16/04/2011 - 23/04/2011

Sydney, Palm Beach and Summer Bay!

So Chani's tax file number finally arrived in the post. We figure it's taking longer because she was born here and they have to do checks on her in regards to see if she was deported etc. She had to wait longer for the holiday visa as well but maybe it's all a coincidence.

We had a couple of days inbetween the TFN number arriving so thought we'd spent a little more time in Sydney. We knew we had to go there because Chani had to enquire about her gaining citzenship over here through descent.

Before we went there, we decided to take a trip to a drive-in cinema. The nearest one to Gosford was in a place called Kurri Kurri near Cessnock. The drive-in cinema is really good fun, a whole new experience to watching movies. You buy your ticket in a McDonald's style drive through, and park up in a designated bay with your boot facing the screen. Open your boot, get some cushions and some popcorn, tune your radio in to the sound and you're good to go. Definitely something I'm going to try again.

Our trip to Sydney the next day didn't start off too well. We planned to go to Taronga Zoo but we woke up too late and by the time we found parking at the train station we where cutting it fine. The train from Gosford wasn't arriving for another 30minutes so we had to wait and then it takes a further 1hr 30mins to get to Sydney. Taronga Zoo is another bus ride to Circular Quay and then a ferry ride so we decided against it as it was already nearly 12.30pm.

Instead, we found ourselves hungry and decided to get something to eat. There is a tram station just outside central train station so we walked there and took a tram down to Chinatown for lunch. It was a really nice experience, almost as if we were in China believe it or not! Very authentic looking from the restaurants to the smell of the food to the people themselves. It seems every Chinaman in Sydney lives there! Lunch was fairly reasonable, about $45 for a starter, drinks, a main and some Yum Cha. It was definitely worth it though, probably the best Chinese I've ever had.

After Lunch, we wondered over to the Embassy. Extremely tricky to find, so asking for directions is a must to find it. I will bore you with the details another time, surfice to say it was more paperwork!

For dinner, we decided to catch a tram to Darlng Harbour. It's fairly reasonably priced if you're going a distance ($3.50) per person. Darling Harbour is simply stunning, no other word for it. You could jus sit and gaze for hours and we did. Street performers keep you very entertained during the day and there is plently to do. It was still daylight and we stopped off in a bar overlooking the harbour for a bottle of wine. Light soon passed to dark and this is when Darling Harbour soon comes to life! Words really escape me when trying to describe how stunning it really is in the evening. The full moon sitting inbetween the high rise buildings, warm air, music, food and wine made this a really great experience. The trains run all night so we decided to stay for a while taking it all in.

Our next trip to Sydney was better planned. We were up early but made the mistake of thinking free parking next to the station was ideal. It wasn't! The commuters take every spot and we spent an hour trying to get one without success. Thinking we had to go home to park the car and ring a taxi was our only option until a lovely neighbour offered to drop us in! Hitting Sydney earlier meant we caught the free shuttle bus down to Circular Quay and straight onto the ferry for the zoo! Prices are very reasonable at Captain Cooks , $50 per person for zoo entry, ferry and a free cable cart ride. So we snatched their hand off. The ferry ride was extremely pleasant, giving you a chance to really see Sydney as it is from the water. Pictures do not do it justice!

The zoo was really enjoyable.We had great weather and the views over Sydney make this a unique experience. It's definetely worth a visit but the real highlight for me was the ferry back at sunset. Wow. I sound like a broken record but watching the sunset behind the Harbour Bridge is unforgetable. We took it all the way round back to Darling Harbour because it's nearer central station. Instead of taking the tram though, we walked as we realised it was only about 500m.

The next day we decided to visit Palm Beach, home to Summer Bay off Home and Away. The ferry there from Ettalong is about 20km away. Planning is key I 've realised as we missed the ferry and there wasn't another one until 2.30pm!!! Dejected, we took a short detour to Pearl Beach. An idealic and hidden quiet spot off the tourist radar. Seafood for lunch completed a really hot day.

The next day we were at Ettalong for 11.00am ready and waiting for the ferry. When we arrived at Palm Beach it was a short 500m left to Summer Bay. This beach attracted a lot more tourists but we hit the quiet early period in time to get some pictures. It really is gorgeous, like every beach in Australia really. The surf was good and it was so hot we decided to have a dip in the water. Absolutely awesome and very, very warm. I've been in the Red Sea but this was warmer I think and we're in Autumn! More seafood for lunch and then off home.

Our next stop is the Royal Easter Show in Sydney but we woke up today to heavy rain. We have another chance tomorrow, the last day of the show so hopefully the weather is nicer. We could be gone from Gosford on Monday, we have a lead on an apple picking job in Stanthorpe where they say they have places for us. Fingers crossed.