Sydney Summer Fun

A January 2002 travel journal

Last Updated: February 20, 2002

: Journal Usefulness Rating

8: Reviews

8: Photos

Eleven days Sydney. Four days for a business seminar with nights free. Several Bus tours and lots of sightseeing on foot. I was there for for Australia day, great fireworks on Darling Harbour and parade of the Tall Ships. I have never seen such a crowded place as Darling Harbour during the Fireworks. Many Activities around town on the special day. At Hyde Park,, there was a food festival and the local autoclub had many antique auto's on display.

Sydney Summer Fun

Overview

Being in Sydney for Australia Day (like july 4th in the U.S.A). Best things to do include: Seeing the Opera House & a performance, Water tour of the Harbour, The Bridge Climb, Taronga Zoo, The Rocks, and the Blue Mountains.

Quick Tips:

If you are into caves see the Jenolan Caves. Eat in a restuarant in the Rocks and around the Circular Quay. Spend soem time at Darling HArbour. Take The Two Explorer buses (Red-Sydney & Blue - Bondi).

Best Way To Get Around:

I walked, took public buses, boats, monorail & tour buses.

Sydney Marriott Hotel

Hotel

Typically Marriot Great Views (see pics). My window looked out over Hyde Park. Twenty minute walk from Darling Harbour, 30 minute walk to Sydney Harbor, 10 minute walk to Monorail or train, & 20 Minutes walk to Kings Crosss. It is located on many bus lines. Typically Marriot with good service & restaurants. Close by are several restaurants, grocery store, Cafes, Hungry Jack (Burger King). Exercise room & pool. 2 minutes to museum. My room had a huge square tub, refrigerator, & coffee making supplies.

by Jerryw on February 20, 2002

Marriott Sydney
36 COLLEGE STREET Sydney, Australia 2010
61-2-9361-8400

Zenbu

Restaurant

Wonderful place open to Darling Harbor. I had lunch several times for less than $20 AUD. Bar, beer, wine. Unique feature is a complimentary neck message. The restaurant has eastern & western seating. Sit in a chair at a table on on the floor with a cushion. I enjoyed the following: soup, spring rolls, tempura shrimp, & a tofu dish. Everything was delicious.

by Jerryw on February 12, 2002

Zenbu
Darling Harbour Sydney, Australia
+61 (02) 9211-9888

Lowenbrau Keller

Restaurant

This German restaurant is located in the Rocks. It has inside & outside dining. Full bar with wine & beer. Cider is available. The service & food was excellent. I had a veal dish & chocolate pudding dessert. My meal with wine was about $30 U.S.

by Jerryw on February 12, 2002

Lowenbrau Keller
Corner of Playfair & Argyle Streets Sydney, Australia
+61 (02) 9247 7785

South Steyne Floating Restaurant

Restaurant

This restaurant is on a ship in Darling Harbour. Its big feature is that it is on the ship. The food is good, a bit overpriced for what you get. You are paying for the view of the harbour. I ate dinner there twice. Once fish & chips and once steak. Full bar, beer, & wine. Table service was fine. It took forever to get the bill paid with a credit card both times. $25 AUD for steak with wine.

by Jerryw on February 12, 2002

South Steyne Floating Restaurant
Harborside Jetty, Cockle Bay Sydney, Australia
+61 02 9211 5999

Aristotle's Coffee Lounge

Restaurant

A nice small cafe near Hyde Park, near the Marriot. Ten minutes from the Monorail, on several of the bus lines. Open 7 days a week for breakfast/lunch/dinner. I had breakfast here several times, and an evening snack/desert. Service was excellent. Many nice desserts. Great breakfast sandwiches. Breakfast with coffee $7 Aud.

by Jerryw on February 13, 2002

Aristotle's Coffee Lounge
31 Oxford Street Sydney, Australia
+61 (02) 9261 1441

Cruise on the Bounty

Activity

This ship was built for the Movie Mutiny on the Bounty with Mel Gibson. The ship does a 1 and half hour cruise with a Lunch or Dinner Buffet. I did the Dinner Buffet. The ship left promply at 6:30 PM. After the ship started to move from the dock, one cruise member literally swings on to the ship with a rope. The ship cruises about on engine power. Great view of the city (Harbour, Bridge, Opera House, Lunar Park Face, Pinch Gut Island & more). The meal was wondeful. Full bar onboard.

by Jerryw on February 11, 2002

Bounty Cruises
29 George Street Sydney, Australia 2000
+61 (0)2 9247 1789

Jenolan Caves

Activity

Jenolan Caves is a 2.5 Hr drive from Sydney (175 KM). I took an Australian Pacific Tours Bus Tour, which stopped in the Blue Mountains Town of Katoomba on the way to the caves. At Katoomba, there is a Scenic Skyway & Railroad ride. The bus also stops at the famous Three Sisters Rock Formation. There are several different caves, our tour was the Lucas cave. the tour lasted about 90 minutes. One of the first chambers is called the Cathedral. This chamber had a sound system in it and is accoustically pefect. The guide played a CD and it sounded great. In the past, Sunday church services were held here. Couples rent this chamber for weddings. Musical groups put performances on in this area also. There are many amazing formations of stalactities & stalagmites. They alos have column formations where the mites & tites come together.

There are adventure cave tours for the adventurous cavers who want to really climb in a cave.

by Jerryw on February 11, 2002

Jenolan Caves
NSW Sydney, Australia

About the Writer

Jerryw: Foxboro, Massachusetts

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