We went to Australia in January 2019, and again in December 2023, but we are already planning a more extended visit in 2026 and we can’t wait!
Sydney
On our multiple visits to Sydney, highlights have included the Taronga Zoo, the SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium (which features a dugong named Pig), and the Royal Botanic Garden. We took a tour of the Sydney Opera House, then sat on its steps to enjoy an Icehouse concert in the evening. We dined at Momofuku’s Seiōbo restaurant, did the coastal walk from Coogee Beach to Bondi Beach, and saw The Book of Mormon at the Lyric Theater. We had terrific al fresco lunches at Balmoral Beach and the Manly 16ft Skiff Sailing Club, watched a movie at St George OpenAir Cinema – in the pouring rain – and took a fun food tour in Parramatta. Another highlight was seeing a cabaret show at Sydney Spiegeltent – and seeing Royal Blood at the Hordern Pavilion.
Melbourne
On our first visit, we were here for only a day; fortunately, it coincided with the Australian Open, so we spent the day at Rod Laver Arena sipping Aperol spritzes and taking in some matches. We were lucky to have seen Roger Federer and Sloane Stevens play.
We returned to Melbourne in December 2023 for about ten days and enjoyed getting to know the town, with its great coffee, delicious brunches and restaurants, fun street art and its beautiful location on the Yarra River on the run-up to Christmas.
Hobart (Tasmania)
We visited the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, and it was amazing. Kangaroos were just lying all around and you could pet them and feed them! We saw a roo with a little joey hanging out. We also saw Tasmanian devils, wombats, koalas, sulphur-crested cockatoos, a kookaburra, Randall the echidna (who lost a leg in a dog attack), bettongs, tawny frogmouths, quolls – all Tasmanian except for the koalas. Fantastic!
