After we traveled from Bangkok by using China Southern Airlines, we arrived in Sydney on the next morning, around 9:30 am local time, which was three hours ahead of Thailand. Once we got off the plane, we went through the immigration checkpoint (here they only check our passport and visa, and there are no stamps for entry and exit, as everything is done online), collected our luggage, and washed up at the airport before taking the Airport Link train into the city. To use the Airport Link train service, we had to buy a ticket beforehand, which was available in two types: a single trip ticket or an Opal Card, which is the name of the card used for public transportation within the city, including trains, ferries, and buses, throughout New South Wales (NSW). It’s also more cost-effective than a single trip ticket. Purchasing an Opal Card is straightforward – you just walk up to the station counter and ask for an Opal Card. The card itself is free, but you need to top it up with at least AUD 10 for the first time. For subsequent top-ups, you can do it at the automatic machines at various train stations or at the counter, using cash, coins, or credit cards (very convenient). To use the Opal Card, you just tap it when entering and exiting the station. As for us, we walked to buy it at the counter. After we got Opal Card in Hand, we directed to the hotel to deposit our luggages (it was not check-in time, 2.00PM yet) and started to explore the most famous city of Australia, Sydney. 🥳

The Opal Card

Just tap-in and tap-out to use Opal card.
Some station (e.g. suburb train or ferry) has no the bar at the exit gate (have only tapping machine).
BUT DON’T FORGET TO TAP-OUT TO AVOID THE PENALTY.

The ticket vending and top-up machine, Banknote, coin and credit card are accepted

The train network of Sydney and suburb area
The printable map can be downloaded HERE

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We embarked on a journey from Sydney Airport, starting at the International Airport Station with the Airport Link for approximately 8 stations to get to Wynyard Station. From there, we walked another 200 meters to reach The Grand Hotel – Sydney, where we had booked through Agoda.com before our trip. We arrived at the hotel around 11.00AM, which was not check-in time (check-in time was after 2.00 PM). We left our luggage, but took valuable items and a camera with us to begin our first day’s itinerary, which would include a visit to the Sydney Opera House as our top priority.

I believe that when people hear the word “Australia,” the first thing that comes to mind is the Sydney Opera House. I also believe that if anyone visits Sydney and doesn’t see the Opera House, they may not feel like they have truly been to Sydney at all. 😬

The Sydney Opera House is located at the mouth of Sydney Harbour and was designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon. It was completed in 1973 and was inspired by the fallen orange peel of the god. The interior includes a concert hall, an opera house, a cinema, and many other rooms. In 2007, the Sydney Opera House was registered as a cultural heritage site of the world.

To get to the Opera House, we could walk from the hotel and turn left onto Pitt Street, and continue straight for about 500 meters until reaching Circular Quay. This area is a significant landmark for tourists as it offers a spectacular view of the Opera House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and the Sydney skyline. It is also the main wharf used to cross the harbor and reach other tourist attractions such as Taronga Zoo.

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We started by walking to the left side of the wharf to take pictures of the Sydney Harbour view, with the Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the background. The weather was cool, around 10-15 ℃, and occasionally it drizzled a little, but at times when it wasn’t raining, the sun was out. The weather was unpredictable. Sometimes, boats passed by, both big and small, which added to the enjoyment of the experience.

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Sydney Harbour Bridge

Panorama view of Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge

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After taking photos at the harbor, we walked towards the location of the Opera House to get a closer look at one of the world’s important landmarks, the Sydney Opera House. Along the way, there were rows of restaurants and a lot of people dining at each restaurant. Perhaps it was because it was a Sunday and people were out to enjoy the good views and food outside of their homes.

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After taking pictures of the Opera House up close, it was almost 2PM. but we weren’t very hungry yet. Maybe because if we were at home, it would only be 11AM., which isn’t quite mealtime yet. So we continued our tour and walked to the Royal Botanical Garden, which is located next to the Opera House. This botanical garden was created by Lachlan Macquarie and opened in 1816. It’s open for free every day (though the opening and closing times vary by season, as seen in the picture below). The garden covers a vast area of 30 hectares and is a shady green oasis, providing a relaxing escape for the people of Sydney. It’s also a popular spot for nature photography among tourists.

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Besides the verdant greenery of the Royal Botanical Garden, this garden is also a beautiful viewpoint of Sydney Harbour, especially at Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair, located at the end of the garden on the other side. Walking there was easy, following the walkway along the waterfront, chilling out, taking pictures with the bridge and garden, and then we came across this important checkpoint (noticeable from the number of tourists taking pictures). From this checkpoint, we could see the Sydney skyline, the Opera House, and the Sydney Opera House all at once, which was incredibly stunning. I must say, it’s a sight not to be missed.

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After we walked around taking pictures for a while, it was around 3 PM and we started to feel hungry. Since it was lunchtime in Thailand, we walked back the way we came from the Opera House in search of food. There were many options to choose from in the area, including restaurants where you could sit and eat, or take-away places like McDonald’s or Hungry Jack’s, as well as bakeries and ice cream shops. Prices ranged from a few dollars to a hundred dollars, so we chose what was convenient for us (but we had to keep in mind that the cost of living here is high, as it is ranked among the highest in the world). For our first meal, we chose McDonald’s because the price was reasonable and familiar. We had just arrived in Australia for the first time, so we didn’t know what to order.

After we had finished dealing with the McDonald’s, we initially planned to take a walk and take pictures of the skyline of Sydney at Circular Quay in the evening when the sky started to darken. However, the rain was quite discouraging and continued to pour throughout the night, so we decided to postpone our plan to the next day instead. We walked back to the hotel to rest and recharge our energy. We slept soundly that night and woke up feeling refreshed, probably because we had only slept on the plane for a few hours. The weather was cool and comfortable, perfect for snuggling under a blanket. We’ll see you tomorrow, Blue Mountain, for a trip outside the city to see the natural wonders of Sydney…..Good night….Sleep tight !

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Written by : SHIPY SIWARIT TIASUWATTISETH

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