Sydney North Head and Light Show

SYDNEY HARBOUR NATIONAL PARK – NORTH HEAD – 26^TH MAY

It had rained all day today so we stayed in and did schoolwork. It cleared up late afternoon so we decided to go a small walk at Manly North Head. This is part of Sydney Harbour National Park. 

As we drove on the road down to it we saw a caution sign which said ‘Endangered Bandicoots’. 

We weren’t sure what these were at first, but they are about the size of a guinea pig with a long snout, but as they are endangered we guessed we probably wouldn’t see one.

We had a lovely walk looking at the lovely scenery which included the Sydney skyline and stunning craggy, coastline scenery. It was sunset and the skyline with the backdrop of the colours of the sky were lovely.

On the way back, we spotted a little animal scurrying across the path and thought it was a bandicoot. We couldn’t believe we had seen one. Then as we got back in the car, from the car headlight beam we saw another one. It’s not a great photo, taken out of the car window so as not to scare it and it was almost dark.

VIVID light Show - 27th May

Vivid was a Light Festival which we happened upon by chance. We were walking down from checking out the Bridge Climb and when best to do it. We came down to the quayside and saw a crowd of people gathered around the water front and a TV crew. We got talking to a couple who were on holiday from New Zealand and they told us that from 6pm (it goes dark about 5.30pm) there is a light show projected onto the Opera House and also a fire show at 7pm.

So we joined the crowds and waited. We had a prime spot at the front, opposite the Opera House and next to the TV crew!

At 6pm, laser lights lit up the Opera House in an array of colours and patterns. There were jelly fish moving across it, eyes blinking, snakes slithering, it was brilliant.

We then walked along towards Circular Quay and there was music and lights everywhere. 

There was a stand with bikes where as you pedaled the energy from you pedaling lit up a light in a tree ahead.

There were giant neon jellyfish suspended along the walkway.

This was a building where your body movements could create colourful splashes, drips and spirals. You took it in turns to ‘splash paint’ onto the building in different colours. Daisy had a go at this whilst we were climbing the bridge!

The Rocks area had a night market which was fab with lots of little stalls selling great food (which we bought) and the area had a great buzz to it.

The Customs House building was probably one of the best features. This building is really good architecturally and is made of sandstone.  An Intel processor was used to create the changing illusion of it being glass, mercury, paper water and even disappears completely, all complete with sound. It was such a good illusion we stood there for hours and watched.

The firedance show was a series of fire ‘explosions’ in time to the beat of Katy Perry’s ‘Firework’, it was really good!

We felt really lucky that we had ‘happened upon’ this festival which was on for the next 2 nights and weekly for the next 3 weeks.