Friday Favourites

Hi friends, and welcome to Friday Favourites! Normally, I’m very excited to welcome Friday—but this one means it’s the end of my two-week winter school break… waaahhhh!! Geez, the week went by so fast! Anyway, I’ll wait until Sunday before I launch into the full-blown blues. For now, I’m going to pretend Monday doesn’t exist and recap highlights from my second week of the holidays. Let’s go!

Kirribilli Markets

Last weekend, my lovely friend and I spent the morning at Kirribilli Markets. We had a great time wandering around and checking out all the stalls. They had everything from handmade crafts and candles to artworks and second-hand clothes.

I bought a couple of cute birthday cards and a packet of stickers that will probably last me until I’m a little old lady. I’ve loved stickers since forever, and I don’t see that changing—even when I’m 99 and putting them on my walking frame.

Lunch

We left the market and walked to a nearby café for lunch—the same one we went to last time we visited the markets. It was cosy and lovely back then, so we were more than happy to return. When you’re onto a good thing, you stick with it!

We both ordered the same meals as last time, but jazzed things up with a different tea selection.

I had the bacon and egg roll, and what set this one apart from every other I’ve had is the red gum smoked tomato relish. Normally, it’s just tomato sauce (or BBQ sauce). But this relish was next level with the perfect balance of tangy and sweet.

I took a photo of the menu because the meals featured native Australian ingredients, which I thought was interesting.

After lunch, we walked over the Harbour Bridge and wandered around The Rocks Markets and Circular Quay. I had such a fun day!

Staycation Surprise

When I got home, I was telling my husband all about the day and some of the places we’d seen. I mentioned a cute little boutique hotel called The Harbour Rocks Hotel, and then he surprised me by suggesting we stay there since he had some days off coming up. He didn’t have to say it twice—I booked us a one-night staycation in record time! We aren’t normally this spontaneous—haha.

Staycation Time

After I hit “Book Now,” I checked the reviews. Some said it was amazing, while others weren’t so impressed. Classic mixed bag—but I don’t know what the unimpressed guests were on about because we had the best time.

The room was compact and clean, and I loved the whole heritage atmosphere of the hotel with its exposed brick walls, timber beams, and warm, inviting feel. The location was perfect too—right in the heart of The Rocks.

Interestingly, the hotel was once a wool store back in 1887 called Evans’ Stores. It’s built right where Sydney’s first hospital used to be, and there were some framed photos on the walls showing bits of that history, which I thought was a nice touch.

Yikes—this is what one of the rooms must have looked like before it was renovated.

In my excitement over the hotel’s historic charm, I forgot to take a photo of our room. My husband did, but it’s on his phone and he’s at work.

I did take a pic of the cute lobby and pretty hanging lights.

We checked in just after midday, then headed straight to The Fortune of War Pub for lunch.

Good old fish and chips!

Then we walked all around Circular Quay, the Opera House, and the Royal Botanic Garden.

I zoomed in to catch a photo of some people doing the Bridge Climb. Haha, from a distance, they looked like little ants scrambling up there.

In the evening, we had a snack in the restaurant attached to the hotel. Fried feta-stuffed olives, carrot dip and pita bread with a couple of glasses of wine.

Christmas in July Markets

After our snack, it was time to get festive at the Christmas in July markets.

We were in full holiday mode and didn’t realise the restaurants closed early since it was a Wednesday. Over the holidays, every day feels like Saturday to me!

Luckily, we made it just in time before the kitchen closed at this burger and ribs place. I had a beef patty with salad and sweet potato fries, and Steve went for the burger–ribs combo.

Day Two–Breakfast and Bridge Walk

The next morning, we had breakfast at a Mediterranean restaurant called Tayim. I had the shakshuka with the most delicious crunchy chickpeas—so yum!

Then it was time to walk off all the food with another big walk—this time across the bridge to North Sydney. Steve tried to convince me the bridge was closed for the day. In fact, he said all walking was banned across Sydney, and we should just relax back at the hotel. Nice try! I didn’t buy any of it and told him it was time to put that new knee to good use.

After we crossed the Bridge to North Sydney, we wandered around for a bit before catching the ferry back to Circular Quay. We just missed one, but with views like this at Milsons Point Wharf for the next 22 minutes, it wasn’t exactly a struggle.

This was our view from the ferry—I’ve seen this bridge a gazillion times, but I never get tired of it.

What a fun, spontaneous staycation we had and we couldn’t have asked for better weather. It was cold, but oh so sunny! I thought I’d get more blogging done while off work, but instead, I swapped work for rest, catch-ups, and a really lovely night away. So, I missed blogging on Wednesday. But it felt great to be back today.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Happy Friday  😊

Linking up with Andrea and Erika