sydney ... anywhere we should definitely get to see

[Love Shoes]

We are going to visit Sydney next month for a few days ... :jiggy: been talking about going more or less since we arrived in OZ, but stuff just got in the way, so finally I booked it a couple of months ago .. we are staying in Darling Harbour ..for 5 nights. which is I think near the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House, both on our ' to do ' list ... but we would like to know from seasoned visitors / residents if there is anything else we must do whilst we are there.

 

 

Also are there any good restaurants ... shopping malls which we must visit .... we like Asian food, we are not really into night clubs, or drinking but do like a nice meal and a glass or two of wine ....

 

Is there a zoo? Theme Parks? ....

[Candygirl]

You will love it Hon. We lived in Darling Harbour. It is beautiful. Whereabouts are you staying? It is very central for getting about. 10 min walk to Central Station. From here, you can get a train to the Blue Mountains. You have Harbourside at D Harbour for small shops, bars and restaurants. You can walk about 15 mins to Sydney Fish Markets, obviously sell fresh fish, but also nice restaurants for lunch. You can either walk to Circular Quay or catch a ferry from D Harbour. Take a walk around The Rocks.

 

If you can book ahead, try to do the bridge climb. Rich has done it twice and loved it both times and said he would defo do it again if he ever got the chance. Get a ferry to Manly, lovely beach. Do a harbour cruise around Mosman and the Northern Suburbs and go and see Nicole Kidman's house and others. We also loved Rose Bay (you can get a seaplane from here around the harbour). Doyle at Watson Bay (not the best fish & chips, but the setting is worth it). Catch a bus from Central to Bondi and Bronte. Whilst visiting the Opea House, take a walk around the Botanical Gardens, they are beautiful. We used to love going at dusk and seeing the fruit bats.

 

Re shopping, you have Pitt Street Mall, where Grace Bros is located. All along George Street, there are shops. Again, 10 min walk over Pyrmont Bridge from D Harbour or you can catch a bus. At Pitt Street, there is also a good food court. If you head South from D Harbour towards Central Station, you will walk through ChinaTown so lots of Asian restaurants there.

 

Have Fun, but if you have any specific questions, drop us an email.

[Acidglitter]

I love Sydney, i have to say it is probably one of my favourite cities ever!

My favourite place in Sydney is Darling Harbour especially at night, so you picked good!

I'd say the Bridge Climb is a definite, amazing way to view the city and one of my fondest memories, i did it a night and all the city twinkled & sparkled below!

Circular Quay is obviously Iconic for the Opera house and is great for strolling around and if you can try visiting The Rocks area, lots of nice little shops, restaurants and bars.

Taronga Zoo is great and a definite must see, pretty much like every other zoo but you have a fab view of the bridge & opera house from a different perspective.

I'd recommend visiting Bondi, and doing the Coogee to Bondi walk...great views!

As for food...Quay is great, also try visiting the Bavarian Bier Cafe on Manly Wharfe they do great Mango beers and yummy food.

Awww maaaan hope you have a brilliant time, you will love Sydney!

[Rupert]

We are going to visit Sydney next month for a few days ... :jiggy: been talking about going more or less since we arrived in OZ, but stuff just got in the way, so finally I booked it a couple of months ago .. we are staying in Darling Harbour ..for 5 nights. which is I think near the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House, both on our ' to do ' list ... but we would like to know from seasoned visitors / residents if there is anything else we must do whilst we are there.

 

 

Also are there any good restaurants ... shopping malls which we must visit .... we like Asian food, we are not really into night clubs, or drinking but do like a nice meal and a glass or two of wine ....

 

Is there a zoo? Theme Parks? ....

 

If you wanted the Opera House and Harbour Bridge on your doorstep then no you picked the wrong Harbour. You would stay in the Rocks or Circular Quay for that, you would be a 30 minute or more walk away in Darling Harbour, it is the other end of the CBD.

 

Darling Harbour is very nice too though, the aquarium is down here and worth a look. We enjoy it down there in the evenings although on a Saturday it is packed and we can never find anywhere to walk in and eat. They do fireworks every Saturday during winter I think.

 

I would definitely do the Opera House tour or better still see what is on and take in a show if there is something that appeals. There are loads of places nearby for pre theatre drinks and eats. Personally the bridge walk does not appeal, but I can understand why it is such a memorable experience for many. I always enjoy doing the open top bus tours when I first arrive in a city and don't have much time, it provides a great overview. I have done the red route and the blue route, the commentary is a bit lame but it serves the purpose.

 

Take the ferry somewhere, perhaps just between Circular Quay and where you are staying down at Darling Harbour or perhaps go over to Manly. Manly is a lovely suburb and the area near the ferry terminal should keep you interested for a few hours. I see there are some recommendations for the southern /eastern beaches so I will balance that with a recommendation to visit the northern beaches, Collaroy or Narabeen or even Newport. During the day or going against the traffic, maybe 45 minute bus ride. The beaches are beautiful and a lot less crowded.

 

The zoo is Taronga, I find it very expensive about $50 I think. Sydney isn't a theme park place, there is Luna park but I don't think it is a theme park, looks more like a permanent fair, but I have beer been.

[LKC]

There are plenty of places to eat/drink around Darling Harbour. There is the Maritime Museum, Aquarium and Sydney Wildlife World in Darling Harbour. You can get the ferry from there to Circular Quay for the bridge/opera house. Nice walk from the opera house round and up through the botanical gardens. Sydney tower, lots and lots of shops, Australian Museum worth a look if you like that sort of thing. Trip to the blue mountains worthwhile doing, although it is a long trip and would be a full day out.

[Flathead]

The Aquarium is well worth a visit...that is also at Darling harbour

[Bromney]

Some great suggestions there, a couple more.....

 

- tourist. Check out Sydney Sky tower, great views of the city.

- shopping. QVB (near townhall), old school type of building, worth looking. Also, Haigh's (chocolates) have a branch there!

- eating. Mamak (chinatown) for great Malaysian food. Pitt st mall food court is fantastic. Plenty of by the water dining on king street wharf. Cargo do a great $10 steak at lunchtimes mon - Wed.

 

Enjoy Sydney!

[Love Shoes]

Thanks guys,

my oh will certainly be visiting the aquarium, not too sure if we will be doing the bridge thing, my oh is frightened of heights, my son did it a few years ago and said it was awesome.

 

i am going to copy this link ... To the thread and copy into my notes so I always have it, will see if I can print it off .... and take with me as a guide .... X x

 

​

[northshorepom]

First off, shopping. Go straight to the QVB, do not pass go, do not collect the $2000 you'll spend in there. A short walk up the hill from Darling Harbour (go up the stairs/escalators at the end of Pyrmont Bridge, over the footbridge and straight up Market St)

http://www.qvb.com.au/

 

Then try Galeries Victoria (on the other side of George St from the QVB) and then up to Pitt St Mall, the arcades off it (eg Strand Arcade) and the big new Westfield there which is a lot less suburban than the Westfields you're probably used to. Boutiquey stuff in Paddington (up Oxford St from Hyde Park) and some of the other inner city districts

 

Glebe markets worth a look and pretty close to Darling Harbour

http://www.glebemarkets.com.au/index.html

 

Also check some of the suggestions out from the City of Sydney council website

http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/explore/places-to-go/shopping-and-dining

 

Darling Harbour itself is a bit 1990s and ersatz for me, but there's tons of facilities there and it makes a really good base to stay. Lots of (mostly chainy) restaurants and cafes there, a nice outlook, occasionally free festival stuff on, free fireworks every other Saturday (roughly), it's nice to have a large pedestrianised zone as that's something the city lacks for me. The Chinese Garden of Friendship down there is lovely, an oasis of calm

 

I don't know what you like in terms of "sights" but there are plenty, recommendations are always personal. My personal recommendations are, in no particular order:

 

 

• Take a ferry trip to somewhere on one of the public ferries from Circular Quay. Manly, Watson's Bay (referenced above) or Cockatoo Island are all good choices. You get fantastic ocean and harbour views off both of the heads of the harbour - North Head is a stiff climb and longish walk up from Manly, South Head a much easier walk from Watson's Bay past the pretty Camp Cove. The ferries are stupid busy on Sundays when families are taking advantage of cheap tickets, so give that a miss
  
• A couple of really nice little museums. Art Gallery of NSW (free) is much better than the MCA (modern, also free) IMO. Museum of Sydney is fab for history, Sydney Observatory (again free) small, accessible and offers great views. Some good historical stuff
  
• Take a tour of the Opera House - the tours are really worth it IMO. You see so much of the building and spaces
  
• Botanic Gardens a must when you're in that area
  
• Wander round some of the neighbourhoods, the Rocks in particular. It's better (more atmospheric, much less people) away from the main drag of George St. People are lazy and don't often want to walk up hills, their loss. The City council have loads of walking tours which take in old neighbourhoods with shopping & dining options, I'm trying to find them on the website
  
• Go to an ocean beach....bus to Bondi (and walk around towards Coogee past Tamarama) or Manly both good choices. Even if you don't go on the sand themselves.....the surf is important to getting a feel for this place I think
  

 

 

Plenty to do without spending a fortune on some of the more expensivley priced "attractions" IMO. The situation of the harbour, the green spaces all around it and the views are some of the best things about Sydney and all that comes for free

 

​For eating, well in DH you're very close to Chinatown as will be immediately obvious to you, tons of options there if you like Asian food

[Love Shoes]

First off, shopping. Go straight to the QVB, do not pass go, do not collect the $2000 you'll spend in there. A short walk up the hill from Darling Harbour (go up the stairs/escalators at the end of Pyrmont Bridge, over the footbridge and straight up Market St)

http://www.qvb.com.au/

 

Then try Galeries Victoria (on the other side of George St from the QVB) and then up to Pitt St Mall, the arcades off it (eg Strand Arcade) and the big new Westfield there which is a lot less suburban than the Westfields you're probably used to. Boutiquey stuff in Paddington (up Oxford St from Hyde Park) and some of the other inner city districts

 

Glebe markets worth a look and pretty close to Darling Harbour

http://www.glebemarkets.com.au/index.html

 

Also check some of the suggestions out from the City of Sydney council website

http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/explore/places-to-go/shopping-and-dining

 

Darling Harbour itself is a bit 1990s and ersatz for me, but there's tons of facilities there and it makes a really good base to stay. Lots of (mostly chainy) restaurants and cafes there, a nice outlook, occasionally free festival stuff on, free fireworks every other Saturday (roughly), it's nice to have a large pedestrianised zone as that's something the city lacks for me. The Chinese Garden of Friendship down there is lovely, an oasis of calm

 

I don't know what you like in terms of "sights" but there are plenty, recommendations are always personal. My personal recommendations are, in no particular order:

 

 

• Take a ferry trip to somewhere on one of the public ferries from Circular Quay. Manly, Watson's Bay (referenced above) or Cockatoo Island are all good choices. You get fantastic ocean and harbour views off both of the heads of the harbour - North Head is a stiff climb and longish walk up from Manly, South Head a much easier walk from Watson's Bay past the pretty Camp Cove. The ferries are stupid busy on Sundays when families are taking advantage of cheap tickets, so give that a miss

• A couple of really nice little museums. Art Gallery of NSW (free) is much better than the MCA (modern, also free) IMO. Museum of Sydney is fab for history, Sydney Observatory (again free) small, accessible and offers great views. Some good historical stuff

• Take a tour of the Opera House - the tours are really worth it IMO. You see so much of the building and spaces

• Botanic Gardens a must when you're in that area

• Wander round some of the neighbourhoods, the Rocks in particular. It's better (more atmospheric, much less people) away from the main drag of George St. People are lazy and don't often want to walk up hills, their loss. The City council have loads of walking tours which take in old neighbourhoods with shopping & dining options, I'm trying to find them on the website

• Go to an ocean beach....bus to Bondi (and walk around towards Coogee past Tamarama) or Manly both good choices. Even if you don't go on the sand themselves.....the surf is important to getting a feel for this place I think

 

 

Plenty to do without spending a fortune on some of the more expensivley priced "attractions" IMO. The situation of the harbour, the green spaces all around it and the views are some of the best things about Sydney and all that comes for free

 

​For eating, well in DH you're very close to Chinatown as will be immediately obvious to you, tons of options there if you like Asian food

 

 

I am now beginning to think 5 nights may not be enough .... thanks again to everyone for their superb recommendations, I have just said to Mr Shoes that this is were PIO comes into itself, without this information we would be pretty much clueless and rely heavily on recommendations from strangers and or travel brochures .... Always much better IMO to ask a friend x x