On Day 3 in Sydney, Australia (Friday, March 6).
What do SCUBA divers do when a cyclone (think hurricane) shows up?
They head south—to cooler weather.
Yes, south. In Australia, everything flips. Head north for warmth. In March, Cairns is about 10°F warmer than Sydney—roughly 1,200 miles apart. Diving the Great Barrier Reef had been on my bucket list for years, but the cyclone had other plans.
So we pivoted.
With help from our friends, we shifted south to Sydney for three days (March 3–6)—and it turned out to be an incredible adjustment.
Sydney sits on Australia’s southeast coast in New South Wales, along the Tasman Sea, and is built around one of the world’s largest natural harbors. Quick perspective: Australia is nearly the size of the continental U.S., but with a population similar to Texas. Massive, remote—and about 8,500 miles from Dallas. Getting there is no small feat, but absolutely worth it.
We stayed at Pier One Sydney Harbor, tucked right under the Sydney Harbor Bridge. From there, everything was walkable—the harbor buzzing with boats, the skyline wrapping around bays and inlets, and iconic spots like Bondi Beach just beyond.
Right next door is The Rocks, Sydney’s oldest neighborhood. Walk its cobblestone streets, and you feel the city rewind—weathered sandstone buildings, street musicians echoing through narrow lanes, weekend markets, and historic pubs full of character. Every turn feels like a postcard: the bridge overhead, ferries cutting across the harbor, and the Opera House’s sails in the distance.
We wrapped up our first full day at the Sydney Opera House—a true icon. Construction began in 1959, and it opened in 1973, now standing as one of the world’s most recognizable architectural masterpieces.
Not the trip we planned—but one we won’t forget.
#MakingMemories, #TravelWithFriends, #LifeExperiences, #WorthTheTrip, #Unforgettable, #Australia, #Sydney, #NewSouthWales, #TheRocks, #SydneyHarbour, #SydneyOperaHouse, #SydneyHarbourBridge
