Friday was our last day in Sydney so we decided we should take the ferry to Manly. After the rush hour has passed we caught a taxi into Sydney and went down to the quays to buy our ticket. We were just in time for the 10:30 ferry so we went on board and took some seats for the journey.
As we left the quays we got great views of the opera house and the bridge and then on round as we went north towards Manly. Not long into our journey the captain spoken to us over the tannoy system and said that “people may want to move inside as it was unseasonably rough out across the head of the channel”. We thought about it and decided it was probably ok. Then Tracy looked out and saw another ferry coming back from Manly towards us. As she saw how the ferry was rolling and lurching we quickly changed our mind and went inside.
Not everyone made the same decision and they would soon regret it! As we continued the ferry slowed down and the waves got bigger. The squeals and screeches began as we were tossed about by the waves. The noise of water splashing on the ferry was nice and loud as were the screams as people got soaked! Harry looked quite ill and Toby clung to my arm and Tracy laughed but I’m not sure if it was from nerves or because it was like a roller coaster ride. At one point as we flooped about we looked out the water and could only see the surface of the water – the horizon had disappeared but as quickly as it started it was over and we were through the part that became affectionally known as the “Gap of Doom”.
On arrival in Manly we walked through the main street from the ferry terminal to the beach. The wind that had made the Gap of Doom so choppy was also making some fabulous waves crash in onto the beach and the surfers were out and about.
We’d had a recommendation that Shelley Beach at the south of Manly was a nice area and there was a good restaurant there too so without further ado we started walking that way along the coast. As we left Manly we saw a sign telling us not to touch or annoy the water dragons. Although we had no idea what they were, they sounded impressive and hoped to see one – and we did: 
Across the course of our walk we actually saw quite a few. By the time we reached Shelley beach it was lunch time and we so we checked out the recommended restaurant. It was very good – burgers (as usual) for the boys, fish and chips for Tracy and some yummy prawns for me; all washed down with nice wine and beer!
After lunch it was time to walk back to Manly, stopping in a few shops along the way (and buying a big white apple). I also bought some new flip flops as my sandals had given up the ghost that morning. Poor sandals had been my faithful holiday companions for about the last 10 years, since I had bought them in Ozzies on the Wellingborough Road when we lived in Northampton. There must be something about Timberland footwear in Sydney. When I came here 5 years ago I had to leave some old knackered boots behind and this time the sandals went.
As it was mid-afternoon it was time to think about going home and that could only mean one thing. The Gap of Doom. Harry and Toby were not looking forward to it but having told them that there was no other way to get back to the hotel they gave up and accepted that we had to go on the ferry again.
We decided just to sit on the inside straightaway this time and as we sat down and reassured the boys would everything would be fine we couldn’t help but notice that there was a lot of water on the inside. No problem – it will be fine! As it turned out, it wasn’t as bad as on the way out but there was still a bit of flopping about! We made it back past the Gap of Doom and then enjoyed a pleasant trip back into the harbor.
Then it was into a cab and back to Coogee Beach and the hotel. The wind was still blowing and the windows of the hotel room were banging! As we looked out from our balcony the waves were crashing onto the beach. The weather report was suggesting that Sydney and the surrounding area was in for a rough ride over the next few days and it looked like for once they were going to get it right! It was time to hold on to our hats and put the earplugs in (if we’d got some!).
Check out lots of pictures here.