Sydney

For our final long vacation, we took a trip to Australia. About 18 months ago, I discovered a flyer for a data science conference in Sydney that happily coincided with our then upcoming visit to New Zealand. I made plans to attend and Laura and the kids came along for a great visit. We hit three cities during our visit to Oz: Sydney, Cairns and Melbourne. I'll tackle each in a separate post.

Early morning on the way to Australia!

First up was Sydney. Laura and I came to Oz 14 years ago and spent a fair amount of time in Sydney. It's a nice, compact city with a lot to offer. Laura and the kids spent their days touring around while I attended my conference and we got back together in the evenings for dinner and evening activities. Laura and the kids hit two aquariums, a wax museum and for a taste of home, Krispy Kreme.

Jack in the Sydney Aquarium bubble

Sharks in the tank with people in the tunnel below

Brothers = best friends + worst enemies.

Never a dull moment with this octopus

Contemplating the first day of vacation after some fish and chips

The King and his Soldier at Madame Tussauds wax museum in Sydney

Dr Jack finds his brother DOES have a heart!

Steven in front of the destroyer at the National Maritime Museum

E.T. phone home

Happy boys found some Krispy Kreme donuts. Not quite like home, but close enough. Poor Daddy eating fruit in his conference.

Too many donuts

Ready for rugby

At the Manly Sealife Aquarium. With tour guide Bert and a shark in the walk-through aquarium. Jack decided he would come back at age 14 so he is old enough to swim with the sharks.

My hands down favorite event, for the entire trip, was a concert at the Sydney Opera house. We saw Tommy Emmanuel, a solo guitarist, and it was a great show. Being in the opera house made it that more special.

In the Sydney Opera House

On the ferry back from Manly. Opera house in the background

Sydney Harbor bridge

After my conference finished, we rented a car and drove out to the Featherdale Wildlife park in northwest Sydney. Fourteen years ago, I didn't dare drive, but Aussie roads were a snap after driving in New Zealand.

Petting Koalas at Featherdale Wildlife park. We came 14 yrs ago before kids and enjoyed this little park in the middle of a neighborhood. You can feed wallabies and pet kangaroos here. Wombats are very soft.

Jack feeds a wallaby.

Don't feed the Tasmanian Devil

Petting the very well fed Wallabies

Steven learned this dingo may look like our sweet Tanner, but if you stick your finger in his mate's cage, she will frighten you with her aggressive bark. As we read the sign about how dingoes don't bark.