Gym's Ramblings: Sanctioning Sydney May 5-9, 2018

The Sydney Four Seasons Hotel is situated in a wonderful spot. It is in the district referred to as "the Rocks". The Rocks is the historic centre of Sydney. It is in this part of town that many of the convicts from Britain would first set foot on Australian soil. The area was once the hub of prostitution and crime and was populated by low income blue collar inhabitants. Today, as it is with many modern cities, the historic waterfront areas are gentrified and renewed, becoming trendy areas to visit and redevelop. There are many great restaurants and bars and a pretty big weekend market in the Rocks but what really sets it apart are the walking and running paths. From Miller's Point on the west side of the peninsula you can stroll along the brand new, Wulugul Walk, then you can zig-zag back and forth on the docks at Walsh Bay, pass under The Harbour Bridge and then along the inside of Sydney Cove to the Sydney Opera House, beyond which you can hike around all day in the Royal Botanic Gardens. Gym and Mrs. Gym walked all that and more.

The Rocks is right next to Sydney's Central Business District ("CBD") and so right next door you have many more choices of restaurants and bars and as Mrs. Gym learned, numerous shopping opportunities that are again within walking distance of the Four Seasons Hotel. There are several multi-level malls, a few streets that are pedestrian-only thoroughfares and again to the east extensive and beautiful green spaces. One day, our leading couple did a big loop from their hotel up through the CBD on George Street almost to Liverpool Street, to come back down the entire length of Hyde Park and then around the circumference of the Royal Botanic Gardens. It was a beautiful day because the sky was clear and the temperature was a very tolerable 20 degrees C. Fall might be the best time if you are a walker. The botanicals were not at their best but neither were the crowds. Unfortunately, the ANZAC Memorial was being restored when we were there but there is so much more to see in these parks that you can't see it all. As Gym has often said, "We will have to come back to see the rest."

Now, Gym and Mrs. Gym loved there time in the Four Seasons Hotel but recommend that you consider a couple of things for your next stay. Although it is nice to see the harbour from your hotel room, rooms facing the Opera House like ours are noisy because you are right above a freeway and the commuter train tracks. A city view may be quieter. If you are from New York or Toronto disregard this advise. As always, Four Season's staff are excellent from the housekeepers and dining staff to the Concierge, Doormen and Desk staff. They have a great spa there too where Gym got beaten up by a deceivingly strong recent transplant from Spain.

The intrepid couple spent four great nights in the Rocks and the best thing was that the next stage of their trip was to start from right there in Sydney Cove. The cruise ship Insignia arrived in port and on schedule on May 9. Insignia was to take them out of Sydney in style, to explore other Australian ports and then across the Tasman Sea to New Zealand and beyond. Mrs. Gym insisted that the luggage be pulled the 2 blocks from the hotel to the Insignia gangway and it worked out just fine. It was no farther than walking between jetways on a long airport transfer.

Over the four days Gym and Mrs. Gym spent most of the time exploring the city on foot, except one day which they took to go up to the the Blue Mountains and that is the subject of the next post.

Stay tuned!

This is one of the historic areas of the Rocks and you can see in the background
that the booths are set up for the weekend market

The new Wulugul Walk, a beautiful new walkway that runs from
near Walsh Bay to the zoo

Sydney Opera House in front of the Harbour Bridge from the
Royal Botanic Garden

The Opera House from near the Four Seasons Hotel

NSW State Library between the Royal Botanic Gardens and Hyde Park

These are condos on built inside the facades of old warehouses
on the Walsh Bay docks

Another shot showing how they kept the old dockside iron cranes
in the facades of the condos at Walsh Bay. A waterfront restaurant
sits below the modern condos.