Activities In Sydney

[janetz]

Hello again everyone. My DD and her church

group will be visiting in July for World Youth Day. They have extra days after and apparently

will not be able to get to the Great Barrier Reef because of the cost of airfare. So the group is looking at what they can do otherwise. What interesting activites are there for older teens, and college students in and around Sydney?

 

Thanks for any information anyone can give. :)

[kaseyoz]

With the huge influx of students in sydney for WYD I am guessing there will be extra activites in place for them.

Are they staying with a host family or using sydney school accommodation.

If they have a host maybe they will take them places.

 

Most teens love the beach and while it will be cold here a trip to the beach just for a looksee is probably on the cards.

Would they like to climb the harbour bridge, they can walk over it for free.

would they like shopping as an activity?, museums?

 

i will try and find a list that has posted on here several times on what to do generally in sydney.

 

It will be a great time here in sydney and we look forward to welcoming your group to our lovely city

[kaseyoz]

ok found it.

globiliser has linked to this a few times. Maybe there is something there that you might like more information on, just ask.

 

also bear in mind that the legal age here is only 18 for clubs drinking and the casino(not sure of your groups ages)

 

 

 

 

The current edition (with help from other CC'ers!) of my suggested tips for Sydney, especially a newcomer, is:-

The Rocks – historical area, plus some tourist shopping.

Circular Quay – for views.

Opera House – do a tour; the backstage tour is the most interesting, but is much less frequent and much more expensive than the standard tourist run. Go to a concert or a show if you can.

Botanic Gardens and the Domain (parks).

Darling Harbour – touristy things, including the casino at Star City if you're into that sort of thing.

Sydney Aquarium (at Darling Harbour).

Maritime Museum (at Darling Harbour).

Powerhouse Museum (at Darling Harbour).

The Australian Museum (in the City).

Museum of Sydney (in the City).

Museum of Contemporary Art (Circular Quay – the café is said to be pretty good).

Bridgeclimb – 3½ hours, but worth it if the weather's good. Not energetic, nor difficult to anyone who has anything other than serious fears of heights. Best to book when you're there and you can gauge what the weather is likely to be. Most popular and expensive climbs are at twilight. Otherwise, a first timer should do a day climb to see where everything is, although night climbs are romantically spectacular. They have a new route which climbs the lower arch, but the standard route is still better for a newcomer.

Sydney Tower – the tall building thing, also a very ish revolving restaurant.

Paddy's Markets.

Chinatown.

Ferry to Manly.

Manly – long beach on the ocean side, cafes etc. If you can get there, big park at North Head with good harbour and sea views, but is a long walk from Manly itself.

Taronga Zoo – take the ferry from Circular Quay for this, too.

Cruise on the harbour - lots of ways of doing this, standard tourist ones from Circular Quay; also a jetboat from there; but my favourite is on a genuine ex-Americas Cup yacht - a cruise ship is nothing like this!

Watsons Bay – famous for Doyles, seafood restaurant, also good views. Also, go up to South Head (walking distance) from there, for views.

Queen Victoria Building – possibly the most elegant shopping mall in the world.

Bondi Beach – if you feel that you really have to do this. Quite close to Watsons Bay.

Also, between Watsons Bay and the City, there are Double Bay (elegant, expensive shops) and Rose Bay (pretty waterfront).

King's Cross at night (for the broad-minded).

Also, Sydney is one of the great eating cities of the world, so there's no shortage of good and/or exotic food.

__________________

[janetz]

Thank you! :D First they will arrive in Auckland, and stay with host family's. Then onto Sydney and I think they will be using Sydney school accommodations. I will send this list on to everyone.

Can I assume she can get international calling cards too? :)

[kaseyoz]

yes most small corner type shops (7/11) in sydney sell them.

Gotalk is a popular one. They work out very cheap.

 

I can phone my brother in the uk cheaper than i can phone my friend down the street!!!.

 

which schools will they be staying at

[janetz]

They do not know which school yet. Thanks for the tip on the phone. Lord forbid that the DD can not call the boyfriend. :D Or her parents...

[Karynanne]

Another great thing to do in Sydney, is to take a harbor cruise. We booked in advance with Majistic Harbor Cruises. It's a luncheon cruise...about 2 1/2/ hrs. long, and toured completely around this beautiful harbor. We had a gorgeous day. Seeing Sydney from the water is wonderful.

[CruisinMK]

I'd move the ferrries to the top of the list. :)

 

Manly ferry is just fantastic, what a bargain. Sit on the sides on the first deck, or the back/front of either deck. Back is more protected from wind. Manly a major beach/surf spot, rather go there than Bondi myself. I love the spit walk, also fantastic spot to go kayaking. It's only a half hour trip in each direction. Runs quite frequently!

 

Ferry to Watsons bay. Seafood restaurant, walk uphill to amazing cliff views. Very worthwhile longer walk to south head to lighthouse, follow the beach and streets around... Ferry ride itself not quite as scenic as manly ferry due to boat type used, but destination still very compelling. Check schedule carefully for return trip.

 

Paramatta River cat. Do your best to get on ferry among the first batch of people, so you can get totally breathtaking views from the front of the boat. Longer trip than manly ferry, and runs much less frequently so check schedule carefully

 

Another possibility is the (short) ferry to taronga zoo. On arrival immediately hop waiting bus to top, so that you walk downhill instead of uphill...

 

All ferries departing circular quay, very central and easy to reach by train or bus from anywhere you're likely to be.

I think everyone should do the manly ferry and look at doing one additional option from above. :)