Darling Harbour is - well - Darling!

I asked a security worker where the bus stop to get to Darling Harbour was.  He told me it was just as far to walk to Darling Harbour itself as to walk to the bus stop for it, and pointed.  "Just across the road and through them trees," he said.  So, off I go.  I mean, it couldn't be too bad.  It's in Pyrmont, just like the fish market.  This is where I first noticed all of the benches along the street.  It really was only a few blocks (6 if I counted right), but it was all uphill.  With several stops to rest and a few hits of the inhaler, I finally made it to the Pyrmont Bridge, a footbridge going over Darling Harbour.

Darling Harbour is lovely with its brick pavers throughout.

There are loads of things to do in there.  There are nice restaurants and cafes with indoor and outdoor seating,

the International Convention Center,

and beautiful fountains to look at or play in.

Each side of the harbour has a major destination aside from the eateries and ambiance.  On the Pyrmont side, it is the Australian National Maritime Museum.  This is a huge museum that extends into the harbour with a lighthouse, a submarine, and many other things.  Coming from the fish market, the museum takes up the entire harbour left of the Pyrmont Bridge.

With prices ranging from free (regular exhibits inside) to $32 AUD (all shows, exhibits, and vessels), it's a really good deal!  I thought about going back to see it, but I ran out of time.

On the other side of the harbour, is the Sea Life Aquarium, the WILD zoo, and the wax museum.  The aquarium was my chosen destination in Darling Harbour, and it didn't disappoint, even though it was a school holiday, and the place was PACKED!

This sawfish was giving the evil stare to all who came under the tunnel!

The aquarium was very well laid out, with plenty of dark spaces and corals and such for the fish and other animals to hide and get some alone time if they wanted.  Obviously, it had the now-requisite glass tunnels.  There were two exhibits that were highlighted to me.  It may be because of my fondness of the particular animals or it may be that they were more than just static displays.

For those of you who know me, you know I love manatee.  In fact, still the best Christmas present I ever got was when Chrissy got us a package to swim with the manatee in the Crystal River in Florida one year.  Manatee do not live in the South Pacific, but they do have a cousin down under, the duodong.  The resident at the Sea Life Aquarium is Pig.  He was rescued from Queensland when he was found separated from his mother and was hand raised until he was old enough to be released back into the wild.  When he was found washed ashore again later, the decision was made that he likely could not survive in the wild, so releasing him was no longer an option.  He has such a sweet face with a more rounded, less pronounced snout than the manatee!  And he seems to really enjoy playing fetch!

I spent a significant period of time watching Pig, even after the keeper talk and play time was over.  He was just so adorable!  I never imagined this exhibit would so mesmerize me, but it did!

The other highlight was the penguins.  I love penguins and I love boats, and the Sydney aquarium combines them both.  I was definitely hyped for this one!  As I said, it was a school holiday, so I had to stand in line for it.  While there weren't any chairs for me to rest in, I was able to lean myself up against the wall, and the folks behind me would let me walk along the side and come back when I started hurting from standing so long.

When it's your turn to board, you enter a separate room, which acts as a cold lock.  These are Antarctic penguins (King and Gentoo), so they need the air to be cold.  They do offer coats for you, but they also have blankets on the boat.  Once everything is settled in the cold room, they open the other door and board you onto inflatable rafts, big enough to hold 4 or 5 people at once, put the blanket on your lap, and you start floating down the lazy river to the penguin habitats.  It's dark in the beginning.  Then you go through some mist, coming out by the pools with penguins swimming in them.  The Gentoo have various places where they are nesting.  (Kings don't nest.)  They all choose favored rocks and line their nest areas, sometimes fighting over the rocks.  It was an exceptional experience, and if there hadn't been such a line, I probably would have done it more than once!

After leaving the Aquarium, I picked up a late lunch and headed toward Sydney to catch the bus back toward Woolloomooloo, the part of town where my Airbnb was.   Leaving the harbor on the Sydney side of the Pyrmont Bridge, I turned to see the welcome sign for Darling Harbour.

I wanted to pick up some food before heading home, and for some reason, Google Maps was telling me that I couldn't ride the bus back to the stop right outside where I was staying, so I was going to have to walk a piece.  Later, I learned Google Maps was lying, but though I didn't think it made sense, I was naive and trusting at this point.  Google Maps said I had to walk to Woolloomooloo from King's Cross.  Again, I was thankful for the benches in Sydney, but they grew pretty sparse as I was walking through Potts Point, not always even having a bench at the bus stops.  Imagine my frustration when Google sent me down the Butler Stairs!  Sydney loves putting stairs like this up!  These were only the first set I encountered during this trip!

When I got to the market to pick up some food, I had to sit on a bench for a significant period of time, catching my breath and hitting the inhaler again.  By the time I got home (my Airbnb), I was exhausted, but it was a wonderful day!  I took some time to download my pictures and check in with my family.  Then, a sandwich, crisps (potato chips), soda, Tim Tam, and a shower, and off to bed I went!  Tomorrow is another full day!