A long weekend in June was the perfect opportunity for a short getaway to Sydney, our last trip before heading back to Canada. We flew out of the Geelong airport, Avalon, which was a quick one hour flight. We arrived at our Airbnb, located amongst the maze of tiny streets in the trendy suburb of Surry Hills.

After getting settled, we ventured out towards Darling Harbour, known for its amazing entertainment and waterside dining. We walked around the area, playing at the fantastic playground, admiring the lively nightlife, the lights and the fireworks display and enjoyed eating waterside at one of the many outdoor patios along the wharf.

The next day, we spent the morning wandering through the streets of Sydney, making our way from our apartment to the Royal Botanic Gardens, stopping to have a seat on Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair, and then continuing on to the Sydney Opera House, admiring the large scale art works along the way.

We ended up at the Sydney Opera House, a performing arts centre, famous for its unique nature-inspired form and functional design. We spent some time exploring the outside of this iconic landmark as well as taking a peek inside. We also enjoyed the beautiful Sydney Harbour Bridge, located across the harbour from the Opera House.

Later that day, we wandered around the cobbled stone streets of The Rocks, a historic area of Sydney’s city centre, once a convict settlement, now home to artisan markets, friendly pubs and Sydney’s oldest sandstone terraces and cottages. We enjoyed lunch at the open-air market and found a German pub serving very large beers. Alexis and Reid met an Aboriginal man who showed them how to play the digeridoo.

That evening, we took a boat around the harbour to see the Sydney sights at night. At the time, Vivid Sydney, a unique annual winter festival of light, music and ideas, was happening all around Sydney. We enjoyed watching the Opera House light up at night, as well as the Harbour Bridge and many of the other buildings around. It was spectacular.

Our last day in Sydney was one of the most anticipated activities of the weekend. We had the opportunity to go whale watching, as the humpback whales are migrating along the coast during this time of year, passing by Sydney along the way. After a lovely tour past the harbour, we saw several humpback whales, blowing spray from their blowholes and we even saw one breaching.

What a fantastic way to end our epic adventures in Australia. We admire Sydney’s beauty and all the fantastic attractions we have had the privilege of enjoying.