It’s my second to last night in Sydney, and I can’t believe how the time has flown by! I’ve spent the last few days hopping around different neighborhoods (what Aussies call suburbs) and nearby cities (what I would call suburbs) for research, with some fun in between.

On Tuesday, I took the bus to the northern suburbs for an interview with experts at WIRES, a wildlife rescue NGO. Their organization was completely transformed by the influx of funding/attention during the Black Summer Fires in 2019/2020, which killed an estimated 3 billion animals. After spending a few hours at their headquarters, I took the bus to nearby Manly and Sydney Harbour National Park. The highlight was catching the sunset at North Head, where you can see all of Sydney to your right and the endless Pacific to your right. The pictures don’t do it justice. I took the ferry back from Manly Wharf to the city, which seems to be a very popular route among tourists and commuters alike. Over the course of the day, I took four buses, two light rails, and one ferry — I think I could take Sydney’s public transport all day long and never get tired of it!

The view of Sydney Harbour from North Head.

The view from Long Reef Beach, which was recommended to me for its tide pools.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Wednesday, I took a longer train ride down to Wollongong to meet with an academic expert. I felt surprisingly at ease at another college campus — the abundant eucalyptus trees next to large brutalist buildings reminded me of my hometown of Berkeley, CA. My only qualm is that there was no Tech Room Finder: I was almost late for the interview after getting lost in the basement of the science building. I also spent some time at the Wollongong Botanical Garden, where the kookaburras were so loud it was hard to think! But the highlight of my day was the train ride home, which took me along the coast during sunset. There’s almost too much beautiful nature here in Australia; it makes me sad I won’t have time to see it all. I guess that’s a pretty good excuse to come back!

The view of the Three Sisters!

On Thursday, I checked off a major bucket list item by traveling to the Blue Mountains. I wanted to go last weekend, but my back injury thwarted my plans. However, after talking to an interviewee who lives in the area about fire prevention measures they have in towns near the national park, my interest was renewed. It was a two-hour train ride to Katoomba, the most accessible entry point for carless travelers such as myself. As a Californian, I was pretty skeptical about these Australian “mountains” — but, to my surprise, Katoomba felt like a proper mountain town. Stepping onto the train platform, it was at least 10 degrees colder than by the coast (cold enough that I had to buy a beanie). The town center seemed to have only three kinds of businesses: mountaineering/outdoors shops, ecletic antique stores, and quirky brunch spots (including one infamously run by a cult). After walking 20 minutes through town and 20 minutes through the rural residential area, I made it to the Three Sisters, a (rightfully) famous rock feature and viewpoint of the park. The Blue Mountains reminded me of the Grand Canyon in its vastness and the Black Hills in its rich, dense forests. Looking out from the cliffside, it’s clear why they’re called “blue,” but dipping into the treeline reveals a colorful ecosystem full of life.

Katoomba Falls, the endpoint of my short hike.

A (slightly blurry) look at the hike along the ridgeline of the Blue Mountains — full of life from forest floor to canopy!

In another world, I would have loved to do a proper hike into the canyon, but my back injury only permitted a light walk along the boardwalk. Still, I am incredibly grateful I got to visit the Blue Mountains. For research purposes, it was invaluable to visit a rural town with a real risk of fire disaster — seeing burn marks on the side of the mountains is a crucial reminder (to both me and the locals) of the high stakes of this issue. And witnessing such natural beauty is uniquely humbling, awe-inspiring, and rejuvenating. I feel immensely grateful to experience all these beautiful places in one lifetime. And this is only the beginning!

On Monday, I’ll start the multi-day trek to Athens, Greece, which will undoubtedly bear its own beauty and adventures. But for now, I’m soaking up my final days in Sydney. Thank you, Australia, for a magical visit — I’ll see you next time!