Sydney Things to Do Tips by BerniShand

what a great place to spend a very wet morning ! rescued and restored the QVB echoes with late Victorian grace and charm, mixed with stylish shops and quirky features
When you visit make sure you are there on the hour for the automatated clocks to do their party pieces, the upper level gives you the best views of them

other interesting things to see are the baby grand pianos playing away and the superb Chinese jade wedding carriage, even the toilets are a treat ! they are wonderfully restored

its a great place to wander, window shop and meet people, dont forget to check out the lovely stained glass windows and the antiquated lifts

Leave a Comment

we wandered in here because it was a hot afternoon and we had spent enough time in the sun, the gallery is wonderfully cool and welcoming, noticing that a guided tour was due to start we lingered at the desk and were rather selfishly delighted to find we were the only ones there

It was wonderful, our guide showed us a great selection of art from early Australian to present day, it was so interesting to hear the background of the artists, told with such enthusiasm, after the hour long tour we revisited some of our favourite paintings and tried yet again to understand the more modern compositions, still without success, before having a coffee and leaving

outside we were amazed to see a coach full of tourists draw up, them disembark, take photographs of the building then leave........ sure its a GREAT building, but its much better inside !

entry is free, as are the guided tours, there is a charge to visit featered exhibitions, the gallery is open daily rom 0900 - 1700

Leave a Comment

Phone: 02 9225 1744
Address: The Domain

for some of the best views of Sydney then visit the Taronga Zoo, after much deliberation we decided the giraffes have the best look out
although the collection of exotic animals is very good its the native Australian collection we found the most interesting, and the koala encounter best of all

the zoo was first built in 1916 and was undergoing considerable builing works when we visited, to provide more spacious accommodation for the animals. It was a little chaotic - we couldnt find the elephants, not the sort of creature you can easily overlook - but we had a great day there

if you like you can do a 1 1/2 to 2 hour VIP tour which costs $55 including entry, [ booking required 02 9969 2777 ]but we just wanted to wander

but do buy the Zoo Pass which includes return ferry from Circular Quay, cablecar ride up to the Zoo and Zoo entry for $28.40, alternatively you can get bus number 247 from the centre of Sydney
the zoo is open daily from 0900 to 1700

Leave a Comment

Phone: 02 9969 2777
Address: Bradleys Head Road, Mosman Bay

built between 1923-32 and affectionately known as The Coathanger the bridge is a wonderful sight
while it was being built it created so many jobs that it was called the Iron Lung, even now maintenance must be never ending, while it was being built 16 people were accidentally killed, amazingly 9 of these were people on the ground not part of the construction teams !
During the opening ceremony in 1932 a man galloped up on horseback and cut the ribbon with his sword, beating the NSW Premier to the job, as a protest because a member of the British Royal Family hadnt been invited to open it

Its a great bridge to drive over, providing you have had clear instructions which lane to drive in [ thanks Aussiedoug ] it also has cycle and pedestrian paths and railway lines

there is a museum in the southeast pylon, telephone 02 9247 3408 for opening times and directions

Leave a Comment

Directions: you really cant miss it !

it wouldnt look right in any other setting, anywhere else in the world..........its quirky, stylish, classy and fun, just like Sydney itself

Situated on Bennelong Point the site has been significant since Australias early days
Captain Phillip built Sydneys first farm nearby in 1788, and built a hut here for an Aboriginal called Bennelong which became a meeting point, in 1791 Bennelong hosted an evening of local song and dance for the Governor and his friends

The Opera House was designed by Jorn Utzon, a Dane, who won the competition held in 1957 to select the architect, it was supposed to cost $7 million, building work started in 1959 and it was completed 14 years later at a cost of $102 million, Jorn Utzon resigned from the project in 1966 after rows about finances, I dont think he has ever seen the completed building

there are hour long guided tours of the theatres and foyers between 8.30 and 17.00 from the lower concourse
we didnt get the chance to see a performance in the Opers House, but we visited an exhibition on the plaza outside, its an awsome building, so different from every angle

Leave a Comment

Phone: 02 9250 7250

No, l didnt do it, it was too cold wet and windy and l chickened out, but l regret it now !

this must be THE place for the ultimate view of Sydney, but forget taking pictures, you arent allowed to take your camera, though there is a camera up there so you`ll get a souvenier snap of the climb

its quite safe, you wear a safety suit and harness and are given instruction before you start your climb, and its pretty busy up there, there are climbs every 20 minutes, and even night climbs on certain days

Leave a Comment

Phone: 02 8274 7777
Address: 5 Cumberland Place, The Rocks
Website: www.bridgeclimb.com.au

built in the 1830s for Alexander Macleay and his family the house was originally set in 54 acres of garden, it is built of sandstone and has a spectacular oval shaped and domed saloon with a cantilevered staircase to the first floor

in the 1840s Macleay was in severe financial difficulties as a reasult of having lost his position as Colonial Secretary of NSW, and the house was taken over by his son William, this was not a happy arrangement, it caused a severe rift in the family, and William lived here alone till his death in 1865

the family were all avid naturalists and had amassed a considerable collection which is now owned by the Sydney University

when you visit take time to watch the video presentation in the basement, it gives a good insight to the amily and the house

the house was undergoing renovation when we visited, only the ground floor was open
opening times are 10am to 4.30pm Tuesday to Sunday

Leave a Comment

Phone: 02 9356 3022
Address: 7 Onslow Avenue, Elizabeth Bay
Website: www.hht.net.au

Keen gardeners will need a full day here, there are around 7,500 varieties of plants, one of which, the Wollemi Pine, is so rare it is grown in a locked cage
until 1994 it was thought to have become extinct in prehistoric times and less than 40 specimens are known to exist

the volunteer staff on the entrance couldnt have been more helpful, and there is a visitors centre where you can get audio tours
when your feet start to ache there is a little train circuiting the gardens every 15 minutes

watch out for the trees around the lake, they are homes to fruit bats and you may get splashed ! the lake has several varieties of native birds on it, and is a pleasant place to rest

dont forget to check out the Tropical Centre and the Fernery, both are open from 10.00 to 16.00
the Gardens are open from7.00 to sunset, and the visitors centre is open from 9.30 to 17.00
there are guided walks daily at 10.30

Leave a Comment

Phone: 02 9231 8111
Address: Mrs Maquaries Road

Ive never included a hospital in my tips before !
this one is pretty special, its one of the oldest buildings in Australia, it was commissioned in 1814 by Governer Maquarie, and was paid for with profits from liquor, giving it the name the "Rum Hospital"
Its an impressive building, if you take the short cut from the Domain to Maquarie Street as we did you will approach the rear and see the impressive stonework and verandas of the main building, of its original wings one is now the NSW Parlaiment Building and the other was originally the Australian branch of the Royal Mint during the goldrush days, now it is a gold mining museum

we especially liked this bronze pig fountain

Leave a Comment

Nothing minimalist about this building, its Victorian splendour is totally OTT

It was built during the 1870-80s and full of different styles of decoration, none of them restrained in the slightest, even the toilets are packed with Victorian style
In the main Ceremonial Hall is a most magnificent organ, concerts and performances are held here regularly

Leave a Comment

Phone: 02 9265 9007
Address: corner of George and Druitt Streets
Directions: across rom the QVB