Yesterday we joined an estimated 1.6 million around Sydney harbour to watch the New Year's eve fireworks. The harbour was a carpet of boats of all sizes from paddleboards to superyachts.
The fireworks were set off from a number of different locations, a once in a lifetime experience for us, the pictures don't do the spectacle justice.
Happy New Year to you all.

 'Octopus' in the centre

 Just a few of the boats to watch the celebrations.

Two gorgeous sunny days, 34° in the city.
We have been to the beach and both been swimming in the sea.

Explored the southern side of Sydney harbour today, Tim drove us over the bridge, through the city and along the southern shores, past Rushcutters's bay, Rose bay and on to Watson's Bay.
We had hope to eat at Doyle's fish restaurant but it was fully booked and the take away absolutely heaving.
We walked on to South Head to look at the views and walked up to the lighthouse before returning to Manly.
Had a super meal at the Interpolitan café the went for a walk along the front beside the wharf, people still on the beach, some in the sea.

The locals are friendly.

 Doyle's fish restaurant at Watson's Bay

 Looking out from South Head

South Head lighthouse

Boxing day ended with another visit from Colin, the cockatoo.
Today we went into the city again to visit the craft market in the Rocks area. Sydney really is a fascinating city, tucked alongside the modern buildings in the centre you find buildings from its colonial past, we even found a working gas lamp post.
After the Rocks we went into the centre and visited another preserved mall, the Strand, filled with high end shops.
This evening we watched the bats flying around the trees at the end of the Corso, they are about the size of seagulls and just as noisy.

Colin calls

 In the Rocks

 a working gas light

 inside the Strand

According to the local TV there was 30mm of rain last night, but apart from a few odd puddles you would not have known it.
The day began with bright blue skies and we set out for North Head to go to watch the start of the Sydney Hobart yacht race. It is about 2 miles, uphill to begin with but we kept in the shade, walking through the nature reserved you could smell the aroma of eucalyptus and see some huge spiders in their webs among the trees. We had been advised to get there early and were glad that we did, when we arrived we went to the café before joining the crowds which were growing. By the time the race started at 1.00pm the area was packed. We watched as the fleet over 100 yachts led by the maxi 'Comanche' headed towards the rounding marks before heading off through the mouth of the harbour then south to Hobart. Helicopters buzzed around overhead and the harbour was full of spectator boats.
The whole thing was quite a spectacle from our vintage point high above the harbour.

 spiders in the sunlighti

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The fleet rounding the first turning marks with central Sydney in the background

Christmas in Australia is certainly different, we spent yesterday (Christmas eve) shopping for food for our dinner today. It seems that people here tend to shop almost daily for food, we went to one of the big malls and visited Woolworths (a food supermarket) to get most of our shopping, then back to manly for the meat and prawns.

In the evening we went out to dinner at Garnish, an award winning fish restaurant. Its difficult to choose what to et when you don't know what is on the menu.
Today began overcast but soon brightened up, we went for a long walk along the prom to North Steyne then back to Shelley Bay before walking to manly wharf. Lots of families were on the beach and grass with picnics and many new shiny surfboards were in evidence. We were surprised how many cafés and shops were open, though the sales start in earnest tomorrow.
This afternoon Tim went out for a ride on his bike, getting back before a big thunderstorm rolled in.

 

 Christmas day on Manly beach

Tim and Claire preparing Christmas lunch

 The Three Kings come to Manly

Christmas eve in Manly

After the exertions of yesterday and as it was raining first thing we opted to go to Chatswood Mall, six floors of shops plus numerous food courts offering all types of cuisine. Claire especially likes the range of fresh salads available.
Back in Manly now, planning what to eat on Christmas day.

 Words of wisdom.

a small selection of what was available at the juice bar.

A quiet day yesterday, glorious weather so we went to the beach, on the way we watched a pelican fishing in the harbour. We went on to Little Manly Cove and even went in the water, though Claire only managed just above the knees.
Today was the first day of Tim's holiday so we went into the city with him. Tim had a few things to do in the office so we went for a look round St Mary's Cathedral then met Tim in Hyde Park.
He took us around some of the sites of central Sydney, the Lego Christmas tree then into Queen Victoria Building, an old building with a huge mall inside and a Christmas tree standing 4 stories tall decorated with Swarovski crystal decorations.
We then made our way around Darling harbour and on to the fish market where we visited Doyle and had a fish platter for lunch.
After lunch we went back into the city, Tim had to pick things up from his office so we went up to reception and waited for him while he collected his things before returning to Manly.

 Lego Christmas tree

 

 Inside Queen Victoria Building

 Swarovski Christmas tree

 Darling harbour

 lunch at Sydney fish market

Looking over Darling harbour

Had a really good day today, we began by going out for breakfast with Tim to a café overlooking the beach, evidently this is an Aussie thing. This was followed by a leisurely stroll around manly visiting one of the markets that seem to spring up everywhere.
We then set out with Tim in his car to Balmoral beach which is near Lara's school. A lovely stretch of sand, we walked along the prom, sat in the shade and did more people watching.
Next we got back in the car to Bradley Head. Tim has booked tickets for us all to watch the New Years Eve fireworks from there so we thought we would have a look round. The views over the harbour and cbd were amazing. The harbour was alive with boats, racing, playing and some of the Sydney Hobart yachts training with ferries somehow weaving in and out of the mêlée.
There was a wedding due to take place on the headland, the groom's party arrived in two open topped red mustangs, after what seemed an eternity the bride and bridesmaids (in black again) arrived in two white open topped mustangs.
We were also amused by two bold kookaburra who were very pleased with themselves.

 Balmoral bay

 Balmoral Sailing club

 Bradley Head

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 some of the traffic on Sydney harbour

 some of the yachts are rather big

How's this for a wedding car?

A quiet day spent people watching, we walked around to Shelley Bay where we sat underneath the shade of a cabbage tree palm listening to the sounds of Rudolph the red nosed reindeer and various other Christmas songs. Somehow it didn't seem quite right.
This afternoon we walked to the wharf where there were some 16ft skiffs, then this evening we went back to the penguin watch.
A pair of fairy penguins live under Manly Wharf, the male is currently believed to be moulting so doesn't come out, but the female, Bella, goes to sea everyday to feed. She returns around dusk. We went lost night but didn't see her, tonight however she came in just as the light was fading and we watched for sometime as she preened her feathers before disappearing into the nest.

 Shelley Beach

 Some of the crowd at Shelley Beach, you might even see Santa.

 How to launch a 16ft skiff.

Penguins can be very shy, no photos.

A much more energetic day, we walked the Manly Scenic Walkway route from Manly ferry wharf to Spit Bridge, a distance of 10km, much of it through part of the Sydney Harbour National Park, quite hard going at times, especially as the day wore on and the heat grew. Some stunning views over the entrance to the harbour. Lots of lizards and other wildlife along the route but fortunately we didn't see any snakes.
We caught the bus back to Manly and are now resting our tired feet.

Sleeping cockatoo, quiet for a change

 

Eastern water dragon, saw lots of these

 Manly wharf, where we started, in the distance

 Crater Cove looking towards the harbour mouth.

• Resting at the site of some aboriginal engravings