One of life’s simplest pleasures is just to sit and watch the weather, particularly when it’s exciting, and in somewhere new. Don’t you think? Although unplanned, that’s exactly what we ended up doing on our second day in Sydney. It’s also a perfect example of how dramatic Sydney’s weather can be. Having been promised a beautiful sunny day by the weather forecast that morning, we set off to explore an affluent area of Sydney called Rushcutters Bay.
Rushcutters Bay
Rushcutters Bay is a harbourside suburb of Sydney. It helped to host the sailing events during the 2000 Summer Olympics. It has a peaceful park that overlooks the harbour, and is perfect for people watching with a coffee.
The day was lovely and warm, the sun beaming down on our cheeks as we soaked in the views. One of the best things about going further out of the city is the view of the CBD that you get. Of course, that includes that iconic arch of Sydney Harbour Bridge across the water.
This gorgeous area is known for its gobsmacking house prices – and they are pretty incredible properties to match! In fact, Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise picked a beautiful house here that perfectly resembles a dolls’ house. Other celebs including Ronan Keating and Delta Goodrem have often graced the Daily Mail’s ‘sidebar of shame’ whilst being papped jogging in this beautiful, tranquil part of the city. With views like these, you can hardly blame them for wanting to live here. It’s such a peaceful area, and offers unique views of the Harbour Bridge.
Stormwatching
As we admired the views, our attention was soon switched to the tumbling grey clouds overhead. Before we had much chance to head back, the heavens quite literally opened.
We were forced to run (not so elegantly in flip flops) to a nearby cricket pavilion, where hordes of fitness fanatics and tennis players were also taking shelter from the storm. There was the loudest thunder I have ever heard – it was pretty terrifying!
As frustrating as it was, there’s something incredibly peaceful about life being put on hold for a moment. It’s a moment simply to come together, take a few minutes, and watch the sheets of rain pour down. Before you know it, you’ll watch the weather shift once again. The transient sky soon shifted to a mere patter of rain, and the dark grey sky slowly became a pale shade of blue. Clouds became white. And tiny rays of sunshine popped out to say hello again.
Back to Sydney
We eventually braved it back through Kings Cross, and couldn’t believe it when the rain started drying up and the sun began twinkling again.
I think these matches sum up today’s weather pretty well. It’s surprising how quickly nature can change. From being a blossoming day that’s full of life with the sun beaming down, to one that’s suddenly burnt out, grey, and at a complete standstill. But there’s something really cool about that, isn’t there?
Standing eight metres high, the matches crafted by Brett Whiteley are a Sydney landmark located near the Art Gallery of NSW. Accurately named ‘Almost Once’, the matches are constructed from timber. They’ve proved to be vulnerable to the elements over the years, fading from the harsh Australian sun and suffering attack from cockatoos and termites.
The sculpture was created to allow consideration of life and death, and burning out. It’s more pensive given the fact that Whiteley died just a year after its creation from a drug overdose.
Do you like hanging out in Rushcutters Bay? What are your thoughts on the ‘Almost Once’ sculpture? What are your favourite things to see in Sydney?
