Sydney Trip!
Posted 23-09-2007 at 12:04 PM by johatts
We got back from Sydney on Wednesday evening about 21.30 Oz time! Our first trip to Sydney! We love it!
Heres the diary of what we got up to:
THURSDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER:
This was the first official day off of our holiday together. We had to take the dog to the kennels in the morning before I went to have my hair cut. Bloody dog didnt even look back at us!!! Just turned on his heel and went!!!! Had my hair cut and then we had a few more errands to do in the afternoon.
That evening we went to Brissie Entertainment Centre and saw the live stage version of WAR OF THE WORLDS. It was wonderful!!!
FRIDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER:
We set out at 0530 this morning and started on the drive to Sydney. We knew that we had about 1000kilometres to get through so started early! Our plan was to stay over night at somewhere like Coffs or Port MacQuarie but we made such excellent time that we just kept on driving. We ended up coming off the Pacific Coast Highway just past Raymonds Terrace and we started driving across towards the Hunter Valley. We ended up spending our first night at a charming place called the "Colliery House" http://www.collieryhouse.com.au/index.htm
You can see from the web site how charming the place was! We ended up going out that night to the local "Australian Swill and Grill Hotel" where Mark managed a T Bone and I had butterfly Chicken. We settled back into the hotel at about 8pm and completely slept through until almost 8 the next morning. We had had about 11 hours of driving that day so we were both shattered.
SATURDAY 15TH SEPTEMBER:
We booked our brekky for 830am and then headed off towards the "Three Sisters" in the Blue Mountains outside of Sydney. We were directed by the hotel owners to a scenic drive which took us over the mountains and through the valleys towards a charming place called Wisemans Ferry where you have to get the ferry across the river. The nice thing was there was no charge. Its the sort of place that they could have made a fortune on as you "have" to use it to get across but they dont. We got to Echo Point mid afternoon that day and after checking into the hotel we went straight out to scenic world. http://www.scenicworld.com.au/default.asp
We went down on the railway which , oh my god, has to be seen to be believed!! We walked further down into the valley and then got the cable car back up. We then got the glass bottomed cable car on a return journey across the ravine over the waterfalls. We went back to Katoomba centre and had dinner and then crashed into bed.
SUNDAY 16TH SEPTEMBER:
We left Katoomba and the Blue Mountains about 0830 that morning and drive the 100 k`s or so into Sydney centre. We knew that there was a Sunday market on in Sydney Rocks District so we parked up and headed for that. We walked around for a couple of hours, had some lunch and then headed to the hotel - OH MY GOD! What a hotel.
http://www.shangri-la.com/en/propert...ahouseviewroom
You will see on the link above that the room was beautiful, to be honest the internet doesnt do it justice at all! Everything it says is dead right and it is all done just perfectly. It was a 5 star hotel and you got everything that you needed before you asked. We upgraded for a celebrations package for the first and last night - this means that we had the following:
Celebrate your special occasion in a luxurious room, with amazing views and beautiful food and wine.
This offer includes:
MONDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER:
We had the first of our free brekkys today after our first luxurious night. We then went out to get a ferry to Manly. However there was a massive delay and a couple of cancellations so we went to Darling harbour by ferry. From there we jumped on the monorail and went into the city. We went up Oz Tower http://www.sydneytower.com.au . Brilliant views as we had the best day for it. Went back on the monorail to Darling Harbour and walked around there for a few hours. Got the ferry back to the hotel and went for a nice swim and jacuzzi.
TUESDAY 18TH SEPTEMBER:
Well, shamless as it is today was my day! (Jo). Ever since I knew that we were going to Sydney I have nagged him about walking the bridge. We booked it and we did it. We ordered croissants and coffee for breakfast via Room service. We didnt really want to do the climb after a heavy buffet brekky. We got to the start of it about 10 mins early so they bumped us up to the 0945 instead of the 10.05 climb. They climb every 10 minutes throughout the day.
http://www.bridgeclimb.com.au/default.htm
We checked in and got decked out in the jumpsuits, radios, harnesses and all the rigmarole that goes with it. After about an hour you start the climb. You start by ascending several vertical ladders and after ducking and diving over poles, catwalks you get going up the archway. It feels like a gradual stairclimb as you are going up but the great thing is they do stop you, give you the history and point out landmarks etc . They also take loads of pics on the way up and down both individually and as a group. There is a great feeling when you reach the top that you have actually done it. We stayed at "the summit" for about 10minutes and then started the trek down again. We got back, changed out of teh trendy wear and collected certificates and pictures. We said goodbye to Liam, our guide and were on our way back to the hotel by 1330.
We came past a pub and decided that apart from rehydration we also needed to eat so went in there. Where did we end up sitting? On the rooftop bar!! More bloody stairs!
Once we got back to the hotel we chilled out for the afternoon before heading out to dinner again that night in the hotel restaurant. We also went to the bar on the 36th floor of the hotel for pre dinner drinks.
After dinner I came back to the room and found a $25 voucher on the bed! It was for filling in a survery for the hotel. Knowing that we were leaving in the morning we hot-footed it to the cocktail lounge in the lobby where we happily spent the $25 and then some!!!!
WEDNESDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER:
We had our last free brekky and came to checkout, much as we didnt really want to leave! They added up the bill (Ouch - big numbers!) Then they give you your actual bill with the breakfasts taken off , $300 of food taken off and parking fees removed. MUCH BETTER!!!
We left and headed home to Brissie. We left at 0930 and got home at 21.15. We had 2 half hour stops and just kept on coming. Like on the way up, we had plans to stay over if we needed to , but time was on our side as was traffic! So we kept on going!! Brissie looks a long way away when you leave Sydney and you see Brisbane 997k. Once you get to the 30ks or so and you look over and see Surfers Paradise I knew i was home!
Heres the diary of what we got up to:
THURSDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER:
This was the first official day off of our holiday together. We had to take the dog to the kennels in the morning before I went to have my hair cut. Bloody dog didnt even look back at us!!! Just turned on his heel and went!!!! Had my hair cut and then we had a few more errands to do in the afternoon.
That evening we went to Brissie Entertainment Centre and saw the live stage version of WAR OF THE WORLDS. It was wonderful!!!
FRIDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER:
We set out at 0530 this morning and started on the drive to Sydney. We knew that we had about 1000kilometres to get through so started early! Our plan was to stay over night at somewhere like Coffs or Port MacQuarie but we made such excellent time that we just kept on driving. We ended up coming off the Pacific Coast Highway just past Raymonds Terrace and we started driving across towards the Hunter Valley. We ended up spending our first night at a charming place called the "Colliery House" http://www.collieryhouse.com.au/index.htm
You can see from the web site how charming the place was! We ended up going out that night to the local "Australian Swill and Grill Hotel" where Mark managed a T Bone and I had butterfly Chicken. We settled back into the hotel at about 8pm and completely slept through until almost 8 the next morning. We had had about 11 hours of driving that day so we were both shattered.
SATURDAY 15TH SEPTEMBER:
We booked our brekky for 830am and then headed off towards the "Three Sisters" in the Blue Mountains outside of Sydney. We were directed by the hotel owners to a scenic drive which took us over the mountains and through the valleys towards a charming place called Wisemans Ferry where you have to get the ferry across the river. The nice thing was there was no charge. Its the sort of place that they could have made a fortune on as you "have" to use it to get across but they dont. We got to Echo Point mid afternoon that day and after checking into the hotel we went straight out to scenic world. http://www.scenicworld.com.au/default.asp
We went down on the railway which , oh my god, has to be seen to be believed!! We walked further down into the valley and then got the cable car back up. We then got the glass bottomed cable car on a return journey across the ravine over the waterfalls. We went back to Katoomba centre and had dinner and then crashed into bed.
SUNDAY 16TH SEPTEMBER:
We left Katoomba and the Blue Mountains about 0830 that morning and drive the 100 k`s or so into Sydney centre. We knew that there was a Sunday market on in Sydney Rocks District so we parked up and headed for that. We walked around for a couple of hours, had some lunch and then headed to the hotel - OH MY GOD! What a hotel.
http://www.shangri-la.com/en/propert...ahouseviewroom
You will see on the link above that the room was beautiful, to be honest the internet doesnt do it justice at all! Everything it says is dead right and it is all done just perfectly. It was a 5 star hotel and you got everything that you needed before you asked. We upgraded for a celebrations package for the first and last night - this means that we had the following:
Celebrate your special occasion in a luxurious room, with amazing views and beautiful food and wine.
This offer includes:
- Overnight accommodation
- Breakfast for two at Café Mix
- AUD150 Food & Beverage credit
- Bottle of Moet & Chandon Champagne
- Early check-in from 1pm
- Late check-out at 4pm
- Nightly turn down service
- Complimentary use of the Health Club
- Complimentary valet parking
- Inclusive of 10% goods and services tax
MONDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER:
We had the first of our free brekkys today after our first luxurious night. We then went out to get a ferry to Manly. However there was a massive delay and a couple of cancellations so we went to Darling harbour by ferry. From there we jumped on the monorail and went into the city. We went up Oz Tower http://www.sydneytower.com.au . Brilliant views as we had the best day for it. Went back on the monorail to Darling Harbour and walked around there for a few hours. Got the ferry back to the hotel and went for a nice swim and jacuzzi.
TUESDAY 18TH SEPTEMBER:
Well, shamless as it is today was my day! (Jo). Ever since I knew that we were going to Sydney I have nagged him about walking the bridge. We booked it and we did it. We ordered croissants and coffee for breakfast via Room service. We didnt really want to do the climb after a heavy buffet brekky. We got to the start of it about 10 mins early so they bumped us up to the 0945 instead of the 10.05 climb. They climb every 10 minutes throughout the day.
http://www.bridgeclimb.com.au/default.htm
We checked in and got decked out in the jumpsuits, radios, harnesses and all the rigmarole that goes with it. After about an hour you start the climb. You start by ascending several vertical ladders and after ducking and diving over poles, catwalks you get going up the archway. It feels like a gradual stairclimb as you are going up but the great thing is they do stop you, give you the history and point out landmarks etc . They also take loads of pics on the way up and down both individually and as a group. There is a great feeling when you reach the top that you have actually done it. We stayed at "the summit" for about 10minutes and then started the trek down again. We got back, changed out of teh trendy wear and collected certificates and pictures. We said goodbye to Liam, our guide and were on our way back to the hotel by 1330.
We came past a pub and decided that apart from rehydration we also needed to eat so went in there. Where did we end up sitting? On the rooftop bar!! More bloody stairs!
Once we got back to the hotel we chilled out for the afternoon before heading out to dinner again that night in the hotel restaurant. We also went to the bar on the 36th floor of the hotel for pre dinner drinks.
After dinner I came back to the room and found a $25 voucher on the bed! It was for filling in a survery for the hotel. Knowing that we were leaving in the morning we hot-footed it to the cocktail lounge in the lobby where we happily spent the $25 and then some!!!!
WEDNESDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER:
We had our last free brekky and came to checkout, much as we didnt really want to leave! They added up the bill (Ouch - big numbers!) Then they give you your actual bill with the breakfasts taken off , $300 of food taken off and parking fees removed. MUCH BETTER!!!
We left and headed home to Brissie. We left at 0930 and got home at 21.15. We had 2 half hour stops and just kept on coming. Like on the way up, we had plans to stay over if we needed to , but time was on our side as was traffic! So we kept on going!! Brissie looks a long way away when you leave Sydney and you see Brisbane 997k. Once you get to the 30ks or so and you look over and see Surfers Paradise I knew i was home!
Total Comments 2
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i am very very jelous of you both, sound like you had a fab time
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Wow, this sounds like a fab trip - thanks for writing about it so we could all share! Michael fancies doing the harbour bridge - I'm not so sure myself but I could be persuaded in the future!
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Recent Blog Entries by johatts
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- Sydney Trip! (23-09-2007)
