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Stuff to do in Sydney


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Hi All,

I am from Sydney and figured I might just put up some options for people to do when visiting our city

1. Visit Manly on the ferry

2. Walk up to botanic gardens

3. Take the ferry to Darling Harbour

4. walk across the harbour bridge

5. go up Centrepoint tower

6. Check our the older buildings

7. Visit Haigh's Chocolates (you can also do this in Melbourne and Adelaide) it is up George St - you wont regret it

8. Visit The Strand Arcade

9. Get lost in The Rocks

10. Want to see Aussie animals and have 4 hours- Wildlife World at Darling Harbour- excellent display and the biggest wombats I have ever seen.

----that is just 10 (there is heaps more)

Other Sydney-siders what would you add?

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  • 3 weeks later...

Visit the Sydney Wildlife World and the Sydney Aquarium. It was close to the Four Points Sheraton where we stayed prior to our cruise. It was just across the street and only about a 15 minute walk to the Rocks where we went to the Taranga Zoo aboard the ferry.

Also a visit to the Blue Mountains would have been nice but we did not have time.

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Thanks for the great list - I'm making notes for a trip in March 2013.

 

I'm trying to get a feel for the minimum amount of time we should spend in Sydney before the cruise. (also have previously asked this question about Auckland where we disembark)

I know the more the better of course but if we're limited because of work and might have only one or two extra days before the cruise do you think that's enough or a big mistake?

 

I haven't ruled out trying to fly to Ayers Rock for one night - as crazy as it seems to go that distance for one night! - so we might only have another day or two in Sydney.

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Great, I have done all of this when I was there. Aquarium is nice as well.

 

Eating out is great with some many options. We stayed 5 days in Sydney. Then drove to Blue Mountains.

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  • 4 weeks later...

Great thread, thanks! This allows me to update the list, compiled from CC'ers posts, of suggested tips for Sydney, especially a newcomer. Here is the current edition.

 

First, things that you can do even if you only have one day in Sydney:-

The Rocks – historical area, plus some tourist shopping. Circular Quay – for views. Sydney Opera House – do a tour; the backstage tour is the most interesting, but is much less frequent and much more expensive than the standard tourist run. Go to a concert or a show if you can. Botanic Gardens and the Domain (parks). Hyde Park, including the ANZAC memorial, fountains, and nearby buildings such as St Mary’s Cathedral, the New South Wales Art Gallery and Hyde Park Barracks. Darling Harbour – touristy things, including the casino at Star City if you're into that sort of thing. Sydney Aquarium (at Darling Harbour). Sydney Wildlife World (at Darling Harbour). Maritime Museum (at Darling Harbour). Powerhouse Museum (at Darling Harbour). The Australian Museum (in the City). Museum of Sydney (in the City). Museum of Contemporary Art (Circular Quay – the café is said to be pretty good). Bridgeclimb – 3½ hours, but worth it if the weather's good. Not energetic, nor difficult to anyone who has anything other than serious fears of heights. Best to book when you're there and you can gauge what the weather is likely to be. Most popular and expensive climbs are at twilight. Otherwise, a first timer should do a day climb to see where everything is, although night climbs are romantically spectacular. They have a new route which climbs the lower arch, but the standard route is still better for a newcomer. Or just walk across the Harbour Bridge if you don't want to climb it. You can go up the south-east pylon (the one nearest the Opera House and Circular Quay) for some views that are better than those from the roadway. Sydney Tower – the tall building thing, also a very ish revolving restaurant. Paddy's Markets. Chinatown. The Sydney Fish Market (an early start is needed to get the most out of this). Take a ferry to Manly. Manly – long beach on the ocean side, cafes etc. If you can get there, big park at North Head with good harbour and sea views, but is a long walk from Manly itself. Taronga Zoo – take the ferry from Circular Quay for this, too. Cruise on the harbour - lots of ways of doing this, standard tourist ones from Circular Quay; also a jetboat from there; but my favourite is on a genuine ex-Americas Cup yacht - a cruise ship is nothing like this! Watsons Bay – famous for Doyles, seafood restaurant, also good views. Also, go up to South Head (walking distance) from there, for views. Watsons Bay can be reached by ferry. Queen Victoria Building – possibly the most elegant shopping mall in the world. Bondi Beach – if you feel that you really have to do this. Quite close to Watsons Bay, can be done in a long walk (about 3½ miles), or by the Bondi Explorer Bus. Walk from Bondi Beach to Coogee Beach along the cliff tops. Also, between Watsons Bay and the City, there are Double Bay (elegant, expensive shops) and Rose Bay (pretty waterfront). Balmoral Beach, to which you can get by bus (including, if you like, lunch or dinner at the Bathers Pavilion, or just fish and chips, or something else - there is a number of eateries here). Other walks along the harbour foreshore, for example between Cremorne and Mosman. Blu Bar at the top of the Shangri-La Hotel for cocktails with a view. King's Cross at night (for the broad-minded).Featherdale Wildlife Park.

Also, Sydney is one of the great eating cities of the world, so there's no shortage of good and/or exotic food.

 

If you are staying longer in Sydney, the following day trips out of Sydney are also possible:-


  • Blue Mountains/Katoomba
  • Northern beaches (up to Palm Beach)
  • Hunter Valley wineries
  • Canberra

You might also want to have a look at the following threads:-

First Time in Australia & New ZealandPartial Day Tour in SydneyAustralia cruise in 4/14/08, tour suggestionsOnly 2 days in Sydney. Do the Blue Mtns?Sightseeing in Sydney

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Wildlife World at Darling Harbour vs. Toranga Zoo?

 

More information would be required to answer that. Basically, Taronga is better as a zoo, whereas Wildlife world is better if you have limited time, and mostly want to see the main local animals. So it depends how much time you have and what your preferences are; both serve a purpose.

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Great thread, thanks! This allows me to update the list, compiled from CC'ers posts, of suggested tips for Sydney, especially a newcomer. Here is the current edition.

 

 

First, things that you can do even if you only have one day in Sydney:-

  • The Rocks – historical area, plus some tourist shopping.
  • Circular Quay – for views.
  • Sydney Opera House – do a tour; the backstage tour is the most interesting, but is much less frequent and much more expensive than the standard tourist run. Go to a concert or a show if you can.
  • Botanic Gardens and the Domain (parks).
  • Hyde Park, including the ANZAC memorial, fountains, and nearby buildings such as St Mary’s Cathedral, the New South Wales Art Gallery and Hyde Park Barracks.
  • Darling Harbour – touristy things, including the casino at Star City if you're into that sort of thing.
  • Sydney Aquarium (at Darling Harbour).
  • Sydney Wildlife World (at Darling Harbour).
  • Maritime Museum (at Darling Harbour).
  • Powerhouse Museum (at Darling Harbour).
  • The Australian Museum (in the City).
  • Museum of Sydney (in the City).
  • Museum of Contemporary Art (Circular Quay – the café is said to be pretty good).
  • Bridgeclimb – 3½ hours, but worth it if the weather's good. Not energetic, nor difficult to anyone who has anything other than serious fears of heights. Best to book when you're there and you can gauge what the weather is likely to be. Most popular and expensive climbs are at twilight. Otherwise, a first timer should do a day climb to see where everything is, although night climbs are romantically spectacular. They have a new route which climbs the lower arch, but the standard route is still better for a newcomer.
  • Or just walk across the Harbour Bridge if you don't want to climb it. You can go up the south-east pylon (the one nearest the Opera House and Circular Quay) for some views that are better than those from the roadway.
  • Sydney Tower – the tall building thing, also a very ish revolving restaurant.
  • Paddy's Markets.
  • Chinatown.
  • The Sydney Fish Market (an early start is needed to get the most out of this).
  • Take a ferry to Manly.
  • Manly – long beach on the ocean side, cafes etc. If you can get there, big park at North Head with good harbour and sea views, but is a long walk from Manly itself.
  • Taronga Zoo – take the ferry from Circular Quay for this, too.
  • Cruise on the harbour - lots of ways of doing this, standard tourist ones from Circular Quay; also a jetboat from there; but my favourite is on a genuine ex-Americas Cup yacht - a cruise ship is nothing like this!
  • Watsons Bay – famous for Doyles, seafood restaurant, also good views. Also, go up to South Head (walking distance) from there, for views. Watsons Bay can be reached by ferry.
  • Queen Victoria Building – possibly the most elegant shopping mall in the world.
  • Bondi Beach – if you feel that you really have to do this. Quite close to Watsons Bay, can be done in a long walk (about 3½ miles), or by the Bondi Explorer Bus.
  • Walk from Bondi Beach to Coogee Beach along the cliff tops.
  • Also, between Watsons Bay and the City, there are Double Bay (elegant, expensive shops) and Rose Bay (pretty waterfront).
  • Balmoral Beach, to which you can get by bus (including, if you like, lunch or dinner at the Bathers Pavilion, or just fish and chips, or something else - there is a number of eateries here).
  • Other walks along the harbour foreshore, for example between Cremorne and Mosman.
  • Blu Bar at the top of the Shangri-La Hotel for cocktails with a view.
  • King's Cross at night (for the broad-minded).
  • Featherdale Wildlife Park.

Also, Sydney is one of the great eating cities of the world, so there's no shortage of good and/or exotic food.

 

 

If you are staying longer in Sydney, the following day trips out of Sydney are also possible:-


  • Blue Mountains/Katoomba
  • Northern beaches (up to Palm Beach)
  • Hunter Valley wineries
  • Canberra

You might also want to have a look at the following threads:-

 

Fantastic Post!!!

 

Are you, or anyone else, familiar with the Hyde Park Inn in Sydney & if so your opinion?

Edited by glutenhab
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More information would be required to answer that. Basically, Taronga is better as a zoo, whereas Wildlife world is better if you have limited time, and mostly want to see the main local animals. So it depends how much time you have and what your preferences are; both serve a purpose.

 

"Passing through" this forum only but saw this thread - some of the ideas are great!

 

Re zoo vs Wildlife Park - we go to the zoo a few times a year, so I thought I'd put in my two cents worth. If you have the time (you need at least 5-6 hours to get there, walk around, and come back) and IF it is a nice day, the zoo is the way to go. On a nice clear day you will get spectacular views of the harbour and the Sydney skyline. The ferry ride across (from Circular Quay) is part of the fun. I agree that Wildlife World is better if you have limited time, or if it's a wet miserable day (like it has been for the last two weeks :().

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Globaliser - thank you for your post. We are visiting Australia for the first time and the information you provided will be very helpful to us for our planning.

 

We appreciate you taking the time to put this summary together and for sharing. Kimberly

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Globaliser - thank you for your post. We are visiting Australia for the first time and the information you provided will be very helpful to us for our planning.
You're welcome, although I couldn't have done it on my own! This has been a joint effort by a lot of CC members who live in or know Sydney, and it's continued to evolve over the years.
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More information would be required to answer that. Basically, Taronga is better as a zoo, whereas Wildlife world is better if you have limited time, and mostly want to see the main local animals. So it depends how much time you have and what your preferences are; both serve a purpose.

 

I have a "zoo" question. We would like to visit a place where we can actually interact with Koala's and also Roo's. We do not particularly want to see animals from other continents/countries. We are from South Africa and have lived in National Parks with the African animals for 12 years, as well as returning every year on Safari. So ....... it is very important for us to spend quality time with Australian wildlife. Having said all this, which facility would you suggest we go to, we will (sadly) only be in Sydney and Melbourne - one day in each port. Many thanks for your input.

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I'm not certain about Melbourne Zoo, but don't believe you can 'interact' with koalas at either zoo - it's just looking at them from a few metres away. Touching is restricted more, but you can get close for pictures at Wildlife World if that's what you're after.

 

Kangaroos are a bit easier and each have an enclosure you can walk through with at least kangaroos, plus usually some other animals. There are also other animal parks in Sydney (Featherdale and Koala Park) that allow closer encounters with primarily native animals, and Healesville in Melbourne, plus a few a bit further out again. Queensland is the most liberal with getting close to koalas as I understand it.

 

I'd say Wildlife World is the most convenient for you, unless you're willing to spend a day as the others take a bit more in travel time.

Edited by The_Big_M
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I have a "zoo" question. We would like to visit a place where we can actually interact with Koala's and also Roo's. We do not particularly want to see animals from other continents/countries. We are from South Africa and have lived in National Parks with the African animals for 12 years, as well as returning every year on Safari. So ....... it is very important for us to spend quality time with Australian wildlife. Having said all this, which facility would you suggest we go to, we will (sadly) only be in Sydney and Melbourne - one day in each port. Many thanks for your input.

 

This may be anticlimactic after living in Africa but the Taronga Zoo in Sydney has a Koala Encounter, not sure about Kangaroos. This is a very nice zoo that has a program called Roar & Snore where you actually overnight in the zoo. Would have loved to do that but couldn’t make it work with our schedule.

http://www.taronga.org.au/roarandsnore

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Globaliser,

 

Thanks for giving SYD first-timers like us on how to spend our 5 pre-cruise days in Sydney. Very helpful...Good thing I visited this thread.

 

Regards and happy cruising to all.

 

Froogal

Edited by Froogal
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