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Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

August 25, 2014 by David Herd

Bill Austin & Joan Baptiste

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay was the first place I took my English friends Joan & Bill after driving down the Pacific Highway from the Gold Coast QLD in 2010. In my eyes this represents the front door to the city.

Bill is the brother of my friend Alan Austin who is a guest of Her Majesty, Bill & I met when I first visited Alan in 2007. Joan was an Olympic runner who competed in the 200 meters at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Bill was a Para Military man who served time in Ireland & many other countries.

Sunset at Circular Quay

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The Diamond Princess moored at Circular Quay.

The Diamond Princess 

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

Diamond Princess is a cruise ship owned and operated by Princess Cruises. She began operation in March 2004 and primarily cruises in Alaska during the summer and Asia in the winter along with Australia cruises.

Sydney Opera House

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

Though its name suggests a single venue, the project comprises multiple performance venues which together are among the busiest performing arts center’s in the world — hosting over 1,500 performances each year attended by some 1.2 million people.

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

From a restaurant opposite.


 

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

Even more famous than Circular Quay and Bondi is the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

    1. Construction startedJuly 28, 1923

 

    1. OpenedMarch 19, 1932

 

    1. Total length1,149 m

 

  1. Height134 m

Naturally Bill had to climb it. 🙂

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

Being an ex Para Military man who has made over 500 parachute jumps Bill naturally had to climb to the top of the bridge, and what an amazing view he had from there. 

Circular Quay Sydney

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

Known as the gateway to Sydney.

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

This is one of my favourite shots.

Hydrofoil and Ferry

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

The old & the new. 🙂

The view from the Quay apartments

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

 Can you imagine the price of a condo here?

Jet boat

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

Are you ready for a spin?

OK, lets go….

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

Fast & furious.

Cruise ship heading for Circular Quay

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

This is more my style. 🙂

Circular Quay

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

There are many good restaurants surrounding Circular Quay, to me it is one of the most interesting areas of this great city. If I had to choose between Circular Quay and Bondi I would choose Circular Quay every time.

Two restaurants, Doyles and the Quay.

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

As you can imagine both these restaurants are very expensive.

Peter Hesky’s 60th January 3rd 2007.

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

We celebrated my friends 60th at the Quay restaurant in 2007.

The Rocks

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

The Rocks is an historic part of Sydney adjacent to Circular Quay, this is an old warehouse which is now a restaurant.

Historic buildings

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

The small building is Cadmans cottage  the oldest surviving residential building in Sydney, having been built in 1816 for the use of the governmental coxswains and their crews.

The Sailors Home opened its doors in February 1865. Naval personnel lodged there until 1891 when the Royal Naval House, with accommodation for 300, opened in nearby Grosvenor Street.  The sailors used to consume opium and alcohol, because in the nineteenth century, opium is legally consumed. Passers-by could smell opium when near the Sailor’s home. In 2002, Sailors Home was changed to The Australian Mariners’ Welfare Society.

 

Maritime Services Building

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The Museum of Contemporary Art was established to fulfill the museum aspect of the visionary bequest of Australian expatriate artist John Power (1881-1943), who left his personal fortune to the University of Sydney to inform and educate Australians in the contemporary visual arts. The traditional owners of the land on which the MCA building is situated are the Eora people of the Gadigal nation. This site also marks the landing place of the First Fleet in Port Jackson in 1788. In 1802 Sydney’s first hospital and wharf were built nearby, with commissariat stores built by Colonel Foveaux in 1812. In the 1930s the commissariat stores and taxation building were demolished to make way for a new Maritime Services Board (MSB) building (the previous MSB offices were displaced by the Cahill Express Way and Circular Quay railway development). Government architect W.H. Withers began work on the building plans in 1939. Work resumed in 1944 under government architect W D H Baxter after a postponement of four years from 1940 due to Australia’s involvement in World War II. Builders were appointed in 1946 but difficulties in securing labour and material due to post war shortages delayed construction. The foundation stone was laid in 1949 and in 1952 the MSB building opened. With the relocation of the MSB to larger premises in 1989 the building was gifted by the NSW State Government to the Museum of Contemporary Art. Funded by the University of Sydney and the Power Bequest, restoration and refurbishment of the building commenced in 1990 under the direction of Andrew Andersons of Peddle Thorpe/John Holland Interiors and in November 1991 the Museum of Contemporary Art officially opened.

Sydney Skyline

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

The best harbour in the world.

Manly Ferry

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  About a 40 minute trip from Circular Quay to manly, one of the world’s great boat rides.  

Ferry arriving at Manly

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

 So much to see on Sydney harbour.

North Sydney with Luna Park in the foreground.

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

A city within a city.

Kirribilli House

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

Kirribilli House is the official residence of the Australian Prime Minister in Sydney, New South Wales. The house is located at the far eastern end of Kirribilli Avenue in the harbour-side suburb of Kirribilli straight opposite Circular Quay. 

The Oaks Hotel Neutral Bay.

Sydney 2011 farewell Australia

I know it’s a few kms from Sydney Circular Quay, however it’s my favourite Australian pub, I have been drinking here for over 30 years, I can’t begin to imagine how much money I have spent there. 🙂 

Well in this post we covered a few more subjects than Sydney Circular Quay and Bondi beach, I hope you enjoyed it as much as  did.


To receive my latest posts please follow me on Twitter 

 

                   Here are some more posts to check out
 

           

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             Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
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Chinatown Hyde Park Darlinghurst

August 4, 2014 by David Herd

Town Hall Sydney

Chinatown Hyde Park Darlinghurst

Chinatown Hyde Park Darlinghurst

Chinatown Hyde Park Darlinghurst may not be as well known as other Sydney icons, however it’s the area where I like to stay when I visit Sydney. In fact this is not in any of those districts mentioned in the title, it is right in the city centre, Chinatown is 3 blocks further down George St.

Relax among the skyscrapers around Chinatown Hyde Park Darlinghurst

Chinatown Hyde Park Darlinghurst

Walking from Town Hall to Chinatown nestled among the tall buildings are many places where people can relax & eat lunch.


China Republic World Square Sydney

Chinatown Hyde Park Darlinghurst

  Upmarket Chinese restaurant in the World Square.  

View from the Laughing Buddha bar.

Chinatown Hyde Park Darlinghurst

  I would sit in this bar at happy hour and watch the passing parade before wandering down to Chinatown for dinner.  

The Laughing Buddha.

Chinatown Hyde Park Darlinghurst

  Friendly little bar next to Chinatown on the corner of Liverpool & George St Sydney.  

Corner Campbell & George St Sydney.

Chinatown Hyde Park Darlinghurst

Capital Square Hotel is in this building and is very good value, rooms are quite good and there is a Starbucks downstairs where you can access free wifi. The hotel charges an outrageous amount for their wifi.

Pensione hotel in George St.

Chinatown Hyde Park Darlinghurst

Pensione is another good value hotel with free wifi and a good bar on the ground floor. Rooms are rather small but the location is terrific, you walk out the back door and you are in Chinatown.

Railway Square in Sydney.

Chinatown Hyde Park Darlinghurst

  George St beside Central Station.  

ANZAC War Memorial in Hyde Park

Chinatown Hyde Park Darlinghurst

The ANZAC War Memorial, completed in 1934, is the main commemorative military monument of Sydney, Australia. It was designed by C. Bruce Dellit, with the exterior adorned with monumental figural reliefs and sculptures by Rayner Hoff.   

Anzac War Memorial in Hyde Park

Chinatown Hyde Park Darlinghurst

The memorial is located at the southern extremity of Hyde Park on the eastern edge of Sydney’s central business district, and it is the focus of commemoration ceremonies on Anzac Day, Armistice Day and other important occasions.  

Hyde Park Sydney

Chinatown Hyde Park Darlinghurst

It certainly is a nice oasis in the heart of the city.

Hyde Park Sydney

Chinatown Hyde Park Darlinghurst

 A beautiful park to relax an eat lunch in the middle of the city.

Stanley St Darlinghurst.

Chinatown Hyde Park Darlinghurst

  There are many great little restaurants & pubs in Stanley St, and in fact all around Chinatown Hyde Park Darlinghurst.

Bar Reggio Stanley St Darlinghurst.

Chinatown Hyde Park Darlinghurst

This trendy bar restaurant has been a popular Sydney meeting place for many years.

Chinatown Hyde Park Darlinghurst

Chinatown Hyde Park Darlinghurst

  Bar Reggio is very popular and usually packed for lunch on Fridays.  

My friends at Bar Reggio

Chinatown Hyde Park Darlinghurst

  Ken Shelly & Justine and on the right is Richard, aka Mr Stingy. Sydney was my last stop on my seven super cities tour in March 2014.  

The Herd clan at Dixon st Chinatown

Chinatown Hyde Park Darlinghurst

Sadly on January 5th 2016 we lost Michaels partner, our great Björn Lüders, we will miss him.

Chinatown duck

Chinatown Hyde Park Darlinghurst

This is as good as it gets, thanks for visiting my  Chinatown Hyde Park Darlinghurst photo blog.                

 
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               Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
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 That’s all folks

1g Duck

To receive my latest posts please follow me on Twitter   

 

Here is my 2014 photo album

 

Gold Coast in 2014

 

Outback Australia

 

Australian adventures


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Sydney World’s Best Harbour

August 5, 2013 by David Herd

Wonderful harbour, golden beaches & sunshine.

Sydney World’s Best Harbour

Sydney World's Best HarbourSydney harbour best in the world, it is as exciting city, I admit to being biased when talking about this great city, I was born & raised here in the middle of the last century. I have flown into Sydney hundreds of times and even now it still takes my breath away. Most of this post will centre around the fabulous harbor because without a doubt it is the best the world has to offer.

View from Drummoyne bay.

Sydney World's Best HarbourFor several years I was fortunate enough to live on the waterfront in Drummoyne, a few miles west of the city, and every day from my balcony I would marvel at the city skyline and Harbour Bridge. My boat was moored in front of my home and every weekend you would find me on the harbour visiting quaint little beaches and wonderful restaurants. The photo above was part of my view.

Here is a stunning view of the Sydney city skyline.

Sydney World's Best HarbourSydney is rather fragmented due the harbour splitting it between north & south, personally I prefer to stay north of the harbour, but Darling Harbour on the west of the city is a great location, as is the famous Bondi Beach which is located in the eastern suburbs. Make sure you catch a ferry to Manly from the city and you will see why Sydney Harbour is regarded as the best in the world. So do your research and pick the district where you would like to book your hotel.

Circular Quay, the gateway to the city. 

Sydney World's Best HarbourGrab a seat here and soak up the tremendous view.

Sydney World’s Best Harbour

Sydney World's Best HarbourA huge ship is moored right opposite the Opera House.

Ferries at Circular Quay

Sydney World's Best HarbourA short trip to Manly across the magnificent harbour should be on the top of your list.

Centrepoint Tower.

Sydney World's Best Harbour

Centrepoint tower which naturally has a revolving restaurant stands 309 m (1,014 ft) above Sydney. 

Anzac Bridge

Sydney World's Best Harbour

The ANZAC Bridge, replacing the earlier Glebe Island Bridge, is a large cable-stayed bridge spanning Johnstons Bay between Pyrmont and Glebe Island close to the central business district of Sydney, Australia. Wikipedia

Darling Harbor in Sydney

Sydney World's Best Harbour

The Grand Mercure hotel in Darling Harbour.

The Oaks Hotel in Neutral Bay.

Sydney World's Best Harbour

One of my old haunts for many years, the Oaks is one of the best hotels in Australia.

The Oak tree at the Oaks hotel

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I have so many wonderful memories of enjoying a beer or two with friends at this great hotel.

Mr Wong, good Cantonese restaurant.

Sydney World's Best Harbour

Mr Wong’s is a very good Cantonese restaurant off Bridge St in Sydney not far from Circular Quay.

Mr Wong at 3 Bridge St.

Sydney World's Best Harbour

Mr Wong’s has a great atmosphere and very good food, put it on your list.

The famous Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Sydney World's Best Harbour

No doubt this is the best harbour in the world.

Please click on Google + to help my ranking. 

 

Climb the Harbour Bridge.

Sydney World's Best Harbour

My English friend Bill Austin said “lets go climb the bridge”,I said “thank you, but I think at this stage I will decline”, Bill being an ex Para military man had experienced about 500 jumps out of planes, many at night into enemy territory. I on the other hand have a great fear of heights, in fact let me tell you a little story about my brief stint in the fire brigade. I was 22 years of age when I passed the simple entry exam for the NSW fire brigade, everything was fine in the first 2 weeks, I was learning all the riveting information about the contents of a fire extinguisher and driving around Centennial Park in the fire engine.

Suddenly they produced what they claimed was the highest ladder in the country, 130 feet they proudly quoted. All the new recruits had to line up to climb to the top, drop a hook attached to your belt over the top rung of the ladder, then lean backwards trusting the hook would hold you. My turn finally came, I pointed out to the instructor there was nobody up there that needed to be rescued, so if he didn’t mind I would rather decline his request. As you can imagine he wasn’t happy, so after many heated words had passed between us I wandered into the front office and laid my helmet and axe on the counter, resigned and went home. So ended my career as a fearless fire fighter.  😳

This pastime is more my preference.

Sydney World's Best Harbour

Forget about climbing bridges or jumping out of planes, I prefer to do battle with a wonderful Queensland Mud Crab. OK, so maybe he was dead and posing no threat, but there is no finer meal in Australia than a 1.5 kilo monster washed down with a Margaret River Chardonnay.

 The Manly Ferry.

Sydney World's Best Harbour

One of the best things to do in Sydney is to catch the ferry from Circular Quay in the city to Manly one of Sydney’s famous beaches. Enjoy some fish & chips by the beach and try to keep the seagulls from stealing your food.

Fish & Chips + Oysters.

Sydney World's Best Harbour

Here I am at Manly with my friend Sue from Shanghai.

The Corso in Manly.

Sydney World's Best Harbour

In 1787, Captain Arthur Phillip of the Royal Navy left England with a fleet of ships to establish a colony in New South Wales. He was to be it’s first Governor. In January 1788, the fleet arrived at its destination, Botany Bay, which was found to be unsuitable for settlement, So, on 21 January, Phillip with others travelled north and examined Port Jackson, so named by Captain James Cook in 1770. They spent three days exploring Port Jackson and Phillip, impressed by the “confidence and manly behavior” of a group of aborigines in the northern reaches of the harbour, called the place “Manly Cove”.

Doyles at Watson’s Bay.

Sydney World's Best Harbour

On the opposite side of the harbour from Manly is Watson’s Bay, I have forgotten how many times I ate at this famous Sydney harbour side restaurant throughout the 70’s & 80’s, in fact I could almost drive my boat blindfolded from my waterfront home in Drummoyne about 40 minutes west of here.

Doyles in 1981.

Sydney World's Best Harbour

This was Doyles 32 years ago in 1981. On this original site, Doyles opened Australia’s first seafood restaurant in 1885. The restaurant has been family owned and operated for over five generations. With both indoor and outdoor dining, Doyles is located right on the foreshore of Watsons Bay overlooking the magnificent panorama of Sydney Harbour.

Flashback, Doyles 1982.

Sydney World's Best Harbour

Here I am at Doyles with Helen Burke, my girlfriend at the time, enjoying one of our countless lunches on beautiful Sydney Harbour. Who said nostalgia was a thing of the past?

Did I have any fun in the 80’s?

Sydney World's Best Harbour

So maybe I am going back a long way, over 30 years in fact, however the fun we had on Sydney’s beautiful harbour will never be forgotten, and you can still live this same great life in Sydney today.

Dining solo (again) at Mr Wong.

Sydney World's Best Harbour

More photos of Mr Wong HERE.

Check out the super hotel rates from Agoda

Sydney is magnificent

Sydney World's Best Harbour

Put this venue on your bucket list.

What a harbour

Sydney World’s Best HarbourMy only complaint is that I can’t afford to live there anymore. 🙂

Well folks, many thanks for visiting my Sydney Harbour photo blog about the town where I was born. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed growing up there.

Please send the link to your friends https://fivestarvagabond.com/

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That’s all folks

1g Duck

 

Sit back and check out the slide show.

 

What a wonderful World

David Attenborough - Wonderful World - BBC - Full HD 1080p

             

 Here are some more posts to check out

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             Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
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 That’s all folks
1g Duck
Pattaya live webcam 
 
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50 Reasons Why Australians Are The Luckiest People On Earth

 Click here to see my 2010 Sydney post.

https://fivestarvagabond.com/circular-quay-and-bondi/

Super deals from Agoda
Click on the photo below to see more of Sydney harbour

 

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