When we lived in Perth we used to watch the Sydney New Years Eve countdown and fireworks (because it was conveniently 9pm in Perth) and Alex was absolutely obsessed with the video and watched it over and over. We had to fly through Sydney to get back to Jakarta so Matt and I had tossed around the idea of how much fun it would be to spend a few days there. Since it cost nothing extra to make the stop, it seemed like the opportunity of a lifetime!
We had kept this surprise from the kids for months. Just a few days earlier, they learned that there would be a surprise at the end of our trip but all they figured out was that we were stopping in Sydney, which they were pretty pumped about. It wasn't until we were in the taxi driving toward our last Airbnb when the driver starting asking about our plans for new years (as we happened to be driving across the harbour bridge!) that the kids put it all together.
Total excitement!
And even better when we saw the view from our living room! I had looked into lots of ways to view the fireworks, like a dinner cruise or getting a spot in a public park, but they all looked logistically difficult and would put us home hours after the fireworks. Seeing as we would already have 2 hours of jetlag and a late night, when I came across this Airbnb we knew it was worth the splurge to enjoy the entire evening from our window.
They were not overselling this view - it was incredible.
We didn't want to waste any time in Sydney, so I grabbed a few groceries and then we caught the train to get the last entrance into the aquarium for the day. More penguins for Alex!
We had to stop and appreciate the spot where toddler Alex disappeared 8 years earlier on our first trip to Sydney and put me in my very first parent-who-has-lost-a-child panic. He had lost interest in the fish and was more fascinated by all the ramps. Thank goodness we found him a few minutes later and those days are long past!
Overall, it was an interesting visit but it wasn't as good as it was years ago. Several things we enjoyed were no longer there but it's always fun watching the animals.
We caught the ferry to Circular Quay for dinner, and it's the best way to travel - not many places where you get these kinds of views on public transportation!
Dinner by the Opera house! The place was packed but with our booking we got straight in and enjoyed some delicious seafood.
Even on December 30th, the crowds were huge and the atmosphere was excited. People were everywhere enjoying the views of the harbor.
More pretty sights as the bridge lit up on our ferry ride back across the harbor. By this time, the crowds were massive and we knew we would not be going back across on the 31st!
The evening view from our place.
At 7am on New Year's Eve, people were already staking out spots all along the water.
Some people in this park by the bridge had spent the night!
Seeing as how our living room was nice and reserved for us, we went the other direction to spend the morning at the zoo.
Pretty awesome views from here as well!
Our second scenic gondola ride on this trip.
Awww, sleepy koalas!
And baby elephant!
And more little blue penguins!
The giraffe came over to have a look at us but decided we were not that interesting. The rest of the zoo was really well done and we saw a lot of unique animals.
Mid-afternoon, the crowds were really growing along the harbor. We were so thankful we didn't have to sit out here all day!
We were extra thankful to be indoors when some weather started building.
Around 6pm, there was supposed to be an airshow but most of it was rained out. Those poor people camping out all day were mostly soaked because the morning forecast promised clear skies!
It was a good time for a little dinner, though.
Thankfully, the weather all passed and the evening was beautiful! When the New Years Eve telecast started in front of the Opera House, we could watch it through the binoculars or on TV. Pretty fun! We also enjoyed watching them pull out huge barges of fireworks and positioning them all along the harbor.
The parties next door really ramped up as well! With all the windows open and people celebrating in every direction, it felt like we were part of a huge party. Even though some of us were in our pajamas...hee hee.
The guys were getting the camera ready for the first show.
The 9pm family fireworks were small but impressive.
They definitely whet our appetites for the real deal.
The clearing smoke was pretty cool over the Opera House.
For the next several hours, lighted boats paraded around and one parked in front of us so we got to enjoy their live band for the last hour.
Jetlag made the light night tough and we almost lost one guy on the couch but he rallied.
Finally, it was time!! I got chills when the countdown started and a million people cheered in the new year together! The big fireworks started exactly at midnight.
They were incredible. Really no words to describe the experience of being right underneath all this magic! We had the radio on to the synchronized music but we couldn't hear it at all over the show. We didn't need music for this!
Happy New Year, everyone!! It's 2018! Wait....what?? Apparently someone forgot that 12:01 January 1st would fall in 2019. Oops!
The next morning was so clear and I could smell the eucalyptus after a good rain...one of my favorite Aussie memories.
What a night, Sydney!
Sydney was even thoughtful enough to have a guy with a ukulele entertaining everyone at the packed Qantas check in on January 1st. Have to love a good airport where you can be dropped off and get through check-in, security, and immigration in 30 minutes. It was a long but uneventful day getting home through Singapore.
Thanks for the memories!! Finally, we could head home full of incredible experiences and memories, happily exhausted, and ready to sleep in our own beds. It was one amazing adventure.
