So it’s been a while since I’ve updated, as I’ve mostly been taking things easy in Sydney, but it’s now time to get back to some blog writing. Being well looked after at my auntie and uncle’s place did allow me to get a bit lazy, but still I saw a lot over my time there. I originally attempted to find work and did spend some time applying for jobs and even interviewing for one; a company building an app for locating ‘gentleman’s services’… but that didn’t work out. After a while I settled on continuing my travels so took the time to plan ahead, more on that later.

All of the following is from over a 7 week or so period so isn’t exactly a complete account of things, rather some highlights.

Central Sydney was very nice as cities go and good to walk around whilst taking everything in such as the iconic opera house, harbour bridge and various parks and gardens.

Outside of the centre there are plenty of white sandy beaches and coastal cliff walkways, all with beautiful ocean views.

A particularly nice longer walk was around Manly Head, a short ferry ride across from Sydney harbour which leads to some great views back across the city.

Outside of the city the most beautiful place I was taken to was certainly the blue mountains. Magnificent views over rocky mountains and jungle covered valleys that stretch as far as the eye can see. Despite the heat and differing naturr it reminded me a little of the Elbe sandstone mountains in southern Germany.

It was good to be able to spend Christmas with family as I’m sure that would have been something a little strange if staying in hostels with no familiar faces around. As for new year’s eve I was kindly invited up near Newcastle to spend the night in good company and surroundings, with plenty of enjoyable music and Aussie beers.

Being in Sydney around this time was also superb for gigs and I managed to get to quite a few. Mayhem, Watain, Rotting Christ, Ne Obliviscaris and Deafheaven were all excellent as well as the many decent support bands from around the country. The Sydney scene is alive and well, although Melbourne seems still to be envyed.

I departed Sydney eager to get back on the road, first with a flight up to Cairns, where I will then spend a couple of weeks heading back down the coast before flying from Gold Coast to New Zealand!