Monday 19th March

This morning we walked down to the park where Sydney Harbour Bridge crosses the water. It is a train bridge as well as a road bridge and is 80 years old today.

In the afternoon we took a guided tour of the Opera House. The interior was designed by a different architect and does not reflect the shape of the roof. We were only allowed to take photographs in a few places.

Later we walked to the Sydney Botanic Gardens and, as well as plants, we saw a lot of wildlife in these extensive grounds.

This blue tongued lizard was trying to defend itself from the attention of half a dozen ibis.

The kookaburra seemed to be posing by the side of the path.

Hundreds of fruitbats roost in the park and fly over the city to feed each evening. We saw them fly overhead as we were walking to a restaurant near the harbour.

We have seen lots of rainbow lorikeets on our travels and this one took no notice of us as he was feeding on the flowers.

About twenty cockatoos were scrabbling in the newly laid bark mulch. We couldn't work out exactly what they were eating.

This is the view from the far end of the Botanic Gardens showing the less photographed side of The Sydney Opera House.