Wow!! the general consensus around the ship is we experienced a rough night last night, as many hardly got any sleep. Not me, turned the light out and was asleep in seconds, waking up about 05:00. The gentle rolling and shuddering just enhanced the sleep.

Having missed Melbourne, today we arrived in Sydney, a day early, to enjoy 3 days in this amazing city. Read on to enjoy the photos on entering one of my favourite ports world wide.

A couple of hours behind the Captain’s original schedule, we slowed down to pick up the pilot about 10:00, about 3 – 5 miles from Sydney Heads.

When the pilot boat arrived, the Captain altered course to provide a lee for the small boat, but with a good swell still running, it was a challenging boarding for the pilot.

Note the surf and spray from the E’ly swells pounding ashore on the Heads. As we noted later, Manly Beach was closed and the upper reaches of the river were flooded from the storm.

First glimpses of the Central Business District (CBD) in behind the South Heads.

Shortly before entering the Sydney Heads, the Captain made a P/A announcement advising of the potential for rolling once inside the Heads and altered to Port. This places the swell on the beam, which can cause rolling. Fortunately it was smooth sailing.

Inside Sydney Heads

Inside the Heads, altered to Port, following the buoyed channel towards Sydney.

Staying mid-channel steaming towards Bradley\s Head to Stbd, which is the next alteration.

At the point ahead to Stbd, we alter course to Stbd, then will have great views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

Bow is passing the CBD, as we round Bradley Head, steering towards the north end of the bridge.

Just past Darling Point, Elizabeth Bay is just before the Navy Base at Woolloomooloo, which is home to Sydney’s famous street vendor – Harry’s Cafe de Wheels.

On rounding Bradley Head we steered on the North end of the Bridge to pass Fort Denison on the Port side.

Fort Denison is located on a small island just North of the CBD and is part of the protected Sydney Harbour National Park. It is a former penal colony and defensive facility.

Opera House

Enjoy a few photos of one of Sydney’s best known landmarks.

Public transportation in Sydney is amazing, with ferries, trains and buses.

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Nicknamed the “Coathangar”, it was opened in 1932 and is similar to the Tyne Bridge in Newcastle, which was build by the same company. It carries vehicles, pedestrians, bikes and rail between the CBD and North Shore. It is a listed heritage structure.

Looking West up the Parramatta River with Walsh Bay to Port and Goat Island ahead. We planned a trip up river on the local ferries, but due to the storm, they received very heavy rain, which caused flooding of the ferry docks.

This used to be old cargo ship docks, which have been converted to multi-million dollar condos. Don’t believe the new neighbours would welcome back ships of any type to these docks.

 

This area has also been rebuilt from my first trips to Sydney. It is all condos, cafes, pubs, restaurants, etc all of which replaced the original docks and industrial areas.

Back in the 1970’s this was dockland and it was a rather tough area. Not the sort of place where you felt safe walking in the evening. Docks are all gone, having been converted to condos.

Opened in 1995 as the Glebe Island Bridge, it was renamed on Remembrance Day 1998, commemorating the Australian and New Zealand citizens that served in WW I. The bridge has an Australian Flag on 1 tower and the New Zealand flag on the other.

We docked safely about Noon, so it was off for a quick lunch, then ashore on the water taxi.