Sydney

Have spent a relaxing few days in Sydney exploring the city on foot and by bus taking in all the sights - the harbour, the bridge, the opera house, the botanical gardens, etc. It is spring time here but the weather is still pretty good - the occasional bit of rain but still hot enough to go to the beach when the sun does come out. Took a ferry across the harbour to Manly yesterday and braved a dip in the ocean at Shelly Beach. The water was seriously cold compared to Western Australia! Katie and I did the Bondi Beach to Bronte Beach coastal walk at the weekend and had a gorgeous breakfast - sweetcorn fritters topped with crispy bacon - Australians are certainly a lot more inventive when it comes to brunch / breakfast than us Brits.

I have to say that I wasn't massively impressed by Bondi Beach. It may be what everyone associates Sydney with but I have been thoroughly spoilt when it comes to beaches over the past few months and it doesn't compare with the white sand and turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. The ocean here is still beautiful but the beaches are so busy - full of surfers - and I have got used to the less crowded beaches in WA and the stunning desolate coastlines in Mozambique and South Africa. Don't get me wrong - if you came to Bondi straight from the UK you would think it was amazing. 

A lovely few days in Sydney was topped off with a cocktail at the top of the Shangri La Hotel yesterday evening (Vic - this is what used to be called the ANA Tower that you recommended as a must do). 36 floors up, the view over Sydney harbour and the rest of the city at night is just stunning.

I'm now in the Blue Mountains - a 2 hour train ride from Sydney - staying in a backpackers in the small town of Katoomba. Walking, horse riding, abseiling and canyoning all lined up for the next few days....