Sydney to Honolulu

Another day of travel. Our flight left Sydney around 6 pm on Friday, so thankfully we didn't have to get up super early. In fact, we had most of the day to enjoy Sydney still. We started our day off by video chatting with my extended family since it was Thanksgiving evening in Michigan. In Australia we live in the future. It was chaotic, but nice to catch up with everyone. Brandon was also able to give Thanksgiving wishes to his parents. 

Since we'd be sitting in an airplane for awhile, we decided to get outside and go for a hike. We had heard of a coastal walk from Bondi Beach south to Bronte Beach, so we walked from our place over to Bondi to start. It was a beautiful, cooler day since the wind had changed from coming from the North to the South. 

Rose Bay to Bondi Beach to Bronte Beach walk

The coastal walk began at the South corner of Bondi Beach. There was also an impressive swimming pool there at the ocean edge. The wind and waves were high, so seawater was crashing into the pool which was fun to watch. 

Bondi Beach

Seawater pounding the swimming pool

We continued our walk taking in views of Bondi Beach. We walked through a few public parks and around Mackenzies Bay. We ended up being more tired than we thought, so when we made to Tamarama Beach we turned back. We could easily see Bronte Beach from there, so we decided that counted. 

Coastline walk

Bondi Beach beyond us

More cool coastline rock

Sculpture in a park

Senior picture pose

Mackenzies Bay

Panorama of Tamarama Beach with Bronte Beach beyond

On our way back we picked up some tiramisu gelato from Gelatissimo, a popular Sydney franchise. It was a good pre-lunch treat. Upon returning to our guesthouse we made lunch, packed, and then headed out for the airport. 

Tiramisu gelato

We didn't want to top up our Opal card and pay the airport access fee of $10 each to enter the airport via train. So, we had found a few blogs with instructions on how to get off the train one station earlier and walk to the international airport. We set off determined to find our way. We caught a bus from Rose Bay to Edgecliffe and then a train from Edgecliffe to Wolli Creek. The fares worked out perfectly and we only had 50 cents left on our Opal cards. Success! 

Following the instructions from this blog we exited the Wolli Creek station and made our way to the international airport. The path was paved the entire way and part of it went through a nice city park. It was also flat terrain, which was a relief with our bags; Sydney has surprised us with how hilly it is compared to Melbourne. On the way we saw a few airport workers who weren't keen on paying the airport station access fee either. At one point there was even a sign clearly directing backpackers to the airport! Sydney must have decided that if people were going to take the trouble to walk and avoid the fee they might as well direct them. In all, the walk was about 30 minutes from station to Jetstar's check in desk. Not bad since it was cool and breezy. We wouldn't recommend the walk if it was scorching hot or raining. 

Signs to help backpackers like us walk into the airport

As we flew out of Sydney we were able to get some awesome aerial views of the city below. 

Skyscrapers of the Sydney city center

Sydney Harbor. A white speck of the Sydney Opera House can be seen in the upper right.  

Brandon snapped an artsy profile of me

Everything went smoothly with our flight and we arrived in Honolulu around 6:30 am on Friday. We crossed the international dateline, so we get to re-live Friday! We're no longer in the future. In fact, we're now living in the past compared to our family in the Midwest. We're trying not too sleep too much so that our bodies adjust as quickly as possible to the new time. 

Arrival into Honolulu 

We're looking forward to returning to Michigan and Midwest friends and family and a more Christmas-like feel. But, for now we'll enjoy our 10 days back on American soil in tropical Oahu!