Hi everyone! I'm wondering if anyone out there has done a visit to Australia Zoo and/0r Bridgeclimb in Sydney? I will be there in a week, and I'm getting so excited! Questions: is Bridgeclimb extremely high?? How long does it take to do? Do you feel safe? Can you see all of Australia Zoo in a day? I'd welcome any responses, I'd LOVE to hear any memories and stories you have!!!!!
Thank you VERY much for your time and help, I appreciate it!!!

BroadwayGirl-

Taronga Zoo is a wonderful 1 day trip. Take the ferry to the zoo and the Sky Safari to the top entrance, then meander down hill. With their map you will be able to see everything in a day. There is an inexpensive RT ferry, zoo, skyway ticket available at the ferry terminal (circular quay). It was one of our best days in Sydney.

As for the bridge climb, I am afraid of heights so I skipped it. But when I went back to Sydney I decided to go anyway. Yes, it is very high (I could have looked up how many feet, but what's the difference: it is High). It takes 3-4 hours for the climb; the first hour for the training, and learning how to use the equipment, and suiting up. (be sure to wear rubber soled or running shoes). And don't drink-they check!

Most importantly- you will feel very safe, since it is very safe, as you are tethered to a steel cable and can't fall of the bridge. But you are very high and out in the open (be prepared to be scared like me) but you will overcome any fear of heights you may have. Now, I am not afraid of heights! It was a great climb!

I'm sure the locals can fill in some of the details I left out. Australia is wonderful, and Sydney is one of the 3 nicest cities in the world (with NY and San Francisco). You will have a great time! you should be excited.

Thanks TampaTramp! The Taronga zoo looks awesome I'm curious: did you ever get up to Brisbane and the Australia Zoo? How many times have you been Down Under? Oooooh, and how did you like the plane flight??? We are leaving for Sydney via LA, on Qantas, Thursday at 1 pm Hopefully those hours will pass by fairly quick!! Have a good one! Dana

Dana,

Qantas is a great airline with your choice of a bunch of movies and decent food. But it is still 14 hours.

I've only been to Oz twice, and not to Brisbane. But I did take the train to Perth, nice zoo [lions were up close and personal (Very personal) separated by just a piece of glass; should be a few more lions by now]. Plenty of animals to see all through the country. I've also been to the red center, Darwin, Cairns, and Melbourne. Next trip Tazzi!

where else you going?

Hi again! We are flying into Sydney next week, staying there for a few days, then flying up to Brisbane, and going to the Australia Zoo.....we won't be in the country very long, but we're going to try and see all we can. Did you ever go to the Hard Rock Cafe? I want a Sydney T-shirt I'm excited to fly with Qantas, I'm usually a Northwest gal, so this will be the first time. Do fellow passengers mind if you get up from time to time to walk around/go to the bathroom?? I've a feeling I'll be doing that alot! Hope you're having a nice night!!
Dana

I believe that you are asking about seeing Australia Zoo which is in Beerwah, Queensland about 45 mins north of Brisbane by train - correct???? If that is the case it is certainly doable in one day, including getting there and back to Brisbane. Have you decided on how you are getting there and is it the only place you are seeing while you are there? For my money I would prefer to go to Taronga Park Zoo in Sydney than to Australia Zoo, particularly if its the only place you are seeing outside of Sydney.
Another question you ask is about walking around the aircraft - Qantas does not restrict people walking around the aircraft and it is encouraged because that is a good way to avoid DVT. It's your flight and cannot see why anyone would object to you doing that anyway. If possible though, try and have a sleep on the flight.

Hi B'way Girl!

I've done both the Australia Zoo (twice, most recently about 3 weeks ago), and the Bridge Climb.

Tampa gave you most of the info about the Bridge Climb; the one thing that's never addressed is that there are some very tight areas there, which is not a problem..unless you happen to suffer from claustropobia, which might give you a few anxious moments.

It's very very safe and they have it perfectly timed to allow everyone to go at their own pace. The most difficult thing about the Climb is trying to figure out WHEN to do it! dawn, dusk, evening? All different and unique experiences! On my trip, there was a German couple doing it for the second time because they wanted the experience of doing it at night - and they lucked out with a perfect night - crystal clear, the lights - amazing!

Yes, you can see all of Australia Zoo in a day, but as you're doing Taronga too, I wonder if you'll get "zoo-ed out"?

Btw, I highly recommend getting the VIP package at Taronga; this will allow you a personalized tour behind the scenes with a guide and depending on which animals, entrance into some enclosures as well, so you're really close to them.

As for Qantas - Dana, if you've been a NW flyer, you'll think you're in First Class when flying Qantas!

As far as passengers minding if you get up and walk around, no, they don't, unless you're climbing over your seatmates! Hopefully, you've got an aisle seat!

Regards,

Melodie
Certified Aussie Specialist

BroadwayGirl-

Melodie said it best, compared to NW (or especially United, IMO) you'll think you are in first class. Absolutely, get up and walk around. (only Americans go to the bathroom, the rest of the world goes to the toilet).

Never been to the Hard Rock in Sydney, but I do have plenty of T shirts from every city- it's not hard to find

it's after 10pm in Tampa, time for the Australians to wake up and answer your post. good-night. [ok I know it's noon in Sydney]

Hi BroadwayGirl:
This link to the Bridge climb may be interesting: www.bridgeclimb.com

Agree with others - you can certainly do the Australia Zoo (Qld Sunshine Coast - about an hour from Brisbane) in a day. If it were me, I'd take a ferry across to Taronga, though.

Whichever, I'm sure you'll have a ball.

Dana, it may be too late for you to make changes, but I'm struggling to understand why you want to go SO far out of the way to see the Australia Zoo.

Brisbane is a 735 km/1.25 hr flight from Sydney, and as LizzieF points out you then have to get on a train and travel upwards of another hour ... and then get all the way back again. I hope you don't mind me being nosey, but ... whaffor?

Hi again everyone and THANK YOU for all the lovely responses----this place is such a goldmine of information My mom and I are leaving for Australia---obviously neither of us has ever been there (my mom has never left the country) She is THE (I can't emphasize it enough) biggest Steve Irwin/Croc Hunter fan, and it's her dream to see his zoo. After winning some money on our "Wheel Of Fortune" tv show (I taped it a year ago today, as a matter of fact!) I decided to take her Down Under so she can see it for herself....I'm serious, she watches his show all the time, has taped the episodes, and even knows all the zoo animal's names, not to mention the employee's! So we are going down for his daughter Bindi's birthday on the 24th, and back again the next day. We are starting the trip in Sydney, doing a city tour, then Bridgeclimb, then basically flying up to Brisbane and then on to Beerwah where the zoo is. We will then be located in Brisbane, flying out of there when it's time, back to Los Angeles. And while I have any of you still with me, can anyone tell me if the Conrad Treasury Casino in Brisbane has any Keno machines?? My mom is a gambler and we plan to go to that casino, and Keno is her game So anyway, to answer Neil's question: we wouldn't just be going up to the zoo, then all the way back to Sydney, I realize that wouldn't really be possible, at least to drive! Oh, and we do plan to check out the Taronga Park zoo, it looks fabulous as well!!! So many fun places, I CANNOT believe we leave this Thursday------we've been planning it since December!!!!!!! I am BEYOND excited Thank you all again for your help and time, I am inhaling anything and everything I can, about this wonderful country, can't wait to see it for myself!!!! THANKS---Dana

Dana aren't you kind taking your mother to see the zoo!

Just to explain some of the responses, while Steve Irwin was apparently very popular in the US, quite a few Australians (myself included) cringed at his exaggerated macho "crocodile dundee" behaviour.

I hope you both have a fabulous time.

Thanks Susan, I appreciate your thoughts! I cannot wait to see your beautiful country Dana

http://www.hardrock.com/locations/ca...s.aspx?Lc=Sydn

Braodway Girl

Am I understanding you correctly? Are you coming to Australia for only three full days with one day in Sydney and one day in Queensland? You fly in on Saturday and fly out on Wednesday?

If so, have you ever experienced Jetlag?

Hi there! We are flying to Sydney via Los Angeles on Thursday(the 19th), spending 3 days in Sydney, then heading up to Brisbane for the next 4....we leave Brisbane for Los Angeles on the 27th. I really wish it was a longer visit; but this is what our budget would allow....maybe next time it will be a longer stay

Phew, a week is very short but I got confused & thought it was only 3 days, which would have been almost impossible to enjoy. I wouldn't plan on doing the Bridge climb until the 2nd or 3rd day. It's a lot of $ to spend if you are really jetlagged and you won't enjoy it.

They do play keno in the casinos but htey aren't machines. You will find plenty of poker (slot) machines which we call Pokies. In NSW they are also in the pubs or hotels.

BroadwayGirl,

since someone mentioned, and I don't know if you flew over the ocean before: last minute advice regarding jetlag. As soon as you take off at 1pm set your watches to Sydney time. be hungry at your usual meal time, sleepy too. Do not under any circumstance try to calculate what time it is back home-don't even think it! when you land at 8:30pm (20:30) go through customs, etc. get to your hotel and go to sleep; set all the alarm clocks. Your excitement will override any so called jet lag. There will be no jet lag! Jet lag does not exist (except for people who say or think: "it's xx:yy at home" )

have a wonderful trip.

Ooooh TampaTramp---so nice to hear from you again! THANK YOU for all the advice, I am taking it all to heart! Yes, I've flown over the Atlantic some years ago---to tell the truth, I hardly remember it. May I ask an important question: when we take off at 1 pm, what time will it be in Sydney???? I believe it's about a 15 hour difference, but could you or some other helpful person help me out so I know for sure?? I am getting SOOOOOOO excited, come Thursday, it'll be a wonder if I can even remember my name, ha ha. Thanks again!!!

it's Monday 9:30pm in Tampa and 6:30pm in LA and it is 11:30am in Sydney but it is already Tuesday. 14 Hours ahead of NY and 17 Hrs ahead of LA. (Broadway as in NY?-not sure if you are east coast or west coast)

at 1pm in LA it will be 6 am (the next day-Friday)


http://www.timeanddate.com/