Day 16 New Years Eve, Sydney

 CONDENSED BLOG POST

Sydney treated us to perfect weather for our Walking Tour around the Rocks. We caught the bus at 9:30, arriving in the city buzzing with New Year’s Eve activity and heightened security after the recent Bondi attack. Our tour, starting and ending at Circular Quay, took a couple of hours and revealed new insights into the area’s heritage sandstone buildings, now high-end residences. The guide even treated us to ice cream on this warm day.

Back on board, we indulged in another pizza at Spaccanopoli—our love for pizza is clearly unstoppable! Tonight, we dined at La Dame, enjoying exquisite French cuisine: amuse-bouche pumpkin soup, scallops and lobster starters, duck and lamb mains with artistic vegetable presentations, and pistachio soufflé and passionfruit crêpe for dessert.

After dinner, we joined friends on the pool deck for the New Year’s party. Dancing through the countdown, we were stunned by Sydney’s fireworks—the display was incredible, seemingly everywhere we looked, lasting over half an hour. I toasted midnight with my last glass of champagne and have officially joined the non-drinker club—wish me luck!

Happy New Year! Wishing all my followers peace and love for 2026.

THE LONG VERSION

Sydney really turned on the weather for us today and we are grateful because we had chosen a Walking Tour around the Rocks area of Sydney.  The bus was waiting for us at 9.30 and the drive took around 20 minutes to reach the city centre.  It is NewYears Eve and the city is abuzz with activity in preparation for the world renowned fireworks display at midnight.  Security is extremely high after the Bondi terrorist attack just a few short weeks ago.  I have read that there will be around 2,500 armed police ready for any potential threat.  

The walk started and ended at Circular Quay and took us a couple of hours with many stops along the way.  It was a different route to the one that we had walked in previous years but our tour guide was knowledgeable and we learned a few new things about the area.  This area of Sydney contains a lot of old heritage sandstone buildings and warehouses that have now been turned into very high end housing that is well sought after, with the price tag to go with it!

As I mentioned we finished the walk around midday right where we started.  Our tour guide "shouted" us a ice-creams that went down a treat on this warm day.

Back on board we again headed to Spacanopoli for yet another pizza.  Our love of pizza runs deep and our waistlines are telling us we have to stop this trend.  We have really given ourselves a "get out of jail free card" on this trip so there will be some serious work to do when we get home!

Tonight we have dinner reservations in La Dame restaurant.  This is one of two restaurants where you have to pay to dine but it is also the ultimate in French cuisine. We had pre-dinner drinks in Panorama Lounge that was decorated in a black, silver and white theme.  Everyone was given a plate of caviar with their drinks that was a nice Silversea touch.

La Dame certainly lived up to its reputation as course after course of fine dining was delivered to our table.  We started with the Amuse Boućhe and this changes daily but today  chefs choice  was a pumpkin "soup" and it was a beautiful start to our meal.

Next for me was the scallops and Philip chose the lobster.  Both dishes were delicate and the accompanying sauces were winners.

For main course I chose the duck and Philip the lamb.  The vegetable selection was a work of art that was beautifully plated to complement the protein and both dishes were divine.

Our dessert choices were pistachio soufflé and passionfruit crepé.  The soufflé was a little on the dry side but the crepes were perfect.

After dinner we headed up to the pool deck where a New Years party was underway.  Our friends Vic and Lorri had a table so we joined them for the wait until the fireworks commenced. The music was our era so we danced our way to midnight.  The captain started the countdown for us and just as he reached midnight the sky exploded!  I had no idea of the magnitude of the Sydney fireworks display.  Whichever direction you looked there were fireworks.  In my mind I thought the fireworks were only around circular quay.  Boy was I mistaken.  It was the most incredible sight I have ever seen and I am so pleased that we made the effort to stay up.  The display just goes on and on.  I would say for half an hour and I can only imagine how much those fireworks cost!

I had my last glass of champagne at midnight and have now placed myself in the non-drinker category.  I have been working towards being a non drinker for a while now as it has been making me feel very unwell so it's time to stop. Wish me luck.

Happy New Year to all my loyal followers and my wish for you is peace and love for 2026.