Australia.. final stop.. Sydney!
We arrive at our grand finale on the Australia tour — another lake and beach-side campsite in North Narrabeen, just a hop, skip, and a roo's jump away from Sydney's hustle and bustle, and the destination where we'll be chucking our Christmas shrimp on the barbie! Again, another cracking spot and we settle straight in.
Every year at home, we either head to the Christingle service at the church at the end of our street, or pop into another local church's nativity service. Both promise the classic nativity story and a jukebox full of wholesome carols. Luke discovered there was going to be "Carols by the Lake" right by our campsite the night after we arrived. We were imagining a quaint little sing-song on the grass with a small crowd. But nope - this is Christmas in Sydney! The lakeside was jam-packed, there was a stage set up, and it felt like a mini festival. Everyone was enjoying the sunshine, bands playing all sorts of tunes, with a sprinkle of Christmas carols and classics, and a whole lot of dancing. The night wrapped up with fireworks over the lake. Definitely not the snug little church service of good old Liss!
We met one of Luke’s oldest friends, Gav, who’s been his buddy since they were little 7-year-olds living in Liphook. We hit it off with him, his wife Suzy, and their two sons straight away. Turns out, Henry shares a birthday with Phoebe — they’re both the same age. And then there’s their 10-year-old, Benji. The kids clicked so well that we all ended up at the beach the next morning for some wild surf jumping. It’s fantastic seeing the kids hanging out with other like-minded, easy going kids, especially when the parents are so nice too!
Cue a couple of needed shopping days at the local Westfield (England alert again) for some Christmas shopping. This year has been absolutely lovely, free from the usual stress and consumerism that often comes with trying to sprinkle "Christmas magic" everywhere. We haven't been able to buy anything until now due to a lack of storage and hidey-holes. Plus, since we're travelling and can't carry much with us, there's little we can purchase for the kids. Westfield accomplished, a few bits picked up from the supermarket for the Christmas BBQ, and a couple of bottles of fizz and we’re done! Honestly, it's been delightful. Being away from all the Christmas chaos at home has been refreshing - even if that does sound a bit bah-humbug!
So, Christmas Eve rolls in, and Gav and Suzy invite us over for a super laid-back BBQ at their place. It's absolutely spot-on - the kids are happily splashing around in the pool while we're sipping some bubbly. It’s a lovely family feel with Suzy’s mum visiting from the UK too. It's really great hanging out with people who have grown up in the next village along at home - turns out we have loads in common! A perfect way to spend our Christmas Eve with a real home from home feel. We head back to the camper not too late, decorate the Christmas tree that Luke has brought round, tuck the kids in and hope Santa's got a GPS to find us Down Under in our trusty campervan!
Christmas morning bursts with as much magic and excitement as if we were back home. Poppy and Fin can't believe there are actually presents under the tree, and that Santa managed to track us down - clearly it's all because of the letter Fin sent during our first week here in Oz! We excitedly continue our tradition of everyone piling into one bed to open stockings together, even if the bed is a bit more snug than home! It’s a perfect start to our Christmas and we are all feeling incredibly lucky to be here experiencing Christmas in Oz together.
A couple of days before Christmas, Dan stumbled upon a little gem of a cafe called The Mind Cafe. Poppy and Fin were over the moon as they kept getting refills of their milkshakes from the most joyful, friendly, and welcoming person ever! They couldn't wait to bring their sisters along. Dan raved about how amazing the place was, brimming with genuine inclusiveness. We all headed back the next day and struck up a conversation with the chef. That's when we heard the incredible story behind the cafe — Guy, the owner (the milkshake maestro Dan met the day before), opened this cafe after bravely overcoming his own mental health struggles and a failed suicide attempt. He envisioned the cafe as a sanctuary where people can connect and feel understood. The cafe also provides employment for those facing mental health challenges and individuals with disabilities. It's a haven for the homeless, feeding up to twenty people for free every day. Here, there's no judgment— just open doors and a welcoming space where everyone can feel part of a community, no matter who they are or what they're going through.
We were all completely captivated and inspired by the story. What an amazing person to overcome such challenges and still give back to so many others in need. Craig, the volunteer chef who met Guy during his time as an inpatient and was inspired enough to volunteer his time for the cause, also shared that the cafe would be open on Christmas Day and insisted we join. So that’s exactly what we did.
It was absolutely buzzing, with people spilling out of the doors! A warm, family-like community vibe was in full swing, with everyone pitching in to share free drinks and food with anyone who walked in, spreading wishes for a Merry Christmas. Being part of it was nothing short of amazing and perfectly demonstrated how just a couple of hours of your time can make a massive impact on someone's day. Huge applause to Guy for creating this incredible space for the community he lives in. We are all truly inspired by his boundless kindness.
We're off to reunite with Luke and our new BFFs - Gav and Suzy plus boys - at the beach for an exhilarating Christmas Day swim! The beach is buzzing with energy. We're absolutely loving the Australian Christmas spirit - families gathered together just like at home, just swapping the Christmas jumpers and a cosy fire for board shorts on the sandy shores! The atmosphere is awesome and we're having a blast again, leaping and splashing in the waves together.
Back for Christmas lunch, Aussie-style! We're BBQing back at the campsite where Luke has delighted us with the ultimate Aussie Christmas tradition - bringing the shrimps for the barbie! Everything is absolutely perfect, we enjoy a relaxed afternoon, playing festive games, making a gingerbread house, and waiting to be able to make video calls to family back home in the UK. After stuffing ourselves with loads of healthy salads, we head over to the beach headland for a post Christmas lunch walk, then head on down to the lake to catch the sunset. Finishing the day with a cuppa and bowl of Christmas pudding and lashings of cream, I'd say, except for a few tears over missing the dogs, our debut hot Christmas has been a complete success!
Every year, instead of buying the kids presents, Dan’s mum gifts us a family ticket to a West End show. This year, she wondered if we could catch any shows in Sydney. Amazingly we found Elf the Musical was showing at none other than the Sydney Opera House! So, on Boxing Day, we hopped on the ferry from Manly Wharf to Sydney Harbour. Seeing the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge from the water was mind-blowing. It was one of those “pinch me, I’m dreaming” moments as we strolled around the outside. Never in a million years did I ever expect to see it in real life.. let alone be inside to watch a show.
We find ourselves on our last full day in Oz! After returning the campervan back to the company we hired from, the kids have one more thing they want to tick off their bucket list - the legendary Bondi Beach! They've all been avid fans of the show since Phoebe was around Poppy’s age, and have watched countless series. Being here today was incredibly exciting - the place was buzzing with energy! The lifeguards have such a challenging job patrolling, and during our visit, we witnessed three real rescues. We saw the iconic lifeguard tower, the beach buggies zooming around, the radio walkie-talkies in action, and the lifeguards heroically surfing out to rescue. It was all super cool, and we were having a blast swimming in those famous waves! Oh and guess what? While the girls were dancing on the beach in a massive storm that came over, Bondi Rescue's official Instagram page caught them in action and shared them on their story. And get this - they even responded to the girls' DM. Absolute life made there and a claim to fame they are going to live off for a while!
I'm not entirely sure what cosmic event flipped the switch, but our afternoon spiralled into an epic disaster and screaming match between us and all three girls. Each one had her own agenda, with Dan and I trying to please all three and somehow getting it all wrong, before Phoebe pulled a vanishing act, causing us to miss the first Uber. Once we tracked her down, we enjoyed the ride home in complete silence. Ahhh, the joys and wonders of family life and how quickly it can change up! I'm looking forward to reading this section in the future so that we can all try to solve the mystery of what on earth went wrong!
We've got a night in a hotel thanks to a mix up with flights, dates and campervans. So, once we're back, the kids order an Uber Eats (can you guess what it was?), we put a film on for them with strict instructions not to open the door, wait until their food arrives and they're all happy and settled, then make our grand escape to the Indian restaurant downstairs. Sometimes you just have to look after yourselves!
With our time in Australia coming to an end, it is easy to understand why so many Brits pack their bags to head here - the whole trip has been like being at home, except someone turned up the thermostat! It's a huge draw - especially for the kids who can enjoy spending so much more time running wild outdoors. Yet again, we've hit the jackpot with the people we have met on this trip. Dick and Gillian in Queensland welcoming us with such energy at the beginning of our trip, Ben and Atlas and the time they spent just to hang out with us in Byron, and my cousin Luke spending so much quality time with us all throughout - they have all made this trip unforgettable. Then there's Gav and Suzy and their boys, who made a huge impact on our stay in Sydney. They all welcomed us with open arms during the festive period, creating a Christmas we will cherish forever.
Now, after 33 days, 1000 miles, 8 caravan parks, 1 very snug campervan, our trusty emergency three-man tent, full summer-holiday mode, with absolutely zero maths or English books in sight (sorry, kids brain cells!), we're now ready to return to our travelling/worldschooling escapades, soak up some culture... and fingers crossed, a gloriously spacious double bed!
Goodbye, for now, beautiful Sydney.