Tuesday 27th February 2018
Sydney Harbour, arguably the world’s loveliest harbour, with a pleasant year round climate and an enviable outdoor lifestyle. Surrounded by the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the world-famous Opera House and the constant bustle of the harbour itself, makes Sydney one of the most popular tourist destinations.
Discovered by Captain Cook in 1770 and then 18 years later populated by the convicts of the First Fleet. Population has since grown to a multi-ethnic 4.3 million.
Pre-dawn, got to be done to see the iconic approach to our berth, the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House particular highlights. Lots of passengers around enjoying the views despite the hour. It’s just one of those places you have to see to be believed.
Luckily time to recover from the early start before joining the merry throng waiting for our call to immigration, actually not too bad a process, passed though quite quickly.
And so off to visit Sydney. Just a short walk to pretty much everything, ship having berthed in Sydney Cove, just by the famous Rocks area, a stones throw from Sydney harbour Bridge one way and the Opera House the other.
Our first visit was to the Hyde Park Barracks Museum. This being a short walk up the city via the Sydney Botanic Gardens, a nice green oasis in the city with comfy benches and free Wi-Fi.
Started at the Museum with a coffee, very welcome.
And so into the Museum, exhibits concentrating on it’s use as accommodation for Convicts transported to the colonies in the early 1800’s.
First job to check their database for references to my 3x Great Grandfather James Bladen. Surprised to find him there, didn’t think he coincided with the dates of use of the barracks, a bonus to our visit to have such a close connection with the buildings.
An excellent (not biased at all) museum full of exhibits, artefacts, information boards, etc. about the convicts and their lives, plus maps and panoramas of Sydney in the 1820’s.
Obviously took quite a while to get round so had some lunch at the Museum before moving on. Managed to get across the road as far as St. James Church, also from the convict period.
Setting off back down the city next stop at the State Library to check out the Family History section for additional references. Sadly despite the very helpful assistance of a couple of their staff the only novel reference was the one found in the Museum, a newspaper notice of James absconding from the barracks, still, got a print out anyway.
Back at Circular Quay bought a couple of Opal Cards, prepaid cards for use on buses and ferries.
Hopped onto the Manly Ferry for a very nice little boat ride across Jackson Harbour to Manly. Time for a delicious Gelato before walking through town to the Beach. Wow! Picture perfect beach, what with the sand, sea, breakers, surfers, backpackers, etc. it’s just as you would expect an Australian beach to be.
Could almost see the cast of Baywatch performing.
Plenty of time for a nice paddle and to sit and people watch before the return journey to Sydney and back to the ship for sustenance and some sleep.
Ship staying overnight in Sydney.
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