dumplings ever! I then moved on to darling harbour where I stopped or a quick beer, then walked around the coast line up to the bridge. I didn't do the full bridge climb but did walk up one of the pylons where the view over the bridge and city was awesome. I then walked across the rest of the bridge and got soaked as the heavens decided to open as I was only half way across! This did create a very clear rainbow though which lead to some good shots with Sydney opera house in the background! That evening I had one last 10 buck steak and got an early night as I had to get a 7am bus the next day!
The majority of Sunday was spent on a coach and it took 11 hours to get from Sydney to spot x, the surf school I was staying at for 2 days. When we got there I had a look around and had a bit of rum and coke with a few others before hitting the hey to prepare for my surf lesson in the morning!
After the health and safety talk Monday morning and the lesson on the sand we finally hit the waves! We were out for about 2 hours in the sea and by the end I was catching most waves I went for and could turn the board on the waves! After lunch I then hired a surfboard and went back out for another few hours to practice my moves! Monday night saw another rum and coke night, with beer pong and some beach drinking Games!
Tuesday morning I was up early to head out in to the surf again before lunch then jumped on the 1.30 bus up to byron bay. I met a good bunch of people on the bus up and when we got there and had all checked in we met up at the famous cheeky monkeys for some dinner and lots of beers, which then turned in to dancing on the tables with a few more beers till the early hours!
On the Wednesday we all met up at the beach and after some food spent all afternoon playing frisby and footy on the beach as well as in the sea! That night we headed over to one of the other guys hostels to pre drink in their happy hour and take part in their pub quiz. We ended up coming second and won a 30 dollar bar tab! After seeing that off we took our own drinks down to the beach where there was a bit of a hippy festival going on and drank, danced and sang! Cheeky monkeys obviously followed and we danced the night away on the tables once again!
Thursday morning we were all up early as we all had a day trip to nimbin. Nimbin is an extremely random place, never been or seen anywhere quite like it! It's basically out in the sticks and where all the hippies live! The place has an obvious smell throughout and they don't show any subtlety in their love for the happy plant! After a wonder round here we then boarded the bus and headed up in to the rainforest for a lovely BBQ and a few beers. That evening I was completely shattered and just fell asleep as soon as I got back to the hostel!
Friday I had a quiet morning in the hostel after a nice long lie in, then found a gym which I trained at for the afternoon. That evening a German guy I had travelled a bit of NZ with just happened to be in my hostel so we had a couple of beers together!
On the Saturday I went to Bluefest with Dave, a Canadian guy who I'd spent most my time at Byron bay with. Bluesfest was a huge festival spanning over 5 days and was sold out. Dave and I had managed to get a ticket so after a full English and some pre drinks at the hostel (starting at 10am!) we headed out over to the festival. The only band I recognised was Status quo! It was a really good day though and I enjoyed the music.
On the Sunday I went to the gun again then in the afternoon met up with the guys at a pub. My hostel for pre drinking beer pong followed and then we headed out in to byron bay for my last night.
I got the 10am bus this morning on route to surfers paradise where I'll be for the next 4 nights. Dave is heading up here tomorrow and were going to hit some of the theme / water parks here! I also found out this week that my dad is going to be in OZ this week so in going to meet him in Brisbane when I get in there on Friday which will be awesome! Speak soon x