Advice welcomed!

[code_d]

We are (at this point) 8 Americans coming to you for a Splendor South Pacific Cruise out of Sydney May 09, 2022 for 11 days. Will be arriving about 3 days early to spend locally. Looking for best things to do and see. Best way to do money, things to avoid, customs, and what ever else you feel would be helpful. We feel by then this whole virus thing will be better. We are all experienced cruisers. Will be going to Isle of Pines, Mystery Island, Port Vila, Mare, and Noumea. We do like the Casino. Looking forward to meeting new people there.  

[Chiliburn]

Your ship will dock at circular quay,Sydney has a excellent public transport system and there’s a train station at circular quay and the airport  .So you could stay just about anywhere in the area.The closer to the harbour the more expensive.
Money,we are mostly electronic, we don’t tip so you probably won’t need cash.But if you want some,just get some from a ATM.

[BRANDEE]

1 hour ago, code_d said:

We are (at this point) 8 Americans coming to you for a Splendor South Pacific Cruise out of Sydney May 09, 2022 for 11 days. Will be arriving about 3 days early to spend locally. Looking for best things to do and see. Best way to do money, things to avoid, customs, and what ever else you feel would be helpful. We feel by then this whole virus thing will be better. We are all experienced cruisers. Will be going to Isle of Pines, Mystery Island, Port Vila, Mare, and Noumea. We do like the Casino. Looking forward to meeting new people there.  

I would suggest coming in 5 days early..One to get use to the time change and the rest to enjoy the beautiful sights of Sydney and area.  Blue Mountain is a must..all day excursion. We did a small group in a mini van..fabulous. The hop on/off bus for two days to see the city and then the beaches. We spent 6 days and could have used one more day. We stayed at the Marriott Circular Quay ..a great location to do everything in Sydney.

[GUT2407]

There are so many options, what do you like.

 

Zoo

Art Gallery(s)

Botanic Gardens

Blue Mountains

Bridge, climb or walk across 

River cat to Parramatta or Ferry to Manly

 

all great depending on your tastes.

[NSWP]

2 hours ago, GUT2407 said:

There are so many options, what do you like.

 

Zoo

Art Gallery(s)

Botanic Gardens

Blue Mountains

Bridge, climb or walk across 

River cat to Parramatta or Ferry to Manly

 

all great depending on your tastes.

A visit to Harrys...

[Docker123]

A couple of my favourite things visiting Sydney:

 

cliff top walk from Bondi Beach to Coogee (or one of the intermediate beaches).

Ferry to Manly.  Various attractions there.

 

as I can’t count to a couple, really enjoyed the behind the scenes tour of the Opera House.

 

[christodan]

Or instead of the ferry to Many, catch a ferry from circular quay to Watson's Bay.  The Doyles restaurant and beer garden of The Watson's Bay Hotel  are great place to hang out. Great views of the city too as you can see in the background. And the ferry wharf is right there in the left of the photo. You can also check out the  other side of the bay which is the ocean side and where a famous place called the Gap is. Besides having amazing views it is also infamously known as a place where people go to jump off unfortunately. A harbour ferry ride will also let you see all the harbour mansions around the shore. 

There are also other attractions like a nudist beach (Lady Bay) around the corner (if that's your thing!.) 

Edited July 31, 2020 by christodan

[GUT2407]

Yep Doyle’s is always a good pick and the beer garden gives you great seafood at a better price

[MMDown Under]

24 minutes ago, GUT2407 said:

Yep Doyle’s is always a good pick and the beer garden gives you great seafood at a better price

Also you can eat at the Cafe on the jetty to the left on the photo.   You can walk through the park up the hill to The Gap where you can catch busses to Bondi and the City.  

[christodan]

11 minutes ago, MMDown Under said:

Also you can eat at the Cafe on the jetty to the left on the photo

Yes I used to go there. It was pretty good food and a lot cheaper than Doyle's.

[ozziepost]

As you get closer to your trip as well as CC post a question on the Sydney forum of Trip Advisor. There are quite a few regulars who will be only too willing to assist in providing ideas for your visit that will assist in preparing a draft itinerary. We have done quite a few cruises from CQ and White bay and were totally peed off when our April and September cruises were cancelled this year. We often spend a couple of nights either side of a cruise when doing one from Sydney and always find plenty to do.

 

If you want to do something that's a bit out of the ordinary that's fun half day out look at doing the Riverboat Postman's cruise on the Hawkesbury River. This trip involves delivering mail to communities on the river and includes morning tea and lunch and is really good value for the price you pay for the trip.

[christodan]

4 minutes ago, ozziepost said:

If you want to do something that's a bit out of the ordinary that's fun half day out look at doing the Riverboat Postman's cruise on the Hawkesbury River. This trip involves delivering mail to communities on the river and includes morning tea and lunch and is really good value for the price you pay for the trip.

Never heard of it. I might take my family on that in the holidays.

[ozziepost]

15 minutes ago, christodan said:

Never heard of it. I might take my family on that in the holidays.

 

This is the link to the Riverboat Postman cruise. We just caught the train from Central when we did the trip and after doing the cruise caught the train to CQ and hopped on a ferry to Manly to fill in the rest of the afternoon it was a very pleasant way of enjoying a day in Sydney.

 

https://riverboatpostman.com.au/

 

[christodan]

2 minutes ago, ozziepost said:

This is the link to the Riverboat Postman cruise

Thanks. Will definitely do that !

[GUT2407]

6 hours ago, NSWP said:

A visit to Harrys...

You know me too well, but none of them look like that anymore.

[Suzbluz]

I suggest you make sure you're on deck for sail away as the harbour is sensational. Although it's hideously early I also recommend getting up to see the harbour as you come back in on the last day.  you have some lovely ports there.isle of pines is my favourite. In Sydney I'd recommend darling harbour for dinner and the marigold for a yum cha lunch.  You cant go wrong with the hop on hop off bus.  

[code_d]

Awesome info already! Didn't expect so fast or many. Looking forward to this even more thanks!

[christodan]

I also forgot to add that Watson's Bay is close to Bondi Beach. And if you wan to do some shopping you could then go from Bondi beach  to Bondi Junction Westfield. You can have a cheap bite to eat at the food court  of the Westfield (which is much better than your average shopping centre food court) on the top floor and  it has fantastic views of the city and harbour. 

Here's one of the places to eat there. Bondi Pizza which have very nice pizzas and great views with reasonable prices. (You may be shocked at how expensive Australia is ).

 

https://www.hiddencitysecrets.com.au/sydney/bondi-pizza-restaurant/

 

 

[SinbadThePorter]

2 hours ago, christodan said:

(You may be shocked at how expensive Australia is )

 

Given the exchange rate, I think Australia/NZ is a still bargain for US tourists.

 

Even if you don't allow for that, the fact is that in Oz the price you see is the price you pay. Unlike in the US you aren't shown a ticket or menu price only to find that taxes and tips are added on later. So it's not nearly as bad as the base dollar price would suggest.

 

From the Manly ferry terminal it's not far by bus to North Head, which is well worth a visit fro the view.

[christodan]

True Sinbad, But I remember sitting in a fancy cafe quite a few a years ago now and these Americans were looking at the cakes in the cabinet and asked how much they were. And the waiter said something like $8 and they though that was for the whole cake, not for one slice.

[NSWP]

14 minutes ago, christodan said:

True Sinbad, But I remember sitting in a fancy cafe quite a few a years ago now and these Americans were looking at the cakes in the cabinet and asked how much they were. And the waiter said something like $8 and they though that was for the whole cake, not for one slice.

Indeed, we did many cruises with Americans who had spent a few days in Australia, mainly Sydney, they often complained about how expensive Sydney was.  But these people were not all from the big cities like LA, NY and San Francisco.  I have been to those big cities and prices there for food, drinks, hotels etc are on a par with Sydney. Certainly outside of the big cities in USA prices are lower than Sydney prices.

[BRANDEE]

38 minutes ago, NSWP said:

Indeed, we did many cruises with Americans who had spent a few days in Australia, mainly Sydney, they often complained about how expensive Sydney was.  But these people were not all from the big cities like LA, NY and San Francisco.  I have been to those big cities and prices there for food, drinks, hotels etc are on a par with Sydney. Certainly outside of the big cities in USA prices are lower than Sydney prices.

I thought the prices in Sydney were on par with NYC prices this past March.  In fact, I live in the suburbs of Long Island, about 20 minutes from Broadway (train or car with no traffic) and a glass of wine at some of the local restaurants is $16.  That is ridiculous...plus tip

[Blackduck59]

code_d stick around you will get lots of good advice and probably some good natured ribbing from time to time. Many of the regulars have said hello, there are a few more I'm sure will have some helpful hints. You will also figure out who the class clowns are. I'm the wayward Canadian that found this place more fun than the others. Don't be alarmed when this thread wanders off course seemingly with the slightest lapse in a reply. 

[By The Bay]

22 minutes ago, BRANDEE said:

I thought the prices in Sydney were on par with NYC prices this past March.  In fact, I live in the suburbs of Long Island, about 20 minutes from Broadway (train or car with no traffic) and a glass of wine at some of the local restaurants is $16.  That is ridiculous...plus tip

That would want to be a great wine.

[NSWP]

1 hour ago, BRANDEE said:

I thought the prices in Sydney were on par with NYC prices this past March.  In fact, I live in the suburbs of Long Island, about 20 minutes from Broadway (train or car with no traffic) and a glass of wine at some of the local restaurants is $16.  That is ridiculous...plus tip

$16 plus tip, daylight robbery, must have been top shelf. At my local golf glub glass of very drinkable De Bortoli, $4. The more you drink the more you save.🍷