Sydney Things to Do Tips by Tripack

Sydney Aquarium Aquarium Review

Impressive aquariums will show you some of the local species. A good way to prepare my diving to the Great Barrier Reef and learn more about the underwater world inhabitants : mysterious platypus, huge Murray cod, yummy Barramundi, leafy Sea Dragon, refreshing Penguin, mermaid Dugong, flying Eagle Ray and peaceful Shark...

You could get cheaper ticket if you book your visit online.

Address: Darling Harbour

Website: http://www.sydneyaquarium.com.au/

From Fire to Water... The Olympic retirment Olympic Park Review

What a bright idea to reconvert the Sydney 2000 Olympic Cauldron into a Olympic Fountain! The names of the 1972 Olympic and 2267 Paralympic medal-winning athletes from the Sydney Games are recorded in the pavement around the base of the Cauldron.

I visited the Sydney Olympic Park before, during (3days budget restriction obliged...)and after the Games. The site is so extensive that even during the Games, I was surprised by the fluid flows of crowd. It is always a very relaxing athmosphere to stroll around sports building.

Stadium Australia
The centrepiece of Sydney Olympic Park, renamed Telstra Stadium after the Games is the largest stadium used in Olympic history with a seating capacity of 110'000! Nowadays the seating capacitiy is around 83'500. When I visited the Stadium before the Games, I feel so tiny in this impressive architecture. I even could enjoy a 56 meters run on the mytical sprint piste before to be stop by local security guard... I did not run enough fast so I choose to stay a simple spectactor during the Olympics ;-)

Sydney SuperDome
Just next to the Olympic Stadium you will find the Sydney SuperDome, the largest multi-use live entertainment and indoor sports arena in the Southern Hemisphere. For some $, I was able to visit and seat in the business lounge (not to bad...) but my Swiss bank account was not wealth enough to let me stay there during an Olympic gymnastic competition. Nowadays it is the home of Sydney Kings basketball team.

Sydney Aquatic Centre
Sydney Aquatic Centre was the "Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! Oi! Oi! Oi!" headquarters with a yellow/green crowd supporting the local Thorpedo and other sharks seeking for Olympic Gold 8-) The 25m and 50m pools and a water playground for the kids still hosts all aquatic activities. Do not miss the Bicentennial Park, Hall of Fame Museum but miss the level observation on Novotel top roof (admission fee not worth for the view).

Directions: Homebush Bay access tip: nice cruise on the Rivercat to/from Circular Quay.

Website: http://www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/

Just admire a Sunset on the Sydney surroundings...

Experience an Sunset from the Royal Botanic Gardens... free of charge for a priceless souvenir...

Have a look to the useful website link to know the exact time of the next sunset...

Website: http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/astronomy.html?n=240

Blues Mountains rides... Blue Mountains Review

"Greater Blue Mountains Area " was added to Unesco's World Heritage List in 2000. From the Blue Mountains, the lower valley looks like as a large green canyon. The Three Sisters (922, 918, 906 metres asl) which dominated the valley, are named following a Aboriginal dream-time legend. The blue haze actually comes from eucalyptus trees, and is the reason the Blue Mountains got their name.

Since my first visit in june 2000, heavy investments have been made around Katoomba to host massive tourits flows. You will find $cenic railway (said as the steepest in the world), $cenic flyway and $cenic $kyway (for vertignious amateur), $cenic walkway... I think that all these equipements are not very scenic because not well integrated in a such preserve environment. So Blue Mountains becomes the main touristic spot out of Sydney. Try to find less crowed spot to admire more preserve nature.

I must admit that I catch the Blues Mountains rides...

Directions: 100 Km west of Sydney (2 hours by road or train).

Website: http://www.bluemts.com.au/tourist/

Tripack surfing spot...

Bondi is one of the world famous beach. Very popular spot as you can see on my picture (taken on a sunny Winter day...). There you could take opportunity to try your favourite beach activity as surfing, swimming (a sea swimming pool is available), walking along the coasts, enjoying the beachside lifestyle in the bars and restaurants around Campbell parade.

Bondi is the home to one of the oldest Surf Life Saving Club (founded in 1907). Swim safe between the red and yellow flags. The flags idicate that lifesavers are on duty. They can give you tips on the current conditions, types of waves to avoid and how to bodysurf...

But I just tried surfing once in Australia on sand downhill a dune ! To say the truth I prefer to have snow than sand in my pants in case of fall ;-) Definitively I prefer to surf on a snowy wave on my Alps.

Website: http://www.bondisurfclub.com/

Discover the Manly spirit...

Manly owns some great beaches less crowded than Bondi & Co. It is a idyllic place for a full day trip excursion.

There you could enjoy great activies as:

***Short or long coast walks . For instance, the Manly - Spit Scenic Walkway of about 10 kilometers, do not forget your swimmers.

***Beaches: surf, swin or sleep. Manly cove has calm waters for swimming, idem for Shelly Beach which is very sheltered. Or catch a wave on Manly Beach...

***The Corso: a shopping heaven and cafés/restaurants strip.

***Oceanworld display Australia's coral and marine life.

***More? Take a break you seem to be exhausted ;-)

Directions: Ferries from Circular Quay to Manly (30min trip) or Jet Cat (15min trip).

Website: http://www.manlyweb.com.au/information/default.asp

An peaceful Oasis in the City...

Do you need to take a break, recover from a hang-over or just admire Chinese gardener artwork... so head to the Chinese Garden of Friendship.

This garden openend in 1988 symbolise the bond established between China and Australia.

The Chinese gardener works on the principle of yin and yang, which means a balancing of opposites. This quiet and peacful oasis in the heart of Sydney offers you winding pathways, waterfalls, lakes and pavillons follow centuries old traditions of landscape design.

Enjoy your Chinese Garden stroll!

Open every day of the year from 9:30AM to 5PM
Admission :
Adults $6.00
Children (under 15 yrs) $3.00
Family (2 adults & 2 children) $15.00
Concession (Australian pensioners and students only) $3.00

Directions: The Chinese Garden of Friendship is located at the southern end of Darling Harbour, near the Sydney Entertainment Centre and adjacent to Chinatown.

Website: http://www.chinesegarden.com.au/

Aussie Safari...

Usually I am not a Zoo fan as I prefer to see wild animals in their natural environments.

However Taronga Zoo is a pleasant place to visit due to its exceptionnal location on the Sydney Bay. You could enjoy wonderful views on the City from there.

The trip to go there from Circular Quay is also quite original: a ferry cruise accross the Bay and then a cable car ride up the hill then stroll down enjoying the views and a large selection of Australia fauna. Do not miss the flight bird show which is quite impressive (daily, 12Pm and 3PM).

Open daily 9AM- 5PM
Choose the combined ticket return Ferry / Sky Safari or Bus / Zoo entry for a cheaper price.

Address: Bradleys Head Road, Mosman

Directions: Ferry from Circular Quay

Website: http://www.zoo.nsw.gov.au/