How many days for Sydney?
 

We are big-city and quaint small-town people. Our favorite places to visit - New York, Chicago, London, Paris -- you get the picture. But we also love walking in the Alps, the beach (Hawaii, south of France, Italian Riviera, etc.), and small towns like York, Cambridge, Cambria (here in California), and the like - places to poke around in small shops, take in the scene, have a casual lunch, etc. I'm telling you all that just so you can help me figure something out.

We're thinking of 2-3 weeks in Australia next January to coincide with the Australian Open (tennis). Besides Melbourne (where the tennis tournament is held), we can get a "deal" with 7 nights at a nice hotel in Sydney. Is that simply too long in Sydney (meaning we'd miss too much elsewhere)? I know there's plenty to do and see in the city, but are there also worthwhile day trips?

We would also go to the Great Barrier Reef. Ayers Rock/Alice Springs is up in the air (my husband wants to go; I'm skeptical about its "attraction").

Thanks for your advice.

7 days is plenty of time to see much of Sydney and also spend a few days in outlying areas - Blue Mountains is a terrific trip, as are Manly, Bondi or any of the many beaches nearby.

Since you are headed to Melbourne as well, you might want to set aside a little time to tour part of the Great Ocean Road, Phillip Island and some wineries.

There's loads of stuff to do up in Queensland and the GBR. Alice Springs is kind of far from Uluru. If you want to see Uluru and Kata Tjuta, I'd recommend you stay in one of the accommodations that is right near these sights. As you are skeptical about spending a lot of your time out there, you really only need about 2 full days to cover both sights and get a quick feel for the center. I think it was definitely worth seeing, but if you only have a few weeks, you may prefer to stick along the coastal regions and save the center for another trip.

Thanks - that's very very helpful.

See you at the tennis!

Just wave - I'll know it's you!

margo_oz, can you please email me at [email protected] (that's my "public" email address). I'd appreciate it as I have some questions about the tennis tournament. Thanks.

We just spent 5 days in Sydney and I feel like that was just about right. If I'd had more time I'd have arranged a day trip to the Blue Mountains, but I got to see a lot of Sydney in our time there.

Alice

dmlove,

Hello Fellow Californian!
<waving from Menlo Park

You'll never be bored spending a week in Sydney. (Unless you'd be bored spending a week in San Francisco).

My only concern is the amount of time you have alloted - don't know if you're planning on just attending the trials or the tournament itself, but if you're going for 2-3 weeks, you'd really be pushing things timewise with everything you've listed!

Keep in mind that every flight (
to Cairns, Melbourne, Ayers) will result in a half day of time gobbled up (by the time you fly, get your bags, transfer to the hotel, check in).

Hope this is helpful!

Regards,

Melodie
Certified Aussie Specialist

we spent 8 days in Sydney and hope to go back because there was so much to see. Jet -lag was a killer for a few days!

Thanks again. wlz, we should know more (even whether we're going) in the next 2 weeks. I'll contact you by email if that's OK. Btw, I'm in Burlingame.

dmlove,

where's the hotel in sydney? i am also planning a trip to australia around that time and would love to know what deals you've found on hotels.

i'm also planning on the australian open! can't wait.

anything you or anyone can share about hotels would be great...

i've about had it searching for airfares...looks like i'll be spending at least $2500 to get over there and for a couple in-country flights...is that about right?

thanks again for any advice,

hobotravels

Wow!

Anyone more for the tennis!??

Back in February we spent 2 weeks in and around Sydney and still didn't see everything. Here are some recommendations:

Bridge. Do the bridge climb if you don't mind spending the money and have no problem with heights. Otherwise you get a fabulous view from the Pylon Lookout.

Opera House. Do the 1 hour tour. Get tickets for an opera if you can. Book online well in advance. We were lucky enough to see Carmen.

Botanical Gardens - flowers and bats!

Beautiful Bondi Beach and fantastic coastal walk from Bondi to Coogee.

Manly - lovely day out by ferry, walk up onto the headland from Shelly Beach. There's also the Manly to Spit Bridge walk (one thing we didn't get time to do!)

Watson's Bay. Get there by ferry or bus (no evening ferries but you can use water taxis). Doyle's restaurant on the beach.

Zoo - get there by ferry. Zoo is fairly ordinary but in a lovely setting overlooking the harbour.

Riverboat Postman on the Hawkesbury River. About 1 hour's train journey north of Sydney. A fantastic slightly off-beat day out. Although we were lucky with the weather that day which helped.

In the Darling Harbour area - Maritime Museum, Chinese Garden. The aquarium is there too but we didn't get time to visit it.

We used 7-day Travelpasses, valid on tubes, buses and ferries - Green includes the Manly ferry, Red doesn't. Details on CityRail web site which includes transport maps. We used the buses extensively.

Blue Mountains - you can do this by train but we appreciated the freedom of renting a car. Stayed one night at Leura. Lovely walks.

Also by car: Palm Beach and Barrenjoey Lighthouse north of Sydney.

Jervis Bay/Huskisson area a couple of hours south. Beautiful Booderee National Park. Stayed 2 nights there.

Didn't have time to get to Hunter Valley wine area but would have liked to take a tour there.

Hi fellow travellers and tennis enthusiasts! What a small world we live in. My husband and I are also going "down under" to tour and take in some of the tennis open. I have been searching for infomation on the open and if anyone would like to share what they know please email me at [email protected]. I am still putting together our itinerary. Love all the ideas I am getting here.
PS When previewing my email address comes up twice and I can't change it. Just use it once please.