I am dedicating this entire issue of the Events by Brawin Newsletter to a fabulous travel destination.  I visited Sydney, Australia for the first time.  The city could most adequately be described as beauty perfected.

Sydney is indeed a world class city in every way - natural beauty, abundant sights, great year round weather, fantastic food and friendly people (called Sydneysiders).  With over 4.5 million people in Sydney alone, Australia is one of the largest land masses in the world.

In addition, Sydney has the 2nd largest 'natural' harbour in the world and is commonly referred to as the Harbour City.  Sydney is the site of the 1st European colony in Australia, established in 1788.  The city is unique in that it has old world tradition coupled with a fresh, cosmopolitan look and feel.

SYDNEY

Start at the Circular Quay located on the harbour and be sure to take a cruise or a ferry.  The harbour is very large so the outings can last from a 30 minute ferry ride to Bondi or Manly Beach to a 6 hour cruise of Sydney.  From the cruise, you can see the world famous Sydney Opera House, the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Taronga Zoo.  Suggestion:  Catch a sunset in the Botanical Gardens!

Other 'must see' points include the Sydney Observatory, Hyde Park, Darling Harbour, Sydney Harbour National Park, Watson's Bay and the north and south Domains.

When in Manly for surfing (or just hanging out at the beach), don't miss an opportunity to hang out with the locals at the very upscale Wharf Beach Hotel Club and Restaurant.  If you've ever visited Monaco, France - then this fantastic spot will surely remind you of the Zebra Lounge.  It's sexy, vibrant and totally alive.  Great bottle service on the local champagnes and wines.  The views are breathtaking!  Suggestion:  Don't miss this.  I was there on a Sunday evening with local Sydneysiders and it was one of my nightlife highlights.

AUSTRALIA, HARLEY DAVIDSON AND ME!

Don't be surprised!  You had to know that I was going to rent a Harley and ride in Australia.  There are lots of really fantastic rides in Australia.  I will highlight my favorites here:

• Australia has an abundance of beautiful beaches.  Miles and miles of pristine sand where you can picnic & sunbathe (most beaches are nude and at the very least - topless).  The motorcycle beach tour includes the world famous Bondi Beach on the edge of the Tasman Sea, Manly Beach which is a surfers paradise and finally the beautiful Palm Beach.

• Travel north from Sydney to Brisbane and you will find a 43 mile stretch of beach called the Gold Coast in Queensland.  Spectacular!

• Travel south from Sydney to Melbourne and you will feel as if you've arrived in Europe.

• Do a separate rental on the island of Tasmania where you will feel as if you've been transported back to the 1800's. 

Australia offers great riding.  The roads were well tended, the people were helpful and all areas were extremely safe.  The Harley Davidson culture rivals that found in the United States.  There are authorized dealers all throughout Sydney and Melbourne.  However, few offer rentals.  The HD rentals are done with independent motorcycle businesses.  I would recommend the lovely people at Bikescape.

Alas, it also helps to have international friends with an extra motorcycle.  Thank you Greg! 

THE BLUE MOUNTAINS

Sydneysiders have been doubly blessed.  Not only do they have one of the most beautiful coastlines that I've ever seen, they also have one of the most magnificent wilderness areas in all of Australia.  A short 90 minute drive puts you square in the middle of the World Heritage Blue Mountains National Park.

These mountains stand 3,500 feel high and they were once the bed of an ancient sea.  The mountains are really blue and that's caused by the evaporation of oil from the dense eucalyptus forest that surround the mountains.

I would suggest that you have afternoon tea in the town of Leura.  Continue on to Echo Point in the old mining town of Katoomba.  Katoomba looks like something right out of the old west.  The town is historic and the Point offers the best views of the mountains and of the Three Sisters, which take their name from an Aboriginal legend involving a witch doctor and a mythical monster.

Suggestion:  Take a cable car down into the interior of the mountains and take a rail car back up - it's scarier than any roller coaster ride you'll find!  Breath taking.

AUSTRALIAN WINE COUNTRY

Australian wines are among the best in the world, a judgment that international wine shows consistently reinforce.  Australians are very proud of their wines.  I arrived in Australia with a healthy appreciation for their Shiraz.  Imagine my astonishment when I visited wine country and learned that their is such a thing as a Shiraz champagne!  It's only sold in Australia and it is fabulous darling!  I smuggled in a few extra bottles and have arranged to have a case flown in for my summer birthday celebration.

I have had the pleasure of touring quite a few wine countries and each is unique.  Australia's wine country is comprised of four distinct regions.  I chose to visit Hunter Valley which is the largest grape growing area in New South Wales.  Hunter Valley has more than 120 wineries and a reputation for producing excellent wines - including shiraz, cabernets and semillons (also rarely found in the states).

My favorite winery was Hungerford Hill.  The vineyard had a very cosmopolitan look and feel; important to a girl from a metropolis like Chicago.  The people were fantastic and the tastings were unbelievable.  All of my purchases came exclusively at this winery.

My trip coincided with the tail end of their summer.  The day time temperatures averaged 85 to 92 degrees and the nights were beautiful and breezy with an average falling between 70 and 75 degrees.  Most days were picture perfect.

Because Australia is so close to the equator, the sun is quite intense.  My typically golden bronze tan had a distinct hint of red.

Because the trip coincided with their summer, Sydney was overflowing with people.   If you decide to travel there during the months of January through March, then be mindful of that.  Otherwise, if you are anything like me, you will welcome the opportunity to meet a variety of diverse people from cities, countries and continents too numerous to count.

CONCLUSION

I am forced to conclude this special Sydney edition of the newsletter for fear that I will rehash every detail of every moment - as they were all memorable. 

I ran out of time and there was much that I didn't get to see or do.  I rarely return to a destination because there are still so many places that I want to experience.  Sydney warrants a return visit!

If your upcoming travel plans take you to Sydney please don't hesitate to contact me if I can be a resource in any way.

Eventfully Yours!

Brawin

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