26 January 2019
Australia Day is the celebration of the founding of our nation in 1788. We have similar celebrations to the USA 4th of July. Last year I celebrated on a ferry competing in the Sydney Ferry Race on the blue Shark team ferry. At $250 for 4 hours a paper box lunch and 2 glasses of wine it was expensive but a fun experience.
This year 5 days after a 13 night cruise to the South Pacific, I as back on another cruise, this time the P & O Escape to enjoy 3 nights of celebrating Australia Day. It was an amazing experience, especially at $550 for the 3 nights. The ship sailed out to sea on the first night, then the next morning we were moored in the middle of Sydney Harbour for the Australia Day celebrations. The ship was decked out with Australiana, including the cruise director dressed as Dame Edna. They played the best Aussie music from every era while I sunbaked on the top deck, watching the boat and ferry races, the sailboat ballet, and the pie eating contest. The highlight for me is when the F18s did the flypast. A QANTAS jet flys low over Sydney Harbour, although they fly lower above my home close to the airport, but it is pretty spectacular with the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House as a backdrop.
I look forward to doing it again next year.
