sharoo

We will be in Sidney 3 1/2 days before getting on a cruise ship in Jan. 2005.
We do want to go to Blue Mountain 1 day.
Alan seems to have some very good ideas.
How far is the Great Barrier Reef from Sydney? Should we make arrangements to go there?
Thanks fo any info

Alan

Hi, Sharoo!

The Great Barrier Reef is wonderful and certainly worth a visit, but it's a long way from Sydney, and, with only 3 1/2 days to use up, I fear that you'd be using most of your time travelling to airports, sitting in waiting terminals, and watching demonstrations of life jackets. You would do no more than catch a tiny taste of the Reef, and, in doing so, you'd end up missing most of Sydney as well! It's a bit like arriving for three days in New York and ducking down to Miami Beach for a look.My advice: stick to Sydney and your one day in the Blue Mountains.

Peteralan

Saroo..don't do it! The barrier reef is absolutely fabulous but sorry you will not have time to do it .It is too far for the time you have available. Stay in Sydney , do some trips and by all means have a day or so in the Blue Mountains. Come back again Saroo and enjoy the North in the time it deserves

sharoo

Thanks Alan and Peteralan for your reply.Actually we live in Miami so I understand about going to see the reef in such a short time.I also should mention that we are in our 50's.
Without going to the Reef. Spending a day at blue Mountain. Maybe the day we arrive which will be in the AM we should see Sydney. What would you suggest for the other 2 days.Is taking the ferry to Parrmatta worth the day? Or the ferry to Manly?
Also any outstanding local restaurants you could suggest?We really rather stay away from the tourist places.
Thanks again for any more info.

Alan

Hi, again, sharoo!

It will take you a full day, at least, to see Sydney; it's best covered on foot, and you will not really get a good look if you let yourself be talked into one of those half-day drive-past tours. You need to stroll around the Opera House foreshores, up through the Botanical Gardens, past the Conservatorium of Music through Macquarie St and Parliament House (also the Barracks and the Old Mint: Macquarie St is a great walking street); a detour to the Art Gallery, to Hyde Park (containing the Archibald Fountain and the War Memorial)with St Mary's Cathedral on your left, and then down Market St to the Queen Victoria Building (the closest thing Sydney has to a 'belle epoque'). From there along to the Town Hall, and then, turning right, down to Darling Harbour and the Chinese Garden. Darling Harbour is full of activities in January, and you'll probably spend several hours walking around it. After all that walking you will surely find a good Chinese restaurant in the area, and there's your day gone -- and you haven't even been on the water!

For your day on the water, I would forget Parramatta; the ferry to Parramatta is a not-very-glamorous Rivercat, a "fast-but-everyone-sits-indoors-and-reads" craft which travels up an ever-narrowing river leading to some of the least-interesting scenery in the Sydney region. Strictly for commuters, or people who have unlimited time and want to see everything. And Parramatta itself, despite its proud history, is now a dormitory suburb with hardly any traces of its past on display (they are still there, but there's not much help from the local council in finding them, as they haven't seen a tourist in years).

Manly is a much better idea -- that's a GOOD ferry ride, and you will see some of the best that Sydney Harbour has to offer. You could also take the Watson's Bay or Mosman or Balmain ferries for more great harbour scenes (you can buy one ticket that will let you travel all day). At the end of the day you'll be back at Circular Quay, which is the gateway to "the Rocks", where you will find lots of restaurants (even though this is hardly off-the-beaten-track for tourists, I'm afraid -- but the area is still a must-see).

And then your third day is that Mountains trip. You will want to get up early for that, and catch the 8:03 train, which will have you in Katoomba by 10 a.m. It's a fast and comfortable journey, but best not taken at weekends. There is only one train per hour, so the early start is important. I have no specific restaurant to recommend there, but I would suggest that you choose from those in Leura, which is on the route of the sightseeing bus, and board the return train from Leura Station.

You will find that you have packed quite a lot into your three days, and, in fact, I wouldn't have suggested a schedule this hectic except for the fact that you are coming in January, when it is light until 9 p.m. Which reminds me -- don't forget to wear a hat and protect your skin against sunburn.

Have a wonderful time!

Neil_Oz

I can't improve on Alan's advice, Sharoo. In regard to restaurants, when you say "local" I'm not sure whether you mean places like the Blue Mountains or the city of Sydney itself. If the latter, check the Sydney restaurant reviews on this site and see if anything there appeals to you - but they cover only a very small sample of what's available. Sydney offers an enormous range of eating places of all ethnic persuasions, ranging from pretty damned expensive to cheep 'n cheerful. Do you have any particular preference?

Neil_Oz

Just in case anyone got the impression that Sydney restaurants are serving barbecued canaries these days, "cheep and cheerful" should have read "cheap and cheerful". Sorry about that.

Peteralan

Hi again Sharoo! Can't improve on Alan's suggestions..Do something like he suggested in the city plus either Manly or a general ferry trip covering the harbour. Also the Blue Mountains as he said. Restaurants? As mentioned, depends on what you want to spend and where you are staying At the top you could look at Rockpool, Quay, Aria or Otto for example (all in the city area), for Chinese maybe Golden Century,French... Claude's or Marque. midrange..try Becasse, Malaya plus there are a lot of BYOs (ie where you can take your own wine and the prices are cheaper).For Yum Cha, try East Ocean in Chinatown. Hope that is some help.

sharoo

HI
Thanks again for everyones advice.
Do any of you know about a tour company Visitour's? I read that they offer a mini bus ride to the Blue Mountains with a number of stops and then return by ferry.I did go on www.visitours.com.au.for the information.
Alan, you mentioned to take a train, which do you think would be better? Once getting off the train then what?I did read that one should see Three Sisters formations, ride the scenic railway, take the skyway cable car and see Euroka.Can these been seen easily or do we need a driver to take us to the different places?
Also , what about any of the markets? Biondi, Rocks Market, Tarpeian Market.Are they worth seeing? In many countries that we travel to we love to check out the local markets if we have the time.
What I meant by local restaurants was not where all the tourist go. We don't really care much about the price we like good food and it can be casual or fancy.
I will say I am almost thinking of maybe adding another day in Sydney. We have not done our flights yet so I can still make changes.
We are going to be ending our cruise in Auckland and was thinking of about 2 days there if anyone has any suggestions.
We were thinking of taking the ferry to Waiheke Islands one day. and then either the ferry to Rangitoto, or to take a ferry from downtown to Devonport for the day.We also want to do some shopping.Any advice?
Thanks again
PSy the way if any of you decide on a trip to the Miami area just ask me I have lived here since the 50's.

Alan

Hi, yet again, sharoo!

I can't tell you anything about visitours, but I can tell you that it is VERY easy (and a great cost-saving, too) to do the Blue Mountains independently by train, and you will have a better time, as the coaches generally spend quite a bit of time stopping at the souvenir shops where they get a cut-back from purchases, or taking you to second-class restaurants where they get a similar cut-back... you know the rest. Also, I can remember once standing at Echo Point -- that's the spot near Katoomba where all the scenic shots are taken from -- on a cold, rainy day when visibility was absolutely down to zero, and listening to three coach drivers actually laughing to each other that their bus loads of Japanese tourists had come up all this way and couldn't see a thing. Since I had driven up there looking for one particular person on the coach, I was justifiably outraged at their attitude. It has turned me off coach trips to the Mountains for life.

When you get to Katoomba Station, after a comfortable two-hour train journey (the first hour of which, I fear, is hardly scenic, but then that's true of the bus tours, too, as they travel along an ugly freeway which is now "walled-in" for much of its length), you can hop on one of the sightseeing buses -- they are the "on-again-off-again" type where you pay only once -- and spend a day where you're in charge of what you see and where you go. Make sure that when you get to Echo Point, that you walk DOWN into the valley by one of several walking trails. The real beauty of the Mountains is down in the cool glades, under the waterfalls, with the tree ferns brushing your cheeks. Most tourists just seem to take photographs from the top and think that's all there is to it (well, the coaches don't allow you time to do anything else, as they are paying dearly for parking). You don't have to walk up again, as you can stroll along the valley to the lower station of the Scenic Railway and come up in comfort. As I said earlier, these sightseeing buses (or "trolleys&quot stop in Leura, which is a good last stop just as it's getting dark. The station for your return to Sydney is very close to where all the restaurants are.

The one thing on your list of must-sees that you CAN'T do this way is Euroka Clearing, as it's a fifteen-minute drive from the nearest station (Glenbrook), and there are no regular public transport vehicles serving the area. The large coaches can't get in there (the road is narrow and unsealed for part of its length), so if you want to see Euroka, you have two options: take one of the mini-bus tours (they usually stop at Featherdale on the way to the Mountains as well -- this is a commercial wildlife park which is quite pleasant, but I always think that time there is time taken away from your Mountains day -- so you can be sure of seeing a kangaroo behind a wire fence just in case the wild ones at Euroka don't show up that day). The only other way to see Euroka is to hire a car, either at Emu Plains or Valley heights (there are hire-car offices right at the station in both cases) and drive yourself -- a good option, but it means that the cost of your day just doubled, and there's just a chance you wouldn't see a single kangaroo, as they're not confined. However, Euroka usually is wonderful -- in fact, as soon as I finish typing this to you I am heading down there with my daughter and her friend for our Easter Sunday morning egg-hunt among the kangaroos -- so you may think it's worth it.

The only other thing I can think of to tell you is that, as a lover of street markets myself, I think you will be very disappointed with both the Rocks and the Opera House forecourt markets, as they are strictly souvenir items designed with you in mind. The REAL treasures in markets, I always think, are found at the ones that are designed for locals to buy and sell from each other. I can't recommend any specific one to you -- especially since you are so tight for time -- but the golden rule is, if it's a market near where the tourists congregate, then forget it.

Hope this is of some small help to you. I very much approve of your idea to add another day to Sydney. I know I am biassed, but it really is a lovely city! With another day you could try one of the coast walks, such as Spit Bridge to Manly... at that time of year the colours are magnificent and the harbour second to none.

alice13

Hi Sharoo,
I do hope you add a day to your day in Sydney (I'm biased too!). You could as Alan suggests do the wonderful Spit to Manley walk and come back on the ferry. But it is a 3.5 - 4 hour walk and it will be hot in January - so take plenty of water.

Alternatively you could combine a trip already mentioned by Alan on the ferry to Balmain, with a visit to two markets (if a Sat) or one (if a Sunday). Balmain market (Sat only) is slanted towards arts/crafts; Rozelle market is a 'flea' market where the locals do congregate. You could make a day of it by maybe going first to Sydney Fish Markets and having lunch outside. To get there take the Light Rail or the 501 bus. Then hop back onto the 501 bus and 5-10 mins later get off at the junction of Victoria Road and Darling Street. Rozelle markets are just to the right on Darling St. You could then walk down Darling Street or take a bus down to Balmain village (20 min walk). There are plenty of shops to check out, and cafes. The market is in the grounds of the church on the left as you get to the end of the village centre.

Eat at a local restaurant (some are listed in the SMH Good Food Guide); then bus or taxi down to Darling Street wharf and take the ferry back to Circular Quay. A night ferry trip is as worthwhile as a daytime one.

Can second suggestion of the Golden Century restaurant in Chinatown. Friends heree

alice13

Hi Sharoo,
I do hope you add a day to your stay in Sydney (I'm biased too!). You could as Alan suggests do the wonderful Spit to Manley walk and come back on the ferry. But it is a 3.5 - 4 hour walk and it will be hot in January - so take plenty of water.

Alternatively you could combine a trip already mentioned by Alan on the ferry to Balmain, with a visit to two markets (if a Sat) or one (if a Sunday). Balmain market (Sat only) is slanted towards arts/crafts; Rozelle market is a 'flea' market where the locals do congregate. You could make a day of it by maybe going first to Sydney Fish Markets and having lunch outside. To get there take the Light Rail or the 501 bus. Then hop back onto the 501 bus and 5-10 mins later get off at the junction of Victoria Road and Darling Street. Rozelle markets are just to the right on Darling St. You could then walk down Darling Street or take a bus down to Balmain village (20 min walk). There are plenty of shops to check out, and cafes. The market is in the grounds of the church on the left as you get to the end of the village centre.

Eat at a local restaurant (some are listed in the SMH Good Food Guide); then bus or taxi down to Darling Street wharf and take the ferry back to Circular Quay. A night ferry trip is as worthwhile as a daytime one.

Can second suggestion of the Golden Century restaurant in Chinatown. Friends here (both Chinese and non-Chinese) recommended it to me when I was looking for somewhere for friends visiting from England - and they raved about it.

nevets

Sharoo

I've been on a floating restuarant/criuse on the harbour and it's always a very memorable night. There are many of them available so I won't push one. I went on one recently with my lady and it cost $180.00 Australian dollars plus drinks.

While you're here you should think of taking the Harbour Bridge climb. You don't need to be fit and it is perfectly safe. You don't need to fear heights either because you don't feel very high up. Except for a little bit at the very beginning of the tour. When you're on the very top of the Harbour Bridge you have a spectacular view of Sydney. But you'll not be able to take a camera with you unfortunately. Because of the risk to motorists on the bridge from falling things, you aren't allowed to take anything loose up with you. You may have to book for the Bridge climb, so look it up on the web.

Travelnick

If I were to say see Miami in 1 day, would you think that was sensible? Your sentence 'see Sydney on the day you arrive', struck me as pretty fanciful and in my view there is far more to Sydney than there is to Miami. You also run the severe risk that you will be exhausted from jet lag etc. if you try to do too much. Take Alan's advice on Sydney but keep to Sydney and enjoy the city.

Peteralan

Sharoo take Alan's good suggestions.Maybe you could think about the Bondi to Coogee walk along the coastal cliffs or part of the walk ..very interesting. Possibly Paddington markets on a Saturday but the ones at the Rocks and Opera house are not worth the trouble. Glad you are spending a little more time here.

sharoo

Thanks again for all your suggestions. I will probably add an extra day in Sydney, as I don't think I will be be back again. I do understand that there is really so much to see and do. It does get difficult when you are limited with time. As happens with most of us when we go on vacations. We do try to see as much as we can in a short period of time.When going from Miami to Sydney as you know takes 2 days it does cut some of my time.
Thanks again for all the suggestions you have given me.

margo_oz

Festival of Sydney is on in January, so there's lots of extra things to see and do!
Some of the free performances are great. If you are here on a Saturday, you should try for whatever is on in the Domain, Jazz, Symphony, Opera.... A great experience at a great price - FREEEEE!