Fred's Oz excursion

Well I have been back 'home' in Wellington for a wee while and thought it was about time I reported on my trip over the Tasman.
I touched down on Australian soil at 5.30pm on Friday, and after getting the double-decker train to the city centre I spent the evening settling in to the hostel and wandering around the city. I stayed in the Railway Square YHA which I can highly recommend, friendly staff, pretty clean, good showers and right beside the station which is brilliant. All in all a nice relaxing first evening for a weary traveller.

Luckily for me I awoke on Saturday to blistering sunshine, blue sky and stifling heat, very different from Wellington believe me, so I decided to head for the Botanical Gardens to spend the day in the sun. Took in the sights of Hyde Park en route, and visited the Anzac Memorial (below).

When I reached the Botanics I had the whole afternoon to wander round before going out to the concert. The Botanical Gardens are fantastic, really peaceful and almost like a small paradise. After stopping at the opera house for a few pics I lay in the sun for a while. I saw many wonderful sites during my time in the botanics, including fruit bats/flying foxes, a weird old scrappy cockatoo, plenty of plants and flowers and loads of weddings.
After a cracking afternoon doing very little in the sun, I returned to the hostel and then caught the train to Olympic Park where the gig was on. A report on the gig will follow seperately, needless to say it was superb. Saturday was definitely one of the best days I've had since I've been away.

On Sunday I took the ferry to a small town called Manly (above) on the recommendation of a few friends. It's got an awesome beach so i chilled there for a while (nice), watched a bit of Woman's Beach Volleyball (nicer) and had lunch and a beer by the beach (quality). On my return to central Sydney I got snap happy and took many pics of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. Enjoy a couple of them.

Had to check out at 11am on Monday and since my flight wasn't til 6.30pm, I wandered the city again. It really is strange walking through a city centre decked out in Christmas decorations when it's sunny and the temperature's in the 30's. Bought chocolates for Sally as requested from the Lindt Café (hope you got them ok Sal) and relaxed in Hyde Park for a few hours. It was then time to make my way to the airport and signal the end of my Oz excursion.
I had the best time in Sydney, the weather was tremendous the whole time, (I think the lowest the temperature got was high 20's, it was roasting) and I can't wait to go back with Laura in March.