Sydney Harbour Cruise

Brief history:

Australia was found by James Cook who did not find any formal structures here and determined it uninhabited. Of course it wasn’t.

It was another 18 years before Australia was used as a penal colony as jails in England were overpopulated due to a poor economy, the US had won its independence and people were sent here to live. There were 750 inmates and 750 people with skills to start the new colony.

They arrived where the airport currently is in Botany bay but the lack of fresh water and ground to plant cross had them look elsewhere. Then Sydney Harbour was founded which had more land to grow crops and fresh water.

I walked from my hotel to circular quay (pronounced key).

There is a great set of ornate fountains outside of the wharf. This commemorates the storage tanks for water carved in stone.

I walked around while I waited for the tour to get underway. Near the wharf is the museum of contemporary art.

Customs house.
The oldest house in Sydney in Campbell’s Cove. The Rocks is near here where the first settlement was created.
Street artist.
The lunar New year celebration just finished the day before. All the animals of the Chinese zodiac are on display here.
Dragon.
Dog.
Ram.

The opera House and Sydney Harbour bridge from the cruise.

This is in the Royal Gardens. It advertises plants with bite carnivorous plants.
Mrs. Macquarie’s rock. Her husband had steps and a seat carved out for her. She used to crochet/knit and yearn for England. He was the first governor.
Garden Island military base in wallabaloo which meand Little kangaroo. They originally planned cross here with seeds they brought from Europe but all the crops died of course.
This is Shark island which is named because of its general shape.
On the military base is a heritage House.
This area is Point Piper. The white house is rented by Oprah Winfrey for 40k a week. The salmon committed one on the right is owned by universal studios.

There are only a few beaches here along Sydney harbour. This one is particularly busy usually… But it is a Monday… School is back in session because summer is over.

At Bradley’s Head you find the mast of an old warship
Fort Dennison was built on a pile of rock. The rock used to be called Pinch gut which means the narrowing of an estuary.  They would tie a convict here who was exceptionally basy and they would be there until they died. In 1850’s it was used for another purpose.
Governor general’s house. Admiralty house.

More pictures curb the lunar New year celebration.

After the tour I walked over to The Rocks, the first settlement.

Old buildings and narrow streets.

Commemoration to the aborigines, settlers, and convicts who came here.

The Rocks from the water
Walsh Bay. A good artist area.
While at the boardwalk in Campbell’s Cove.
An interesting old building tucked amongst sky scrapers.

I found a grocery store close to the apartment I’m staying at to stock up on some food. I was lucky to find something affordable and convenient.