MIKES 2007: Travel Tips
This page contains some of the interesting diversions to be found in, near, or away from Sydney.
A later section includes some information on the local currency and weather.
This information is provided as a convenience to workshop attendees. No endorsement or warranty is implied or offered on the information presented, nor its accuracy, nor links to external sites. The workshop organisers are not affiliated with any of the sites linked herein.
Further suggestions and information may be found at:
Getting to Sydney
The centre of Sydney is easily reached from Sydney Airport, tips regarding travel to and from the airport are available.
In Sydney
These locations are easily visited within the city of Sydney.
Travel in Sydney:
- Trip Planner: Trip Planner
- By bus: Sydney Buses
- By train: CityRail
- By taxi: Combined, Legion, Premier, St George
- By ferry: google Sydney Ferries
Art Gallery of NSW
The Art Gallery is reached via a pleasant walk from Circular Quay or Hyde Park. The gallery has collections of Australian (including Aboriginal), Asian and European art, and travelling exhibitions including the photographs of Lewis Morley and sketchbooks of Frank Hodgkinson.
Australian Museum
The Australian Museum is a short walk from Town Hall or Circular Quay. The closest railway stations are Museum and St James.
There are permanent and temporary exhibitions that include the natural sciences and indigenous Australia.
Bridge Climb
A commercial operator offers the opportunity to climb over Sydney's famous harbour bridge. There is also a, much less elevated, footpath for pedestrians, accessible from The Rocks area. It is possible to enter the south-eastern pillar (closest to the rocks) for a small fee.
Bondi Beach and Coastal Walk
Bondi is one of Sydney's most famous and beautiful beaches. It is easily reached from Circular Quay by bus. Alternatively, one can take a train to Bondi Junction, and then either walk — approximately 45 minutes downhill — or travel by bus to the beach itself.
A lovely two hour walk meanders southward toward Waverley and Coogee over seaside cliffs. Information may be found at the Waverley council website.
Darling Harbour
Darling Harbour is a short walk from the centre of Sydney and contains restaurants, shopping outlets, and several attractions, including:
- IMAX Theatre
- National Maritime Museum
- Powerhouse Museum
- Sydney Aquarium
Explorer Buses
The Sydney Explorer and Bondi Explorer bus services take scenic routes with commentary through areas of Sydney. Passengers are free to disembark at any point and join a later service.
Ferry Ride to Manly
Manly is located on the Northern Side of Sydney harbour. The ferry ride from Circular Quay has great views of the harbour foreshores and mouth.
Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is reached via an easy stroll along the eastern side of Circular Quay, where one may also find many cafes, restaurants and a movie theatre.
Events include musicals, plays, and performances by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Opera Australia.
Restaurants
Sydney possesses a great number and variety of restaurants. The cosmopolitan mix covers a wide price range. Two of the many web sites devoted to finding a suitable table are Eat Streets at Night and de Groots Best Restaurants
Royal Botanic Gardens and The Domain
The Royal Botanic Gardens are accessible from behind the Opera House. Entry is free. The beautiful park lands boast harbour views and trees full of flying fox bats
Skywalk at Sydney Tower
The distinctive round tower over the centre of Sydney contains restaurants and offers the opportunity to go outside for a sky walk.
Taronga Zoo
Taronga Zoo houses many exotic species of animals and is easily reached by ferry or bus from Wynard Station in the city.
The Rocks
The Rocks is an historic, and now touristic, Sydney precinct directly adjacent to Circular Quay. Amongst the many attractions are markets, restaurants, and even ghost tours.
Wildlife Park
Featherdale Wildlife Park is approximately 45 minutes from the city centre. It offers close encounters with native animals.
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Near Sydney
Visits to these locations may involve an entire day, or an overnight stay.
Travel outside of Sydney:
- By train or bus: CountryLink
- By car: NRMA Travel Planner
Blue Mountains National Park
The Blue Mountains are an easy drive or train trip west of Sydney. The National Park offers fantastic sight-seeing, including the Three Sisters rock formation, and tracks for bush-walking.
Canberra
Canberra, the capital of Australia, is 3 to 4 hours drive from Sydney. Amongst its attractions are the National Museum, Parliament House, the National Gallery, the Questacon Science and Technology Centre, and the National Botanic Gardens.
Hunter Valley
The Hunter Valley is approximately 2 hours north of Sydney by car. Several companies also organise tours by bus. The region is most famous for its wineries.
Jenolan Caves
The Jenolan Caves are located on the western side of the Blue Mountains. They may be reached by car or bus from the Centre of Sydney in approximately 3.5 hours.
Jervis Bay
Jervis Bay is located in the Shoalhaven region south of Sydney. The area has many national parks and beaches. It is famous for dolphin and whale watching, particularly between June and November each year when humpback whales migrate along the east coast of Australia. Jervis Bay is reached by a picturesque 3.5 hour drive along the coast south of Sydney.
National Parks
Sydney is ringed by bushland. The Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park to the north and the Royal National Park to the south are beautiful areas for bush walking and/or picnicking.
Port Stephens
Port Stephens is 2.5 to 3 hours north of Sydney above Newcastle. The area boasts many leisure activities including quad biking over sand dunes, sea kayaking, dolphin watching, and 4WD tours.
Reptile Park
The Australian Reptile Park is approximately one and a half hours north of Sydney. It may be reached by car, bus, or train and taxi.
South Coast and Southern Highlands
The cliff lined coast south of Sydney is easily reached by car or train. Hilights include the city of Wollongong and the township of Kiama.
The Southern Highlands is a relaxing area containing many small towns and villages.
Kangaroo Valley is a striking natural area between the South Coast and the Southern Highlands.
Western Plains Zoo
The Western Plains Zoo is Australia's premier open range zoo and home to more than 1100 animals from around the world, many of them endangered species.
It is situated at Dubbo in central western New South Wales approximately 400 km from Sydney and provides for example on site camping.
Wollemi Pines
The Wollemi Pine is an ancient tree thought extinct until very recently. Examples may be seen at the Mount Annan, 1 hour west of Sydney, or Mount Tomah, 2 hours west of Sydney, Botanic Gardens.
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Away from Sydney
These locations involve significant distances, and three to five days at a minimum.
Travel within Australia:
- By air: Jetstar, OzJet, QANTAS, Regional Express (REX), Virgin blue
Queensland
- Great Barrier Reef
- The Whitsundays
- Hervey Bay and Fraser Island
- Daintree Cape Tribulation Rainforest
Northern Territory
- Uluru (Ayer's Rock) and Kata Tjuta (The Olgas)
- Kings Canyon
- Kakadu National Park
South Australia
- Kangaroo Island
- Barossa Valley
Victoria
- Melbourne
- Great Ocean Road
- Grampians National Park
Western Australia
- Margaret River
- Pinnacles Desert
- Monkey Mia
- Ningaloo Reef
Local Information
Weather
Information on, and forecasts of weather conditions may be found at the Bureau of Meteorology and in local newspapers, such as the Sydney Morning Herald.
Money
Australia has a single currency, the Australian dollar (AUD). One dollar is equal to 100 cents. Common paper denominations are: $100, $50, $20, $10, $5. Coin denominations are: $2, $1, 50c, 20c, 10c, 5c. Exchange rates are available at the Reserve Bank of Australia and various online sites.
More Information
Information on specific local services can be found in the Yellow Pages telephone directory (for the city area the postcode is 2000), or sites such as CitySearch.
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