I remember when I got back to Sydney Harbor from Manly, there was a diner right where the boat docked with outside seating. The food was OK, but the view was amazing. You had the bridge and opera house right in front of you, with the boats coming and going. Very cool.

Personally, I think flights from the US to Australia are a lot "better" than flying from Europe to Sydney where you always seem to be flying into the night. If you cannot afford business class and worry about impending DVT (deep vein thrombosis - personally I have NEVER heard of anyone who has ever suffered from this affliction), then the suggestion to stop en route in Hawaii is a good one. The standard advice of drinking lots of water (not alcohol which dehydrates you), get up and move around the plane every hour or two to get the circulation going and don't eat too much are all good tips to make you feel more comfortable throughout the flight. Its really important after such a long flight through a few time changes to get to your destination at least 1 or 2 days earlier so that you can aclimatise. If you land in Sydney early in the morning, do NOT be tempted to go to bed until the evening as this will help you recover from jetlag and get into the Aussie time zone. Don't plan on doing anything too strenuous on the first day; just sit in one of Sydney's many ritzy cafes and do some people watching or, alternatively, (if you are arriving in late spring or summer) go to a nice beach (Bondi is over-rated - pick Coogee or Manly instead) and lay back and soak up some rays with the locals. Noone ever died from a long flight. Remember, most Australians and New Zealanders are frequent flyers and avid travellers and most of us antipodeans have to take long flights all the time (to Europe and the US) without too much bother. Anyway, the destinations of Australia and NZ are worth the distance!

In Sydney consider to take the ferry to Watsons Bay for a beautiful stroll to the lighthouse and around those cliffs, gate to the open ocean ! the ferry stops are also a highlight of Sydney Bay !