cassamanda

Hugh and Chris, Thanks for the information about the train stop. My Dh and I are not afraid of public transportation and will use it whenever we travel - he is great at figuring out bus schedules! Another question if you don't mind - as I said we are staying at the Radisson on Liverpool and Sussex. We also have the option of staying at the Radisson Blu on O'Connell. I realize that the latter is closer to the water but which is your mind is a better location? Closer to Chinatown and the Spanish area or closer to the wharf, etc? They would cost the same for us (using points).

 

Jane

Raddison Blu is slightly more upmarket. Easy to get to from Circular Quay station. Walk straight up Pitt St (directly opp station). The Raddison is on the junction with O'Connell St/Hunter St/Pitt St (5-way intersection). Handy to The Rocks, Ferry terminal (also gets u to Darling Harbour) Opera Hse, Bridge, Botanic Gardens, City Shopping, live Theatre, Sydney Museum and others. just depends on your interests. Easy enough to get to China Town area using the 555 free bus from Elizabeth or George Sts.

Hi,

 

Thank you for the "Kings Cross is the Red Light District" information.

 

We had been looking at the Holiday Inn Potts Point which is located across from the Kings Cross Station.

 

Since we are not interested in staying in a seedy area where crime/prostitution is prevelant... is the problem only related to certain streets in the area or is the problem the entire Kings Cross area? Any information you can provide would be appreciated.

If you are travelling light, could i suggest the new YHA at the Rocks (near Circular Quay). Very modern and great views from the top deck.

http://www3.yha.com.au/hostels/nsw/sydney-surrounds/sydney-harbour/

Old Sydney Holiday Inn at the Rocks also good.

That's a fairly sedate area.

 

Compared to other parts of Sydney, Kings Cross is the more touristy/clubby area and there are strip shows in that area. I wouldn't call it seedy or dangerous though, unless you're 'out for some excitement' late in the night as it were. It's also the most populated area in Australia so there's always people around... it's what you make of it.

Sorry but i have to disagree with you on this one. There are far better places to stay and i would never recommend Kings X in the light of the current happenings in that area. The Holiday Inn is a stones throw from all the problem areas.

Secondly it is more difficult to get to all the great places in Sydney. About the only advantage would be if your ship happens to be berthed at the Naval Base - that would be walkable for a backbacker.

Cassamanda,

We are staying at the Radisson at 72 Liverpool street. After reading these posts, I think we will take the train from the International Terminal in town. Where do we get off the train to get to the Radisson and can we walk there or should we take a cab?

 

Jane

Hi Jane,

no need to get a cab. You have two choices of stations to get off at. Refer to the attached PDF of the Airport Train map City Section.

Your hotel is on the northern corner of Liverpool St and Sussex St. You can get off at either Museum Station (1st one after Central) on the corner of Elizabeth and Liverpool Sts or Town Hall Station as suggested by previous poster and walk down George St (downhill) to Liverpool St and turn right, Sussex is 2 short blocks down.

The exit out of Town Hall Station may be a bit confusing but head for the George St/Town Hall exit and ask where the lift (elevator) is. It accesses George St on the eastern side between Park and Bathurst St.

You are in the heart of the Spanish quarter and next to China Town. (Just continue south along Sussex ST or go down one more block to Dixon St). Hope this helps a little.

http://www.airportlink.com.au/sydney-city-map.php

Better than an airport shuttle one of my friends had. He got a crazy Russian guy who kept pulling over to abuse people in Russian on the CB.

Bet i know who the company was. Did it start with a K?

It wasn´t that the shuttle went from hotel to hotel. A driver with no form of identification turned up at the airport nearly 2 hours late, approached us and said you´re the couple I´m here for, was generally surly when we asked for identification, didn´t know our names...so we were naturally suspicious. We waited the 2 hours as neither we or the office at the airport could contact the company (which I can name and shame if you want) but it eventually turned out he was the right chap for us. He didn´t help with our cases and didn´t speak a word during the journey which was just to our hotel. Just not a good introduction to Oz on that occasion.

 

Sandy in Spain

That's terrible. Some people should just not work in this industry. Australian's are usually the most helpful and friendly people around. I hope everything goes better for you this time.

We´re staying at Rendezvous Stafford in Harrington Street. Last time we were in Sydney, we booked a shuttle from Airport to the same hotel, but the service was abysmal, hence possible change of plan.

 

Sandy in Spain

Fair enough, yes some of the shuttles go from hotel to hotel - annoying. Still think that Rendezvous is walkable - only that short uphill section at Argyle St between George and Harrington. From the station to Argyle St is flat.

Train seems a good option to get to Circular Quay. Our hotel id nearby, but too far for us oldies to walk with luggage. Is it easy to get a taxi from the train station there? Is there a minimum charge for journeys?

 

Sandy in Spain

If your hotel is Sydney Harbour Marriott or 4 Seasons they are within very easy walking distance. If you take a taxi to these be aware that some taxi drivers may refuse even though they are not permitted to do so. Yes we have them in Sydney too. BTW taxi's here are metered.

Just wondering how far is the walk from the train station to the Overseas Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay? Is it difficult with luggage?

 

Thanks.

About the length of the ship - perhaps a little more;). Hardest part is getting off the train quickly and in and out of the lift. The platforms are above ground. Once you are at ground level it is a flat walk directly to the OPT past the pointy end of the ship.

We have 9256 on our cruise from Sydney to Honolulu in April next year. Guess we will be having a few cocktail evenings:D

Just wondering if you could share a description of the tour and contact information for the tour that you organized in Esperance.

 

Thanks much.

The Esperance Tour is 4.5hrs with 10.30am pickup from tender drop off. This is a copy of ouir roll call blurb.

Tour the Great Ocean Drive to Twilight Beach – voted Australia’s best beach. Stop at Rotary Lookout for 360 deg views of Esperance and the Recherche Archipelago.

Then visit Section Glass Gallery near the Pink Lake.

Tour through rugged farmland to Cape Le Grand National Park and stop at Hellfire Bay & Lucky Bay with the squeakiest, whitest sand and crystal clear aqua water together with resident kangaroos!!

Return via the newly opened and exact replica of the original Stonehenge and aligned to the southern solstice (talk given).

Drop off at the Pier Hotel on the Esplanade or Shuttle Bus departure point.

Time after tour for shopping/visit local museum – see Skylab remains, stroll around town or relax at the Pier Hotel, do your own thing etc.

The Departure time is 10.30 a.m. from shuttle bus drop off point in Esperance.

Tour conducted by Tourism Esperance.

For confidentiallity, please email me at boatshcgatbigponddotcom for the contact person name and email address.

The Radiance roll call of 28 Oct is using a 24 seater at $75pp. They also have added another stop but we found the above to be ample and actually cut out the Glass Gallery. We terminated the tour outdside the excellent Esperance Museum and then took the shuttle bus from there back to the ship later. It's a great tour.

Thank you for all suggestions. I could not find a contact for the Avis in Esperance only the main one for Australia. But, the Esperance tourist office did tell me that ships will tender on the Esplanade and will be either a 5 or a 15 minute walk. Now I can check this off the list.

 

Pearl

Hello Pearl,

We were there in March and had a great tour of Esperance that i organised through the roll call via Tourism Esperance. Other roll calls for the upcoming season are also doing this. The ship tenders in the Bay off Esperance. Tender takes about 15-20 minutes and there was a free shuttle bus into town operating constantly.

Bumping this thread back up. Our ship arrives in Sydney at 6:30am on March 1st 2013 and we have to catch a flight from Auckland to Tahiti at 6:35 pm the same day.. does anyone think we could catch a 9:25am flight back to Auckland? There is a 11:45am flight to Auckland but that puts us in Auckland at 4:45pm and Im not sure thats enough time to get us checked in with Air Tahiti as they state their counter closes 1 hour before the flight departs.

Why put yourself under so much stress. Neither of the above will work. The ship could be late in port or your connection to NZ could be delayed. I suggest you delay your NZ to Tahiti leg by 24 hours. Mar 1 is a Friday - busiest day of the week for traffic in Sydney so the suggestion of a train is a good one if in a hurry, otherwise grab a taxi.

Thank you for your reply. Just got this info from someone else.

The Blue Mountains are a day trip and the easiest way to get there and back is via the trains...... If you'd like to drive, it's a 90 minute drive outside of peak hours.

It's actually 2 hours drive to Katoomba because of all the road works currently in place. Do it in 90 and i'd say you were flying.

It is obvious from this and other threads that the Blue Mountains area is heavily promoted but with limited time in Sydney there are so many other options closer to the city.

 

Feel free to ask away if you need more information on other things to do while in Sydney.

 

Sue

Can't agree more Sue. So much to do just around Sydney. Blue Mountains are good to visit on a nice day only - so if the weather is bad forget it. In which case the train is probably a good option. If you drive, then can i suggest the "Great Circle Drive" ie returning via the Bells Line of Road through Bilpin, covering so much more of the Blue Mtns National Park than just Katoomba and the 3 Sisters.

Thankyou Goldygolfer for all your info. Hope you don't mind but have forwarded some of your experience to our CC friends on Radiance doing the trip in March from Fremantle.

From cassamanda. Another addition. 6 Mar 2012 Radiance of the Seas, Australia/NZ (Fremantle - Sydney).