Sydney, Australia

David had to go to Sydney for work, so we decided to add on a few vacation days so that we could also visit Ayers Rock in Central Australia.

We arrived in Sydney over the weekend and after we settled in at the hotel, we decided to walk to Circular Quay and take the ferry across to Manly.  One of our favourite restaurants, Pure Whole Foods happens to be in Manly, so we decided to go there for lunch.  The ferry ride to Manly is just over half an hour and it is a very scenic ride that passes the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Opera House, the botanical gardens and the North and South Heads.   

 Grand Pacific Drive
The day after we arrived in Sydney we decided to rent a car to do the Grand Pacific Drive.  The Grand Pacific Drive starts about 45 minutes south of Sydney at the entrance to the Royal National Park (the world's second oldest) and features some of the most spectacular coastline in New South Wales.  The 140 km drive took us along the coast, through quaint seaside towns and along the 665 metre Sea Cliff Bridge.  Along the way we stopped at the coastal towns of Wollongong, Shellharbour and finally Kiama.  In Kiama we stopped at the infamous Kiama Blowhole that was discovered by George Bass in 1797.

The Rocks Market

After our trip to Ayers Rock, we flew back to Sydney for the day and decided to spend it at The Rocks.  The Rocks got its name from the rugged cliffs that were once its dominant feature.  The Rocks is now part of the beautiful promenade that extends from the Sydney Harbour Bridge to the Sydney Opera House.  The Rocks is a lively area with restaurants, galleries and shops.  On the weekends, The Rocks Market is open and it is popular with both locals and visitors alike.