Flying home

I flew home yesterday after my overnight visit to Brisbane. The flight descent was a little bumpy with strong winds over Sydney.

Generally flights into and out of Sydney Airport use one of the two north/south runways. There is one east/west runway which is used far less either to provide a relief for those suburbs over whose roofs the majority of flights pass or when there are strong westerly winds. The latter was the case for our flight. This meant an unusual approach to the airport and some interesting photo opportunities, albeit through the aircraft's dirty double windows, the bumpy descent and at times into the glare of midday sun.

Sydney's western suburbs; the Olympic Stadium is dead centre

We were approaching the airport from the north and then the plane turned sharply to the east.

Sydney Airport and Botany Bay

Travelling east we flew over the harbour, over the coastline and over the Tasman Sea. In the process we flew above Sydney's eastern suburbs where I live. My apartment building is in this photo; just above and to the left of centre.

Double Bay (left), Rushcutters Bay (right)

As we now approached the airport from the east I looked out to the north at Sydney's Pittwater Peninsula and at the Tasman Sea through the glare of the sun.

Continuing our descent flying past Bondi Beach.

Bondi Beach and Sydney's eastern suburbs

Lower still, flying past Randwick Racecourse.

Randwick Racecourse