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Katja Feb 13th, 2004 02:26 AM

Sydney during Easter
 
We are going to be in Sydney from the 8th of April until the 14th of April. This means that we will be in there during the Easter holidays. What does this mean in a big city like Sydney? I assume that most of the "tourist attractions" will be closed at least on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. What about the restaurants etc.?
And what exactly is the Sydney Royal Easter Show? It seems like a huge thing..
- Katja

Neil_Oz Feb 13th, 2004 02:36 AM

Good Friday is pretty quiet but not totally shut down. Easter Sunday shouldn't be much of a problem, but can a knowledgeable Sydneysider (calling Alan!) fill in some detail? If you're American, the Royal Easter Show is sort of a massive state fair. Lots of agricultural stuff, fairground amusements, sideshow alleys, kids with sticky faces etc. If you like that sort of thing it's great - if you don't there'll be plenty of other things to do.

Alan Feb 13th, 2004 02:44 AM

Hi, Katja!
There was a time, in Sydney, when virtually EVERYTHING was closed on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, but those days are no more. Certainly you won't find major shops open on those two days, and the cinemas, museums and galleries will be closed on Good Friday (I think they open again for the Saturday and Sunday), but there will still be plenty to do. The Easter Show, for instance, has its busiest day on Good Friday. And many of the tourist attractions -- such as the Harbour Bridge or Manly beach or the Blue Mountains -- are not readily closed down! You will still be able to catch trains, buses and ferries (they will run to a weekend timetable), visit the shops and restaurants in Chinatown, and stroll around the harbour foreshores. Plenty of smaller shops will open just like any other day (in this respect, we are far more "liberal" than, say, Paris or Rome, where, on Sunday, it's not easy to find a shop to buy even basic food items.) And there will probably be sufficient "special events" over the holiday fortnight to compensate for the few restrictions on those two days.The best things in Sydney are free, anyway: the sunshine, the harbour, the climate, the wlaking tracks. Come with confidence.

prue Feb 13th, 2004 02:14 PM

As Alan says the major stores and shops will be closed Good Friday but everything will be open on Saturday and most on the Sunday. It seems more are opening as each year passes.
Most restaurants will be open all through the holiday period.
The Royal Easter Show is well worth visiting (in my opinion) but only on a weekday if at all possible. It can get very crowded at weekends and holidays, and is not very pleasant especially if the weather is hot, which it can be.

jj727 Feb 13th, 2004 03:41 PM

Hello Katja , Good Friday falls on the 9th and you would be well worth noting Monday the 12th is also a public holiday in Australia. So you will have four days with out Banks Post Offices etc. Ferry?s and trains still run but on reduced time tables. The Temp in N.S.W. about then will average out at about 22 degrees around 72 in your language. Wonderful time of the year to Stroll arond Palm Beach, Avalon, Bilgola and some of the other more beautiful beachs in the northern suburbs of Sydney.

Each year approximately 15,000 competitors make the annual pilgrimage to our fabulous easter show This year it runs from the 2nd to the 15th of April. Two of Australia?s top dog trainers Jim and Jan Luce will again return to the Show this year with their team of working dogs demonstrating the fine art of sheep mustering. Australiana at it?s best.
This year we are all waiting to see the release of a new sport which is taking the world by storm.
Its called Flyball and envolves dogs of all walks of life competing in a way you have never seen before. The dogs love it, thw ownwers have a ball and the spectators come back time
and time again. Racing side by side, one dog from each team must go over four hurdles, trigger the box pedal, catch a ball and then return over all four hurdles to the start/finish line where the next dog eagerly awaits.
This sport doesn?t discriminate against breeds or dogs without formal training. What it does encompass is all things that dogs love to do: chasing, jumping, retrieving and
striving to please their owners.

Apart from the animals some of the worlds best wood choppers will be there demonstrating their skills, the pavillions will be full of arts and crafts from all over the country, Horse events, include Polo,Polocrosse, Campdraft and Rodeo. A Day a the Rotal Easter Show can be a great insigt into the Australian way of life.

During Autumn the attention of thoroughbred enthusiasts, & those who enjoy the fun & social aspect, focuses on Sydney when a number of classic race days are held at Royal Randwick & Rosehill Gardens Racecourses as part of one of Australia?s Premier Thoroughbred Racing Carnivals.
Excitement abounds at Rosehill on the Saturday prior to Easter with the running of Australasia?s richest race for two year olds, the Golden Slipper. The spectacular day of six Group races includes three Group Ones.
The spotlight moves to majestic Royal Randwick over Easter for one of the greatest
weekends on the Australian racing calendar, run over four days & featuring four Group One races including the Sydney Cup & the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
All programs include reserved seats for excellent viewing of the racing. Special airfares are available from all Qantas ports, yes its big.
Enjoy Sydney and Australia. There is always lots going on even when the shops are closed.


TAW Feb 16th, 2004 01:45 PM

Is there a dress code for the races? We'd love to attend while there. We'd be going on the Monday after Easter Sunday. Thanks

margo_oz Feb 16th, 2004 11:37 PM

Well, you do need to be dressed! At least a bit. We still have some obscenity laws, you know!

There's no real dress code, but I think shorts are not common. "Smart casual" os the usual expression.

Katja Feb 17th, 2004 01:16 AM

Thank you all very much for your answers! I am sure we will have a good time!



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