Sydney and the Reef

10–24 Jan 2026 · Australia

15 days3 stops1 country2,008 km

A coral conference in Cairns and a week of pretending I wasn't there for work.

Day 1 10 Jan
1

Sydney 🇦🇺

Australia · 5 nights

Summer in January still feels illegal.
Day 5 14 Jan
2

Blue Mountains 🇦🇺

Katoomba, Australia

Eucalyptus oil in the air makes the haze actually blue.
Day 7 16 Jan
3

Cairns 🇦🇺

Australia · 8 nights

Conference by day, the reef by boat on the weekend.

11 Jan

Sydney Opera House 🇦🇺Sydney, Australia
Opera on the steps, the bridge lit up behind. Pinch me.
11 Jan

Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk 🇦🇺Sydney, Australia
Six kilometres of cliffs and ocean pools. Swam at Bondi Icebergs first.
13 Jan

Three Sisters 🇦🇺Katoomba, Australia
The haze really is blue. Eucalyptus oil in the air, apparently.
18 Jan

Moore Reef 🇦🇺Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Dove the outer reef. Bleaching in patches — it's real and it's heartbreaking — and still so much life. A turtle took zero interest in me.

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