Sunday, June 15, 2008

Travelogue - Sydney (Australia)

(Sum's take on Sydney - How, when, where, what, how .....etc etc, trust my instincts if you travelling to Sydney)
Many people associate New South Wales with Sydney, which is fair enough; after all it is one of the most beautiful spots on earth. However, the State of New South Wales is more than just Sydney. You can discover places big and small right across the state that each hold certain pleasures to suit anyone's holiday tastes.

Size of state: 802,000 sq km
Population of state: 6.4 million (of which 4 million are in Sydney)
Climate:
NSW has one of the best climates in Australia, and is pleasant thoughout the year.
In Sydney, short sleeves are comfortable during summers.
In spring & autumn, a cardigan or light weight sweater is appropriate.
In winter a thick coat or jumper is required particularly for the evening.
Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb
The Discovery Climb will take climbers on a unique journey of discovery through the heart of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and to the very top, 134 metres above sea level. Climbers will also be able to touch the raw steel and infinite rivets as they wind around the inner components of the Bridge. The experience takes 3.5 hours and all climbers will receive a commemorative certificate and a photograph of their Climb group at the summit.
Shark Drive Extreme
Shark Dive Xtreme offers you a close encounter to dive with huge sharks, giant stingrays, sea turtles, wobbegong sharks and different marine life.
It provides three diving programmes to suit for different divers.
1.Shark Dive Xtreme Introductory Programme for first time divers (scuba diving briefing and pool skills session)
2.Shark Dive Tune Up Programme for certified divers (for divers who wants to refresh their diving skills)
3.Shark Dive Xtreme Certified Programme for certified divers (featuring Shark awareness lecture - origins of sharks, reproduction, identification etc.)
Shywalk - Sydney Tower
Skywalk will take guests on an exhilarating 75 minute adventure over the roof of Sydney Tower, 260m above the bustling city below. Dressed in protective clothing and harnessed to a range of skyways and viewing platforms, you will experience a dynamic 360° view over Sydney and beyond. Expert Skywalk Leaders, accompanied by the latest multi-lingual audio and visual technology, plus easily accessible platforms (even for wheelchairs) ensure Skywalk will be enjoyed by all walks of life. From the city’s famous beaches to the Blue Mountains, hold on to your senses as you will experience Sydney from a totally new perspective. Feel the wind, touch the clouds, or simply hang out on the horizon.
Sydney Harbour - OZ Jet Speed Boating
Jump on Australia's most powerful tourist Jet-Boat for an amazing adventure on Sydney Harbour. Experience massive sideways slides, unbelievable 270 degree spins and the infamous "Powerbrake Stop" in which the jet boat comes to a complete stop within two boat lengths. It's extreme, fast, loads of fun, and an experience that sets your adrenaline flowing.

Cloud 9 Balloon Flights
Cloud 9 Balloon Flights offers tourists the opportunity to experience the romance, adventure and excitement of the oldest form of flights - Hot Air Ballooning, where the pilot relies on prevailing winds for both speed and direction. A choice of city and countryside flights is available. You can choose just drifting along above the tree tops and then soar high into the sky to see the spectacular panoramic view over Sydney Harbour or the Hunter Valley. Cloud 9 Balloon Flights depart daily from Parramatta Park, which is only 25 minutes from the CBD.
Sydney Seaplane
Viewing the world famous Sydney Harbour from 500 feet is a totally different experience from just sailing on it. Starting from Rose Bay, you will view the beautiful bays and beaches along the Sydney coastal line, the Bondi Beach, Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge, which combine to make the most beautiful harbour in the world. Each plane carries about 4-6 people on the 10 - 20 minute flight.
The Sydney Aquarium
The Sydney Aquarium's newly refurbished Seal Sanctuary features a 2-million litre tank that allows visitors the chance to view seals in a natural habitat. Visitors can now get closer than ever before, by walking through the underwater tunnels to see the seals racing through the water at full speed or just frolicking around.
IMAX Theater
This largest movie screen in the world promises the ultimate film experience – the images and sounds are so intense you can almost feel them! 3D or 2D movies/films/documentaries available.
SYDNEY PRECINCTS
Balmain (20min / 4km north west of the Sydney CBD)
Sydney's oldest working class suburb, Balmain is now Sydneysiders and yuppies' preferred place of abode. You will find cafes packed with locals, shopping strips and the Balmain Market (opens Saturdays only)
Bondi (Less than half an hour / 6km east of CBD)
Sydney's beachfront precinct, the Bondi area has many interesting little shops, heaps of fashionable surf wear and many laidback outdoor cafes
Manly (Just 30 minutes’ drive north from Sydney)
This beautiful suburb of Sydney has long been known as a great day trip or weekend destination. More than just a famous beach, it has wide variety of experiences which can be enjoyed by all, such as unspoiled beaches, National Parks, Oceanworld Manly, Quarantine Station, galleries and museums, exquisite seaside restaurants, bars and shops.
Shipping in Sydney
Bondi Junction Shopping Centre
Westfield Bondi Junction shopping centre is conveniently located across the road from the Bondi Junction bus and train interchange.The 5 level shopping centre houses over 300 shops including department stores Myer, David Jones, some famous Australian brand such as Alannah Hill, R.M. Williams. The centre provides a variety of lifestyle products, fashions, health & beauty and fresh food etc. The shopping centre offer great entertainment and lifestyle experiences, together with cafes and restaurants dining.
Paddington Markets
Offbeat & fun, Sydney’s premier arts & craft market is the focus of Sat weekend shopping set in picturesque Paddington. Expect to find an eclectic mix of artisans, jewellers and young local fashion designers.
Paddy's Market
A colourful weekend market & bargain hunters’ paradise with over 800 stalls selling everything from fruits, fashion, electrical products, to leather etc!
Birkenhead Point - Factory Outlets Centre
Featuring the very best of Sydney's fashion with an endless selection of labels and lifestyle stores, e.g. Grace Bros, Mambo, Country Road, Nine West, Esprit, etc ... all at factory outlet prices.
Harbourside, Darling Harbour
This waterfront shopping centre has a distinctly Australian flavour. Shops include Ozi Varmints, for kids' clothes; The Cotton Store, Sydneyscope and Gavala Aboriginal Cultural Centre. Nearby Dixon Street is the heart of Chinatown, an ideal place to find Oriental crafts, jewellery and fashion.
Areas of Interest in Sydney - Nightlife and Accomodation
Kings Cross area is Sydney’s quintessential nightlife capital lined with bars, restaurants & night clubs. Sleepy by day, pulsating by night…
Star City is the best pick to stay (with its exciting 24 hrs entertainment options and casino). Harbour area, Opera area and Kings Cross are good areas to stay.
Sydney and Beyond
BLUE MOUNTAINS
*It is about 90 minutes drive or 110km west of Sydney.
*There are 26 townships in the Blue Mountains. The main ones being Glenbrook, Springwood, *Wentworth Falls,Leura, Katoomba, Blackheath and Mt Victoria.
*Blue Mountains is a city surrounded by 247,000 hectares of National Parks
*The wild grandeur of the Mountains and Valleys were formed over several million years.
*At Echo Point, Katoomba visitors can view the famous rock formation, The Three Sisters
*The region has a diverse range of accommodation from Resorts, B&B’s, Motels Guesthouses to cabins in the Bush
Hunter Valley
*Hunter Valley Wine Country is about 2 hour drive north west of Sydney.
*Cessnock is the gateway to the Hunter Valley
*It is the oldest winemaking region in Australia.
*There are more than 110 wineries in the valley.
*It is a place that is well known for world class cuisine & hospitality as well as for its world famous Shiraz and Semillion wines.
Must See & Do in Hunter Valley
Hunter Resort Home the Wine Country's First Micro Brewery
The Bluetongue Brewery at the Hunter Resort is the first micro brewery in the Hunter Valley wine country. At the bar, you can see the brewery which is separated by a glass wall. Many styles of beer are available including the unique Alcoholic Ginger Beer, the sensational premium Lager and the full flavoured ales. The Hunter Resort Country Estate is located in the very heart of the Hunter Valley Wine Country on 70 secluded acres, and is an easy 2-hour drive north of Sydney.
Hunter Valley Wine School
Available at the Hunter Resort:
Hermitage Road, Pokolbin NSW 2320
The 2 hour session is available daily at 9am.Learn all the aspects of wine - eg. wine appreciation & differentiation, how wine is made, etc .Certificate will be given out to all participants upon completion. Bookings are essential.
Port Stephens
This Blue Water Paradise is about 2½ hours drive north of Sydney - about 200 km Nelson Bay is the main town in Port Stephens.
Port Stephens has two unique natural phenomena :
It is popularly known as the Dolphin Capital of Australia, it has about 160 Bottlenose dolphins residing in the waters of the port.

Port Stephens has the largest coastal moving sand mass in the Southern Hemisphere. The giant sand dunes are a magnificent sight along Port Stephens white beaches.
Central Coast
Central Coast is located on the East Coast of Australia. It offers coastal and country holiday experience just an hour drive north of Sydney’s Harbour Bridge.
It covers the coastline from the Hawkesbury River (35 km north of Sydney) for the next 80 km. Because of it unspoiled environment and location, it is also one of the Oyster Barns where farm the famous Sydney Rock Oyster.The only place in the world where five separate waterways meet.
Must See & Do in Central Coast
Quad Bike Ride to Explore Central Coast’s Bushland
Located at Glenworth Valley, Australia's largest horse riding centre, which is only 1.5 hour’s drive north from Sydney, Quad Bike King offers visitors an exciting and different way to explore the Australian Bush. Ride on brand new 4-wheel motorbikes (all terrain vehicles) through bushland, open paddocks, rainforest and mountain trails on the fully guided tours.No experience is necessary. Professional instructors will provide introductions and safety instructions before the adventure starts, as you follow the guides along tracks through farmland and into the rainforest. The large varieties of tracks are carefully laid out to be challenging but safe.
Woolongong
Only 90 minutes drive south of Sydney.
Wollongong, one of the largest cities in Australia, is the capital city of Illawarra region and a coastal city positioned south of Sydney.The lifestyle of the city and its recreational opportunities are dominated by the unique combination of mountains and sea which creates a beautiful natural environment.The city possesses about 80 kilometers of coastline including spectacular, unspoiled and uncrowded beaches and a large tidal lake suitable for variety of water sports.Wollongong also features the Nan Tien Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in the Southern Hemisphere.
Must See & Do in Woolongong
Grand Pacific Drive
Driving on Grand Pacific Drive gives you a brand new self-drive excitement! It is 70 metres long along the coastline of New South Wales and 1 hour of south of Sydney.The driving route begins at the Royal National Park, it leads you through beautiful coastal rainforests and scenery closely to sheer cliffs and the South Pacific Ocean. After that, you will drive through the 665 metres long Sea Cliff Bridge. You can just stop at car park space at any time, walk around and indulge your eyes with unlimited sky and sea view.
Just Cruising Harley Tours
Other than driving yourself, taking the Harley Davidson Motorcycle also gives you a stylish experience adding with excitement. The tour is started from Bald Hill to Wollongong.
Leather jacket, gloves and a helmet are provided to make you a coolest look. You can choose a solo motorcycle or a sidecar with your partner
Coffs Harbour
Coffs Harbour, Nambucca Heads, Bellingen, Dorrigo and Woolgoolga are major towns on COFFS COAST. Coffs Harbour is halfway between Sydney and Brisbane on the east coast of Australia.
It is 554km and 7 hours drive north of Sydney; 400km and 5 hours south of Brisbane.
Known by Aussies as a traditional place for coastal holidays, Coffs Harbour is famous for crescent-shaped beaches, banana clad hills and an all-year-round subtropical climate that is arguably one of the best in Australia. It has become the Adrenalin and Adventure capital of the Holiday Coast.
The Snowy Mountains
The Snowy Mountains is a popular ski holiday region 6 hours southwest of Sydney. Mount Kosciuszko is the highest point in Australia and when there is no snow here, there will be no snow anywhere else in the country. The Snowy Mountains has 2 main ski resorts, namely:
1.Thredbo
2.Perisher Blue
Thredbo
Thredbo is located within the Mount Kosciusko National Park.
It is an all year round resort – ie the resort & facilities are open all year round. Thredbo is a fully self contained village with all the facilities of a small town : banks, supermarkets, boutiques, shops, post office, chemists, newsagents, souvenirs, restaurants, cafes, just to name a few – and all within walking distances from each other. Most of the accommodation is within walking distances to the ski slopes. Overnight and day parking in the resort is complimentary to all guests. Throughout the resort, there is a free shuttle bus that runs at regular intervals from early morning till late.

Perisher Blue
Perisher Blue is the largest snow resort operation in the Southern Hemisphere.
It combines the resources and facilities of Perisher Valley, Smiggin Holes, Mount Blue Cow, Guthega, The Station Resort and the Skitube alpine railway. It has the highest terrain, the greatest number of lifts and the most reliable snow in Australia. Guests can ski in and out from their hotel at this resort as some accommodation is located at the base of the ski lifts. This resort has a good range of hotels/motels/resorts spread out in the snow fields of Perisher Valley Alpine Village, Smiggin Hole Alpine Village & Guthega Alpine Village. The Perisher Centre is where the banks, post offices, cafes and shops are located.
Festivals to watch out for in Sydney
February - March
Mardi Gras Festival
Arguably the most vibrant, entertaining annual festivity cum night-time parade that is unique to Sydney, the Mardi Gras draws visitors from all over the world every year. Exudes a spirit of celebration, imagination and humour. The colourful grand Mardi Gras Street Parade & Party is the grand finale of the festival.
New Year Eve
Undoubtedly, Sydney Harbour is the perfect place for the New Year's Eve celebrations. Under the famous harbour backdrop, you could experience the breathtaking views of the New Year's Eve fireworks spectacular with the display of lights, colour and music.

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