26th January 2016

After breakfast, we set off on today’s adventure. The ease of the transport system made getting around Sydney a breeze. Using the train, we were soon at Bondi Junction, where we transferred to a bus that took us to Bondi Beach. Despite the smooth journey and its reputation, the beach itself didn’t quite live up to expectations. Perhaps the overcast sky dampened the experience, but to me, it felt like an Australian version of Filey, similar in size and shape, with a familiar backdrop; however, the warmth and distinct flora and fauna (including the unique locals!) were a nice touch.

We wandered along the beach for a while, taking in the scenery, but didn’t stick around too long. The cloudy weather didn’t quite do the place justice, so we decided to move on to explore other parts of the Sydney coastline.

After a leisurely stroll along Bondi Beach, we made our way toward the rocky promontory to the left of the bay, where the view was stunning. Along the way, we were joined by a friendly young German backpacker, eager to chat. It was nice to share the journey with someone who had the same sense of curiosity about places.

As expected, the surf was alive with surfers, each trying to catch the perfect wave, some doing so with impressive skill, while others wobbled or wiped out. But despite the flurry of activity in the water, we found ourselves more captivated by a pair of large, white birds with curved beaks pecking at the grass nearby. They seemed utterly absorbed in their own little world, providing a nice contrast to the busy surfers and making for a peaceful moment amid the energy of the beach. We lingered a little longer, enjoying the quiet before continuing our exploration.

After satisfying ourselves with enough photos from the promontory, we made our way back to the centre of Bondi Bay. There, we found a beachside bar with a perfect spot to sit and enjoy a leisurely lunch. As we sipped our drinks and nibbled on food, we people-watched, taking in the varied crowd of locals and tourists. The atmosphere was relaxed, and the waitress was friendly, striking up a conversation with us. Later, a couple joined us at the next table. It turned out they were from Gloucester and were on a grand tour of Australia, ticking off places on their bucket list. They had a great sense of humour, which made for a pleasant chat.

Looking back on our time at Bondi, it was clear that while it had its appeal, it didn’t quite live up to the tropical allure of somewhere like Copacabana. Perhaps if we were younger, we’d have felt more drawn to the water or the vibrant vibe of the place, but honestly, neither of us had the urge to dip our toes in the sea or make plans to return. Bondi has its charm, but it wasn’t a place that left us longing for more.

After a thoroughly satisfying Aussie-sized lunch, we strolled at a leisurely pace toward the promontory on the right side of Bondi Bay. This walk proved to be far more intriguing, taking us along a cliffside pathway that had been shaped into striking, almost surreal forms by the elements over time. The natural scenery was captivating, and we paused now and then as Sue read through the numerous informative boards along the way.

One particularly fascinating story detailed the dramatic rescue of 250 surfers during a 1938 surfing competition. A freak wave had swept them out to sea, and tragically, five surfers lost their lives. The board joked that the Great Whites missed a perfect opportunity there, adding a touch of humour to the otherwise sombre tale. It was certainly one of those unexpected, yet memorable moments that added depth to our exploration.

After returning to the central bay, Sue bought the customary postcard as a souvenir, and we then caught the bus back to Bondi Junction before taking the train to Central. We spent a couple of relaxing hours in our room, enjoying a quiet break before heading out again later in the afternoon.

We made our way to the Lyric Theatre near Darling Harbour for our evening’s entertainment. Prior to the show, we dined at one of the many restaurants surrounding the theatre, where we enjoyed a sumptuous meal. Then, it was time for the main event: ‘Matilda’, the musical. Our seats in the centre stalls offered a perfect view of the stage, and we were treated to a performance that truly lived up to its acclaim. As ‘The Sunday Times’ put it, it was “easily the stand-out musical of the decade.” The Royal Shakespeare Company’s production was absolutely stellar, and we had a thoroughly wonderful evening.

Returning to the hotel after our wonderful evening, we encountered a small hiccup with the lift on the way to our room. Instead of ascending to our floor, the lift decided to descend into the basement. Despite several attempts to get it to respond by swiping our room cards, it stubbornly refused to cooperate. We even tried walking up the three parking levels to the ground floor, only to be stopped by locked shutter doors.

Undeterred, we returned to the lift and tried every combination of cards and floor numbers we could think of, but nothing worked. Fortunately, the situation took a turn for the better when someone called the lift to the lobby while we were still inside it. When we explained the issue to reception, they were initially sceptical. However, their scepticism disappeared when they tried our cards themselves and saw that they didn’t work. After a quick apology, they gave us new cards, and we finally made our way to our room, where we enjoyed a well-earned coffee before heading to bed.