Namaste Travelling!: Australia

Next and final stop in Australia….Sydney! We spent two nights in Sydney and had two days for a fleeting sightseeing tour. The first day we walked into town through the botanical gardens to the Opera House and the Harbour Brigde. Then we went to the Sydney Aquarium which was great. The next day we went to Bondi Beach where Mike did some surfing and we then queued up to see Prince Charles. He was meant to be coming to watch a rugby match at the beach as part of his tour of Australia. We had got a great spot where we had been told he was going to walk past. We had gone their specially because I wanted a picture of Prince Charles for my dad’s birthday card. Unfortunately just as he arrived the heavens opened and there was torrential rain that completely soaked us all through. Everyone ran up to the club and Prince Charles went straight inside so there was no picture for my card! The rain cleared though and the match went ahead and although we had completely lost our spot in the end I still managed to get my photo and shake his hand when he was going back to his car. His hands were very soft.

Surfing at Bondi

Harassing prince charles

Debating tactics for the next shot in our
professional outfits

The next day we headed to Dapto, a couple of hours south of Sydney, to stay with my family friend Robyn. Robyn used to live with my family when I was about 4 years old and moved back to Australia about 10 years ago. It was so good to see her and we had such a great time staying with her. One evening we had a yummy ‘Aussie barbie’ with some of her family. We also went to the Blue Mountains to see the ‘Three Sisters’ and walk from the ‘Sisters’ to the scenic railway. Robyn is a keen golfer and after a few lessons in her lounge, upgrading to the garden and then the driving range we eventually felt confident to take on a golf course! Robyn’s brother Chum generously leant Mike his clubs and his golf shoes…and his clothes whilst I borrowed all of the above from Robyn. We only managed 9 holes but we loved it! We even went back the next day for a second game.

We also spent one day at a water park which was brilliant! Mike and I were running around the park like excited school kids – running between rides and as soon as one ride had finished we ran back to the top to go on it again. We had thought that we would probably be slowing down the pace at Robyns but she had a jam packed schedule for us. It was brilliant and 6 days whipped past and before we knew it, it was time to say goodbye! L Goodbye Robyn and goodbye Australia because we were off to New Zealand!!