Destination's Journey

Category: Guided Tours

  • The Strand Arcade Sydney

    The Strand Arcade Sydney

    The Strand Arcade Sydney

    Located in the centre of the Sydney CBD and running from Pitt to George Street, the Strand Arcade is one of Sydney’s premier shopping destinations. Opened in 1892, The Strand is the only remaining arcade of its type in Sydney. With three levels, to explore and many cafes and restaurants, there’s plenty to see.

    A Brief History of The Strand

    Over time the arcade became neglected and run-down. However, in 1976, as restoration works were being undertaken a fire broke out causing extensive damage. Fortunately, instead of demolishing the building, the owner decided on an authentic restoration. As a result, the floor, staircases and shopfronts look exactly as they were when first built. Even the hydraulic lifts were restored.

    What to Find on the Different Levels

    Walking through the arcade, the cedar shopfront, balustrades and tiled floors all remind you of the 18th century. The stairs even have a lead covering to protect the cedar wood. There is three levels to the Strand. The top has high-end shops where you can find wedding dress makers, shoemakers, and old time barbers. Many of these shops have displays of the original tools used in their businesses as well as viewing into their workshops. Also from this level, you get a good view of the Strand Clock, installed by one of the original tenants that came from Germany and had a nut shop. When they decided to close they left this little bit of history for all to see.

    The middle level has department brands that we all know and is relatively busy, while the bottom contains eateries, and a variety of everyday shop that we would visit regularly.

    The original building had leadlight windows. Unfortunately, adjacent development has covered one from the outside. This has resulted in no light to show off its colours, but another nearby still has natural light to show off its design.

    The Strand is very easy to find in the centre of Sydney and is a great place to visit, even if it’s only to browse the shops or have a coffee while admiring the architecture.

    Strand Arcade Sign
    Strand Arcade Sign
    Ground Floor
    Ground Floor
    Middle Floor The Strand Arcade
    Middle Floor
    View from the Top Floor The Strand Arcade
    View from the Top Floor
    Stain Glass Window
    Stain Glass Window
    Stained Glass Windows
    Stained Glass Windows
    Original Elevator
    Original Elevator
    The Strand Arcade's Clock
    The Strand Arcade’s Clock

    Our photos are available for purchase on

    To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

  • Sea Shepherd’s MV Steve Irwin

    Sea Shepherd’s MV Steve Irwin

    Sea Shepherd’s MV Steve Irwin

    Although now retired from from its confrontations with Japanese whaling fleets, the MV Steve Irwin still looks impressive with its camouflage and skull painted deck house. Docked at Thales Marine in Newcastle, New South Wales, the ship is now owned by the non-profit organisation Ship4Good. Tours are a great way to learn about the fight to save the whales while contributing to the preservation of the ship.

    We met our tour guide at the Thales Security Gate, where we were issued hi-visibility jackets for the walk to the ship. The jackets were necessary because the Thales dock is a working area.

    Ship’s History

    After a safety briefing our tour started with a talk on the ship’s history. Originally serving 28 years as the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency conservation enforcement patrol boat, FPV Westra, Sea Shepherd purchased her in 2006. Although originally named the MV Robert Hunter after Canadian Robert Hunter, co-founder of Greenpeace it was renamed the MV Steve Irwin following his death. Steve had been considering joining the vessel the following year before his death.

    Over the next 12 years, the ship undertook 17 voyages ranging from anti-whaling and illegal fishing. These occurred in areas as diverse as the Antarctic and Mediterranean. However, she is most famous for confronting the Japanese whaling fleet in the Southern Ocean around Antarctica. These clashes occurred as close range, with activists throwing stink bombs onto Japanese ships and attempting to entangles their propellors. On several occasions, ships rammed each other, a very dangerous action because of the freezing Antarctic waters.

    Tour of the Ship

    Over the next hour we toured the ship from the bridge to engine room. On the bridge we were able to see where the ship and its operations were directed, with the large windows providing an excellent view of the surrounding area.

    In the engine room, the two British Polar 12-cylinder 2,100 bhp Engines with their turbo chargers showed why Sea Shepherd bought this ship. The engines and the ship’s design gave it a speed able to match and overake the Japanese whaling fleet, while being relatively stable in rough seas. Along with the embarked helicopter this enabled them to find and harass the whalers.

    Getting Around the Ship

    Anyone intending on touring the ship should be aware of several restrictions. Several of the rooms and corridors are small and narrow. So if you are claustrophobic, this may be a problem. Moving from one deck to another is via steep stairways. If you are mobility impaired or have small children this may make getting around difficult. Remember to wear sensible enclosed shoes, because of the stairs and outside surfaces.

    We had a great time here learning about the Steve Irwin’s history and seeing the inner workings of the ship.

    Sea Shepherd’s MV Steve Irwin in Newcastle Harbour
    Sea Shepherd’s MV Steve Irwin in Newcastle Harbour
    Gangway onto MV Steve Irwin
    Gangway onto MV Steve Irwin
    Covered walkway around the ship
    Covered walkway around the ship
    Some of the cruises the ship participated in
    Some of the cruises the ship participated in
    Some of the cruises the ship participated in
    Some of the cruises the ship participated in
    Throwing stink bombs at the Japanese whaling ships
    Throwing stink bombs at the Japanese whaling ships
    Dramatic painting of the Sea Shepherd’s MV Steve Irwin
    Dramatic painting of the ship at sea
    The two 12-cylinder 1,600 kW engines
    The two 12-cylinder 1,600 kW engines
    The Steve Irwin's propellor shaft Sea Shepherd’s MV Steve Irwin
    The Steve Irwin’s propellor shaft
    The Bridge
    The Bridge
    The Bridge Sea Shepherd’s MV Steve Irwin
    The Bridge
  • Fort Scratchley Newcastle

    Fort Scratchley Newcastle

    Fort Scratchley Newcastle

    No longer used by the military, Fort Scratchley is now a memorial to the servicemen and women who served there. During World War Two, the Japanese submarine I-21 attempted to shell Newcastle and the BHP Steel Works. Fortunately most of the shells missed or failed to explode with no-one hurt and only minor damage caused. Fort Scratcheley returned fire but failed to hit the submarine. In doing so, it became the only Australian fort to fire on an enemy ship.

    Regularly fired by volunteers, two of the original guns are still in place. Most of the original buildings and tunnels are intact and can be viewed, with guided tours of the tunnels also available.

    Now a heritage site, the fort’s buildings and guns from World War Two are still intact. Still operational, the guns are fired each day by volunteers. The upperworks and buildings are free to walk around, but a tour of the tunnels require a ticket as it is a guided tour.

    As well as the fortifications, the views over Newcastle and the nearby beaches are fantastic.

    Fort Exterior Displays

    On entering the fort, you are free to enter all areas apart from the underground tunnels. As the tunnel tours are timed, we booked one and then went exploring the remainder of the fort. At the top of the hill, the 6-inch guns that fired on the I-21 can be seen and you are able to get close to them.

    Older muzzle loading guns have been returned to the fort and re-sited where they used to be. The size of the 80-pound cannon really has to be seen to understand how massive it is.

    Outside wall of Fort Scratchley
    Outside wall of Fort Scratchley
    The fort's buildings on the upper level Fort Scratchley
    The fort’s buildings on the upper level
    80 Pound muzzle Loading cannon over looking the harbour Fort Scratchley
    80 Pound muzzle Loading cannon over looking the harbour
    6-inch Nark VII guns Fort Scratchley
    6-inch Nark VII guns
    View over Nobbys Beach to the Harbour entrance
    View over Nobbys Beach to the Harbour entrance

    Display Rooms

    Rooms that used to house soldiers now serve as display rooms showing the history of the fort. A full room is dedicated to Sir Peter Scratcheley who the fort is named after. Another room has a model of the I-21 and some of the shells fired that night.

    Display of Sir Peter Scratchley
    Display of Sir Peter Scratchley
    Weapons display Fort Scratchley
    Weapons display
    Uniform Display Fort Scratchley
    Uniform Display
    Women's uniform display
    Women’s uniform display
    Star shell fired by I-21 on 8 June 1942
    Star shell fired by I-21 on 8 June 1942
    Model of the Japanese submarine I-21 Fort Scratchley
    Model of the Japanese submarine I-21
    The fort's gaol
    The fort’s gaol

    The Tunnels

    The highlight of the trip was the tunnel tour which takes you under the fort and into its working areas. The guide was great and full of information about the fort’s past and how it worked. From the magazines that used to store the fort’s ammunition to the gun emplacements it was a comprehensive tour. We were able to get close to most of the guns to get a detailed look.

    One of the tunnels, a safety light and stairs leading out
    One of the tunnels, a safety light and stairs leading out
    One of the fort's tunnels Fort Scratchley
    One of the fort’s tunnels
    Nordenfelt 1 1/2 inch gun
    Nordenfelt 1 1/2 inch gun
    The disappearing gun's pit. Now covered
    The disappearing gun’s pit. Now covered
    80 pounder muzzle loading cannon Fort Scratchley
    80 pounder muzzle loading cannon
    Shells in the magazine Fort Scratchley
    Shells in the magazine
    8 Inch breach loading gun
    8 Inch breach loading gun
    How the disappearing guns worked Fort Scratchley
    How the disappearing guns worked

    What Did We Think?

    This was a great place to visit, because it’s full of local history and amazingly restored guns and displays. Well worth the visit.

    To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.