Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - Sydney Melbourne or both.

Mrs Midnight Sun and I will be going to The land down under next month. :)

Sept19-26.

Should we spend all the time in Sydney and surounding areas or
4 days in Sydney 3 days in Melbourne.

Thanx for any help.

I wasn't particularly fond of Melbourne. To me it was just a decent mid-sized city and not much more. For that short a time, I would stay in the Sydney area and make the most of it.

There'll be equally many people preferring Sydney as Melbourne. However, with one week, I'd suggest one place and do some day trips around it.

For example, if you base yourself in Sydney, you can head to the Blue Mountain and/or the Hunter Valley. There're also some little hidden treasures along the coast.

For Melbourne, you can easily spend a day or two along the Great Ocean Road, Philip Island and the Yarra.

It depends on what you like doing during a holiday.

THANK YOU I guess we will stay in Sydney... Now for a recomended itinerary for a first timer??? 7 Days... 9-19 - 9-26

We will be staying at the "Sheraton on the Park" or Westin.
then moving to Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel at Circular Quay.

http://www.sydneyferries.info/explore-sydney/itineraries.htm

I wasn't particularly fond of Melbourne. To me it was just a decent mid-sized city and not much more. For that short a time, I would stay in the Sydney area and make the most of it.

I would agree totally with this opinion. I would give MEL two days and SYD the remainder of your time, particularly if you are a beach person.

Thank You...
Can I take a train to the Blue mountains or am I better off with a car?

THANK YOU I guess we will stay in Sydney... Now for a recomended itinerary for a first timer??? 7 Days... 9-19 - 9-26

We will be staying at the "Sheraton on the Park" or Westin.
then moving to Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel at Circular Quay.

I really liked that Marriott--fabulous location with great views. Be sure you visit the neighborhood known as The Rocks and stop at the Admiral Nelson brewpub if you enjoy that type of thing. I don't recommend Darling Harbour as a destination; I found it a typical touristy development. However, the aquarium there is a good one if you're looking for a no-effort activity.

As a native of Melbourne, I'm not even going to bother responding to whether MEL/SYD is better - we know the real answer :cool: Truth is, it does depend on the nature of the traveller. Sydney's a bit glitzier, Melbourne's got its own charm that's more subdued - really more a place to live and enjoy than for a whirlwind visit.

You can take the train out to Blue Mountains (Katoomba), and there are multiple other ways to do the trip. Many companies offer day trips on the coaches, but some prefer to rent a car for a day - makes for a reasonably pleasant drive (although Sydney traffic isn't fantastic to combat)

Agree that The Rocks is a nice little wandering area (Sunday market with the usual wares), Darling Harbour is geared for the package tourist. A few hours down at Bondi beach is always pleasant - though more likely to run into more visitors than local Aussies - and I highly recommend the walk from Bondi Beach along the cliffs to Bronte (next beach down). Watson's Bay is also a nice seaside suburb, accessible by the ferry, as is Manly up the other side of the harbour.

Thank You...
Can I take a train to the Blue mountains or am I better off with a car?

I would take a car. Use the car to get around Sydney for a few days. A day trip up to the Hunter Valley is also a good option. If you like wine maybe spend a night up there.

Make sure you get to Watson's Bay

I would take a car. Use the car to get around Sydney for a few days. A day trip up to the Hunter Valley is also a good option. If you like wine maybe spend a night up there.
Well, I don't know... driving in Sydney is not a breeze by any means — the roads are congested, the road layout is complicated — and parking can be difficult.

However, I agree that for the Blue Mountains you might well consider a car (the train is fine, but it takes to to the town centres, whereas the views and so on are usually quite some distance — two or three miles at least — from the railway line). Of course, a bus tour is an option if that is your sort of thing.

The problem with driving to the Hunter Valley is if you want to do wine tastings: although you're only sipping tiny amounts, it soon adds up. (I know, you can spit it out, but most people don't, and even if you do there will be some absorption.) Again, a bus trip might work; I think there are are small tours that take only a few people, some of which start from within the area (e.g. if you do decide to drive there and stay in a hotel).

Well, I don't know... driving in Sydney is not a breeze by any means — the roads are congested, the road layout is complicated — and parking can be difficult.

However, I agree that for the Blue Mountains you might well consider a car (the train is fine, but it takes to to the town centres, whereas the views and so on are usually quite some distance — two or three miles at least — from the railway line). Of course, a bus tour is an option if that is your sort of thing.

The problem with driving to the Hunter Valley is if you want to do wine tastings: although you're only sipping tiny amounts, it soon adds up. (I know, you can spit it out, but most people don't, and even if you do there will be some absorption.) Again, a bus trip might work; I think there are are small tours that take only a few people, some of which start from within the area (e.g. if you do decide to drive there and stay in a hotel).

Sydney (ex-CBD) is a car city. If you want to stay within the compact CBD or Eastern Suburbs then you will have no need for a car. If you plan on going to the Blue Mountains or Hunter then I would recommend a car over a train any day, if your going to the Hunter then overnight it there, have a nice dinner you will enjoy it up there.

PS Melbourne is a great city....shame the people there have such a big chip on their shoulder about Sydney being the world city.

Thank You... as normal this is the place to be for travel info.

Sydney has the glitz and glamour but if you want the cultural/food/fashion/sporting capital of Australia, then you need to be in Melbourne, not Sydney.

That said, I wouldn't rent a car in Sydney unless you need it to get to the Blue Mountains etc. It wouldn't even occur to me to rent a car if I was visiting Sydney and intending to stay in town most of the time. Get a daily Cityrail pass that covers all the trains/buses/ferries - a much easier way of getting around. If you want to take a ferry anywhere (and in Sydney, you do) you'll pay a fortune to park the rental car while you (separately) pay for your ferry ride(s).

In addition to some of the things already mentioned -

1. Climb the Harbour Bridge. Not to be missed - you won't regret it.

2. Take a ferry to Manly and have breakfast or lunch.

3. Take the ferry to Taronga zoo.

4. The Red and Blue Explorer buses are a good way of getting a 'guided tour' of Sydney.

Much of this has been discussed in some other threads around here, which I assume you've read - if not, this one had a fair amount of advice -

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=841004

If you come to Melbourne, the Yarra Valley, an hour's drive out of town, would be a good alternative to the Hunter Valley.

http://www.wineyarravalley.com/

Lots of wineries to visit - try Domaine Chandon for some nibbles and a tasting flight of 5 different champagnes and then have lunch at TarraWarra or De Bortoli.

Much of Melbourne is "hidden". The CBD is criss-crossed with laneways and alleyways, which is where much of the cafes, bars, restaurants etc. are to be found - and many can be hard to find if you don't know where they are. It's a great city centre to just wander around and explore - it's all built on a grid pattern though, so you can't really get lost.

http://www.visitmelbourne.com/

Sydney has the glitz and glamour but if you want the cultural/food/fashion/sporting capital of Australia, then you need to be in Melbourne, not Sydney.

That said, I wouldn't rent a car in Sydney unless you need it to get to the Blue Mountains etc. It wouldn't even occur to me to rent a car if I was visiting Sydney and intending to stay in town most of the time. Get a daily Cityrail pass that covers all the trains/buses/ferries - a much easier way of getting around. If you want to take a ferry anywhere (and in Sydney, you do) you'll pay a fortune to park the rental car while you (separately) pay for your ferry ride(s).

In addition to some of the things already mentioned -

1. Climb the Harbour Bridge. Not to be missed - you won't regret it.

2. Take a ferry to Manly and have breakfast or lunch.

3. Take the ferry to Taronga zoo.

4. The Red and Blue Explorer buses are a good way of getting a 'guided tour' of Sydney.

Much of this has been discussed in some other threads around here, which I assume you've read - if not, this one had a fair amount of advice -

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=841004

If you come to Melbourne, the Yarra Valley, an hour's drive out of town, would be a good alternative to the Hunter Valley.

http://www.wineyarravalley.com/

Lots of wineries to visit - try Domaine Chandon for some nibbles and a tasting flight of 5 different champagnes and then have lunch at TarraWarra or De Bortoli.

Much of Melbourne is "hidden". The CBD is criss-crossed with laneways and alleyways, which is where much of the cafes, bars, restaurants etc. are to be found - and many can be hard to find if you don't know where they are. It's a great city centre to just wander around and explore - it's all built on a grid pattern though, so you can't really get lost.

http://www.visitmelbourne.com/


OK now I think we have a plan... Again THANK YOU ALL!!
^:):-:

I visited both cities last December, had a great time in both. I characterized them as Sydney is a great place to visit, but Melbourne is where I'd want to live.

I used public transportation for most of my time in Sydney, then rented a car for the last couple days to visit the Blue Mountains and Hunter Valley (on the way up the coast to Brisbane).

For more info, check out my trip report (http://www.alanstarr.com/australia.htm), it might give you a few more ideas...

I visited both cities last December, had a great time in both. I characterized them as Sydney is a great place to visit, but Melbourne is where I'd want to live.

I used public transportation for most of my time in Sydney, then rented a car for the last couple days to visit the Blue Mountains and Hunter Valley (on the way up the coast to Brisbane).

For more info, check out my trip report (http://www.alanstarr.com/australia.htm), it might give you a few more ideas...


alanstar ,
GREAT Trip Report.... I think it will be my outline for my trip. You have given me more things to do than any of the travel guides I have seen.


Thank You!!

alanstar ,
GREAT Trip Report.... I think it will be my outline for my trip. You have given me more things to do than any of the travel guides I have seen.
Thank You!!

Thanks for the kind words! It really was the trip of a lifetime - no matter what you end up doing, I know you'll have an amazing trip, and immediately start planning to go back!

If you have any specific questions, feel free to drop me a line, happy to help!