My partner and I will be in Sydney for 6 nights in April 2007. We'd like to get away from the usual tourist attractions and see some true local culture. We would also like to see some natural wildlife near Sydney. Is that possible? and where do we go to see the natural wildlife? Thank you.

Hire a car and head south to Wollongong via the new Sea Cliff bridge. From there keep heading south through Kiama ( famous blowhole)Gerringong / Gerroa or Berry to Jervis Bay. April is a beautiful time of year - there is whale watching, dolphin cruises and Booderee NP voted best National Park in Australia. You will find kangaroos, native birds at Greenpatch. There is also a great wildlife park at Nowra with koalas, crocodiles, kangaroos which you can feed. Approx 2 1/2 hours from Sydney. You will also be in a good wine producing area and Kangaroo Valley offers heaps of culture and crafts ( not to mention the great pub !)

Wallos, thank you very much for your suggestions. I will look on a map and plan my trip.

The South Coast is still very Australian and not internationalised as so many other locations have become.

As a result you may find more family and travellers accommodation rather than resort style. This I guess is what you are looking for anyway.

Another option to add to wallos is a trip out to Montague Island from narooma (my personal fav down south). They have Australian fur seals on the island and also the little penguin is returning due to revegatation of the island.

During whale season you can see whales though I think they only pass through between the mainland and the island when they return Sept/Oct. But then perhaps the boat will go further out to sea.

You may need one night away from Sydney.

Also Australia has some very beatiful birds all over the place. Probably the easiest wildlife to spot. Keep eyes peeled.

Sorry just read the seals are only at the island later in the year.

I was tempted to comment that "Sydney wildlife" and "local culture" can be one and the same thing, depend on the places you visit.

These days it's a bit hard to figure out what Australian culture consists of, especially in Sydney - a bit like Australian cuisine, I suppose. Depending on the area/suburb you're in it may be Italian, Vietnamese, Chinese, Lebanese, Indian, Kenyan - you name it. You'll certainly see more of the former Anglocentric culture if you get out of town as suggested.

If you plan to drive as far as Narooma, say, as Tassietwister suggests, don't try to get there and back in one day.

Sydney's roads and traffic are not exactly visitor-friendly, especially if you're not used to driving on the LH side of the road (you don't say where you're from). If you visit the South Coast you could avoid the hassle by renting a car in the city of Wollongong, about an hour south, and taking the interurban electric train there. I'm guessing that it's about a 90-minute trip.

In Sydney itself you can visit Taronga Zoo to see Australian beasties, albeit captive. It's worth it just for the ferry ride from Circular Quay and the spectacular harbour setting.

Just a thought - if you do visit the South Coast, try to stop for lunch at the Gerroa Boat Fishermen's Club. Non-profit clubs financed mainly by poker (slot) machines are a unique part of New South Wales' culture. I'm not a fan of them normally, but this one is well worth a visit, with a good restaurant and a fantastic view overlooking Seven Mile Beach at Gerroa.
(www.gerroaboatfishermansclub.com.au)

Neil

I've often wondered about the restaurant at that club. It looks to have a spectacular view.

We had a really good meal in Gerringong a couple of weeks ago - but the name of the place escapes me. We stopped because there was a sign out the front saying "New owners; new attitude"!

We asked and apparently the previious owners were really unfriendly and there's been some sort of black ban by the locals. We confirmed this with a relative.

The meal we had was wonderful. The place is on the left hand side, in the middle of town as you come in from the north, at the end of an arcade and looking towards the beach.
Don't recall it as being hideously expensive either.

The south coast is one of my favourite spots (down again next weekend!)

Greenpatch on Jervis Bay for birds and roos; Pebbly Beach for the same, but at the end of a dirt road, so maybe not good for rental cars.

LOL, Neil. I was thinking the very same thing, but restrained myself from posting it here. Just returned from my first trip to Australia where I first observed the wildlife in a bar in Darling Harbor on a Friday night.

Neil,

In Sydney you are not allowed any culture.

A sometime problem with multiculturism is that it can result in no culture at all. So many people from so many backgrounds there is no scoial cohesion.

Cabrammata has come good. Interesting place. Has taken a while though. Perhaps too big a trip for what it is at this stage. Can taken ages on the train.

Leichardt doesn't have enough italians left, hurstville changes by the year and the most anglo centric of them all at Cronulla rioted in some misguided attempt to protect the dying beach culture.

Thank you everybody for your responses. I am hoping to get from Sydney to Jervis Bay and back in one day trip. I will of course get on the road early. I appreciate your thoughts on the roads, I am from Chicago and drive on the right, but we did drive in Ireland years ago. What an experience. I am planning on having the car for two day, one day for the Jervis Bay trip and the other for the Blue Mountains. I heard the Blue Mountains are less crowded on weekedays. I will be traveling in April. Thanks again.

I think it is very kind of you Australians to tell us internationals where it is more Aussie and less international! Soon the South coast will be full of internationals and then where will you go? It's OK, we'll only tell Fodorites! Who would want a generic resort when there is a pub with a view and animals of every variety as well!?!
Sally in Seattle, reconsidering the itinerary to include the south coast

Sally

I'd avoid the south coast - people like me go there on holidays.

Often there's nothing to do but watch the view with a cold drink - or be monstered by assorted furry and/or feathered animals.

There are one or two things to see - but nothing of interest to a seasoned inteernational traveller like yourself (and Randy!)

Sally,

Doubt it will happen. It is too close to Sydney and with travellers limited with time it competes with Opera Houses and the like for thier attention.

Australians love it because sometimes we need to get away from Opera Houses and the like

Also many travellers travel thousands of miles to see something unique or iconic, not just pretty.

The threat to these type of places is from seachangers rather than tourists so development will go ahead.

I think you international types can feel safe in the knowledge your presence will not change the region too much, maybe just add some extra peronality to the region.

You are right Neil on the history of the restaurant. The one you are talking about is called Poet's Corner and thankfully as a Gerringong local it now has a new owner and a new attitude !! Another great local restaurant is Seahaven at Gerroa - winner of best restaurant South Coast (I think that was the award). Sorry to get off track AlanP ! You will have a big day to Jervis Bay and back Maybe aim for breakfast at Gerringong instead !! Places like Huskisson offer whale watching and dolphin tours. Hyam's Beach near Vincentia supposedly has the whitest sand in the world ?? Make sure to pack your swimmers as April still offers beautiful temperatures in and out of the water.