Who are you/ your role: Sally Jakeman – Tour Leader

Your trip: Wales Summer Tour to Australia 2024

What was your favourite part of Sydney?  My favourite part of Sydney was Circular Quay – being able to jump on a ferry and get around to Manley, Taronga Zoo, Darling Harbour, or out on a whale-watching trip was amazing. The views you get when you are in the harbour are picture perfect and it is the best way to see the city. It was also a short walk from here to the botanical gardens or The Rocks which makes it the perfect hub to explore. I enjoyed a couple of lovely meals on the Quay-front, watching the sun set over the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

What was your favourite part of the trip? My favourite part of the trip was having the opportunity to go to the Captains run and the Meet and Greet with Dewi Lake and Mike Forshaw. You don’t often get these experiences and as a Welsh Fan it was a dream come true. It was very interesting to see how the team prepare for a big fixture.

How was the Match?

1st Test – The Allianz Sydney – The Welsh and Aussie fans weren't quite sure what to expect for in this first test. Both teams are in a phase of regrowth with lots of new players on both sides. The Allianz stadium was great, almost a full house, and a good congregation of Welsh fans. The first half was pretty even with both teams scoring and showing promise. In the second half, Wales were full of promise until they had a try disallowed. At this point the Wallabies took advantage of this and were dominant the rest of the game. It was a great atmosphere throughout and enjoyed by all.

2nd Test – The AAMI Stadium – The Welsh fans had lots of hope for this fixture, showing some promise in the 1st Test. The game as a whole was a lot more exciting with a great sprint try from Rio Dyer and some fab maul tries from Dewi Lake. A mistake from Liam Williams saw the Aussies take back an easy try and then the game. But it was a lot more promising and could have got either way into the last 5 minutes.

What would you recommend doing in Melbourne?

Melbourne is a very foody city. There are food halls, markets, and restaurants everywhere. There is a strong Asian influence as well as modern Australian cuisine. Queen Victoria market is a must see – it has a big craft/souvenir market, fresh food market, meat and fish hall, and a street food market. The Melbourne Botanical gardens are also worth a visit. A beautiful garden surrounding a lake. It has a wonderful fern forest and has a lovely café for lunch.