peterl43

We lived in Sydney for 4 years....some favorite trips:

1. Trip up to the Hunter Valley wine region. Short trip north of Sydney. Loads of places to stay...cute B&B's.

2. Western Australia...WE stayed in Perth (Fremantle for 2 nights) drove down to Margaret River region for 2 nights....then up to the Pinnacles (an amzing park of sandstone formations plus stramatolites....ancient organisms) then up to Broome for 5 great days (stayed at Cable Beach...great sun, sand surf, pearls....look for the 110 millions year old dinosaur footprints if going during a king tide)

3. Tasmania....beautiful...Cradle Mountain, then over to Strahan...cross to Hobart (stayed at Beaupre Cottage south of Hobart..great place for 2..the hosts are wonderful), up to Freycinet

4. Uluru and the Olgas...must do Sounds of Silence

5. Great Ocean Road and stay at the Cape Otway Lighthouse...spooky but fantastic...stay in the head lightkeepers cottage...you'll have the whole point to yourself

6. New Zealand...south island...Christchurch, Queenstown, Greymouth and the trans alpine train back from Greymouth

7. Great Barrier Reef/....if you love snorekling..Wavelegnth out of Port Douglas. Kuranda (near Cairns) is worth a trip..cable car one way train the other..head further north to the Daintree and cross teh Daintree river...a few resorts further up noth.

Many, many more..happy to share more detailed notes with you...where are you living

tropo

dkw - not sure if your still reading all these replies. I moved from Sydney over 4 years ago to Qld.
My favourite drives around Sydney were:-
1. Down McCarrs Creek Road to Mona Vale, then north up to Palm Beach & Pittwater.
2. Drive down south via Kangaroo Valley, to south coast, as far as Jervis Bay. (stop & have breakfast/coffee at Hyams Beach Cafe)
Of course, now with 12 months up your sleeve, your in close proximity to both islands of New Zealand.
I have heaps of other drives/destinations that may interest you.

AmanteDelLimoncello

More Short trips from Sydney include
Drive to Palm Beach and walk up the lighthouse or catch the ferry to the central coast.
Drive to West Head in Ku Ring Gai National Park. There are some great bush walks from this area down to the water.
If you plan to visit the National Parks throughout your stay it may be worth buying a yearly permit as entry fees to NP apply.
An alternative to a houseboat on the Hawkesbury is to rent a weekender at Dangar Island or Little Wobby (via Brooklyn by ferry) There is a Oyster Cruise that leaves from Brooklyn. The Australian Film “Oyster Farmer” was filmed in this area. (Spectacular scenery) …….

dkw

Thanks Again for all the great replies. We are living in St. Leonards on the North Shore and have spent the last couple of months getting settled into an apartment (too many trip to IKEA) and getting re-acquainted with Sydney. It seems that there is something interesting on every weekend. We've been to see the start of the Sydney to Hobart race, had a great view of the fireworks from garden Island, joined in the festivities on Australia Day, went to the Chinese New Years Parade, saw the QEII and the Queen Victoria pass each other for the last time in Sydney Harbor, hiked from Bondi to Coogee and back and found some great spots to bushwalk and bike right near our apartment. Whew...we're exhausted!

We're planning on driving up to the Hawkesbury River this weekend. We're hoping to get some hiking in somewhere up in that area. We just looked at the map and West Head it is!! Thanks for the suggestion AmanteDelLimoncello!

DH is going to the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne next weekend.

Easter Weekend (a 4 day weekend here!!!!)we're considering driving down to the South Coast of NSW. We're thinking Jervis Bay, or Bateman's Bay. We'll check out Hyams Beach Cafe. Any other good ideas for that region???

peterl43: That lighthouse sounds fantastic......definitely on our evergrowing list!!

We're thinking about spending Christmas in New Zealand because we both will get a good amount of time off then.

Thanks all .....keep the ideas coming....we're going to try our best to do everything!!!!

longhorn55

Are you and your husband runners? My husband and son did the Sydney City-to-Surf race a couple years ago and loved it. (The race is held in August.) There were over 10,000 runners that year so my husband said that nobody was running very fast, but it's got great views and it might be a special remembrance of your stay in Sydney.

peterl43

DKW...I worked in St Leonards for the 4 years I was there and lived in Wahroonga....very convenient location. Another trip would be the Blue Mountains...great weekend trip and close to Sydney. We stayed in Leura a few times and rented a cottage in Wentworth Falls (Banksia Rose is the name of it..on the web, they rent by the week or weekends) which was terrific...especially if you go with another couple. Easy travels to alot of sights..must do the Scenic Railway in Katoomba while there. Also, great kangaroo viewing at Euroka Clearing (can find directions on the web) ..alot of tour companies stop early in the morning, but every time we've gone there on our own, we've seen alot. Have fun!! St Leonards has alot of good restaurants as does Crow's Nest...

dkw

<<<<<<Author: johhj_au ([email protected])
Date: 11/19/2007, 04:52 pm

Don't ride your bikes dowm McCarrs creek road on a sunday morning.>>>>>>>


OOOOOH...do I ever get it now. We went out to West Head to do some bushwalking two Saturdays ago. (Thanks for the suggestion AmanteDelLimoncello!! It was just great!) Sometimes bikes and cars just don't mix. Especially not on a winding road such as McCarr's Creek Road.

Peterl43: we're slowly working our way through the Restaurants in Crow's Nest. We already have quite a few favorite places and that makes it more difficult to try somewhere new. Such a problem to have

Longhorn55: The City to Surf Race sounds like a great event to train for. DH runs regularly, but I haven't run on a regular basis for a couple of years. It sounds like I should get back to it! Thanks for the suggestion....it's always much more motivating to have a goal to train for!

dkw

Well...our time here in Oz is coming to a close as we're moving back to Michigan at the end of this month.    I thought I'd update our original query and let you all know how well we did with your great suggestions in the 4-1/2 years we've been here.

trips we've taken in no particular order:
A week in Port Douglas with our niece visiting from the US
2 weeks in the Kimberley (Kunnunurra, The Bungle Bungles, El Questro and Home Valley Station)
Long Weekend in Thredbo
A week in Narooma and surrounds
Long weekend at the Palazzo Versace (work conference)
2 weeks driving around the South Island of New Zealand (Queenstown, Doubtful Sound Overnight cruise, Fox Glacier and Christchurch)
A week in Palm Cove with our Nephew visiting from the US
Several long weekends in the Hunter Valley
Several Long weekends in Melbourne
Another 2 weeks in the Kimberley and Broome (Eco Beach resort south of Broome, APT wilderness camp near Bell Gorge and several nights in Broome)
Long Weekend in the Port Stephens Area
Long Weekend at Silky Oaks Lodge north of Port Douglas
A trip to the North Island of NZ (Rotorua and Waitomo)
2 weeks in Tasmania (Cradle Mountain Lodge, Stanley and Launceston)
Long weekend in Newcastle
Long Weekend in Cairns ( work conference)
Weekend in the Blue Mountains

Work Trips that DH has taken .......how dare he go without me
Mt Isa
Mildura/Wentworth
Adelaide x5
Port Macquarie
Melbourne
Brisbane x8
Hobart x 3
Perth x 3
Lismore
Dubbo
Townsville x2
Gold Coast
Milton, NSW
Canberra x 10

Special Experiences while here:

Seeing the Hoodoo Gurus live at the Leagues Club in Newcastle
Seeing Crowded House at the  Enmore Theatre
Seeing Patti Smith at the Sydney Opera House
Seeing the Cult at Luna Park
Seeing Ben Folds at the Sydney Opera House
Going to see the Movie Psycho at the Opera House  with a live Orchestra performing the Score 
Playing 3 up at the Australian Hotel on Anzac Day
WeeklyTrivia Night at the Dee Why RSL
Grand Prix in Melbourne
Sydney's Fabulous New Year's Eve Fireworks
Filming of RockWiz at the Espy in St Kilda (twice)
Mountain Biking in Terry Hills
Running in 3 City2surfs (soon to be 4 times)
Running in several other fun runs around Sydney
Spring Cycle in Sydney
Competing in my first Triathlon....and my second too!!
bush walking every where we went....Bungle Bungles, The Kimberley, Port Stephens, New Zealand, Thredbo, Kur-ring-gai National Park, manly to Spit, Bondi to Coogee, FNQ, North Head in Manly, Lane Cove National Park, Tasmania
Learning to Surf and Stand-Up-Paddle Board
Kayaking  in Middle Harbour
Watching the start of the Sydney to Hobart race
Lawn Bowling get togethers
Going to the Sydney Fish Market on the weekends
Going to various growers markets around Sydney
Spring Carnival at Randwick Racecourse
Dog Races at Wentworth Park Racecourse
Completing the 27k Seven Bridges Walk...start to finish

AND last, but not least....Meeting many lovely Fodorites at the Sydney Get-together!!


Whew....we've been busy!!!

Photographic evidence of our activity is here:  
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22114608@N05/sets/


There are many places we haven't seen in Australia yet....We've left a few reasons to come back!!

A big thanks to all who've been so helpful and given us fantastic suggestions for our adventures here!!

sassy_cat

Fantastic! I checked out a few of your photos and it looks like you had a ball.

I'd like to follow in your footsteps

Melnq8

dkw -

Looks like you've take full advantage of your time in Sydney and have spent your time exceedingly well.

We too, are leaving beautiful Australia after four years, and I for one, am going to really miss it!

Best of luck with your move...I know how much fun they can be (not).

dottyp

Hi, dkw,

Port Stephens was one of the places I toyed with visiting when we were to come over in July but decided we didn't have enough time to do it justice. Now, after seeing your photos, I am definitely going to build it in to our trip, hopefully to be rebooked for October. You have done so much in your time in Australia. I find the more often we visit the more Australia gets under my skin!

All the best for your return to Michigan.

dkw

Thanks Sassycat! We have had a fantastic time here!

Mel, Where are you off to?? Back to the US? I hope your move goes well!!

Dotty, Port Stephens was a big surprise to me. Tons of fun things to do. We were only there for a few days, but could have easily spent a week or so there.

Susan7

Have a safe trip home both dkw and Melnq8! Come back soon!!!!

stormbird

Yes all the best for the trip home dkw - it was lovely to have had the opportunity to meet you at the Sydney GTG.
Sincerely hope we get the chance to meet again.
All the best
Stormbird

stormbird

Melnq8 - we're just going to kidnap you so you can't leave!

Melnq8

I wish you would stormbird.

dkw

Thanks Susan and Stormbird! It was fantastic to meet you both at the GTG!!

Clifton

<i>Well...our time here in Oz is coming to a close.</i>

Well it's not going to be the same, not having dkw and Mel posting from here. The best of luck to you both in your new lives back home.

Bokhara2

We'll miss you too, dkw & Mel. It was lovely to meet you & your husband, dkw and I wish you both all the very best in your future wanderings.

You too, Melnq8 & your husband. I've loved all your trip reports and photos. I'm sorry we didn't see you over here, but that's just one more reason for a return to "the land downunder"

You've both seen & done more in Australia than many Australians do in a lifetime. Good for you - an adventurous & inquisitive spirit is a great travelling companion, isn't it?

Here's a little gift for you both. You'll probably relate to it, Melnq8
Remind you of Summer in Perth
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML9h3I5Uktw

Melnq8

Thanks Clifton & Bokhara. We're not going back to the US just yet, we're off to another international assignment. I'll reveal where once we have the visas in our hot little hands, assuming it ever happens (it's taken 10 months so far).

I hear that song on the radio quite a lot here Bokhara, and yep, it'll always remind me of the stinking hot Perth summers!