Flora, Fauna, and Ferries!

Mar 14

Day 4 in Sydney had us walking almost 10 miles around the City and beyond.

Our day began early at Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Established in 1816, this is Australia's oldest botanic garden and oldest living scientific institution. When you consider the fact that the First Fleeters had just arrived merely 28 years prior, that is an impressive established date.
I was there for a purpose. How could I pass this up? "Discover the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney with one of our passionate and knowledgeable volunteer guides. On this 1.5 hour walking tour you will visit plants and displays of seasonal interest, learn about our unique history and maybe even see some of the animals and insects that call the Garden home."
Aileen, could not have been a more perfect guide. A modern day Ms. Frizzle, her knowledge was extensive, her enthusiasm infectious, and her pockets and purse were filled with various leaves, seeds, and education 'props'. I loved this woman!



During our 90 minute explore, she shared the history of the original inhabitants, colonization, and expounded on a number of her favorite (and rare) plants. She knew her stuff.

Aileen really liked this endangered tree from Cuba.
Crescentia mirabilis looks a bit like an apple tree but its fruit is more like a gourd. In Cuba they are used to create maracas. Which she had and shook in a delightful manner.




The cacophony these birds exuded was almost too much. Wow.

Another of Aileen's favorite trees was this the Livistona australis or cabbage tree palm. With glossy green leaves spanning 9-12 feet in length and a trunk reaching a height of up to 150 feet, this palm, is one of the tallest Australian native plants. Thriving in rainforest margins along the east coast of New South Wales, in summer this giant palm produces striking spikes of cream flowers which resemble cabbages.
It thrives in moist sclerophyll forests and rainforest margins. The growing tip of the palm is edible, and was popular with Aboriginal people as well as early settlers. The Eora People of the Sydney Basin used the tree’s fibrous bark to make fishing lines, and its leaves for weaving and thatched roofing while the settlers wove hats for protection from the brutal Australian summers.
The Wollemi Pine, an ancient tree, is one of the world's rarest plants with only three stands of adult trees growing in New South Wales' Blue Mountains. Wow.
Situated across 75 acres on the edge of the iconic Sydney Harbor, the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney is home to an outstanding collection of more than 27,000 plants from around the world. Encompassing 15 themed gardens, including an Australian Rainforest Garden, a Tropical Garden, and one of the largest green walls in the southern hemisphere inside The Calyx- it is a living testament to the beauty of nature, and one of Sydney’s top attractions for tourism and leisure (and it's completely free, including my tour). It is one of those places one could never see in one day. Who knows, perhaps we'll return before our Australian Adventure concludes.
We left the oasis of the Garden and headed back into town for our first ferry ride. The Opera House was on our path though not open for tours today.
"The ultimate way to explore stunning Sydney Harbor? On a ferry trip. Jump aboard and explore beaches, happening neighborhoods, coastal walks, and hidden coves."
"Sydney Harbor is regarded as one of the most beautiful natural harbors in the world – for good reason. This dreamy aquatic playground covers more than 150 miles of shoreline, with some 100 inner-city beaches and dozens of ocean pools to splash about in, not to mention swathes of native bush and postcard-perfect gardens. There are also plenty of landmarks, including Luna Park,  Taronga Zoo Sydney, the  Sydney Opera House and the  Sydney Harbor Bridge."
"The best way to reach them all? Via ferry. The main ferry hub is Circular Quay, with routes fanning out from here west up the Parramatta River, north to Manly and far east to Watsons Bay. Head out on a watery adventure and explore some of the city’s prettiest beachside suburbs, harbor islands and major attractions on these legendary ferry routes."
For our first ferry excursion, we chose the Circular Quay to Manly.

"There are few more legendary, or scenic, ferry trips than the route from Circular Quay to Manly – it has been wowing commuters for decades. You set off gazing at the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbor Bridge, then glide east toward the Heads before veering north past Sydney Harbor National Park to dock in Manly. And when you arrive, you’re greeted with breezy restaurants and bars on the wharf, and multiple beaches within easy reach. Whether you’re a Sydneysider or a visitor, this trip never fails to impress."
Manly Beach, a popular Sydney destination, was named by Captain Arthur Phillip in 1788 for the "confidence and manly behavior" of the Indigenous people he encountered, and it became a popular seaside resort after the introduction of ferry services in the 1850s.

This was the view from our sidewalk café, Cibaria. It was a hopping Italian restaurant and it was deliziosa!

With record heat for this time of year (86°), we planned our day well. It was exhaustedly delightful. Sydney has lived up to its reputation, "Sydney is a city of iconic attractions and brilliant beaches, a destination you'll never forget."

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