Oceania Travel: Three-Day Travelogue of New South Wales (Photos) - Part 2

The New South Wales tour group, after finishing the visit to St. Mary's Cathedral, strolled a short distance to Sydney's famous Bondi Beach to enjoy the sea view. Hearing the name Bondi, the reporter couldn't help but think of the British lone hero James Bond 007.

Bondi Beach, Sydney (Photo by Zhao Shuxin)

James Bond is an agent of MI5. Since Australia is a member of the British Commonwealth, one wonders if the name of this beach is related to him? Regardless, Bondi Beach is a sacred place for Sydney locals to cool off and vacation. Swimming, surfing, waterskiing, and sunbathing on the sand are their favorite sports and leisure activities.

Overlooking sailing boats at sea (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

At the same time, it is also an excellent spot for tourists from all over the world to visit and take photos for free. At Bondi Beach, people wander amidst the harmony of blue sky, white clouds, clear water, and golden sand, fully enjoying the selfless gifts of nature.

A corner of the Sydney Opera House (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

At 3:40 PM Sydney time on April 26, 2015, the group finally arrived in front of the famous Sydney Opera House to get a close look at this world-renowned building. First, they took in the surrounding seaside scenery from the outside, then stepped up the stairs of the Opera House one by one. The bronze statue of its Danish designer, John Utzon, stands prominently not far from the entrance. Looking up at this building, it is both unique and magnificent. No wonder countless tourists from around the world linger here tirelessly.

Statue in front of the Opera House (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Construction of the Sydney Opera House began in 1959 and was completed in 1973. Located on Bennelong Point in Sydney Harbour, it is surrounded by water on three sides, covering nearly 2 hectares, with a roof height of 67 meters. Its foundation consists of over 500 reinforced concrete piles, each 25 meters long, driven into the seabed, and 600 steel columns support ten shell-shaped roof sections weighing more than 2,700 tons each.

Close-up view of the Opera House (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

The exterior of the shells is covered with 1.056 million glazed white tiles. It is a multifunctional venue for artistic performances and entertainment, containing nearly 1,000 rooms, including a concert hall, opera theater, drama theater, cinema, exhibition hall, dressing rooms, banquet hall, and bar, accommodating over 5,000 people.

Group photo at the Sydney Opera House (Photo by Zhao Shuxin)

The largest concert hall inside the Opera House has 2,690 seats and is equipped with the world's most advanced sound system. At the top of its rear wall is a pipe organ made of 10,500 pipes, the largest in the world. Its appearance resembles raised sails, open shells, or floating water lilies, blending harmoniously with the sea and sky. With profound symbolism, grand momentum, and elegant style, it is a breathtaking marvel—a symbol of Sydney, an emblem of Australia, and one of the greatest buildings of the 20th century.

The Opera House after rain (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

The group members were truly fortunate. After a day of light rain, the skies cleared just after visiting the Sydney Opera House. A rainbow, now rarely seen in Beijing, appeared over the sea.

A corner of the Royal Botanic Garden (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

In particular, the Royal Botanic Garden along the seaside near the Opera House is also a lovely sight. Here, one can experience the harmony between nature, humans, and animals. Flocks of seabirds interact closely with people, creating an interesting scene. The first day's itinerary in Sydney thus came to a perfect end.

Harmony between people and birds (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

At 8:50 AM Sydney time on April 27, 2015, the New South Wales tour group set off by car for the second day of the Australia-New Zealand trip. The group members were indeed lucky—the overcast skies of the past two days suddenly cleared, revealing bright sunshine. After a drive of over an hour that morning, they arrived smoothly at Wollongong on the shores of the South Pacific in New South Wales.

Wollongong scenery (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

In terms of homophony, this name is associated with Zhuge Liang, a protagonist in the Chinese classic Romance of the Three Kingdoms, because there is also a Wollongong (Wolonggang) in Nanyang, China, where Zhuge Liang first emerged from his thatched cottage. In the reporter's view, whether or not there is a connection, the homophonic coincidence of the same place name suggests a kind of fate.

Group photo at Wollongong (Photo by Wang Libao)

Wollongong, located in southern New South Wales, is only 80 kilometers from Sydney and is a famous tourist city. The Grand Pacific Drive, opened at the end of 2005, is a scenic road connecting Sydney and Wollongong, built along cliffs and the sea, offering views of the beautiful coastline.

Wollongong Beach (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

The Sea Cliff Bridge is the most beautiful and distinctive section of the Grand Pacific Drive. It is a 665-meter-long viaduct built against steep cliffs. People can overlook the coastal highway, Wollongong, and the vast Pacific Ocean in the sea breeze; here, the boundless sea, tranquil bays, green hills, golden sands, and winding coastal highway form a beautiful landscape painting.

Capturing the beauty of Wollongong (Photo by Wang Jue)

Austinmer Beach here is the cleanest beach in all of New South Wales. The ancient Flagstaff Hill Lighthouse stands on a small hill known as Flagstaff Hill. With blue sea and sky, the small hill is covered with lush green grass, creating a very peaceful and beautiful environment.

Lighthouse and old battery (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Looking out from Wollongong, the lighthouse, battery, hills, bay, and greenery blend quietly together. People roam here as if time suddenly stops, feeling as if they are in an ancient oil painting—so leisurely, so elegant.

Group photo at the old battery (Photo by Zhao Shuxin)

New South Wales in Australia is truly vast. After lunch, the group drove for over an hour to arrive at the Centennial Park. The ecological environment here is extremely well-preserved. The park covers a huge area, with several freshwater lakes at its center. The water and sky merge into one, and people and birds coexist harmoniously, creating a joyful atmosphere.

Centennial Park (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

There are many species of birds, including seagulls, black swans, and macaws. They can frolic in the water or soar in the sky. A water bird sprinting across the water surface left a beautiful white wake; a flock of birds chirping in the air seemed to be singing in chorus. This scene was truly intoxicating...

University of Sydney (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

At 4:50 PM Sydney time, the group left Centennial Park and drove to the famous University of Sydney. The University of Sydney is located in New South Wales, Australia. Founded in 1850, it is the first university in Australia and one of the largest.

University of Sydney campus (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

The University of Sydney is a member of the Group of Eight in Australia, as well as a member of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) and the Pacific Asian Consortium for International Business Education and Research (PACIBER). Its vice-chancellor serves as the current chair of APRU. Since its founding, the university has maintained close academic cooperation with Oxford and Cambridge; its coat of arms, featuring the book symbolizing Oxford and the lion symbolizing Cambridge, is the best illustration. The University of Sydney has a vast campus. Due to time constraints, the group only visited the oldest Area A. The local tour guide Gao Wen explained that the outdoor scenes of the movie Harry Potter, where characters ride broomsticks, were filmed here.

Sydney street view (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

After dinner, the group drove to Sydney's highest landmark—the Sydney Tower. Before going up, they first watched a 4D movie. In just five minutes, it presented a brilliant and stunning Sydney, offering the audience a new perspective on lesser-known aspects of the city. The theater made full use of wind, foam, and fire elements to create a memorable theatrical effect, delivering an impressive and enchanting four-dimensional viewing experience.

View of Sydney from the Sydney Tower (Photo by Zhao Shuxin)

Located in the city center, the Sydney Tower is another symbol of Sydney. It can be seen from almost every corner of the city. Built in 1981, it stands 304.8 meters tall and is the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere. The top houses a revolving restaurant, offering a panoramic view of Sydney.

Group photo with Bruce Willis (Photo by Wang Libao)

After the movie, they took the elevator directly to the observation deck. The guide Gao Wen said that years ago, a Vatican cardinal had chosen this spot as Sydney's feng shui treasure site, and since then Sydney has enjoyed smooth sailing. If visitors are interested, they can walk clockwise and counterclockwise twice around before the visit to pray for good luck.

Night view of the Sydney Opera House (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

Looking down from the tower, the breathtaking night scenery within 12,000 square kilometers around Sydney was fully visible. Coming down from the tower, they could also take a photo with the wax figure of famous French actor Bruce Willis inside.

Group photo by Sydney Harbour (Photo by Wang Libao)

April 28 was the third day of the Sydney tour, a relatively relaxed day. In the morning, the group first visited a duty-free shop for their needs. After lunch, they went to the city center for some entertainment—those interested experienced the atmosphere, while those not so inclined strolled around the large entertainment complex that combined dining, shopping, and entertainment.

Group photo by Sydney Harbour (Photo by Qiao Liang)

That afternoon, just before leaving Sydney, taking advantage of the beautiful weather with blue sky and bright sun, the group revisited the Sydney Harbour that they had first seen in the rain on day one. Although the scenery was the same, the charming sunshine seemed to have draped the rainy view in a stunningly beautiful garment, creating an endless vista of beauty.

Sydney's picturesque waters (Photo by Feng Ganyong)

At 4:30 PM Sydney time on April 28, 2015, the reporter and the group successfully completed the three-day itinerary of their first stop in New South Wales as part of the Australia-New Zealand trip. They drove to Terminal 2 of Sydney International Airport, where they boarded Jetstar Airways flight JQ424, a domestic Australian flight, to the Gold Coast in Queensland to continue their new journey. (Text and photos by Feng Ganyong)