Around the World in 21 Days-Part 20

The excitement of a helicopter tour of Sydney and Area

Today I chose the option of flying to Blue Mountain, a world heritage site famous for its eucalyptus trees, which is located about 30 minutes outside of Sydney. Flying in a sleek Bell 407 helicopter, we had a magnificent view of the opera house and bridge. As we flew north along the river we saw exclusive homes. The Jacaranda trees are in bloom currently, so neighbourhoods appear beautifully blue from the air.  We were amazed how spread out the city is - but there are over 4 million people living here. We viewed the Three Sisters, a famous rock formation in Jamison Valley. Then it was off for tea and a brief shopping trip in Laura Village.


Our group is ready to take off

A second group lifts off



Our pilot



The opera house from the air



The rugged coastline


Our flight back was even more fun, as there was heavy flight traffic at the airport which afforded us time to fly along the coastline and back up to the airport. Overall, we had fantastic views and now have a much better sense of the city's geography.

One of the city's famous beaches



These peaks are known as the Three Sisters: Wimlay, Gunnada, and Meanie

An old quarry now making itself useful as a landfill site

 A landscape reminiscent of Utah, U.S.

A neighbourhood full of Jacaranda trees

There's a story behind every Jacaranda tree in Sydney. Years ago, when unwed mothers gave birth, their maternity nurse would give them a seed from the Jacaranda to plant for luck. Over time, this special tradition expanded to include all new mothers. The result? Each year, the city is blessed with a beautiful blue haze over the three weeks the trees are in blossom!

Afternoon tea time