Can you believe we have been living here a year this month? It has really flown by and doesn’t feel like a year has passed. (Technically this is our 2nd year in Australia completed, having done a year many moons ago).

I feel like I haven’t blogged in 10 years. I thought it was because I didn’t have much content to talk about. However, I think the real reason is I just haven’t had the energy or the drive. Basically, I’ve been lazy or maybe I’ve just been living life 😆. Anyways, I thought I would use this blog to tell you all what we have been up to in the last few weeks. We have been fairly quiet of late for a few different reasons. We have just moved house and we actually ended up living in Bondi Junction. If you have read my last couple of blogs, we had been debating whether to live in the city or by the beach. We thought we had decided on Bondi, however, the daily commute to work and the gym etc was becoming a real chore. Therefore, we made the decision to move to Bondi Junction. It is the next suburb to Bondi and we can travel there to the beach within 10 minutes by bus. Living in the junction makes travel to the CBD and anywhere really in Sydney much easier as there is a main railway station here. We are close to all the amenities needed including the massive Westfields shopping mall. It is so handy and means less time spent on painful daily bus commutes.

Bondi Junction

It’s winter here in Sydney now so you don’t feel the need to head out all the time. It’s the time now for getting cosy at home, warm winter clothing, blankets and bowls of stew. Being cooler you are more than happy to sit at home, watch Netflix and drink lots of tea. It’s also a good time to hit the gym and work on that summer body for next year 🙈😁. Luckily in Sydney there are still plenty of things to do in winter. I will list a few that we have completed recently.

We just had the yearly Festival of Lights in Sydney known as Vivid. There are many light installations all over the city, illuminating Sydney’s most iconic features, for example, the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. There are light projections at Darling Harbour along with a pretty impressive firework display and local light performances at Barangaroo. The botanic gardens has a trail of different light features that takes you on an exciting journey throughout. It is very impressive but extremely busy. My advice would be to attend during the week as weekends are chaotic.

I recently saw a post on Facebook about a really cool Japanese garden in Sydney. So thought it would be good to check out. It is a good 20km or so outside the CBD in the suburb of Auburn and is located within Auburn’s Botanical Gardens. It is a really quaint garden that is one of Sydney’s hidden gems. If you want to see a really stunning area with tranquility and a feeling of being immersed in nature, not far from the city, then you should check this place out. It also contains a very small little animal sanctuary, housing some of Australia’s most famous animals in their Australian Native Gardens section.

We love to find walks in and around Sydney that showcase the beautiful scenery the city has to offer. One that I had never completed or even knew about is the walk from Barangaroo (just past Darling Harbour) to Circular Quay, bridging the two giant tourist locations together. It is a really stunning walk, not overly long and gives you another angle (there are hundreds) from which to see the Harbour Bridge. Having never been here before, it was magical to find a new path to trek around right in the CBD. Definitely one to check out.

Another walk that we only happened to do today was that from Taronga Zoo to Chowder Bay. I had heard and seen friends doing this walk but only managed to find the time to do this today. Boy, what a walk! It did not disappoint. I think the weather made it to be fair. Although winter, the sun was out in force and the blue skies definitely add to the setting. It was cooler which was probably a blessing in disguise as there are many steps through bush terrain and we ended up walking about 5km. The views of the city are stunning and the coastline is out of this world. I have carried out a few walks around Sydney, all beautiful but it was pretty cool to still discover a new one to us. At the end of the walk we reached Chowder Bay where there is the most quaint little coffee dock called Bacino Kiosk. I would highly recommend everyone to check this out, one of the best coffee places I have been to in Sydney!!! We will be back 😉.

To conclude, yes it’s winter here in Sydney now and things slow down a little, for us at least. However, there is also somewhere new to discover or something always happening to keep you entertained. One year has passed for us here and we are excited to be heading home this month for a holiday. After that, bring on year 2!!

Thanks for reading! 

Hi everyone! I really want to tell you a little about this place as it is a really beautiful spot in Australia and I am so glad I got to experience here with my parents. We were here last month for the main reason being to snorkel at the Great Barrier Reef 🐠.

Port Douglas is a small town on the Coral Sea in the tropical far north of Queensland, Australia. It is famous for its beach resorts and provides a good base for visits to both the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest reef system, and Daintree National Park, home to an amazing rainforest and Mosman Gorge. The main street in Port Douglas has many little boutique shops, bars, cafes and restaurants. It is a quaint little place with lots of character and summer feels. The people here, from what we had seen, were extremely friendly and hospitable.

We took a flight from Sydney to Cairns. From there we hired a car and drove to Port Douglas. It is only about an hour away by car from Cairns and the journey is spectacular. It is very much a coastal drive with amazing ocean views. You will find yourself wanting to stop, take in the views and capture a few photographs (seems to be the norm).

There are tons of roundabouts on the way to Port Douglas but it’s more or less straight the whole way and there are sign posts everywhere. Google maps is also helpful for when you arrive in the small town in order to find your place to stay.

We decided to stay in an Air BnB that we had found using the app. It was a fantastic 2 bedroom tropical town house. It couldn’t have been better and was located perfectly, only a short walk into the town. The hosts were easy to contact and very accommodating. I would definitely stay again and use the Air BnB app again. Having your own pool is a real bonus, considering the humidity in tropical North Queensland 😅.

So asides from chilling out, checking out the town for shopping and exploring, dining out and having some sociables, the 2 main things we wanted to do in Port Douglas were snorkelling at the Great Barrier Reef and visiting the rainforest.

For snorkelling we went with the company Low Isles Sailaway. You find details of their tours Here. The team were amazing, very friendly and knowledgeable. The boat itself was pretty cool and lots of room onboard.

They provided you with tea and coffee on arrival, a hot buffet lunch, snorkelling equipment and tour (2 tours in water and an island tour) and a glass bottom boat option if you prefer not to snorkel for a second time. I wanted a company that offered smaller tours in order to have more interaction and gain a better insight of the reef. I think this could have been the case had there not been so many kids or parents who hand over their responsibilities of the kids to the skippers🙊🤦🏼‍♂️.

The reef itself is exciting to see and explore, however, it isn’t all that you would expect it to be. Yes there is coral and yes there are fish. We didn’t see any coral bleaching that seems to be a hot topic at the moment but rather the coral was dull and nowhere near as colourful as you see on Finding Nemo. The main reason for this is that under the sea is not like a Disney movie. It doesn’t appear as colourful as the glossy magazines would show either. I think this is the reality that things often don’t appear as they seem. I compare this to the time we were on the Amalfi Coast. The buildings there were amazing but nowhere near as colourful as photography would have shown. I guess photos and videos can be edited to show more colour. That isn’t to say that you wouldn’t see more colourful and lively reef elsewhere. It just wasn’t the case for us. We did, however, manage to see a few turtles and swim in their vicinity. That was awesome 🐢. Being underwater, the boat, blue skies, the wildlife, the ocean, all make the trip to the reef so worth while and I’m stoked we were able to glimpse part of the Great Barrier Reef.

The Daintree Rainforest is something we also wanted to see, being the oldest rainforest on the planet and largest tropical rainforest in Australia. Not too far from Port Douglas you can enter Daintree National Park. It provides access to the rainforest, tour guides, buses to the rainforest and access to Mosman Gorge.

We decided to do our own thing and opted for one of the shorter walks through the forest. Even at that, it seemed like a long enough trek. Some the views were really outstanding and it was an exciting experience to be walking in the middle of an actual rainforest 🤣.

At times when you find yourself alone with no people about, it can be fairly daunting. You wonder if you’re continuing on the right path and pray there are no dangerous animals or creepy crawlies in your midst 🙈. It is tropical so prepare to get sweaty. The best way to cool down is to take a dip at Mosman Gorge. The water is so refreshing and provides a great location to swim in the wild but remain in safe waters. To be honest, for us, this was the highlight of the rainforest.

For more information about the gorge and rainforest click here. It is definitely worth a visit when and if you ever head to North Queensland.

Overall this was a great trip and we can now say we have seen the Great Barrier Reef and been to the Daintree Rainforest. Something else checked off the bucket list ✅.

Thanks for reading!!

W 😊

Hello everyone! Sorry it has been so long since I’ve written a blog. Over the Christmas and New Year period it is always busy, plus I had the pleasure of having my parents here for a few weeks. On the plus side however, I have plenty of things to blog about.

We went to see Muriel’s Wedding: The Musical last week presented by the Sydney Theatre Company and I cannot stop smiling every time I think about it. I always loved the movie and being an Aussie classic, I thought it would be great to take my parents to the stage show. I didn’t really have any expectations as nobody I know had been to see it yet. The reviews have been good so far and boy were they right. It is one of the best musicals I have seen in a long time. It really follows the movie well, updating the 90s classic to the modern day time. The story follows a girl named Muriel Heslop on her quest to be popular and find the man of her dreams, all so she can have the “perfect” wedding. She leaves the fictional town of Porpoise Spit and heads for the big lights of Sydney. As you will find out, things don’t always go to plan for Muriel 🙈. The music written by Kate Miller-Heidke and Keir Nuttall was phenomenal, very catchy and full of emotion and energy. The musical also incorporates many of the Abba songs that were used in the movie. It really is hysterical and will keep you entertained the whole way through. We all thoroughly enjoyed the show and it received a standing ovation at the end.

The musical is performed at the Roslyn Packer Theatre in Sydney and really is a beautiful place to host such a show. Having never been here before, it was refreshing to step inside a theatre that is so welcoming and full of character.

Unfortunately the show is now sold out until its run ends later this month. However, you can now download the album from Apple Music and become familiar with the songs before it returns no doubt. I’m sure this will be a musical that will be around for a very long time and could be in a theatre near you before you can even say “You’re terrible Muriel”.

Well done to all the cast and crew who put together a fantastic show and Maggie McKenna who was sensational as Muriel Heslop. I will look forward to seeing this again in the future!!!

W 😊

So it is only in the last week or 2 that I have even realised that Christmas is soon upon us. Back home in Northern Ireland Christmas season begins as soon as Halloween is over. Actually people start thinking of Christmas even before that 🤦🏼‍♂️. However, for me, I usually start to get into the spirit of Christmas at the end of November. Although not this year. It is so hot in Sydney (summer time) that the idea of Christmas seems a million light years away. There has also been a lack of Christmas trees and Christmas tunes…or maybe back home we are way over the top with it all. Even when you do spot a Christmas tree, it just doesn’t seem to fit into your idea of Christmas.

I was chatting to an older lady the other day about not feeling like Christmas here and she rightly said that summer is all she knows at Christmas and for her it would be strange to be freezing, never mind seeing snow. I guess it is just what we are used to and opening up to the idea of seeing it from another perspective, like anything really.

With that in mind, I have been looking out for Christmas feels. We took a walk this evening in Sydney’s CBD as I had seen that the street had reopened to the public following tram line work. It has been decorated beautifully for Christmas and provided me with my first Christmas feeling🙌🏼. It really is something special to behold and gives Sydney a Melbourne/European feel.

Following some Christmas shopping (where I noticed Christmas songs playing 🙏🏼) we headed over to see The Lights of Christmas at St Mary’s Cathedral. Here a choir sings Christmas carols for an hour which was really lovely. Afterwards the light show commences, displaying an array of images and storytelling projected onto this magnificent cathedral. It was amazing to watch and 100% made me get into the Christmas spirit. It is definitely worth a visit if you are in Sydney. It is a free event and open to everyone.

Now that I am finally and officially in the Christmas spirit, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

W 😊🎄

So I already knew how amazing Watson’s Bay is and how it is renowned for its fish and chips at Doyle’s on the Beach. I had been a handful of times and always to the same spot. As amazing as it is, I had assumed that was all that was there. However, I had heard recently that there was more on offer at Watson’s Bay if you only walked a little further past the main strip. Last weekend we decided to take a trip and explore the area. Even on the bus ride to Watson’s Bay we could hear locals telling a couple of tourists about the lesser known spots and how amazing the beaches are. We were even more intrigued.

Arriving at Watson’s Bay, we were dropped off at the usual spot. We walked with the other people and when the 2 tourists branched off on their own path, we decided to follow suit. Walking along were some really stunning houses, typical to this wealthy part of Sydney. You can only but dream of ever owning one. They could even be simply used as holiday homes for the rich and famous. Walking for 15 minutes we thought maybe we were lost as the 2 tourists in front had vanished from sight, due to us being too engrossed in the surroundings. But alas, we turned a corner and there it was, the beach we had heard of and it was packed. I guess other people HAD heard of this area. We found out from google maps that it known as Camp Cove. It really was spectacular, as are all the beaches and walkways belonging to Sydney Harbour National Park.

Adding to the beautiful beach setting was a little pier that you could walk onto and a little hut at the end. It just gives you that extra “je ne sais quoi” 👌🏼🤣.

To the right of the beach were lots of trees that lead into a small bush walk. These bush walks are very popular around Sydney. They’re unbelievable and what you may find at the end of a small trek can be really rather rewarding.

So off we trekked and to our amazement we indeed found another little hidden beach. This is known as Lady Bay Beach. It really is picturesque with its lovely tropical trees, white sand and clear blue waters. We were just about to descend the stairs to get a better view when we spotted a naked person standing at the bottom of the stairway 😳!! I had heard that nudist beaches were popular in and around Sydney but I just hadn’t expected to stumble across one. We thought it couldn’t be but as we scanned the area, there were only handful of people there and yes, they were ALL naked. Now each to their own, it must be very liberating to go for a skinny dip or just walk around freely but definitely not something I could do, even if I had the perfect body! We took a few snaps (of the scenery!!!) and briskly carried along the walkway.

I had heard there was a lighthouse at Watson’s Bay and I love a good lighthouse so we headed in that direction, remaining on the walkway. You really do see some amazing views of Sydney and with the summer weather finally here you just can’t beat it. You have to take a moment and appreciate the beauty that surrounds you.

I wouldn’t say I was overwhelmed by the lighthouse but it is pretty in its own right. It was a popular hit for tourists getting selfies with 🤦🏼‍♂️. I would have done the same 🤣 but couldn’t be bothered waiting for people to get that perfect snap.

So that was 2 more beaches found in Sydney over the weekend. I wonder how many more are yet to be explored? Sydney, the city that keeps on giving 👏🏼👏🏼

Thanks for reading,

W 😊

Living near Rushcutters Bay and having already been to Double Bay and Rose Bay, it was time to take the plunge and walk further around the coastline of Sydney’s eastern suburbs. I really wanted to see Nielsen Park after hearing so many good reports. I’m afraid to say we got the bus rather than walking (quite a jaunt from Rose Bay especially in the heat 🙈). Even from when we got off the bus, there was still a bit of a dander. In saying that, it’s a really pleasant walk through lovely Aussie suburbia. There are many amazing houses and properties en route and you really do see how the other half live (it baffles me how anyone can ever afford to live here 😳). However, seeing these awesome abodes with their glistening swimming pools is like torture when you’re being baked alive and are craving for a nice cool dip!

Arriving at Nielsen Park (part of Sydney Harbour National Park) it really doesn’t disappoint. It is a really lovely little beach that is a refreshing change from the busier and more popular eastern suburb beaches. The sea has an area that is protected with shark nets so you can swim without that fear of hearing the Jaws music when putting your head under the water 🦈😱. There is also a cafe for some refreshments or if you are prepared, there are areas for picnicking. If you are after a more secluded beach experience with beautiful waters then this is the place for you. It is quite family orientated and no dogs are permitted.

Having seen Nielsen Park and lapped it up with a flat white, we decided to keep walking until we found another beach area, Parsley Bay, both of which are in the suburb of Vaucluse. We just happened to find it on Google maps and only took 25 minutes to get to. It’s easy to miss the turn off for this beach, after walking back and forth and consulting our map, we luckily found the sign down a little street. It really does add to the sense of adventure of finding somewhere new and unexplored (by us anyway).

At the end of the street you stumble upon a really impressive bridge. Not a massive bridge but it has a lot of character. When you walk across the bridge and turn, you discover the beach. The first sighting really is breathtaking and you would totally forget that you are in Sydney. Absolutely stunning!

Having spent some time walking around and taking in the area (there’s also a little bush trail that takes about 20 minutes 👌🏼), it was time to get some lunch. We decided to head to Watson’s Bay for some fish and chips. Easily accessible by bus from here and only takes about 10 minutes. Having lunch would have made me more than happy, however, as we arrived in Watson’s Bay, we were pleasantly surprised to discover there was a cider festival 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼. As we 💚 cider, we were in our element. You could taste about 15 different ciders when you purchased some tokens. We opted for 6 ciders each (60ml taste!). The cloudy ciders were our favourites. They were really delicious and the atmosphere was very relaxed and happy, that sunshine on a Sunday feeling 😉. I would definitely recommend for next year. Finally we had our fish and chips from the famous Doyle’s and really didn’t disappoint. The end to a perfect day 🙏🏼.

W 😊

Hi everyone!!! Sadly my latest blog has taken a while to come about due to being pretty busy with life, working and having finally joined the gym. With a rare weekend off we decided to undertake the Spit to Manly walk in Sydney. It is a 10km walk/hike/trek that has some breathtaking views of different beaches and harbours, providing the chance to experience some of the bush whilst remaining in the capital city. The walk is pretty well sign posted and took us about 3 hours to complete.

Ready to begin our trek 👌🏼

I have always wanted to complete this trail, mainly to experience the bush without having to travel too far but also to see some of the scenic landscape on our doorstep, all on offer for free. It’s really lovely to catch a bus 20 minutes from your home and feel like you are in a completely different setting. To be honest, we hadn’t planned to walk the whole 10 kilometres, however, when you begin the walk, you become totally immersed in the environment and don’t even see the time passing by. The views are out of this world and you really look forward to what you may see around the next corner. It is a popular route to walk but not as busy as other Sydney walks, considering we went on a Saturday too. It is always nice to see some people about, especially when walking through the bush. You just never know what could jump out at you! We did manage to see and hear a water lizard rustling in the bush that caused quite a startle 🙈🦎.

You have to cross a couple of beaches along the way. Lucky for us the tide was out and we could cross with no problem or having to wade across. If the tide is in, you can move out towards the road until the area is passed. There are local residents about if you do happen to take a wrong turn along the way or in our case, get a little confused when you pass through a very prosperous area of housing ( you feel like you are off the beaten track, apparently fairly common!). When travelling through the bush area there is an opportunity to see some very old aboriginal rock engravings made by the regions Indigenous inhabitants.

I would highly recommend this walk if you have a love for fresh air, luscious scenery and the feeling of adventure. Really outstanding. You can find all the details you need, including how to get there from http://www.sydney.com.

W 😄

I am extremely happy that spring has officially arrived in Sydney. Apparently it has been the best winter here on record and it has been really dry (it has rained twice since we have arrived) but by gosh can it get cold here. Not the same kind of cold as Northern Ireland but the wind here would cut you in two. With it becoming warmer, it is great to get out and about and really enjoy Sydney and all it has to offer. I have to say, we are really enjoying the outdoors. Even simple things like taking a walk after work or grabbing a coffee is so much more pleasant when it is dry and warmer.

Last weekend we took a return trip to Toronga Zoo. It’s a really impressive zoo and great for seeing the city from another angle. You can take a cable car to the height of the zoo meaning you avoid trekking up a huge hill (not too bad on the way down). It also provides you with spectacular views overlooking the city as well as the elephant enclosure that it towers over.

You could really spend hours at this zoo. I won’t bore you with all the animal pictures as that kills me too but I do love the Australian ones, like the kangaroos and koalas. There were a good few animals I had never seen before too so that was a nice surprise. They also had a great wee sea lion show. Normally I’m not a fan of these type of shows as it seems cruel but these creatures appear to have been rescued and given the chance to be ambassadors for those less fortunate, helping to educate people about the importance of backing safer waters and maintaining a cleaner marine environment.

Let sleeping Aussie animals lie 😴

The best way to travel to the zoo is by hopping onto a ferry at Circular Quay. These ferries can take you to lots of places that are accessible by water. Yesterday we took another of these ferries to Cockatoo Island. We hadn’t planned to go here at all but we were waiting on a ferry to take us home when this ferry arrived first. It seemed an omen that we should go and pay a visit to the island while we had the chance.

The island has that feeling that you have just entered Alcatraz or equally found yourself in an episode of Lost where you might find ‘The Others’. This island had previously been used for ship building, housing prisoners that had re-offended and as a bunker during WW2. Nowadays the island is used as a place for open air concerts. There are lots of tents on the island already pitched for people to camp over night and holiday on the island for said concerts.

It is also a very popular venue for New Years Eve as it provides an amazing view of the Harbour Bridge and therefore, the infamous fireworks display. There are also small but really quaint apartments on the island for those wanting a more pampered overnight stay. Shower facilities are provided on site too.

Besides from the Blair Witch feel to the island, there are a lot of seagulls. The island should be called Seagull Island, certainly no cockatoos were seen! They’re pretty freaky as they sleep here on the island and will give you a large squawk if you approach them 😰 Not for those afraid of birds. It is definitely a place I would love to return to, moreso in a large group (safety in numbers).

W 😊

If you are fans of a wee TV show called Home and Away (a long running Ozzie soap, pretty big still in the UK and Ireland), then you have to visit the beach where it’s outdoor scenes are filmed at, Palm Beach (otherwise known as Summer Bay). We caught the bus from Sydney CBD and the journey took about an hour and a half to the northern beaches suburb. Palm Beach prides itself on being the jewel of the Northern Beaches and is the most northernly suburb of Sydney. We had seen this beach before but it was a really cloudy day then. We really wanted to see the beach on a blue sky kind of day. It is a stunning area that sits on a peninsula at the end of Barrenjoey Road. It is the home to many a wealthy people, as can be seen by the distinctive and deluxe housing. We got off the bus a stop early as we couldn’t wait to see the scenery. The water, blue skies, clouds, boats, trees and pier just make this a beautiful and tranquil location that photos just cannot do enough justice.

We then walked about 10 minutes along the roadside (no footpaths!) to Governor Phillip Park. This green area is the main entrance to the beach. Walking towards the beach you really do get a sense of being in a scene from Home and Away. The beach itself is breathtaking and you will instantly notice one of the most famous buildings to your left, being that of the Surf Club. Unfortunately it was closed on the day we visited, which was a Friday. Perhaps as it is still winter or maybe because no filming was taking place. Apparently if you want the chance to glimpse some filming, you are best to visit on a Monday or Tuesday (early in the morning). Opposite the Surf Club is a short walkway to the beach, often used in scenes from the show.

Having seen the beach once more, we took a walk to the Boat House and Alf’s Bait Shop. The exteriors are used for the outdoor shots. A really lovely spot if you want to grab something to eat or have a coffee overlooking the water. This is also an area where you can take a tour of the surrounding area with a seaplane. We were lucky enough to see one taking off. I’d say the tours on offer would be pretty special. It’s something I would definitely consider in the future.

There is also a really lovely walk up to Barrenjoey Head Lighthouse. You can see Palm Beach from a great height and the views are spectacular. I also have a love of lighthouses so I couldn’t wait to reach the summit and see it. Although there were a good few steps to the top 😓😓 But well worth it for the views you will see.

I would highly recommend checking out this suburb/beach, you don’t have to be a Home and Away to fan to appreciate its beauty. I for one will definitely be back.

Wayne 😊