I'm sorry to learn that you are colour blind, Alan. Not to worry the rooms at Days Inn, Motel 6, and Comfort Inn are all the same restful shade of beige. You're not missing a thing.

Janese , what is the name of that charming hotel in the middle of the Sydney Harbour Bridge?

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all

AndrewDavid

Janese and Alan -- thank you for the thoughtful perspectives. My wife and I also like boutique hotels and do not have to stay in US-based chains. So, we'd love to hear your addt'l recommendations for hotels with good locations/views in the Rocks, since that seems to be where most first-time Sydney visitors like to be. If there's another great central location, then please recommend places there as well. BTW, since it's our vacation, we're willing to spend more, like $250 AUD. Thanks again.

Foomoo -- thanks for the great itinerary in NZ. It sounds perfect. I've been doing more research and many of the places you recommend are on other top lists. Anyone else want to chime in for NZ places and NZ wineries?

Andrew David:
The Hangers Inn
Liz

Hi, ravi_kumar!

Take a look at this website: http://www.australia.travelmall.com/...+Russell+Hotel.
This is the best-located hotel in Sydney, though it's so small that you won't get a view -- but step outside and you are IN the view that everyone else is looking at. Five minutes' walk to the Harbour Bridge. Two minutes' walk to the ferry wharves. Eight minutes' walk to the Opera House box office. Zero minutes' walk to the Rocks. Only three storeys high and there's no lift. This is a real Aussie hotel which is as different from the Four Seasons a few steps away from it as Australia is from the US. And it's actually UNDER the budget you mentioned in the first post in this thread.

Liz,

Do you hang from the pylons, or the lower side of the roadway at the Hangers Inn?
AndrewDavid

A.D. the Harbour Bridge is known as " the big coat hanger" and at the Inn there you can hang out with whom or from whatever you want. It does however get a tad hot on NYE when the fireworks go off - one could say that you would get a big shock with one of those up your jumper!

Liz, Thanks for the clarification. The things they don't tell us in the guidebooks.

AD