#McVacay Down Under: Sydney

After a week and a half of traveling the east coast of Australia, we arrived at our final destination of Sydney on Tuesday. Arriving around lunch, we got some grub and spent the afternoon and evening getting some shopping done.

For lunch we enjoyed a place called The Clock, which became Mike’s favorite restaurant on this side of the world.

We chose to stay in Surry Hills after reading that it would be more of a local feel. The Surry Hills area was great, though we spent little time there due to only having a few days in Sydney. This made the main attractions a bit further away, but still in walking distance. We walked down to several shopping areas, to the Darling Harbour and more shopping on the walk back.

Hyde Park

SAM_2045edited.jpg

We saw this sign and kept walking!!

SAMSUNG CSC

We passed through one park area with this cool chair that charges your phone while you pedal.

SAMSUNG CSC

And Darling Harbour

img_2528edited

Day two the McVays hit the ground running! We loved the Hop On Hop Off bus so much in Brisbane that we decided to do it again in Sydney. We started with the Sydney city tour.

img_2551 img_2554

First stop: The Sydney Fish Market.

img_2530 img_2536

SAMSUNG CSC

Next, we stopped at the Rocks. This was a really cool area to see as it displayed some of Sydney’s really cool history.

SAMSUNG CSC

We separated for a minute and this is how I found Mike.

SAMSUNG CSC

We walked over the Circular Quay stop to look around and hop back on the bus which we decided to ride for a while and get a good tour of the city.

img_0644 img_1205 img_0659 img_0449

img_0631

After staying on the bus for a while, we hopped off at the famous Sydney Opera House.

img_0670 img_0676
img_0687

SAMSUNG CSC

We stayed back on the bus to enjoy the scenery and see Sydney until getting back to Central Station to switch to the Bondi Tour.

SAMSUNG CSC

img_2568

After a late lunch, we took Avera to play in the sand a bit before heading back to the city.

img_1252

img_2571

The view on the way back was beyond amazing!

SAMSUNG CSC

Our final day in Sydney we took Captain Cook’s Hop On Hop Off boat around the harbour. It was worth it just for the views! Our 24 hour bus pass had not expired so we used it to get to the harbour for pickup.

SAMSUNG CSC

SAMSUNG CSC

SAMSUNG CSC

img_2597

Per many recommendations, we were dropped off at Taronga Zoo and spent the morning there.

img_2603

The boat dropped us off at the bottom, we took a lift up to the entrance, and enjoyed the scenic route of the city back down.

SAMSUNG CSC

SAMSUNG CSC

SAMSUNG CSC

Giraffes are our favorite!!!

SAMSUNG CSC

SAMSUNG CSC

And the Seal Theater was amazing! — Pippa (or Pepper without the accent) was our favorite 🙂

SAMSUNG CSC SAMSUNG CSC

We chose to spend the afternoon at Manly Beach.

SAMSUNG CSC SAMSUNG CSC SAMSUNG CSC

The relaxation and beauty of the sunset was the perfect way to wrap up our Australian adventure.

We got up at 3:30 Friday morning to begin the long haul back home.

This little girl wasn’t having it.

img_4820

After rocking another 10 hour flight, we made it back at 9:30 pm and celebrated with the Pips.

img_4830 img_4835 img_4855 img_4856 img_4886 img_4914 img_4920 img_2613 img_2616 img_2617

This trip was so great that it took me three posts to share with you. It came at just the right time for our family and we highly recommend it for anyone willing to make the trek!