Sydney – Day 5 – Tuesday 23rd February 2010

Not as hot today as more cloud about, but still very pleasant. Tried to check in on-line this morning but it wouldn’t have it. Means we have to get up at 6:00am tomorrow to take the airport shuttle at 7:00am to be sure of getting to the airport two hours before departure at 10:15am. The shuttle trundles around other hotels picking up folk but is substantially cheaper than getting a taxi and means we have a final look at Sydney.

What we did manage to do is get ourselves good seats on all the remaining flights. Which was nice. We did all this at a supermarket at the bottom of Pitt Street, near the ferry quays. The supermarket had a whole bunch of PC’s available and some wired connections for laptops. All available at a fantastic price of $4/hour – rather than the $27/hour at the hotel. Wish we had found it before!!

We returned to the hotel and dropped off the laptop, keyboard and mouse!! Then walked back down to the quay and got the ferry to Manly. This is on the north peninsular at the entrance to Sydney Harbour, inland from the North Head. The peninsular necks down to provide a short stroll across from the harbour side to the sea, where Manly beach awaits. This link is a pedestrian thoroughfare filled with shops and bars and restaurants and is called “The Corso”. It forms the heart of the shopping area of Central Manly. Turning right at the beach we strolled round the headland (Marine Parade) towards Shelley Beach. Just around the corner there is a big old rock with a hollowed out centre where you can spend a happy 10 minutes taking oddly framed photos. We have the photos to prove the point.

Returning, we went to the famous Manly Fish Market, which is actually a Fish Cafe where you can select the fish to want and say how you want it cooked. Or you can just have a plate of fish and chips! And wine, of course. Very nice. Very tasty. And this was the real reason we went all that way. Apart from the pleasure of the ferry ride.

Now back in the hotel and rested after another day of fruitful exertions. Val is packing up and ironing a few things and I’m extremely busy sitting here typing up this blog!! Anyhow, enough of this rambling. Onwards and upwards to New Zealand in the morning. Christchurch beckons.