October 27, 2014 - Bondi to Googee Coastal Walk

Daily itinerary were:

• Arrived Auckland at 7:30AM
• Arrived Sydney at 10:30AM
• Lunch at Chinese Restaurant in Sydney CBD
• Checked into the Sydney Boulevard Hotel
• Visited Gap Park
• Visited Bondi Beach

Other self tours by various members were:

• Walked Bondi Coastal Walk from Bondi Beach to Coogee Beach
• Took ferry crossing Sydney Harbor
• Night Photographing of Sydney Harbor Bridge/Opera House near Mrs. Macquarie's Chair 
• Seafood dinner in Chinatown

After we arrived Auckland, we had to take another ANZ flight from Auckland to Sydney and arrived at Sydney at 10:30AM in the morning.  When we got to Sydney, Peggy/JC and Corrina/Edward already got there by taking different flights.  They helped our tour guide Emma to welcome us outside the airport exit gate.

The Sydney Boulevard Hotel is located near Sydney CBD which is close to many Sydney attractions.  After drove through the Sydney CBD, Emma took us to have Chinese lunch before we checked into the hotel.

In the afternoon, there was an optional city tour to take some of us to Bondi Beach area which is at east side of Sydney (for an additional $20 US per person).  She took us to the Gap Park in Watsons Bay area first. Watsons Bay is located on the southern head of the entrance to Sydney Harbour. To the east is the Tasman Sea and to the west is the Sydney Harbor with a glorious view of the city of Sydney in a distance. This was the first spot we walked in Sydney, we did enjoy the spectacle view and took many photos.  Then we walked to MacQuarie Lighthouse which is the first lighthouse in Australia began operating on November 20, 1818. 

The next stop was the Bondi Beach.  When we got to Sydney, they had very high temperature on that day ( it was high 35C on that day vs the average November high 23C).  A lot of Australians were on the beach enjoying the sun and ocean. Emma told us that Australian normally taking more days off to avoid high taxes resulting from higher pay (result of longer working hours) and they are comfortable with just enough money on hand for daily expenses.  They have a great benefit system which makes them not worry about saving.  Emma told us that for a $80K AUD annual income, the tax rate is 47%.

Most of us just enjoyed the Bondi Beach and played with ocean waves.  However, Fei and Tony decided to venture out to the "Bondi to Coogee Coast Walk" along the Bondi Beach.  So happen that there was a "Sculpture By The Sea" annual art event going on from Oct 23 to Nov 9.  It transformed the Bondi Beach from Tamarama coastal walk into a 2 KM long temporary sculpture park featuring over 100 sculptures by artists from Australia and around the world.  The Bondi to Coogee Coast Walk is a picturesque coastal route featuring beaches, bays, rock pools, cliffs and stunning views.

Originally we planned to walk from Bondi Beach all the way to Maroubra, however, we started the walk too late, therefore we could only making to Coogee Beach before sundown.  It was about 6 KM walk with beautiful coastal scenery.  We took Route 373 bus with $9.10 AUD bus fare to get back to hotel around 8:30PM.

Some of us did go to the park near Mrs Macquarie's Chair to capture the most beautiful night scenery of Sydney Harbor Bridge, the Opera House, and the Sydney Harbor.  

Some of us are food lovers and went to Chinatown to have the best seafood dinner in Sydney.