DARLING HARBOUR - SYDNEY

Darling Harbour

I wanted to visit Darling Harbour but did not get a chance to do so on our last visit to Sydney so I decided to take a day trip via the train. Darling Harbour, commissioned by Governor Macquarie in 1812, developed from a bustling market wharf to what became a major industrial and goods-handling precinct. However, by the mid 1970s, Darling Harbour was a series of empty warehouses and rarely used train tracks. The area was redeveloped in 1988 for Australia's Bicentennial Celebrations. To prepare for the Sydney 2000 Olympic games, more than $1.5 billion worth of private and public investment funds ensured a premium waterfront destination.

There are lots of fountains at Darling Harbour which attract all the kids along with some of the adults! A great place to cool off on a hot day!

Darling Harbour is home to the Chinese Garden of Friendship, a haven of peace and tranquility. I really enjoyed walking through the gardens amongst the beautiful plants, flowers, water and rocks.

Chinese Garden of Friendship. Initiated by the local Chinese community, the Chinese Garden is the result of a close friendship and cooperation between the sister cities of Sydney and Guangzhou in Guangdong Province, China.

Guarding the main entrance to the Garden are two Chinese lions, which have been carved from rare Chinese granite. Always in pairs, the female with her cub guards to the left, while the male, with a ball of chi (energy), guards to the right. a hybrid of dog, lion, and dragon, they represent loyalty, strength, and prosperity.

Penjing Courtyard. Penjing, meaning "tray scenery" is the Chinese art of creating a minature landscape.

Dragon Wall. This magnificent wall was a gift from Guangdong. It features two colored dragons, the gold-brown dragon represents Guangdong and the blue dragon represents New South Wales. The Pearl of Prosperity, carried by a wave between the dragons, symbolizes the bond between the two states. This wall was absolutely beautiful!

Lake of Brightness. The Lake of Brightness is said to be the "eye" of the gardens. Walking around the lake I saw several beautiful golden carp and a lizard sleeping on one of the rocks in the lake.

Rock Forest. Based on an ancient Chinese poem, the Rock Forest tells the story of the Dancine Maiden Ashima and the Landlord. There are several variations to this tragic love story, but it always culminates in the drowning of the beautiful Ashima, whose spirt is transformed into a beautiful "dancing rock."

The Teahouse. This was a perfect place to rest my feet and enjoy a pot of tea with some delicious scones served with cream and jam.

After touring the gardens, it was time to walk back to Central Station to catch the train back to Cardiff. Sydney is such a lovely city with so many things to see and do that I know I'll be back again before I leave for home.