michaelmmoyer

What are some of the local must do pubs/sandwich shops/restaurants in Sydney?

Alan posted that Harry's is a good spot.

Are there any tours or sites that we must take in while in sydney? We are already climbing th harbor bridge and taking in a play at the opera house.

Thanks! Only 29 days to go!

If anyone has any recommendations of what to do in Perth I would really appreciate the info. We are taking the train there fron SYdeny before heading to NZ.

Travelnick

The train in one way is an experience with sheer length of the journey and amount of outback you see being pretty awesome, but it can get rather boring as well - so take lots of books. One of the most irritating things I found when I went on the Indian Pacific was the total insistence of catering staff that you had to sit at the same table for all meals - great, I was 25 sitting with 2 kids under 10 and their grandparents, while the only other 2 people under 35 sat at separate tables as well. try as one might, sometimes there is simply not much in common.
For Sydney restaurants, we really liked Catalinas on Rose Bay - it seems for ladies that lunch at lunch time, but we had out wedding reception there and it was great. There are the standard recommendations for Rocks restaurants like Rockpool (voted in top 10 world restaurants by recent UK survey).
Perth -go down to Fremantle for dinner. an old classic cheap but good Italian is the Roma - spaghetti with everything, near the Roundhouse - been around for years and years, so ask anyone nearby.

EmilyR

Not sure where yoou've been so far, but if you like Thai food, Sailor's Thai in The Rocks is a must. Thai food in Sydney is amazing. Lighthorse Brigade in Paddington, on Oxford St is also a great combination of modern Australian food and an old Sydney-style pub. Restaurant is upstairs, bar downstairs. Buzo, Australia-Italian, nearby in Woollhara, is also very good--laidback but great food and atmosphere. We loved all these places on our last visit, in Dec/Jan. I'd also head down to Coogee (beach) for fish and chips--my memory of a great Sydney experience! Hope this helps!

Alan

Hi, Michaelmoyer!

You seem to have enough recommendations already for restaurants in Sydney, so I will refrain from adding to the list.... just a mention, though, that Harry's Cafe de Wheels is NOT a restaurant, but a pie stall; you sit on the edge of the wharf and hold the food in your hand. It was a favourite haunt some years ago of the US entertainers who used to sing up the road at the Potts Point Chevron-Hilton... and they included Ethel Merman, June Christy, Mel Torme, Nancy Wilson, and Eartha Kitt. You're in distinguished company.

Now, about Perth; Fremantle is, as suggested, a good place to head for, as Perth itself is pleasant but unremarkable. My family's favourite visit while in Perth was the Fremantle Prison; maybe we just got lucky with a great guide, but I really think this tour leaves the one at Alcatraz in the shade. Many tourists also head south to Margaret River, where there seems to be a winery every few hundred metres. A couple of hours from Perth(by hire car) in the other direction is a tiny village called New Norcia; in the monastery there you will see some art works that look like they would be more at home in the Vatican Museum.... a surprising and rewarding visit. The security is so, well, shall we say, casual, that it's not surprising that the whole collection -- about thirty of them -- got stolen one night by a couple of guys with a station waggon. This must have been such an easy job that the thieves got careless, and were apprehended trying to carry them on board an international flight at Sydney airport; all but one painting was recovered.

I can't give you any specific eateries in Perth, but the area to look at is just beyond the main railway station... there's a free bus service that will take you there from most major stops in town every ten minutes (grab the "Blue Cat&quot.
Travelnick was being gentle in his put-down of the Indian-Pacific rail route from Sydney to Perth.... take ALL your books! Is it too late to get your money back on this one and go by VirginBlue instead? A one-way plane ticket costs less than $200 if you pick the right flight, and you'll use your time so much better. If you MUST see the outback, hire a car in Perth and drive out to Kalgoorlie (you could take in Albany, one of the nicest cities in W.A. by doing a triangular route).

Have a great time!

AussieJo

We have spent many long weekends in Sydney over the years & I would have to say while Harry's is high on the N.S.W. scale it is no more than a pie stall & not having grown up with Pie floaters (pie, mashed peas & tomato sauce) we have had 1 only & never been back.
As for Perth we went there in March. Very easy to drive around everywhere. I suggest you take the Tram Tour $ which will give you the outlines of Perth hope on & off at will through out the day. There are 3 diffferent free bus routes as well.
Fremantle ofers the same thing .
A day over to Rottnest Island is worth while don't be tempted to hire bikes pay for a tour of the Island & then decide if you wish to hire bikes or take the bus . If I had our time again we would be staying overnight very relaxing place.
We also stayed at Fremantle Quest apartments great views but no food however walking distance to the harbour cafe's & main street 'Cappacino strip a let down'Our other accom. Busselton, Scarborough Beach & Bursville Casino.No complaints about any of these places. We found the Margaret River town just another town & the few wineries we went to nothing out of the ordinary we would not bother going there again. We didn't have the time to go north of Perth we had 2 weeks & wanted to do some r&r. not drive all day. Enjoy