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Blog 0052 Sydney 13/3/23 By train to Melbourne, 14/3/23.

Days 2 and 3 of 9, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Fremantle.

Days 62 and 63 of 102, The complete voyage.

Yesterday afternoon, albeit in a relaxed manner, feeling that any return to Sydney would be highly unlikely, again I felt it incumbent on me to make the most of what was left of the afternoon and evening. For, at some uncivilised hour the following morning, I would be on my way to another major Australian city, Melbourne.

After lunch in the City Extra eatery at Circular Quay, during which I brought my blog up to date, I walked towards the Opera House, continuing into the Botanical Gardens, not part of my original plans.

Views of/from the Botanical Gardens 13/3/23.

I took a few photos and videos, in the Botanical Gardens as well as while walking back to Circular Quay.

Having decided to explore Sydney on a hop-on hop-off bus, I returned to the point from where they started. Below are some random pictures taken from the open top deck of Big Bus Sydney. I assume that my exploration of Melbourne may be similar tomorrow.

It was becoming too late to complete both routes, but I did make it to the Observation Platform of the Sydney Eye Tower, where yet again, my phone battery died! I had just managed to take a few pictures before my phone shut down.

Sydney Eye Tower. Construction started 1970. The tower opened in September 1981.

That is self-explanatory! I have also photographed the furthest south post box in Ushuaia, South America.

Taken during the Cunsrd Queen Victoria South America voyage of 2020.

The southern-most post box, near Ushuaia, Argentina.

Amazingly, in a café in the same building as the Sydney Eye tower, I was able to partially recharge my phone battery, just enough to see me through to the end of the day. Before returning to my hotel, I saw no reason not to take one final look around the Opera House, and enjoy plain pancake with unsugared strawberries at my now favourite City Extra café underneath the railway at Circular Quay.

Below are my final nocturnal images of Sydney, taken just before pancakes at City Extra, and eventual return to my hotel to tackle the packing!

St James Station, retaining much of its original architecture. This is the closest station to the Sydney Eye Tower.

Upper interior of the train I used frequently between Central and Circular Quay.

Final images, last night.

View from the elevated platform at Circular Quay

One of the numbered wharfs from which frequent ferries operate.

I then returned to my hotel for one more night before catching the 07.40 hrs train to Melbourne, where I am finishing this blog.

XPT No 2016 trails with the service from Sydney to Melbourne, arriving just 8 minutes late.

Although tired from a short sleep, I thoroughly enjoyed this almost 11-hour journey between two great cities, according to the Internet, 521 miles. In the UK, Plymouth to Aberdeen is 475 miles. There were plenty of refreshments and microwaved hot meals available on the train. Below are some pictures taken while on board.