Sydney Travel Forum

Hi all, I have planned my itinerary as follows. However, for the visit to port stephen i have not decide yet cos the day package to there is $217 AUD which includes the activity as described below. If I am not going there, which are the places I can include in my iteinerary also?

12-Jul sun

Reach Sydney 1020
Take train to hotel stellar sydney
Check in at 11am
Birkenhead Point (shopping)
sydney harbour bridge ($5 / $150 for harbour bridge climb)
The Rocks - sightseeing/ windmill (Rocks Day market till 4pm)
ferry to Manly beach via circular quay (30min ride)
*Royal Botanic Gardens
opera house (at nite)
Watson's bay (for fish n chip)

13-Jul mon

8am to 12pm
Taronga Zoo or wilidlife world
12pm onwards
Sydney Aquarium (2pm to 5pm)
*Bondi beach
*Westfield Bondi Junction (10 mins bus ride away)
*Hurricanes' Grill for pork ribs
sydney tower (at nite, closed at 1030)
*skywalk at tower
"AMP Tower (Market Street)
darling harbour - Chinese garden
darling harbour - Tidal Cascades


14-Jul tues
8am to 6pm
blue mountain day trip http://www.activitytours.com.au/

15-Jul wed
8am to 6pm
*Depart Sydney for Port Stephen (optional)
dolphin-watch cruise
4-Wheel Drive through enchanted forest into a coastal desert wilderness
sand boarding,

16-Jul thurs
Pack stuff
Sydney Fish market
Hype Park

Wow you are seriously moving around Sydney! Your arrival day is shopping in the inner west, then to the bridge, then Manly, then to Opera House, then back out to Watson's Bay! That's a seriously busy day. Who's taking you through all this?

Port Stephens? I guess it's up to you, cause if you're crazy about seeing dolphins, it's pretty much a guarantee in Port Stephens.

If it were me, I'd enjoy a 'less travel' day in Sydney. If you're into a nice walk, the Bondi to Coogee walk is 6.5kms of one of the nicest walks in Australia (and it's free). You can stop for lunch in Bronte (there are 6 restaurants in a row 20metres off the beach), and enjoy views from the numerous beaches/cliffs you'll walk past. It's amazing. You could make it a nice 3 hour journey if you move slowly and take some photos.

Just a thought for ya, but either way you'll enjoy your buzzing around in Sydney!

Hi thanks for your input. Think I will refine my itinerary to make it less busier day. Anyway if i take out the port stephen programme, what you suggest to replace it with? Thanks.

Hi

I think your Day one schedule has too much , lessen it. Just to get to Manly on the old ferry will take 30 minutes, you then have to see Manly, minimum 1 to 2 hours, then return ferry trip to Circulat quay.

Harbour Bridge Climb will take some time, budget a few hours, getting there, climbing and returning to the Rocks. You will need minimum 2 hours in Rocks. Better to eat at Rocks as open at Night and should be lively Thursday/ Friday night.

Royal Botanic gardens better done during daylight.

I think you need to extend your stay if you want to properly do all the things you list. Sydney is a big city, traffic & people.

Good Luck,
Mike

I think you'll find that the fish 'n chips will all be gone by the time you get way out to Watson's Bay from the Opera House. The Bridge Climb itself, will take a huge chunk out of an already shortened day. Slow down, or you won't see much at all, only what can be seen out of bus and taxi windows en route from one place to another. I'm sure that we could help you put together a much more suitable itinerary if you give us some idea of what your priorities are. Whistle stop trips are a total waste of time. See less and see it properly. There's always next time. You live in Singapore, so it's not all that difficult or expensive to come over here from there if you want to come back again and see some more.

I agree with Mike, there's no way you're going to fit all that into the time in Sydney. Also, if you arrive at 10.20 you won't be in the hotel and ready to go by 11am so you'll be behind schedule before you start!

I'm not sure if this is a tour each day or if you've planned it all on your own...but here are some friendly suggestions to change:

On Day 1, I'm not sure Birkenhead Pt will be a tourist shopping experience worth going to. If you're going to Bondi Junction to shop later on, that should be enough of shopping, unless you're truly a discount shopper - I think the deals are more at Birkenhead, but I've never been there. Buuuuut, I wouldn't advise a tourist spend time there either.

A bridge option that can save you heaps of time and $$$ - rather than bridge climb and spend 4hrs doing so, if you look at a photo of the bridge, the big concrete 'holders' on the side...the south one can be climbed via the stairs for $10(?) I believe. The views are equally amazing, and you don't half to spend half a day. Further, you can walk across the bridge down to the Harbour Park there and get amazing Opera House views.

Lastly, I'd skip Watson's Bay on Day 1.

So, with that, on Day 1, you could enjoy the Rocks, walk up/across the bridge, over to Circular Quay and over to Manly, and back in the afternoon for a Botanical Garden walk and Opera House sunset/drink at Opera Bar. I'd call that a grand day. It's still a full day though. And if you time a (approx) 4:45pm ferry from Manly, you might see one of the most beautiful sunsets you've ever seen with Opera House/bridge views.

If Port Stephens isn't your thing, you could do the Coogee-Bondi walk, then jump on a 380 bus that goes to Watson's Bay, then do the South Head Watson's Bay walk that takes you to the lighthouse via a couple of beaches (one hour). The views are stunning, and then you could get your fish 'n chips at Doyles and enjoy another ferry ride from Watson's Bay back to Circular Quay. Alternatively, you could go on the 'Bondi Explorer Bus' which stops at all the beaches and all over Sydney really...you could see quite a bit in a full day. Shoot, I just looked online and it stops at all the spots I've mentioned in this paragraph here. (http://www.sydneypass.info/commonpdfs/sydneypass/be/be_stops.pdf)

Sorry that it's heaps of info, but you asked for it! :)

Just make sure you relax and enjoy the sites while not trying to see too, too much of it. It's too beautiful of a city to be rushed around, so put your feet up and enjoy some drinks too.

Happy travels, Mike

There is more to Port Stephens than just the dolphins & sandboarding. Unfortunately the day trips that come here focus on these activities because that takes up most of the day.
We have some wonderful coastal walks, mountains to climb, beaches (although a bit chilly just now), cafes, wineries etc.
The sand dunes really are amazing though, the largest mass in the southern hemishpere I read somewhere.
I think I'd stick to Sydney as much as love my town.
The previous posters have given you some great ideas.
Have a great trip - who knows? you might like it so much down here that you will come back & see some more of our beautiful country!

Thanks for all the inputs. Seems like I am too ambitious in my planning. Actually, I would love to go to port stephens but it seems the day tour to tehre is too expensive. Perhpas will go on some other time. Anyway for this trip, I looking forward sightseeing of Sydney must-been places and also shoppings and dolphin watch/4wd/snow ski if possible. Anyway if the royal botranic gardens worth visiting? It will be helpful to me if you guys can point me those places that aren't worth the time going. Thanks a lot.

Your original question gave the dates as arriving late morning July 12 and than I think leaving some time on July 16. If that's correct then you only have three full days plus maybe two half days.

Looking at the many things you included in your original plan, I suggest the first half day, when you arrive, you go to The Rocks, including the market, walk around the harbour to the Botanic Garden, maybe go for the bridge walk already suggested. You could maybe go into Chinatown or Darling Harbour for dinner, or perhaps to one of the restaurants on the harbour, such as the Waterfront or Doyles. The botanic garden by the way is somewhat similar to Singapore's botanic garden - if you like that you'll like Sydney's.

The snow fields are several hours away, so if you want to see the snow that takes a minimum of one day.

Dolphin watch and 4x4 tour isn't in Sydney but you could go to the aquarium, either in Darling Harbour or Manly. Darling Harbour also has a native wildlife park, or if you are prepared to use up at least half a day you could go to Featherdale Wildlife Park.

For beaches I suggest probably Manly because you can travel by ferry so you see the harbour, and Manly has two beaches, the ocean surfing beach plus the calm harbour beach. It also has plenty of shops and restaurants.

Shopping is much better in Singapore, but if you want to do some shopping in Sydney you have the malls as you suggested plus plenty of individual shops in streets such as Oxford, Pitt and George plus others around The Rocks. Birkenhead Point is a factory outlet centre. The fish market is also an interesting place to visit - you can get a good seafood meal there of course.

The day in Port Stephens sounds fully packed, and also fun (I haven't done sandboarding yet). If you happen to do it, yes they pretty much guarantee seeing dolphins, and it's a really nice harbour.
With a bit of luck you'd do a stop off at the Port stephens winery, which is on the main road in. Their wines are awesome (especially the chilled tomaree red), and they stock Murray's Beers which are very TOP notch beers. Yum yum.

Have fun on your visit to sydney. The Coogee - Bondi Walk is a good suggestion.
Pete

Another note. The you can walk across the bridge for free on the road level.
Watson's Bay... the fish and chips are awesome, Doyles restaurant for top notch dining, or the attached pub for a more relaxed affair (even takeaway in the park or on the beach would be great)
If it's too much, try to get to Bungalow 8 on King St Wharf. They do great seafood too (salt n pepper calamari is yum). Good atmosphere there too.

Every one has given you great advice. The only thing I would add is that I know people rave about it, but I have been to Hurricanes and was very dissapointed. I would much rather go to Hogs Breath Cafe for a good steak.

seems like I had very good advisors in all of you all. Thanks. Think will definitely enjoy my stay over here.

Hi
I agree with everyone else about not hiring a car in Sydney ,the traffic ,parking and petrol prices would turn any one off .
But another thing no one has mentioned and it might affect your plans is the effect World Youth Day will have on Sydney .
It might be worth looking up the website I just googled world youth day and it comes up to see how the expected invasion of 125000 pilgrims will affect the public transport system,local attractions and the many many road closures and out of bounds areas we are going to have to put up with .It starts 15th July so you will miss most off it by the look of your plans but just be warned it is happening .

Well Said wallywombat, I would get out of Sydney

Good thinking wallywombat, I would think that WYD will affect Sydney for a couple of weeks as so many of the visitors will not be coming just for the few days of the events, so yes it might be a good time to get out of Sydney. You can bet all the public transport will be bedlam for a week or two.

I just read cityrail are calling for a 24hour strike that day too (17th/July). Fan-bloody-tastic. Glad I have an RDO saved up.
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