December 20, 2025 Manly and Sydney

Our fourth day in Sydney started as a warm 23°C, but cloudy and a possibility of occasional light rain showers. There was rain overnight. We packed our umbrellas and used them in Sydney and Manly for brief showers.

We departed the hotel before 8 a.m. to indirectly walk to Circular Quay, via the Kings Cross Post Shop mailbox. We meandered through the Potts Point neighbourhood encountering townhouses that reminded us of the iron railing balconies of New Orleans houses as we walked along Orwell Street and may other streets. We negotiated the 102 step Butler Staircase to get down to Brougham Street then the 25 step staircase to get down to Victoria Street (about 300 m from our hotel). Walking along McElhone Street there was a Christmas display in front of one of the townhouses. We continued to a bridge to cross the M1 motorway tunnel entrance. We followed a paved path and came out by the Art Gallery of New South Wales, crossed the street to walk through The Domain, at the southern end of the Royal Botanical Gardens.

The extensive lawn of The Domain had garbage bins and recycling bins scattered through out and a large stage set for the Christmas tradition, The Salvation Army's Carols in the Domain. There were a few small beach tents already set up on the lawn at 8:30 a.m., and the pre show activities did not start until Noon. From the Domain we headed to the State Library of New South Wales which is beside and higher than the M1 Motorway entrance which goes to the eastern suburbans and Canberra. There was a Shakespeare Memorial statue by the library.

Within ten minutes we arrived at Circular Quay where ferries and cruise ships dock. In port today was Discovery Princess. She has the capacity for between 3,668 - 4,402 passengers and a crew of 1834. She was taking on supplies and refuelling for a cruise to New Zealand.

We had a light breakfast of a toasted croissant with provolone and ham and flat white coffees. Then we walked around the area taking in the view of the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. We found Wharf 3 to catch the 9:45 a.m. Manly ferry to meet Janine and Anton.

We had a great visit. We walked along some of the Shelly Beach Walking Track above the famous Manly beaches. We took out our umbrellas, briefly, a few times that it rained. The views were stunning. Then we enjoyed brunch with them at the Boathouse Shelly Beach, before walking back to the ferry terminal.

For the afternoon, we returned on the ferry to Circular Quay and walked over to The Rocks, where the weekend market was in full swing. The temperature was 29°C and the clouds had disappeared. There were some restored historic buildings along the waterfront. The former Australian Steam Navigation Company building was built of red brick in the “Flemish style” and opened in 1885. It is located at the waterfront end of George Street, which we have found some section of the street every day that we have been in Sydney.

Not far away, in Millers Point district, we found the Lord Nelson Brewery and Hotel where we had visited eight years ago while on a cycling tour of downtown Sydney. The pub was very busy. We ordered a porter beer called “Nelson’s Blood” and an Australian Riesling. Next we navigated our way, just ten minutes away, to The Grand Hotel and Bar. We had planned to stay at that hotel for our March 2020 trip, which was cancelled by the COVID epidemic. The bar was quaint with wood panelling, smaller than the Lord Nelson and much quieter. Here we ordered another beer called Nort Ale and an Aperol Spritz.

It was mid afternoon and we still had a half hour walk back to the hotel. We retraced part of our morning route, and were not surprised to see there were more people staking their places on the gigantic lawn of The Domain. It covers over 30 hectares. We saw families dressed in matching Christmas shirts, shorts and hats. The food trucks, around the perimeter, were open too. Curious about the event, we discovered that tonight was annual Carols in the Domain. It was a “star-studded lineup of performers from stage, screen, and song, plus a few magical surprises”. Thousands of people jammed the venue for this evening’s show which was shown on television, which we watched. There was also a premium area which required tickets. Coca-Cola sponsored a drone spectacular. Australian stars from stage and screen arrived for the ‘Carols Red Carpet’ before the main show which began at 7:30 p.m. for several hours. There was a tribute to the victims of December 14th’s Bondi Beach terror attack.

We stopped at a grocery store to buy salads and blueberries for a light dinner and bought a package of Australian biscuits called Tam Tams.

When we returned to the hotel, there was an email notice from the cruise line that the January 13 destination, Conflict Islands in Papua New Guinea, has been cancelled due to the privately owned island is no longer accepting cruise ship tours. As a result, our excursion cost will be credited to our ship’s account. The itinerary has been changed to have a second day in Cairns, Australia.

We logged more than 12 kilometres and 23,548 steps.