The first stop on Day Three of our Sydney adventure was the famed Sydney Opera House. Friends who had visited Sydney told us a tour of the iconic structure should be on our must-do list; and after getting a close-up tour ourselves, I would echo that recommendation. We spent a little time on the terraces outside the building, enjoying the sunshine and cooling breeze as well as views of the harbor and Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth, docked just across the way at the cruise terminal. A closer view of the roof “sails” proved as intriguing as a more distant one.

Once the tour began, we followed our knowledgeable and entertaining guide through both main buildings and up several staircases to the top of the two main theaters, the Joan Sutherland (named for Australia’s famous soprano) and the Concert Hall. Along the way we learned the history of the lengthy construction process and the trials and tribulations of its main architect. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves of the stunning interiors:

lobby outside Joan Sutherland Theatre with view of the Harbour Bridge

interior stairway and ceiling

We got a sneak peak into the Sutherland Theatre from the top balcony level, observing a bit of rehearsal for the dancers in the afternoon’s performance of The Nutcracker.

Our guide also explained that the roof tiles, which appear to be a uniform white from a distance, actually are of two types. One features a sand-colored matte finish,

roof tiles

while the other has a smooth finish with a bumpy surface which reflects the light in different directions as the sun hits it.

roof detail

After grabbing a quick bite to eat nearby, we hopped the ferry to Darling Harbour, which afforded us a look at the Luna Park Amusement Park and its memorable entrance gate, as well as some of the striking skyscrapers edging the waterways. We had hoped to visit the Maritime Museum and perhaps the aquarium in Darling Harbour but found they closed earlier than we expected. We made do with a cold beer (it was a warm and humid day, don’t you know) at one of the many bars and restaurants that ring the harbor, and then made our way back towards our accommodations, trailing through Sydney’s extensive Chinatown. The pedestrian-only streets were lined with all kinds of sidewalk cafés, colorful shops selling all manner of wares, and markets offering a wide array of meats   and produce.

The next day saw us putting many more steps on the pedometers, with a first stop at the imposing and beautiful St. Mary’s Cathedral. The long main nave  is punctuated with several side altars and lovely stained-glass windows,  including the window above the main altar.

Next we visited the New South Wales Museum, located in The Domain, Sydney’s large parkland. Admittance is free for all of the general exhibits. Housed in two very different buildings, the collection’s older works and mostly Western art reside in the traditional building. There I appreciated how traditional Western works such as this painting depicting Queen Sheba’s visit to King Solomon in Jerusalem

Sheba Visits King Solomon by Edward Poynter

were juxtaposed with nontraditional and world artwork, such as this piece by a 20th-century Ethiopian artist presenting the same story in a different format.

The Legend of the Queen of Bathsheba (1941) by Belachew Yimer

Newer works and the extensive collection of Aboriginal art may be found in the striking, nearly transparent new building. Large humanoid sculptures tower over its outside courtyard,   while inside elements of the building’s infrastructure, such as elevators and stairways  become sculptural pieces themselves. We joined a docent for a brief tour of some of the newer works by Aboriginal artists and gained insight into the different styles and backgrounds of the artists and their groups. We encountered large murals,  paintings referencing Aboriginal myths,

The Seven Sisters (2020) by Nyunmiti Burton.

pottery,

Rodeo at Paddock Valley (2022) by Rona Panangka Rubuntja

basketry and sculpture.

Our next stop involved more exercise . . . and quite a few stairs. We made our way around the Circular Quay and up onto the roadway leading to the Harbour Bridge. We decided we weren’t up for climbing the bridge itself (it can be booked), but we did choose to climb to the top of the South Pylon, which itself offered some pretty great views of the entire harbor area. The cost to climb to the second-level museum, which offers a film explaining the construction process and numerous displays detailing the engineering behind this landmark, was minimal, and from there we made our way up to the parapet for rather windy views.   I also managed a shot of some of those intrepid bridge climbers (near the top under the Australian flag); it looked like quite an endeavor!

Not quite finished for the day, we headed to the Queen Victoria Building (QVB), an enormous, beautiful Victorian structure, which over the past few years underwent a complete refurbishment.  Home now to a three-level mall  housing everything from designer shops to art galleries and toy stores, it features wonderful stained glass,  ornate staircases   and intricately patterned tile floors. We did manage to find a few treasures there before we said goodbye to the Queen  and wrapped up a very busy day in Sydney.

Our final full day in Sydney lay ahead, but that’s for another blog!

— Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor