Nine Days in Australia

Not even a year old, this new Hilton hotel has a very modern style at a central location in the city. We had a room on the 30th floorwhich was very slick looking, albeit a little small with an interesting glass-enclosed bathroom in which you could see the silhouette of whomever was taking a shower. There were two comfortable double beds in this room and a very nice 26" LCD television. From 30 floors up we had a nice view to the south and we could see George Street and the Queen Victoria Building right below us.

Both Circular Quay and the Opera House are about a 20 minute walk from the Hilton, but Town Hall and Martin's Place train stations are both a five minute walk. The walk down George Street to Circular Quay, although it takes a little bit of time, is good because there are many shops and souvenir stores around. The Botanical Gardens is only a 10 minute walk, but that is to the far end, getting to the harbour might be an extra five minutes on top of that.

I did not have any meals in the hotel, but the executive lounge had a wide selection of Australian beers and liquor, as well as appetizers. There is an outstandingly overpriced minibar and room service is available.

If you like a new, modern feel this hotel is a good match, but you would be giving up space for it. Overall, it was a pleasant stay.

A popular destination in Sydney, and for good reason. Taronga Zoo is a very unique and pretty zoo that features animals you definitely don't see every day. It is built on the side of a hill right by Sydney Harbour to give at an interesting terrain, which can tire you out after a day!

The main appeal of Taronga is all the animals you can't see anywhere in the world except Australia. Right at the entrance you can pay AU$3 to get your picture taken with a koala, or if you just want to look at them up close and snap a few photos that is free. There is a fun kangaroo area where you pretty much just walk through they're little habitat and get up close. There are too many cool exhibits and animals to describe, but make sure you see the Red Pandas, the Platypus and Echidna, and the monstrous crocodile!

There are a number of shows and feedings throughout the day, but the one not to miss is the bird show. It's a cute show, but what makes it really spectacular is the backdrop of the city and harbour.

The best way to get to the zoo from city central is definitely the ferry. You can buy a ferry/zoo pass for around $30 r/t and on the ferry you get a great view of the city and harbour while passing right by the Opera House. Also, once you get off the ferry, you get to take a gondola skyride/skilift thing to the top and get a view of the zoo from above. Spectacular!

The main reason I went back to Australia was to see my family and my mates from a study abroad in high school. So, in Australian fashion, six of my buddies and I went to a pub and then to Penrith Panthers. It's sort of an awkward name because that is also the exact name of the rugby club in Penrith--I'm not sure why they insisted on the same name. You have to be a member in order to get in, but my friends just had a guest pass for me so I'm not sure about getting without a member. They told me it was Australia's largest nightclub, and I certainly didn't doubt it. It has a few restaurants and bars, a large electronic gambling area, three dance clubs, and other lounge areas, as well as outdoor patios. The three dance clubs were geared more towards the younger crowd (18-22) whereas the gambling areas (they call them "pokies") and restaurants were filled with middle-aged people.

We spent most of the night at the upstairs dance club, which I forget the name of now, but also blew some money on electronic poker machines. Australia is a beer drinking country, so pretty much all the guys have a Victoria Bitter in their hands when they walk around. At AU$3 per beer, spending a Friday night there isn't exactly cheap.

It was the only nightclub I went to in Australia, so I don't know how it compares to others, but it certainly has a lot to offer. Whatever social style you're into they probably have it. As most bars and clubs, the drinks were a little expensive, but why not go the heck with it every once in a while. I definitely enjoyed myself and would recommend it.

Located in a building right on Manly beach, Manly Surf School is Sydney's largest surf school. With a very friendly and experienced staff, surfers at any level can take beginner, intermediate, or advanced lessons. Their most popular lesson is beginner though, as with its location it is very convenient for tourists to take a lesson in an afternoon. Lessons are $50 each, and that includes the board, wetsuit, and instruction. The more lessons you take the cheaper they get. Private lessons are offered at $80 per lesson.

Lessons are available every day throughout the year at 9:00 and 11:00 AM, along with 2:00 PM lessons from November through March; each lesson is two hours long. Manly Surf School uses Softboards, which are surfboards made of soft foam rather than fiberglass/polyurethane which. Softboards are easier to balance on and will not bruise you quite as badly in a wipe out.

The instructors I encountered were great--typical Aussie guys completely stoked about surfing. They were very friendly and gave a good surf lesson; they knew what they were doing!

I actually don't know any other options for surf lessons at Manly, but honestly I don't think there needs to be another option. The prime location along with everything I mentioned above makes for a great surf lesson. Give it a go--you won't regret it!

Sydney's second most popular beach, behind Bondi Beach, is Manly Beach. It is located just north of the opening of Sydney Harbour to the Pacific Ocean. It is popular because of the beautiful water, soft sand, and its beautiful setting. Surfing is also a popular activity, as the waves break nicely and it is susceptible to southwest swells, which are the most common. There is also a nice pedestrian walkway with shops and restaurants between the beach and Manly Wharf.

If you're going to Manly from the city, the best way by far is to take the ferry from Circular Quay. Not only does it provide a great boat ride through the harbour with outstanding views, but it is the quickest and cheapest way to get there. The trip lasts about half an hour each way. They also naturally depart roughly every half hour, so the wait is never too long for a ferry.

There are lifeguards and shark watches during the summer months, and occasionally man-o-wars drift with the current towards the beach. During winter the weather and water is a bit too cold to swim, but it is still a very pleasant beach just to go and take a walk. It gives you a chance to ride the ferry across the harbour as well.

If it's summer, grab your suit and head to Manly, maybe even take a surf lesson! And if its winter, go anyway! Its a beautiful beach, and there are things to do in the area as well! It's my favorite beach in the world--highly recommended.