Australia 2017 - Day 23 - 17th March

Day 23

I decided to have a quiet day at home today as I was going out this evening so I went with Amy to take Cerys to school.  Dylan had not been well overnight so he was staying home with us today - goodbye quiet day!!

After dropping Cerys off we went for a McDonald's breakfast and then headed home.

The rest of the day was very quiet because I was going out later to meet Tom, Janet, Mike and Sue in the City for Dinner and drinks. I looked after Dylan in the afternoon while Amy went shopping and to pick up Cerys from school. On their return I got ready and caught the bus into the city.

We were to meet at the Sydney Tower as buffet dinner had been booked in the revolving restsurant.

The Sydney Tower

The Sydney Tower is Sydney's tallest structure and the second tallest observation tower in the Southern Hemisphere. Auckland's Sky Tower is taller but Sydney Tower's main observation deck is almost 50 m (164 ft) higher than the observation deck on Auckland's Sky Tower. 

The tower stands 309 m (1,014 ft) above the ground in the CBD and is located on Market Street, between Pitt and Castlereagh Streets. It is accessible from the Pitt Street Mall on Market Street and sits above the Westfield Sydney shopping centre. The tower is open to the public, and is one of the most prominent tourist attractions in the city, being visible from a number of vantage points throughout town and from adjoining suburbs.

The Sydney Tower

There was quite a wait for the lifts as we were told the wind outside was so strong that the speed of the lifts had to be turned right down.  Eventually we made it to the top and were shown to our table.

The buffet dining floor is very impressive as you step out of the lifts with views all over the city.

Sydney Tower Buffet

Sydney Tower Buffet is the contemporary self-select restaurant in Sydney Tower Dining, offering an extensive banquet-style dining experience with uninterrupted revolving views of the city. 

Sydney Tower Buffet provides the perfect relaxed dining environment for locals and visitors alikeWith more than 50 freshly-prepared dishes on offer, guests can sample food from a range of cuisines including succulent fresh seafood, modern Australian, Italian, Chinese, Japanese and Thai.

As the light was fading the view was getting mistier but at the same time it was still very impressive.

The food on offer was equally impressive with a multitude of choices on offer from the cuisine of many countries of the world.

From here we moved on to the O Bar for late night drinks and this was a bit of an eye opener for me because I did not know that it existed.  It is set on the 47th floor of 264 George Street in Australia Square and, like the Tower Restaurant, it revolves once again giving spectacular views of the city, this time though with the city all lit up and somehow seeming much clearer.

We settled down and ordered drinks and I was brought a sort of early birthday cake comprising two cup cakes and some chocolate writing. Nice touch though.

With Mike & Tom

My birthday 'surprise

We stayed there for a few hours just chilling and enjoying ourselves and I even had a birthday message from this guy.

Mike and Sue own a vinyard in Western Australia and Before we left I was given a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon from their estate, Nunkeri Fields.  The wine is named after their grandaughter Scarlett. We will enjoy this with our Sunday Dinner.

Mike & Sue's home in the Margaret River wine region

All too soon the evening was over and we made our separate ways home.  It was a  great evening and I hope to see Mike and Sue again when we visit Perth over Easter.  Tom and Jan still have some more time to spend here and in Perth before returning home to the UK. I will then catch up with them in May.