Sydney Sunday

We decided to take a Sunday ride up to the South Head of the Sydney Harbour. Not knowing exactly what to expect when we arrived, and crossing our fingers that the rain would hold off at least for another couple hours, the day turned out to be full of outstanding surprises. The bus ride alone offered some spectacular views back towards the city and we passed through the upper class suburbs of Rose Bay, Vaucluse, and Watsons Bay, which was a nice treat for the designer in the family. When we arrived it was a bit overcast, which ended up making our hike through the parks nice and cool. The South Head is home to various parks, including Sydney Harbour National Park, The Gap Park, Camp Cove, Laings Point Reserve, and Victoria Wharf Reserve. We spent a good three hours hiking around and enjoying the various views. To the west were great panoramic views of the Central Business District, the Opera House, and the Harbour Bridge, to the north were picturesque views of the North Head, Manly, and the Grotto Point Reserve, and to east was the Pacific Ocean (which was quite rough that day), and to the south was the rugged coastline stretching down towards Bondi Beach.


A few highlights of the hike were the massive Hornby Lighthouse, the wide variety of fauna and foliage, and a few hidden harbour beaches which we’ll have to keep in mind for future beach days. The big surprise of the trip, which was both completely unexpected and unwelcome, was Lady Bay Beach, on which about ten to fifteen middle age men were enjoying the afternoon in there birthday suits. Apparently, as we later found out, Lady Bay Beach was officially designated by the city of Sydney as a nudist beach sometime back in the 70s. We decided to spare everyone any pictures of the beach, we only thought we’d mention it as a warning for all you who decide to visit (wish someone had warned us beforehand).


Overall though, the afternoon was a success. Except for a quick drizzle, the rain held off and the sun even peaked out of the clouds for a bit. If you’re looking for a good outdoor afternoon activity while visiting Sydney, South Head is definitely a nice break from the hustle and bustle of the city. As we hiked around the cliffs and took in the fabulous views on a random Sunday, we realized how lucky we are to live in a place where we can escape our daily life and feel like we are on a vacation far from civilization that is full of some of the most beautiful experiences and sights we have ever encountered.


PS - Typically, we upload new photo albums with new postings - check the link on the right for full photo albums.