10 day guide to Sydney .............

[Sydney bound]

am off to sydney next week for a 10 day holiday.  have never been before & would appreciate tips / advice of where to stay & the 'must dos'of sydney & its surrounding area

Budget is not too much of a problem, & would like to stay in 4-5 star accom.  love good food, wine, atmosphere, plus outdoor type feel

Any input would be much appreciated

Thanks, Lou

[SS Oz]

- a day out at Manly Beach. You can walk to other beaches, such as Queenscliff and Harbord. Lots of cafes along the beach to eat at. For something more upmarket, try The Bower or Le Kiosk.
- northern beaches - visit the beautiful northern beaches, and Pittwater. Lunch at Newport Arms (a pub that overlooks Pittwater) or somewhere at Palm Beach.
- walk around the city, esp the Rocks. Weekend market at the Rocks. Pub crawls in the evening. Go to Opera House. Do a bridge climb (book in advance).
- if you want to eat out in more trendy areas, try Paddington, Glebe or Newtown.
- Bondi Beach. Also, walk around Double Bay, which has upmarket, village feel. Go to Watson's Bay and lunch at famous Doyles, or the pub next door. Walk up to the Sydney Heads (entrance from ocean to Sydney Harbour).
- Taronga Zoo, The aquarium, Darling Harbour are other popular tourist destinations.
- Head out to the Blue Mountains. If you wish to stay out there, look at Katoomba or Leura townships.  Go to Three Sisters lookout, scenic railway, scenic skyway lots of walks etc. A very historic hotel further up the mountain at Medlow Bath is the Hydro Majestic.
- Other options further out of Sydney...Hunter Valley wine region (2-3 days). Port Stephens area (beaches, good fishing), Southern Highlands (country towns, nice scenery, although more appropriate in the cooler months).

Hope this helps, and enjoy my home town.

[davidb]

SS Oz has pretty well covered it.  Just be sure to catch a harbour ferry to the zoo, or Manly or Watson's Bay or all three!

The Botanic Gardens (next to the Opera House) are worth a look too.  

[This message has been edited by davidb (edited 22-01-2003).]

[Olly]

Strange thing to do, but I had a brilliant day out recently just taking the ferries from here to there and back again.

Circular Quay to Manly is a very good trip; try that if you do no other.

[Guido]

Good list but you missed Balmain   Do visit Balmain village...go one Sat morn and have breakfast at one of the many cafes and take a wander around the market at the church. Paddington Market is good for spotting b list soap stars shopping for over priced knick knacks

For food (and wine), Rockpool is a must but you should also try 41 (for the toilets alone), MG Garage (yes, eat with the cars...) Sailors Thai and Treasury. There is also a great selection of food in a lovely outdoor setting on the city side of Darling Harbour at cockle bay

For big shopping malls and great Asian food (especially Dim Sum) catch the train to Chatswood. Very much like Singapore/HK in one suburb

Cargo Bar on King St wharf is the current place to be seen with a large outdoor drinking and eating area on the harbour and an exclusive boogie bar upstairs. Not far away is the slip inn where you HAVE to go to 'Chinese Laundry' night on a Saturday if you're into a boogie whilst people watching. Also good for people watching is The Establishment on George St and watching the afterwork crowd on a Friday night at the Greenwood in North Sydney...a large old sandstone building in the middle of the skyscrapers where hundreds of people will be drinking outside.

I imagine you have your hotel booked already but if not, hard to beat a harbourview room at the ANA

Having written this, I'm off to book one of those qantas fares at $588...god I miss it!!

[Oh!]

I really loved that oyster bar in Circular Quay - ate there 3 times in 4 days!  Expensive for Oz, not for anywhere else.  Oysters Kilpatrick and a cold beer at lunchtime - can't beat it.

[davidb]

Good call on Balmain Guido.  

Forty one restaurant is in Chifley Tower, Chifley Square - Circular Quay end of the city.

If you like Italian food and good coffee Leichhardt is the little Italy of Sydney.  Norton St is packed with great cafes and restaurants and the Italian Forum is worth a look too.

For a good example of a pub beer garden The Oaks at Neutral Bay (just 10 mins from the city) is an excellent spot.  The centrepiece of the outdoor area is a huge old oak tree.  Great atmosphere!

[This message has been edited by davidb (edited 24-01-2003).]

[This message has been edited by davidb (edited 24-01-2003).]

[Sinney? She's a bewdy!]

MATE! HOW COULD YOU BLOKES FORGET ABOUT

KING'S CROSS?!

AND PARAMATTA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AND REDFERN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Guido]

Oh yeah how could I forget.....yes yr right, the true sydney experience is not complete with the ol "gotta dollar mate" or " bum a ciggie mate?" or "I've been robbed and I've got no money to get home, could you lend me a couple of bucks for trainfare mate?"

You will certainly be sure to get this in any one of Parramatta, Redfern and the Cross...oh and anywhere close to central station.

If you really want to see the true blue ockers, head out to Rooty Hill RSL (the las vegas of the west) or any of the beer barn sized pubs around Mt Druitt...fcuking hilarious but don't laugh or you'll get your head kicked in....

[Guido]

Another good beer garden pub is the Coogee Bay hotel on a weekend arvo...It's right across from the beach with an uninterrupted view.

Ahhh...sniff sniff...it's all coming back to me now....