Please help - 1 week in Australia/NZ
Oct 13, 2017, 10:27 am
#16
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
Depends where the hotel is. I've walked to Mascot Station from the Holiday Inn and that works (5 min walk), and you could make the Ibis work at the outer edge if you need to (17 min walk). Travel time by train from Mascot to Circular Quay is 18 mins.
You don't want to access the trains at the airport each day as you'll pay the airport surcharge. For example, a one way adult ticket from the airport domestic terminal to Circular Quay with an Opal Card is $A16.22 off peak and $A17.26 peak. If you depart from Mascot it's $A2.42/$A3.46 one way.
The only time I've stayed that far out is when there was a big Rotary convention or when I had a one night stay with early departure.
You don't want to access the trains at the airport each day as you'll pay the airport surcharge. For example, a one way adult ticket from the airport domestic terminal to Circular Quay with an Opal Card is $A16.22 off peak and $A17.26 peak. If you depart from Mascot it's $A2.42/$A3.46 one way.
The only time I've stayed that far out is when there was a big Rotary convention or when I had a one night stay with early departure.
Oct 13, 2017, 11:31 am
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 760
Depends where the hotel is. I've walked to Mascot Station from the Holiday Inn and that works (5 min walk), and you could make the Ibis work at the outer edge if you need to (17 min walk). Travel time by train from Mascot to Circular Quay is 18 mins.
You don't want to access the trains at the airport each day as you'll pay the airport surcharge. For example, a one way adult ticket from the airport domestic terminal to Circular Quay with an Opal Card is $A16.22 off peak and $A17.26 peak. If you depart from Mascot it's $A2.42/$A3.46 one way.
The only time I've stayed that far out is when there was a big Rotary convention or when I had a one night stay with early departure.
You don't want to access the trains at the airport each day as you'll pay the airport surcharge. For example, a one way adult ticket from the airport domestic terminal to Circular Quay with an Opal Card is $A16.22 off peak and $A17.26 peak. If you depart from Mascot it's $A2.42/$A3.46 one way.
The only time I've stayed that far out is when there was a big Rotary convention or when I had a one night stay with early departure.
Oct 13, 2017, 3:52 pm
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,016
Oct 13, 2017, 7:30 pm
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: RSE
Programs: AA Exp|VA Platinum
Posts: 15,504
I agree. Although that area on Botany Road at Mascot seems to have some decent restaurants, I think most of them cater for the lunch crowd and would be shut at night. I'd definitely opt for the CBD over the airport. The area around the airport is still predominately light industrial.
Oct 13, 2017, 8:14 pm
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Sydney Australia
Programs: No programs & No Points!!!
Posts: 14,222
I'd be surprised if you can hold a Koala anywhere.
Oct 13, 2017, 8:17 pm
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Sydney Australia
Programs: No programs & No Points!!!
Posts: 14,222
The airport hotels are in pretty boring areas with nothing to do. When the kids get tired it is easy to just walk to your Circular Quay or Darling Harbour.
Oct 14, 2017, 12:16 am
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: RSE
Programs: AA Exp|VA Platinum
Posts: 15,504
Oct 14, 2017, 2:32 am
#24
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: LST
Programs: HH, VA, QF, SQ, Air NZ
Posts: 169
I took a group of friends from Fiji and they all really enjoyed it. It is communal bathrooms but the tents were really comfortable and warm. We went in September.
Oct 15, 2017, 4:37 am
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Sydney Australia
Programs: No programs & No Points!!!
Posts: 14,222
Oct 15, 2017, 11:10 am
#26
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
Look at these koala photos from Queensland. See any sticks?
Oct 19, 2017, 5:58 pm
#27
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: London
Programs: BA Executive Club
Posts: 111
I can recommend the Hyde Park Inn in Southern end of CBD, I stay there earlier this year it had 2 bedrooms (King and Twin beds), 1 bathroom, kitchen (free breakfast - orange juice, tea/coffee, bread, butter & jam), dinning/living room with free WiFi.
Also had a balcony for views across Hyde Park and Museum Station is across the road, 5 stops to the airport and 2 stops to Circular Quays (The Rocks & Sydney Opera House). There are plenty of eateries and shops near by and China town is a 15 minute walk away.
Also had a balcony for views across Hyde Park and Museum Station is across the road, 5 stops to the airport and 2 stops to Circular Quays (The Rocks & Sydney Opera House). There are plenty of eateries and shops near by and China town is a 15 minute walk away.
Oct 19, 2017, 6:28 pm
#28
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: Delta, American, JetBlue
Posts: 51
If you are interested in animals in Melbourne, as MSPeconomist mentioned the Melbourne Zoo is wonderful. I recently visited Ballarat Wildlife Park (www.wildlifepark.com/au) and Healesville Sanctuary (www.zoo.org.au/healesville). Ballarat has a large area where you can walk with and feed kangaroos. Healesville has a platypus show and you can walk through an area with wallabies. There is a penguin colony at the St. Kilda Pier.
Oct 24, 2017, 6:19 am
#29
Join Date: May 2006
Location: GA
Programs: VA-PLT, QF-GLD, DL-GM, UA-ex1K, AA-exPLT, HH-DM, IHG-PLT, MR-GLD
Posts: 8,242
I am glad you are skipping AKL. Definitely not worth the hassle.
To answer your question about the Penguin Parade, yes it is extremely touristy, but pretty amazing. It can be crowded but it is managed reasonably well. You will see a lot of little penguins. Unless you are really easily annoyed by others, it will be worthwhile.
The main issue with the Penguin parade is it is almost 2 hours drive from the city. You'd have to rent a car or do a tour. And if you don't stay down in Phillip Island, it is a long late night drive back to the city.
A good alternative to the penguin parade is to visit Melbourne Zoo to see Penguins, and go to see wild penguins on the St. Kilda pier. That combo is pretty good and a lot less work. You'll also see a couple nice parts of the city. I'm not voting against the Penguin Parade, just giving you some detail to consider.
I can also recommend Healesville Sanctuary northeast of town to see a lot of Australian animals in a nice setting.
To answer your question about the Penguin Parade, yes it is extremely touristy, but pretty amazing. It can be crowded but it is managed reasonably well. You will see a lot of little penguins. Unless you are really easily annoyed by others, it will be worthwhile.
The main issue with the Penguin parade is it is almost 2 hours drive from the city. You'd have to rent a car or do a tour. And if you don't stay down in Phillip Island, it is a long late night drive back to the city.
A good alternative to the penguin parade is to visit Melbourne Zoo to see Penguins, and go to see wild penguins on the St. Kilda pier. That combo is pretty good and a lot less work. You'll also see a couple nice parts of the city. I'm not voting against the Penguin Parade, just giving you some detail to consider.
I can also recommend Healesville Sanctuary northeast of town to see a lot of Australian animals in a nice setting.
Oct 27, 2017, 1:45 pm
#30
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Oxon, UK
Programs: Mucci des canapes, Skywards Gold, BAEC Gold, IC Plat Amb, Accor Gold
Posts: 1,950
There are also some good appartments on Circular Quay which are good for families if you are there for a few days and work out reasonably cost effective.