On Saturday 11 January Marian and I set out to drive down to Sydney to meet up with Gill and Mike fresh off their cruise across the Pacific. After a night at the Dorsal Boutique Hotel in Forster we arrived at the Intercontinental Hotel at Circular Quay. Our room gave a glimpse of the Harbour Bridge.

Harbour Bridge from room 1024

We had an evening stroll around Circular Quay.

Circular Quay

The next day 13 January we watched Gill and Mike’s ship Seabourn Quest pass under the bridge at about 06.00.

Seabourn Quest shooting the bridge

Michael picked up the arriving party and luggage at White Bay and came back to the hotel. In the afternoon we took the mandatory trip on the Manly Ferry to see the harbour and the beach at Manly.

Passing the Opera House on the ferry

Gill and I walked across to the beach with a lovely cool breeze blowing.

On Manly beach

Manly Beach not too crowded considering the school holidays

Back at the hotel we enjoyed the facilities of the club lounge on level 31.

From the Intercontinental Hotel Club lounge

Great view from the corner table

The next day after a great breakfast we took a cab to the first stop of the Hop on-Hop off Big Bus tour to do the complete red route.

The Australian Museum from the Big Bus stop where we were positioned several times

After lunch at the hotel we did the blue route on the Big Bus which took us through Bondi and the Eastern Suburbs.

Leaving Bondi

Opera House with cleanse of other people and cars

Gill and I took a lovely walk through the Botanical Gardens. She was fascinated by the many Ibis and not impressed we called them bin chickens.