We celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary and Jennifer’s 60th birthday in style with a crazy weekend trip to Peats Bite in Sydney, Australia to. The restaurant, famous for its long, relaxed, multi-course gourmet lunches that sometimes extend well into the evening, has hosted many celebrities, including James’ doppelganger, Queen guitarist Brian May.

In planning the celebration, we really wanted to have it at Peats Bite. But James could only get a long weekend off, so a trip all that way to Australia just wouldn’t fit. As we got closer, however, no other options excited us as much, and we realized that although it wouldn’t be sane to fly to Australia just for the weekend, it was possible. So that became our plan.

We first visited back in 2014, arriving for lunch at 11:30 and not leaving until after midnight. Our visit this time was equally exceptional, with owners Geoff Milner and Tanya Miljoen making us feel incredibly welcome once again. It was the perfect way to celebrate, and we look forward to returning for our 40th anniversary.

Below are highlights from October 8th through 12th, 2025. Click any image for a larger view, or click the position to view the location on a map. And a map with our most recent log entries always is available at mvdirona.com/maps.

10/8/2025

Seattle Delta One Lounge Position: 47°26.32’N, -122°17.82’W On the patio at the Seattle airport’s fabulous new Delta One lounge our flight to Australia via Los Angeles. Delta is really doing an impressive job here for international travel, with two beautiful new lounges and a well-staffed, exclusive Delta One checkin area.

South Sound Sunset Position: 47°21.39’N, -122°18.47’W Beautiful sunset over the South Puget Sound as our flight to Los Angeles, en route to Sydney, takes off from Seattle.

Marine Del Rey Position: 34°0.81’N, -118°26.30’W Flying over Marina Del Ray as our flight descends towards Los Angeles.

Delta One Lounge Position: 33°56.74’N, -118°24.41’W Enjoying a glass of champagne at Los Angeles airport, in another excellent Delta One lounge, with a view to the runway and planes at their gates.

10/9/2025

LAX to SYD Position: 33°56.80’N, -118°24.88’W Our flight path for the 15-hour flight from Los Angeles to Sydney, Australia. We flew this route several times when we lived in Australia on Dirona, but that was over a decade ago.

10/10/2025

Sydney Helitours Position: -33°56.44’S, 151°11.48’E At Sydney Helitours for a flight to Peats Bite restaurant on the Hawkesbury River. Peats Bite is accessible only by air or water, and this is the fastest way to reach it for our time-limited weekend adventure. We’re both wearing life jackets, required for flying over water.

Sydney Harbour Position: -33°51.71’S, 151°11.97’E View to Sydney Harbour on our helicopter flight from the Sydney airport to Peats Bite restaurant on the Hawkesbury River.

Wingala Position: -33°45.67’S, 151°18.32’E Spectacular cliff-side homes in the Sydney suberb of Wingala.

Pittwater Position: -33°37.95’S, 151°19.26’E The protected waters of Pittwater, an inlet at the mouth of the Hawkesbury River near Sydney, are an exceedingly popular boating destination. Thousands of boats are kept there, either in marinas or offshore moorings.

Landing Pontoon Position: -33°31.96’S, 151°9.52’E That little square pontoon at bottom center of the photo is where our helicopter will land at Peats Bite. It looks awfully small from this altitude.

Sunny Corner Cottage Position: -33°32.03’S, 151°9.51’E Sunny Corner Cottage, at far left, is where we’ll be spending the night after our lunch and dinner at Peats Bite.

Helicopter Position: -33°32.04’S, 151°9.44’E Our ride to Peats Bite, a Bell 206L helicopter, perched on the landing pontoon at their docks. This landing requires a bit of precision.

New Peats Bite Position: -33°32.05’S, 151°9.42’E Peats Bite has been operating since 1982, but in 2021 suffered a devastating fire that gutted the restaurant. They reopened last year after a full rebuild and the new facility is spectacular.

Lunch at Peats Bite Position: -33°32.05’S, 151°9.41’E At Peats Bite near Sydney for a crazy weekend trip to Australia to celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary and Jennifer’s 60th birthday. The restaurant is famous for its long, relaxed, multi-course gourmet lunches that extend well into the evening. We first visited back in 2014, arriving for lunch at noon and not leaving until after midnight. Our visit this time was equally exceptional, with owners Geoff Milner and Tanya Miljoen making us feel incredibly welcome once again. It was the perfect way to celebrate, and we look forward to returning for our 40th anniversary.

10/11/2025

Breakfast Position: -33°32.05’S, 151°9.41’E A decadent breakfast at Peats Bite before departing for Sydney.

Sydney Seaplanes Position: -33°32.06’S, 151°9.47’E Our Sydney Seaplanes ride to Sydney arriving at Peats Bite.

Boarding Position: -33°32.03’S, 151°9.44’E Ready to board Sydney Seaplanes for a scenic flight to Sydney.

Hawkesbury River Position: -33°30.42’S, 151°10.89’E View to the Hawkesbury River on our seaplane flight to Sydney. We spent three fabulous weeks exploring the extensive river system aboard Dirona in 2014.

Barrenjoey Lighthouse Position: -33°34.43’S, 151°20.32’E The Barrenjoey Lighthouse has been operating on the head of the same name since 1881. The Tasman Sea is at left, the Pittwater is on the right, and just out of the picture further right is the Hawksebury River mouth.

Sydney Harbour Position: -33°51.53’S, 151°14.81’E Looking east across always-busy Sydney Harbour from our floatplane. When we first arrived here on Dirona in 2014, we anchored in Farm Cove, just off the Opera House and directly below the tall buildings at far left.

Four Seasons view Position: -33°51.70’S, 151°12.48’E The sweeping view to Sydney Harbour from our room at the Four Seasons hotel.

Sydney Opera House Position: -33°51.52’S, 151°12.80’E Out for a walk in the area before dinner, we made a pass around the Sydney Opera House. The crowds were thick on this sunny and warm Saturday afternoon.

Circular Quay Position: -33°51.56’S, 151°12.60’E Looking southeast to the busy ferry terminal at Circular Quay in Sydney CBD.

Como Position: -33°51.41’S, 151°12.56’E A delicious meal at Como Italian restaurant, with a wonderful view to the Sydney Opera House.

Happy Birthday Position: -33°51.41’S, 151°12.56’E Como restaurant brought Jennifer a surprise Happy Birthday dessert with a sparkler.

Dusk from Four Seasons Position: -33°51.69’S, 151°12.46’E Sydney Harbour at dusk, viewed from our room at the Four Seasons hotel.

Presidential Suite Position: -33°51.65’S, 151°12.58’E Enjoying the view to Sydney Harbour over a glass of champagne from our room at the Four Seasons hotel. We’d booked a room with a harbour view, but the hotel upgraded us to a spectacular Presidential Suite on the corner.

10/12/2025

Dawn from Four Seasons Position: -33°51.69’S, 151°12.47’E A final view to Sydney Harbour from our room at the Four Seasons before we depart for Seattle.

Skyteam Sydney Lounge Position: -33°56.19’S, 151°10.14’E At the Skyteam Lounge in Sydney Airport. The lounge had few amenities, but did have a nice view to the airport apron.

Delta LAX Lounge Position: 33°56.75’N, -118°24.41’W Back on the patio at the Delta One Lounge in Los Angeles Airport, in the same table as last time. Delta is setting the standard for what a great lounge should be. We love the view to the apron and the planes taking off and landing at the runway in the distance. Flying to Sydney for lunch definitely is up there on the unusual scale, but the trip went perfectly and we had a amazing time.

Click the travel log icon on the left to see these locations on a map. And a map of our most recent log entries always is available at mvdirona.com/maps.