Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - One day/night in Sydney

I'm looking for recommendations on what to see/do/eat in Sydney. First time visitor. Arriving 6:25AM on sunday April, 19th and leaving 1:50PM the next day. I've looked through the last year of posts and have some ideas, but want some updates. I'm a big beer and seefood fan....as well as asian food, which I understand there is an abundance of. Thanks in advance!

The three activities I'd recommend:

(1) Bonza Bike Tour (Classic Tour) (http://www.bonzabiketours.com/tours.aspx#Classic)
(2) Ferry to Manly (http://www.sydneyferries.info/timetables/manly-ferry.htm)
(3) Bridge Climb (http://www.bridgeclimb.com/)

You should be able to do them in that order.

I'm looking for recommendations on what to see/do/eat in Sydney. First time visitor. Arriving 6:25AM on sunday April, 19th and leaving 1:50PM the next day. I've looked through the last year of posts and have some ideas, but want some updates. I'm a big beer and seefood fan....

If you are a seefood fan, I guess a seafood buffet would appeal to you, as it does to me. :)

Sydney Casino has a seafood (and general) buffet too, but I think you might like the Marriott's better and it's closer to the city centre.
Marriott Sydney Harbour - Icons Brasserie (http://www.bestrestaurants.com.au/restaurants/NSW-Sydney-icons.aspx) [Bestrestaurants.com.au]
The extensive buffet is brimming with ocean fresh seafood, sumptuous salads and meat dishes prepared in the open plan flambe kitchen. Lobster, crabs, oysters, and prawns feature on the weekend seafood buffet. Mid-week lunches however are resplendent with oysters, prawns, soups, roast meats, fresh salads, meats and condiments. Regional produce is offered in delectable combinations across the board and the desserts are spectacular. With an on premise pastry kitchen preparing authentic tortes, tartlets, cakes, burlies and slices you won't want to leave.

Take advantage of valet parking, a relaxed hotel ambience and the Macquarie Lounge to enjoy a luxurious cocktail or a cosy after dinner drink.

However it looks like you cannot get Sunday lunch/dinner there.
I'll have a look on the Marriott's website.

I'm planning to try it myself, maybe this week. :)

Thanks for all the info guys. Is the restarant Tasman's still in business? I believe one thread said it was closed, but their website is still up and looks good.

We spent 24 hrs in Sydney on the way back from New Zealand and had a great time. I would recommend taking the ferries around Sydney Harbour - cheap, great views of the city (can combine with a trip to Manly for the afternoon). Lord Nelson's Brewery (near The Rocks) is good for some microbrew beer and good food.

another easy but kinda fun way to see the highlights of sydney is to do a ghost tour. we booked one that walked around the "historical quarter" and we got to go into a current dig, etc. the tour walked us around all the places we had already gone on our own but this time had more interesting stories to tell :)


it was fun and something to do at night to free up the day for the harbor cruise, etc. at night you can also climb the bridge. don't expect to hit up pubs late at night as they all typically close around midnight. :(

and if you're not familiar with their meal timings, just save lots of time unless you plan to grab something from a fast food kiosk. it takes an inordinate amount of time to eat a meal anywhere in oz - an average of 1.5-2 hours at least. 30min to entree, 60min to main, etc. another 30min break if you order dessert. nothing moves at the american pace :) it's great if you've got the time but for an overnight, i would skip the sit down places and pick up the kababs, etc from a fast food place.

I would try and include a tour of Sydney Opera House. I took the last behind the scenes tour at 5pm and it was a great 45min tour.
Another good value is the ferry up the Parramatta to Olympic Park. Great views on the way and an easy train trip back into the city.
You can also grab the ferry to milsons point/luna park and then walk back over the bridge (or take the train) to The Rocks where there are some terrific restos and a great pub The Mercantile Hotel at 76 George Street

i would skip the sit down places and pick up the kababs, etc from a fast food place.

Or a pie from Harry's Cafe de Wheels. Not the best pies in Sydney but a Sydney institution.