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5 days in Sydney: itinerary review
Hi, all.
I'll be in Sydney a week from tomorrow, as part of a larger trip to Melbourne and Canberra. I'm a 30 year-old male who normally sightsees quickly and enjoys art museums and gardens. Here are my thoughts, but I'm open to feedback. I really have no idea what to expect on the first day, after arriving from 20 hours of traveling at 7:30 am. Saturday - arrive 7:30 am - airport Express to Marriott Circular Quay - Museum Contemporary Art - Day visit to Observatory - Discovery Rocks Museum - Pop into Customs House - refresh at hotel - dinner Fish at Rocks: 6 pm - See Campbell's Storehouses - Bulletin Place Bar Sunday - Botanic Gardens: in am - Art Gallery New South Wales (10 am) - St Mary's Cathedral (can I just pop in on a Sunday?) - Australian Museum - Elizabeth Bay House (closes at 4) - El Alamen Fountain Get back (how?), refresh, Jamie's Italian at 6:30 - Drink Cafe Sydney (unless is closed?) Monday - Inside of Sydney Town Hall: 8:30 - Queen Victoria Building - 9 am - Strand Arcade - 10:30 - Library Tour (skip?) - St. Andrew's Church - Outside of Parliament House - State Theatre - Can I just pop inside mid-day? - Chinese Garden of Friendship - Back to Marriott, walk with luggage to Park Hyatt - lower level walk across Harbor Bridge and back. Pylon Lookout - Refresh in hotel, time for dinner at Altitude at 6:30 Tuesday - Opera House at 9 am - Beach day Bondi and Bronte. Gelato Messina for a snack and maybe Icebergs for a drink? How on earth to get there and back? Dinner at Waterfront: 6:30 Wednesday - enjoy Park Hyatt pool - some sort of ferry ride? - Tarronga Zoo or Featherdale ... or Aquarium/Maritime - Catch airport express (leave at say 4:30 or 5?) in time for 7:30 flight to Melbourne Wednesday feels pretty open at this point. I know I'll want a little Park Hyatt relaxation time at some point, and I'd love to get out on the water on some sort of ferry at some point. Any tips? I also feel bad about not seeing any wildlife, but Tarronga, Featherdale or even Koala just seem so far out, and I worry about doing any of them on the last day. If I want to just stay in town, I guess I could go to Aquarium (expensive) and Maritime. There are some sights I feel I want to skip, including the Bridge Climb (too costly and want to just walk on my own and to see the Pylon) and Sydney Tower (will get good views from Altitude). But, I'm open to suggestions. Maybe I could give a couple of the museums a miss, or skip the library tour, if that would help free up time for more important sights. I'll be doing a lot of Parliament and Library tours in Canberra. Thanks! |
Hi, what you've outlined is doable. My suggestions would be:
-Eliminate the library and parliament tours (the Parliament in Cranberry is more interesting, and the views at the flagpole is worth the visit). -Check out Hyde Park Barracks. It's on the same block as the Library and Parliament. -You can reach Bondi and all the eastern beaches by bus from the city center. I recommend the coastal walk between Bondi and Cooper beaches for some spectacular views. -Taronga Zoo is worth a visit for the wonderful exhibits as well as the killer views. Go there by ferry. -Definitely try to get out on the water, whether it's a harbor cruise or ferry hopping (get a weekly pass that is good for unlimited rides on public transport including ferries). Some of the places you can go are Manly, Watsons Bay, and it's a great way to travel between Circular Quay and Darling Harbor. While there's plenty to do in Sydney, a day trip to the Blue Mountains is highly recommended if you want a break from the city. I was just in Sydney this past December. Click on my name for my report of the visit. |
Thanks for your helpful reply. I'm planning to walk everywhere aside from the beach and/or zoo or Featherdale. I think Taronga on Wednesday (even though will be expensive) could be a good way both to do the ferry and that site. I will skip the Library and Parliament tours and probably just pop inside quickly.
Any thoughts on how to get back to Marriott from Elizabeth Bay House? Maybe taxi? Now I'm curious about whether I should do Manly versus Bondi, given that I can take the ferry to Manly but not Bondi. Bondi just sounds more appealing for some reason. I if I stick with that, any thoughts on exactly where to get off to begin the Bondi/Bronte walk? Will I run into Messina gelato on the way? |
You're welcome. Elizabeth Bay House to Marriott can be reached by taxi or any bus heading towards Circular Quay.
Here is some more info along with map of the Bondi to Coogee walk: http://bonditocoogeewalk.com.au/ As for Manly versus Bondi, it's tough. Both offer beautiful beaches and gorgeous coastal scenery. If Bondi is calling out to you, then go with your gut. You cannot go wrong either way. |
So I'll catch the 389 bus from Circular Quay to Bondi, but what's the best stop to get off? (Google maps says Glenayr Av Near Hall St). Then, I'll plan to walk from Bondi to Bronte, and then I guess head back on bus from somewhere Bronte back home? Or maybe I should take bus to Bronte then walk Bronte to Bondi and head back from Bondi? I guess I'll mainly just walk alongside the beach there as opposed to be on it or lay out in it, given that it will be winter ...
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Several bused ply the route. Simply ask the bus driver where is best to get off. There are plenty of bases going to and from Bronte as well.
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I would take a bus to Bronte Beach, do the cliff walk to Bondi Beach.
Bus or walk ( it's only about 6kms ) to Watsons Bay. Explore the charming former fishing village, national park & coves. Take the ferry back to Circular Quay from Watsons Bay. Spectacular views & if you time it right you might get the picture post card trifecta - Opera House & Harbour Bridge with a sunset backdrop. Good casual eating options at Bondi & Watsons Bay's Hotel & take-away (on the wharf) are good value. Use www.transportnsw.info for public transport |
If you are interested in art, I'd highly recommend the Janet Cardiff/Georges Bures Miller walking tour of the Rocks. You pick up the iPod at dusk from Customs House, it's free and goes for about an hour:
http://www.cityartsydney.com.au/city...rkingPaths.asp For a great view, visit the Summit on the top floor of Australia Square (designed by one of the main Sydney modernists, Harry Seidler). The bar/restaurant rotates 360 degrees, bar opens at 5 pm. Museum of Sydney is worth visiting, it's an exquisitely designed museum and a number of displays were designed by Australia artists. http://sydneylivingmuseums.com.au/museum-sydney/stories Some of the small bars in Sydney are a bit hard to find. My favourites are Grasshopper and Baxter Inn: http://www.bestsmallbars.com/sydney/...dney-city.html If it's an architectural interest that's motivating the church visits. Then the ones to visit in the city are Francis Greenaway's St James, Blackett's St Phillips, Christ Church St Laurence, I note you already have St Andrews. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Blacket |
Thanks for the tips. I think I took off Museum of Sydney, as frommers seemed to pan it. I'll see if I have time for some of the other great suggestions.
I'm now thinking on Wednesday to do the hop-on/hop-off ferry alongside the combo Tarronga Zoo ticket. I could possibly also make it to Watsons Bay with that one as well. Would you recommend this as an option, or just doing it on my own? I could get the combined Ferry and Zoo for about $52, which seems on par with just the Zoo if done separately. Transportation looks solid otherwise through the buses. The idea of pre-pay is a bit odd, but it looks like there are several options on my route back from Bronte/Bondi. |
Joe, I found the Museum of Sydney enjoyable. As for the transport, you may be better off getting a MyMulti ticket which is good for all the public buses, trains, and ferries in and around Sydney. It covers Taronga, Watsons Bay, buses to the beaches, and probably all the other sights you want to hit.
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Interesting; so I guess the My Multi 2, weekly, for $54 would be the one I want. Hadn't thought about that. May just opt for the hop on/hop off as opposed to navigating the government ferries, but it's worth thinking about.
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Yes, the MyMulti 2 would cover all your trips except Manly, if you choose to go out there.
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Great, thanks for the tips. I think this is coming together!
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I will be taking a large suitcase. Can I navigate this from the airport to the train, or is it worth a taxi? such a big fare differential.
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The train station is at the airport & the Marriott is just across the road from Circular Quay. I imagine your bag has wheels. No reason you couldn't manage those distances.
The Park Hyatt is a bit further - about 900m from Circular Quay. See Google maps |
Thanks. I guess I just wondered if it would fit in all the tight spaces, on the train itself, through gates to get to and from the train, etc. The video on-line was helpful, so I'll give it a go! Yes, the stop is super close to the Marriott, which is great, and then I'll just walk from there to Park Hyatt.
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hi Joe,
we spent 5 nights in Sydney at the end of our trip last year, so we weren't trying to cram in too much. We liked Watson's Bay very much [got the ferry from circular quay twice ] and swam in the small beach there which was lovely. THere is a nice cafe on the quayside with good seafood, and an excellent cafe at the library, which strangely calls itself a tea-but closes about 3pm. it does do a very good breakfast though. one day we walked up to the top of the hill for the lovely view down the other side and then got the bus to Bondi, which frankly was only so-so. There is also very nice ice-cream shop by the bus-stop at Watsons. we also got the ferry to Manly, where we thought that the beach was a lot nicer and if it's too rough to swim on the main beach you can walk to a little cove to the right of the beach which is much more sheltered. we also spent quite a lot of time walking round the Botanical Gardens and did a tour of the Governor's House which was most interesting. We enjoyed the Museum of New South Wales but the MCA not so much. [nice cafe though]. it's a lovely city and you should find plenty to do. |
For different perspectives of the harbour and bridge you could after walking across the bridge south to north take the stairs down to Kirribilli (cafes etc) on the eastern side of the bridge, walk down to the water and <i>under</i> the bridge, continue around the foreshore past Luna Park to Lavender Bay, and at the head of the bay just past the wharf take the stairs (to the left) or path (to the right under the railway arch and then left alongside the railway line) up to King George Street and at the top of the short sharp hill turn left into Blues Point Road (cafes and bookshop) for the stroll down to McMahons Point where there is a classic view of the bridge and Opera House, a restaurant, Sails, with mixed reviews on TA, and from where you can catch a ferry back to Circular Quay or around to Darling Harbour. Lovely walking over the bridge today and noticed that love locks are making a reappearance.
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Thanks for your helpful thoughts. I suppose I feel like Bondi is "prettier" than Manly, from what I've heard, and the Bondi to Bronte walk sounds amazing. But, maybe I can squeeze in Manly too on that day. Or, I could do Manly and Watson's Bay on my last day rather than Tarronga. Not a big animal/zoo fan, but I feel like I should do it to see some Australian wildlife ...
Anyway, good problems to have! |
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