Sydney Things to Do Tips by ccvisit

Just do it. So long as you're not deathly afraid of heights or afraid of moderately strenuous activity. I did it. I'm no where near 'moderately fit,' as the requirements say.
They also take a breathalyzer test to see if you've been drinking, so don't drink a thing because once you've bought your ticket, it's non-refundable.

Trust me. Adventure is not my middle name, but I did it. I complained a lot beforehand, but I was glad afterwards. They do not allow cameras, but the do take pictures for you and of course you buy those at the all important gift shop. It's cool. One shot has the Sydney Opera House in the background, another shot is of Sydney's skyline. Nighttime pictures look better. My opinion only.

They climb day and at night, but I think they cap it at 7pm.

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Phone: 02-8274-7777
Address: Cumberland street
Directions: From the Rocks, go to intersection of George St and Argyle. Go up Argyle about 1/4 mile you'll see an entrance to a set of stairs leading up to the bridge. look to your right and you'll immediately see the BridgeClimb sign.
Website: www.bridgeclimb.com

...but the Blue Mountains are so named for a blue haze that settles over the area. Something about the oil in the eucalyptus trees—please don’t quote me on that.

We took a tour that you can arrange with your hotel's concierge or just stop by the Darling Harbour tour bus terminal, near the Star City Casino.

Our tour took us to the town of Leura/ Katoomba, about a 1 and 1/2 hour drive from Sydney. Being on the tour limited us to just that area, but the Blue Mountains encompasses a vast area; and therefore a vast amount of things to do, especially outdoorsy stuff.

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Phone: 1300 653 408 in Australia
Address: Town of Leura/ Katoomba, 90 minutes west of Sydney
Directions: Being on a tour bus, we left directions to the driver, but we did take the M4 highway and I'm sure there are signs along the way.
Website: www.bluemts.com.au
Other Contact: 61 2 4782 9865 Int'l

We made our way to the Three Sisters by going to the town of Katoomba in the Blue Mountains. We bought tickets for the Scenic Railway, the world’s steepest railway (it was either $7AU or $17AU—I forgot—but I’m more inclined to say $7). The ride is a vertical drop, but not rollercoaster drop. It’s a nice leisurely speed, but exciting nonetheless cuz you do end up almost standing at some point, it’s so steep. I assumed the railway only goes in one direction which is down, but a VT member pointed out she's taken it up before. We took either the Scenic Skyway or Sceniscender (I forget which one was out of commission at the time) back up to the gift shop area.

The Three Sisters are three vertical rock formations that stand side by side. Three beautiful sisters were turned into stone by a witchdoctor to protect them from danger. At that time, some warriors (they were brothers too) from a rival tribe wanted to marry the Sisters but inter-tribal marriage was a big no no. War broke out when the brothers decided to kidnap them anyway. The witchdoctor died before restoring them to human form.

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Phone: 1300 653 408
Address: In the Blue Mountains, town of Leura/Katoomba
Website: www.bluemts.com.au
Other Contact: 61 2 4782 9865

This is Featherdale Wildlife Park where you can have an interactive afternoon with some of Australia’s most famous known animals. You can pet a koala as they munch on their staple diet of eucalyptus trees or buy some feed for 75 cents (au) to lure a wombat or kangaroo for a nice Kodak moment. Meander your way through to the back where they have a whole area for reptiles, but I couldn’t quite make myself go through as the place looked too enclosed and, yes, I’m a scaredy cat when it comes to things that slithers. But a nice little surprise was a pen for a komodo dragon who I swear gave me the evil eye as I took a photograph.

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Phone: 612-9622 1644
Address: Kildare Road, Doonside NSW 2767
Directions: Take the M4 Motorway towards Parramatta. It's near Blacktown.

Open 7 days/week from 9am to 5pm
Website: www.featherdale.com.au

The Sydney Opera House…I’m sure everything’s already been said that needs to said about this extraordinary architecture that has come to symbolize not just the city of Sydney, but some would say, Australia as a whole. Most people would highly recommend going to an event at the Opera House to really experience the beauty of this place, but I think I prefer to see it, not as something functional—something that houses musicals, plays, operas, etc.—but as a free standing structure, just for the sake of its own existence. Well, okay, I was broke and didn’t have the funds to attend any of the events.

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Phone: 61 2 9250 7111
Address: 5-10 min walk from Circular Quay
Website: www.sydneyoperahouse.com
Other Contact: infodesk@sydneyoperahouse.com

The best way to visit the Hunter Valley is by going on a wine tour. Ours was The Scenic Wine Tasting Tour by Red Carpet Tours. Also, it's a small group tour, only about 12-15 people. We went to three wineries: McWilliams, PepperTree, and Cooper Wines, all of which have produced and continue to produce award-winning wines. Our tour guide’s view of wine tasting was refreshing because he instructed us on how to appreciate wine, which was basically to trust your taste and your instincts. It’s always been my philosophy that if it tastes good to you, then it’s a good wine, regardless of price or pedigree. I know, I’m hearing gasps all around at this very egalitarian outlook.

Funny side note: A Singaporean tourist asked my friend, Kathy, how our Napa Valley wines compare with Australian wines, which Kathy unknowingly said: “Well…I’m not an entrepreneur, but…”

That’s all I heard as I almost fell off my barstool. In fact, Kathy only realized what she said after we had gotten back to our hotel. I swear I must have laughed myself to sleep that night.

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Phone: 61 (0)2 9967 3238
Website: www.redcarpettours.com.au
Other Contact: redcarp@nsw.bigpond.net.au

Just think what the guy must have been smoking when he first spun the legend of the Three Sisters. Or maybe it really happened. That'd be cool too.

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