a few questions about Sydney--wifi, wine, and transport

[aussielozzie18]

Just re the Westfield wifi - you sign up once and then its loads automatically once you are in the vicinity of Westfield on any future visits.

 

In addition to Bondi and Chatswood, there a large food court in the city under the Myer Store in Pitt Street Mall. The Westfield wifi is excellent there.

[aussielozzie18]

Be aware with the Opal Card that you can only get a refund to an Australian bank account. So best not to put too much money on the card up front.

[Penelope222]

I refuse to use Maccas wifi or any without a password since it's so easy to hack. I'd rather find a coffee shop, give them patronage and use wifi with a code.

I'd stick with $20+ bottles of wine but I'm spoilt by having family in Margaret River area so have had fab wine from the day I turned 18. I'm yet to taste a bad Merlot or Merlot blend though so you should be fine regardless.

 

 

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[Opua Kiwi]

For example, for you Sydney residents, what's your favorite pub? What do you order (besides beer and wine!)? Any particularly good pubs in CBD, near the Wyndham? I would like to find a nice pub we could call ours while we are there but this might be hard to do for a lot of reasons.

I wouldn't necessarily call it a favourite because we are visitors ourselves; however in the past we have stopped in here a couple of times.

It was close to our hotel at the end of the day out.

 

Good drink selection and nice pizza.

Good for people watching if you get a bench by a window.

 

Not far from your hotel.

 

http://www.3wisemonkeys.com.au/

Edited February 29, 2016 by Opua Kiwi

[cassamanda]

There are Pubs, then are Bars, then there are Hotels and then there are bigger hotels.

Very confusing here in Oz.

Generally Pubs are your typical everyday corner hotel with a saloon bar and very basic accommodation. They will also offer cheap meals either over the bar or in a separate restaurant. Some are upmarket ones, like the Lord Nelson. Your nearest basic pub is the Crown Hotel and can be found around the corner on Elizabeth and Goulburn.

Bars do not have accommodation and are just places to meet and get boozed. Such as the 3 wise monkeys (a converted bank).

 

Aussie hotels are often just Pubs so be careful. For high standard hotels we are referring to International Hotels such as Hilton, Rydges, Sheraton etc.

 

There is an irish pub not far away on Goulburn and George called Scruffy Murphys. Very popular, esp with the younger set. Great during the day for people watching. Not the place to be late at night.

[Tigerlily75]

I love Sydney's Chinatown! It's one of my favourites. The food courts can be somewhat hidden. Dixon House for example is virtually underground. I say stick to the food courts, and pick the stall with the longest line of Asian customers and you can't go wrong.

 

There is a night market on Friday nights. Lots of stalls and street food.

 

THEN go to Emperor's Puffs - a tiny hole in the wall, fresh piping hot little custard puffs, 5 for $1 (or something ridiculously cheap!).

 

Din Tai Fung (at star casino, not Chinatown) is very good, though you do have outlets in the US. It's a Taiwanese franchise. But nearby is Adriano Zumbo for macarons.

 

Make sure you catch the public transport ferries from Circular Quay or Darling Harbour. Cheap, awesome photo opportunities of the Opera House, bridge etc.. Doesn't matter where you go, just go anywhere and then just come back!

 

Oh - do go to Cockatoo Island, that's a nice visit.

 

It's funny you mention NYC - my 20yo niece spent a month there by herself and had no problems catching public transport late at night. She said it was always busy in the city that never sleeps. Sydney on the other hand does sleep, so I would stick to taxi's or Uber if out late.

 

I love the Sydney Fish Market. Go early. Pick your fresh seafood and they'll cook it for you for a fee. They have tables about the back where you can sit and eat.

 

If I think of anything else I'll come back.

Edited February 29, 2016 by Tigerlily75

[Meamat]

I think people have pretty well covered wi-fi, so I don't have much to add!

 

Opal cards are, oddly enough, not available at train stations. They are available at lots of service stations and other places, though, just be prepared to get one before you hop on a train or ferry. I'd highly recommend it, I much prefer the public transport options over driving in Sydney! I travel regularly in the city on my own and travel at night (as a woman on my own), I've never felt unsafe walking around the city or taking public transport. I do stick to CBD areas for the most part and if you're on a train you can travel in the carriage with the blue light. It's the guards carriage and I usually travel there late at night just to be extra safe. Don't go too far afield or explore a new place on a whim at midnight, but for the most part you'll be fine!

 

I use an app called tripview to check timetables on the run, but there is a trip planner on the website for transport NSW that is very good. You can select things like 'minimal walking', sort by fastest time, select trains and ferries but not busses, whatever is important to you. It covers all stations including blue mountains. The explorer bus someone mentioned is not part of the public transport network so you'd pay an extra fare for that.

 

Wine - there is an amazing amount of great wine in Aus. You could even do a day tour to the hunter valley if you're a wine lover, it's lovely up there and you can get some great bottles at cellar doors.

 

As far as favourites... You're very near Thai Town and Chinatown on Wentworth/Goulburn st. So close to Hyde Park, too, and heaps of great places near there. I've eaten a few times at The Windsor, one block back from Hyde park on park street, and it was a nice place with a couple options for atmosphere depending on how you feel. The Opera Bar is an experience, not the cozy personal environment of a pub, but drinks and live music under the opera house with a view of the harbour bridge, ferries, etc... Gorgeous at sunset!

 

What kind of food/dining atmosphere/etc are you after while you're here? There are great lesser known places but all depends if you like sushi trains, secret taco places, white tablecloth restaurants, burgers, etc.

[MadWoofter]

Just to add to what Meamat said about the Opal card, if you're flying in you can get an Opal card at the WH Smith news-stand (International terminal), and a number of places at the Domestic terminal. You won't be able to buy one at the train terminal so pick it up before hand.

 

Otherwise you just buy a single ticket from the airport to Central, and get an Opal card at one of the many Convenience stores near your hotel.

 

www.opal.com.au has all the information you need, and you can do a search on retailers locations as well.

[NoWhiners]

Definitely :p

 

I love rib-eye steaks. :)

 

Roast lamb for us for dinner tonight, with roast veges and green beans, and home-made gravy.

 

I LOVE lamb, my favorite meal, and with gravy all the better. We buy NZ lamb here and it is great. Now I'm getting hungry again!

 

ML

[NoWhiners]

You'll get some good steaks in Aus.

 

And some darn good lamb in NZ and Aus.

 

I am hoping we get to try a lot of both on our trip :D With some nice local merlots. Priceless.

[NoWhiners]

A lot has happened since last night when I last posted, thank you all for your help. I will be sure to get an Opal card, but not at the rail station! (oddly enough, this is no worse than having to buy train tickets at tobacco shops in Vienna. I don't get it, but the system works!).

 

Thanks also for the tips about pubs and bars. While I'm still not sure I get the difference it doesn't matter. It sounds like we can make a nice pub/bar crawl out of all your suggestions. DH loves IPAs--are these popular in Sydney? Also, we won't get Fosters! We may be Americans but we know exported swill when we taste it. Sort of like Corona--if they didn't give me the lime, I couldn't drink it :D

 

We have sorted wifi--it will be free at our hotel. So that will be really good. And I agree about not using unsecured wifi, but sometimes it is the only option and can be OK for small things (not ordering stuff or personal accounts).

 

Tigerlilly--thank you for your suggestions. Custard puffs sound great, as do most of your ideas. We will definitely check it out. I love the idea of fresh fish that they will cook for us. Sounds like a perfect evening--and I am assuming this is a late afternoon thing. Morning would be a little too much for me!

 

We have no plans to be out really late but nice to know it is mostly safe. There will be a group of us but we will make note of the train car with the blue light.

 

I am going to plan a trip to Hunter valley to see wineries, even if i have to go alone. Sounds like a lovely way to spend a day. We may not be able to take it on the ship but we can enjoy it at night in our room.

 

Thanks everyone, you are a wealth of information. I wish we were going next month, not next year!

 

ML

[GUT2407]

Sorry to sound stupid (I know, I know I really am)

 

But what are IPAs.

 

Can't recommend the Hunter enough, but then I've lived here allme life soi may be biased.

 

The area is worth a couple of days if you can. A look around Newcatle, maybe a dolphin or whale watching cruise from Port Stephens, he beaches of Newcatle and dn get me started on Lake Macquarie.

[NoWhiners]

We find it borderline but get the package for the convenience. Besides it also covers speciality coffees (as a rule most Australians prefer espresso-based coffees to the brewed stuff), bottled water, mocktails which can be very refreshing when you don't want alcohol, as well as all the alcoholic drinks.

 

On Celebrity we had a classic package included with our fare - a balcony cabin with package perk was actually marginally cheaper than an inside cabin fare plus buying the drinks package, when we booked, so we either had a "free" drinks package or the "free" benefit of a balcony, whichever way we chose to look at it. :D It only cost us about $12 to upgrade to the premium package.

 

The prices on most Australian-based cruises are usually quoted as a gratuities-included price. On Solstice cocktails were up to $15.50, which was the limit on the premium package. I can't remember what the wines were, after the first couple of nights, we rarely bothered looking at the wine list, our sommelier was doing such a great job.

 

On RCI the limit on the Premium and Ultimate packages was $14 per drink, cocktails were all $14 and the better wines were $9-14 a glass. You need to have the Premium package at least to get goos wines on RCI. We waited until we boarded, checked the MDR wine list, did the sums and bought the packages.

 

Thanks for this. We can't decide what to do, but now that I know we can't bring wine onboard, it may help! I think we will wait until we board and add drink package if we think it will pay off. I told DH about the prices of drinks, and no wine allowed to be taken aboard, and he has decided he will drink 1 beer a day in protest! We'll see if that lasts...

 

Ml

[GUT2407]

Thanks for this. We can't decide what to do, but now that I know we can't bring wine onboard, it may help! I think we will wait until we board and add drink package if we think it will pay off. I told DH about the prices of drinks, and no wine allowed to be taken aboard, and he has decided he will drink 1 beer a day in protest! We'll see if that lasts...

 

Ml

 

Obviously I don't know your hubby but I think his protest might fizzle pretty quick.

[NoWhiners]

Sorry to sound stupid (I know, I know I really am)

 

But what are IPAs.

 

Can't recommend the Hunter enough, but then I've lived here allme life soi may be biased.

 

The area is worth a couple of days if you can. A look around Newcatle, maybe a dolphin or whale watching cruise from Port Stephens, he beaches of Newcatle and dn get me started on Lake Macquarie.

 

LOL--I finally stumped you guys!! IPA=India Pale Ale. They are very hoppy and dry; I don't like them at all but DH raves about them. Not stupid at all, just me assuming everyone drinks IPAs.

 

Wine and dolphins and whales, sounds great. We'll give it a look.

 

ML

[GUT2407]

LOL--I finally stumped you guys!! IPA=India Pale Ale. They are very hoppy and dry; I don't like them at all but DH raves about them. Not stupid at all, just me assuming everyone drinks IPAs.

 

Wine and dolphins and whales, sounds great. We'll give it a look.

 

ML

 

I don't drink any more, but my family have been in the alcohol industry (dad carted booze in all it's forms and has been involved in clubs pubs and bottle shops for over 60 years).

 

Not aware of Indian Pale Ale,maybe smene else can help n tha one. Probably find them somewhere in Sydney though.

[GUT2407]

LOL--I finally stumped you guys!! IPA=India Pale Ale. They are very hoppy and dry; I don't like them at all but DH raves about them. Not stupid at all, just me assuming everyone drinks IPAs.

 

Wine and dolphins and whales, sounds great. We'll give it a look.

 

ML

 

I should clarify too it will be Dolphins or Whales depending on timing, unlikely to be both.

[NoWhiners]

Obviously I don't know your hubby but I think his protest might fizzle pretty quick.

 

LOL! He doesn't drink much so 1 beer might be enough each day. I think wine at dinner will be the challenge for him. But i am leaning your way ;)

 

I should clarify too it will be Dolphins or Whales depending on timing, unlikely to be both.

 

Good clarification--we''be there mid-March to mid-April. What might we expect to see? (dolphins because whales are on their way to Alaska??).

Edited March 1, 2016 by NoWhiners

[GUT2407]

Whale season is normally from about the beginning of May then again around Oct or Nov.

 

Google Moonshadow cruises.

[OzKiwiJJ]

LOL--I finally stumped you guys!! IPA=India Pale Ale. They are very hoppy and dry; I don't like them at all but DH raves about them. Not stupid at all, just me assuming everyone drinks IPAs.

 

Wine and dolphins and whales, sounds great. We'll give it a look.

 

ML

 

No problems getting IPAs in both Australia and NZ. Lots of breweries are making them - there are a large number of boutique breweries in both countries as well as the mainsteam ones.

 

DH and I aren't overfond of them either so can't really give any recommendations.

[GUT2407]

Apparently the term was first used in Australia.

[NoWhiners]

No problems getting IPAs in both Australia and NZ. Lots of breweries are making them - there are a large number of boutique breweries in both countries as well as the mainsteam ones.

 

DH and I aren't overfond of them either so can't really give any recommendations.

 

Good to know. You and DH show excellent taste :D

 

Apparently the term was first used in Australia.

 

I didn't know this. For some reason, I thought it started in the UK.

 

ML

[GUT2407]

1. 
   

Not knowing wha it was I went looking. While the beer itself seems to hav originated in England it is claimed that the first use of the name was in the Sydney Gazette in 1829.

 

Now true or not, I'm not sure.

[Cabansail]

A few extra suggestions.

 

Whenever I go to Sydney I try to get to Yum Cha in the Marigold at Chinatown. Not been for a few years now but it always used to be good.

 

If your time share accommodation has a kitchen and you like seafood then a trip to the Sydney Fish Markets can be fun.

 

 

If you are going to travel around think about getting a local SIM for your phone. If going outside Sydney then the Telstra network has the better coverage. It means that you can use apps when around the place like Maps etc. Also a few local calls. For a few dollars it makes things a lot easier and your time is too short to spend it in Maccas.

[cassamanda]

Good clarification--we''be there mid-March to mid-April. What might we expect to see? (dolphins because whales are on their way to Alaska??).

 

Those whales will be awfully tired if they go all the way to Alaska:eek:

 

They follow the EAC as in Nemo. They travel north along the coast from areas between Australia and Antarctica during our winter to Queensland then return during our Spring.

 

The only whales going to Alaska from here would be some 2 legged variety:D