The train wasn’t departing until 2:55, so it made sense to cut the next six hours into chunks on either side of checking out of the accommodation.
Madam wanted to give the shutter finger a workout.
Iconic structures and the magnificent waterway close to Circular Quay meant that by seven-thirty we were off to Central, where Platform 17 was the ticket if we wanted to go past Town Hall and Wynyard to The Rocks by way of Circular Quay.
There’s no a way of legally alighting from the train if you opt to travel on from Wynyard until you're across The Coat-hanger, so Circular Quay was the obvious jumping-off point.
Wandering from Circular Quay took us under the Coat-hanger's southern pylon. Madam realised the battery needed a recharge as checkout time loomed, so we made our way back to Great Southern, and were back there around 9:15.
With the battery in charge mode, we made a few adjustments to the luggage and were downstairs checking out around 9:45 when the rush set in. With two large suitcases and the on the train hand luggage safely stowed in the Cloak Room, we set out on Stage Two of Operation Time-killer.
There’s limited room in sleeper cabins, and there was no way two big suitcases were going to fit.
Well, they could, but options for movement would be almost nonexistent.