Poirierli

We will be travelling to Australia with an infant (9 mos old, late Apr/May 07) and would like to pack light. Does anyone have tips for where we can pick up baby supplies (diapers, formula, organic baby food) in central Sydney at reasonable prices? Even better if there is a store that delivers. We will be staying at a hotel near the Sydney Aquarium/Cockle Bay Wharf. Also we are considering purchasing items like a baby bathtub and stroller and leaving them in Australia at the end of our trip. Are there secondhand stores where we can obtain such items used at a decent price? If not in central Sydney then on the highway between Sydney and Canberra, where we will head out after spending the first 2 days in the city.

Bokhara

Yes, good idea.
There are convenience (mixed goods/groceries etc) stores on just about every block and there will almost certainly be one just near your hotel. Just ask at reception. You might need to go to a supermarket or Health Food store for organics. Again, there are plenty. There's a Coles Express Cnr King/George sts and either Coles or Woolworths near the Town Hall (Park & George).

Probably the best place for 2nd hand items like strollers etc., would be the Thrift shops run by charities.

If you like to post the name & address of your hotel, I'll do a search & see what's around there for you.

fuzzylogic

There aren't any op shops in the city/CBD/downtown - whatever you want to call it. There is a Salvation Army one at Broadway which is relatively close to Cockle Bay. There is another in Rozelle, and a Vinnies too. You could catch a bus to Rozelle to check em out.

But to be honest, if you only have two days in Sydney do you really want to spend it trawling the op shops? (op= opportunity=thrift)?

Wouldn't most of the places you are going to stay be able to provide a baby bath? Or are you doing the motor home thing?

As for a stroller - buggy - do the airlines count these as luggage?

On my last trip I saw someone walking out to the plane and handing the buggy to a luggage handler. Trying to remember where it was.

I guess I'm saying check with your airline about the buggy.

All the best.

pat_woolford

Plenty of baby equipment hire outfits in Oz, although doubt if there'd be one in Sydney's CBD. Of course you'd need to return items, so not much use if you're not heading back.

fuzzy, infants under 2 years travel free on airlines and a buggy/stroller is part of the deal, of course it goes in hold, imagine trying to force one into overhead bins on plane.

pat_woolford

Forgot to mention, Poirerli, suppose you know this already but if not, it is absolutely essential (by law) that the baby travels in a car seat, one that can be anchored to lugs set in back of vehicle. Once, again can be hired - you'll find that baby hire equipment in Oz is in A-1 condition.

Poirierli

Thanks everyone! We will be hiring a caravan to travel from Sydney to Melbourne and have already arranged to rent a car seat as well. Although not sure about what the law is in Australia with respect to loading a baby into cabs, public transit etc. You're correct, we don't want to spend a lot of time scouting out op shops! With your tips we can minimize the time we have to spend shopping - thanks! We'll be at the Sheraton 4Pts for the first two nights, then we hit the road. It would be great to have a small bath and possibly a playpen for our travels in the van. As for the stroller, we can bring an umbrella stroller but plan B is to carry baby in the Snugli through airports then pick up a stroller at the other end. Just one less thing to carry --

fuzzylogic

Yes, Pat, I know that children under 2 travel free of charge. The point was that the buggy I saw did not go in the hold, neither did it go into an overhead locker. It was taken from the Pax by a crew member and, I assume, stowed somewhere!

I guess it wasn't a longhaul flight, though - maybe Copenhagen to Frankfurt?

Anyway, OP, just a thought, but if you are still serious about the second hand thing and you are here on a Saturday, I would recommend a trip to Rozelle.

Why? well it's the best I can think of by way of one location offering max chance of success. First there are two op shops right opposite each other, and, unusually, they are open until 4.00pm on Saturdays. Second, there is Rozelle flea market where you can buy anything on a good day. Third, there is a "dollar shop" - you know selling stuff sourced from China - plastics, hardware, cheap china, etc. etc - where you could maybe pick up a cheap new baby bath. There is another one just down the road in Balmain.

Apart from anything else it would be a good day out, and you would see something of non tourist Sydney (Balmain is one of the oldest suburbs).

There are some good places to eat in both Rozelle and Balmain. You could go by bus/taxi over the "other" bridge and return by ferry. You could even get a small harbour cruise out of it if you take a ferry from East Balmain heading in the "wrong" direction. These go to Darling Harbour, return to East Balmain, continue on to Luna Park, pass under the Bridge and end up at Circular Quay. Especially recommended late afternoon during the time of year you will be here.

All the best.

christycruz

Having just done your caravan trip with a toddler, I'd suggest bringing the stroller with you to the airport. Get one of those big carts and pile everything on. Once things are checked, you'll be glad you have the stroller (you can usually gate check that--we did).

You can buy an inflatable baby bath/tub. I wish we had. Some of the fancy caravan parks had "children's" bathrooms with tubs, but most didn't.

A play pen would be nice, but I'd stick to a big blanket to spread out. The play pen seems just one too many things to pack (the campervans aren't that big. I wished we had duffle bags with wheels instead of normal suitcases).

We didn't bring a stroller on our round the world trip, and finally FINALLY found a small one in Poland. You REALLY don't want to mess with finding stuff other than diapers/formula/baby food.

Bokhara

Hi Poirierli,
I was in Target today and they have foldable strollers for AUD 49.

Poirierli

Everyone - thanks so much for your tips and insight. Fuzzylogic I like your suggestion re Op shopping. And I have rethought bringing the stroller thanks to Christycruz; we can bring an umbrella stroller that will fold down. (thanks also for the reminder that space is very limited in the caravan) Thanks to Bokhara for letting us know names of grocery stores - I have discovered Woolworth's has food/diapers and will actually deliver to our hotel! This will give us a nice jump start when we arrive. Thanks again everyone, we are looking forward to our travels in Australia! When we visited in 2000 we met many delightful folks while staying in caravan parks.