Sydney Harbour

Description:

Author: JHN

Day 1 - Sydney

These are a fine couple of days exploring a little of what makes Sydney so fabulous. Start the obvious way - by checking into your hotel. If you like to stay places a little more on the luxurious side you might try the InterContinental, which is housed in a lovely old building in the city; alternatively the Sydney Hilton is always a safe choice, right in the middle of things, and with large, spacious rooms, many of which have great views. Alternatively, if you're into a more boutique experience you might try L'Otel or the Kirketon, both of which are on busy cafe strip Darlinghurst Road, which is a good place to be, breakfa*t-wise. Having grabbed a bite, head towards the Botanical Gardens, which is nestled by the glittering harbour - the vivid blues of the water against the subtropical greens of the foliage, thousands of fruit bats hanging in the trees. This is a really spectacular park, and a great introduction to Sydney. Heading away from Sydney's CBD around the point known a* Mrs Macquarie's Chair (named after the wife of an early governer of New South Wales) you'll see the Navy yards of Wooloomooloo, and if you go far enough you'll come to the NSW art gallery, which is very good and worth checking out for its collection of Australian art. There are also touring blockbuster exhibitions of various kinds, and a handy cafeteria for a sit-down and refuel. On the return, cut through the heart of the park and you'll find yourself gazing at the towering sails of the Sydney Opera House and the iconic 'coathanger' - the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Another great spot to put your feet up is the cafe in the heart of the Botanical Gardens, which does a range of different kinds of food and decent enough coffees. Wandering back you can poke around the Opera House - it's a great big building, a* you'll discover. You could pop in and buy a ticket for a show, if you wish - the box office is sign-posted. Finish your trip around the waterfront with a bit more culture - the MCA is a fine gallery that shows good international and Australian art in revolving exhibition, and is housed on the other side of Circular Quay to the Opera House, in a beautiful deco building. In the evening there are a few choices of things to do. Firstly, you could spend the evening in one of Sydney's many marvellous resturants. Perhaps the most famous is Tetsuya*, one of world's leading Japanese resturants - this is in the city. Longrain is a well known Thai resturant that's considered one of the best of its kind, and is handy to the city in Surry Hills. If you're looking for something a little quicker and laid-back, you might try one of the resturants on Stanley Street - Darlinghurst's Little Italy. There are several fine theatres in Sydney. Of course, you may want to check out a show at the Opera House - there are a few different theatres within the complex, and there's usually something good on; alternatively, there is the excellent Sydney Theatre Company at Walsh Bay, a short taxi ride away; Surry Hills' edgier Belvoir Street Theatre, and emerging playwrites at The Old Fitz in Wolloomoolloo. If your ta*tes are more musical, you could check out the young rock bands at the Hopetoun Hotel in Sydney; and for cinema, right on Circular Quay is the Dendy which sows the artier end of new relea*e films. More mainstream relea*es are to be found at the George Street cinema* nearby. Finally, if you fancy a quiet drink in the evening with great views out over the harbour, the Opera House and the bridge, then the Opera Bar, right by the water, is a lovely watering hole with jazz bands and outdoor seating.


1

Mrs Macquarie's Chair

Location:

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Mrs Macquarie's Road
Mrs Macquarie's Point
2000 Sydney, Australia

Phone:

+61 (0)2 9255 1788


2

The Old Fitzroy Hotel

Location:

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129 Dowling Street
Woolloomooloo
2011 Sydney, Australia

Phone:

61 2 9356 3848


2

Bodhi Cafe

Location:

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Eddy Avenue
Shop 8, Central Station
2000 Sydney, Australia

Phone:

61 2 9281 6162


2

Summit Restaurant (The)

Location:

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264 George Street
Level 47, Australia Square
2000 Sydney, Australia

Phone:

61 2 9247 9777


2

Govinda's & Movie Room

Location:

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112 Darlinghurst Road
Darlinghurst
2010 Sydney, Australia

Phone:

61 2 9380 5155


2

Betty's Soup Kitchen

Location:

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84 Oxford Street
Darlinghurst
2010 Sydney, Australia

Phone:

61 2 9360 9698


2

Doyles on the Beach

Location:

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11 Marine Parade
(Watsons Bay)
2030 Sydney, Australia

Phone:

61 2 9337 2007


2

Sushi Suma

Location:

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421 Cleveland Street
Redfern
2016 Sydney, Australia

Phone:

61 2 9698 8873


2

Badde Manors

Location:

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37 Glebe Point Road
Glebe
2037 Sydney, Australia

Phone:

61 2 9660 3797


2

Harry's Café de Wheels

Location:

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Cowper Wharf Roadway
(Woolloomooloo)
2011 Sydney, Australia

Phone:

61 2 9211 2506


2

MCA Cafe

Location:

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140 George Street
The Rocks
2000 Sydney, Australia

Phone:

61 2 9241 4253


2

Longrain

Location:

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85 Commonwealth Street
Surry Hills
2010 Sydney, Australia

Phone:

61 2 9280 2888


3

Sydney Theater Company (The)

Location:

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Pier 4/5
Hickson Road
Sydney, Australia

Phone:

61 2 9250 1777


4

Opera Bar

Location:

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Lower Concourse Level
Sydney Opera House
2000 Sydney, Australia

Phone:

61 2 9247 1666


5

Sydney Opera House Opera Theater

Location:

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Bennelong Point
Circular Quay
2000 Sydney, Australia

Phone:

61 2 9250 7777


6

Hopetoun Hotel

Location:

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416 Bourke Street
Surry Hills
2010 Sydney, Australia

Phone:

61 2 9361 5257


7

Dendy Opera Quays

Location:

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Shop 9, 2 East Circular Quay
Shop 9
2000 Sydney, Australia

Phone:

61 2 9247 3800


8

Basement (The)

Location:

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7 Macquarie Place
Circular Quay
2000 Sydney, Australia

Phone:

61 2 9251 2797


10

Belvoir Street Theater

Location:

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25 Belvoir Street
Surry Hills
2010 Sydney, Australia

Phone:

61 2 9698 3344


11

Museum of Contemporary Art

Location:

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140 George St
The Rocks
2000 Sydney, Australia

Phone:

+61 2 9245 2400


12

Sydney Hilton (The)

Location:

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488 George Street
2000 Sydney, AU

Phone:

61 2 9266 2000


13

Art Gallery of New South Wales

Location:

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Art Gallery Road
The Domain
2000 Sydney, Australia

Phone:

+61 2 9225 1744 / +1 800 67 9278 (Toll free)


14

Beppi's Restaurant

Location:

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Yurong Street
(Corner Stanley Street)
2010 Sydney, Australia

Phone:

61 2 9360 4558


16

Tetsuya's Restaurant

Location:

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529 Kent Street
Sydney
2000 Sydney, Australia

Phone:

61 2 9267 2900


17

InterContinental Sydney

Location:

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117 Macquarie Street
2000 Sydney, Australia

Phone:

61 2 9253 9000


18

Kirketon Hotel

Location:

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229 Darlinghurst Road
Darlinghurst
2010 Sydney, Australia

Phone:

61 2 9332 2011


19

Sydney Opera House

Location:

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Off 2 Macquarie Street
(Circular Quay)
2000 Sydney, Australia

Phone:

61 2 9250 7111


20

Royal Botanic Gardens

Location:

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Mrs Macquaries Road
2000 Sydney, Australia

Phone:

61 2 9231 8111


21

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Location:

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Cumberland St
(or Milsons Point on the north shore)
2000 Sydney, Australia

Phone:

+61 (0)2 9255 1788


22

Sydney Harbour National Park

Location:

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110 George Street
Cadmans Cottage, The Rocks
2000 Sydney, Australia

Phone:

1300 361 967

Day 2 - Sydney

Start your day much a* you started yesterday, by popping out for a bite of breakfa*t on Victoria Street or Darlinghurst Road, in Darlinghurst. Pretty much everywhere aroun this part of town does great cafe food, and the coffee is universally superb. Ok - fuelled up and ready for the day! How active do you feel? Have you kids in tow? Grab a bus down to Circular Quay and get a ferry across to the Zoo. Taronga Zoo ha* a spectacular situation on a headland on the North side of the harbour (opposite the city). It's a great place to get acquainted with Australian fauna, like kangaroos and koala*, and its a very kid friendly place. There's also your usual range of exotic critters such a* giraffes and snakes and all the good stuff. Taronga is also considered to be one with particularly high standards of animal welfare - which is not something that can be said about some of the other 'Zoos' around town, some of which trade in animal cruelty of various kinds - just something to keep an eye out for. It's perfectly possible to spend a whole day at Taronga. But things are pressing - time to off to Manly. Manly wa* the first beach-side suburb of Sydney, anteceding even Bondi. It's a pretty place, and the ferry trip is worth it in itself; boats leave regularly from Circular Quay, and wend their way across the chop of the harbour. If it's a fine day, hopefully you'll have bought some swimmers, a towel, some sunscreen, a hat and some sungla**es. The water is glary, and never underestimate the strength of the Australian sun. You can go from enjoying the sun to smarting lobster-red very very quickly, so slap on that suncream! Another warning - swim between the flags, which mark the safest part of the beach, and the part that is patrolled by life-guards, who can help you if you get into trouble. Manly beach itself is a surf beach, which is fun if you like big waves. If the waves are a little too big, a short walk will bring you to Shelley beach, which faces onto the harbour and is thus considerable quieter and a lovely place for a paddle. The township of Manly isn't particularly interesting in itself, though there are a couple of decent eateries - Out of Africa and Alhambra Cafe both do good Moroccan food. You'd probably be best off though heading back into town and checking out one of the resturants you missed out la*t night (Longrain, Tetsuya*, Beppi's). Alternatively you could check out one of the numerous Indian resturants on Cleveland Street (particularly recommended is Maya, near the corner of Bourke Street and Cleveland Street, Surry Hills) or Lebanese (recommended - Nada's and Fatima's, both near the corner of Elizabeth Street and Cleveland Street). Enjoy your stay!


2

Out of Africa

Location:

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43-45 East Esplanade
Manly
2095 Sydney, Australia

Phone:

61 2 9977 0055


3

Alhambra Cafe and Tapas Bar

Location:

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1/54 West Esplanade
Manly
2095 Sydney, Australia

Phone:

61 2 9976 2975


6

Taronga Zoo

Location:

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Bradley's Head Road
Mosman
2088 Sydney, Australia

Phone:

+61 (0)2 9969 2777

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