Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - SYD for four days: Where else to go?

Hello,

I had planned a two week trip to Australia late last year, which is for this coming May. Thanks to the wonderful NZ master thread, I have decided to do ten days in NZ, and only four days in Australia. I like to be fast paced when it comes to seeing sights, so four days is way too much for us to visit SYD. Can anyone recommend a place to go from there for maybe two days, which maybe shows a different side of Australia? Is there any easy way to get to the "Outback" or see anything else interesting?

Sorry, I know this is a very open-ended question, but I just wanted to get some expert opinions.

Thanks and Happy New Year!

I've done short trips to OZ a few times... here are some options:

For a couple of days, you can
1. go to Melbourne and drive the Great Ocean Road..
2. Cairns - and drive around the Atherton table lands,
3. Ayers rock (just a day is enough i suppose)
4. Drive to Blue mountains (from SYD)
5. Gold coast/sunshine coast (via Brisbane may be)

I haven't done it, but looks like there is lots to do along the East Coast of Australia, all pretty easily accessible by train or car from Sydney.

Thanks for the ideas! I will research all of your ideas, cpx. One thing which immediately sprung to mind was Ayers Rock, when you mentioned it. I just did some research, and it appears to be in central Australia, and seems to be at least 1,000 miles from SYD. How do you propose this could be done in a day, or is my research just wrong?

Thanks a lot!

Thanks for the ideas! I will research all of your ideas, cpx. One thing which immediately sprung to mind was Ayers Rock, when you mentioned it. I just did some research, and it appears to be in central Australia, and seems to be at least 1,000 miles from SYD. How do you propose this could be done in a day, or is my research just wrong?

Thanks a lot!

You will not do Ayers Rock in a day. Pity you are spending so much time in NZ. We Aussies should be offended but we are very forgiving of such things. You will know better next time.

If timing is right and you are a sports fan you might get to a Rugby League game in Sydney. With only 4 days you could go to Hunter Valley one of our wine regions but really depends on your interests.

The other option is a trip to my place

I assume you are flying Air New Zealand.

You will not do Ayers Rock in a day. Pity you are spending so much time in NZ. We Aussies should be offended but we are very forgiving of such things. You will know better next time.

If timing is right and you are a sports fan you might get to a Rugby League game in Sydney. With only 4 days you could go to Hunter Valley one of our wine regions but really depends on your interests.

The other option is a trip to my place

I assume you are flying United.

Hehe, thanks for the heads up! I will do more Australia next time, I promise!:D

I am actually flying Air New Zealand all the way.

Not a huge rugby fan (that's not a sport!:p ;) ), so not too interested in that but thanks for the suggestion.

So I guess the best question is what would be the best way to get an "Outback" experience for two days?

Again, I really appreciate the help!^

One thing which immediately sprung to mind was Ayers Rock, when you mentioned it.
Its far, but I think one day (there) is enough. sorry .. I didnt mean to
mislead.

Its far, but I think one day (there) is enough. sorry .. I didnt mean to
mislead.

Makes sense, thanks! It appears as if Qantas flies from SYD to AYQ, which I may consider.

Makes sense, thanks! It appears as if Qantas flies from SYD to AYQ, which I may consider.

Except for the blue mountains, you will have to fly for them listed in my post.
Tasmania is also a good option, but I've never found a convenient flight
schedule from SYD or BNE :(
most of them are mid-day flights.. I just hope thats not the case any more.

So I guess the best question is what would be the best way to get an "Outback" experience for two days?


If "outback" to you means the desert then I think it's going to be challenging to do this in two days.

If you would like to experience country/rural regions and perhaps some national parks as well as another city, one suggestion would be to drive south west to Canberra. It's about a 3 hour drive from Sydney and you could go on to the Kosciusko National Park a little further south.

West of Sydney, you could visit the Blue Mountains National Park then continue driving to Dubbo for the Western Plains Zoo. It's then a relatively short drive to the Warrumbungle Ranges which are very picturesque.

Both of these options will have you travelling through a lot of open country (mostly very dry) and allow you to experience life in a rural community.

Thanks, DI542! Those sound like two excellent suggestions! Are the roads in Australia relatively easy to travel for an American? Also, would you advise renting a car for SYD as well, or is it very hard to get parking in the city?

Thanks!

Thanks, DI542! Those sound like two excellent suggestions! Are the roads in Australia relatively easy to travel for an American? Also, would you advise renting a car for SYD as well, or is it very hard to get parking in the city?

Thanks!


Roads mignt be a little narrow for an American driver, but they are generally
in excellent condition. You may have a parking issue in Sydney, but
there are plenty of pay-park locations. Bit pricy.. but not as bad as NYC.

Just remember to drive on the left side of the road in NZ and OZ :)
and make sure you understand the "right of way" rules for NZ.
(left turn/right turn)

Roads mignt be a little narrow for an American driver, but they are generally
in excellent condition. You may have a parking issue in Sydney, but
there are plenty of pay-park locations. Bit pricy.. but not as bad as NYC.



I did quite a bit of driving in AUS on a recent vacation - Great Ocean Road, around Melbourne, Phillips Island, around Sydney, up to the Hunter Valley and around Cairns. Roads are fine. Great Ocean road is a little windy in parts, but fine.

One additional destination to consider would be the Hunter Valley - one of their wine regions about 2-3 hour drive north of Sydney. Might be a little slow for you thought if you like to go-go-go.

In terms of rentals - we did not rent a car while in Sydney as there wasn't much need and as mentioned parking is expensive. We waited until we were ready to leave and picked up a car from the Hertz location in downtown and drove to the Hunter Valley.

There is a lot to see and do in Sydney, a lot more than 4 days worth no matter how fast paced you are. It is quite different from US cities. Lots of surprising elements within the city limits, ranging from undeveloped bush parkland to nude beaches. Plus Sydney is rated by the NYTimes as being one of the 3 best cities in the world for food.

Try the Sydney ferry walks.
http://www.sydneyferries.info/attractions/harbourwalks.php

You could easily occupy yourself in SYD for the four days, including off the top of my head

- Bridge Climb (Up & over the harbour bridge).
- Taronga Zoo (for the Kangaroo/Koala etc etc)
- Manly Ferry (ferry ride on harbour to manly for lunch etc)
- Opera House/Centrepoint tower/Botanical Gardens
- Bondi Beach/Oxford St Shopping etc.
- Day trips to Hunter Valley (wine), Blue Mountains (scenery etc).


For the "outback" you probably will not have enough time unless you want to fly to Alice Springs or somewhere similar.

You do not need a car in Sydney (depending on where you are staying), as bus/trains/ferry are fine to get around town. Car only really for day trips.

10 in NZ, and 4 in Australia, are you insane?!?!

That needing to have been said, I think sit your bum tight in Sydney for 4 days.

1 Day to do the Opera House/Rocks/CBD.

1 Day for Bondi/Eastern Beaches.

1 Day for Manly/Northern Beaches.

1 Day for Blue Mountains.

You certainly don't need a car unless you're going to the blue mountains, and parking everywhere is a pain.

PM me if you want more info.

I like to be fast paced when it comes to seeing sights, so four days is way too much for us to visit SYD. Can anyone recommend a place to go from there for maybe two days, which maybe shows a different side of Australia?Australia is a big place. However fast-paced you are, if you want to do only two days in Sydney and two days elsewhere, you will end up spending two days in Sydney and two days travelling without really seeing anything.

So short advice: don't. You can't really even scratch the surface in Sydney in four days. You can be as fast-paced as you like, and not have seen even the half of it.

Australia is a big place. However fast-paced you are, if you want to do only two days in Sydney and two days elsewhere, you will end up spending two days in Sydney and two days travelling without really seeing anything.

So short advice: don't. You can't really even scratch the surface in Sydney in four days. You can be as fast-paced as you like, and not have seen even the half of it.

Can only concur, the big question is, whens the do?!

Sydney and environs plus at most the option for one day at Blue Mtns. is all you have time for.

It has been restated a number of times - stay in and around Sydney. You will not be sorry. It will take another trip to go beyond and have any quality of experience.

And enjoy.

Not a huge rugby fan (that's not a sport!:p ;) ), so not too interested in that but thanks for the suggestion.



Don't confuse the two. Your quite correct Rugby League is not a sport but, but Rugby (Union) most definatley is;)



I think it would be crazy to leave Sydney on such a short itinery. As Globaliser said you will basically spend two days in a car getting anywhere. There is plenty to do in Sydney and maybe take a day trip to the Blue Mountains, spend a day in the city doing bridge climb and visiting opera house. If you are travelling with kids hop on a ferry over to Taronga Zoo. And then have a day down at the beaches. I would suggest some of the Harbour beaches over the surf beaches if your not used to waves/rips etc and many of them are much prettier than the surf beaches. Parsely Bay and Nielson Park are very nice.

Thanks, DI542! Those sound like two excellent suggestions! Are the roads in Australia relatively easy to travel for an American? Also, would you advise renting a car for SYD as well, or is it very hard to get parking in the city?

Thanks!

If you choose the Canberra option you'll experience freeway conditions all the way there. Driving further south to the national park you'll encounter much narrower roads. Similarly, you'll have mostly divided road or freeway style conditions to the Blue Mountains and thereafter lower grade roads to Dubbo and beyond. Provided you remember to stay on the left hand side, you'll be fine. The speed limit on rural roads is generally 100 km/h unless it is a divided road (freeway) in which case it is 110 km/h.

Renting a car in SYD is easy - either from the airport or a mid-city pickup. There are a number of operators including some that will be familiar to you such as Hertz.

Parking in the Sydney CBD is plentiful but generally expensive. Typically, a three hour stay in a mid-city carpark during business hours will set you back around $US25-30. Better to use public transport for your city stay and pick up your car on the same day you plan on heading out of town. Parking in Canberra is plentiful and generally free or inexpensive.

Try the Sydney ferry walks.
http://www.sydneyferries.info/attractions/harbourwalks.php

I agree with number_6 that these walks are a great way to experience the best of what Sydney has to offer. My personal favourites are Number 2 (Mosman Bay), Number 4 (Bradley's Head) and Number 6 (Manly to Spit).

Another option I have recommended in a previous post is the afternoon Ferry cruise that travels up the main harbour then into Middle Harbour past the Spit Bridge - see link (http://www.sydneyferries.info/attractions/harboursightscruises.php)

Number 6 (Manly to Spit)...

Another option I have recommended in a previous post is the afternoon Ferry cruise that travels up the main harbour then into Middle Harbour past the Spit Bridge - see link (http://www.sydneyferries.info/attractions/harboursightscruises.php)


Two excellent suggestions. But can you sit still for a 2 1/2 hour harbour tour?

Day 1:

For one of the best impressions of the city, spend a good part of the day on a Sydney Harbor Explorer cruise, which makes stops at the Rocks, Sydney Opera House, Watson's Bay, Taronga Zoo, and Darling Harbor. You can get off the boat at one of the stops, explore, and rejoin the next boat. There are 4 two-hour cruises daily, the first starting at 0930. After the cruise, take a walk around The Rocks: Museum of Contemporary Art, Campbells Cove, and Holy Trinity Church. End the day with a walk on the Sydney Harbor Bridge for great views.

Day 2:

Take a Sydney Explorer bus tour, which makes a 22 mile circuit of all the major attractions in the city: The Rocks, King's Cross, Darling Harbor, Chinatown, and Milson's Point, across the Sydney Harbor Bridge. You can hop off at any of the 24 stops, explore, and catch the next bus. They run every 20 minutes. Afterwards, visit the Sydney Opera House, and enjoy sunset in the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Park.

Day 3:

Explore the city center: the Queen Victoria Building, Hyde Park, The Australian Museum, and the top of the AMP Tower. Walk Macquarie Street for colonial architecture, and then Darling Harbor, Australian National Maritime Museum, Powerhouse Museum, Sydney Aquarium, cafes and Harborside shopping center.

Days 4;

Visit King's Cross, Darlinghurst, and Paddington. Visit Bondi Beach; Manly for beach and Quarantine Station.

Exerpted from Fodors. Mrs kaukau and I will be doing this March 16 - 22! G'day, mates. See you all in March!

hi ben,

as i have been to syd for 5 days in late october i have to tell you that i fell in love with this place, which is indeed the world's most beautiful city :-:
i would also recommend to stay the 4 days in SYD. there are so many fantastic things to discover that even a 7 day stay would be too short to get enough ... better save the rest of australia for your next hop(s) to down under.

cheers from germany
CHris

Two excellent suggestions. But can you sit still for a 2 1/2 hour harbour tour?

I sit still for hours every weekend sailing the harbour :D

I sit still for hours every weekend sailing the harbour :D

Of course. I was referring to the op, who said I like to be fast paced when it comes to seeing sights.

G-day Lucky,
You must be in OZ by now and if so, thank you for bringing the rain. We really need it. Hope it doesn't spoil your visit too much.

Have fun, Ray