Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - MR to Sydney from SFO for 5 hours - ideas on what to see?

I've got 5 hours to kill in Sydney March 1 and again on March 14.

Suggestions on what to do (easy to get to from the airport...) would be appreciated. I've done the harbor cruise already...

Thanks,

Elizabeth

I've got 5 hours to kill in Sydney March 1 and again on March 14.
Elizabeth
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Damm. What's your itinerary and cost?

How about a massage therapist to get some circulation flowing after/before your long trip. :D

I would bring some SC needles and heparin

Just take the train to Circular Quay and wander around...

http://www.airportlink.com.au/default.asp

I've got 24 hours in MEL on the 13th, but my wife has friends in Melbourne whom I'm sure will figure out plenty for me to do... :) If not, I'll pick up a room at the MEL Hilton and planespot....

Pat

I second the idea of Circular Quay.

You can take the train. I think the closest stop is Wynard.

You can walk around the Quay, see the Opera House, and walk around the Rocks area.

Although this is about a MR, I'm going to move this to the Oz forum...

bhatnasx
Mileage Run Moderator

Will you have 5 full hours in Sydney, or is that the total time between flights? If it's the latter, you'll likely have 2 hours or less by the time you get into the city, and leaving enough time to get back to the airport.

If 5 hours, as other mentioned, that's enough time to base yourself in the Circular Quay area for a walk around, tour or viewing of the opera house and visit to the rocks. You could even go up the pylon at Sydney Harbour bridge for a view of the city.

It'd be rushed, but beats sitting in the airport.

What about Oxford Street? Go have a beer and do some shopping:)

Please report after you do it. I can't wait to hear how you'll feel.

I've got 5 hours to kill in Sydney March 1 and again on March 14.

Suggestions on what to do (easy to get to from the airport...) would be appreciated. I've done the harbor cruise already...

Thanks,

Elizabeth

Are you arriving March 1st ( or 3rd? ).

Assume you arriving around 6:15 AM, and leaving on 4 PM, for 5 hours getting/in out + 5 downtown? So I guess "Kiki and Herb" are out.

Seriously - Between flights, if taking a taxi into the city....mid week day is wonderful time to go to the Botanical Gardens and the Domain. Stroll up to Mrs. Macquaries Chair, take Great photos of Bridge and Sydney Opera House. Take tea and pastries at the Gardens Restaurant ( mind the bats ). If you loop around left to right, you can do this and return to the Opera house and pick up a cab back to the airport. Check out a map first.

Nice fresh air walk in the park between 14 to 16 hour flights.

Hi!

Yes, catch a train from the International Terminal to Circular Quay (I think that line goes round the City Circle), if not jump off at Wynuard.

As others have said, spend some time in the Botanical Gardens, read a book, relax.

Or, climb the Harbour Bridge via Bridgeclimb Australia at http://www.bridgeclimb.com.au/ - book online though you can't walk up and go, so it may be too late to book for the 1st. (If the weather is rainy, they won't run it and you wouldn't want to anyway!).

You said you've been on a Harbour Cruise, drop over to Manly for a look around though.

Sydney City is easy to get to the airport from and vice versa via train. I think it's like 8-12 minutes from Central to the Airport.

Enjoy your day(s) in Sydney!

The airport line does go via the city circle so Circular Quay is right on the way.

If it is 5 hours between flights, it will take you an hour at the airport, plus about 20 minutes into the city, then if you are flying out international you need to be back at the airport a couple of hours before the flight. So while you may be able to squeeze something in you will be rushed, and will you really enjoy it if you have to keep clock watching. And not to be a pessimist but all you need is one problem on the trains (and that line is problem prone), or a traffic jam, and there goes your flight.

If you do brave the city a bridge climb would be out for sure as that takes about three hours. Why not just catch a cab to Brighton, where you can stretch your legs walking along the bay or grab a bite in one of the many restaurants there. It's closer to the aiport than the city is, so you will have more time to unwind and less time to worry about the traffic etc.

Phoebe

MAybe ignore the ferries and walk around Hyde PArk (near St James Stn), walk down Macquaries St, through the Botanical Gardens, then get the train back to the airport...use those legs, and hopefully GET A SHOWER :)

Another option aside from the very good suggestions in the posts above:

- Take a ferry from Circular Quay to Kirribilli and sit under the Harbour Bridge at the cafe/restaurant in front of North Sydney Pool, walk around the waterside to Blues Point, enjoy a coffee and a meal with the views from here, then return to Circular Quay and walk around The Rocks, Circular Quay, some of the Botanic Gardens and Opera House, before getting the Airport train.

(Check the timetable at www.cityrail.info (for Airport line) to get an idea of a safe margin in case there is a train delay).

OR:
Get off at the train at Town Hall station, and with a map you could head s.west to cut through the edge of Chinatown and walk across to Darling Harbour (and the Cockle Bay/King St Wharf dining/bar areas).
You would need to be confident that you have a couple of hours for this walk and a snack/meal/stickybeak.

OR:
From Central station, get a monorail through Chinatown and to Darling Harbour.

NOTE:
The Mardi Gras (parade & party March 4) has made Sydney pretty busy this week and next, so if there is anything that is arts or otherwise related you may want to check google and www.visitnsw.gov.au for any events or exhibitions around town.

Are you really doing two MRs and are these the UA deals? :)
PM me if I can help, as I work 5 mins from Circular Quay...

duplicate.

Sit in the Air NZ lounge and get sloshed, and catch up with your emails. :cool:

If you have 5 hours from sked ARRIVAL at gate to sked Departure, have you ever heard of customs, immigration, security, head winds, ATC fly arounds etc?

3 hours tops is what you'll end with to cover your adventure to the Quay - and even that is cutting it fine. That's assuming you can use Elite check-in and breeze thru in 10 mins - if not UA coach check in can be a zoo as 2 or 3 747s use same booths.

And that's assuming you have an oz passport and breeze thru "resident" immigration. And that's assuming 10 jumbos have not disgorged a few 1000 pax ahead of you.

If you're athletically inclined (or even if you're not.....if I've been on a plane for 13 hours I'd like to get up and do something) you could take the train to Circular Quay or St James, walk to the Domain (where the aforementioned botanic gardens are) but instead head over to the Boy Charlton pool Link (http://www.abcpool.org/home.html) . It's a saltwater pool that hangs out over an inlet of the harbour, recently refurbished; I think it has a cafe as well. Very nice place to get a good workout and people watch, and burn off some energy so you'll be ready to sit again for another 12 hrs.

-z

Yes, catch a train from the International Terminal to Circular Quay (I think that line goes round the City Circle), if not jump off at Wynuard.


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Eegads, I've been oblivious to the train option from the airport!

Probably because I'm usually loaded down with baggage ( telescope,
camping gear, add Hunter Valley's best on return ).

That sounds like a much better option for Elizabeth.

I'm sure you'll have a blast!

Cheers and pleasant journeys!