Sydney Things to Do Tips by iandsmith

While it's a must do to see the harbour from around The Rocks and Darling Harbour, to get an idea of what the original enchantment was all about you need to get about as far away from those two sites as possible.
An activity I would recommend is to head for the north shore where the nooks and crannies of the little bays lend a serene enchantment unavailable in the hustle and bustle of the CBD. This is the first shot I took at the start of our excursion showing the city skyline.

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Directions: North shore, to the east of the harbour bridge

Like hanging off the yardarm? Fancy a pull on the halyard? Like flopping around in canvas? Shame you weren't here on this day!
It was a festival of tall ships and the harbourside was littered with people at all vantage points. Literally thousands of craft were on the water on a typically Aussie day. Lovely sunshine, a bit of cloud and a thousand boats with the Sydney skyline.
Something to do with the Bi-Centenerary of white occupation.
Doesn't get much better than this.

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Directions: This shot was taken from North Head at the back of Manly.

This is such a splendid arcade, reeking of yesteryear but decidedly set up for trading in the 21st century. I always stop and stroll through its precincts when shopping in Sydney. It has a grace and style that modern shops just don't have.
When the Strand Arcade opened in 1892 it was the fifth and the last of the arcades built in Victorian Sydney. Today it is the only one remaining in its original form.
Sydney was a Victorian city in 1892. Grandeur and elegance was the style of the day as the city's architects created landmarks that echoed the familiar traditions of hometown London.
In the earlier period of its construction the Arcade was referred to as the City Arcade and sometimes known as Arcade Street. In 1981 it was finally named after the famous London Street that links the city of London and the city of Westminster. The Strand was London's smartest theatre, hotel and shopping street in the early 1900's.
By renaming it The Strand, the grand new promenade became synonymous with the famous Strand in London and its elegant tradition of fashionable shopping. This image has endured. Today it remains a stylish city landmark and is home to some of Sydney's most fashionable and original stores.
Sydney's Strand Arcade has survived two depressions (one in the 1890's and the other in the 1930's) and withstood the threat of two major fires.
The Strand has traded as a unique shopping centre for over 100 years and continues to shine with all its glory in the 21st century.
The Strand arcade is Sydney's epicentre of style and design, housing many of Australia's top designer labels, manufacturing Jewellers, unique shops and beauty salons.

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Directions: It runs between Pitt and George Streets at the shopping mall

One way to do all this is to catch one of the ferries (Circular Quay is the main terminal) over to the north side, embark and walk to the next ferry stop and catch another ferry back.
If you start your journey at Taronga Park Zoo wharf then you can, as I did, walk round to Mosman Bay.
If you get lucky and there's some colourful boat going past then you might get a shot like this of the Tasmanian Ferry (ex-Greek Islands) on its way to Tassie. These days it's been returned to its original home as the service was not paying its way. Rather sad really, it was just six weeks before I had planned to go on it when they pulled the plug, figuratively speaking of course!

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This is my little eclectic crew. Rosemarie (left), her son Darren (right) and Darren's then girlfriend (Kim), now wife, in the middle.
We lucked out with the weather, although in Australia your chances are pretty good of getting a reasonable day.
This shot was taken at Little Sirius Point, the first one after you leave Taronga Park wharf and gives you an idea of the sandstone that forms the basis for the shoreline around the harbour and makes for dramatic cliffs above the beaches.
Just before this point there is a small plaque indicating Curlew Camp. This was where famous Australian artists such as Tom Roberts, Julian Ashton and Sir Robert Streeton used to pitch tents in the late 1800's to record the special views from this place on canvas. Today, some of the works painted here sell for six figure sums and more.
This is only 5 minutes west from the Taronga Ferry Wharf

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As you can clearly see, not all of Sydney Harbour is a hive of activity. As we tramped around Little Sirius Cove the natural beauty of the harbour became more apparent. It's quite extraordinary how quickly you can get away from the madding crowd if you are prepared to walk just a short distance. This is about a kilometre west of Taronga Park Zoo.
The cove itself is named after the flagship of the First Fleet, Sirius. At the time of the first white settlement this was almost like on another planet and so, where noise and smell were likely to offend as the ships were careened (the process of hauling the boats onto their sides in order to clean and perhpas repair the hull), it was done on the other side of the harbour.
Just out of sight on the left of picture is a tiny beach that was popular with aboriginal people as a place to gather and eat shellfish. Today a sea scout hall sits on the shoreline.

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This walkway goes directly across the top of Reid Park, a delightful gully and ideal picnic spot just at the back of Mosman Bay.
I remember it struck me as rather odd why they would even bother to construct a significant walking bridge here but I suppose it saves older people and mums with prams from having to walk up and down the sides of the gully.
You can get here by publlic transport, either ferry or bus will leave you with just a short walk, or take your car and park at the head of the reserve.

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Directions: North shore, east of the Sydney Harbour Bridge

This gorgeous little finger of water has marinas, a ferry wharf and some choice restaurants in a setting where I'll let the picture do the talking.
The sheltered anchorage is a haven for some boats of the type that, if you have to ask how much they are, you can't afford them.
The trail to the left takes you to Mosman Bay Ferry Wharf or you can take the right hand headland and get to Cremorne Wharf.
Mosman Bay was named after Archibald Mosman, who, with his partner John Bell, had set up a "whaling allotment" complete with a stone wharf where whaling ships used to berth and were careened. Processing of the whales didn't take place here.
Ferries commenced service to Mosman Bay in 1871.

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The Chinese Garden of Friendship was created for Australia's Bicentenary in 1988, symbolising the closeness of the relationship. Situated neatly between Chinatown and Darling Harbour, it offers a delightful contrast to the concrete jungle surrounding it.
I've tried to include some of the variety you'll find there.
Firstly, there's the Gurr (Pavilion of Clear View) with Dragon Rock in the pond. These two items seem to be begging for your attention just about wherever you are in the garden.
In the second pic is the rock forest, reflecting the tragic story of the Dancing Maiden Ashima and the Landlord. Though she drowns, her spirit is transformed into a dancing rock.
In pic 3 are some of the many carp you'll notice in the pond.
Pic 4 is Penjing, meaning "tray scenery", a Chinese art of creating a minature landscape. The oldest tree here dates to 1932.
Pic 5 gives you some idea of the types of traditional sculptures you'll find scattered throughout the garden though the area adjacent to the Chamber of Clear Rhythm offers this particular example.
The garden is open every day except Xmas Day from 9.30 to 5.00

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Phone: 9281 6863
Address: Between Chinatown and Darling Harbour
Directions: When I was there it cost about 6 Aussie dollars for adults.
Website: chinesegarden@shfa.nsw.gov.au

The dragon is an important cultural symbol to the Chinese and so it seems appropriate that the one animal (apart from birds, particularly ibis [see pic 5]) that you will see lots of at the Chinese Garden of Friendship is the Australian Bearded Dragon, a fairly common lizard throughout the land of Oz.
In Chinese mythology dragons are seen as benevolent guardians and are associated with good fortune. The Dragon Rock seen in pictures 2 and 3 draws your eye whenever you are adjacent to the Lake of Brightness.
One spot I particularly liked was the waterfall, strangely without any special title, just a waterfall, that's all. Its boisterous tone is such a relief from the drone of the city outside the walls that it has an immediate relaxing effect upon you.

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Address: Darling Harbour
Directions: Near Chinatown