Day 89 - Australia Day on the Harbour

 Happy Australia Day to all my friends in Australia.

It was a real privilege to spend this special day here in Sydney with you all.

I was up early again to watch the sunrise and do some gentle stretching—especially those calf muscles, which were definitely reminding me about yesterday’s bridge climb! I then headed out for a walk to soak up the atmosphere. It was incredible to see so many people out and about so early, already in celebration mode. I stopped for breakfast, caught up on messages, and enjoyed that quiet hum of a city waking up to a big day.



Then it was back to wake Mr C, as we’d decided to jump on the hop-on hop-off bus. It was a great way to see more of Sydney, even if it only confirmed what I already know—I really do need to come back and spend proper time exploring this beautiful city.



Once the bus tour wrapped up, Joe was more than ready for lunch, so we headed down to the Quays and ate at Harbourfront Seafood Restaurant, which Joe thoroughly enjoyed. Full and happy, we walked back towards the hotel, stopping at a pharmacy on the way so Joe could enquire about some medication he was hoping to find—but no luck this time.

After a short rest, it was time to get ready for the evening’s main event: an Australia Day riverboat dinner cruise. Soon we were back in a taxi heading to Darling Harbour to meet Ellen and Joe. We boarded the boat along with over 200 other guests, all in celebratory spirits.



The food was lovely, the drinks were flowing (some enjoyed those more enthusiastically than others!), and once the starters were served, we set sail—gliding slowly up and down Sydney Harbour, which was alive with boats enjoying the night. You could head out on deck or upstairs for a better view, and inside the TV screens were showing a live stream of the main event at the Sydney Opera House.



As darkness fell, pockets of fireworks and drone displays began appearing around the harbour, building up to a proper fireworks display. It was vibrant, festive, and very Sydney.



Eventually, we returned to shore and disembarked, caught a taxi, and headed back to the hotel. Joe, suddenly hungry and thirsty again, ordered himself a sandwich and a beer… only to realise moments later that he didn’t have his bag. Panic stations.

We called Ellen, who had booked the cruise, but she only reached an automated message. So off I went—back to the dock—to see if the boat was still being cleaned and if the bag might still be there. Sadly, no luck. The boat was closed up and deserted. I’ll call them tomorrow and head back—fingers crossed we can retrieve it before we head to the airport.

I returned to the hotel to discover that, in my absence, Joe had ordered yet another sandwich for dinner. Honestly… 😂

Looking out at the Opera House  for one final time this evening and seeing the Australian flag displayed proudly on there, reminds me of having the Castle lit up in our charity colours in Gibraltar.



🌿 Daily Reflection

Australia Day reminded me how powerful shared celebration can be—strangers becoming companions, cities turning into living, breathing festivals. Even the little hiccups become part of the story.

⭐ Highlight of the Day

Sailing through Sydney Harbour at night, surrounded by boats, fireworks, and pure celebratory energy—messy, magical, and utterly unforgettable.





Comments

  1. Christina GiuffréJanuary 26, 2026 at 11:40 AM

    Happy Australia Day 🦘🇦🇺 I'll be flying to Perth next week. I miss quite a lot of things there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BJanuary 29, 2026 at 3:04 AM

      Enjoy Perth, I have so enjoyed my first visit, I will be back and I want to visit more of this lovely country xx

      Delete

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