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Post by tassiedevil on Sept 24, 2015 0:48:58 GMT
They are also at Melbourne airport, Swanston St (between Collins St and Flinders Ln) in Melbourne as well as one in Collins St (almost at the corner of Spencer St, so a little way away from where you are staying).
www.krispykreme.com.au/our-stores
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Post by chech on Sept 24, 2015 1:10:40 GMT
And Central Station in Sydney. I was just looking at the HOHO bus and it's one of the stops. On second thought, it's only a mile from my hotel. I should walk it and visit Paddy's Market at the same time. Work off the calories...LOL
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Post by chech on Sept 27, 2015 23:50:48 GMT
Well, Sydney's HOHO looks like a great way to spend my free day. I'm thinking visiting Paddy's Market, then Bondi (and walking from one stop back to the previous stop via the beach and with time, maybe do some of the coastal walk) then taking it to the Opera House and then stopping at the bridge to walk across for some photos. This is the HOHO map. Any other stops worth a stop? www.city-sightseeing.com/documents/tours/1255.pdfAnd I should have time the day before to hop the ferry to Manly, have a late lunch and then head back to Darling Harbour. Think that will give me the best photo opportunities.
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Post by Oz-T on Sept 28, 2015 4:59:34 GMT
There's plenty to see in Sydney near where your bus travels, Chech. Darling Harbour is a place where you could wander around for a long time, looking at the sights. It's not far to walk to Sydney Observatory which is on a hill and it's on your way to The Rocks, an old , historical area where you can get some unusual photos from almost under the Harbour Bridge on Hickson Road.
You can walk down to Circular Quay from here (or from it if you do this after returning from the Manly ferry). The cruise ships moor on the west side of Circular Quay (where our cruise ship sat - I must write my travel tale for that cruise someday!). Like most cities, your destinations will depend on your interests as Sydney has plenty of museums, galleries, old buildings, Town Hall, churches, parliament and shops.
Being the first settlement after the discovery of Australia, Sydney is old and the streets were laid out without as much forward planning as other cities here. Later, you'll see the comparison with Adelaide and Melbourne which have wide, open streets in an orderly grid pattern - particularly important to Melbourne because the roads have to accommodate trams as well as cars, buses and pedestrians.
But Sydney has one of the best harbours you will ever see in the world and under a sunny blue sky it is absolutely spectacular. The city doesn't have a nearby peak like Hong Kong but the views from the bridge will be more than enough to take in this natural wonder. A better vantage point for photography would be the Centrepoint/Sydney Tower because it's twice as high as the Harbour Bridge. You can purchase tickets cheaper online and for just A$50 you get to the observation deck where you can take photos, as well as the Skywalk where you walk on the outside of the tower (no cameras or phones allowed out there). Looking down at Sydney from 300 metres up is an unforgettable experience.
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Post by Owen on Sept 28, 2015 5:12:45 GMT
Please note:- The HOHO bus is two separate bus routes. Beware of interval between buses.
Suggestion: Do the Bondi & Bays "complete" HOHO route first ~ plenty photo spots (from Bus) at Bondi Beach, Dover Heights, Vaucluse, Rose Bay, Double Bay etc. and Get off at stop K (Australian Museum). Walk down College St (St Mary's Cathedral) & Hyde Park _ Sydney Tower (Westfield) & historic Macquarie St (via Botanic Gardens) to Opera House. Opera House gives you great views of city skyline, harbour bridge, gardens and harbour views.
Plenty walking exercise and plenty icons and parks & gardens to photograph.
Short walk around Circular Quay to join city HOHO bus in front of Macca's. Pop in and view the menu items at your favourite eatery. Plenty photo spots (from bus) all along the city HOHO route. Many souvenir shops on Pitt St ~ minutes in front of HOHO Main pickup stop. Just ask Mr or Ms HOHO
Warning: George St bus routes change on Sunday 4th Oct. HOHO and or Menzies will tell you the story. 443 bus from Circular Quay to Darling Harbour ENDS on Sat 3rd Oct.
Darling Harbour ferry from wharf 4 or 5 and ask about the best stop. & Manly ferry from wharf 3. & Transport kiosk in front of McDonald's @ Circular Quay will give travel fare info and sell tickets (cash or MasterCard/VISA) for a day or a single/return bus or and ferry trip. Well worth visiting. It is 1 minute walk to the HOHO main pickup/dropoff stop. Easy to get back to Bondi Beach using 333 or 380 from Circular Quay at any time if required.
Paddy's Market @ Haymarket may be closed on Tuesday 6th. Monday 5th Oct (public holiday) Paddy's open. Ask Menzies about souvenir shops within 7mins of front door and walk down to Rocks along George St
Ask Menzies for the short walk directions to Darling Harbour/Cockle Bay & Barrangaroo. Handy for a short 15/20mins visit to take more photos.
Yes, you can climb or take lift up to the Cahill expressway and walk along upper level of Circular Quay and onto the Harbour Bridge footpath and climb the South Tower for a small fee. Just ask the HOHO people when you return to the last stop at Circular Quay. They will point you to the lift/staircase only 3-4 mins down the Circular Quay (beyond wharf 2).
Cross the street from the Menzies into Wynyard Park and "click away" and then walk up York St to the QVB & Town Hall & Myer & Dymocks & Strand Arcade & Martin Place and back to Menzies.
Plenty of scenic spots to take lots of photos.
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Post by chech on Sept 28, 2015 20:32:38 GMT
Awesome info. Thanks, guys. Ohhh...the Observatory. And it has night visits! Now I just need the weather to cooperate (extended has sun right up to the day I arrive and then rain for two days...subject to change!). Sounds like more than enough to keep me going for a couple days in between jet lag recovery. The HOHO info is great! I had planned to do Bondi first too...then spend the rest of the day on the Red route and downtown area. Didn't know I could go into one of the towers on the bridge. Awesome! Time to take notes.
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Post by Oz-T on Sept 29, 2015 11:54:42 GMT
Yes, you can certainly go into one of the 'towers'. I did this may years ago - the south-east pylon had stairs inside and it's an easy climb. The views are good but nothing like you get from the top of the arch or city buildings. It was a free climb when I did it, but that was 20 years ago. And they allowed cameras.
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Post by chech on Sept 29, 2015 14:21:26 GMT
Yeah...the chance for some pics make it worth the admission ($13 apparently). I walked along the bridge with Google Earth and saw the stairs and the door for the Pylon Lookout. Love Google Earth...what a tool to plan visits! So, that would likely be on the 10th and I do the bridge climb on the 11th. Blue Mountains on the 12th. Still waiting for my docs too. Cutting it close!
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Post by Tonnet on Oct 1, 2015 0:54:44 GMT
There are several brands, but just wait for a certain person (I can't reveal his name but his initials are: Tonnet ) to log in here and declare that the best sarsaparilla is Bundaberg. And he would probably be right. Although I am not a Sars fan, Chech, but I do have it on good authority from those that partake the Bundaberg brand is top of the tree.
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Post by chech on Oct 1, 2015 11:55:22 GMT
LOL. I already know where the closest 7-11 is to the Menzies! Does it come in beer bottles or regular soda bottles?
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Post by californian on Oct 1, 2015 12:49:13 GMT
Talking about beverages, Chech, the other day I saw bottles and cans of Inca Kola, here in the US, and I though of you. I have to try it yet; maybe is making its way to Canada?
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Post by chech on Oct 1, 2015 13:41:55 GMT
Ahhh...Inca Kola! I think I'm still carrying around 2 or 3 lbs that I can blame it for! LOL I had researched and found that it is sold in isolated areas of North America. I do keep an eye out for it every time I travel. If I find one in a Krispy Kreme, my head would probably explode.
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Post by Oz-T on Oct 1, 2015 23:39:27 GMT
LOL. I already know where the closest 7-11 is to the Menzies! Does it come in beer bottles or regular soda bottles? Sarsaparilla is sold in various containers. Bundy Sars is a small brown bottle that looks like a beer stubby. Other brands come in a small, clear glass bottle. Less popular are the 440ml cans and the 1.25 litre plastic bottles sold in some supermarkets. And we don't use the term soda much here, so you should refer to these as soft drinks. I'm unsure whether 7-11 stocks sarsaparilla as it isn't a top selling flavour. You might need to ask around a bit to find a retailer.
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Post by chech on Oct 2, 2015 22:29:31 GMT
Oh....litre sized! This could be dangerous! I should stick to tea....hopefully there's something better than Starbucks.
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Post by Tonnet on Oct 3, 2015 21:44:23 GMT
You won't have any problem finding a coffee shop in the vicinity of Wynyard - all superior to Starbucks! We actually know how to boil water in Australia so you will always get a good cuppa! The only coffee that I can tolerate in North America is Tim Horton's brew!
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Post by Oz-T on Oct 3, 2015 22:39:50 GMT
Chech doesn't drink coffee, Tony. Or alcohol either.
Just tea with the occasional infusion of catnip.
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Post by chech on Oct 3, 2015 22:48:52 GMT
LOL....and there are people here who consider Starbucks to be the elite standard and Timmy's is trash. I even know a 16 year old "who wouldn't be seen in a Tim Hortons" and spends $6 for coffee cause being seen with a Starbucks' mug is so much cooler...LOL So, what are the good ones: Zarraffa's 85C Coffee Club Gloria Jeans Hudsons Michel's Patisserie
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Post by chech on Oct 3, 2015 22:54:20 GMT
Yup.....I like English Breakfast...but a "green" tea once in a while is nice. When I can get to it...
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Post by Oz-T on Oct 4, 2015 1:46:52 GMT
So, what are the good ones: Zarraffa's 85C Coffee Club Gloria Jeans Hudsons Michel's Patisserie Not familiar with the first two but I'm always happy with coffees from the following:
Coffee Club Gloria Jeans Hudsons Michel's Patisserie
And of course there are plenty of others worth howling about....
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Post by chech on Oct 4, 2015 11:44:28 GMT
LOL...cool. Any have that 'special' ingredient, I wonder.
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Post by 1jhwks on Oct 4, 2015 19:53:05 GMT
LOL....and there are people here who consider Starbucks to be the elite standard and Timmy's is trash. I even know a 16 year old "who wouldn't be seen in a Tim Hortons" and spends $6 for coffee cause being seen with a Starbucks' mug is so much cooler...LOL So, what are the good ones: Zarraffa's 85C Coffee Club Gloria Jeans Hudsons Michel's Patisserie Heard of Gloria Jean's. They used to have stores in our malls years ago before all this coffee craze.
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Post by tassiedevil on Oct 5, 2015 9:13:08 GMT
A better vantage point for photography would be the Centrepoint/Sydney Tower because it's twice as high as the Harbour Bridge. You can purchase tickets cheaper online and for just A$50 you get to the observation deck where you can take photos, as well as the Skywalk where you walk on the outside of the tower (no cameras or phones allowed out there). Looking down at Sydney from 300 metres up is an unforgettable experience. As a youngster I was jealous that we didn't have a tall building with an observation deck like Melbourne or Sydney. It wasn't until I grew up I realised we had something so much better, a mountain. It is higher (so get to see farther), cheaper (no entrance fee), potentially quicker (once lined up for over 45 minutes for Sydney Tower, longer in other parts of the world, at a minimum could be travelling back down in that time) and obviously way more beautiful!
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Post by tassiedevil on Oct 5, 2015 9:25:54 GMT
LOL. I already know where the closest 7-11 is to the Menzies! Does it come in beer bottles or regular soda bottles? Sarsaparilla is sold in various containers. Bundy Sars is a small brown bottle that looks like a beer stubby. Other brands come in a small, clear glass bottle. Less popular are the 440ml cans and the 1.25 litre plastic bottles sold in some supermarkets. And we don't use the term soda much here, so you should refer to these as soft drinks. I'm unsure whether 7-11 stocks sarsaparilla as it isn't a top selling flavour. You might need to ask around a bit to find a retailer. Yeah, I definitely wouldn't be going to 7-11 to look for sarsaparilla, as Oz says I'm sure they don't stock it plus they are normally way too expensive. I know Woolworths stock Bundaberg sarsaparilla, ginger beer and some of their other items as well as another brand or maybe to of sarsaparilla. www.woolworths.com.au/storelocator/service/storefinder/supermarkets/postcode/2000Coles could be another option as well as any cafe or small store. store-locator.coles.com.au
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Post by tassiedevil on Oct 5, 2015 9:51:23 GMT
LOL....and there are people here who consider Starbucks to be the elite standard and Timmy's is trash. I even know a 16 year old "who wouldn't be seen in a Tim Hortons" and spends $6 for coffee cause being seen with a Starbucks' mug is so much cooler...LOL So, what are the good ones: Zarraffa's 85C Coffee Club Gloria Jeans Hudsons Michel's Patisserie Apart from Hudsons franchise coffee shops don't survive in Hobart. There many other cafes in the city though that would happily serve you a cup of tea. There are even some tea stores that will sell you some English breakfast to take back to your hotel room and brew yourself, with T2 being very popular. They have stores all around Australia, several in Melbourne and Sydney one in Hobart and Adelaide. www.t2tea.com/shop/
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Post by tassiedevil on Oct 5, 2015 10:07:30 GMT
Oh, forgot to say because you are coming we are currently putting the good weather on. The last 4 days have been around or over 30 degrees with tomorrow being even hotter. Unfortunately it had also brought an early start to the bush fires. But don't worry by the time you get down here it had bound to have changed and you will be greeted with snow atop of Mt Wellington.
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Post by Oz-T on Oct 5, 2015 12:43:08 GMT
And we got to 35C here today. A nice warm day (or a frightful heatwave if you're a snow-bound Newfoundlander).
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Post by chech on Oct 5, 2015 14:43:55 GMT
LOL...yeah. 35 is excessive. I woke to 3 degrees this morning. It's a balmy 13 now. Purrfect flying weather. Board the first of 18 flights in an hour.
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Post by bet on Oct 6, 2015 0:37:46 GMT
Have a great time Down Under Chech
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Post by purvis on Oct 6, 2015 15:50:48 GMT
Chech: Have a great trip to Australia. Looking forward to your tour tales and photos. Purvis
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Post by Oz-T on Oct 7, 2015 3:46:35 GMT
Now that Chech is on the way here, I have alerted airport security to be especially vigilant... ... particularly if they encounter any Canadians with 315 cases to go through the XRay scanner...
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