Home » Australia » Opera, Gardens, Bats, and Rocks November 9, 2004

Sydney's Circular Quay (pronounced "key") is the heart of many of the city's best attractions. The most obvious draw is the Opera House.
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Opera, Gardens, Bats, and Rocks November 9, 2004

Ttrealtravels
2005-12-26 16:07:44

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expanse is filled with microcosms of Australian wildlife, plus a great many specimens of worldwide plants.

At the garden's center was a large palm grove filed with the oldest specimens there, almost dating from the garden's creation in 1816. The tops of the palm tress were filled with flying-fox bats. They hung from tree branches like exotic, fuzzy, red-brown fruit. Big mamas cradled tiny baby bats. Pairs squawked noisily and fought over the best perches. The bats spread their huge yet delicately articulated wings as they swooped from one tree to another. So graceful and elegant, their flaps filled the sky.
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I was fascinated by the bats' flight. Different that birds, bats seem more precise when they fly. Less gliding, more directional flapping. Of course, I am prejudiced because the old-school goth girl in me just loves bats.

Past the bats in the palm grove was the Fernery. Hundreds of ancient and modern fern species thrived in this misty greenhouse. Nearby was the Tropical Center, the only portion of the gardens with an entrance fee. For $2.20AU per person, you can investigate the rainforest worlds enclosed in a wide glass arc and a tall glass pyramid.

Another spot not to miss is the Herb Garden. Laid out in a formal English style complete with park benches, a giant orb that's also a fountain, and a bras astrolabe, this area contains plants used as cooking, dyeing, and medicinal herbs. Rosemary, lavender, thyme, comfrey, sage, parsley, wormwood, basil, lemongrass, and others make this a sweet scented spot to relax.

Going back towards the Opera House under the now-clear skies, we headed to the Rocks. This part of town, at the foot of the Harbor Bridge, is filled with Victorian buildings turned into posh and touristy shops and restaurants. We bough a few trinkets, then climbed the narrow stairs of Nurse's Walk (once the site of a hospital). Venturing ever upwards on more stairs, we reached the bridge itself and walked out to the first pylon for a lovely, if chilly, view of the harbor.

In just a couple days, you can experience a taste of Australia's natural wonders -- all within a few miles' walk. The Taronga Zoo showcases koalas and kangaroos, while the Sydney Aquarium features underwater Aussies like sharks and seals. The Royal Botanic Garden displays all the plants that cover this vast continent. And if you want to see both Sydney's past and future, the Rocks and the Opera House illustrate the architecture of both.

While I'd love to return and explore Australia from coast to coast, I'm satisfied for now with this summary version found in Sydney.