As many of you know, I am in the process of moving to New Zealand.  Since I made the decision to move many people have asked me what I will miss when I leave Sydney.  This is a difficult question to answer fully.  I have so many good memories of Sydney and enjoy so many aspects of this city that the question can’t be narrowed down to a short answer and still manage to fully answer it.  This blog is an attempt to give a high level overview of my memories of Sydney and the things I most like about it.

One of my favorite activities in Sydney is walking across the Harbour Bridge.  Not only is it a beautiful bridge to see from a distance, but when walking across it you get awesome views of the harbour, the Opera House and the city.

Harbour Bridge from the Opera House

View from the North Shore Side

There is a museum and a lookout at the top of the pylon on the south end of bridge.  It is well worth the climb up the stairs, because the views of the harbour and the city are amazing.

In the above photo you can see on top of the bridge arch there are climbers on their way to the top of the bridge.  In 2012 I made this climb with several of my best friends.  We had a great day.  Definitely one of the highlights of my stay in Sydney.  It was not as difficult as it might appear and it was totally safe.  We were in harnesses and tied off for the entire walk.

Unfortunately, I can’t find the group photo we took at the top.  If any of you that climbed with me have a copy of the photo, could you please send it to me?

Sydney Opera House from the Harbour Bridge

Luna Park in Kirribilli

It may sound strange to some of you, but one of the things I will miss is the public transportation system in Sydney.  I found it to be so good that I didn’t need a car.  I only rode in a car maybe a dozen times the entire time I was in Sydney.  I only drove a car 3 times.  For two of the drives, between driving on the left side, the narrow city streets and the bumper to bumper traffic, the whole time I was white knuckled gripping the steering wheel and chanting the mantra, “keep left, keep left, keep left . . . “.  The third drive was on the highway, and was not so bad as it wasn’t that much different from driving on an American highway.

In the Rocks (Is she checking me out?)

Hyde Park Chess Set

CBD Near Circular Quay

By the way, for my American friends, that pronounced Circular Key.

Opera House during Vivid Sydney

One of my favorite activities in Sydney was taking walks.  There are many great bushwalks a short train ride away from the city.  And the entire coast is lined with trails that alternated from clifftop walks to strolls on the amazing beaches around Sydney.

Royal National Park

Mark on a Trail Near Berowra

Great North Walk

Hawkesbury River

The Blue Mountains

The icons of the city were impressive and the views while hiking were amazing, but what really made the stay in Sydney special were the people I met and the good friends I made.

Bonnie and I in an Adventure Race

At the Zoo (Miss You Jodi!)

Calvin and I on Top of Sydney Tower

The Gang at the Gordon Club (2012)

The Gang at Gilroy’s (2016)

There are so many great things about Sydney that I can’t even come close to listing them all.  Activities like the City to Surf run (ran it once and walked it once),  and Taking the ferry to Manly (still one of my favorite outings) or to Parramatta.  And so many others that it would take me the rest of the night to mention them all.  It really is one the Great cities of the world.