Hi all,
Travelling to Sydney solo from NYC (phew- not the best flyer but need to get away)- have a friend I'll be staying with - and will be there for 8 nights:
Want to def do lots of walking around the city (read about a walk from a bridge to Manly or vice versa??)- need some some great lunch spots as I'll be visiting with my friend during some days while she's off-Mom-duty, any wine bar ideas?
Thinking of doing a day trip to Blue Mountains and/or Hunter Valley (any thoughts on tour groups which may appeal to me as I'm in my early 30's?)- or is there a better day trip I should consider to take on my own?
Not sure I can do the bridge walk as I'm afraid of heights- but want to take a boat/ferry tour to get a feel for the area.
Any MUST restuarants that are off the beaten path but awesome and not tooo too pricey? Or shops a gal would love? I lvoe off the beaten path as those are the most memorable aspects of a trip.
Thanks to all! Any ideas you can share would be greatly appreciated!

Hi Lorraine, here's some starters for shopping, food and wine.

Good lunch places: the cafe at the Museum of Contemporary Art has a nice view of Circular Quay and the Opera House, also the restaurant in the Art Gallery of NSW has an even better view. I ate there three weeks ago and had a fabulous fish pie. Danks Street Depot is another popular lunch spot a bit off the beaten track in Waterloo (it's part of a cluster of commercial galleries).

Wine: Wine Banc in the city has a very large selection of wine by the glass. It is a bit expensive though and a bit dark. I've heard good things about the bar at the Sugaroom in Pyrmont.

Many pubs have a good selection of wine by the glass, try areas like Paddington and Balmain (both areas are also very good for small boutique style clothes shopping). The Four in Hand in Paddington has a great restaurant and so does the Grand National. Both suburbs are easily accessible by public transport.

Reasonably priced restaurants with great food: Spice I Am (Wentworth Ave, near Central Station). Very good value Thai food, Get there early it fills up about 5 minutes after it opens. Also Billy Kwong in Crown St Surry Hills (doesn't take bookings but you can leave your cell number and go to the pub across the road and they will call you). Kylie Kwong, the chef, does great modern Chinese food with an emphasis on sustainable ingredients.

Hi - yep that's a long trip so I hope you enjoy. I am sure you will.

Yes, there is a well known walk from Spit to Manly - that's Spit BRIDGE to Manly. Takes 3-4 hours. But there are many other walks you can do. Check out:

http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/...039&Type=I

http://www.sydneyferries.info/attrac...rbourwalks.php

The Blue Mts and Hunter. When you get here just go to the Sydney Visitor Centre in the Rocks. They have loads of brochures for day trips - to suit tourists who can't lift a finger to do anything for themselves, to the backpacker crowd who want to see, enjoy and visit without frills. If you are under 30 you may prefer the latter. or maybe not.

As for restaurants that are off the beaten track - how far "off" do you want to go. And what to you is "pricey"

I must recommend you catch the ferry from Circular Quay (The City) to Manly on a sunny day (which there are plenty of lovely sunny days in Sydney in June - hope you get a few). It is a great trip (approx. 35-45 mins) and a wonderful part of the city.

I live in Sydney and I don't want to climb the bridge either, though plenty do climb it multiple times a day. My step son has done so and says it is magic.

For a wonderful lunch spot, go to the Botanical Gardens in the City - it is right on the harbour - bring a picnic lunch for the best time. There is a cafe within, but it is lovely not to have to search for it within the gardens but just to relax and enjoy the gardens right next to the harbour.

Hope you have a great time!

Yes I agree with the ferry to Manly suggestion. You might also consider the walk from Bondi to Bronte ( or Clovelly or even Maroubra, depending on how fit you are and how far you want to walk ). You can do the return journey by bus. We do Bondi to Clovelly and finish with a nice lunch at the Clovelly Hotel before taking the bus home.

I am not from Sydney so those who are will correct me .There is a lovely cliff walk along beaches from around Bronte / Tamarama past Coogee to Bondi . Very scenic , easy and nice .At a certain time of year they also have an outdoor sculpture exhibition sited along it .I am sure one of the Sydney or NSW tourism web sites will have details .Also walk to the Opera House , look etc and then continue around through / past the Botanic Gardens and then cut down to Woolloomooloo and around the water and then up walking through Potts Point and into the Kings Cross area and down Greenknowe Ave to Elizabeth Bay . View wonderful Elizabeth Bay House which is a national trust property which once owned all the land that is now so densely built up . Lovely gardens and park in front on the water .Sit , bring a baguette and drink and then wander back or catch the train to city .

Nothing to correct PaulS...all good suggestions. The walk you are talking about is the one I was referring to. The sculpture exhibition is generally around November from memory. Not sure when lorraine is coming. Cheers!

Oops! Just noticed she is coming next month so the sculpture show will not be on but the walk can be done any time.

Yep - Sculpture by the Sea in on in November. The walk to which PaulS (and others refer is very fine?

Ditto combining the SOH with the Royal Botanic Gardens. But I do it the other way round. Start at the Art Gallery of NSW - check out the exhibitions there - it's free - then continue on throught the Domain, and over into the Gardens. Turn left when you get to the water and you will approach the SOH in a quite unexpected way.

My two favourite walks around the Harbour haven't been mentioned - one is featured in the Sydney Ferries link I gave before (ferry to Mosman) and the other (Hermitage Foreshore) is under the auspices of the Sydney Harbour NP.

I like the latter especially for its totally unexpected views, small coves, natural footpath, and you don't see too many other people. Bondi to Bronte, nice as it is, is awash with dog walkers, joggers, families with pushchairs, etc. and is paved.

I've made 6 trips to Australia, so far (from the midwest USA). I always find time to spend at least 4-5 days in Sydney. I've taken the Manly ferry everytime! It's such a pleasant way to see the harbor, and then have fish 'N' chips for lunch. If I recall correctly, I took a jetcat to Manly once, but really prefer the stately old ferry instead. I also did a harbor "tour" on the Solway Lass sailing vessel. That was lovely. That was in 1992. I doubt that the Solway is still in Sydney Harbor by this time.

I have to say, the Sydney Harbor bridge climbj, which I did in 2004, is one of the most exciting things I've done in my life! I highly recommend it.

I also would suggest seeing a performance at the Sydney Opera House. I've been to see an opera once, and to the Sydney Symphony twice. I've also just simply done the tour of the building. A marvelous structure, to be sure.

BTW, of my six trips, three have been solo, including my very first one, in 1988, which was for 5 weeks!

Hi Simpson,

Solway Lass is now in the Whitsundays and is a very popular trip.

And you are so right about those two activities - the ferry to Manly is a must.

Ditto a performance at the SOH - though it is not something the OPs original post indicated she might be interested in.

People often don't realise - as it's an "Opera House" that there is all sorts of stuff going on there.

The Opera; the Ballet (no ballet in June); the SSO; and all sorts of theatre, comedy and fringe offerings in eh samge"frinbgmge erereate, Theatre, Comedy eeShan cn su se"psueopeÖps.

Hi Simpson,

Solway Lass is now in the Whitsundays and is a very popular trip.

And you are so right about those two activities - the ferry to Manly is a must.

Ditto a performance at the SOH - though it is not something the OPs original post indicated she might be interested in.

People often don't realise - as it's an "Opera House" that there is all sorts of stuff going on there.

The Opera; the Ballet (no ballet in June); the SSO; and all sorts of theatre, comedy and fringe offerings in the smaller spaces.

www.sydneyoperahouse.com

chimani, thanks for the update on the current location of the Solway Lass. I'll have to look for "her" if I make it to the Whitsundays sometime in the near future. I hope to return to OZ (trip #7) within the next year or two.

Another thing I always enjoyed was riding the Sydney Explorer Bus. Do they still offer that? You could pay for an all-day ticket and then hop on and off at will all day. It's a great way to see what the city has to offer.
Carol

I'm sure the Sydney Explorer Bus is still running - it was a few weeks ago!

What sort of food and fashion do you like? If you narrow it down I can pick the brains of my son and daughter-in-law - your age and very much into both fashion and food and the Sydney scene.