It turns out that Sydney is full of free activities beyond the walking tour. I spend a delightful and picturesque day strolling the Royal Botanical Gardens and steps of the Sydney Opera House.

The Botanical Gardens are a popular lunchtime destination for business people looking for a break from desk life. I see plenty of men and women in suits, sprawled on the grass (sometimes on blankets, sometimes not) eating lunch and reading the paper. It’s refreshing to see this beautiful outdoor common space enjoyed by residents and tourists alike.

Here’s a (brief) collection of my images of flowers, cactuses, and statues in the gardens:

I call this the Dean Lamont shot, in homage to a certain Y&R director with a penchant for reflective surfaces.

I’ve never met this older gentleman, but I like him immediately:

After admiring the park, I continue on towards the nearby Opera House.

The two guys see my camera and pose without any prompting. I love when people on the street are game for photography fun.

I walk under the Opera House towards Sydney Harbor.

There’s great energy in this area of the city — and impressive views in all directions.

A few shots of those famous Opera House peaks:

This last image was taken on a ferry en route to Manly Beach. Another story for another day!