boxo, put me down for a weekday meeting in Sydney. Hopefully along the lines of one below. Your post above is referring to Sydney; why not put out feelers for AKL, too?

Just a suggestion or two for Sydney:
If anyone is interested in an amazing view, good drinks, excellent service and even better ccompany , I'd suggest a 5PM rendezvous at the Shangri La's Blu Horizon bar.
I know I always suggest this, but it's a lovely place with an excellent view of two or three parts of Sydney Harbour and takes in the Harbour Bridge and lots more.

Last time, we even saw the red carpets, flashbulbs and searchlights of JJ Abram's world premiere of the Star Trek movie. He did it in Sydney for the location, too.

OTOH, if Downunder Girl is offfering to host something at a cafe or restaurant at Manly Beach or Manly Wharf, I think you should try that. The locals are fiercely proud of their area and it's a bit of beachside privelege that's every easily accessible for visitors.