Tag:opera house
Sydney, the capital of New South Wales, is a world-renowned city. It’s known for its stunning harbour, beautiful beaches, and vibrant cultural scene. Every year, millions of visitors flock to this Australian gem to experience its charm. However, deciding how to spend your time could be overwhelming, with many things to see and do, especially if you have a tight schedule.
We had only 48 hours to explore the city during our recent trip to Sydney. Despite the time constraint, we still saw some must-see attractions. These included the iconic Opera House and Harbour Bridge, the world-class Taronga Zoo. It was a whirlwind tour, but we enjoyed every moment of it.
Getting around – Avoid the Car!
Try to avoid driving around inner Sydney. A new report commissioned by Australia’s motoring clubs has revealed Sydney is the nation’s most congested city. Melbourne wasn’t far behind, while Canberra came in third place. Additionally, the older parts of the city, particularly in the central business district, have narrower roads due to how they were designed and built many years ago. When Sydney was first developed, the focus was on creating a grid pattern of streets that could accommodate horse-drawn carriages and carts.
Additionally, as Sydney has grown and developed, it faced challenges expanding its road network due to limited available space. The city’s geography, sandwiched between the harbour and surrounding hills, made it difficult to build new roads without impacting the environment or disrupting established communities. As a result, many of the streets in Sydney have remained narrow, particularly in the city’s older areas. Car parking can be expensive with limited options, and traffic is heavy. The best option is public transport, taxis or rideshare.
Sydney has an excellent public transport system of buses, trains and ferries. However, even that is struggling to meet passenger demand. However, it remains the best way to get around. The Opal card is a rechargeable smart card used on all public transport.
QVB
The QVB (Queen Victoria Building) is a historic building in the heart of Sydney’s central business district. It was built in the late 19th century as a marketplace and shopping arcade. Since then, it has become one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. Designed by architect George McRae, it features a stunning Romanesque Revival style with intricate sandstone and granite facades, ornate arches, and a central dome with a striking stained-glass skylight. The interior of the building is equally impressive, with soaring ceilings, marble floors, and beautifully crafted balustrades.
However, like many other beautiful old buildings, as progress was made, its future became uncertain. In the 1950s, it was in danger of being demolished due to neglect and the city’s changing needs. Thankfully, a group of concerned citizens, including architects, heritage enthusiasts, and community leaders, banded together to save the QVB from demolition. After years of advocacy and lobbying, the QVB was finally granted heritage protection in the 1980s. It underwent a significant restoration and refurbishment project that took several years to complete and returned the building to its former glory.
Today, the QVB is home to over 180 retailers, including high-end fashion boutiques, gourmet food shops, and specialty stores. Visitors can also enjoy a range of dining options, from casual cafes to upscale restaurants.
Angel Place
Angel Place is a small laneway located between George Street and Pitt Street in the heart of Sydney’s central business district. The laneway is famous for its unique and thought-provoking art installation called “Forgotten Songs.”
Forgotten Songs is an outdoor artwork that features 180 birdcages hanging high above the laneway. Each birdcage plays the sound of a different bird that once inhabited the area before the arrival of European settlers. The installation is a tribute to the fifty lost bird species and their songs that once filled the skies over Sydney but were lost to development. As night falls, the daytime bird songs change to the nocturnal birds. Michael Thomas Hill created the artwork, which was installed in 2009 as part of the City of Sydney’s Laneways Public Art Program. It has since become a popular destination for locals and tourists, providing a peaceful and reflective space amid the busy city.
Angel Place is also home to several restaurants, cafes, and small shops. It’s a great place to stop and relax while exploring the city. The laneway’s cobblestone pavement, brick walls, and historic buildings add charm and character. This creates a unique and memorable experience for visitors.
Taronga Zoo
Taronga Zoo is a world-renowned zoological park located in Sydney, Australia. The zoo was founded in 1916 and is situated in a stunning harbourside location, providing visitors with breathtaking views of Sydney Harbour and the city skyline.
The zoo is home to over 4,000 animals from 350 different species, including Australian native wildlife and exotic animals worldwide. Highlights include the Great Southern Oceans exhibit, where visitors can see Australian Sea Lions, Penguins and fur seals, and the Wild Asia exhibit, featuring tigers, otters, and gibbons.
Taronga Zoo is not just a place to observe animals but also a hub for conservation and education. The zoo works closely with many organisations to protect and preserve endangered species and their habitats. Visitors can learn about these efforts through interactive exhibits and talks from expert staff.
Taronga Zoo offers a range of experiences for visitors, including behind-the-scenes tours, animal encounters, and wildlife shows. The zoo also has various cafes and restaurants, providing ample opportunities to relax and enjoy stunning views.
Hissou Tepanyaki
Hissou is a Japanese restaurant located in the heart of Sydney’s central business district. The restaurant is known for its delicious teppanyaki-style cuisine, prepared by skilled chefs right in front of guests at their own cooking stations.
At Hissou Tepanyaki, guests can choose from fresh seafood, meats, and vegetables, which are then expertly grilled and seasoned to perfection. The teppanyaki-style cooking allows guests to witness the artistry of the chefs as they prepare their meals, creating a fun and interactive dining experience.
In addition to its teppanyaki offerings, Hissou Tepanyaki also features a sushi bar, where guests can enjoy a variety of fresh and creative sushi rolls, sashimi, and nigiri. The restaurant’s sleek and modern interior and vibrant and energetic atmosphere make it the perfect spot for a night out with friends, a special occasion, or a romantic dinner for two.
The Palace Tea Rooms
A charming and elegant tea room located in the Queen Victoria Building (QVB) in the heart of Sydney. The tearoom features ornate decor and beautiful stained-glass windows. They offer a variety of teas and a selection of pastries, cakes, and sandwiches.
In addition, the Palace Tea Rooms also serves a variety of breakfast and lunch options. These include a range of classic British and Australian dishes. The tea room’s elegant and sophisticated atmosphere makes it the perfect spot for a special occasion, a catch-up with friends, or a romantic afternoon tea for two.
It was time to head from London to Paris via the Eurostar through the Channel. We had a transfer arranged already thanks to our travel agent, and he arrived earlier than expected to load the bags. Five adults, five big suitcases, plus camera bags, small travel bags. Down those two flights of steep stairs for the (thankfully) last time.
St Pancras Station
We arrived at St Pancras Station in plenty of time and checked the luggage through to Paris. Then it was our turn. Passport control out of London. Ten steps later, it was passport control into France. While still in London. Twilight zone stuff. After clearing passport control, we then battled through airport security. I understand that they have to be careful, and I am glad they are. But geez, I was so over doing a semi strip at every security counter. Passing through the barrier and hoping it stayed green, thus avoiding the pat-down. Then retrieving everything once through. While they open the bag, checking the camera’s, looking in every pocket. “do you have any more camera’s or electronics”?? no! isn’t this enough? Came, lenses, iPad, iPhone. Road trips are starting to look so good.
With the early arrival of the cabbie, we had about 90mins to wait after getting through passport and security. We were on the 10:24 to Paris, not much to do, which led me to people watching.
The Channnel Tunnel
Sometimes called ‘the chunnel’, the Channel Tunnel is an undersea tunnel linking southern England and northern France. The Tunnel is 31.5 miles long, or 50.45 km, with 23.5 miles (37.9 km) of the Channel Tunnel is under the English Channel, making it the world’s longest undersea tunnel. The Eurostar travels through the Channel Tunnel at a speed of 100 miles per hour (160kph), although when the train is outside the tunnel, it reaches the rate of 186 miles per hour (300 kph). The ride was comfortable and even though we were racing along at speed. Although walking and not swaying to the buffet car was easy.
Hello Paris
London to Paris was just a two-hour journey, and we arrived in Paris again to meet our transfer driver. Booking into the hotel, we were horrified and dismayed to find the elevator in the hotel was out of order. And being a Sunday, the engineer hadn’t turned up yet. So again we lugged the suitcases up two flights of stairs to our room..and one of our party was on the FOURTH floor, though thankfully, they weren’t as narrow or as steep this time. The hotel was charming, and the rooms were lovely.
After settling in, we all met up for dinner before a reasonably early night. The following day we met up for breakfast in the ‘salon’ (using the stairs still, no one trusted the tiny elevator) before heading out for the day. We jumped on the hop-on/off the bus and made our way into the city with all the signs in french, we had no idea where we were going. Eventually, we ended up on embassy row. The US embassy is off a side street, with many other embassies and fancy shops lining the street. Soldiers with machine guns told us not to take pictures of the checkpoints (who are we to argue?). Even some doors were off-limits. Oh well. Here are some of the pics I didn’t take.
Wandering up and down, I tried some street photography before heading back to the bus and the Palais Garnier.
Paris Opera House
The Palais Garnier (Paris Opera House) is an AMAZING building. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to go in, but the exterior! OMG. Built from 1861 – 1875, the 1,979-seat theatre was designed to house the Paris opera. The building is a blend of baroque, classicism and renaissance architecture. I could so see the phantom of the opera haunting the place.
Leaving the Opera House, we jumped back on the hop of/off the bus, headed back to the hotel for some downtime before heading back out to dinner.