Two Quick Days in Sydney, Australia

“Did you want some tea, love?” asks a male flight attendant aboard the Qantas flight to Sydney. Your ears are attuned for the Aussie phrasing, and despite twenty-two hours on planes, you are ready for your Australian adventure. It all begins in Sydney and there is a lot more to this large harbor town than the famous Sydney Opera House.

Check out the Sydney Aquarium in Darling Harbor. It does not look big from the boardwalk, but it is built back from the harbor and has a large seal exhibit, penguin area, and an impressive shark tank. It is disconcerting to walk through the hallway and have sharks swimming over you, around you, and beside you. You are in their world and thinking the line from the movie Jaws, “We’re going to need a bigger boat.” Moving on from the shark area, the Great Barrier Reef exhibit fills the eyes with colorful fish. And in the crocodile area, you enjoy a laugh from atop the protected overhang. The sign reads, “If the fall doesn’t kill you, the crocodile will.” As if on cue, the crocodile opens its mouth wide and gives you a toothy smile.

After your aquarium adventure, stroll on to the pier and hitch a ride on one of the cruise catamarans. Generally, the shorter cruise offers a brunch and a ride through Circular Quay, past the Opera House, Harbor Bridge, and on into the main harbor. Spectacular homes dot the shoreline, as you bob past the Australian Navy port, the Royal Botanic Gardens, and various islands in the harbor. You get the feel of the city and how large it seems with all of the shoreline.