A Semester Down Under

When in Sydney, and surrounding areas, it is best to travel using the train system (City Rail). Tickets are quite cheap, and the trains run regularly. To travel longer distances, plan to fly as driving will take quite a long time. Also, remember that in Australia they drive on the left which may cause additional problems for you!

Quick Tips:

Make sure that you devote plenty of time to Australia. Few people realize that it is as big as the United States, and coming for 7 days will not allow you to see the entire country. Know that flying from Sydney to Perth (Western Australia) is about 2000 miles and Sydney to Cairns (Queensland, up north) is about 1300 miles, so devoting entire days to travel may be necessary.
Additionally, plan to spend money. Australia's activities are amazing, but they come at a price. Also, despite what you may have heard, intra-Australia flights are not cheap.

Best Way To Get Around:

When in Sydney and surrounding areas, it is best to travel using the train system (City Rail). Tickets are quite cheap, and the trains run regularly. To travel longer distances, plan to fly as driving will take quite a long time. Also remember that in Australia, they drive on the left which may cause additional problems for you!

The Ocean Room on the Pier at Circular key is defiantly a pearl in Sydney Harbour. We dined there before heading to the Symphony at the Opera House, and because we informed the staff that we needed to be done with dinner at a certain time, they made sure our meals were prepared quickly.

While the menu is mainly seafood, those of us who do not enjoy seafood have plenty of options as well. While my friend enjoyed the perch, I absolutely loved my aged Angus beef, which was served with green beans (also tasty!). The steak was cooked perfectly, and it had great flavour. For dessert, we both had the chocolate sampler, which also was excellent. Three different types of chocolates served, with beautiful presentation.

As previously mentioned, the service was impeccable, and never were our wine or water glasses empty. The view was also great as we had a view of the Circular Quay section of the harbour as well as the Opera House.
Despite the fact that a meal for two with a bottle of wine was around US$150 (this included two mains, one side for the table, and one bottle of wine), I believe the Ocean Room was well worth it. By far, it was one of the best meals I have had in Australia, if not ever. I would definitely eat here again, and I recommend the restaurant to adults with no children who are willing to pay a premium price for premium food and service.

You've seen the harbour bridge in pictures, you may have taken the train or driven across it, but now it is time to climb it!

Bridge Climb offers tourists a chance to climb over 1400 steps to the "summit" (as they call it) of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Operating daily from dawn until night, they have climbs occurring every 10 minutes. Prices start around AUD$150 for weekday climbs, AUD$180 for weekend climbs, and significantly more for the dawn and dusk climbs each day. Reservations for a climb are not required, but if you are trying to fit it in with other activities in Sydney, I would recommend making them.

The experience starts when you are breathalyzed to ensure you are not intoxicated! Then its off to get your bridge climbing suit and other equipment. After suiting up, you will go through a bit of practice on a scaffold in the Bridge Climb building before heading off to the real climb.

The climb itself is amazing - you see great vistas in all directions and have perfect views of the Opera House as well as the Western side of Sydney. The guides will give local information on the way up, and provide information about the construction of the bridge on the way down. When you reach the time, they will also take some photographs - luckily, each participant receives a free copy of the 5 x 7 group photo. Other photos will cost about AUD$14 each. Also know that you CANNOT bring your own camera on to the bridge - so either take excellent mental photographs or be prepared to dish out some cash at the end!

The experience lasts about 3.5 hours from start to finish. The time on the bridge is probably about 2.25 to 2.5 hours.
I don't think I would do bridge climb again because, especially at this price, it is a "one off" activity. I've done it, but I don't need to do it again. I would, however, recommend it for anyone who has the extra money while in Sydney. It was an experience I will never forget, and it provided views I will always remember.

If you are into the Olympics, or just want to walk on a piece of history, a day trip to Sydney Olympic Park is for you. Just a short hop (about 15 minutes) from Central Rail Station on a train will bring you directly to the site. Train tickets are about AUD$4 for a return ticket.

Once at Olympic Park, you have many options to see the facilities. There is a tour of the Stadium, a walking tour of the grounds, or you can choose to walk it yourself or rent a bike and peddle around the area! I would suggest a walking tour, as that is what I did, and it provides a great opportunity to see the buildings and have someone explain to you what they are. If you plan to explore yourself, I would suggest renting a bike as the area is quite large, and cycling would provide be the quickest way to try and see everything.
Other fun things to do at the Olympic Village would be to take a dip in the actual Olympic pool (AUD$5), or running under the torch cauldron (free!).

With its close proximity to the city, a visit to the Sydney Olympic Center is a MUST for anyone with the time - and if you don't have the time, make it! It is also a great family activity.

If you enjoy culture and are in Sydney, a must-do is seeing the Sydney Symphony at the Sydney Opera House.

To book tickets, simply go to the Sydney Opera House box office. Tickets range from about AUD$40 to AUD$93, but the $93 tickets are worth every penny!

Expect a much smaller performance hall that what it seems it should be—I was very surprised by this. Know also that formal dress is not required; they indicate that 'jeans and a smart shirt' are fine, but I would go for khakis and a smart shirt at a minimum. Also know that you will end up spending money on drinks either before or during the intermission of the performance—so bring extra money.