There is so much to see in Sydney as and it is all so accessible. During our stay in Sydney we were able to walk around most of the city sights and for those slightly further afield, we used buses and trains to get there. We were really impressed with the public transport, particularly the double-decker trains they have.

I think that photos are much better than words to show our sightseeing highlights, so here you are, our selection of photos from Bondi Beach, The Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, The Rocks, Darling Harbour, the Botanical Gardens, Kings Cross and the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

Rich and Sonia at Bondi beach

The Art Museum of New South Wales

The beautiful Darling Harbour

The Rocks square

Art installation on a roundabout

Rich and Sonia selfie at Darling Harbour

Smiling in the sunshine with the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the background

The botanical gardens, a quiet haven in the city

It was a busy day around the Sydney Opera House setting up for New Years Eve celebrations

Stunning arches of the Sydney Opera House

Stunning views at Sydney Harbour

The outside of the Sydney Opera House up close – lots and lots of ceramic tiles

The botanical gardens, where the city and the trees share the skyline.

One of the delights on view at the botanical gardens

The famous Kings Cross Coca Cola sign

A side street in Kings Cross

A heart shaped water drain in Kings Cross – I love this!

Rich running into the sea at Bondi beach

Rich and Sonia all smiles at Bondi, despite the overcast weather

Rich and Sonia playing catch in the sea at Bondi beach

As well as enjoying Christmas, New Years Eve celebrations and sightseeing, we also had some down days  and took time to chill out in the hostel, watching TV or films on our laptop. One afternoon there was a musician playing in the courtyard which gave the place a great atmosphere as they laid on another BBQ for us.

We enjoyed food out with fish and chips by the beach in Bondi, went to a little thai restaurant in Kings Cross on New Years Day and for our last meal in Sydney Rich and I dined at the one and only Guzman y Gomez! I think Rich has had his fill of burritos now, for a little while at least.

Fish and chips at Lush on Bondi beach

Rich at his favourite burrito bar, Guzman y Gomez

A momentous occasion, Rich’s last burrito in Australia…for now

Sonia’s enjoying a thai meal on New Years Day

Rich’s hot hot hot thai meal on New Years Day

We really enjoyed our stay in the Summerhouse Backpackers and met some really lovely people who were staying there over Christmas and New Year too.

Our last night in the hostel before flying to New Zealand was eventful. At around nine thirty there was a huge commotion in the TV room. When I went in to see what was happening I was shocked to see that water was gushing out of the sprinkler on the ceiling.

It turned out that a beanbag fight had knocked the sprinkler head off. Given the alarms that then sounded, the police were in attendance within thirty seconds, swiftly followed by the fire brigade!

Everything got sorted out but Rich and I were glad that we weren’t the ones who knocked the sprinkler head off the ceiling – that was going to be a very costly accident for one of the backpackers staying at the hostel.

Rich said it wouldn’t be appropriate to ask an Aussie fireman for a photo with me whilst he was on duty, so I’ll have to wait for another opportunity for that photo! It was certainly a memorable night for our last one in Sydney though.

Water gushing out of the ceiling in the hostel TV room

The fire brigade came to the rescue