Sydney Off The Beaten Path Tips by 850prc

Looking AT (instead of FROM) MacQuarie's Chair

One of the most famous and advertised views of Sydney can be had from "Mrs. MacQuarie's Chair". (See my separate "to do" tip on the subject) Millions of tourists have snapped photos of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, as viewed from the chair.

But, what about the scene from the other side of the looking glass? The accompanying photo shows the pleasing greenery of Mrs. MacQuarie's Chair/Point, as photographed from the edge of the Sydney Opera House.

So, going Humphrey Bogart on Mrs. MacQuarie's Chair, "here's looking at you, kid".

Going BATTY in the Royal Botanic Gardens National Parks / Parks / Gardens Review

As you'll learn from one of my "to do" tips, a visit to the Royal Botanical Gardens in Sydney is a must. For our family, it's almost religion to spend quite time exploring a lovely green oasis in the center of a major city.

One of the more interesting things about the Royal Botanical Garden is the colony of "flying fox" bats. Located in the trees just beyond the Lion's Gate, you can hear them squeaking in the distance as you approach their little forest. At first, you don't realize what you're seeing and hearing... but all of a sudden, you find yourself in a sea of bats. Thousands of them, all over the sky. And, there's even more of them hanging upside down in the trees, getting some daytime shut-eye.

...just another interesting and slightly unusual aspect to the Sydney Royal Botanical Gardens experience.