TTFN2013 Posted September 7, 2017 #1 Share Posted September 7, 2017 Following a 14-night Auckland to Sydney RCCL Cruise, we are spending 6 days in or near Sydney. First week of February 2018. I'd like to hear from experienced travelers. What are your suggestions as to what area to stay in and what not to miss. Sydney bridge is a given and I want to visit the pools of Bondi Beach. Who are we and what are our interests? We are a couple in our 60's, reasonably fit, and we enjoy walking both in nature and taking in architecture. Our favorite travel experiences typically involve meeting and getting to know some locals, eating and drinking where the locals do. We're not avid ocean swimmers, so snorkeling the Reef may be out of the question. We're open to a hotel or vacation rental that allows us to walk to good restaurants and sites. I'm looking forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your reply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruise Junky Posted September 8, 2017 #2 Share Posted September 8, 2017 We stayed in Darling Harbour which we really liked. We stayed at what is now the Hyatt...it was a four points last year. We enjoyed the Zoo, Manly Beach and a day trip out to the Hunter Valley wineries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GradUT Posted September 8, 2017 #3 Share Posted September 8, 2017 Having been to Sydney many times, I would say the most convenient areas to stay for sightseeing purposes would be either The Rocks or Circular Quay. The next most convenient would be the CBD (downtown) followed by Darling Harbour. And, the Great Barrier Reef is about 1500 miles from Sydney, so you couldn't "snorkel the Reef" from Sydney even if you wanted to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spree75 Posted September 8, 2017 #4 Share Posted September 8, 2017 I've only been to Sydney twice but some of things that you might enjoy: - Walking around the Rocks area - The Royal Botanical Gardens are lovely (and huge). Maybe a walk all the way Mrs Macquarie's Chair. - See something at the Sydney Opera House. - Take a tour of the Sydney Opera House. - Take a harbor cruise - Take a tour out to the Blue Mountains - Featherdale Wildlife Park is a popular animal stop on the way to the Blue Mountains - Take a ferry out to Manley. Walk around North Head - Get a guide/driver to take you to some of the suburbs outside of the central business district (Surrey Hills, Chippendale, Ultimo, Paddington) for some of the more bohemian and gentrifying areas - Take a walk in Gap Park. Opposite side of the Bay from North Head. - Take a guided architectural walk - Travel up to West Head in Kuh-ring-gai Chase National Park for a nature walk. If you have a good guide or are adventurous, find the Elvina Track and look for the overgrown path to an amazing Aboriginal Engravings site. - Something we have not done yet but plan to is a wine trip to either the Hunter Valley (north) or Southern Highlands (south) We found that the Central Business District/Darling Harbor is really easy to do on your own but once you start ranging farther afield it's easier to have a guide/driver who can connect a bunch of things together. Our second trip was two long half days where we did North of the Bay all the way up to West Head one day and a huge South of the Bay loop on the second day from Gap Park down through the beaches and then crossing back through all the southern and western suburbs. Hope this helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHOENIXfire Posted September 8, 2017 #5 Share Posted September 8, 2017 Great information. Did not mention the zoo. Is it possible to do the zoo and dinner in manly via the ferry system. Thanks We are staying in the rocks holiday inn and booked seafood buffet harbor tour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTFN2013 Posted September 9, 2017 Author #6 Share Posted September 9, 2017 Having been to Sydney many times, I would say the most convenient areas to stay for sightseeing purposes would be either The Rocks or Circular Quay. The next most convenient would be the CBD (downtown) followed by Darling Harbour. And, the Great Barrier Reef is about 1500 miles from Sydney, so you couldn't "snorkel the Reef" from Sydney even if you wanted to. Thank you for your suggestions. Sent from my SM-N900V using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTFN2013 Posted September 9, 2017 Author #7 Share Posted September 9, 2017 I've only been to Sydney twice but some of things that you might enjoy: - Walking around the Rocks area - The Royal Botanical Gardens are lovely (and huge). Maybe a walk all the way Mrs Macquarie's Chair. - See something at the Sydney Opera House. - Take a tour of the Sydney Opera House. - Take a harbor cruise - Take a tour out to the Blue Mountains - Featherdale Wildlife Park is a popular animal stop on the way to the Blue Mountains - Take a ferry out to Manley. Walk around North Head - Get a guide/driver to take you to some of the suburbs outside of the central business district (Surrey Hills, Chippendale, Ultimo, Paddington) for some of the more bohemian and gentrifying areas - Take a walk in Gap Park. Opposite side of the Bay from North Head. - Take a guided architectural walk - Travel up to West Head in Kuh-ring-gai Chase National Park for a nature walk. If you have a good guide or are adventurous, find the Elvina Track and look for the overgrown path to an amazing Aboriginal Engravings site. - Something we have not done yet but plan to is a wine trip to either the Hunter Valley (north) or Southern Highlands (south) We found that the Central Business District/Darling Harbor is really easy to do on your own but once you start ranging farther afield it's easier to have a guide/driver who can connect a bunch of things together. Our second trip was two long half days where we did North of the Bay all the way up to West Head one day and a huge South of the Bay loop on the second day from Gap Park down through the beaches and then crossing back through all the southern and western suburbs. Hope this helps. Great info. Thank you. Sent from my SM-N900V using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUT2407 Posted September 9, 2017 #8 Share Posted September 9, 2017 Taronga zoo. Ferry from Circular Quay Sky lift thing to the top Work your way down Ferry back to city And take note of the spectacular views some of the animals have. Blue Mts A Day trip Maybe a day trip to Canberra our nation's capital If you're into wine a day trip to the Hunter Valley In Sydney itself Opera House Bridge Harbour Ferry trip Bondi Manly Sydney SkyTower Your biggest problem will be fitting everything in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTFN2013 Posted September 9, 2017 Author #9 Share Posted September 9, 2017 Thank you for the tips. Sent from my SM-N900V using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUT2407 Posted September 9, 2017 #10 Share Posted September 9, 2017 You might also enjoy this http://www.sydney.com/destinations/sydney/sydney-east/watsons-bay/attractions/the-federation-cliff-walk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Aurora Posted September 9, 2017 #11 Share Posted September 9, 2017 We have been to Sydney four times now, and with 6 days our OP will have to prioritize. Just so much to do there. But for folks with an interest in architecture I have a few suggestions. Elizabeth Bay House is lovely. The Government House offers tours several days of the week. And a walk through the Queen Victoria Building is lovely (pay particular attention to the clocks). Susannah Place is a house museum in the Rocks area which has been left in its tenement condition so we can understand how ordinary folks really lived. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTFN2013 Posted September 10, 2017 Author #12 Share Posted September 10, 2017 Sounds interesting. Thank you. Sent from my SM-N900V using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUT2407 Posted September 10, 2017 #13 Share Posted September 10, 2017 Sounds interesting. Thank you. Sent from my SM-N900V using Forums mobile app Quick thought, I agree about QVB, if you haven't got accomodation booked you might look at the Grace originally a department store built in the 1920s a lovely building. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swissmiss6253 Posted September 10, 2017 #14 Share Posted September 10, 2017 Love the Grace Hotel. All good suggestions above. Eat at Cafe Sydney, have a drink at the Opera Bar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUT2407 Posted September 10, 2017 #15 Share Posted September 10, 2017 Love the Grace Hotel. All good suggestions above. Eat at Cafe Sydney, have a drink at the Opera Bar When Mrs Gut was serving on the Board of studies they started putting her up at the Grace (prior to that they'd used the Travelodge) love it there and became friends with one of the concierges (Dean) he'd see us walk in and we'd get the full service, one year we were having trouble getting a room before one of our cruises, he rand connections all over the city to find us something then told them they had to look after us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTFN2013 Posted September 10, 2017 Author #16 Share Posted September 10, 2017 Quick thought, I agree about QVB, if you haven't got accomodation booked you might look at the Grace originally a department store built in the 1920s a lovely building. I will check it out. Thank you. Sent from my SM-N900V using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTFN2013 Posted September 10, 2017 Author #17 Share Posted September 10, 2017 I've only been to Sydney twice but some of things that you might enjoy: - Walking around the Rocks area - The Royal Botanical Gardens are lovely (and huge). Maybe a walk all the way Mrs Macquarie's Chair. - See something at the Sydney Opera House. - Take a tour of the Sydney Opera House. - Take a harbor cruise - Take a tour out to the Blue Mountains - Featherdale Wildlife Park is a popular animal stop on the way to the Blue Mountains - Take a ferry out to Manley. Walk around North Head - Get a guide/driver to take you to some of the suburbs outside of the central business district (Surrey Hills, Chippendale, Ultimo, Paddington) for some of the more bohemian and gentrifying areas - Take a walk in Gap Park. Opposite side of the Bay from North Head. - Take a guided architectural walk - Travel up to West Head in Kuh-ring-gai Chase National Park for a nature walk. If you have a good guide or are adventurous, find the Elvina Track and look for the overgrown path to an amazing Aboriginal Engravings site. - Something we have not done yet but plan to is a wine trip to either the Hunter Valley (north) or Southern Highlands (south) We found that the Central Business District/Darling Harbor is really easy to do on your own but once you start ranging farther afield it's easier to have a guide/driver who can connect a bunch of things together. Our second trip was two long half days where we did North of the Bay all the way up to West Head one day and a huge South of the Bay loop on the second day from Gap Park down through the beaches and then crossing back through all the southern and western suburbs. Hope this helps. Thank you. Sent from my SM-N900V using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTFN2013 Posted September 10, 2017 Author #18 Share Posted September 10, 2017 We stayed in Darling Harbour which we really liked. We stayed at what is now the Hyatt...it was a four points last year. We enjoyed the Zoo, Manly Beach and a day trip out to the Hunter Valley wineries. Thank you. Sent from my SM-N900V using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTFN2013 Posted September 10, 2017 Author #19 Share Posted September 10, 2017 Love the Grace Hotel. All good suggestions above. Eat at Cafe Sydney, have a drink at the Opera Bar Sounds good. Sent from my SM-N900V using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUT2407 Posted September 10, 2017 #20 Share Posted September 10, 2017 Following a 14-night Auckland to Sydney RCCL Cruise, we are spending 6 days in or near Sydney. First week of February 2018. I'd like to hear from experienced travelers. What are your suggestions as to what area to stay in and what not to miss. Sydney bridge is a given and I want to visit the pools of Bondi Beach. Who are we and what are our interests? We are a couple in our 60's, reasonably fit, and we enjoy walking both in nature and taking in architecture. Our favorite travel experiences typically involve meeting and getting to know some locals, eating and drinking where the locals do. We're not avid ocean swimmers, so snorkeling the Reef may be out of the question. We're open to a hotel or vacation rental that allows us to walk to good restaurants and sites. I'm looking forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your reply. Eating and drinking where the locals do. Try some of the pubs, you'll be amazed at the quality of food some of them produce. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTFN2013 Posted September 10, 2017 Author #21 Share Posted September 10, 2017 We stayed in Darling Harbour which we really liked. We stayed at what is now the Hyatt...it was a four points last year. We enjoyed the Zoo, Manly Beach and a day trip out to the Hunter Valley wineries. Thank you. Sent from my SM-N900V using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruise Junky Posted September 10, 2017 #22 Share Posted September 10, 2017 Thank you. Sent from my SM-N900V using Forums mobile app How does someone from Southern California get the screen name of TTFN? ;) just curios. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crown Vic Posted September 11, 2017 #23 Share Posted September 11, 2017 Following a 14-night Auckland to Sydney RCCL Cruise, we are spending 6 days in or near Sydney. First week of February 2018...I'm looking forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your reply. Wot?!? No one mentioned Luna Park...?!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarky213 Posted September 11, 2017 #24 Share Posted September 11, 2017 Watching this for Ideas as we are in Sydney for 7 nights post cruise in December. Thinking of one of the Christmas Day Harbour Buffet Cruises as there will be limited places to eat on xmas day. Anyone recommend any of these? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gailnsw Posted September 12, 2017 #25 Share Posted September 12, 2017 A harbour night cruise on "The Tall Ships" . ♡ Sent from my SM-G900I using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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