Melbourne & Sydney with 18YO boy
Oct 10th, 2013, 05:36 AM
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Melbourne & Sydney with 18YO boy
We will be spending a week in Melbourne and a few days in Sydney over December. Please can Fodorites suggest what activities/ tours would keep an 18 year old boy interested? I can allocate one day to the Sports Museum and cricket ground tour, but otherwise I very much doubt he will be interested in gardens and art galleries.
Oct 10th, 2013, 12:25 PM
#2
Why not get your 18 year old to do some research himself & see what he would like to see & do?
It's summer, holidays & a great time to be in Sydney & Melbourne.
There's something to interest everyone, here are just a few the young men in my family like:
Sydney:
Swimming / surfing at our beaches. Manly is a good choice as you can take the ferry across. There are classes if you / your son would like to learn to surf. Otherwise, just enjoy a swim.
Nice stroll around to Shelly Beach.
If you like a walk, there are some very attractive short walks around North Head - accessible from Shelly Beach or from North Head national park.
Longer walk ( allow 3 1/2 hours ) Manly to The Spit or reverse.
Harbour walks: Bondi to Bronte ( or Coogee) - along the cliffs about 40 mins
Rose Bay to Watsons Bay (allow 3 hours) follows the shoreline, lovely bays for a dip and Neilssen Park about 1/2 way is a food stop for lunch /coffee. Go at low tide for the best shoreline access.
Google the walks by name for more detail.
Harbour Bridge climb. Or take a ferry/train to Milsons Point & walk back to rhe city across the deck (15-20 mins).
Taronga Zoo. Take the ferry & sky car. Allow 3-4 hours.
Jetboat trip on the Harbour. Or a 1/2 day sailing. Not much can beat an afternoon sail & sunset on the Harbour.
Theatre/ live music. Have a look at What's on in Sydney
Have a look at www.sydney.com
You have longer in Melbourne, so will probably want to explore a little farther afield. Melbourne is quite different in feel to Sydney and also has a great variety of things to see & do.
Again, your guidebook will have given you some clues, and www.visitvictoria.com is a good resource too.
It's summer, holidays & a great time to be in Sydney & Melbourne.
There's something to interest everyone, here are just a few the young men in my family like:
Sydney:
Swimming / surfing at our beaches. Manly is a good choice as you can take the ferry across. There are classes if you / your son would like to learn to surf. Otherwise, just enjoy a swim.
Nice stroll around to Shelly Beach.
If you like a walk, there are some very attractive short walks around North Head - accessible from Shelly Beach or from North Head national park.
Longer walk ( allow 3 1/2 hours ) Manly to The Spit or reverse.
Harbour walks: Bondi to Bronte ( or Coogee) - along the cliffs about 40 mins
Rose Bay to Watsons Bay (allow 3 hours) follows the shoreline, lovely bays for a dip and Neilssen Park about 1/2 way is a food stop for lunch /coffee. Go at low tide for the best shoreline access.
Google the walks by name for more detail.
Harbour Bridge climb. Or take a ferry/train to Milsons Point & walk back to rhe city across the deck (15-20 mins).
Taronga Zoo. Take the ferry & sky car. Allow 3-4 hours.
Jetboat trip on the Harbour. Or a 1/2 day sailing. Not much can beat an afternoon sail & sunset on the Harbour.
Theatre/ live music. Have a look at What's on in Sydney
Have a look at www.sydney.com
You have longer in Melbourne, so will probably want to explore a little farther afield. Melbourne is quite different in feel to Sydney and also has a great variety of things to see & do.
Again, your guidebook will have given you some clues, and www.visitvictoria.com is a good resource too.
Oct 10th, 2013, 02:30 PM
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The full Harbour Bridge climb is an involved and fairly expensive thing - but I could think an 18-year old would love it, alone or with you: www.bridgeclimb.com
There is a much simpler and cheaper way to get great 360 views from the bridge, from the one of the four pylons that is accessible by the public: www.pylonlookout.com.au
Go to the Jenolan Caves - awesome, you won't ever forget them. You best stay the night in Katoomba, it's a bit of a drive from there, but there's a bus, and Katoomba itself is reachable by train. www.jenolancaves.org.au
Bring a jacket and good hiking shoes, it's cold in there, but exhilarating, and there are a number of different caves with varying degrees of fitness required and lengths of the hikes.
Here's how to get there: http://www.jenolancaves.org.au/visit.../getting-here/
Lots more exciting things to do on this website, including falling out of the sky: www.sydneydaytoursaustralia.com/skydive.html
This is the Cricket schedule - you'd need to get some education as to how that game works, once you're into it, it's a great thing, especially a night game: http://australia.cricketworld4u.com
There is a much simpler and cheaper way to get great 360 views from the bridge, from the one of the four pylons that is accessible by the public: www.pylonlookout.com.au
Go to the Jenolan Caves - awesome, you won't ever forget them. You best stay the night in Katoomba, it's a bit of a drive from there, but there's a bus, and Katoomba itself is reachable by train. www.jenolancaves.org.au
Bring a jacket and good hiking shoes, it's cold in there, but exhilarating, and there are a number of different caves with varying degrees of fitness required and lengths of the hikes.
Here's how to get there: http://www.jenolancaves.org.au/visit.../getting-here/
Lots more exciting things to do on this website, including falling out of the sky: www.sydneydaytoursaustralia.com/skydive.html
This is the Cricket schedule - you'd need to get some education as to how that game works, once you're into it, it's a great thing, especially a night game: http://australia.cricketworld4u.com
Oct 10th, 2013, 09:14 PM
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Thanks for these ideas and links, I really appreciate them. At the moment my son is preparing for his final school exams so he can't do research, which is why I'm trying to get ideas and feed them to him - when he comes up for air! This trip is partly to celebrate the end of school, which is why I'm trying to make it special for him and provide a few amazing experiences. Unfortunately I also have a budget to consider so I do appreciate the 'freebie' ideas!
Bokhara2, can you hire surfboards without the lessons? He is able to surf so that is a great idea thanks.
Michelhuebeli, thanks for the cricket link, I was hoping we could pick up some sporting events but hadn't looked at any relevant websites yet. (and here's hoping the Aussies get the Ashes back!)
Has anybody done any SCUBA diving in Sydney? We will be spending some time on GBR but I had read somewhere that there were some good dive sites around Sydney as well - any recommendations? We are qualified and I thought it might be a good contrast to GBR.
Bokhara2, can you hire surfboards without the lessons? He is able to surf so that is a great idea thanks.
Michelhuebeli, thanks for the cricket link, I was hoping we could pick up some sporting events but hadn't looked at any relevant websites yet. (and here's hoping the Aussies get the Ashes back!)
Has anybody done any SCUBA diving in Sydney? We will be spending some time on GBR but I had read somewhere that there were some good dive sites around Sydney as well - any recommendations? We are qualified and I thought it might be a good contrast to GBR.
Oct 10th, 2013, 09:55 PM
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Whether it's famous Bondi Beach or Manly (reached by lovely ferry trip), search for the terms "Bondi Surfboard Hire" or "Manly Surfboard Hire" and you get lots of encouraging results.
If you're in Sydney on Boxing Day (Dec. 26) go watch the boats take off in the Sydney-to-Hobart race - the harbour will be full of spectator craft and the sleek racing boats, a sight to behold! Ask a local for a good spot and be there early!
If you're in Sydney on Boxing Day (Dec. 26) go watch the boats take off in the Sydney-to-Hobart race - the harbour will be full of spectator craft and the sleek racing boats, a sight to behold! Ask a local for a good spot and be there early!
Oct 10th, 2013, 11:33 PM
#7
Scuba diving - Pro Dive at Manly. I'm posting in my iPhone so can't post links but just google them for contact details.
They do beach & boat dives. Just make sure you bring your Certified Diver cards.
Kayak hire is also available. Paragliding is fun too.
They do beach & boat dives. Just make sure you bring your Certified Diver cards.
Kayak hire is also available. Paragliding is fun too.
Oct 11th, 2013, 03:25 AM
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Some ideas for Melbourne:
Cricket match at the MCG (e.g. Boxing Day test)
Cycling along the river (Melbourne/Richmond/Kew/etc), outer circle railway (now defunct), Lilydale to Warburton cycle path or other off road cycle paths
Row boats at Fairfield boat house (then lunch at the bistro)
Beaches (e.g. St Kilda or further afield like Portsea or Torquay area)
Scienceworks
Melbourne Zoo (and finish up with a jazz - or other music - night at the end of the day)
Eureka Sky Deck
Walking in the Dandenongs
ACMI (centre for moving images)
Shopping in Chapel street if interested in fashion
Hanging out in Brunswick Street (shops, bars, ice cream, food)
Concerts at Myer Music Bowl or Rod Laver Arena
Wednesday night food stalls at Victoria market
Ferry from South Bank to Scienceworks or Williamstown past the docks (also nice at night to see the docks and city lights)
Let me know if you want more info but these can all be investigated on the web. Get myki cards for public transport (trams, trains, buses). www.ptv.vic.gov.au for local transport timetables etc.
Cricket match at the MCG (e.g. Boxing Day test)
Cycling along the river (Melbourne/Richmond/Kew/etc), outer circle railway (now defunct), Lilydale to Warburton cycle path or other off road cycle paths
Row boats at Fairfield boat house (then lunch at the bistro)
Beaches (e.g. St Kilda or further afield like Portsea or Torquay area)
Scienceworks
Melbourne Zoo (and finish up with a jazz - or other music - night at the end of the day)
Eureka Sky Deck
Walking in the Dandenongs
ACMI (centre for moving images)
Shopping in Chapel street if interested in fashion
Hanging out in Brunswick Street (shops, bars, ice cream, food)
Concerts at Myer Music Bowl or Rod Laver Arena
Wednesday night food stalls at Victoria market
Ferry from South Bank to Scienceworks or Williamstown past the docks (also nice at night to see the docks and city lights)
Let me know if you want more info but these can all be investigated on the web. Get myki cards for public transport (trams, trains, buses). www.ptv.vic.gov.au for local transport timetables etc.
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