Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - Suggestions sought for New Year's Eve in Oz

I will be in Sydney this Christmas and am checking out of the hotel (Westin) on New Year's Eve as the rates in Sydney go sky high. I wonder if anyone on this board has any suggestions where we should go to celebrate that won't break the bank (I am travelling with wife and 4 year old son)? Will be taking a few QF domestic flights so can go pretty much anywhere in Australia.

Any suggestions gratefully received.

N.B. This is a duplicate of my post in the QF forum.

I will be in Sydney this Christmas and am checking out of the hotel (Westin) on New Year's Eve as the rates in Sydney go sky high. I wonder if anyone on this board has any suggestions where we should go to celebrate that won't break the bank (I am travelling with wife and 4 year old son)? Will be taking a few QF domestic flights so can go pretty much anywhere in Australia. Well, I always suggest the Blue Mountains (http://www.bluemts.com.au/) area as being perfect - fairly close to Sydney - about 2 hours by train (http://www.cityrail.info/) to Katoomba, and spectacular scenery.

PM me if you need further info.

Dave

It would be a shame to leave Sydney on New Year's Eve and miss the fireworks over the harbour. Could you not book into somewhere away from the harbour for that night and stay to enjoy them. Lots of vantage points in the Eastern Suburbs or on the Nth Shore.
PS That's assuming you have you have recovered from your Nice trip by then!

Well, I always suggest the Blue Mountains (http://www.bluemts.com.au/) area as being perfect - fairly close to Sydney - about 2 hours by train (http://www.cityrail.info/) to Katoomba, and spectacular scenery.

PM me if you need further info.

Dave
Might not give up on Sydney for new year, will have to see what rate I can get... But the Blue Mountains are an excellent idea ^ never been there, would hiring a car and driving there be a good option for the opportunities en route?

Might not give up on Sydney for new year, will have to see what rate I can get... But the Blue Mountains are an excellent idea ^ never been there, would hiring a car and driving there be a good option for the opportunities en route? You *could* hire a car, but I myself prefer the train trip - most B&B's/guesthouses are within easy walking distance from railway stations, those that aren't provide transfers or are a cheap cab fare, and using the train and taxi once up here will mean you will not have to worry about the RBT stations.

IF you do decide to pop up here, let me know where you are thinking of staying, I will give you some pointers (upper-mountains only though, Wentworth Falls through to Mt. Victoria).

Dave

IMHO it would be a shame to leave Sydney proper for NYE, unless you often find yourself in the position to watch new year's fireworks in shorts and a t-shirt. The fireworks display is truly incredible -- last year I sat on the tip of Mrs. Macquarie's Chair (http://www.buchananerkman.com/~brett/travel/southpacific/preview/images/IMG_0720.JPG) and the view was phenomenal, to say nothing of the experience as a whole.

Since you're staying at the Westin, I'm going to assume you're an SPG person. Have you checked for any award availability? I was able to book the Four Points for 30 Dec - 2 Jan on points last year, although I made the reservation several months in advance. The Four Points is certainly not as nice as the Westin, but it's in a decent location and certainly a good alternative to getting bent over on the astromical revenue rates that plague Sydney over that time.

Anyway, I think the three of you would have a great time staying in the city, and it doesn't necessarily have to be expensive (again, hopefully a points option is available). Admission to the Botanic Garden is free, bottles of outdoor celebration-grade bubbly were only A$20 or so (cannot bring your own liquor), and you have to show up in advance to get a decent location, but there are certainly worse things than spending a day in the park. Oh, and there's an early fireworks show at 9pm or 10pm as well.

Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

Thanks guys for the really useful input. I think I will try to get into somewhere for NYE and go off to the Blue Mountains after. Dave, I would appreciate some suggestions as to where to stay there. Looking for something pretty nice (no SPG there unfortuantely, as, yes, I am an SPG tart :D)

I'll post back here what I find for NYE in case it is of use to other FTers!

I can almost smell the fireworks and hear the popping corks! ^^^

If you're going to try and stay in Sydney for NYE, you'll want to try and get booked now- it's filling up quickly- We're going to the "Lawn with the View" (or so they say) at the Opera House for the fireworks. It's not as pricey as the formal to-do on the forecourt but should be more fun. (At $175 per person, I hope so...) :rolleyes:

My suggestion for a hotel in the Blue Mountains is the Hydro Majestc with great views over the Megalong valley. They had afire a couple of years ago but i think they have rebuilt - hope the have kept the Art deco feel. Another place to visit is the Paragon cafe in Katoomba- UK expats in Oz love it here as it reminds them of old fashioned places 'back home'!!

The fireworks display is truly incredible -- last year I sat on the tip of Mrs. Macquarie's Chair (http://www.buchananerkman.com/~brett/travel/southpacific/preview/images/IMG_0720.JPG) and the view was phenomenal, to say nothing of the experience as a whole.
We're planning on watching the fireworks this NYE. What time did you get there to secure that spot?

We're planning on watching the fireworks this NYE. What time did you get there to secure that spot?I got there about 6pm. However, my friend's friends, who were kind enough to stake out the territory, had arrived much earlier that day -- around 10am, I was told.

My suggestion for a hotel in the Blue Mountains is the Hydro Majestc with great views over the Megalong valley. They had a fire a couple of years ago but i think they have rebuilt - hope the have kept the Art deco feel. Another place to visit is the Paragon cafe in Katoomba- UK expats in Oz love it here as it reminds them of old fashioned places 'back home'!! The Hydro certainly has great views, but it depends on what you are looking for - it is very "old world" and quaint.

The hotel itself was not on fire, a bush fire came very close and took out an outlying building, but we managed to contain the fire before it got to the main hotel itself (that was a long night).

Dave

Well, I always suggest the Blue Mountains (http://www.bluemts.com.au/) area as being perfect - fairly close to Sydney - about 2 hours by train (http://www.cityrail.info/) to Katoomba, and spectacular scenery.

PM me if you need further info.

Dave

I'd beware the taxi operators up there, though. Pretty dodgy bunch by all accounts.... :D

The Hydro certainly has great views, but it depends on what you are looking for - it is very "old world" and quaint.

The hotel itself was not on fire, a bush fire came very close and took out an outlying building, but we managed to contain the fire before it got to the main hotel itself (that was a long night).

Dave
You were actually there! -well done for containing it. Yours must be a difficult job. If Pye is going up to the Blue Mountains, as a resident maybe you could tell him where Bellbird Road is. I just love listening to their (the bell birds that is) tinkling.

I own a high-rise apartment in the Darlinghurst area of Sydney which my family and I try to get to during Christmas and New Year's holidays each year. The view from our patios extends to the N/W, including the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, and to the N/E, including Elizabeth Bay and Goat Island, so our view of the NYE fireworks is quite good. Sydney festivities during Christmas/New Year's are very enjoyable, with free concerts, great eats, etc. The fireworks display this past New Year's Eve was fabulous! Sometimes, however, an anomaly of nature can throw a kink into plans... A few years ago cold, high winds caused cancellation of the 10 PM fireworks display although the midnight show went off as scheduled. The New Year's Eve display includes fireworks from the bridge as well as from 4 barges, 2 on either side of the bridge. The City of Sydney provides a website detailing New Year's activities with maps, vantage points and other information. The website usually goes online about this time of year... http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/nye/

Have you checked for any award availability? I was able to book the Four Points for 30 Dec - 2 Jan on points last year, although I made the reservation several months in advance.

So, like us, you must have returned to your room only to find yourself locked out by the malfunctioning door-key system. Argh!

That said, what time did you get down there to see things? We ended up standing-room only when we got there around 11. Will be back this year, landing in SYD at 9pm, so it's going to be tight.

Thanks guys for the really useful input. I think I will try to get into somewhere for NYE and go off to the Blue Mountains after. Dave, I would appreciate some suggestions as to where to stay there. Looking for something pretty nice (no SPG there unfortuantely, as, yes, I am an SPG tart :D)

I'll post back here what I find for NYE in case it is of use to other FTers!

I can almost smell the fireworks and hear the popping corks! ^^^I stayed at Lilianfels (http://www.lilianfels.com.au/) at Katoomba a few years back, and I'd go back in an instant. Great food; several restaurants there which is more than you'd expect for a property that size. Service was fantastic. Only thing I wouldn't do again is pay much extra for a valley view room.

Oh, and I would hire a car. You can take side trips to Jenolan caves (http://www.bluemts.com.au/tourist/towns/jenolancaves.asp) and other local sights - which wouldn't be so easy without a car. There are also 4WD tours available etc.

Thanks guys for the really useful input. I think I will try to get into somewhere for NYE and go off to the Blue Mountains after. Dave, I would appreciate some suggestions as to where to stay there. Looking for something pretty nice (no SPG there unfortuantely, as, yes, I am an SPG tart :D) WHilst Lilianfels is certainly nice, I would be going for one of the upmarket B&B's myself - a few which spring to mind are Moments (at Wentworth Falls, the one at Katoomba is nothing more than a glorified house), Valley of the Waters, Braeside Lodge, Windrodyne, The Chalet, Whispering Pines, all are located either in Wentworth Falls, Katoomba or Medlow Bath, and are easily accessible to places of interest in the Blue mountains.

One other option is the Megalong Valley Farm (http://www.megalong.cc/farm/default2.htm) - it will certainly be different.

Dave

If you're going to be in Katoomba, there's a decent place on Katoomba Street that my family and I often stop in to buy Akubra hats. I first visited The Hattery almost 15 years ago and stop in every time I'm in Katoomba to eat at the adjacent Hatter's Cafe. I have a number of Akubra hats and am especially fond of the "Leisure Time" and "Snowy River" models that I have purchased there. In my world travels I am rarely without my "Leisure Time," which has kept the sun off my face for 10 years now... I'll be buying a new one next month. The Hattery has a thriving mail order business and sells other famous Australia brands, such as Drizabone, Barmah and Fedora.

You can check the web sites for The Hattery and the Hatter's Cafe...
http://www.hatsdirect.com/
http://www.hatters-cafe.com/

WHilst Lilianfels is certainly nice, I would be going for one of the upmarket B&B's myself - a few which spring to mind are Moments (at Wentworth Falls, the one at Katoomba is nothing more than a glorified house), Valley of the Waters, Braeside Lodge, Windrodyne, The Chalet, Whispering Pines, all are located either in Wentworth Falls, Katoomba or Medlow Bath, and are easily accessible to places of interest in the Blue mountains.

One other option is the Megalong Valley Farm (http://www.megalong.cc/farm/default2.htm) - it will certainly be different.

Dave
There used to a very nice restaurant with rooms called Glenella run by a French couple in (I think) Blackheath - what is that like now? Whilst as a visitor to Australia you may not want to stay somewhere French run it was very nice for weekends in the winter when we lived in Syd - lovely open fire to sit by after a long walk.