The 2024 Thirsty Tour – Day 4 – Sydney NSW.

Lighthouses, Laneways, Model Kits and More Vivid Sydney!

After a big day exploring Sydney yesterday, we were back at it again this morning. Today’s mission was to head out to Watsons Bay and visit Hornby Lighthouse. Of course, no Thirsty Tourists adventure would be complete without a few interesting stops, something to eat and a refreshing beverage or two along the way!

Hornby Lighthouse – Red, White and… Renovations!

Our destination was Hornby Lighthouse, perched at South Head near Watsons Bay. Built in 1858 following the tragic wreck of the Dunbar at the foot of South Head, the lighthouse was designed by colonial architect Alexander Dawson and was the third lighthouse constructed in New South Wales.

You can reach the lighthouse via the South Head Heritage Trail, an easy walk starting at Camp Cove. The trail takes you past historic gun emplacements before delivering you to the lighthouse, with some cracking coastal scenery along the way.

First, though, we had to work out which ferry to catch. Being unfamiliar with Sydney’s ferry services, we weren’t entirely sure what the CCWB ferry was. As it turns out, CCWB stands for Captain Cook Watsons Bay, a privately operated ferry service. Thankfully, they accept the NSW Government’s Opal Card, so there was no need to rummage around for extra tickets.

Once we hopped off the ferry, we wandered over to Camp Cove Cafe for a coffee and a lamb sausage roll.

The sausage roll was a little different from the traditional version we’re used to, but the real star of the show was the view. Looking back towards the Sydney CBD across the water was absolutely spectacular. It’s the sort of place where you could happily sit with a coffee, enjoy the scenery and watch the world go by.

Well worth a visit, even if you’re not particularly hungry!

With our caffeine levels topped up, it was time to tackle the heritage trail and see that lighthouse.

I’d been looking forward to seeing Hornby Lighthouse in all its famous red-and-white-painted glory. Unfortunately, someone forgot to tell the lighthouse about our travel plans!

The lighthouse was undergoing renovations. So much for our perfectly timed lighthouse photos!

Still, you can’t blame a lighthouse for needing a bit of maintenance, and the views from South Head were spectacular regardless. We took plenty of photos and video before making our way back to the ferry for the trip to Circular Quay.

A 3D Map and a HobbyCo Shopping Mission

Back in Circular Quay, we popped into Customs House to check out the 3D map of Circular Quay and the surrounding area. It’s an interesting way to get a different perspective on the city and see how everything fits together.

After that, we headed back to our room to work out the next move. Naturally, my idea of a relaxing afternoon involved a trip to a hobby shop!

I’d been wanting to visit HobbyCo inside the beautiful Queen Victoria Building (QVB), so we jumped on a train to Town Hall and headed off for a look.

As expected, I didn’t leave empty-handed. A few model kits found their way into the shopping haul. Funny how these things happen when you walk into a hobby shop with perfectly good intentions!

With the shopping mission accomplished, it was time to find some lunch and refreshments.

The Duke of Clarence – A Little Bit of Old London in Sydney

Our next stop was the Duke of Clarence Hotel, tucked away in the Sydney CBD.

This place is a little unusual to find. You access it through a laneway, passing rubbish bins belonging to neighbouring businesses along the way. Not exactly the grand entrance you’d expect for a London-inspired tavern, but don’t let that put you off!

Hidden away in the city, the Duke of Clarence is an 18th-century-inspired London tavern, offering a very different atmosphere from your typical Sydney pub.

We settled in for a spot of lunch and a couple of beers. With both food and refreshments taken care of, we were feeling pretty well satisfied.

Time to walk it off!

We decided to make the roughly 1.3-kilometre trek back towards The Rocks. Of course, walking past pubs without stopping would be entirely out of character, so we called into Harts Pub for a beer and a quick rest.

It’s a tough life, this sightseeing business!

Eventually, we made it back to the motel for a short break before heading out for the evening. Even seasoned tourists need to put their feet up occasionally.

Pizza Plans, Pasta Changes and One Last Look at Vivid

Dinner plans were a little up in the air. We’d been tossing around ideas and eventually decided to head to Zina Pizzeria for a meal.

However, as soon as we arrived, I changed my mind. So much for having a plan!

Instead of pizza, I went with spaghetti Bolognese, while Janelle opted for minestrone soup. We finished off with an affogato coffee, which was a nice way to round out the meal.

By this stage, after two days of wandering around Sydney and clocking up plenty of kilometres on foot, we were starting to feel a little weary. Our feet were reminding us that sightseeing isn’t quite as effortless as it looks in the holiday brochures!

But there was still one more thing to do before calling it a night.

We took a short walk to the bridge access near the Glenmore Hotel to capture our final photos of Vivid Sydney. The lights and displays have been a real highlight of this visit, and it was a fitting way to finish another day exploring the city.