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Post by tassiedevil on Jul 26, 2015 6:40:38 GMT
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Post by chech on Jul 26, 2015 11:45:02 GMT
I hope you get the opportunity to do "the walk" from the Opera House through the Botanic Gardens to Lady Macquaries Chair. It is the Sydney classic walk along the harbour foreshore. The other must do is the Bondi Beach to Bronte Beach walk around the cliffs. Don't worry there are concrete paths all the way and if you can do the Habour Bridge walk you can do this easy. Cheers enjoy Cool. The walks look doable. I'm within walking distance of the Opera House and bus #333 would take me to Bondi Beach. That could be an option on my free day.
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Post by chech on Jul 26, 2015 12:02:18 GMT
Ahhh...both are within walking distance of the hotel, so easily done on my pre-day.
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Post by chech on Jul 26, 2015 12:13:02 GMT
Oop...I left one out: Taronga Zoo - Nura Diya Aboriginal Discovery Approximate value: $99 AUD per person (2 hours) Take a journey through Taronga Zoo through the perspective of an Aboriginal guide. See Australia's amazing animals in a new light, as you discover the binding relationships between flora and fauna and hear stories of the Dreaming - describing creation of creatures and the landscape. Learn the centuries-old traditional uses of plants for food and medicine while enjoying interactive experiences with unique Australian wildlife, including koalas, kangaroos, wallabies and a vast array of Australia's birds.
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Post by Tonnet on Jul 26, 2015 20:25:26 GMT
There is a great deal to do in Sydney, Chech - and most of it is FREE!
I suspect you will be staying at The Menzies which is ideally located for proximity to so any attractions.
I would suggest a ferry ride (not Hydrofoil) to Manly - certainly not $66.00. This will allow you to take in a great amount of the harbour as it is 35 minutes each way. It is a very short walk to Manly Beach from the terminal and you will see one of Sydney's nicest beaches.
You can also do the walk over the Harbour Bridge, also free, giving you spectacular views of the Opera House, Circular Quay and a lot of the harbour. To get to this walk is very easy through The Rocks area.
The walk from the Opera House to Lady Maquarie's Chair does not need an escort and the Botanical Gardens are beautiful. Close to the Gardens is the Mitchell Library and also the Art Gallery.
Darling Harbour is well worth a look and there is always something happening there. The Technological Museum is adjacent and the Japanese Garden is magnificent.
You don't have to go any great distances to find something to do in Sydney.
Another short ferry trip will take you to Taronga Park Zoo. On arrival I would suggest the bus trip to the top of the hill to the main entrance and then work your way down within the zoo back to the ferry terminal. This zoo is one of he very best in the world.
Just a few thoughts for you as you only have a short time frame to work with while there.
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Post by chech on Jul 26, 2015 20:50:27 GMT
Cool...I'll have to start up my notes...so questions may be forthcoming...lol I know Manly Beach is included sightseeing, so I'll see that.
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Post by Tonnet on Jul 26, 2015 20:54:43 GMT
Oop...I left one out: Taronga Zoo - Nura Diya Aboriginal Discovery Approximate value: $99 AUD per person (2 hours) Take a journey through Taronga Zoo through the perspective of an Aboriginal guide. See Australia's amazing animals in a new light, as you discover the binding relationships between flora and fauna and hear stories of the Dreaming - describing creation of creatures and the landscape. Learn the centuries-old traditional uses of plants for food and medicine while enjoying interactive experiences with unique Australian wildlife, including koalas, kangaroos, wallabies and a vast array of Australia's birds. I don't think this is very good value as there are free shows of animals throughout the day by their keepers. They give a full run down on the creatures plus there are many opportunities to handle them!
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Post by tassiedevil on Jul 26, 2015 23:44:37 GMT
Ahhh...both are within walking distance of the hotel, so easily done on my pre-day.
If you were to do these 2 I would recommend paying an extra $9 and adding the Sydney Tower, you get a great view from the top. The tower is walking distance from Darling Harbour. Then if you did add the Sydney Tower in order to buy a 3 attraction pass, I would definitely either add Madame Tussauds or Manly Sea Life Sanctuary as a 4 attraction pass is exactly the same price as the 3. Even if you don't plan on visiting either of them it gives you the option if you find you have some spare time at no extra cost. Madame Tussauds is right next the aquarium and wildlife zoo, while the Manly Sea Life is in Manly (obviously).
The combo passes can be bought at any of the websites of the places included in the pass. Just buy from the website of the place you want to visit first as whoever you buy it off you have to go there to swap your voucher for the tickets.
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Post by tassiedevil on Jul 26, 2015 23:58:55 GMT
I can't remember if I've already mentioned this to you, but if you like chocolate I would definitely recommend visiting a Haighs Chocolate store when you are in Sydney, Melbourne or Adelaide. Apart from the great chocolates they sell, all the stores are in beautiful arcades or heritage buildings and are worth seeing.
www.haighschocolates.com.au/stores/
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Post by chech on Jul 27, 2015 11:19:42 GMT
LOL...just what I need after a visit to Switzerland! More chocolate! But yes, one can never have too much chocolate! I've made a different thread for Cairns suggestions. Next up...Darwin.
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Post by Oz-T on Jul 28, 2015 1:08:46 GMT
Well, Chech, this is like any other decision regarding optionals: do you want to pay to see everything or are you looking for a reasonable selection that doesn't blow the budget? And of course, what you would like to see is not necessarily what another wants. So here goes, anyway:
1. Majestic Harbour Lunch Cruise Approximate value: $66 AUD per person (2 hrs) Cruise around Sydney Harbour aboard a luxury catamaran and enjoy a sumptuous seafood buffet lunch. Sit back and relax and take in Sydney Harbour in its entirety while you enjoy the incredible views from an alternate angle.
Yes, worth doing as you'll get lunch as well, assuming you're ok with seafood. They'll probably serve king prawns, Balmain Bugs, crayfish, oysters and some whitefish. Sydney Harbour is without doubt an amazing sight and once you're on the water you definitely see things from a different perspective. For you, it'll be a photographic smorgasbord.
2. Sydney Aquarium & Wildlife World Combo Approximate value: $52 AUD per person (3 hrs) Embark on an amazing underwater journey as you walk through Australia's unique aquatic environments. Get up close to Aussie animals in the heart of Sydney, including koalas, kangaroos and one of the world's largest crocs.
That would be a good way of seeing quite a few Aussie creatures in a short period of time. They might even let you pat a koala and kangaroo, but stay clear of the crocodiles as they're not furry and cuddly.
3. Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb Approximate value: $262 AUD per person (3 1/2 hours) This one is a no-brainer. I may do it on my pre-day.
Yes, great tour, but expensive. And they won't allow you to take photos way up there.
4. Aussie Farm Life Approximate value: $159 AUD per person (6 1/2 hours) Experience life in the outback for a day! Enjoy an authentic Aussie adventure, taste traditional tucker and see a sheep mustering and shearing demonstration. Try your hand at shearing, whip cracking and boomerang throwing and indulge in an Aussie BBQ.
This would be a good way of trying Aussie food, which will almost certainly include eating lamb. If you think you can easily crack a whip, you'll be disappointed (I've done it, but it's tricky). Boomerang throwing should be fun (I can give you some tips beforehand so you might stand a better chance than your tour buddies in getting the boomerang to return to you). This optional is expensive but as it'll take up most of the day it should be a bit of fun.
5. Blue Mountains Deluxe Tour Approximate value: $208 AUD per person (10 hours) Your off the beaten track Blue Mountains experience starts with a visit to Featherdale Wildlife Park (before other tourists arrive) where you can meet all the native Australian animals and feed a kangaroo. Continue on to Blue Mountains National Park and enjoy the stunning views of the remote region. Breath the fresh air during a leisurely 30 minute round trip walk to Wentworth Falls and gaze at the spectacular views over Jamison Valley. Visit Eaglehawk Lookout, a remote lookout point away from the crowds for views of the famous Three Sisters. Dine on a two course lunch at the friendly Blackheath Golf Club, then spend the afternoon visiting a unique selection of lookouts including the famous Govetts Leap. Toast to all the beauty with a glass of sparkling wine at Mt. Wilson, and top off the day at the delightful Mt. Tomah Botanic Gardens for sweeping views of Sydney before returning to your hotel.
Whew, a big day here, and could be tiring. You probably won't see many animals you haven't already seen at Wildlife World but this trip is really more about some fantastic views. The Blue Mountains form part of Australia's Great Dividing Range and some of the sights from the Sydney region are spectacular. Again, the price seems a bit steeper than the mountains themselves, but it's a quick and easy way to explore the hinterland to the west of Sydney and they do take you out for ten hours. The lunch should be nice.
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Post by chech on Jul 28, 2015 15:15:33 GMT
Very cool! As mentioned earlier, I think I could do the wildlife/aquarium on my own with 1 1/2 free days before the tour starts. I don't like seafood, fish or lamb, so the meals wouldn't be any good to me. Would I get similar views of the harbour if I hopped one or more of the harbour ferries? The Menzies is close to the dock and I see I can take a ferry to the Taronga Zoo too.
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Post by tassiedevil on Jul 29, 2015 5:29:05 GMT
Using a ferry will give a similar view of the harbour. At a minimum I would get a ferry between Darling Harbour and Circular Quay (get to go under the bridge) and another out to Manly. That way you would get to see most of what you would want to see by water.
Somehow I missed seeing the bridge climb optional. I have also done this and thoroughly enjoyed it. Like Oz said you can't take a camera up with you, but who cares you're on top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge! In fact you can not take any loose items up on the climb with you, a locker is given to you to place all items in. You are given a grey bridge suit to wear over your normal clothing. If it is a hot sunny day you might not want to wear too much underneath, excess items of clothing can also be left in the locker. I did my climb in the middle of January on a very hot day, so I wore the bare minimum of clothing under the suit, i.e. just my underwear!
www.bridgeclimb.com/
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Post by kiwigrandma on Jul 29, 2015 7:17:26 GMT
I too did sydney harbour bridge climb. Great experience cause I'm a bit scared of heights and felt it was a great achievement for me. Bit of climbing up ladders. They took our photo up top which was nice to have seeing as cant take your own photos. I loved it even if have to pay quite a bit.
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Post by Oz-T on Jul 29, 2015 11:16:04 GMT
Yes, I'd agree with the harbour ferry idea too. Manly is the longer trip but the views are good. Darling Harbour is definitely a good ferry trip; even the ferry to the eastern suburbs has nice sights. You really can't go too wrong with any harbour boat trips.
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Post by chech on Jul 29, 2015 11:19:38 GMT
Yeah, I remember seeing that nothing could be brought up, which makes sense. My Olympus Tough could make quite the dent in a car hood. Since I have the day and a half pre-day, I'll look at taking ferries. I see one goes all the way to Greenwich Wharf from Circular Quay. Is it worth going in that direction or more scenic to go to Manly? A visit to Manly is included in the sightseeing and I'm guessing we drive there (rather than take the ferry) cause the morning sightseeing takes us to Milson's Point. In fact, that's all it says it does for the morning sightseeing - visiting Milson's Point for the view and visiting Manly Beach.
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Post by chech on Jul 29, 2015 11:32:48 GMT
Yes, I'd agree with the harbour ferry idea too. Manly is the longer trip but the views are good. Darling Harbour is definitely a good ferry trip; even the ferry to the eastern suburbs has nice sights. You really can't go too wrong with any harbour boat trips. And I guess they won't look strangely at the woman with the ponytail and a camera not getting off the ferry when it gets to its destination....
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suec
New Member
Posts: 14
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Post by suec on Jul 30, 2015 9:40:36 GMT
Hi chech last year in October I did the fery to manly you can go on the slow one that stops at othe places on the direct to manly it is worth getting off at manly you can walk along the beach near the ferry quay and walk straight down the road to manly beach worth seeing the views of the harbour bridge and opera house are amazing from the ferry you also go past the sydney heads which is the end of the harbour out to the ocean. Photo from the fast ferry to manly. I also went up centre point tower in sydney great views as well. I did do a tale of day one of my trip to sydney. Also chech in melbourne there is also the melbourne star gaint ferris wheel located down in docklands I thoroughly enjoyed my trip on it you have a different view from eureka skydeck. which I have also done it is good as . Also in melbourne I know you often talk about football you could do a visit to the MCG it the home of Aussies rules football and Boxing Day test cricket match and other big events it has a sports museum and is the largest sports arena in Australia. Sue
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Post by chech on Jul 30, 2015 11:59:36 GMT
Oh...Melbourne has a ferris wheel! I love ferris wheels...did the Eye, the Singapore Flyer, the old Vienna one....I'll have to consider that one if time permits. The optionals for Melbourne do mention a visit to a football park...but I'm into American football, so soccer and cricket aren't really my cup of tea - and given the limited time, I have to be picky....looks like it'll be penguins and apostles! I can definitely see myself on the ferries in Sydney. With a day and a half pre-day, I should be able to go east and west on the ferries for the most comprehensive look. And I see there's a hop on/hop off too....and it goes to Bondi. I could do the walk there!
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Post by tassiedevil on Jul 30, 2015 22:57:38 GMT
To get to the Melbourne Star get on tram number 86 in Bourke Street or number 70 in Flinders Street, both will say Docklands and are heading west and get off at the last stop. The number 35 City Circle gets you there as well and can get on it in Flinders, Spring and Latrobe Streets it is a circle route so can get on it heading in either direction. All 3 tram trips mentioned are free. Will have to pay if you get on outside of the free tram zone (outside of the CBD) or travel out of the free tram zone.
www.melbournestar.com/
They would not take you to a soccer ground in Melbourne! I'm sure they would take you to the MCG the 100,000 seat stadium that's the home of the 1956 Olympics, 2006 Commonwealth Games, cricket and the AFL Grand Final amongst others.
Like Sue said, if you get on the Manly ferry I would get off and have a look around, even if it is only a 20 minute look. I could be wrong but I have a feeling you have no option but to get off as it is the end of the line and you must disembark.
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Post by chech on Jul 30, 2015 23:47:15 GMT
Our included sightseeing goes to Manly beach...but if I have to get off, that's fine too. Unless I can hide in the WC.
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Post by tassiedevil on Jul 30, 2015 23:54:44 GMT
One thing to note, so you don't get disappointed, the beach where the ferry docks is not Manly Beach. This beach is more for children and people who don't want to go out into the surf, as it is in the harbour and protected rather than being in the Pacific like Manly Beach. You have to walk through Manly itself to get to Manly beach.
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Post by chech on Jul 31, 2015 0:00:00 GMT
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Post by tassiedevil on Jul 31, 2015 0:03:29 GMT
I didn't want you to be like some others I know that got the ferry to Manly came back wondering what the hype about Manly Beach was all about, not knowing that they hadn't actually seen the Manly Beach!
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Post by chech on Jul 31, 2015 0:31:03 GMT
LOL....the funny part is I would have done the ferry rides before the tour started...wondered what this beach was all about....and then visited it with the tour and go "ooooooooooooooooohhhh!" that's why...
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Post by tassiedevil on Jul 31, 2015 0:32:26 GMT
That's what I thought!
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Post by chech on Aug 3, 2015 16:47:53 GMT
Oh...one more thing...I have to spend a night in Sydney between Fiji and Vancouver. I arrive late and leave the next morning. Any suggestions for a cheap airport hotel that has a shuttle and wifi? thx
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Post by tassiedevil on Aug 3, 2015 23:47:05 GMT
I've never stayed out at the airport, but did a quick search.
For less than $100 a night in a single room Airport Hotel Sydney has free wifi, a shuttle to and from domestic terminal as well as to the international terminal at the cost of $8 each way. They estimate a taxi to cost $22 from domestic and $16 to international.
www.airporthotelsydney.com.au/
Rydges have rooms around $188 with free wifi and free shuttle from domestic terminal. It's right next to international terminal so no shuttle needed.
www.rydges.com/accommodation/sydney-nsw/sydney-airport/welcome/
Rydges was the only one I could find that offered free shuttles. There might be some in the city, which is 20 minutes from the airport.
Hope this helps even just a little bit.
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Post by tassiedevil on Aug 4, 2015 0:10:52 GMT
This is what you would have woken up to yesterday if were staying in Hobart
The first 2 are of where I work, which is pretty much opposite the entrance to your hotel (Wrest Point Casino), so pretty much sea level. While the 3rd is the view you could possibly have had, depending on where your room was.
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Post by chech on Aug 4, 2015 0:20:59 GMT
Absolutely. The Rydges looks promising. Free wifi and it's right in the airport so no worries about a shuttle. Thanks
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