Sydney Area
Australia is an incredibly diverse country with its sun-baked deserts, lush tropical rainforests and beautiful, yet chilly, beaches in the south. Many who visit Australia are quickly surprised at how large it is. While there are many amazing and beautiful sites to see, it is likely that, unless you have a lot of time on your hands, you will have to choose a region of Australia to visit and save the rest for another time. For that reason, we have decided to highlight the region around Sydney, which has a variety of interesting and fun things for travelers, along with excellent transportation options for those wanting to venture to the west, inland, or further up the eastern coast.
Sydney is Australia's oldest city, and is essentially the country's capital in everything but name. Sydney Harbor's sandstone headlands, dramatic cliffs and stunning beaches make it a unique and beautiful place to visit. Located in New South Wales, Sydney and the surrounding area offer something for everyone!
Highlights of Sydney
- Opera House
- Climb the Sydney Harbor Bridge
- The Royal Botanical Gardens
- Whale Watching Cruise
- Sydney Aquarium
Historical Sites
Opera House
Just as we associate the Eiffel Tower with Paris, or the Statue of Liberty with New York, the Sydney Opera house is Australia's most known and beloved landmark, located on the edge of Sydney Harbor. Its modern architecture blends beautifully with the surroundings and if you have the chance to watch a performance inside the Opera House, it's a worthwhile experience.
Sydney Harbor Bridge
Before the Opera House was built, one of the major landmarks of Sydney was the Sydney Harbor Bridge. Opened in 1932, the bridge, affectionately known as the "Coat Hanger" is the world's largest steel bridge (though not the longest). For amazing views of Sydney, those who are in fairly good shape can pay to climb to the top.
Activities
The Bridgeclimb Experience
If you are in relatively good shape, you might want to try climbing to the top of the Sydney Harbor Bridge. Tours are A$160 Mon.-Thurs., A$185 Fri.-Sun., and A$225 if you are interested in going at twilight to see the city lights of Sydney glittering from above. The hike consists of approximately 2 hours on the bridge itself. Climbers weave through catwalks, up ladders, and then to the most spectacular point of all, the upper arch climb. This is a great way to get a bird's eye view of the city as well as an invigorating physical challenge. More information about these tours may be found here.
Sydney Aquarium
The Sydney Aquarium houses a wide range of animals including seals, sharks, penguins, crocodiles, and even a sampling of the fish you can see in Australia's Great Barrier Reef. Please visit their website for more detailed information: . ISE Cardholders will receive 25% off of the admission price.
Cat Balou Cruises
An excellent excursion for those in the Sydney area is to go whale watching. This tour company has been operating for almost 20 years and has an excellent reputation. Live commentary and refreshments are included with each cruise and a variety of dolphins, seals, penguins, and turtles are often spotted as well. Cruises depart daily at 7:30am from late September until late November. More information may be found by clicking here. If you are an ISE Cardholder, you can receive a discount of 10% on their half-day cruises.
Balloon Aloft Australia
For those who want a truly unique experience, this company offers excellent hot air balloon tours from a variety of locations near Sydney. The balloon ride that departs from Sydney will give you a beautiful view of the Blue Mountains on one side and the Sydney skyline and harbor in the distance. Flights depart from Camden Airport and usually last from 45-60 minutes depending on the wind. Additional information may be found here. If you have an ISE Card, you will receive a 10% discount on your flight. Please be aware that at least 4 people are needed in order to fly.
Mountain Top Trike Tours
A fun and unusual way to see the Blue Mountains near Sydney is to go on a "trike" tour. These tours are on motorized 3 wheeled vehicles that are essentially motorcycles with three wheels. Tours can range from seeing historical sites, local caves, or going off the beaten track to visit local pubs and inns. Additional information may be found on their website. A day trip is $180 Australian dollars. ISE Cardholders will receive a 10% discount on any of their tours.
Australia Zoo
While this Zoo is not located in the Sydney area, we thought we would mention it as it is the "home" of the famous Crocodile Hunter often seen on TV. Along the eastern coast of Australia, you can take a train up to the Queensland area if you are interested. All of the animals in the park were captured by the Crocodile Hunter and his Dad. There are now 750 animals in the park which is over 50 acres. If you do venture up into this part of Australia, don't forget your ISE Card as you will receive A$5 off of the admission price. Additional information may be found online.
Places to Stay
The Hughenden Boutique Hotel
This charming four star Victorian-style hotel is centrally located in Paddington, Sydney. They have an excellent website with some great information about what to do in Sydney. Those with an ISE Card will receive 10% off of their standard room rate. This is a nice option for those wanting to spend a night away from the hostel scene. The hotel's phone number is: 61 2 3634863.
Nambucca Backpackers Hostel
Located in Nabucca Heads, this hostel is near the beach and offers 10% off for ISE Cardholders. Photos of the hostel may be found on the ISE Cards website. The Hostel's phone number is: 02 6568 6360.
Hostels
There are many additional hostels available in Australia. To search for hostels online with full descriptions, photos and availability features, please click here. The $2 reservation fee will be waived when booking through this site.
Places to Eat
There are a lot of great places to eat in Sydney and the following are just a few that we recommend. For a more detailed list, please visit this site.
Mamma's Kitchen
For a fast, casual and affordable meal in a pleasant atmosphere, this is a nice stop. A variety of pastas, pizzas and international food are served. Main courses start from A$4.50. ISE Cardholders will receive free garlic bread with any main meal purchase.
Xerts
The pasta and cheese burgers are recommended here. The food is reasonably priced and has a wide range to choose from. It's located on the King Street Wharf, Darling Harbour. Phone: 61 2 9262 2468
Pancakes on the Rocks
This place has been said to have a "buzzy" café feel with great atmosphere, service, and food. While Pancakes are their claim to fame, they also have good pizza. Located at 10 Hickson Road in Sydney. Phone: 61 2 9247 6371
Bodhi Vegetarian Restaurant
If you are in the mood for Asian food, this is a nice option. Their rice noodles with peanut sauce and assorted dumplings have been recommended. Located at 187 Hay Street. Phone: 61 2 9212 2828
Getting Around
Australia is an incredibly large country, and depending on where you would like to travel, there are a variety of transportation options to choose from. If you are planning to venture into the desert, then it would probably be best if you chose to take a train or a plane as the buses tend to take longer and if there is not much to look at, can be a bit tedious. However, in the south and along the eastern coastline, there is some beautiful scenery that can only be appreciated by train, bus or car. It is really up to the individual traveler, but we have listed some different options to give you an idea of what's available.
Bus
Greyhound offers a nice luxury bus that covers 17 different routes throughout the country. Each coach is air-conditioned and comes with video entertainment as well as on-board washroom amenities. Additional information about the Greyhound routes and passes may be found at their website. If you hold an ISE Card, you are eligible for a 10% discount on their bus passes.
Another great bus option is the "Oz Experience". There are a variety of routes to choose from. The company prides itself on making the experience meaningful and fun and the bus passes can sometimes be combined with air-travel which is convenient. More information about the prices and types of passes available can be found at www.ozex.com.au.
Car
If you are interested in renting your own car, Thrifty has some nice packages that are tailored to the needs of each customer. They should offer a discount to ISE Cardholders as well.
Train
The Great Southern Railway has some excellent train services that cover Australia from East to West (Sydney to Perth) as well as along the eastern coast with routes into central Australia (Alice Springs) as well. For information and bookings, or to request a free brochure, email trainways@gsr.com.au. Those with an ISE Card will receive a 50% discount on all passes.
Air
See next section.
Moving On
Air
The main international airports are Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, followed by Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Darwin and Cairns. There are plenty of connections to Asia, Europe and the USA, but Australia's remoteness makes flights relatively expensive and long. Many flights are heavily booked, so make plans well in advance. Departure tax on international flights is US$19. This tax is usually included with the price of your airline ticket.
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