Copy of Green Travel in Sydney

Our Local Expert Says:

The view west at sunset of the Opera House and Harbor Bridge from Mrs Macquarie’s Chair – a peninsula named after a governor’s wife – cannot be equaled.

Description:

This vast expanse of parkland on the eastern fringe of the CBD, and stretching down to the harbor, actually started life as a failed vegetable patch. The colony's first settlers tried growing grain and other produce, but this proved unsuccessful due to the poor soil.
Today, the 30 hectares that make up the Royal Botanic Gardens, wrap around Farm Cove like a giant verdant picnic rug. Ponds, paths, a swimming pool, native plants, specific feature gardens (like the Palm Grove and Rainforest Walk), the Cadi Jam Ora Indigenous display, along with numerous heritage listed structures and buildings make a day out in the gardens an invigorating (or restful) experience. Other notable highlights include the Pyramid Glasshouse, Herb Garden, Fernery, and Rose Garden.
The view west at sunset of the Opera House and Harbor Bridge from Mrs Macquarie's Chair - a peninsula named after a governor's wife - cannot be equaled. Free admission and guided walking tours daily.

Description:

Perhaps the most famous walk in the city, this easy stroll takes you first around the Sydney Opera House, on to Mrs Macquarie's Chair - one of the best look out spots in Sydney - and then through the Royal Botanic Gardens. Along the three-kilometer sealed walkway, you will learn some of the history of the city and its first settlers. Combined with this are modern developments such as the new apartment block known as 'toaster', on the eastern shoreline of Circular Quay. The walk finishes back at the Opera House.

Description:

Few cities have such an iconic building as Sydney's Opera House Sure, New York has the Empire State, Rome the Pantheon, Athens has the Acropolis, but for out and out modernity, mixed with breathtaking geography, those off-white billowing sails perched on Bennelong Point have to be one of the great studies of architecture in the 20th century.
Designed by the Danish architect, Jorn Utzon, after the NSW state government conducted a worldwide competition in the late 50s, the $10m original budget soon blew out to more than $100m when it finally opened in 1973. Utzon fell out with the political overseers of the day and quit the project, long before completion.
Though referred to as an opera house, it stages a host of different performance types, including, classical and pop concerts, drama, ballet, comedy, films, talks, and has an exhibition space.
Today it's the cities No 1 tourist draw card and probably the most photographed site in the country. Guided tours (in multiple languages) take you through the labyrinthine innards, including backstage glimpses of some of the theaters.
There are a host of fine eateries and outdoor bars along the forecourt. Twilight in summer, with the sun setting,... read more

Description:

Visitors are made very welcome at this outstanding Sydney landmark. Front of House Tours depart approximately every 30 minutes from the Guided Tours Office located on the Lower Concourse and last up to one hour. Backstage Tours are also run occasionally (bookings essential). It should be noted that the Sydney Opera House is a working building and all tours can be curtailed or cancelled at short notice.

Our Local Expert Says:

You can't help but see it, and that's no bad thing, because it's beautiful.

Description:

Building the Harbour Bridge was a big deal back in the 20s and 30s, when it was being planned - half of Sydney's oldest and most historic area, the Rocks, had to be bulldozed, and that was just a start. Sydney needed its bridge: up til then it had gotten by with the dozens of ferries to-ing and fro-ing from the populous northside over to Sydney proper. And what a bridge it got, the spectacular 'Coat Hanger' (as the locals know it), as seen on a billion postcards.

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This bit of adventure is a must for all visitors to Sydney. The Pylon lookout at the top Sydney Harbor Bridge is a harrowing 200 steps to the top. But those who brave vertigo and the often windy days are treated to the most amazing views of the city, the harbor, and the Sydney Opera House. Plus, you will touch the very monumental structure itself and have a new understanding of roosting pigeons. Inside the pylon, there is also a museum with displays relating to the construction of the bridge, including some great photographs.

Our Local Expert Says:

If Oprah and a few hundred from her audience can do it, so can you. Big challenge, bigger rush, and there ain't no better way to see this gorgeous city.

Description:

Vertigo sufferers might want to give this a miss, but for the rest, this must rate as one of the quintessential Sydney experiences. Lonely Planet has included it in its Top 10 biggest adrenaline rush experiences.
First you get fitted with a BridgeSuit and audio headset. A safety briefing and instructions follow. A latch or slider, attached to a harness belt, is your permanent connection with the steel structure. This stops you being blown off in windy weather or being pushed off by a feuding partner.
There are several types of climbs on offer, all culminating at the summit, a giddy 134 metres above the water:
Express - more instructors mean you complete the climb in just over 2 hours
Discovery - wind your way along several criss-crossing catwalks marveling at all those rivets (3.5 hours)
Original Bridge - ascends the outer arch along catwalks and ladders (3.5 hours)
You get views to die for (at any time of day), a rare perspective that few people experience, and the huge satisfaction of having achieved a physical and breathtaking challenge. For many visitors to Sydney, it's the high point of their stay. read more

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Located on Sydney's historic Macquarie Street, Parliament House comprises a complex of buildings, which date from 1816 through to the mid-1980's. The guided tour is only available on Parliamentary non-sitting days and includes The Legislative Council Chamber (Upper House) and The Legislative Assembly (Lower House). Another feature (again subject to availability) is the Jubilee Room, which displays objects from the Parliamentary Collection as well as an overview of the restoration and redevelopment of the complex. Bookings are essential. Admission is free.

Description:

Picturesque Avalon beach is nestled between two imposing headlands. Due to all this stretch of sand has to offer in terms of natural beauty, diversity and pleasure, Avalon Beach is a favorite spot among locals and tourists. Among its many activities are the Rock Baths; a large saltwater swimming pool located at the south end of the beach provides a protected alternative for swimmers and small children who enjoy the calm waters to the crashing waves. The main beach is always patrolled by lifeguards and is widely known as a great spot to enjoy the surf. A well-formed right break makes Avalon a favorite among surfers.

Description:

This incredibly beautiful beach is surrounded by bush and rain forest and has a secluded ambiance. Parking spaces fill very quickly at weekends, so get there early! Two beach inspectors patrol the beach from the September school holidays until the Anzac Day weekend at the end of April (8am-5pm Non-Daylight Saving, 8am-6pm Daylight Saving). Volunteer lifesavers are also on duty at weekends and public holidays (Summer only). The fifty-meter ocean pool is a popular venue for lap swimming. The waves can get a bit dangerous at times, so it would be good to call and find out the timings before making a trip here.

Our Local Expert Says:

An evening picnic out here is highly recommended.

Description:

Come here at dusk with a bottle of wine, and watch the sun set over [erhaps the finest view of Sydney city, from under the shadows of teh bridge, across the harbor, taking in the towers, the sails, and the Opera House.

There is a lovely little village behind where you can grab a bite to eat before you head down to the grass. Best access: the McMahons Point Ferry stop - grab a ferry from Circular Quay. And take the chance to develop a view on one of Sydney's most notorious developments: the oddly monolithic residential tower that sits right on the point.

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Enjoy an elegant evening out of modern Australian cuisine and stunning views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge at Aria Restaurant. Savour a wide range of dishes from Pan Fried Potato Gnocchi to South Australian Jewfish and Peking Duck Consomme. There is also a seven course tasting menu available on request. Choose from an extensive award-winning wine list of local and imported wines.

Description:

Hot air ballooning. Nothing compares to it. The eerie silence, the pre-dawn murkiness, the increasing altitude, the awakening day, the privileged perspective, and the sense of earthly release. An hour's drive west of Sydney, before the undulating hills grow steep and turn 'blue', the weekend sky can be littered with giant, elongated spheres of colour seemingly suspended in the crisp country air.
You need to get to Camden airport, or be picked up at your city hotel. Either way it's an early start. Before dawn. Tea and coffee. Depending on your lung capacity, you can help with the inflating or stand back and be carried away to another world.
You're aloft for about an hour or so, reaching 1,500 feet. On clear mornings, you might be the first person to see the sun hit the continent. Then as day breaks, the landscape emerges; Blue Mountains to the west, rolling rural pasture beneath, and looking east, fringes of Sydney and even outlines of the city's skyline.
On coming back down to earth, breakfast is served. It's amazing what adrenaline does to your appetite. Offers of optional champagne are often taken up, even by non-drinkers. Hot air ballooning. Nothing compares to it. read more

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Almost taking over the Southern coastline, this magnificent 37,000-acre park is Sydney's biggest. Ocean beaches are perfect for surfing, water holes filled by cascading waterfalls provide a refreshing dip; there is wildlife galore, as well as fabulous flora and rainforest walks. You can camp, have a picnic and even hire canoes and rowboats at the parks center at Audley. Get into the "real" Australia by exploring this outstanding wilderness, which is all the more amazing in that it is less than an hour away from the city.

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Less than one hour from Sydney, Gledswood is the original home of a famous, Australian pioneering family in the Camden district. This tour offers a one-stop, value-packed experience including sheep shearing, wool classing, spinning, whip cracking, boomerang throwing, wine tasting and encounters with both domestic and native animals. The highlight is a big barbeque lunch at the property's Country Eating House (vegetarian meals available on request). Complimentary hotel pickup from Sydney CBD.

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What better way to explore the Harbor City than with a guide, a kayak and a pair of strong arms? Paddle from Lavender Bay, under the Bridge and along to Bradley's Head near the zoo. Explore secluded bays and beaches and stop for short walks in the bush. The guide, Patrick, relates the history and geography of the area in an interesting way, which will also appeal to children. No kayaking experience is necessary, but basic fitness required.

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Dating from 1871, and located at its present site overlooking Woolloomooloo Bay since 1885, this is one of Australia's premier art institutions. The buzz when one enters the building is truly palpable-visitors come, enjoy and do not want to leave. The permanent collection includes Australian, European, Asian and contemporary art. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander works on display in the Yiribana Gallery are totally unsurpassed. There is also an exciting and diverse temporary exhibition program. Admission: Free; charges apply for some temporary exhibitions.

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Dating from 1857, this museum, located in an imposing neo-classical stone building, encompasses the natural histories of Australia, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific region. Its diverse collections range from invertebrate and vertebrate zoology to mineralogy, paleontology and anthropology. While the dinosaurs perhaps attract most interest, visitors are lured back by the varied, temporary exhibition program. The shop is well stocked and there is a restaurant and cafe. This is a good place to take the family on a wet Sunday afternoon.

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A masterpiece of Gothic architecture, the foundation stones for St Mary's Chapel were laid by Governor Lachlan Macquarie in 1821. The cathedral finally opened in 1900, although work continued until 1928 and really only recently finished. Wardell's original design had two spires that were never built. After ten years' debate and political fund-raising, the twin spires were finally completed in 2000.

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Hordern House is a rare survival, being one of the fortunate properties in this part of Sydney to escape the developers during the 1960s. Although semi-derelict, the building was acquired by the present owners in 1985 and underwent an extensive restoration program. It now provides an appropriate, spacious venue to display works associated with the area of colonial travel and exploration including manuscripts, books, prints and paintings. General access to the ground floor Book Room and Picture Room; limited access by guided tour to the upstairs Sitting Room. No photography allowed on the property.

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This library is housed in an elegant sandstone building overlooking the Botanic Gardens. Its research collections are unsurpassed throughout the Southern hemisphere. Displays of manuscript material can be seen in several locations, while the first floor of the Mitchell Wing has a temporary exhibition program devoted to aspects of Australian art and history. The adjoining Picture Gallery offers the only opportunity in Sydney to view a collection of early colonial art and is well worth a visit. The shop also carries a wide range of books on Australiana.

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Australia's only traditional Korean bathhouse, is located at the Crest Hotel and offers some tantalizing body treatments. It has separate facilities for men and women, featuring ginseng spas, baths, saunas, sleeping room, lockers, and a mixed cafe and gym. Both casual visitors and in-house guests are welcome. Treatments include skin scrubs, massages, and facials - the Shiatsu massage is especially popular.

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Chef Justin North's culinary talent has ensured the popularity of this Sydney restaurant. Moving to the location at Clarence Street, Becasse has become more posh and more expensive, but is still good value for money. The elegant ambience, sizeable portions and complimentary dishes are a recipe for success. Try the delicious French items like the Roasted Barramundi (with pipis and mussels) with a glass of wine from the sublime wine list, and make sure to leave room for the innovative desserts. For great contemporary French food and a relaxed, trendy atmosphere it is tough to beat Becasse.

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If you need a quick country fix, this is it; 220 hectares of unspoiled parkland just minutes from the city centre. Paddington pooches, young Mums, picnickers, in-line skaters and the obsessively fit, all make the most of this perfect park. It is lush, green, and due to its size, relatively uncrowded. Make the most of the free barbecues and picnic areas, and if you forget to take your own comestibles, there are several kiosks serving drinks and refreshments throughout the park. Admission is free.

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Wildframe are currently the only Eco-tours to venture into the Grand Canyon, the only canyon in the Blue Mountains' labyrinth of gorges and ravines that is accessible by foot. As you cross winding streams, walk under waterfalls and through caves and rain-forests, you will see massive blue gums, tree ferns, staghorn and tiny orchids, as well as ancient aboriginal sites. You will also hear the calls of dozens of native mountain birds. Abseiling bush tour packages and overnight tours are also available.

Our Local Expert Says:

This is Australia's most famous beach. Massive amounts of sand, and in Summer, thousands of people. Watch yourself in the waves if you're not used to ocean swimming, because they can be dangerous.

Description:

A visit to Bondi should be on every visitor to Sydney's itinerary. It's Austraila's most famous beach, and for a reason. Bondi is a massive quarter moon of sand, wedged between two rocky headlands, endlessly pounded by huge ocean waves, its sand draped with sun-lotion slick bodies in various states of undress, kids running around on the sand, the old guys in their speedos (trans: Australian for male swimming briefs).

When you're tired on the beach, then head in for the hippy cafes, cool kids, boho locals and tourists tourists tourists of the colourful and so, so Sydney streets immediately behind the beach.

Our Local Expert Says:

Celebrity chef's famous restaurant books up, so secure a table ahead of time if possible.

Description:

Celebrity chef Kylie Wong runs this small joint that serves excellent Chinese and Asian fare. It is a small space in a busy part of town, and is very well known in Sydney so it can get busy, but you can walk in during the day. Many of the dishes are created from Kylie's own family recipes, so you can get a taste of home. The Crispy-Skinned Duck with Blood Orange Sauce and the Vegetable Dumplings are highly recommended.