Last stop - Sydney

We thanked our amazing hosts for their generous hospitality and headed out early to catch our flight to Sydney.   Given it was the Sunday after Christmas the airport was the busiest we've seen in Australia but still nothing compared to the crowds on even an average day back home.  I already miss their efficient airports where you can walk through security with a full water bottle and surf on your phone as you are taxiing down the runway.

We got into Sydney and took the train downtown.  Google said it was a 15 min walk from Central Station to the hotel which sounds easy enough except that it turned out to be straight up.  OK slight exaggeration but Dave and I each had a big backpack on our back, small backpack on the front and a carry-on rolling suitcase to haul up the hill.  The kids usually pulled the suitcases but that ended at the hill, Avery did last carrying her small backpack for most of the way which was impressive.

Our room wasn't ready so we dumped our stuff and headed out to find some lunch.  We went to the Dolphin Hotel across the street and had a really tasty lunch.  After lunch I took the kids for a swim at the hotel while Dave went on a quest for groceries.  Once he returned we got on the bus to head down to the harbor to see some sights.  

One of the first things we found was the same cruise ship that been in Cairns with us.

We then took some mandatory pictures of the bridge.

And of course you can't go to Sydney without a few pictures of the Opera House.

Proof that Dave didn't take all of the pictures (just 99.9%).

More Opera House.

Waiting for the bus back home to cook dinner and call it a day.