Traveling to Australia has been on my bucket list for years. Once there, I knew of several check-marks I wanted to tick off the tourist list, including enjoying the beaches of the Gold Coast and visiting the Opera House in Sydney. One adventure I had admired yet never added to my list, likely due to apprehension, was being a part of the Sydney Harbor Bridge Climb.
Watching from below, the climbers look like a small army of ants marching up to the tippy top of the bridge’s steel arch. The more I watched, the more I desired to do just that. So on Christmas Day, I conquered my nerves – and perhaps better judgment – by signing up for the three-and-a-half-hour climb while the rest of my family dined in the harbor area below.
Wow! What fun! An hour of the adventure was prep time, complete with climb suits tethered to the pathway. There were many stops along the way to catch our breath, take photos, and enjoy the gorgeous view. Finally, we reached the pinnacle and looked out to the tiny ants now below on the harbor walk, listening to fascinating facts and enjoying the accomplishment. Truly, the most unique Christmas present I’ve ever received.
I wasn’t the only one to have the thrill of an adventure this trip, however. My daredevil younger daughter was determined to go on a ride in the Gold Coast called the Slingshot. Basically, it’s like a backwards bungy. Two people sit in a chair tethered by “rubber bands” attached to posts on either side, then they are catapulted vertically over 80 meters in the air at over 160 km per hour, only to flip around in their chair and bounce up and down until they are brought back down to earth. And it’s all on CD to watch their reactions during the ride. We assumed Ava was too short to ride this as she frequently cannot go on larger roller coasters and such due to her height. Surprised we were to learn that she was, indeed, able to ride. Now, who to go with her? Dad stepped up to the plate and Ava had the time of her life. In the video, she’s caught saying “Don’t puke on me” to her Dad, and I’m happy to report that both returned without any negative side effects.
I could blog and blog and blog about our three weeks in Australia and New Zealand, and you may well read again about experiences for the kids and family should you consider a vacation there in the future. It’s most definitely a great experience.
