Thursday - a day of travel!

Today we were to travel across to Sydney!!

After checking out of our hostel in Melbourne we jumped on the tram to Southern Cross Bus Station and purchased our tickets for the airport bus.  To kill time and also have some lunch we sat for the duration of the wait outside Hungry Jacks (Australia's version of Burger King).

The bus to the airport picked us up at 12:30pm and for the length of the journey to Avalon airport (which was in the middle of nowhere) we watched a tourism video about Australia - very interesting!

On arrival at the airport we checked in and waited for our flight...not a long wait though and before we knew it we were on the plane and taking off (the bonus of flying from a one terminal, one gate airport).

Sydney Airport!!

The flight was a smooth one, and the views of Sydney as we banked around to land were amazing, and our first glimpse of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge!

On landing we grabbed our bags and jumped on the bus to the City, which dropped us directly at our door of the Sydney Harbour YHA - better known as Sydney Rocks!  After checking in we headed to the rooftop terrace to admire the fantastic views over the harbour (pics below!!)- we then noticed our hostel was nestled in between the elite of the hotel world!!  So advice to anyone visiting Sydney get a private room at the YHA Rocks and pay a fraction of the price you would at the Shangria La, and get the same views!!

We then wandered out into the warm evening and explored the area, taking in a couple of beverages at the 'Australian Hotel' (the oldest pub/hotel in Sydney), sampling the Aussie Ale.  Back to the hostel though as we had pucrhased tickets for the kangaroo BBQ - delicious!!

And then back to the room to chat to our new room mates (as we are in a 4 dorm) - Welshies!!