SYDNEY - (9/2/11) Chinatown, Darling Harbour & Summer Bay!

This morning we discovered that Lane Cove Caravan Park is in fact “Summer Bay Caravan Park” (as in Home & Away) and we were camped about 50m from it.  Whilst not Home and Away watchers, it was exciting to see and we watched them film for an hour or so.  Not quite as glamorous as you would expect.  8 takes until they got it right!  And that was only one 30 second scene!  Plus there was such a big crew, people running everywhere.  We met some diehard Home and Away fans, some of whom had come to the caravan park just to watch filming, including one family from Melbourne!

After our brush we fame, we went into Chinatown for a yummy lunch and look see.  It was here that Ben developed his love of chicken sweet corn soup.  Then onto Darling Harbour.  We discovered an amazing playground that opened just before Christmas.  It had everything, including a great water area where kids could open and close gates to stop and start water flow.  Plus a huge stainless steel slide that Ben preferred to go down standing up rather than sitting down.  Chloe and Ben were in heaven.  We enjoyed a walk around Darling Harbour and then a ferry ride to Milson’s Point, home to Luna Park.  The kids were very keen to go to Luna Park, but the adults weren’t.  We compromised – we went for a walk through for a look.

After a full day out and about, we were surprised to see that Home and Away was still being filmed when we got back to the caravan park.  In fact they didn’t finish until 9pm!  We saw Leah (aka Ada) and Chloe and Simon met Romeo and Ruby (aka Luke and Bec).  Chloe was lucky enough to have a photo with them.  Whilst Chloe does not watch Home and Away (although she wants to now) she was pretty excited to have her photo with two of the stars.   

We discovered that from the 12 hours on set today (not to mention the many hours before and after filming) only 10 ½ minutes of footage was filmed, which is a typical day.  They film just over 100 minutes of footage a week, making up 5 episodes.  We also learnt that Home and Away generates a third of channel 7’s total income.  It has a huge following overseas and apparently people from overseas regularly travel to Sydney to see it being filmed.  That is dedication!

Ben at part of the water area at the playground

Chloe pumping some water

Chloe and Ben pat a snake outside the Wildlife Park at Darling Harbour.  Very brave!

View from Milson's Point ferry wharf

Chloe with Luke and Bec

Bec (aka Ruby) learning her lines

Lights, camera, action!  

Summer Bay Caravan Park

Chloe & Ben at Summer Bay Caravan Park