you folks living on the other side of the world

[thebookiesoffers]

I'll be coming your way in march. going Syndey for a few days, then Wellington, New Zealand for 8 days to watch England play cricket, then Auckland then a few days in Singapore to visit my mate.

Any cool things I should do when I'm in those parts please?

[Renee]

I dont even know where to start!
But maybe I should take you out for lunch while you're here?

[thebookiesoffers]

are you in Sydney Rennee? ar all the best things to do, tourist wise, all in the same area? haven't even looked at the place yet, just booked my flights

[Renee]

Yep I'm in Sydney

A lot of the touristy things are close together.
Opera House
Harbour Bridge
The Rocks
Circular Quay
Botanical Gardens
Mrs Macquarie's Chair

A short distance on the other side of the harbour is King St and Cockle Bay Wharf where there is the aquarium, some kind of wildlife centre and the wax museum.

From Circular Quay you can get out to Manly and the Taronga Zoo on the ferry. I definitely recommend the zoo. It's bloody awesome.

Those are all the main attractions. If you go into the city a little bit (which you can actually walk from darling harbour to in about 10-15 mins) there are lots of museums and historical buildings, the centrepoint tower, Queen Victoria Building, St Marys Cathedral etc.

If you go out east a little (about 10 min train ride and a 10 min bus ride) you will find Bondi Beach and if you want to have the best wagyu beef steak you've eaten in your life you can eat at the Iceburgs restaurant at the beach there. Just make sure its the restaurant and not the bistro. 800g wagyu steak is $175 and worth every cent IMO.

If you go a bit further south along the coast you can get to bronte where you can do the walk along the coast. I've never done it myself but apparently its beautiful. It goes all the way to Coogee.

If you want to do some shopping there is a huge shopping centre in the city called Westfield Sydney which connects underground and over the road to Pitt Street Mall and the QVB. YOu could spend a day there.
Otherwise if you catch a train out west there are the Direct Factory Outlets (DFO).

If you want some cool pubs, the Rocks has the Australian Hotel and a few others there.

Another awesome restaurant that will give you a million dollar view is Level 36 at the Shangri-la hotel in the rocks. Be prepared to pay for it though. If you're not, they have a bar there too that you can just go to for a few drinks to get part of the view. From the restaurant you can see over teh whole of sydney harbour, the opera house, harbour bridge, luna park. The view is absolutely breathtaking.

I think that's about it. I can't think of anything else.

If you come across anything I haven't mentioned just let me know and I'll tell you what I know about it.

[thebookiesoffers]

brilliant post, cheers

[Renee]

You're very welcome.

[michael1981]

This thread is awesome. I think I'm going to bookmark it, and read over Renee's suggestions next time I visit Sydney. The only thing I know about Sydney is that the Star City serviced apartments are absolutely beautiful! If you want to stay somewhere nice, and have some extra money to spend, you should stay there

[sweetbet]

I always stay at Novotel on Darling Harbour. Darling Harbour is very close to so many of Sydney's tourist attractions. thebookiesoffers, Sydney is such a beautiful city with so much to see and do. Enjoy!!

[Renee]

Star City (or The Star as it is now called) serviced apartments ARE awesome. Although if you want something with the same style that is less expensive, the Medina serviced apartments are just as nice and in my experience more spacious. There is one in King Street Wharf (Lime Street). I've stayed there before and wouldn't hesitate to stay there again
The apartment I had there was friggin huge and was only about $180/night.

**** Oh yeah, everything in Sydney is really expensive so prepare yourself.

[Crazyrewards-Morten]

From Circular Quay you can get out to Manly and the Taronga Zoo on the ferry. I definitely recommend the zoo. It's bloody awesome.

This is absolutely true... Remember having my photo taken with a Koala bear at the zoo. So different that what you'd expect

Do they BTW still have that huge stuffed bear that you can have your picture taken with on your way out?

When I lived in Sydney many years ago I just loved sitting down at the quay reading a book and looking across the bay

[thebookiesoffers]

was hoping thegooner might pipe up on this as well being in New Zealand........come on pal don't be shy

[Crazyrewards-Morten]

was hoping thegooner might pipe up on this as well being in New Zealand........come on pal don't be shy

I did some Blackwater rafting in Waitomo caves I think it was and bungee jump near Lake Taupo... That was pretty much nuts (even though I screamed like a girl :s)

[thebookiesoffers]

I did some Blackwater rafting in Waitomo caves I think it was and bungee jump near Lake Taupo... That was pretty much nuts (even though I screamed like a girl :s)

done a bungee jump once, NEVER again. Im in Wellington for 8 days then Auckland for a couple more (5 days in wellington should be took up with cricket though)

[Renee]

Do they BTW still have that huge stuffed bear that you can have your picture taken with on your way out?

When I lived in Sydney many years ago I just loved sitting down at the quay reading a book and looking across the bay

Yep they do!

Circular Quay is my favourite part of Sydney. Without fail everytime I go there I take a million photos with my phone and could just sit there for hours people watching and looking at the view. Opera Bar is the bar with the best view and atmosphere in Sydney that is outdoors. Best view in Sydney would have to be the bar in the Shangri-la but that's an indoor bar.

Love it!

[Crazyrewards-Morten]

Yep they do!

Circular Quay is my favourite part of Sydney. Without fail everytime I go there I take a million photos with my phone and could just sit there for hours people watching and looking at the view. Opera Bar is the bar with the best view and atmosphere in Sydney that is outdoors. Best view in Sydney would have to be the bar in the Shangri-la but that's an indoor bar.

Love it!

I didn't visited that place, but I can read higher up this thread that it's a bit expensive, so that explains why I didn't go there back in my wil backpacking days

Will try to remember it if I go to Sydney, which I more or less expect I will eventually

[rak]

Gawd Singapore!!! Where do I begin.

Welcome to food heaven.

In the evening - Night Safari
China Town Food street
Chjimes for Dinner
I didn't think much of Santosa Island
Orchard Avenue is big on luxury if thats your thing *gag*
Little India (dont go on a Sunday.. labourers day off, and its packed and overflowing onto the roads)
Clarke Quay for lunch or dinner
Boat Quay

I love Singapore

[rak]

Yep they do!

Circular Quay is my favourite part of Sydney. Without fail everytime I go there I take a million photos with my phone and could just sit there for hours people watching and looking at the view. Opera Bar is the bar with the best view and atmosphere in Sydney that is outdoors. Best view in Sydney would have to be the bar in the Shangri-la but that's an indoor bar.

Love it!

Never been a fan of Circular Quay. Take me to Glebe and I am happy, I can sit, walk, and eat along the main road all day. I love going into the second hand book stores there.

[Crazyrewards-Morten]

Never been a fan of Circular Quay. Take me to Glebe and I am happy, I can sit, walk, and eat along the main road all day. I love going into the second hand book stores there.

Ah yea... Glebe... I used to stay at the Glebes backpacker hostel I think it was... Is it still around?

Did some crazy things back then, but good really times

[Renee]

Yeah I'm pretty sure it's still there. I don't really visit Glebe often. Went for a bike ride there 2 weekends ago.

There is a public pool located right in the middle of Victoria park in glebe that i found on my ride. Will def be going there again!

[thebookiesoffers]

Yep they do!

Circular Quay is my favourite part of Sydney. Without fail everytime I go there I take a million photos with my phone and could just sit there for hours people watching and looking at the view. Opera Bar is the bar with the best view and atmosphere in Sydney that is outdoors. Best view in Sydney would have to be the bar in the Shangri-la but that's an indoor bar.

Love it!

Hiya, is all that area in walking distance from Darlinghurst, been told to stay there?