Hi,
I am going to Sydney for the Intl AIDS medical conference from July 22-25. My sister & I arrive on 7/17 and then have 5 days until the conference begins. We were thinking of going to the Blue Mountains and a wine region over those 5 days. (I wasn't really thinking to get on another plane after the flights from NYC/LAX). I heard you can just take a short train ride out of Sydney.

We'd like to hit a winery, maybe hike or bike ride, or even ride horses, if anyone can recommend a place.

Any recommendations on an agenda for those 5 days prior to being in Sydney would be appreciated. I would like to pay 150USD/nite (or less) for accommodations.

Also, if anyone has recommendations for New Zealand. WE arrive in AKL on 7/25 and leave on 7/29.

Thanks,

Tim

The wine growing area north of Sydney is the Hunter Valley, here's the website:

http://www.winecountry.com.au/

You can take a short train ride to the Blue Mountains (west of Sydney). There are lots of hikes to choose from in that area.

http://www.bluemts.com.au/

Get yourself a good value car from
bayswater car rental and do a loop through the blue mountains ,up through mudgee and back into the upper hunter.

check out
http://www.megalong.cc/horseriding/R...20PACKAGES.htm

I like John's suggestion. If you want a guide in the Blue Mountains and or further afield I think you can't go past Carol Probets
E-mail Address(es): [email protected]
Web Page: http://www.bmbirding.com.au
She does not just know about birds!

Me too.

John's suggestion that is.

You could visit the Blue Mts and the Hunter on day trips, but if it were me I would hire a car. Why? well on a day trip to the Blue Mts you'll see the iconic Echo Point and this and that, but you won't get time to do any real hiking (even of the semi-serious variety).

There are so many wonderful walks to do there. Do a google.

With a car you can access the walks the day trips don't go to, and you could then carry on for a look at rural Australia.

Go over the other side of the Mountains and check out some of the old gold mining towns. Or it that doesn't appeal - there's Mudgee for wine. Or - probably the easiest, retrace your steps from the Blue Mts and take the road to Wiseman's Ferry - brilliant views, a chain ferry - again you can sample early settler history in Windsor, St Albans. That will take you to the Hunter Valley. Then you could truck up to Port Stephens - see some dolphins, even whales - and back to Sydney.

I think I'd go for that on the grounds of variety rather than going all the way to Mudgee.

But you need to get a map and do some thinking - what attracts you?

As for horse riding - I know there are day and overnight trips offered in the Blue Mts - but can't quote the details.

You could go to the Sydney Visitor Centre when you get here - or, hunt around.

All the best.

If you have such a limited amount of time for New Zealand, I would leave it for a longer trip and spend the rest of your time in Australia.

Lee Ann

Hi Tim,
This might be worth investigating for horse riding in the Blue Mountains if you were thinking of a day or 2 up there. Don't know anything about them, but it's a start
I just googled & came up with:
http://www.bluemts.com.au/werriberri/