A few days in Sydney

[Chairman Meow]

Ok so I won a competition and part of the prize is one night in a 5 star hotel in Sydney, plus flights for one from Perth, where I live. We've never been to Sydney so we are going to extend it for a few days and husband and teenage son are coming with me. So how long do we need, I'm thinking three or four nights? We want to do the obvious tourist things, opera house, bridge, harbour etc. Anything else not to miss? We are planning to go the week before Xmas and will be staying near Circular Quay (one night in the expensive hotel and remaining nights in a cheaper hotel in Surry Hills). Any tips? We aren't loaded so cheap and free things would be good to do as well, and reasonable palaces to eat would be great. Thanks!

 

[Mrs Miggins]

I don't really have any tips but the opera house is magnificent. Juat walking round the building is superb.

I did the bridge walk which is great but bloody expensive.

The aquarium is brilliant - but of course not free and probably not cheap.

 

[Athos]

The walk along the cliffs from Coogee beach to Bondi beach is great, and free.

 

[Chairman Meow]

Doesn't have to be free, I know its going to be expensive, but just want to not totally haemorrhage cash! Is the Aquarium any different to other Aquariums? I've been to a few. What about the zoo, I hear is has an amazing view (and a cable car?) As for the bridge climb I think its closed at the minute, not that you'd catch me up there anyway.

 

[Mrs Miggins]

Doesn't have to be free, I know its going to be expensive, but just want to not totally haemorrhage cash! Is the Aquarium any different to other Aquariums? I've been to a few. What about the zoo, I hear is has an amazing view (and a cable car?) As for the bridge climb I think its closed at the minute, not that you'd catch me up there anyway.

Um....the aquarium is probably much like other big city aquariums but I really enjoyed it as it's not something I usually do in cities - I tend to wander around rather than go to attractions. They have manatees and loads of those underwater tunnels to walk through. They also have a super cold bit full of penguins that you go round on a little boat. And big tanks to view the penguins zooming about underwater. I thought it was awesome.

There is a small zoo on the same site and a Madame Tussauds. The small zoo was great too and the Tussaud's, well, I've never been to such a thing and never would again but it was kinda fun cos I got my picture taken with Harold Bishop

I didn't go to the proper zoo but I'm sure it would be good.

 

[2hats]

The aquarium was impressive when I first went almost 2 decades ago but everyone else has caught up now. I second Athos' suggestion and if you have the legs keep going around the headland all the way to the opera house, under the bridge to the observatory. I just tend to spend a lot of time walking all around there. Only if I am keeping friends' kids entertained does the bill really rack up (zoo, powerhouse museum, climbing walls, etc).

Also get the local train/bus/boats out a bit - blue mountains are obvious but go north to places around ku-ring-gai like barrenjoey and bobbin head maybe?

 

[Thaw]

Wendy Whiteley's 'secret' garden is good. You can wander round for ages and there are plenty of tables dotted around where you can have a picnic in a quiet corner with a view of the city and bridge. Its near Lunar park if you like fairgrounds.

Wandering around surry hills and the botanic gardens was also v pleasant .

 

[Thaw]

Is Manly Ferry too obvious?

 

[19sixtysix]

Take an umbrella. It rained every one of the 11 days I was there.

 

[Chairman Meow]

Nothing is too obvious, I've never been!

It better not be bloody raining in December, it hasn't stopped raining in Perth for months and I am thoroughly sick of it! Yes, I know the dams need filling yadda yadda, but I am over it!

 

[Thaw]

There are some nice olde worlde pubs by The Rocks as well - Lord Nelson and Hero of Waterloo. Surry Hills is good for a pointless walk looking at houses and chi chi shops.

Its been chucking it down in Brisbane this week so maybe the drought in NSW/QLD is ending?