Australia, finally

My Down Under adventure is under way! I’m writing both for my armchair traveler friends, and for those who are looking for details as they plan their own adventures.

Consultation with friends who traveled to NZ recently helped in my planning, especially since I’ll be exploring a lot of territory. I took to heart the advice to book early, since November and December tend to be a very busy travel time.

I spent a good deal of time working out my itinerary. Luckily, I made certain I booked transport and accommodations with cancellation options. That came in handy as I talked with travelers over the summer. I found that with hotels, the pricing was better if I booked early. What did NOT work to my advantage was my flight; I booked in April only to find prices drop dramatically in September. Fortunately, Delta made a change to my flight and that gave me the ability to cancel and get a credit. I rebooked for several hundred dollars less, and used the remaining credit for a later flight to Hawaii! The same thing with a rental car. I booked a car for Wellington early on, but it was crazy expensive. I was just about to cancel when I got an email about a sale, and ended up booking a car for twice as long, but half the cost. So, my advice is: go ahead and book, but keep an eye on the prices.

First Stop: Sydney

My flight left Los Angeles at 10 pm, arriving at 8:30 am two days later. It was a 15 ½ hour flight, but we crossed the international date line, losing a whole day. I’ll get that day back when I return. At my age I don’t want to lose ANY days! I was concerned about jet lag, and worked out a plan to reduce it. I took a nap the afternoon before I left, and on boarding my flight changed my watch to Sydney time. Then I worked to stay awake until what would be a normal bedtime in Sydney. Then I tried to get a full night’s rest, and was mostly successful. There is no comfortable position when you’re in the cheap seats…

On arrival, customs was looking difficult. Several international flights arrived at the same time, and after bag claim the line to get through the final customs check was several hundred people long and not moving. I have to give credit to the customs staff, though, because within about 20 minutes they had stepped up their process and got everyone through fairly quickly.

The airport train, T8, was easy to use. I boarded at the terminal, and it took me to Wynyard Station in just a few minutes. I used my phone to tap for the fare, and that made it so easy. In fact, as of this writing I haven’t had to get Aussie cash at all, because everyone uses cards or phones to pay. The train station is right below my hotel, the Little National Hotel. Once I got to the street I was confused, because my phone said I had arrived, but no hotel. Then a woman stopped and asked if I needed directions. It turned out I was standing right in front of the very low-key sign on the hotel. Reception is on the first floor, and the desk person was incredibly helpful. She even allowed me to check in at 11 am, since my room was available. Rooms are fairly small, but perfect for my needs. The hotel is new, with all the plugs and amenities you could want. There’s a lovely rooftop bar that serves light food. Proximity to the train was a big plus, although I ended up walking to The Rocks, Darling Harbor, and even to Circular Quay, where the Sydney Opera House is located.

I spent the first day outside as much as possible, trying to reset my body clock and NOT take a nap. I walked to Barangaroo at Darling Harbor and wandered along until I found a restaurant that appealed to me for lunch-there were many to choose from. Then I went to Circular Quay to get my first close look at the opera house. It was altogether a nice relaxing day. That evening I went to the rooftop bar to enjoy a cocktail and a light snack before heading to bed. It was only then that I realized that I wasn’t jetlagged at all!

Exploring Sydney

I had booked tickets for Twelfth Night and Das Rheingold performances on consecutive nights at the Sydney Opera House. It was a real treat, although I was disappointed to find that the opera was not a stage production, but simply the Symphony Orchestra and the singers on stage. To me, the joy of an opera is the staging. Note to self: read the fine print. If there is any.

I also took a harbor cruise. It was a small boat, and nothing fancy, but I was mainly interested in getting out on the harbor so I could take photos. I chatted with the guide, and found it interesting that the concept of Black Friday has hit Sydney in a big way. He was a bit unsure of what it is, so I explained about Thanksgiving in the USA, and the fact that most people have the following Friday off and go Christmas shopping.

The Rocks was a favorite-lots of old buildings and little alleyways to explore. They have an outdoor market on weekends, which was fun. I purchased a bottle of limoncello to take to friends in Bendigo after the seller assured me it was legal to take (unopened) alcohol on a domestic flight in Australia. Gotta love those Aussies!

On my final day in Sydney, I stored my bags with the hotel desk after checking out (again, the staff is so accommodating) and took a walk to the business district. My friend Lee told me one of the windows in the St. Andrews Cathedral is dedicated to his great-great grandmother and asked if I might get a photo for him. It took three very helpful people to track down just where the window is, but I did find it and was able to photograph it for him.

By the time I finished the shopping area was in high gear. With hundreds of shopping venues, it brought thousands to the area. I couldn’t believe how busy it was on a Sunday afternoon. While there were many high-end stores in the area, I particularly enjoyed The Strand-mostly for window shopping and people watching.

In the afternoon I took the train back to the airport to fly off to my next destination: Bendigo!