Oceania (Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific) - Sydney at the end of Sept. 2011

I'm thinking of heading to SYD and the surrounding area for about a week at the end of Sept. Would this a bad time to go considering the Rugby activities? Given my time constraints of only a week, I'm planning on focusing solely on SYD and its surrounding areas so as not to try to over extend myself. Any advice?

Not at all - the rugby is on in NZ. Great time of the year in Sydney.

Rugby Leage (ARL) finals are on, but this should not be a concern.
There is a public holiday on 3 October.
But, weather should be pretty good.

Thanks for the replies. I'm a pretty savvy traveler, but are there any tips for Sydney to stretch my American dollar?

Thanks for the replies. I'm a pretty savvy traveler, but are there any tips for Sydney to stretch my American dollar?

Keep an eye on the exchange rate and if the market does something stupid, causing it to hit or dip below parity for a brief period like it did during the week of the debt ceiling fiasco, buy the AUDs you need! That trip to 0.99 didin't last long and the AUd climbed north of 1.05 rather quickly once markets settled.

It's hovering around 1.034 right now, after spending most of last two weeks north of 1.04.

As an aside, I, an Aussie, found the US to be fairly cheap (w.r.t. food, beverages and stuff) when I visited last year, and our Dollar was only buying 0.83 of yours. Friends who've visited Australia at a similar exchange rate often commented on how expensive (but fresher) they thought our food/groceries were.

Rugby Leage (ARL) finals are on, but this should not be a concern.


Actually, they are the NRL finals :D

Thanks for the replies. I'm a pretty savvy traveler, but are there any tips for Sydney to stretch my American dollar?

Eat at pubs - many pubs have a $10 special (particularly for lunch), it's invariably terrific food and lots of it. And you don't have to tip, so when it says $10 that's what you pay, not $12.

Actually, they are the NRL finals :D

Damn that Ruperty Murdoch and his Super League!

Eat at pubs - many pubs have a $10 special (particularly for lunch), it's invariably terrific food and lots of it. And you don't have to tip, so when it says $10 that's what you pay, not $12.

Do you mean "hotels" dear chap .......:D

Us Brits can't get use to hotels that don't rent out rooms .......:)

Do you mean "hotels" dear chap .......:D

Us Brits can't get use to hotels that don't rent out rooms .......:)

I think if you said I'm going down to the hotel for a meal most in Australia would assume you meant the bed not booze type. "Pub" is used in conversation "hotel" on the signage of said establishments.:D

I certainly wouldn't recommend tourists asking locals if they know of any good hotels. That goes double in the Cross. ;)

Do you mean "hotels" dear chap .......:D

No, I meant pubs, exactly as I said.


Us Brits can't get use to hotels that don't rent out rooms .......:)

Can't you? What a dreadful pity.

I think if you said I'm going down to the hotel for a meal most in Australia would assume you meant the bed not booze type. "Pub" is used in conversation "hotel" on the signage of said establishments.:D

I certainly wouldn't recommend tourists asking locals if they know of any good hotels. That goes double in the Cross. ;)

I think that he might be looking for a decent troll-feeding pub - if I think of any I'll post them here for him.

Um... wow, thanks? I realize I could spend a whole week in SYD alone, but some people in my group want to go up to Cairns for at least 2 days to do some snorkeling etc... How realistic is it really, to squeeze this couple of days in? Would we better of exploring the Blue Mountains or something closer?

Um... wow, thanks? I realize I could spend a whole week in SYD alone, but some people in my group want to go up to Cairns for at least 2 days to do some snorkeling etc... How realistic is it really, to squeeze this couple of days in? Would we better of exploring the Blue Mountains or something closer?

I love Cairns, but if you go there it's at least one full day to go to the Reef apart from anything else you might want to do, plus the time it takes to get there from Sydney.

Given your limited time in the country Katoomba in the Blue Mountains is probably a better idea. You could, say, walk down the Giant Stairway from the Three Sisters, take the walk along to the Scenic Railway and catch the railway (funicular) back up. It's about a 90 minute walk and it's some of the most beautiful scenery that you'll see around Sydney.

Katoomba is a two hour train ride from Sydney so it's easily a day trip.

Google "Katoomba" or "Giant Stairway Walk"

Definitely realistic to go north for a couple of days - if you go weekdays you should be able to get some super cheap flights. I'd recommend flying directly to Hamilton Island though instead of Cairns. You can find realtively cheap accommodation on the Island and the boat trip out to the outer reef is that much shorter. Or if you do cairns, drive to port douglas instead, much nicer than cairns itself. End September is perfect season in the reef.

Eating is pubs is a great recommendation. Good meals for good prices.

And, if you are in town over the long weekend (fri 30/9 to mon 3/10) a few of us in Sydney Town might be willing to get together for an imprompto "do"....

And, if you are in town over the long weekend (fri 30/9 to mon 3/10) a few of us in Sydney Town might be willing to get together for an imprompto "do"....^

A bit of notice would be good though, I am umpiring at Olympic Park on Sunday 2/10, but would be free later that evening or on Monday 3/10.

Dave

^

A bit of notice would be good though, I am umpiring at Olympic Park on Sunday 2/10, but would be free later that evening or on Monday 3/10.

Dave

Grand Final?

Grand Final? Nah, under 12's tennis.

Dave

Hey thanks again for all the advice! When I get things finalized, I'll come back here for more opinions. Going north is more and more exciting to me now, though plane tickets seem rather pricey.