Need Packing Advice for Sydney and New Zealand in January
Dec 22nd, 2013, 08:22 AM
#21
Maggi - based on what we enjoyed most in our recent 5 nights stay in Sydney, to the above list i would add the following:
get the ferry from circular quay to Watson's Bay, and walk up the hill to the Gap to enjoy the view out over the ocean. then walk back down and have lunch at the excellent tea garden attached to the library. [or do it the other way round and have breakfast there first, which is what we did. great eggs benedict!] The seafood from the takeaway on the ferry pier, which you eat in the bar/restaurant built out over the water is also very good. you can get a bus from the road by the Gap down to Bondi should you wish to swim down there, but we swam on the beach just past the library which was much more sheltered.
From the far end of circular quay, walk up the steps which you can find between two restaurants, across the road, and into the botanical gardens. Even if they don't interest you, if you walk round the gardens to where they meet the water, there is a great view of the opera house framed by the harbour bridge. [BTW, lunch in the garden cafe was good and reasonably priced]
Take a walk round the Rocks, not just the touristy bit down the bottom, but go up the hill and head for the Lord Nelson pub - not just a historic building, but good beer and food. plus the surroundings are fascinating, with rows of pretty victorian villas complete with verandas and little gardens. Not what we had imagined Sydney would be like at al!
get the ferry from circular quay to Watson's Bay, and walk up the hill to the Gap to enjoy the view out over the ocean. then walk back down and have lunch at the excellent tea garden attached to the library. [or do it the other way round and have breakfast there first, which is what we did. great eggs benedict!] The seafood from the takeaway on the ferry pier, which you eat in the bar/restaurant built out over the water is also very good. you can get a bus from the road by the Gap down to Bondi should you wish to swim down there, but we swam on the beach just past the library which was much more sheltered.
From the far end of circular quay, walk up the steps which you can find between two restaurants, across the road, and into the botanical gardens. Even if they don't interest you, if you walk round the gardens to where they meet the water, there is a great view of the opera house framed by the harbour bridge. [BTW, lunch in the garden cafe was good and reasonably priced]
Take a walk round the Rocks, not just the touristy bit down the bottom, but go up the hill and head for the Lord Nelson pub - not just a historic building, but good beer and food. plus the surroundings are fascinating, with rows of pretty victorian villas complete with verandas and little gardens. Not what we had imagined Sydney would be like at al!
Dec 23rd, 2013, 06:08 AM
#22
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Wow, annhig, thank you for the valuable and detailed information! That's the type of thing you seldom read in guidebooks. Are you going to write a trip report? I would look forward to reading it.
Dec 23rd, 2013, 06:44 AM
#23
Maggi - i will be doing a TR but i doubt that it'll be finished by the time you set off on your trip!
Hence my setting out my suggestions in detail above.
Another to add to the list is the Governor's House - it is open Friday, Sat and Sun, and free - you just need to provide a photo ID like a passport or Driving licence. [this is because the Governor is now residing in the House as of 10 days or so ago]. you get a tour of the house plus a very interesting insight into the history of the settling of Sydney and the constitution - not bad for 45 mins or so. you get to the house through the Botanical Gardens [it's well sign-posted] and exit into the gardens, which are superb, and well worth a visit if you can't get into the house, or aren't interested in it.
Hence my setting out my suggestions in detail above.
Another to add to the list is the Governor's House - it is open Friday, Sat and Sun, and free - you just need to provide a photo ID like a passport or Driving licence. [this is because the Governor is now residing in the House as of 10 days or so ago]. you get a tour of the house plus a very interesting insight into the history of the settling of Sydney and the constitution - not bad for 45 mins or so. you get to the house through the Botanical Gardens [it's well sign-posted] and exit into the gardens, which are superb, and well worth a visit if you can't get into the house, or aren't interested in it.
Dec 25th, 2013, 06:25 AM
#24
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Well! The things you learn! I didn't know about Government House. Or that the Governor had moved back in. I guess lots of things happening around Sydo at this time and Gov House is quite well located.
I'll put it on my list to check out. I've only lived here all my life (so far)
I'll put it on my list to check out. I've only lived here all my life (so far)
Dec 25th, 2013, 09:59 AM
#25
glad to have been of help, margo. There were quite a few aussies on the tour that we did along with us brits, some germans, and an estonian couple. The tour guide was a young american from the Government House staff who was quite entertaining.
to be fair, to you, the Governor only moved back in just before we visited [which I think was Saturday 14th December ] so as you've been out of the country, you'd have missed any local news coverage of this momentous event!
to be fair, to you, the Governor only moved back in just before we visited [which I think was Saturday 14th December ] so as you've been out of the country, you'd have missed any local news coverage of this momentous event!
Dec 15th, 2019, 04:48 AM
#26
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dear Maggie
I am having that same conversation with my husband this morning. We too are arriving in Sydney on Jan 2 and will spend 5 days there before boarding the Voyager. I usually receive a suggested packing list from the cruise line but this time I did not so have been surfing the web. I am wondering if I need to bring hiking boots or water shoes for the New Zealand portion like others have suggested and quick dry pants because the weather can go from warm and sunny to pouring rain in an instant. Both Au. and N.Z. are very casual but not sure about onboard.
Do I need to bring a good quality respirator for Sydney which this week has listed air quality as hazardous by the Australian government . They suggest stay indoors in air conditioning. I am told the paper masks do nothing to protect lungs from fine particle smoke but a decent quality respirator can be had for about $30. They have temporarily shut down the ferries this week because the captains could not see where they were going. I have asked the cruise line about this. They basically say they have no change in plans for now.
For me casual wear for hiking and walking around a potentially hot city during the day usually means sneakers or casual walking sandals, tee shirt, cropped pants/jeans, and other cool and very casual clothing. In my experience (which may be different on Voyager) this is different from casual on board. Most of my cruises were expeditions so that may make a difference. People seem to step it up for cocktail hour and dinner. An example of cocktail hour and dinner time wear would be casual summer dresses and upscale pants and silk top. There is an outdoor casual restaurant though. I prefer carry on baggage only and that is why I am struggling with what to bring. Packing space will be tight and I prefer not to bring anything that I will not need.
We have tickets to La Boheme and really looking forward.
See you!
elaine
Do I need to bring a good quality respirator for Sydney which this week has listed air quality as hazardous by the Australian government . They suggest stay indoors in air conditioning. I am told the paper masks do nothing to protect lungs from fine particle smoke but a decent quality respirator can be had for about $30. They have temporarily shut down the ferries this week because the captains could not see where they were going. I have asked the cruise line about this. They basically say they have no change in plans for now.
For me casual wear for hiking and walking around a potentially hot city during the day usually means sneakers or casual walking sandals, tee shirt, cropped pants/jeans, and other cool and very casual clothing. In my experience (which may be different on Voyager) this is different from casual on board. Most of my cruises were expeditions so that may make a difference. People seem to step it up for cocktail hour and dinner. An example of cocktail hour and dinner time wear would be casual summer dresses and upscale pants and silk top. There is an outdoor casual restaurant though. I prefer carry on baggage only and that is why I am struggling with what to bring. Packing space will be tight and I prefer not to bring anything that I will not need.
We have tickets to La Boheme and really looking forward.
See you!
elaine
Dec 15th, 2019, 06:07 PM
#27
You are on a 6 year old thread!
Elaine:
ONE Sydney ferry route ( Manly) was stopped for a couple of hours in ONE afternoon. The same thing happens occasionally if the swell is too heavy or there is a fog.
The smoke from bushfires comes & goes, according to the prevailing wind & weather. The extreme days were only on a couple of occasions. And yes, it was awful. And then it blew away.
If you worried about something that may or may not happen, by all means spend the $30 and bring a respirator, if it gives you comfort. It’s not much to spend or carry & no one can predict what the weather will be like on the particular days you’re in town.
Sydney is a cosmopolitan city of 5 million. It’s also quite spread out, away from the CBD, so someone in one suburb may be seeing lots of smoke, while in another, just a few kms away will have none.
Your cruise ship or “cruise critic” may be a source of information as to what to take for the ship & its events.
ONE Sydney ferry route ( Manly) was stopped for a couple of hours in ONE afternoon. The same thing happens occasionally if the swell is too heavy or there is a fog.
The smoke from bushfires comes & goes, according to the prevailing wind & weather. The extreme days were only on a couple of occasions. And yes, it was awful. And then it blew away.
If you worried about something that may or may not happen, by all means spend the $30 and bring a respirator, if it gives you comfort. It’s not much to spend or carry & no one can predict what the weather will be like on the particular days you’re in town.
Sydney is a cosmopolitan city of 5 million. It’s also quite spread out, away from the CBD, so someone in one suburb may be seeing lots of smoke, while in another, just a few kms away will have none.
Your cruise ship or “cruise critic” may be a source of information as to what to take for the ship & its events.
Dec 19th, 2019, 04:17 PM
#28
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Maggie, here is a link regarding attire on Voyager from Cruise Critic. Very specific reply which I found very helpful
https://www.cruisecritic.com/rollcal...anuary-7-2020/
https://www.cruisecritic.com/rollcal...anuary-7-2020/
Dec 19th, 2019, 06:28 PM
#29
ece: >>dear Maggie<<
>>Maggie, here is a link regarding attire on Voyager from Cruise Critic. Very specific reply which I found very helpful<<
Not sure why you keep topping this and just how helpful maggie will find it since she posted SIX YEARS ago . . .
>>Maggie, here is a link regarding attire on Voyager from Cruise Critic. Very specific reply which I found very helpful<<
Not sure why you keep topping this and just how helpful maggie will find it since she posted SIX YEARS ago . . .
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