{"id":419,"date":"2014-07-28T17:16:36","date_gmt":"2014-07-28T09:16:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gautamkhattak.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=419"},"modified":"2015-08-07T12:33:11","modified_gmt":"2015-08-07T04:33:11","slug":"australia-sydney","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.gautamkhattak.com\/wordpress\/oceania\/australia-sydney\/","title":{"rendered":"Sydney"},"content":{"rendered":"

Australia – Sydney <\/strong>by Gautam Khattak<\/p>\n

Last updated:<\/strong> August 29, 2011<\/p>\n

Disclaimer:<\/strong> These are notes I\u2019ve written or gathered from various sources. I have not experienced all things in this document nor is it intended to be a definitive guide.<\/p>\n

General Tips<\/strong><\/p>\n

Currency:<\/strong> AUD \u2013 Australian Dollar
\nConversion Tool:<\/strong> http:\/\/www.google.com\/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=100+usd+to+aud<\/a>
\n(Update for current rates)<\/p>\n

100 USD = 95.849
\n1 USD = .96 AUD
\n100 AUD = .104.33 USD
\nTipping:<\/strong><\/p>\n

There is no service charge, tax or tipping in Australia. What\u2019s on the menu is on the bill and all you pay. Makes it very easy! Waiters make between $15-20 an hour so they do not expect a tip.<\/p>\n

Transportation<\/strong><\/p>\n

There is a train that goes from the Airport to the city. It connects to the Subway system in Sydney making it easy and quick to get downtown. There are taxi\u2019s and a decent subway system to get around, as well as a ferry system.<\/p>\n

Tourist Destinations<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sydney Opera House<\/a> <\/strong>\u2013 This iconic building is cool, you\u2019ll probably end up taking a few hundred pictures of it while you\u2019re in Sydney. I saw a play here as well; the show was pretty good but was really under the opera house rather than in the main rooms. Basically see the Opera House but don\u2019t feel obligated to go to a show just for the sake of it but if you see something interesting you want to watch, by all means enjoy!<\/p>\n

Taronga Zoo<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 Take a ferry from Circular Quay to the Zoo. There are a lot of exhibits here including a walkabout area where you walk in an exhibit with wallabies and kangaroo\u2019s. There is also a few platypus exhibits but those suckers are really shy in the day time so don\u2019t make that your only reason to see the zoo. If you buy the Zoo Express<\/a> ticket from Captain Cook Cruises<\/a> at the pier you get a free round trip ferry pass to the zoo.<\/p>\n

Sydney Harbour Bridge<\/strong> \u2013 You can do a Bridge Climb<\/a><\/strong> up to the top of the Harbour Bridge. I hear dusk or dawn is the best time to go. I was interested in doing this until I was told the price (~$200).<\/p>\n

The Rocks<\/a> <\/strong>\u2013 The Rocks is a cool trendy area between Darling Harbour and Circular Quay. There are plenty of restaurants and shops, nice to walk around and grab a meal or drink. There are also a few art galleries there that could be worth checking out. If you\u2019re into photography I recommend checking out the Ken Duncan Gallery<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Jenolan Cave<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 I didn\u2019t go here so can\u2019t comment but it looked cool.<\/p>\n

Blue Mountains<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 I didn\u2019t have a chance to but several people recommended taking a scenic drive or tour through the Blue Mountains.<\/p>\n

Manly Beach<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 This was the better beach out of Manly and Bondi. You can get to it by ferry from Circular Quay. There is a hike you can do to old WWII bunkers. The entire hike to the ocean viewing point is about 6-8 hours.<\/p>\n

Bondi Beach<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 The most known and popular beach in Sydney. But really was disappointing. Granted it was wintertime but I preferred Manly Beach a lot more.<\/p>\n

Hyde Park<\/strong> \u2013 A park in downtown Sydney which can be fun to spend some time. Have a picnic or work out (lots of lunchtime workout groups)<\/p>\n

Hyde Park Barrack\u2019s Museum<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 The Hyde Park Barracks was built in 1819 to house, clothe and feed convict men and boys. This brick building and walled compound, located at the head of Sydney\u2019s historic Macquarie Street, was designed by convict architect Francis Greenway. After 1848 the main dormitory held newly arrived female immigrants while a handful of government agencies made use of surrounding buildings. In 1862, separate wards for destitute women were added upstairs and the Barracks became known as the Hyde Park Asylum. Sydney celebrated the 50th anniversary of Queen Victoria\u2019s reign in 1887 with the construction of major public buildings and monuments. The Hyde Park Barracks became a hub of government departments and renamed Chancery Square. Until the late 1970s, thousands of public servants, legal workers and litigants occupied dingy office spaces, courtrooms and corridors, scattered throughout the increasingly crowded complex. Today the Hyde Park Barracks is a museum about itself. GK Editorial: Not all that exciting if you don\u2019t care about the history of Australia. If you\u2019re bored and have an hour to kill, check it out.<\/p>\n

Dining & Nightlife<\/strong><\/p>\n

When I was in Sydney I stayed in Darling Harbour, near Circular Quay. It was a very nice area but SUPER expensive to eat and drink. I\u2019m talking about $11 a beer and lunches were in the $30 range and dinner\u2019s above $60.There are a lot of restaurants and bars along George Street and in the Rock\u2019s. King\u2019s Cross has some cheaper pubby food. And Chinatown is also more of a local hangout (as opposed to near the water).<\/p>\n

Searock Fish Caf\u00e9<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 This was the first meal we had in Sydney and it was AWESOME. I had a Mixed Seafood Basket and it was amazing.<\/p>\n

Sydney Cove Oyster Bar<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 Stopped here for some Bloody Mary\u2019s, Oysters, and Oyster shots. They have more on the menu but that\u2019s all I really needed.<\/p>\n

Lord Nelson\u2019s Brewery<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 It\u2019s a bit of a hike from the Rocks but well worth it (or take a cab). The beer is excellent and the food is amazing. I liked their 3 Sheets Ale<\/p>\n

Fortune of War<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 The Fortune of War pub in the Rocks is supposedly the oldest bar in Sydney. It was a cool joint, people were friendly and more importantly the beer was less than $8 which was great considering everywhere else we went.<\/p>\n

Sydney Fish Market<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 Want fresh seafood, this is a good stop. It gets crowded but there\u2019s a reason for that.<\/p>\n

Wagamama<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 This is a Asian noodle chain that can be found in a few locations in Sydney.<\/p>\n

King\u2019s Cross<\/a><\/strong> is the general go-to place for clubs and bars. George Street near China town also has a lot of pubs locals go to. The area around Darling Harbour and Circular Quay is quite expensive.<\/p>\n

Ivy Bar<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 Popular lounge in Darling Harbour area. It can get packed.<\/p>\n

Jackson\u2019s on George<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 Located in the Rocks. This 4 fl<\/p>\n

Shopping<\/strong><\/p>\n

Australia is a great place to buy Uggs in case you need a pair J. Speaking of \u2018a pair\u2019 don\u2019t forget to pick yourself up a pair of kangaroo testicle bottle openers (joking\u2026but seriously they sell them)<\/p>\n

Lodging<\/strong><\/p>\n

Westin<\/a><\/strong> in Darling Harbour \u2013 Paid roughly $200-300 a night. The hotel was very nice and location was great but find something cheaper because this Westin wasn\u2019t all that a Westin can be.<\/p>\n

YHA Sydney<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 YHA is a very highly regarded backpackers chain. I only stayed here one night for about $45 and it was very nice. I did a dorm room style because I was only sleeping and catching a flight but they have double rooms available for rent. Very professional.<\/p>\n

Helpful Links<\/strong><\/p>\n