Hi-
We flew Hawaiian airlines back from Sydney to Oahu. The price was much less than Quantas. We chose the extra comfort seats for this leg of the trip. It was bearable but just barely. Hawaiian is by far the worst airline we have flown as far as amenities, food, communication and major delays go. Couple that with the fact that we flew Polaris class on United out to Sydney, the flight back paled in comparison.
Highlights from our Sydney trip… there are so many, this trip was truly the trip of a lifetime and Sydney blew us away.
1) Manly Beach- the cutest little seaside town. We wished we had more than one day there. We also went to Bondi Beach but we preferred Manly Beach by a mile. Bondi felt so touristy while Manly was so laidback. Make sure to take the “scenic walk” along the coast it’s so relaxing with breathtaking views. You can easily access Manly Beach via ferry from Circular Quay.
2) Circular Quay- this is your hub for all things transportation including ferries, trains and Metro. You can buy your Opal card there or at any EZ Mart convenience store. They are everywhere. That is your metro card for all forms of transportation. Also in Circular Quay you will find lots of places to eat as well as the Sydney Opera House.
3) Opera House- please, please, please take in a performance and if you have time do the daytime tour as well. The tour was fascinating. The concert hall where the symphony performs is absolutely beautiful. We were lucky enough to be there for the symphony’s 50th anniversary celebration. It was incredible.
4) Pitt Street- our hotel was in the CBD (downtown central business district) on the corner of Pitt and O’Connell. Pitt street is a major artery that will take you to the shopping district in one direction and the harbour in the other. It’s impossible to get lost if you stay close to Pitt.
5) Bondi Beach area- You can do Bondi Beach, North Bondi, Rose Bay and Double Bay in one day. The two bay villages are very cute with great shops and cafes along their main streets.
6) Taronga Zoo- a pretty immersive zoo pretty much cage free. It’s a half day experience and a nice ferry ride to get there. At the ferry landing you can either walk the steep hill to the entrance or take a bus there. We walked and by the end of our half-day we wished we hadn’t. The zoo is like a maze and we took a lot of extra steps trying to find our way out.
7) The Rocks- historic district just steps from where your cruise ship will dock. Lots of shops and cafes in there. There is also an outdoor market on the weekends with shopping and international food stalls. We ate at the Orient Hotel our first night in their outdoor beer garden. Great people watching. They also had a great band playing just inside the pub. We also ate at Pony which was a more upscale modern Australian restaurant in the rocks. Squire’s Landing is very popular at the cruise terminal and has fabulous views of the opera house. Behind there is Campbell’s Cove with 3 or 4 restaurants it’s a really pretty walk at night to that area with the city and the Opera house all lit up. We took so many pictures in that area.
8) Darling Harbour- more shopping, dining, sea museum and aquarium. We spent a few hours there.
9) Harbour Cruise- there are several hop-on/hop-off cruises that operate out of Circular Quay. They run about 90 minutes and it’s good to do on your first day to kind of acclimate yourself to the city and surrounding areas. The you know where you want to return to when you see an area that piques your interest.
10) Coffee- if you are a coffee drinker you are in for a treat. Australian coffee is the best coffee I’ve had thus far in all my travels. The Australian “flat white” was my morning cup of coffee daily and it’s the most velvety taste of perfection you will ever try. I’ve been dreaming about it ever since we got home. Have a TimTam with it for an afternoon snack for the total Australian experience.
11) Royal Botanic Gardens- beautiful green space. There are a few different tours and walks you can do through the gardens.
12) Safety- I spent 5 mornings on my own exploring while my husband was at work and I have to say I have never felt more safe in any big city. The people of Sydney were truly lovely and the city itself was so clean and welcoming. It’s a very walkable city so bring your walking shoes and get ready to explore!
That’s it for now. Hope you have a fabulous time in Sydney.