Flat Stanley Visits Australia

Not long after my arrival in Sydney Australia the Queen Mary 2 cruise ship docked in Woolloomooloo Bay at the Navy Yards. It’s on an 80-day around the world cruise and stopped in Sydney for the day. I was staying only steps from this enormous boat!

After visiting the Queen May 2 I had a meal with my friend Piper Johnson at the famous Harry’s Café de Wheels at the finger wharf in Woolloomooloo (which is the Aboriginal word for kangaroo). The wharf building is, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest wooden structure in the world.

It’s rumored that Vice President Dick Cheney visited Harry’s a few days later when he was in Sydney to meet Australian Prime Minister John Howard. Here I am eating an Aussie favorite: a meat pie with mashed potatoes and ketchup.

Ah, the Sydney Opera House. The Opera House is thought to be constructed to look like boat sails in the harbor. Actually, the architect, Jørn Utzon, used different segments of a globe as the inspiration for the Opera House design.

Another view of the Opera House from Circular Quay.

Circular Quay (pronounced “key”) is often referred to as the birthplace of Australia. On January 26, 1788 the First Fleet landed its human freight of convicts, soldiers and officials, and the new British colony of New South Wales was declared. January 26th is now known as Australia Day and is celebrated every year just as July 4th is in the U.S.A.

Another view of Circular Quay with a water taxi in the forefront and ferries in the distance.

Lots of musicians and artists come to Circular Quay to play for tourists and businesspeople. Sometimes you can see Aborigines playing the didgeridoo.

The Rocks is the neighborhood where the first Australian settlers from Great Britain built the first structures. It’s called The Rocks because of the rugged cliffs found here. One street known as the Argyle Cut was carved through solid rock using just hammer and chisel; it took 18 years to complete.


The Sydney Harbor Bridge is sometimes referred to as the “Coat hanger” because of its shape. It connects Sydney and the northern shore of the harbor and was completed in 1932. If you’re feeling courageous, tour companies will help you climb across the top of the bridge from one side to the other. I wasn’t feeling so brave so I settled for having my picture taken.










Another view of the Sydney Harbor Bridge. The fireworks shows on the water near the bridge on Australia Day and New Year’s Eve are not to be missed and are watched by thousands every year.








Darling Harbor is one bay over from Circular Quay and hosts a number of amazing sites. I’m at the IMAX theatre here, which is the largest movie screen in the world, over seven stories tall.











Here is the view of downtown Sydney, also called CBD for Central Business District, from Darling Harbor. Also at Darling Harbor you can go to the Sydney Aquarium which has an amazing collection of sea creatures.







Bondi Beach is a popular swimming and surfing beach and is probably Sydney’s most famous beach. It is known for its soft sand and clear water.

At Bondi Beach, as at almost all beaches in Sydney, it is recommended to swim between only between the posted flags. This is so that the lifeguards can watch for swimmers in trouble. Lifesaving has become such a part of Australian culture that there is even a surf lifesaving museum at Bondi Beach. Lifeguards are easily identified by the little red and yellow beanies they wear.

Icebergs at Bondi Beach was originally a changing pavilion for swimmers but soon became even more. Now it houses a world-class restaurant, a lifesaving museum, and an exclusive swim club for those that go swimming in the cold pool in winter.

This Coca-Cola advertisement indicates the beginning of the Kings Cross neighborhood, also known as “the Cross.” It lights up at night and is a grand sight from William Street. My host’s apartment was only blocks away in Potts Point.

Coming back around to the Johnson’s apartment I stopped at the El Alamein fountain in Potts Point. It is shaped like a dandelion and commemorates the role of Australia’s army in the battle of El Alamein in Egypt during World War II.










Next to the El Alamein fountain is a road sign with distance markers. I am far away from home!


















On my last day in Sydney it rained unfortunately. This is a hazy shot from the balcony of the Johnson’s apartment. I love being able to see the Harbor Bridge and Opera House from up here. What a great trip!