SYDNEY IN SIGHT!

Weather in flight from Gold Coast to Sydney was perfect making for an amazing sight of Sydney harbor and the surrounding area from the air – our very own aerial flight of Sydney.

Upon arrival we transferred to the Park Hyatt Sydney, our home for the next 3 nights, offering us spectacular views of Sydney Opera House and the bustling harbor below. Pinch us please, these views are beyond.

Our fleet

 Park Hyatt Sydney

Rooms with a view

magical sunrise

GOLD COAST TO SYDNEY BRIEF

Our next leg is to Sydney, Australia – the busiest airport in Australia and one of the busiest in the world.

We have all been assigned slot times for our arrival and must plan our departures accordingly and on time to arrive at our allotted slot time.

The brief is very detailed and reviewed together thoroughly. Our biggest concern was the taxiing based on the instructions and notes listed on the charts.

the below brief is not to be used as a flying reference. Air Journey releases any responsibility in the use of the below information.

A VISIT TO THE RAIN FOREST – GOLD COAST

Our visit to Sky Walk and the Tamborine Rainforest was an unexpected delight! None of us believed there was actually a rainforest in the area based on the surrounding fauna and trees we saw driving up the mountainside but indeed, there it was. Keith, our guide, taught us about the different trees, their uses, the wildlife within the area and of course the insect – lots and lots of insects.

Our visit made for a nice calm walk and great photo ops!

WINE AND DINE AT THE HERITAGE - GOLD COAST

Our first taste of down under's wine was at Heritage Wines. 

As mentioned, Heritage Wines is housed in a building that was originally an old church from Gold Coast that was brought up Tamborine Mountain for visitors to experience the spectacular views. 

Am I going to try it or not

and the winner is....

EXPLORING GOLD COAST

After our wonderful and peaceful ride this morning in the hot air balloon there was more to see of Gold Coast.

There is a scenic viewpoint on the top of one of the highest points in the area, overlooking the valley below. As we came to the area, para-gliders and cliff jumpers were prepping their launches. With so many pilots in tow, you can image the interest from our group. The main instructor took the time to explain the thermals, winds and distances they are able to travel – it was quite impressive. Of course we couldn’t leave the area without seeing a launch!

After the scenic viewpoint, we made our way to the Sky Walk, an 8 year old pathway that winds through the rain forest canopy and ground levels. You heard me right, rain forest! Amid the regular forest that lines these mountains is a rain forest, probably one of the driest in the world, but with all the same fauna and interesting wildlife you can expect in other rain forests around the world.

We built up an appetite after walking the canopy and enjoyed a wine tasting at Heritage Wines before lunch. The whole building has a unique history. It was actually an old church from down town Gold Coast that the owners moved to the mountain top for scenic views. Every part of the building had a unique story – chairs from a cruise ship, beams from a casino, a bar from a bank – all from Gold Coast!

An afternoon nap was in store for all of us after our 4:00am departure this morning so it was back to the Palazzo Versace for some down time. 

always time for a little facetime back home