WELL TRAVELLED
SYDNEY TOWN
Natasha Poole shares her first impressions of her new home city.
AFTER RELOCATING from Queensland to New South Wales, I started to feel as though I had moved country; and considering that each state in Australia is around the size of a nation in Europe, this really was almost the case. My first few days after the 9-hour drive were rather fortunately – and somewhat out of choice – not spent finding furniture, but instead exploring the sensational outdoor havens and beautiful beaches which Sydney has to offer. Not far from where I had moved to, I discovered headland walks, outstanding views of the harbour and the city, and a splendid array of restaurants and bars to frequent. Christmas arrived before we all knew it and the day was spent with friends and family in Bondi, before we headed out on the water on Boxing Day to watch the start of the Sydney to Hobart race in the Harbour. We sat on the edge of our seats and followed the fastest yachts. It was sensational. On Christmas Eve, I had had the pleasure and privilege of singing in the St Andrew’s Cathedral Choir for the service. We started late in the evening and sang into the early hours of Christmas morning – the cathedral was spectacular at night. The sermon pointed us in the direction of a sustainable 2023 and provided food for thought in how we can all work together to play a part in preserving the beautiful planet we live on.
54 covemagazine.com.au – Issue 96
As another year drew to a close, I ventured into the countryside to the Blue Mountains and rural New South Wales is undoubtedly as stunning as its coastal cities are. 2023 kicked off to a fabulous start with a birthday on 1st January; the day was filled with laughter, fun, fabulous home cooked food and, last but certainly not least, excellent company. By this stage, I had already fallen in love with Sydney… This city, upon first glance, seemed to be a mixture of the French Riviera, London and Venice, tastefully and internationally intertwined. There was nothing so far to disappoint. Not long after Christmas, commuting into the city commenced for the year and, wow, what a journey it is. Travelling on the ferry feels like a fresh experience on every occasion and I am quite sure that the sea air is good for the soul. I have adored accidentally finding all my favourite shops on my occasional scenic route back to Circular Quay and there is no shortage of places to stop for refreshments along the way – the Opera Bar, of course, is a brilliant spot. I am told that the zoo, the museums and each and every individual suburb are all well worth visiting … the list of things to see and do unsurprisingly keeps expanding. Being somewhat into sport, I also managed to join a local swim squad and ocean swimming group.
I entered the renowned Sydney Harbour Splash, which is held at Rose Bay, and I threw myself in at the deep end, racing the 5km. It was a fabulous morning, the sun was out, the Bondi Surf Life Rescue were responsible for water safety and I was able to take the ferry over to the start line and back home again. Overall, my first impressions of this cosmopolitan city could not have been better and the more time I spend here, the more grateful I am that I made the move. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, I have been stunned by the warmth of everyone I have met and the sense of community that such a cosmopolitan city has to offer. One might assume that a large place leads to the impersonal, nevertheless, Sydney is quite the opposite. ‘The sky changes, not the soul, for whom travels the sea.’ – Horace, Epistles, Book