Keeping up with Beth

If you haven’t met me, let me introduce myself. I’m Beth: Queen of the last minute. I am better at nothing than being last minute and late… so many people will testify to that.

I came out to Australia with only really wanting to see Melbourne and the Gold Coast. To be honest, I wasn’t really sure what else there was other than Sydney- which at the time I wasn’t fussed to see. But in Melbourne I started looking at tours up the coast, and surf camps etc, and they all seemed to start or leave from Sydney. So i realised I had to go to Sydney. By the time I had moved into my hostel, I had booked aa 19 day tour from Sydney to cairns (not including Sydney, just beginning there). And since my hostel had no space after my check out date, I decided I would just spend 3-4 days up in Sydney. So it was Friday morning- my last full day in the hostel, and I sat on the phone to my friend, looking at flight prices and coach prices. I was sat for about an hour trying to compare the two to see which would be a better financial decision. It was the coach. It was like half the price, I couldn’t have to pay any extra luggage, and would save me accommodation prices since it was an over night coach. (I accidentally booked accommodation anyway which proved useful as I arrived shattered and a mess at 7am the next morning and check in wasn’t until 2pm) So I booked it and that was that.

So I left Melbourne at 6pm that evening, on a 12 hour FireFly coach up towards Sydney. Thats about all there is to say about the journey.

I arrived at 7am and fell asleep pretty much straight away., My first day I didn’t do too much, just went to find the food shop and went to Hillsong church for the evening service.

My next day I had a lie in. My initial plan had been a beach day really, but when I looked outside, the weather wasn’t really with me on that plan. So without any intention for the day, I started lazily moping about the hostel until; around 2pm, then I decided I could just take a stroll around the botanical gardens. It wasn’t too far, just a walk through Hyde Park, and a block over. Nothing too strenuous and gave me something to do. The park was gorgeous I took several photos of the plants. It was super sweet and had so much colour, and it felt smaller than the one in Melbs. As I walked through, I saw signs to the opera house. I had looked on maps and to be honest, it looked so far I was sure there was no way I could have walked that far. But clearly I had! I had the intention to go there, but I knew with the restricted 4 days I had in Sydney I would struggle to find another chance to go during the day. I walked through the gardens in the direction of the opera house, and stumbled upon it much faster than I thought I would. It was incredible. I could see the bridge in the distance, but I wasn’t sure that was THE harbour bridge. And I could see some crazily constructed building but no way had I already reached the Opera House?

Yet I had. It was hidden behind all these trees and surrounded by construction as they set everything up for Australia Day that weekend. And there it was. This beautiful building. I was in complete awe.

I probably spent around 20 minutes stood by the Opera House, looking at the building, admiring it, admiring the bridge and how much of Sydney you could see! When I planned Australia, when I arrived, even when I was planning what to do after Melbourne that moment never was never planned. Seeing the opera house has never particularly been on my bucket list, but once I decided to go to Sydney it seemed like a wasted opportunity to not go, and boy it would have been! Sydney as a whole took my breath away. Especially from the opera house. I loved it, how intricate it was.

Sometimes there isn’t a word to describe the feeling you get, and this was one of those moments. I could have stayed there for ages.

I’ve only had a few moments like that in Australia when I’m truely blown away by the sight before me or by the experience. But those moments, I would never pass up.

I began walking along the harbour, as someone had recommended a boat trip across the harbour and I figured I could find one I could do the next morning. So along the harbour were loads of little stores that advertised different cruises down the harbour. I found one and saw I had about and hour to get down to the other side and catch that boat. I figured with the sunset it would be just as good as the daylight.

I was wrong.

If you’ve seen my instagram you’ll have seen the pictures. The setting as I’ve already said was insane. On a boat down the harbour, seeing the skyline, seeing all the attractions of Sydney, and with the most stunning sunset behind it all, I couldn’t have chosen a better time to go. After a whole loop around, and 100 photos later, we landed back in Darling Harbour, and i made my way back to the hostel for the night.

My last full day in Sydney I felt it was only right to go to the beach and see all the fuss about Bondi. Plus I needed some sun…

It was a swift bus journey down, then over to the beach for a nice chilled out day sat by the water, relaxing in the sand.

The beach is beautiful. It’s just a beach pretty much, but as beaches go it is stunning. You can see for miles, its got some holiday beach houses on the hills around and feels like a surfers heaven. It was blissful. I sat around soaking up the sun for a few hours, then decided to take the walk along to bronze. I was going to go further, but I was ready for another swim when I hit there. Again it was beautiful. It was peak summer, reaching 35 degrees easily, so everyone had the same thought of making the most of the beautiful beaches Australia has to offer. I loved it and the whole atmosphere felt like a holiday, with no rushed plans or any stresses in the world. Just me, my camera and a beach with clear waters. Sounds like heaven to me.

My last day in Sydney wasn’t too long, as I had to get a bus up to Byron Bay that afternoon, but i had a chance to pack my stuff, check out, grab some food and begin my stroll along Harbour bridge.

I am so glad I took that opportunity, just walking along, seeing Sydney from up high is a crazy view. It took about half an hour and the whole time i just wanted to stick my phone over the edge and take as many pictures to drag the moment out forever- but that always gives me the heebejeebes so I couldn’t do it just had to occasionally get the bet angle I could with my hands holding my phone safely on the bridge.

Sydney was incredible, and I can’t believe I never had the intention to go. It has a beautiful atmosphere and the sights make you wish you could never move. Until next time Sydney x