What a spectacular day our Year 9 students had exploring Sydney! The morning kicked off with a delicious buffet breakfast, giving everyone plenty of energy for the big day ahead.
After marvelling at the views from Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, we headed to the iconic Sydney Opera House for a fascinating guided tour, discovering hidden secrets and stories behind its world-famous sails.
Next, everyone climbed aboard a Captain Cook Cruise, gliding around Circular Quay and soaking up breathtaking sights of the Harbour Bridge and city skyline from the water. The weather was beautiful and sunny, setting the mood for the rest of the day. The adventure continued at the Sydney Maritime Museum, where students explored historic vessels, including a submarine and a destroyer, and learned about Australia’s rich maritime history.
In the afternoon, there was time for a lively wander through Paddy’s Markets, with students hunting for souvenirs and tasty treats. The day finished on a delicious note with pizza for dinner, followed by an evening stroll through Sydney’s streets in search of dessert. A fantastic day filled with memories, learning and plenty of fun!
Eight girls and three boys fondly recalled today’s adventures.
Isla Ewers was excited about the buffet breakfast: “The buffet breakfast was absolutely delicious with a variety of foods from hot to cold. The fruit was fresh and sweet, and the hot food was cooked to perfection. There was even a coffee machine! This was the best breakfast yet, and I’m excited for breakfast tomorrow.”
Ezekiel Jones was fascinated by the sights of Sydney: “I enjoyed the walk around the Royal Botanic Gardens. The scenery was very peaceful and provided some nice photo opportunities. We went past New South Wales’ Parliament House and took in the Sydney Hospital built by convicts.”
Ivy Leach also loved the scenic views of today: “We took lots of photos near Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House. It was really busy in the city, and there were lots of people – it was all very fast-paced. I enjoyed having the chance to walk around and really soak everything in, and have an opportunity to look at some stores for souvenirs.”
Georgia Faul was in her element in the heart of the city: “Mrs Macquarie’s chair was very interesting to see, as well as the history behind it. The sight of Sydney Harbour is an incredible view, and seeing the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge up close during the day was very beautiful.”
Rahni Ingram’s face was aglow during the tour of the Sydney Opera House: “The Opera House was the thing I was looking forward to the most on this tour, and it did not disappoint. Our guide was lovely and she showed us around with enthusiasm, peppered with interesting facts about the architecture and history of the Sydney Opera House. I enjoyed the stories about the orchestras and the rogue animals that frequented their orchestra pit before a safety net was installed.”
Chiara Burrows felt inspired by the tour of the Sydney Opera House: “The Sydney Opera House was an amazing sight in Sydney. The tour started with us learning about the history behind the architecture of the building, before we walked around the beautiful hallways until we reached the Concert Hall, which was really impressive. My favourite part was seeing the Opera performers rehearse for Carmen.”
Zane Osborne got a chance to take many photos whilst on the Captain Cook Cruise: “This cruise gave us an opportunity to see the city from different angles and different perspectives. I liked that the boat wasn’t going too fast and we were able to look at famous landmarks, such as Fort Denison. I thought the experience was very fun, and I would definitely do it again.”
Alexander Webster basked in the sun whilst we cruised along Sydney Harbour: “The Captain Cook Cruise was a great experience with lots of amazing places and iconic buildings, such as Admiralty House, to see while we were there. We went past a lot of significant areas in Sydney Harbour, such as Lunar Park, Sydney Opera House, and we even went under the Sydney Harbour Bridge and saw people climbing it! It was very cool.”
Ella Froster was taken back in time by the Maritime Museum: “Today, we got a chance to put ourselves in the shoes of many of the crew of the Onslo Submarine. We were able to explore and look at the Onslo Submarine, imagining ourselves squished into the tiny beds on the submarine and walking through the loud engine room that had sound effects. It really put into perspective the day to day lives of the people in the Navy, and what difficulties they went through.”
Marlie Ame breathed in the nautical history from the Maritime Museum: “I loved exploring the exhibits on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ traditions, ocean exploration, and naval history of Australia, including our involvement in World War One and World War Two. Boarding the naval submarine and the destroyer to see what the living conditions of the crew was like, was a truly amazing experience.”
Sienna Patel explored three different vessels before stopping off at the gift-shop: “We went on two different boats – the destroyer HMAS Vampire and the Captain Cook replica. The boats were nice and I liked looking at them and how different they were to each other. The submarine was also cool but it was very cramped and smelled a bit odd. The helicopter on the roof of the destroyer was very cool and I liked how you could go to different levels and parts of each boat and the submarine.”
Thank you, and have a good evening.
Warm Regards,
The HASS Tour Staff.