25 Things I Love About Sydney – Part 3
Hello, welcome to Part 3 of my 25 Things I Love About Sydney posts… find Part 1 here and Part 2 here.
I first stepped off the ‘plane over 25 years ago… came and went for a few years and have been a permanent Sydneysider since 1998… and still feel lucky and thrilled to live here.
11. Weekends Away
When I was young and first in Sydney, my friends and I used to get away a lot for the weekend.
My sky diving friend Clare lived near Picton and had loads of parties where the guests skydived in – some with their dogs tucked down their shirts!
I had a boyfriend called Tim and we went off for weekends away a lot. Often we headed south on a whim, just stopping wherever we arrived. Oh I miss that spontaneity.
These days we still have weekends away, and mainly down the south coast at our little beach house on the shores of Jervis Bay.
The Hunter Valley and Blue Mountains were faves in the good old days that have been revisited a few times recently, with great pleasure.
12. Sydney Harbour at Night
This is something we just don’t do enough these days. Sydney Harbour at night is such a sparkling jewel. I still see the city lights and am amazed to live in such a glamorous city.
Catching the ferry at night is one of the great pleasures of a visit to Sydney, catching a harbour taxi is even more special.
When I was young we used to have night picnics by the Harbour all the time, Cremorne Point was a favourite. Paul and the big boys and I used to do that too, in the days we lived in a little Federation cottage at the back of North Sydney.
But since those twins came along, it’s been an all too rare event. Must change that this coming summer.
13. Western Sydney
Ah there’s too much great stuff to do in Western Sydney, and so many fantastic friends who live there.
From early visits to check out Parramatta and to eat fantastic food in Fairfield, we’ve been enjoying a drive west for fun and frolics.
These days we go for the fantastic playgrounds. The new Tree Top Adventure Park was a big hit too.
And let’s not ever forget the annual trip out to the fantastic waterslides at Parramatta Pool (that’s Parramatta Pool above.)
14. The Netted Harbour Baths + Pools
The netted baths are a really special feature of Sydney Harbour, and especially good spots for families. The picture above is the Dawn Fraser Pool in Balmain.
Other favourites are Redleaf Pool, now known as Murray Rose Pool, and our beloved Northbridge Baths… and this sumer I MUST remember to take my camera down to gorgeous Greenwich Baths.
15. Snorkelling in Sydney Harbour
When I first arrived, with scuba gear and manual typewriter, I had no idea how great the underwater life is in the Harbour and all around the beaches.
In my first years I used to fling myself off into the deep with gay abandon, and loved seeing tiny seahorses and huge blue wrasse – in a city! Imagine!!
These days I’m more often to be found helping the kids on with their flippers and masks and snorkels. There are some fantastic places to see all sorts of fish and other sea creatures.
Joy. If you think Sydney is a beautiful Sydney above the water, you should see it underwater.
Have you had a splash in Sydney Harbour recently?
This was 25 Things I Love About Sydney – Part 3….. find Part 1 here, Part 2 here, Part 4 here and Part 5 here.
