Sydney Travel Forum

Dear VTs,
I am coming to Sydney in the first week of july this year,to do a course in remedial education.Later my two boys will join me for a week.could you please suggest a few places of interest for my boys aged 13 and 10?(none of us have seen kangaroos or penguins!)ALSO please let me know how the weather in Sydney is at that time.Where can we find aboriginal artefacts?
Thanks,
Regards,
Vpas

Depending what their intersts are there are lots of things to see. For native wildlife you have Sydney Wildlife World and Sydney Aquarium in the heart of Sydney at Darling Harbour plus Taronga Zoo with its fabulous harbour views, and the very good Featherdale Wildlife Park in the suburbs.
There are plenty of beaches - Bondi and Manly are big favourites. The Australian Museum is well worth visiting, so is the Powerhouse Museum and there are art galleries in the centre of the city.
If they like the outdoors then a day trip to the Blue Mountains, to the Royal National Park, to the Central Coast are good options.
Take them to The Rocks, the historic area that was where the first European settlement was established. It's right on the harbour and there's a very good weekend market there. You could also take them to Chinatown, Darling Harbour, maybe a walk across Sydney Harbour Bridge...

It will be winter so the weather could be anything from warm and sunny to cold and wet!

Yes, Colin's idea's are all great. Taronga Zoo also has a "Roar and Snore" night which would be perfect for a 13 and 10 year old. They get to camp out overnight and see the animals doing their nightime thing, and then being fed in the morning. All equipment is supplied. Website is below.
www.zoo.nsw.gov.au/

They might enjoy Luna Park which is at Milson's Point on the North Shore of the Harbour.
And there is a museum (of natural history I think) right next to Hyde Park in the centre of Sydney. They had aboriginal artfacts on display last time I was there - which was quite a few years ago.
They might also enjoy a ride on the monorail - you can stay on for a couple of circles to get your money's worth - and did anyone mention the aquarium in darling harbour?

Great suggestions guys & thumbs up to all! I second Featherdale Wildlife Park - here's the link - http://www.featherdale.com.au/aboutus/

Hello

I was living in Sydney at that age. Let me tell you what interested me!

I liked travelling on the ferry to Manly. I would sit outside, near the front and would always get wet as we crossed the heads. It was great fun! Of course you can sit inside and remain perfectly dry. The fun pier in Manly is gone now and it is the wrong time of year to go swimming at Manly beach but Manly is not the important thing on the trip, it is the harbour view. The best views of the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House and other sights is to be had from the Manly Ferry.

I would also like catching the train accross the harbour bridge. There are some magnificent views from the train.

The best train to catch is the one going to Milson's Point as that is the train stop for Luna Park.
http://www.lunaparksydney.com/visitor_info/index.html
I always wanted to go there as a kid but we couldn't afford it. I have now been there several times with my daughter, who is now 12 and she loves it! After you have finished at Luna Park, catch a ferry back to Circular Quay. That ferry passes under the harbour bridge.

After you get back to Circular Quay, wander around the rocks area. It is rich in the history of Sydney.

You can buy day tripper tickets that allow you to ride all day, including into the early hours of the next morning on any public ferry, bus or train in Sydney.
http://www.cityrail.info/fares/leisure_tickets.jsp#DayTripper

As a kid and an adult, I have enjoyed visiting Taronga Park Zoo.
http://www.zoo.nsw.gov.au/taronga-zoo.aspx
You can ride there on your daytripper ticket too. Taronga Park Zoo needs a whole day to see everything. So make sure you get there early.

I left Sydney before the tower was built but have been there about 10 times since.
http://www.sydneytoweroztrek.com.au/
There are magnificent views of the whole of Sydney from there. It is a must see but make sure you go on a clear day for the best views.

The Darling Harbour complex and the mono rail have been developed since I was and adult. However, I have taken my daughter to the Aquarium at Darling Harbour twice now and she loved it.
http://www.sydneyaquarium.com.au/
You can walk underneath the sharks and dolphins.
Get there via Monorail from anywehre on the loop. My suggestion is to do a complete loop on the monorail first then get off at the stop for the Aquarium.

Last of my suggestions is the Powerhouse Museum.
http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/
Fantastic place for a 10 year old or a 12 year old. Plenty of interactive displays such as one where the more you pedal, the more lights you can make light up on a car. The Powerhouse museum is one of the stops on the Monorail.

I hope this helps!


Regards: Jim Sibbick

Great answer Jim! Thumbs up matey!! :o) I loved Manly too and the ferry trip over there was fun....and hydrofoil trip back even better! ;o)

Great suggestions so far.

Just let me add (nothing new but I just have to say it LOL): As fabulous as Taronga Zoo is - to me there is no other place which is more fantastic for visiting koalas than Featherdale Wildlife Park. If I lived in Sydney I would be there once a week ;-)

Thank you so very much everyone.Everyone of your suggestions have been interesting and I have noted them all.I hope the overnight camp stay at the wildlife place wouldn't be too expensive.My boys would just love that.
With many thanks,
Regards,
Vpas

it is the zoo not the wildlife place - last place you would find wildlife is the zoo

Oh yes!I realised after I typed and I have the website noted and will soon check.Thanks a lot!
Warm Regards,
Vpas

you'll have a great time - you and your boys - relax and enjoy

Here's a helpful link if you plan on travelling the states.

http://www.mydriveholiday.com/australia-destinations-sights/

Hi
If you buy a day tripper ticket (which covers your train and ferry travel) to go to Taronga Zoo, Sydney Aquarium or Wildlife World show your ticket at the venues when you purchase your tickets and you'll get a discount. Whenever I take my god-daughter to the aquarium we always get the ferry back around to circular quay. She likes it as you go under the bridge. The ferry wharf is just past Wildlife world.
The maritime museum is also fun.
As for Aboriginal artefacts if you have access to a car you could go to Kurnell / Botany Bay National Park.

Thank you Beka kate.
Regards,
Vpas

Most of the suggestions are very good! As a resident of Sydney, anywhere is fab really! Re the weather- winter time so rag up as we say here- bring thick jackets and ponchos (raincoats)too!

Btw, near Featherdale (where your boys can pet a koala and feed kangaroos)outside Sydney -just an hour's ride via the train )get off at Doonside station you can also visit Nurragingy Reserve (free entry)nearby, where you can actually hear the native birds among the gum trees, let your boys feed the ducks in the lake, have a picnic or just "bush walk" around the huge reserve!