Christchurch 1 Feb - Monday

Travelling today, so not much to report. Our flight take off from Sydney was delayed by one hour.
We left Sydney on a hot morning 25°C. Christchurch temperature is a little cooler, 19°C in the morning, getting into the 20s in the afternoon. We arived OK in Christchurch an hour late, with a time differenc of 2 hours, it was late afternoon by the time we had picked our Avis car up and driven to the Hotel.

Below are two photos taken as we came in to land in Christchurch.

Fantastic scenery as you can see.

After dropping our cases off at the hotel, we had a drive around and picked a few odds and sods up from the local super market, the girls seem unable to pass a super market without buying something. 
We then had a couple of drinks with our evening meal, at a local restaurant, before we returned to the hotel for an early night, as we were up before 4:00am this morning to catch the shuttle bus to the airport.

Sydney 31 Jan - Sunday

The outlook for today is good, some cloud but more sun, up to 29°C. As Liz and Dorothy were going to do the hop on, hop off bus tour of Sydney and Bondi. Pat and I decided we would go to the zoo, as we have been in Australia for nearly 3 weeks and have not got any photos of kangaroos.
We were told that the best way to get to the zoo was to catch the ferry from Central Quay, wharf 2. So we walked down to Central Quay and took the 15 min ferry to Taronga zoo.
The entrance to The zoo was a little way up the road, there was a bus, but it did not accept money, Opal card only (similiar to Oyster cards in London), but the driver very kindly let us on the bus, as he could see Pat was struggling with her broken foot and elbow crutch.

The first thing we saw in the zoo was a lizard, not sure what type of lizard It was, as it was in with the ducks

Also with the ducks was a pelican, as you can see below.

Still not got a photo of a kangeroo, below is a Northern Nail-tailed Wallaby

At last, a mob (this is the correct term for several kangaroos) of Red Kangaroos with a smaller Swamp Wallaby

I didn't know the difference between Kangaroos and Wallabys.

More Red Kangaroos.

And finally a real life crocodile behind a safety glass screen. Although it was not very liveley, in fact it just layed there, soaking up the sun. 

Pat and I had a coffee outside the zoo cafe, the view over the harbour was magnificent.

We then got the ferry back to Central Quay, and returned to our hotel, as we are all going out for dinner with Tony Crawford and his wife Rosie. Tony was on the Coast to Coast walk with me back in May 2010.

Tony very kindly pick us all up from our hotel reception, then took us to "Ripples", on the Harbour in North Sydney, which was just over the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The views over the harbour from the restaurant were spectacular.

Then as the sun went down, the views became even more impressive.

We had a fantastic night with Tony and Rosie, catching up on each others family afair's, along with reliving most of the Coast to Coast walk we did together back in 2010. The food in the restaurant was superb and the wine (which Tony and Rosie brought with them) flowed freely. A really enjoyable night was had by all. Many thanks to our host's, Tony and Rosie for making us all feel so welcomed and making it such a great evening.

Sydney 30 Jan - Saturday

Yesterdays blog has been updated. 

The weather forcast for today was not to good, temp around 26°C was OK, but overcast and showers latter was the out look. Pat and I therefore decided to take our coats and umbrellas and do the Hop on Hop off tour of Sydney and Bondi. While Liz and Dorothy went off to the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Pat and I walked up to Central Quay and bought concessionary tickets on the tour bus. We were a bit miffed, that we were not asked to prove our age (over 60), obviously looking our age these days. But on the other hand, we did save 25% on the price of the ticket ($30 each instead of $40 each).

The first half of the tour is around Sydney, the first thing we saw was "Sydney Tower Eye". Pat and I were in Sydney with Wally (a friend of ours) back in 2003 (when we won the Rugby Union World Cup), we all went to the top of this tower then, which has a revolving restraunt at the top. I remember at the time we tried the bush tucker: Kangaroo, Emu and Crocodile. It was different.

Today being Saturday, there were a few street markets around. Pat was not very happy, as she was not able to Hop off to shop, due to her broken foot still slowing her down.

You can see the City skyline behind the old warehouses, which have now been done up and are now very desirable properties.

The tour bus passed the Opera house.

Then on to St Mary's Cathedral. When this was originally built, there was a tax that had to be paid on completed dwellings. So the builders did not complete the spires until that tax was abolished some 30 years latter, which may be why they look much newer than the rest of the Cathedral.

An interesting building with greenery growing everywhere on it's outside.

Back towards Sydney Harbour and there is a different liner docked there.

Pat and I hopped off, stumbled off is perhaps a better description, at Darling Harbour.

We had a coffee, below is the view from the cafe.

This is the view looking the other way.

They are advertising a fireworks display tonight. But as the heavens opened again around 5:00pm and persisted for several hours. The fireworks display was cancelled.

Back on the tour bus and under Sydney Harbour Bridge.

We passed Oxford Street, which is the area we stayed in, when we visited in 2003. At that time I had not been to Sydney before, so did not know which hotel to book online. But I knew Oxford Street in London was a nice area, so I booked Oxford Street in Sydney.

It was not until Pat and I were walking down Oxford Street, passing various shops with leather straps and whips, bars full of "Village People", blokes holding hands and wearing leather pants with no backside in them, that we realised we were in the gay centre of Sydney.

The commentary on the tour bus confirmed what we already knew.

Below was the first park in Sydney. The obilisk was initialy used as a reference point to measure distances to other towns. But as The roads were not that straight the distances were not that accurate.

Smart car at the traffic lights next to us. I think he's still looking for his bonnet.

There is a preservation order on this sign, as it has been in Sydney for so long. 

First view of Bondi Beach

It looks a lot cleaner than it did when we were here in 2003.

As Pat was not up to going on the beach, I went down on my own to check the beach and have a paddle in the sea. As you can see I took a selfie, my very first selfie, I actually pressed the wrong key on my iphone by mistake and was looking at myself instead of the sea, so took a selfie.

As you may have noticed, I had my hair cut this morning and I can't do a thing with it.

Got my iPhone facing the right way. The beach is a lot cleaner than it was in November 2003, when we were last here. In fact it now looks spotless. Good on ya mate.

Pat and I had an icecream in Bondi before hopping back on the tour bus to Sydney. We just got back to the hotel As the heavens opened, so stayed there for evening meal.

Sydney 29 Jan - Friday

The day started with sunshine, around 26°C. After a jog in the gym. I went down to Darling Harbour, where I had arranged to meet Alex Zbrowoski, a guy that I went up Kilimanjaro with in 6 years ago. Unfortunately with the pressure of work Alex had forgotten that we were meeting at 12:00. I waited till about 12:30, then went into a nearby Star Bucks, where I got an internet connection, Alex's face book fortunately said that he worked at the Commonwealth Bank. As I could see a building with Commonwealth Bank on it from Darling Harbour, I walk across to it and spoke with the concierge, who contacted Alex in another of their buildings, so we managed to arrange to meet in Star Bucks at around 13:00. While walking back to Star Bucks from the Commonwealth Bank, the heavens opened, it poured down with rain, thundered and  lightend, so we were soaked by the time we met up.

Alex got a couple of coffees and we spent the next hour or so, catching up with, what each of us had been up to since Kili. It was great to see that Alex is doing well, he has arranged a trip to India in April with his sister's partner (who lives in the USA), they are using motorised rickshaw type vehicles to tour around, so Alex needs to pass his motor bike test by then, so that he can legally drive/ride one of these motorised rickshaws. He has already completed his CBT (Compulsary Bike Training) or the Australian equivalent, so he should have no problem passing his test before he goes (no pressure).

Many thanks to Alex for postponing his afternoon meetings so that we could catch up.

The photo below includes one of Commonweath Bank buildings

At one end of Darling Harbour is a redundant lighthouse.

Near by an old sailing ship.

The iMax is the yellow and black chequered building below.

A large shopping mall on the opposite side of the Harbour

Part of the Maritime Time Museum includes HMAS Vampire (Daring class), which saw service between 1959 and 1986.

The submarine below, HMAS Onslow (nothing to do with "Keeping up apearences" UK TV show) was decommissioned in 1999, so is still in working order.

While I was looking around Darling Harbour, the girls went  window shopping. Although Pat still managed to buy some wares.

Remembering Bob's hat yesterday. Dorothy took the photos below.

A world famous Mad Hatters shop, sorry Strand Hatters

An extensive selection of hats as you can see, really popular venue in Syndney.

So why oh why did these guys pick these hats?

Sydney 28 Jan - Thursday

The weather outlook for today was showers. As it turned out, it was not a bad day, temperture up at 27°C, a little cloudy at times, but mostly sunny with no rain.
As planned we met up with Mark Griffin and Sandra McElhenny at Circular Quay then caught the ferry to Watson Bay.

As you can see we passed the world famous Opera House.

Looked back at Sydney Harbour bridge.

Passed the Sydney city skyline

We got a wider view of Sydney as we arrive at Watson Bay

After a coffee at the harbour front, Liz stopped with Pat in a local park, while the rest of the group, guided by our new leader for the day, Mark. Lead the group on a short walk along the "South Head Heritage Trail" which is part of the "Sydney Harbour National Park".

Below is a sign on the trail that shows the local rules for fishing in the harbour.

 

The next sign on the trail, as you can see is for a nudist beach. 

Being curious, we had a quick look to see if there was anyone partaking in this opportunity. We could only see one person on the beach, a over weight middle age man, who was completely naked. He seemed happy to display all his wares to anyone who stopped to look. 

As none of us were impressed with his wares, and I did not have a strong magnification lens on my camera, there was no point taking any photos of him.

Walking on a little further with Sandra and Mark, you can see Sydney in the back ground. You can also see that Bob is modling, what is now his world famous hat. Which has not only been all over the UK, but has been to Africa, up Kilimanjaro. In India, to the source on the Ganges on the Chinese border, and now in Australia. 

Southern Head light house.

Where Sydney Harbour goes into the Pacific Ocean (or is the Tasmin Sea). Eitherway, the Southern opening to the Ocean/Sea is called the "Southern Head" and the Northern opening to the Ocean/Sea is (you've guest it) the "Northern Head".

The photo below shows rocks that are known locally as "The  Gap" in the back ground you can see the Northern Head.

Below is the view of Sydney, looking back from the top of the gap.

After having a fish and chips lunch at Doyles restaurant in Watson Bay, we returned to Circular Quay. Passing the Opera House again

And the Harbour Bridge.

If you look closely you may be able to see people doing the bridge walk. The walk is on the left hand side of the bridge, as you look at the photo. People walk up the lower arc, then at the apex then transfer to the top arc, which they then walk down.

We finished of the day by walking around the Opera House. Which is a fantastic building, although the inside is somewhat sparce, lots of bland concrete. Apparently when it was being built, they had a change of government, who decided the building was costing to much, so they made savings on the internal of the building.

Below Dorothy, Bob and Liz outside the Opera House, with the Harbour Bridge in the background (thanks for the photo Mark)

Overall we had a great day with Sandra and Mark and would like to thank them both for being such good company and making it a fantastic day. Mark organised a great walk on the South Head Heritage Trail and Sandra went out of her way to join us, making a 2.5 hour train journey from her home in Newcastle to meet up with us, and then another 2.5 hours to return home.