4 a.m in the morning and the glow of the lights of Sydney greet me on the horizon as I arrive on the bridge. We are due to embark our pilot at 5:15, following one of P & O Australia vessels, the “Pacific Pearl”.
She is slightly ahead of her schedule, so we slot in 1½ miles astern of her, slowly reducing speed as we both approach the pilot boat boarding ground. Having boarded our pilot, we increase speed and make for the beautiful natural harbour. We enter past ‘the Heads’ and then make a turn to port, into a buoyed channel and then a starboard turn into the harbour itself.
An overview of the harbour and approach
Approaching “The Heads”
Into the buoyed channel and Sydney beckons
Our decks are packed with guests,of course, camera ‘flashes’ going off, more akin to discotheque lighting. We have tables set-up on deck, hot coffee and pastries for the early-risers. I ask the pilot if he minds if I slow down, the dawn is breaking and if I reduce speed, the light will be better for photographs and sightseeing. Tony, (for that is his name), tells me I can do whatever I like, he is tremendously proud of his city and remarks that, no matter how many times he has done this, arriving in the early dawn still takes his breath away.
The vista as we make the last turn
Sydney harbour bridge, the “Pacific Pearl” passing under it
Overview of the inner harbour
Barbara, our On Location guide is doing a commentary as we sail into one of the most beautiful ports in the world, there’s nothing quite like it. We come down to 5 knots, gliding across the calm water, the first of the numerous ferries which ply the harbour, come past us.
Taking the opportunity to photograph for you, I play with exposures and times, the results are quite different, in some in looks as if it’s daylight, although most of them were taken in dim early-morning light, my Canon 70D was working overtime 🙂
Passing the Opera House, we turn to port, approaching the Passenger Terminal, right in the centre of the city. We are fortunate, for her last 4 calls, the Amsterdam has been berthed either at Darling Harbour, (which is now a building site), or White Bay terminal, miles away from anywhere.
The berth approach, the bridge is upper centre
Well, we have been here for 3 hours and now you have up-to-date photos, the wonder of modern communications. Until later, after I have managed some more for you.
Another, across the harbour
The Opera House. (Madam Butterfly” is playing and several of our guests will be going).
Fort Denison foreground, (miscreants were hung from a gibbet here; a warning to ship’s crews who were arriving). The Opera House background.
Fort Denison and Opera House, with a different exposure
The Bridge
Our view astern
Our view ahead.
Awesome pics Captain; greets from NODM
We were on the Oosterdam at the OPT, to be leaving on Friday, 30th January for New Zealand. However, to our surprise, the Captain decided it was too risky to take the ship out into the Tasman that day and we ended up spending the night at Circular Quay with some wonderful photo opportunities. Arrived home this morning after a lovely smooth sail across the Tasman.
Thank you so much for your report. In my thoughts I am back on Amsterdam every day thanks to your blog. I really was back when I saw Karen on the bike, Bora Bora. I used to sit next to her on the bike when we had our indoor cycling class with Kristina in the gym. Give Karen my best regards. We’ll do the world cruise in 2016.
Last year we were joining you at Sydney. The “Welcome Home” banner on the Amsterdam was great to see after our long flight from LA the previous night. Thank you for the photos of the familiar places and congratulations on getting the better berth this year. Hope to sail with you again soon.
Your superb photographs bring back memories of the Sydney Harbor arrival on the 2012 Grand World cruise. We are considering a 2016 world cruise, so do you know yet if you will be the captain? We hope so!
Fantastic reporting as always. We can nearly hear the unique voice of Barbara ..wish you and Karen a pleasant stay in the city!
Pieter & Gunvor, Bergen Norway
PS looking forward to 2016 for next great tour