THE DROP BEAR DIARIES - CHAPTER 13 "A LITTLE PIECE OF PARADISE"

As we drove from Canberra into the outskirts of Sydney, we thought back to our arrival in Australia several weeks earlier and the few days we had spent in Sydney before heading to Western Australia and later joining Roger and Julie in Melbourne for the trip over to Tasmania.

View over Circular Quay from
our hotel room

Sunset over the 
Sydney Harbour Bridge

We had stayed near the Circular Quay in a hotel overlooking the Opera House, Darling Harbour and the Coathanger, better known as Sydney Harbour Bridge.  

On our first jet lagged day we explored Macquarie Street and its stylish sandstone buildings.

Double take on Macquarie Street:  
The bronze boar has an identical twin 
in Victoria's Butchart Gardens

View from Mrs. Macquarie's Chair
in the Botanical Gardens

However, our sights were firmly set on Watsons Bay, just a 20 minute ferry ride from the Circular Quay but it could have been a million miles away from Sydney’s busy CBD.   

Stepping ashore in Watsons Bay, the atmosphere was relaxed.  

We strolled past quaint wood framed houses dodging a neat row of upturned rowboats lining the shore. 

Upturned rowboats in Watsons Bay

Fish and Chips on the Waterfront

South Head walk - Camp Cove
in the background

Casual restaurants clustered around the dock were doing a brisk trade.

Watsons Bay lies on the edge of the South Head peninsula where the Tasman Sea meets Sydney harbour. A former fishing village, Watsons Bay has a park like setting, its community composed of eclectic heritage homes and upscale beachfront residences. 

Views from the South Head

Waterfront is always nearby, and a walk along nearby Camp Cove - a particularly beautiful spot - leads to the South Head trail, past Lady Bay (a legal nudist beach), HMAS Watson, a maritime training station and Hornby lighthouse.  

Views in all directions are terrific, whether it’s the cluster of CBD skyscrapers, the Harbour Bridge, Manly over on the North Head or the open ocean.
  

Fabulous outlook from "Icebergs" on Bondi Beach

On our return to Watsons Bay from Canberra we were greeted by the enthusiastic welcoming committee - Maurice and Mary.

Unpacking the carefully packed car it was fortunate that some of the supplies we had purchased along the way were still intact. 

Our gracious hosts

WARNING
If Australia happens to be 
your next holiday 
destination remember to 
"Look up and Live!"

The next few days were glorious - walks with the dogs around the South Head, an afternoon at Icebergs in Bondi Beach, a tour of the Northern Beaches that included another fun visit with friends and messing up Julie‘s kitchen with impromptu cookups. Doug is still in shock that he actually barbecued for Australians!  

But our holiday had come to an end and it was time to return home. Sincere thanks to Roger and Julie, their pups, family and friends for making our stay in Australia so thoroughly enjoyable. And an honourable mention to Karen for a job well done.

As for those Drop Bears, well we consider ourselves fortunate that Eucalyptus trees are in short supply in Canada.