Nap and Sydney Lecture

Erik took a nice one hour nap. I put together some crafts for the kiddos and then watched some TV.

Time for the Sydney lecture at 4pm.

Sydney is the capital of New South Wales. It has more than 5 million residents. Canberra is Australia's capital.

$1 USD = $1.50 AUS
Not a tipping nation

Over 1500 aboriginal rock engravings around Sydney

Arrival of first fleet in 1776 with convicts and a few women.

In 1932 the Sydney Harbor Bridge opened. It took 1400 workers and 8 years. Paul Hogan worked on the bridge before ever becoming Crocodile Dundee.

Sydney Opera House won a 1957 competition, finishing in 1973. 14 times over budget. Estimated at 102 million dollars.

St Mary's Cathedral near Hyde Park is the longest church in Australia. Foundation laid in 1868.

Queen Victoria Building completed in late 19th century. Knows as QBD. Houses markets and cafes. Located on George Street.

The Australian Museum is a natural history and science museum. It has artifacts like dinosaurs and is free.

Street art is common. People don't typically like graffiti but they like street art.

Local cuisine: fresh seafood: prawns on the barbi, barramundi, Sydney rock oysters

Kangaroo and bush tomatoes are also featured.

Australia is one of the only countries in the world that eats the animals on its flags.

SYDNEY SIGHTS

1. Sydney Opera House. Hosts 1500 performances annually. You can walk all the way around the building. It sits right next to the Botanical Gardens. Local seal lices at the steps by the back of the Opera House. Rent is playing this week, starting at $40. Some guy trains dogs to chase all the pigeons away so that they don't eat your food.

2. Royal Botanic Gardens. The Prime Minister sometimes goes running here.

3. Sydney Harbor Bridge. Nicknamed the coat hanger. Carries 8 lanes of traffic, 2 train lines, a cycle and a pedestrian lane. Workers balanced high above the harbor without harnesses. The bridge climb takes you 440 feet above sea level. You must pay to go up on this. 360 degree panorama. You can't take photos or cameras up on top of the bridge. The oldest recorded climber was 100 years old. The pylon lookout is on the southeast tower. You can bring the camera and phone on this one to see a 360 degree view. Take the elevator or stairs from Cumberland Street in the rocks.

4. The Rocks. Cobbled lanes, sandstone terraces, and even some cottages and argyle cut carved by convicts. Old part of Sydney. 1796 gave first legal drinking ticket. Legal drinking is 18.

5. Circular Quay. Recommend to go by ferry instead of bus to see things. Ferrys, trains, buses and other transport can be found here.

6. Darling Harbour. Ferry can take you. Good place to stay away from protest. Has some Chinese gardens. Has a dragon wall. There is also a tea house. Garden was a gift from city's sister city Quang Sho in China. Sea Life Sydney Aquarium has over 13,000 animals of over 700 species. Sydney Wildlife Zoo shows Koalas from the Koala rooftop. Not allowed to hold them. Has a kangaroo walkabout. Crocodile Billabong is home to Rocky one of the largest Crocs in captivity. T-Rex growl in Jurassic Park was actually a koala. National Maritime Museum showing aboriginal canoes to modern naval history. You can even board Captain Cook's Endeavor.

7. Taronga Zoo. Home to native and exotic wildlife. Nocturnal and platypus house. The zoo is built on a hill. Must walk up hill unless you take the bus service to be dropped off at the top of the zoo.

8. Cockatoo Island and Balmain Wharf. Cockatoo Island was a convict penal settlement.

9. Watson's Bay. Oldest fishing village. Easily accessible by ferry.

10. Manly Beach. Ferry can take you to this beach. Wharf to walk along. Ocean Beach.

11. Northern Beaches - Summer Bay. Can hike or go to the beach. Palm Beach. The Basin Ferry. Can find kangaroos, wallabies, monitor lizard, birds. Swimming hole with shark net.

12. Hyde Park Barracks. UNESCO world heritage site. Built by convicts. Now operators as a museum.

13. Bondi Beach. Famous for strong rifts. 5000 rescues per summer. Always swim between red and yellow flags. Nice cliff walk. Bondi to Coogee Beach Walk. 3.7 mile walk. Takes 2-3 hours at a relaxed pace.

14. Sydney Tower Eye. 1000 feet above the city. Sydney's tallest structure and Australia's second largest. Sky walk glass floor platform. Dining inside revolving restaurant.

15. Blue Mountains. About 470 million years old. Blue Haze. Wentworth falls has waterfall and you can go down chains to get to lower level. Leura is a garden village of the blue mountains. Katoomba is the largest town at the blue mountains. Carrington hotel built in 1883. Three sisters rock formation. Scenic world is also here. Boardwalk and waterfalls.

Other areas of interest might be:
- Maitland Bay Hike
- Pearl Beach
- McMasters to Copacabana Beach

1988 first fleet reenactment retracing 1788 voyage. Original fleet had 11 ships. Reenactment had 9 ships.Læs mere