Cute koalas, jumping kangaroos, flying boomerangs, the immense Great Barrier Reef, the mysterious Ayers Rock, and the iconic Sydney Opera House—these are the things that flash through ones mind when one mentions Australia. But the so called Land Down Under is so immense, like a whole continent immense, that there’s virtually no limit to the things you can see and do around it.

Some months back, we embarked on a ten-day trip to Australia. We really didn’t have Oz in our sights, but a chance presented itself for us to go, and we took it. The country is so vast that planning to cover even just its major places would probably take months of traveling.

With limited amount of days and money, we settled for ten days, targeting the cities around its eastern coast, Sydney, Gold Coast, and Brisbane.

Our strides went longer and our pace quickened as dusk descended. We just came from the iconic Sydney Opera House, departing as the sun went below the Harbour Bridge. Our next query was food. We were on a strict budget, getting our meals mostly on supermarkets, Australia is extremely expensive, so we thought we’d just grab a bite on a small restaurant. Our friend M, who has just arrived that afternoon from Manila has other plans though, he’d like to eat on the revolving restaurant on top of the Sydney Tower. He’s treating, so alright, to the Sydney Tower it is!

SYDNEY’S SKYLINE AS SEEN FROM SYDNEY HARBOUR

We thought we’d save a bit by walking. We went through Pitt Street, one of the major roads running across Sydney, and in the process got to see a cross-section of the city. To be honest, we haven’t seen much of Sydney yet—we visited some of C’s relatives on our first day, and on the second, went out to the Blue Mountain Sydney.

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It was way past our bedtime, but since our blogger friend, J of Lakwatserong Tsinelas, has just arrived in Sydney to join us for a few days, we thought of having a few pints of beer on the many happening bars around the city before calling it a night. We literally walked high and low along the city’s hilly roads, only to be turned away every single time because we were wearing slippers. Apparently, most bars, if not all, in Sydney doesn’t allow such in their establishments—you can walk in shirtless and get in, as long as you’re wearing shoes. We walked back to our hotel, dry and mildly bemused.

After spending two nights on the most affordable lodging we could find in town, Sydney Central Inn, we transferred to a more upscale hotel at Sydney’s CBD as a wedding gift. Rydges World Square fitted our bill, not too expensive by Australian standards, and still within the heart of the city. The best part was, it’s literally two minutes by foot from our first lodging.

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Alone, I ascended the steps leading up to Australia’s iconic Sydney Opera House. My companions were nowhere to be found, probably still busy taking selfies along its grounds. They seemed unfazed and underwhelmed by the opera’s beauty and wasn’t that keen on seeing it up close. But I was determined not only to see this architectural masterpiece up close, but also feel it against my bare hands.

SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE’S CONCEPTUAL DRAWING

I graduated with an Architecture degree at the University of Santo Tomas, and the Sydney Opera House has been one of the most frequent examples we were ingrained with as to how designs shouldn’t just be about boxes. Breaking out of the box was the most important thing we were taught on our design subjects.

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We stood at the top deck as the Sydney Opera House greeted us in all its grandness. We just left Sydney’s port on a cruise ship and somehow, it looked smaller than what I had imagined it to be. Still, that didn’t diminish its beauty at all. It was but a brief encounter with the famed Australian icon, growing smaller and smaller as we moved across the waters of Sydney Harbour.

SYDNEY’S SKYLINE FROM THE HARBOUR WATERS

It was already our third day in Sydney and we haven’t explored its nooks and crannies yet. Upon arrival, we visited some of C’s relatives on the suburbs, and our second day we went on a trip to the Sydney Blue Mountains and Scenic World Katoomba. Before digging in further to what Sydney is all about, we thought of trying one of the cruises being offered along the Sydney Harbour.

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ON OUR THIRD DAY AND WE HAVEN’T REALLY EXPLORED SYDNEY THAT MUCH YET

The tours are actually being offered by Captain Cook Cruises, named after the first English officer who had stepped on Australia, then still Lieutenant James Cook. We checked their prices and compared it with our Klook app. The latter was cheaper by a few Australian dollars. We booked our tour with Klook instead.

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OUR CRUISE STARTED AT THE CIRCULAR QUAY

Meeting a friend at Darling Harbour for lunch, we went by foot to the Circular Quay where the cruise would commence. We were led to a waiting platform after we showed our e-voucher from our app and were given physical tickets. Soon, we were boarding a cruise ship, which was larger than I thought we’d be on.

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ABOARD ONE OF CAPTAIN COOK’S CRUISE BOAT

Booked on their Sydney Harbour Highlights Cruise, our tour would be sailing across eastern reaches of the harbour, then round back towards Darling Harbour before finally docking at Circular Quay once more. It lasts about ninety minutes and is inclusive of one drink—a choice of soda or coffee—for each guests. They do serve food, but with limited time, the thought of sitting down at the lower level restaurant for food didn’t even cross our minds.

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MOST OF THE GUESTS PREFERRED THE TOPSIDE OF THE BOAT

It was an overcast day when we set sail and I was kinda disappointed since the photos I was taking sucked. But a few minutes after we passed the Sydney Opera House, the clouds parted and shades of blues started to peek across the sky.

SYDNEY’S HARBOUR BRIDGE

A commentary about the sights we were passing was constantly running on the background, which can be heard clearly even on the top deck of the ship. It was quite informative as it rattled off info, which were interspersed with a few comic jabs, as we passed certain spots along the harbour.

FORT DENISION, IT USED TO BE A PRISON ISLAND

It was also a good introduction on how the British found their way all the way to the Land Down Under starting with Captain Cook’s expedition, and later on, the arrival of the first fleet of eleven British ships that brought more than seven hundred convicts to the continent, and finally, the establishment of a penal colony that paved the way for it to be an independent country.

PASSING BELOW HARBOUR BRIDGE

SYDNEY’S LUNA PARK

Besides the Sydney Opera House, during our Sydney Harbour Highlights Cruise, we passed several landmarks like the Royal Botanic Gardens where the British fleets landed, Fort Denison—a small island fortress that sorta reminded me of a similar island in Corregidor, Clark and Shark Islands—a sorta getaway islands just a kilometer away from the city, and turning back at Bradley’s Head—giving us a clear view of the opulent mansions lining Point Piper.

I WAS SURPRISED TO FIND BEACHES ALONG THE HARBOUR

THE AFFLUENT POINT PIPER AREA

We were told that whales, dolphins, and seals can sometimes be seen along the waters of Sydney Harbour, so we were on the constant lookouts for such.

CRUISING THE HARBOUR IS A GOOD WAY TO SEE SYDNEY

THE WATERS OF SYDNEY HARBOUR

Going back, we went face to face with the Sydney Harbour Bridge, onto Millers Point and Barangaroo Reserve Park and docked on Darling Harbour. We thought that was the end of the tour, so along with a few passengers, we disembarked on the port.

TURNING TO DARLING HARBOUR

THE MARITIME MUSEUM, IT HAS A LEGIT SUBMARINE DOCKED BESIDE IT

ALIGHTING AT DARLING HARBOUR, ONLY TO GO BACK UP THE SHIP AGAIN

Some moment after, our cruise ship started tooting its horn. We saw that not everyone has alighted. Hurriedly, we ran back to the ship, and it started its way back to Circular Quay. The ship almost left without us, we were the last to board!

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TOURS ARE AVAILABLE TO WALK ABOVE THE HARBOUR BRIDGE

We had a good laugh about that as we sipped on our complementary soda. It would’ve been much more fun if we’re chugging beer right there, but like everything else in Australia, they’re quite expensive, lol.

BACK AT THE SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE ALONG CIRCULAR QUAY

The Sydney Opera House was glowing when we finally entered the waters of Circular Quay. The sun was on its way down, casting a yellowish tinge to its shell-like façade. We bade our farewell to the crew, finding two of them to be Filipinos! It was a short, but a very sweet introduction to Sydney. Now it’s time to explore the city on foot!

 

SCOOT HAS DAILY PROMO FARES FROM MANILA TO AUSTRALIA

SCOOT, KLOOK, AND ONE VINE MIGRATION MADE OUR TRIP TO AUSTRALIA POSSIBLE. VIEWS AND OPINION ALL MINE.

 

Sydney Harbour Highlights Cruise ►BOOK ONLINE
Address: Wharf 6, Circular Quay, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Contact Number: +61 (2) 9206-1111
Tour Rates: AUD35.00
Tour Duration: 90 mintues
GPS Map Coordinates: -33.860826, 151.209945

On a bench right on the sidewalk, we busily checked our mobile phones on what we can do in the city. We were right outside our lodging in Sydney, trying to adapt to the unexpectedly nippy weather and taking advantage of the inn’s wi-fi while waiting for a relative to pick us up. In between scanning our phones, we watched as people pass by, still amazed that we’re now actually in Australia.

FLY TO AUSTRALIA ON SCOOT’S YEAR-ROUND PROMO FARES

Booked on a Scoot flight from Manila to Sydney and after a fun sixteen-hour layover tour in Singapore, we finally arrived at the Sydney International Airport around noon. We wanted a hassle-free transport to our lodging so we purchased a cheap van transfer via Klook (₱770.00 per person) in advance. It was definitely cheaper than if we took the train or hailed a cab. Redeeming it was as simple as showing the voucher on our mobile app at the Redy2Go booth at the airport, them giving us a physical ticket, and us boarding the shuttle to the city.

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