Twenty-five years ago, I arrived in Sydney from Melbourne and found myself immediately charmed by its twin architectural icons; the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. For years, every time I drove across the bridge, I marvelled at the majesty of the steel as it spanned the harbour below. Similarly, the Jørn Utzon designed Sydney Opera House with its ‘sails’ fills me with a sense of awe each time I visit this part of the city.
One of my favourite weekend rituals is to walk from Surry Hills, through Hyde Park and into the Royal Botanic Gardens. The gardens are such a treat in themselves, flowers resplendent in various hues throughout the year, with no season uninteresting. The route takes me past the NSW Art Gallery, and into the gardens, round past the Governor General’s residence before circling the Opera House.
At these times, I marvel at the combination of architecture and positioning; a brilliant union if ever there was one. When combined with Australia’s big skies and bright sunshine, the white tiles take on a golden colour at dawn and dusk. This visit was on an early Autumn morning and was followed by pastries at the ever-reliable Fratelli Paradiso in Potts Point.
