Sunday, February 16th had us pulling into the familiar harbor of Sydney Australia. This is our 4th time here in 3 years with our last visit being November 2024 when we crossed over to Sydney from Japan. The morning was clear and warm, and the city was just waking up to the sunrise as the ship was secured along Circular Quay.
As we have visited most typical tourist spots on previous trips, today we opted to have a quick walk around the local shopping area, grab a morning snack and then board one of the several ubiquitous ferry boats calling at the quay for a 2-hour trip around Sydney Harbor. By the time we set off, the harbor was teaming with activity. Local sailing regattas, private yachts, ferries, navy ships, and commercial craft were all vying for space in a chaotic dance upon the choppy wind-swept water. Our route had stops at the Taronga Zoo, Manly Beach, Watsons Bay and Barangaroo. We didn’t get off at any of the stops on this trip, we just enjoyed the ride around the harbor.
After a brief return to the ship to freshen up, Dan set out for a 4 mile walk around the Royal Botanical Gardens that are located adjacent to the Opera House. We said goodbye to Sydney just after sundown as the Opera House and Harbor Bridge lit our way.
